Blog · 30 October 2026
Australia from India: Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast and the reef, how many days, and what a trip costs
Australia is a long way and a big country, and that shapes the whole trip. The cities are far apart, so you fly between them, and the flight from India is long enough that a short trip isn't worth it. In return you get one of the world's great harbour cities, easy-going Melbourne, theme parks and beaches on the Gold Coast, and the Great Barrier Reef.
How many days do you need?
Plan on ten to fourteen days. Give Sydney four days, including a day in the Blue Mountains. Fly to Melbourne for three or four days, with one day on the Great Ocean Road and an evening for the penguins at Phillip Island. Then choose: the Gold Coast for three days if you're travelling with kids, or Cairns for three days for the reef and the rainforest. With two weeks you can fit in both. Book the domestic flights early; they are the cheapest way between cities.
What a trip costs
For a couple flying from Delhi and staying in a midrange hotel, a 7-day Australia trip in December comes to about ₹6,07,800, or ₹3,03,900 per person. That covers return flights, flights between cities, the hotel, food, local transport, the attractions we pick for you, the visa, travel insurance and a 10% buffer. Flights from India are the biggest single cost, so your dates matter a lot.
You can change the dates, travellers, hotel, cities and attractions on our Australia trip cost page and see every line update.
Things worth paying for
- Sydney Opera House tour: about ₹2,640 per adult, a short look inside the building everyone photographs.
- Blue Mountains day trip: about ₹9,680, for cliffs, forest and the Three Sisters rocks.
- Sydney Harbour Bridge climb: about ₹19,360. It's expensive, so it's one to do only if heights and views are your thing.
- Great Ocean Road day trip: about ₹9,680, a long but beautiful coastal drive from Melbourne to the Twelve Apostles.
- Phillip Island penguin parade: about ₹7,040. Little penguins walk up the beach at dusk; it's a hit with children.
- Great Barrier Reef snorkelling cruise: about ₹15,840 from Cairns, the reason many people make the trip.
- Kuranda Scenic Railway and Skyrail: about ₹10,560, a train up and a cable car over the rainforest.
- Warner Bros. Movie World: about ₹6,600, or Dreamworld at about ₹6,600, for families on the Gold Coast.
Free and cheap things to do
The Bondi to Coogee coastal walk in Sydney is free and one of the best walks in any city. Spend an evening around Circular Quay and The Rocks, and take a regular ferry across the harbour for the views without paying for a cruise. In Melbourne, wander the laneways for street art and coffee. On the Gold Coast, Surfers Paradise beach costs nothing, and in Cairns the Esplanade lagoon is a free outdoor pool by the sea.
When to go
Seasons are the reverse of India. December and January are summer and the peak season, with school holidays, high fares and the busiest beaches. February to April and July to November are the regular season and good value. May and June are cooler and quieter, with Sydney highs around 18 to 20°C, and the cheapest time. For the reef and Cairns, the drier months from June to October are the most comfortable.
Visa for Indians
Indian passport holders need an Australian visitor visa (subclass 600) before travel. You apply online, upload your documents and pay the fee; there's no need to visit an embassy in most cases. Show your return flights, hotel plans and enough funds for the trip, and apply well ahead, since processing can take several weeks.
Tips that save money
- Avoid December and January if you can; flights and hotels are at their highest.
- Choose either the Gold Coast or Cairns on a shorter trip instead of rushing through both.
- Use public ferries, trains and trams in Sydney and Melbourne; central Melbourne has a free tram zone.
- Hotels with a small kitchen help a lot; supermarket groceries cost far less than eating out every meal.
Want the numbers for your own dates and group? Plan your Australia trip and send it to us for live flight and hotel prices.