With 2 weeks, your visit to Australia will be much more relaxed and you will get a greater sense of the diversity of Australia, its landscape, and its people. You will get to see all three icons -- Sydney, the Great Barrier Reef, and Uluru -- in more depth, and maybe even have time to go outside those areas, especially if you limit your icons to two instead of three.
Days 1 & 2: Arrive in Sydney
Check into your hotel and spend whatever time you have after arrival recovering from almost-guaranteed jet lag. If you arrive in the morning and have a full day ahead of you, try to stay up and hit the nearest cafe for a shot of caffeine to keep you going. Head to Circular Quay and from there get a fantastic view of Sydney Harbour Bridge, before strolling to the Sydney Opera House and soaking up some history at The Rocks. If you have time, you can take the ferry from Circular Quay to Manly beach to round off a fairly easy day with fish and chips, then head to bed for some much-needed sleep.
Start Day 2 with a ride to the top of the Sydney Tower to experience Sydney's newest and highest open-air attraction, Skywalk, a breathtaking 260m (853 ft.) above Sydney. Harnessed onto a moving, glass-floored viewing platform that extends out over the edge of the tower, you can view of all Sydney landmarks including the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour, and all the way to the Blue Mountains. And it's not actually as scary as it sounds. Sydney Tower has several attractions, including OzTrek -- a simulator ride the kids will love. For an introduction to Australia's wildlife, head to Taronga Zoo or the Sydney Aquarium. If you enjoy museums, put the Australia Museum, the Australian National Maritime Museum at Darling Harbour, and the interactive Powerhouse Museum on your list for the day. For an insight into Sydney's beginnings as a convict settlement, visit the Hyde Park Barracks Museum, a convict-built prison. Finish off your day with a twilight (or later at weekends) BridgeClimb or take the kids to Luna Park, a small and fairly traditional amusement park that's at its best at night. For information about all these attractions, see chapter 4.
Day 3: A day trip to the Blue Mountains
Take the train from Central Station to Katoomba for a day, exploring the beauty of the Blue Mountains, 2 hours from Sydney. Once there, jump on the Blue Mountains Explorer Bus, which allows you to hop on and off wherever you please. There are also many day-tour operators running to the Blue Mountains from Sydney. Whichever mode of transport you use, don't miss the spectacular Three Sisters rock formations, best viewed from Echo Point Road at Katoomba.
The adventurous might prefer to take a tour from Katoomba to the Jenolan Caves, about a 90-minute drive southwest. Nine caves are open for exploration, and you can take canyoning tours of between 3 hours and a full day. Head back to Sydney and have dinner somewhere with a view of the harbor. For information about how to get to the Blue Mountains, where to eat, where to stay, and what to see, refer to chapter 5.
Day 4: Cairns, gateway to the Great Barrier Reef
On Day 4, take the earliest flight you can from Sydney to Cairns -- flight time is 3 hours -- and check into a hotel in the city, which on such a tight schedule will make getting to the major attractions quicker and easier than staying on the northern beaches, out of town. Explore the city a little and to see some wildlife -- including a massive saltwater crocodile -- in the bizarre setting of the Cairns Rainforest Dome, atop the Hotel Sofitel Reef Casino. You will have time the rest of the day to head out to visit the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park. If you are not going to the Red Centre, this is a great place to learn about Aboriginal culture and life, albeit in a theme-park kind of way. You could spend several hours here, or save the visit for the evening, when Tjapukai by Night tours give a different look at traditional ceremonies, including dinner and a fire-and-water outdoor show.
Day 5: A day trip to the Reef
Day trips to the Great Barrier Reef leave from the Reef Fleet Terminal. The trip to the outer reef takes about 2 hours, and once there you will spend your day on a pontoon with about 300 people. Experienced divers may prefer to take a day trip with one of the dive charter companies who take smaller groups and visit two or three reefs. The pontoons of the big operators also offer the chance to take a scenic flight -- a truly spectacular experience. Divers must spend another 24 hours in Cairns before flying. If you are content to snorkel, ride the glass-bottom boats, and soak up the sun, you will be able to fly the next day. After returning to Cairns, take a stroll along the Esplanade and eat at one of the busy cafes and restaurants that line the strip.
Day 6: Kuranda or the Daintree
Waiting out the day after diving (you can't fly for 24 hr. after you've been on a dive) can be spent discovering another aspect to Australia -- the rainforest. Take a trip to the mountain village of Kuranda aboard the steam train along the Kuranda Scenic Railway, past waterfalls and gorges. In Kuranda, explore the markets and the nature parks, and maybe take a Kuranda Riverboat Tour, which runs about 45 minutes. Make your return journey on the Skyrail cableway, which carries you over the rainforest (you can get to ground level at a couple of stations on the way) to the edge of Cairns. The views are sensational.
Another option is to head to the World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest, 2 hours' drive north of Cairns. Many tour operators, including Port Douglas-based Heritage & Interpretive Tours, run day tours into the Daintree and Cape Tribulation National Parks. If you are exploring on your own, make time for a 1-hour cruise on the Daintree River with Dan Irby's Mangrove Adventures, where you will travel in a small open boat and see lots of fascinating wildlife. Both day and night tours are highly recommended.
