Itinerary
What's a good 2-week Australia itinerary with a rental car?
Short answer
Pick two regions, not five: fly between them and rent a car in each. Our favorite for first-timers is Sydney → the coast road to Melbourne → the Great Ocean Road, then a flight to Cairns for the reef and rainforest, about 2,100 km of driving in total.
Last checked October 21, 2026By Brett Gould2 sources ↓
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Do I need an IDP?What's the deductible?How do I contact you?Sydney, Dec 4 – Dec 12, automatic, I'm 24Cairns, Dec 20 – Jan 3, an SUV, zero deductible
Plan A: coast to reef (14 days, 2 rentals)
| Days | Where | Car | Driving (Google, no stops) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-3 | Sydney | none (trains + ferries) | — |
| 4-8 | Sydney → Melbourne on the coast road (Princes Highway) | rental 1, one way Sydney → Melbourne (Sydney Airport to Melbourne Airport); any one-way fee shows before you pay (paid to the rental company at pickup). Small cars and SUVs; families needing a people mover, check the live search | est. 1,030 km, about 13 h over 5 days |
| 9-10 | Great Ocean Road loop from Melbourne | same car | est. 508 km, about 7 h over 2 days |
| 11 | Return car in Melbourne, fly to Cairns | — | — |
| 11-14 | Cairns → Port Douglas → Daintree → Atherton Tablelands | rental 2, Cairns, return to Cairns | Port Douglas est. 67 km (about 1 h 15 min); Cape Tribulation est. 141 km (about 2 h 30 min); Tablelands loop est. 160 km (about 3 h) |
Plan B: Melbourne + Tasmania (14 days, 2 rentals)
| Days | Where | Car | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-3 | Melbourne | none | — |
| 4-6 | Great Ocean Road loop + Phillip Island | rental 1, Melbourne | est. 508 km (about 7 h) + est. 142 km each way (about 1 h 45 min) |
| 7 | Fly to Hobart | — | — |
| 7-14 | Tasmania loop: Hobart → Freycinet → Launceston → Cradle Mountain → Hobart | rental 2, Hobart (cars can't go on the Spirit of Tasmania) | est. 834 km, about 10 h 30 min over 7 days |
Why not drive everything?
Australia is about the size of the lower 48. Sydney to Cairns alone is est. 2,412 km, about 27 hours of driving, and Darwin and Perth one-ways aren't available with niftirent today, so flying between regions saves days.
Price both rentals for your dates: use the search on this page twice, once for each pickup city.
Related questions
Road tripsWhat are the best road trips in Australia by rental car?For a first trip, the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne (est. 508 km loop), Cairns to Port Douglas and the Daintree, Tasmania's loop (est. 834 km) and Perth...DistancesHow far apart are Australia's cities by car?Sydney to Melbourne is est. 876 km (544 mi), about 9 hours of driving; Sydney to Brisbane is est. 907 km (564 mi), about 9 h 30 min; Perth to Sydney is est....PlanningIs it worth renting a car in Australia?Yes, for almost any trip outside the big-city centers: the Great Ocean Road, Tasmania, Far North Queensland, Margaret River and the Top End are hard to see...One-way rentalsOne-way car rental in AustraliaYou can pick up in one city and drop off in another on some routes.When to goWhen is the best time for a road trip in Australia?It depends on the region. Australia is large and its seasons are flipped from the northern hemisphere: summer is December to February, winter is June to August.
Quick answers
Is 2 weeks enough for Australia?
Yes, for two regions. Add a third only if you'll fly between all of them.
Should I rent one car or two?
Two: one per region, with a flight between. It's usually simpler than a long one-way.
What about Uluru?
Fly in for 2 nights and take tours; there's no niftirent pickup at Uluru yet.
When's the best time?
Spring (September to November) and fall (March to May) are mild in the south; the tropical north is best May to October.
Sources
1Google MapsDrive times and distances in both plans (no stops), from our route table.maps · checked Oct 21, 2026
2Rental company termsOne-ways, Bass Strait, Darwin and Perth.rental terms · checked Oct 21, 2026
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