Travel guides

Explore first-hand visits in Sydney and Cairns, along with practical guides for planning your own trip.

Plan your trip

Priority Pass card and airport lounge access

Priority Pass Membership: Plans, Lounge Access and Australia

Wise card prepared for spending Australian dollars

Wise Card in Australia: Fees, ATMs and Paying in AUD

Australian dollars and payment cards

Money in Australia: Cards, Cash, Surcharges and Currency

Travel insurance documents prepared for Australia

Travel Insurance for Australia: What Coverage to Check

Clothes and essentials for an Australia packing list

Australia Packing List: Essentials, Clothes and Power Adaptors

Sydney and Cairns itinerary planning

Sydney and Cairns Itinerary: 3, 5, 7 or 9 Days

Australia travel preparation checklist

Australia Travel Checklist: ETA, Packing, Money and Internet

Sydney and Cairns accommodation areas

Where to Stay in Sydney and Cairns: Best Areas and Hotels

Passenger aircraft used for travel to Sydney and Cairns

Getting to Sydney and Cairns: International Flight Options

Passport and smartphone prepared for an Australian ETA application

Australia ETA: Eligibility, Official App and Application Steps

Phone, eSIM and portable WiFi choices for an Australia trip

Internet in Australia: eSIM, SIM, Roaming or Portable WiFi?

Cairns Arrivals, Customs and Quarantine signs at Cairns Airport

Australia Incoming Passenger Card: How to Fill It In and What to Declare

Sydney Harbour and tropical Cairns used to plan an Australia trip budget

Australia Trip Cost: Sydney and Cairns Budget for 5, 7 or 9 Days

Sydney Central Station at night

Is Australia Safe? Sydney and Cairns Travel Safety Guide

Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge from the water

KKday vs GetYourGuide for Sydney: Which Is Better?

A glass-bottom boat on a Green Island tour from Cairns

GetYourGuide vs KKday for Cairns Tours: Which Is Better?

A koala looking down from a tree at Cairns Koalas & Creatures

Cairns Koalas & Creatures: Koala Photo Tickets and Tips

Seasonal weather in Sydney and Cairns

Sydney and Cairns Weather by Month: Seasons and Packing

Travel between cities

A Jetstar aircraft after arriving at Cairns Airport

Sydney to Cairns: Jetstar Flight and Cairns Airport Taxi

A Jetstar aircraft at Cairns Airport before our flight to Sydney

Jetstar Cairns to Sydney Flight Review: JQ953 and JQ952

Sydney

Cars at the taxi rank outside Sydney Airport Terminal 2

Sydney Airport to City: Train, Taxi and Transfer Options

Window-side seating inside REX Lounge at Sydney Airport Terminal 2

REX Lounge Sydney Airport T2 Review: Priority Pass and Breakfast

Janus courtyard beside the 1 Bligh Street green wall

Janus Bar Sydney Lunch Review: Dining by the Green Wall

The Yellow Deli on Katoomba Street

Yellow Deli Katoomba Review: Lunch in the Blue Mountains

The Edinburgh Castle pub at night in Sydney CBD

Edinburgh Castle Sydney Review: Steak Dinner in the CBD

A Blue Mountains Line train at Katoomba Station

Sydney to the Blue Mountains by Train and Bus

The Three Sisters and Jamison Valley from Echo Point

Echo Point and Three Sisters: Blue Mountains Visitor Guide

Scenic Skyway above the Blue Mountains rainforest

Scenic World Blue Mountains Review: Railway, Skyway and Cableway

A historic brick building in The Rocks precinct of Sydney

The Rocks Sydney Walking Guide: Historic Streets and Highlights

The heritage exterior of the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia beside The Rocks

MCA Sydney Guide: Admission, Opening Hours and Harbour Views

The stage and timber interior of the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall

Sydney Opera House Guided Tour Review: Inside the Building

Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House across the harbour at dusk

Sydney Harbour Cruise Review: Opera House and Bridge Views

The clocktower and sandstone façade of the University of Sydney Main Quadrangle

University of Sydney Visitor Guide: Main Quadrangle and Tours

Sydney Opera House, city skyline and Harbour Bridge viewed from Milsons Point

Milsons Point & Bradfield Park: Harbour Views and Directions

The smiling entrance face of Luna Park Sydney seen from Milsons Point Wharf

Luna Park Sydney Guide: Free Entry, Rides and Directions

The northern pylon and steel arch seen from the Sydney Harbour Bridge walkway

Sydney Harbour Bridge Walk: Route, Access and Opera House Views

Families visiting the green Legislative Assembly chamber at NSW Parliament House

NSW Parliament House Sydney: Free Tours and Visitor Guide

Sandstone columns outside the State Library of NSW in Sydney

State Library of NSW: Opening Hours, Free Entry and What to See

The sandstone Queen Victoria Building in central Sydney

Queen Victoria Building Sydney: Opening Hours and What to See

The twin sandstone spires of St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney

St Mary's Cathedral Sydney: Opening Hours, Free Entry and Highlights

Pullman Sydney Hyde Park opposite Hyde Park in central Sydney

Pullman Sydney Hyde Park Review: Rooms, Rooftop Pool and Location

A broad-canopied tree in the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney

Royal Botanic Garden Sydney: Opening Hours, Free Entry and Walks

The Museum of Sydney at the corner of Bridge and Phillip streets

Museum of Sydney: Opening Hours, Free Entry and Exhibits

Cairns

Clear turquoise water beside Green Island on the Great Barrier Reef

Green Island Day Trip from Cairns: Big Cat Cruise Review

The arrivals area at Cairns Airport early in the morning

Cairns Airport to City: Taxi, Uber and Transfer Options

Kuranda Scenic Railway beside a waterfall

Kuranda Skyrail and Scenic Railway Day Trip from Cairns

Cairns coast and rainforest viewed from Skyrail

Skyrail Rainforest Cableway Guide: Cairns to Kuranda

Kuranda Scenic Railway curving through rainforest

Kuranda Scenic Railway Guide: Fares, Timetable and Journey

Colourful shops in Kuranda Village

Kuranda Village Guide: Markets, Koala Gardens and Things to Do

Blu Marlin Bistro beside Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal

Blu Marlin Bistro Cairns Review: Breakfast Before a Reef Trip

The former Escape Lounge at Cairns Airport

Cairns Airport Escape Lounge Review: Our Priority Pass Visit

The exterior of Il Palazzo Boutique Apartments in central Cairns

Il Palazzo Boutique Apartments Cairns Review: Rooms, Location and Pool

The exterior of The Benson Hotel in central Cairns

The Benson Hotel Cairns Review: Rooms, Pool and Location

The blue water and sandy edge of Cairns Esplanade Lagoon

Cairns Esplanade Lagoon: Opening Hours, Free Entry and Swimming

The entrance and food court at Cairns Night Markets

Cairns Night Markets: Dinner, Souvenirs and Opening Hours