If you choose the Daintree option, overnight in the lovely resort town of Port Douglas and head to one of its great restaurants -- try Nautilus for fine dining or Salsa Bar & Grill for a more relaxed and lively atmosphere.
Day 7: Cairns to Uluru
On Day 7, leave Cairns as early as you can (this will probably mean spending the night in Cairns rather than Port Douglas). Your flight to Ayers Rock Airport will take around 3 hours, sometimes more, depending on the type of aircraft you are on. Make sure you book a direct flight, and not one that goes via Sydney! Try to get a window seat for the spectacular views as you fly over the Outback.
If you take the early flight, you can be in Uluru by around 9am, which gives you the whole day to take in the enormity of this fabulous monolith. Take the shuttle from Ayers Rock Resort (which is the only place to stay, but offers many accommodations choices) to the Rock. If you decide to climb Uluru (remembering that the Aboriginal traditional owners would prefer you didn't), make sure you don't do it at the hottest time of day. A climb will take you between 2 and 4 hours, depending on your fitness. An alternative is to join Anangu Tours for a walk around it; one of the best is the late-afternoon Kuniya walk, which concludes with watching sunset over Uluru -- an unforgettable sight. Spend some time in the impressive and interesting Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre near the base of Uluru. And after doing all that in a day, you'll be ready for a quiet dinner at whatever hotel you've chosen.
Day 8: Exploring Uluru
Sunrise is one of the magic times at Uluru, so make the effort to get up early on Day 8. This is also a great time to do the 9.6km (6-mile) Base Walk circumnavigating Uluru, which takes 2 to 3 hours. There are a range of other ways to experience Uluru, including camel rides, Harley-Davidson tours, and helicopter joy-flights, but walking up close to the Rock beats them all, in my opinion.
You will also have time today to head to Kata Tjuta (also called The Olgas) where you will see there is much more to the Red Centre than just one Rock. Kata Tjuta is about 48km (30 miles) west of Uluru, but plenty of tours go there if you do not have your own wheels.
End your day in the desert with the Sounds of Silence dinner, run by Ayers Rock Resort. Sip champagne as the sun sets over Uluru, to the eerie music of the didgeridoo, then tuck into kangaroo, barramundi, and other native foods. But it's not the food you're here for -- it's the silence and the stars. A short stargazing session with an astronomer ends a memorable evening.
Day 9: Uluru to Kings Canyon
Hire a 4WD and tackle the long Outback drive from Uluru to Alice Springs, stopping for a night at Kings Canyon. It is 306km (190 miles) from Uluru to Kings Canyon (also known as Watarrka National Park), which offers another unbeatable look at Outback Australia. You can spend the afternoon walking up the side of the canyon and around the rim. It is very steep and will take you around 4 hours. A gentler walk is the short and shady canyon floor walk. Stay overnight at Kings Canyon Resort.
Day 10: Kings Canyon to Alice Springs
Get an early start for Alice Springs, and take the unpaved but interesting Mereenie Loop Road, which will take you through the Glen Helen Gorge or the historic Hermannsburg mission settlement. Whichever road you take, the scenery is like nowhere else in Australia. You will probably spend most of the day driving to Alice, making a few stops along the way.
On arrival check into a hotel and head out to one of the local restaurants, several of which offer sophisticated versions of "bush tucker" including kangaroo, emu, and crocodile dishes.
Day 11: Alice Springs
If you can stand another early start, take a dawn balloon flight over the desert, usually followed by a champagne breakfast. If you don't head back to bed immediately for a few hours catch-up sleep, there are plenty of attractions to discover, including the Alice Springs Desert Park for a look at some unusual Australian creatures, the School of the Air, and the Royal Flying Doctor Service base. In the afternoon, take a half-day tour with an Aboriginal guide at the Aboriginal Art & Culture Centre. Alternatively, visit the Alice Springs Telegraph Station Historical Reserve set in an oasis just outside town for a look at early settler life. Finish the day with a sunset camel ride down the dry Todd River bed and have dinner at the camel farm.
Day 12: Alice Springs to Sydney
Direct flights from Alice Springs to Sydney leave in the early afternoon, so you have all morning to explore more of the town and perhaps buy some Aboriginal art (this is one of the best places to get it).
On arrival in Sydney after an almost 3-hour flight, book into your hotel and spend the night discovering some of the city's nightlife.
Day 13: A day at Bondi Beach
For sands of a different kind from those you've experienced in recent days, take the bus to Sydney's most famous beach, Bondi, and spend it lazing on the sand or -- in summer, at least -- taking a dip in the surf. Take the Bondi Explorer bus from Circular Quay, which gives you a choice of harborside bays and coastal beaches, or take the train to Bondi Junction and then a bus to the beach. The scenic cliff-top walk to Bronte Beach is worth doing, or you can continue farther to Coogee.
Day 14: Sydney
Your final day in Australia can be spent on last-minute shopping and seeing those Sydney sights that you haven't had time for so far. Cap it all off with a slap-up seafood dinner somewhere with a fantastic view of the Harbour Bridge.