Hi,

Looking for some inspiration for a solo trip to Australia!
Dates are flexible, but I will most likely be travelling from mid-October to late November to avoid school holidays in both countries (I am based in the UK)
I am lucky enough to get 5 weeks off work. I will be flying via Dubai and spending 1 or 2 days there to visit family on my way through on each leg, which will mean about a month in Australia.

While there, I want to spend about a week to 10 days in Brisbane with a friend, currently I am looking at that being towards the end of my trip, as I can fly directly home from Brisbane, but i have been advised that more time in Brisbane would be too much unless i use it as a base, which is also an option.

Currently, I am considering 2 options.
Fly into Sydney
3-4 days in Sydney
Pick up a group tour between Sydney and Brisbane that will take about a week
explore from brisbane

or the same trip, but pick up a group tour that goes all the way up to Cairns over 2 weeks and then get an internal flight back down to Brisbane to end my trip.

I am looking to do a combination of exploring, seeing wildlife, maybe a little hiking, with some relaxing beach and city time thrown in.
I am 35, so I can do the backpacker thing, but I prefer something more balanced, equally I don't have to do it on a shoestring budget.

This forum was so incredibly helpful on my trip to NZ, so any advice on things to look out for or feedback on the best way to spend my time would be greatly appreciated!

With your interests, plan on at least 4 nights in Sydney although you could spend a week and find enough to keep you occupied. From Sydney, there are walks all around the harbor so plenty of choices. For more serious hiking, go into the Blue Mountains just west of the city. You could take a day trip or you could also spend a couple of nights.

As for Brisbane, I found plenty to keep me busy for 3-4 nights, especially if you're interested in taking a day trip to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. There are plenty of outdoor places of interest in the region, but farther enough that you would want to stay overnight. I'm thinking the Gold Coast hinterlands for hiking, Noosa for hiking as well as beaches, and K'gari / Fraser Island.

Between Sydney and Brisbane, there's the Hunter Valley if you're into wines and Byron Bay for beaches. You could also go to the Gold Coast hinterlands before arriving into Brisbane.

I don't know about tours as I travel independently but hopefully others will have good suggestions for you. Cairns and Far North Queensland will provide you with plenty of things to do in the rainforest and in the water, although if it were me, I would rather fly from Sydney to Cairns and then back down to Brisbane, so you're not losing time on the road as the distances are great.

For wildlife and scenery, I would also recommend Kangaroo Island, off the coast of South Australia. You would get there via Adelaide, so it involves flying if you're coming from the east coast of Australia.

With five weeks in Australia, you’ve got plenty of time to explore at a relaxed pace. Sydney deserves at least five days to cover the highlights—harbor walks, beaches like Bondi, and a day trip to the Blue Mountains. If you enjoy hiking, consider spending a night or two in the mountains to explore properly.

Between Sydney and Brisbane, Byron Bay is worth a couple of days for its beaches and laid-back vibe. The Gold Coast hinterland has beautiful rainforest hikes if you want to detour inland. Brisbane itself works well as a base for three to four days, with easy access to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary and short trips to places like Noosa.

If you’re keen on Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef, it’s better to fly directly from Sydney rather than overland—the drive north from Brisbane is very long. For wildlife, Kangaroo Island is incredible but requires a separate flight via Adelaide.

Since you prefer a balanced trip over strict backpacking, small-group tours with comfortable transport and lodging might suit you better than big coach tours. Companies like Intrepid offer good options.

With your flexible dates and interests, you really can’t go wrong. Focus on a few key areas rather than trying to cover everything.

Be aware that the wet season in the far north, e.g the Cairns area, starts around November. You might have reasonable weather (hot and some rain) but there are also sometimes road closures, floods, reef trips cancelled etc. If you can find a tour that suits you from Sydney to Brisbane, I'd do that and skip going up to Cairns.

From Brisbane you could visit the Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast for a few days. Hiring a car would make the trip easier but there is public transport. You can also visit Stradbroke Island, either as a day trip or to stay there. Train from Brisbane to Cleveland (Translink), bus to the port, then ferry. Local bus on the island. You can take a vehicle over but it's a lot more expensive than a foot passenger fare.

The river ferries in Brisbane are great, cheap and with wonderful views. Lots of good walks such as Kangaroo Point and the new footbridge, the city Botanic Gardens and the Goodwill Bridge to Southbank where there are loads of places to eat, weekend markets and a large free swimming area.