Australian Safari — Self-Launched (Brisbane to Sydney, 21 Days)
21 days · Australia
Globus charges £9,310
No-markup version: ~£3,410 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Globus's 21-day "Australian Safari" — Brisbane to Sydney via Cairns, Uluru, Adelaide, Melbourne, Tasmania and back to Sydney. You'll hit the same headline experiences (Australia Zoo, the outer Great Barrier Reef, Uluru sunset, Kangaroo Island, Phillip Island penguins, Cradle Mountain, Port Arthur, the Opera House) but booked independently with hostels, budget motels, low-cost domestic flights, and self-bookable day tours via GetYourGuide/Klook/direct operators. Note: Australia is not a cheap destination — budget accommodation runs £25-45/night in cities, and the four internal flights are the single biggest cost. Still, doing it yourself can land at roughly a third to a half of the tour price.
Day-by-day
Arrive Brisbane
Brisbane
Land at Brisbane Airport, catch the Airtrain into the city (~£10) or a 30-min bus. Settle into a hostel in Fortitude Valley or the CBD. Do a free self-guided wander along the river and grab a cheap dinner in Chinatown/Fortitude Valley. Early night — jet lag is real.
🚌Airtrain Brisbane Airport to Central ~£10
🛏Hostel dorm or private twin, Brisbane CBD/Fortitude Valley (~£30/night)
- →Airtrain transfer to CBD
- →Self-guided riverside walk
- →Fortitude Valley dinner
Australia Zoo full day
Beerwah / Brisbane
Book a direct coach or train to Beerwah (Queensland Rail Sunshine Coast line, ~£5 each way, 1h15) plus an Australia Zoo entry ticket (~£35 pre-booked online). Do the kangaroo feeding, croc show and the Wildlife Hospital walk-through. Return to Brisbane in the evening.
🚌Queensland Rail to Beerwah ~£10 return
🛏Hostel, Brisbane (~£30/night)
- →Australia Zoo entry
- →Hand-feed kangaroos
- →Saltwater crocodile show
- →Wildlife Hospital visit
Brisbane free day
Brisbane
Free day. Options: Streets Beach at South Bank (free), a CityCat river ferry ride (£3), Queen Street Mall shopping, or a day trip to Tangalooma/Moreton Island for wreck snorkelling (book via GetYourGuide, ~£90-110). Stay flexible depending on weather.
🚌CityCat ferry ~£3
🛏Hostel, Brisbane (~£30/night)
- →Streets Beach (free)
- →CityCat ferry ride
- →Queen Street Mall
- →Optional Moreton Island day trip
Fly to Cairns + city orientation
Cairns
Low-cost Jetstar/Virgin flight Brisbane–Cairns (~£60-90 booked ahead, 2h20). Check into a hostel near the Esplanade. Walk the Cairns Esplanade lagoon (free) and visit Cairns Aquarium (~£28). Book your reef trip for tomorrow in advance (or already done online).
🚌Jetstar/Virgin Brisbane–Cairns ~£75 (book 2-3 months ahead)
🛏Hostel dorm/private, Cairns Esplanade area (~£25/night)
- →Flight to Cairns
- →Cairns Esplanade + lagoon
- →Cairns Aquarium
Great Barrier Reef day cruise
Outer Great Barrier Reef
Full-day catamaran to the outer reef (book direct with Reef Magic, Quicksilver or Passions of Paradise, ~£130-160 including lunch, snorkel gear and semi-submersible tour). Snorkel, do the semi-sub, catch the marine biologist talk. Book a couple of weeks ahead — capacity sells out in peak season.
🚌Included in reef cruise from Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal
🛏Hostel, Cairns (~£25/night)
- →Outer Great Barrier Reef cruise
- →Snorkelling
- →Semi-submersible tour
- →Marine biologist presentation
Daintree Rainforest day tour
Daintree Rainforest
Book a small-group Daintree day tour via GetYourGuide or a local operator (~£110-130, 11h) — UNESCO rainforest, Mossman Gorge, Cape Tribulation, often with a crocodile river cruise. Alternative: Skyrail Kuranda cableway + Scenic Railway (~£75 return, self-booked) if you want something shorter.
🚌Included in day tour pickup from Cairns
🛏Hostel, Cairns (~£25/night)
- →Daintree Rainforest 4WD tour
- →Mossman Gorge
- →Cape Tribulation
- →Alternative: Skyrail Kuranda
Fly to Yulara + Uluru sunset
Uluru
Jetstar/Virgin Cairns–Yulara (via connections) ~£180-230, 4-5h. Check into the Ayers Rock Resort budget options (Outback Pioneer Lodge — dorms from ~£25-35, or the Ayers Rock Campground). Free shuttle buses run around the resort. In the late afternoon, book the Uluru sunset viewing area transfer (~£45-60) with your own drinks and snacks, or join a self-booked sunset tour.
🚌Cairns–Yulara flight ~£200; resort shuttle free
🛏Outback Pioneer Lodge dorm or campground, Yulara (~£30/night)
- →Flight to Yulara
- →Uluru sunset viewing area
- →Sunset with sparkling wine/nibbles
Uluru base walk + fly to Alice Springs
Uluru / Alice Springs
Do the Uluru base walk or Mala walk self-guided early morning (park entry pass ~£21 for 3 days, book online), or optionally a sunrise camel ride (~£50, book direct with Uluru Camel Tours). Afternoon flight Yulara–Alice Springs (Qantaslink/Virgin, ~£150-190, 1h). In the evening visit the Kangaroo Sanctuary (book direct in advance — the sunset tour is the one to do, ~£40), a genuine rescue sanctuary where you can hold joeys.
