Australia and New Zealand itinerary from the UK: 2-3 weeks with a stopover

T By Thomas · Updated 20 October 2026 · 5 min read · Inspiration

If you are flying halfway round the world, it makes sense to see both Australia and New Zealand in one go. The two are only about three hours apart by air, and a single trip can take in a harbour city, the red desert, a coral reef, fiords and mountains. The challenge is distance: Australia alone is roughly the size of mainland Europe, so the best itineraries are selective rather than exhaustive.

Below is a three-week route that works well for a first visit, with notes on cutting it to two weeks, the stopover options on the way out and back, and when to go.

Getting there: stopovers via Singapore or Dubai

From London, the journey to Sydney takes about 22-24 hours with one stop. You can do it in one go, but splitting the trip with a night or two along the way makes a big difference to how you feel on arrival.

• Singapore is roughly halfway, served by Singapore Airlines, British Airways and Qantas. Changi Airport is a sight in itself, and the city is compact enough to see the Gardens by the Bay and hawker centres in a day or two. It is one of our Asia favourites for a stopover.
• Dubai is the main hub for Emirates, with flights from many UK airports, including regional ones such as Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle and Glasgow. It is about seven hours from London, then around 14 hours on to Sydney. Spend a day at the Burj Khalifa and the souks; our Dubai stopover guide covers how to plan it.
• Doha and Abu Dhabi are good alternatives with Qatar Airways and Etihad.

The ideal ticket is an open-jaw: fly into Sydney and home from Auckland (or the reverse), with domestic and trans-Tasman flights in between. Many airlines price these close to a standard return, and some offer stopovers at little or no extra cost. Australia is 9-11 hours ahead of the UK and New Zealand 11-13 hours ahead, so stopping on the way out helps more with jet lag than stopping on the way home.

The three-week itinerary at a glance

Days 3-6: Sydney

Land in Sydney and keep the first day easy: a walk around Circular Quay and the Royal Botanic Garden is the perfect jet-lag cure. Over the next few days, take a tour or see a show at the Sydney Opera House, walk across the Harbour Bridge, ride the ferry to Manly and do the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk. If you have the energy, a day trip by train to the Blue Mountains rounds things off.

Days 7-8: Uluru

Fly from Sydney to Ayers Rock Airport in around three and a half hours. Two nights at Yulara is enough for sunset on your first evening, sunrise and the base walk around Uluru the next morning, and the Valley of the Winds walk at Kata Tjuta. Flights are limited, so book these early and build your schedule around them.

Days 9-11: Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef

From Uluru, fly to Cairns, either directly when a route is running or via another city. Spend one full day on an outer reef trip to the Great Barrier Reef, and another in the Daintree Rainforest or on the Kuranda Scenic Railway. From roughly November to May, you will need a stinger suit for swimming, and the tropical north is hot and humid.

Days 12-14: Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road

Fly south to Melbourne for laneway coffee, galleries and, depending on the season, a footy or cricket match at the MCG. Hire a car for a night on the Great Ocean Road, driving out along the coast and back via the Twelve Apostles.

Days 15-18: Queenstown and Milford Sound

Cross the Tasman Sea from Melbourne to Queenstown, a flight of about three and a half hours with a spectacular landing between the mountains. Spend a day on the lake and the Skyline Gondola, another on whatever adventure appeals, from jet boating to wine tasting in Gibbston, and give a full day to Milford Sound. If you can, stay a night in Te Anau to break up the long drive.

Days 19-21: Auckland and Hobbiton

Fly north to Auckland in under two hours. Take a ferry to Waiheke Island for vineyards and beaches, then drive two hours south to the Hobbiton Movie Set. With an extra day, add Rotorua's geothermal parks. Fly home via Singapore or Dubai, stopping again if your ticket allows.

Cutting it to two weeks

With 14 days, drop either Uluru or the reef and keep Melbourne short. A good two-week version is Sydney (4 nights), either Uluru (2) or Cairns (3), Queenstown (4) and Auckland (2), with a single stopover on the way out. Alternatively, focus on one country and save the other for another trip.

Adding Fiji or more time

With a fourth week, the classic addition is a beach finale in Fiji, about three hours from Auckland, before flying home.

When to go and what it costs

October-November and March-April are the best months for this route: Sydney, Melbourne and Uluru are pleasantly warm, Queenstown is green and accessible, and Cairns is outside the worst of the wet season. December to February is peak summer, with higher prices and busy school holidays, plus heat at Uluru and wet weather in Cairns. June to August works for skiing in Queenstown and dry weather in Cairns, but Melbourne and the South Island are cold.

Both countries cost roughly what you would expect in London for meals and hotels. Budget around A$300-400 and NZ$300-400 per person per day for a mid-range trip with tours, plus long-haul and internal flights. Book internal flights, Uluru accommodation and Milford Sound cruises early, especially for peak months.

Prices and timetables are a guide and can change. This article contains affiliate links; if you book through one we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. How we work.