When I started my first significant solo travel- I decided that Australia was the place to go and be. Safe and comfortable, for the first time travel and, also as a solo female traveler. 

New Year’s day, I was on my way to one month in Australia. I had no plane on what I was going to do. I learned the hard way that it was not a good plan to not have a travel plan. My 10 first days in Australia were not the best due to a lack of planning.

Now I will give an itinerary on what to do with one month in Australia. Let’s be honest, Australia is enormous – “You want to take the bus? It will take you two days”.

When you have one month in Australia, you don’t have much time. Let’s get this itinerary started. Make sure that you do some travel planning before going because no plan is planning for disaster!

He just smiled and gave me a Vegemite sandwich

And he said:

“I come from a land down under
Where beer does flow and men chunder
Can’t you hear, can’t you hear the thunder
You better run, you better take cover.”

One Month in Australia Itinerary

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1. Sydney & the Opera House – 4 Days

Landing in Sydney and coping with Jet-lag is part of the travel if flying from Europe. Be gentle with yourself and give it maybe a day or two to relax and get yourself recovered from the jet-lag. I made a big mistake with exhausting myself the first days being in Sydney. You are in a new city, and it’s super exciting. You don’t want to be burned out on your first week and end in tears when you are staying for one month in Australia. Trust, me it’s not fun – I gave myself a burn out after three days, what a first-time traveler mistake.

You have to see Sydney and the neighborhoods; I would recommend doing a free walking tour either with your hostel or a company that has it –  Sydney free tours.  I did walk on my own in the city, and I wish that I went on a walking tour, it is just easier to see the city with people who know what you should see and what you can leave out. Sydney is not a small town. I was having a significant hike down there, such a tourist and rookie mistake.

I stayed at the YHA Rocks, which was a fantastic backpacker, and I never found a place like this again in my one month in Australia travel. Just be aware that the YHA Rocks is closer to a hotel standard than what you will see for the rest of your journey in Australia. Hostel and Backpacker places in Australia are quite dirty, to be honest. If you are on a budget, they are a must. Just prepare yourself. 

The Rocks neighborhood is an excellent location for walking to the Opera House, the bridge, harbor, and to give yourself a smooth start in Australia.

 

The Bridge Climb Looks Impressive If You Have the Money, Do it!

Manly

Take the ferry over to Manly and hit the local brewery or the beach and hang out with some locals. On your way back, you will have a fantastic view of the Opera House and the Harbour of Sydney. The trip to Manly can be a day trip.

2. Bondi Beach & Bondi Rescue – 3 Days

When you have done the city and need a break, then go to Bondi have a Brekkie (Breakfast). Then hang out with a hot Australian guy or girl on the beach or more like 1 000 other people going for a tan or some awesome waves. I loved Bondi because even do it is in the city, the vibe is relaxed, people are eating healthy, and there is no worries, mate. Only the sun and love. There are people and most likely a lof them.

In the morning take the boardwalk to Coogee for some exercise and a great view of the ocean and Bondi.

3. Couch Surfing, G’Day Mate – 2 Days

I love meeting up with people who live in the area – If I’m lucky, they will show me something that I wouldn’t see if I was there as a tourist. Couch surfing is a great way to get to know the area and have advice from a local. Know your time, be polite, and return the favor when they come to visit your country if you can. Respect their home as it was yours. Couch surfing is a great way to save money on accommodation, learn more about the people and the country you are visiting.

4. Byron Bay & Easternmost Point of the Mainland of Australia – 3 Days

I loved Byron Bay, and even the Aussie people go her for the weekend. Why? Because it has great surfing, a good vibe, and a lot of choices when it comes to delicious food. 

Byron Bay is the place where you should try to catch a wave on a surfboard. I went to a half-day surfing lesson, and it was so much fun! I even managed to stand a couple of times on the surfboard and was feeling the pleasure of catching a wave for 5 seconds – until I drop back in the water. Best feeling ever, big thanks to the guy helping me catching the waves.

Did I mention that the guys were good looking surfer guys with the best smiles and did I say surfer body? I wanted help all the time, with catching the waves, of course.

When being in Byron, you must have an early morning and see the sunrise from the Lighthouse and the easternmost point of the mainland of Australia. If you are lucky, the hostel will arrange an early car ride for it.

If you are traveling, you should visit Nimbin and explore the Hippi hippie town, a lot of freedom, and a lot of green things to smoke. I learned a lot that day about this green plant and the free spirit. It all started back in 1973 when hippies arrived for the Aquarius festival. I loved going there because it was something unique and peaceful. It was my craziest bus ride ever in Australia, thank you Grasshoppers.

4. Fraser is the World’s Largest Sand Island – 3 Days

Fraser Island was the closest I went to the bush of Australia (really not the forest). I had three fantastic days on the island and exploring its beauty. Wow, this was a fantastic experience. I entered Fraser Island from Freedom Beach and left the Island to Hervey Bay.

From Hervey Bay, I went on a night bus to Airlie Beach.

I would recommend taking the small airplane ride over the island, and you are landing and taking off on the beach, which is Wicked Mate! You get a great panorama view over the island. 

UNESCO: Fraser Island lies just off the east coast of Australia. At 122 km long, it is the largest sand island in the world. Majestic remnants of tall rainforest growing on sand and half the world’s perched freshwater dune lakes are found inland from the beach. The combination of shifting sand-dunes, tropical rainforests and lakes makes it an exceptional site.

5. Whitsundays and Great Barrier Reef – 6 Days

The only way to do Whitsundays and Great Barrier Reef is one boat! You have to get on some vessels. I decided to go on a sailboat for four days. We did a lot of great snorkeling, and I also had my first test-dive in the Great Barrier Reef.

I don’t know if we were unlucky with the dive site, but it wasn’t that amazing (diving for the first time was an excellent experience). The snorkeling was way better than diving, colorful, and vibrant. On this boat, talking with all these divers, I decided that in Koh Tao – Thailand, I was going take my Open Water License with PADI. Wow, I have had so many fantastic adventures underwater after this decision.

Yes, We did See the Large Green Turtle

We had a brilliant crew, great people. They showed Australian beauty. Put me on a boat, Island, or a beach – I’m happy if you complete fulfilling them all, you get a thrilled kid.

UNESCO: The Great Barrier Reef is a site of remarkable variety and beauty on the north-east coast of Australia. It contains the world’s largest collection of coral reefs, with 400 types of coral, 1,500 species of fish and 4,000 types of mollusk. It also holds great scientific interest as the habitat of species such as the dugong (‘sea cow’) and the large green turtle, which are threatened with extinction.

Airlie Beach

Have a day or two at Airlie Beach for some brekkie and resting. One day before the boat, and one day after the boat tour.

You use a lot of energy when being with a group of 15-20 people on a boat. It’s fantastic and fun, but you need some time to digest all the experience and explore it. It’s okay to take a break and relax.

Last Pieces of Advice for One month in Australia

Accept that you can’t see everything with only one month in Australia. Make room for a couple of resting days. Exploring and changing the bed every third day can be exhausting. Make a list of your must-see and go from there. Talk with other travelers how they made their trip that can save you a lot of planning and wasting time on not essential sites. If you are backpacking, maybe sign up for a membership at YHA hostel, great hostels, and great prices. When planning a trip to Australia, don’t forget to have some time for New Zealand as well, when being down under your so close this scenic country – Shouldn’t be missed.

People in Australia are friendly and very helpful. You will love Australia; it has a culture and a life of everything. Whatever you do, do not drink wine, Goon. You will never recover. Good luck and happy traveling to Australia, the land down under, and also don’t bring any fruits to Australia if bringing anything you need to declare it.

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Next time I’m returning: Perth, Melbourne, Great Ocean Road, and Uluru

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