🚌Yulara–Alice Springs flight ~£170; taxi to sanctuary ~£15
🛏Hostel/motel, Alice Springs (~£30/night)
- →Uluru base walk
- →Optional sunrise camel ride
- →Flight to Alice Springs
- →Kangaroo Sanctuary sunset tour
Alice Springs sights + fly to Adelaide
Alice Springs / Adelaide
Morning: Royal Flying Doctor Service tourist facility (~£12) and the Old Telegraph Station (small entry, ~£5). Cheap lunch then afternoon flight Alice Springs–Adelaide (~£150-200, 2h). Check in and do a self-guided walk of the North Terrace cultural precinct and Rundle Mall.
🚌Alice Springs–Adelaide flight ~£175
🛏Hostel/budget hotel, Adelaide CBD (~£30/night)
- →Royal Flying Doctor Service facility
- →Old Telegraph Station
- →Flight to Adelaide
- →North Terrace self-guided walk
Kangaroo Island day tour
Kangaroo Island
Book a full-day Kangaroo Island tour from Adelaide (GetYourGuide/Klook or a local operator such as SeaLink, ~£180-200 incl. ferry, morning pickup and lunch) covering Seal Bay Conservation Park with a ranger talk, Flinders Chase National Park, Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch. Long day — 16+ hours door to door.
🚌Coach + ferry, included in day tour from Adelaide
🛏Hostel, Adelaide (~£30/night)
- →Ferry to Kangaroo Island
- →Seal Bay guided boardwalk
- →Flinders Chase National Park
- →Remarkable Rocks
- →Admirals Arch fur seal colony
Fly to Melbourne + city walk
Melbourne
Morning Jetstar flight Adelaide–Melbourne (~£55-85, 1h20). Self-guided Melbourne walk: Federation Square, Hosier Lane street art, Flinders St Station, Queen Victoria Market (free tram in the CBD zone), Fitzroy Gardens and the Shrine of Remembrance (free). Optional Eureka Skydeck (~£15-18). Book a Phillip Island tour for tomorrow.
🚌Adelaide–Melbourne flight ~£70; free CBD tram zone + SkyBus from airport ~£12
🛏Hostel, Melbourne CBD/St Kilda (~£32/night)
- →Flight to Melbourne
- →Federation Square
- →Hosier Lane street art
- →Queen Victoria Market
- →Shrine of Remembrance
- →Optional Eureka Skydeck
Phillip Island penguin parade
Phillip Island
Book a Phillip Island day/evening tour with GetYourGuide or a local operator (~£85-110 incl. transport, Koala Conservation Reserve and Penguin Parade general or Penguins Plus viewing). Bring warm layers — the parade is outdoors at dusk. Alternatively hire a car for the day (~£40 + fuel) and self-drive.
🚌Included in Phillip Island day tour
🛏Hostel, Melbourne (~£32/night)
- →Koala Conservation Reserve
- →The Nobbies boardwalk
- →Penguin Parade at dusk
Great Ocean Road day trip or Melbourne laneways
Melbourne / Great Ocean Road
Two good options: (a) full-day Great Ocean Road tour via GetYourGuide (~£75-100, 12 Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge); or (b) a slower city day — Royal Botanic Gardens, NGV (free), laneway coffee crawl and St Kilda beach/penguins at the pier. Book your Tasmania flights tonight if you haven't already.
🚌Great Ocean Road day tour incl. transport; city days on trams ~£5
🛏Hostel, Melbourne (~£32/night)
- →Great Ocean Road + 12 Apostles OR
- →National Gallery of Victoria (free)
- →Royal Botanic Gardens
- →St Kilda beach
Fly to Launceston → Cradle Mountain
Cradle Mountain National Park
Morning Jetstar flight Melbourne–Launceston (~£60-90, 1h10). In Launceston pick up a hire car (best way to do Tasmania independently, ~£35-45/day) or take the Cradle Mountain Coaches shuttle (~£30 one way, book in advance). Drive ~2h to Cradle Mountain, stopping at the Ashgrove or Van Diemen's ice creamery for a tasting. Evening: a self-booked wildlife spotlight walk or the Devils@Cradle after-dark viewing tour (~£30).
🚌Melbourne–Launceston flight ~£75; hire car ~£40/day
🛏Budget cabin or dorm at Cradle Mountain (Discovery Parks/CM Visitor Centre area, ~£45-60/night — this is a remote, pricey spot)
- →Flight to Launceston
- →Ice creamery tasting
- →Drive to Cradle Mountain
- →Optional Devils@Cradle night tour
Cradle Mountain walks
Cradle Mountain National Park
Buy a Tasmanian Parks pass (~£22 for 24h vehicle pass). Walk the Dove Lake circuit (6km, 2-3h, free shuttle from the visitor centre) and the Ronny Creek boardwalk (wombats likely). Afternoon at Devils@Cradle conservation park (~£20) or the Cradle Mountain Wilderness Gallery. Fuel up in the evening — self-catering saves a lot here.
🚌National park shuttle (free with park pass); hire car
🛏Budget cabin, Cradle Mountain (~£55/night)
- →Dove Lake circuit walk
- →Ronny Creek boardwalk
- →Devils@Cradle conservation park
- →Wilderness Gallery
Drive to Hobart
Hobart
Scenic drive Cradle Mountain–Hobart (~4h via the Midland Highway), stopping in Deloraine or Ross for lunch. Drop the car (or keep it for the Tasman Peninsula tomorrow). Self-guided wander of Battery Point's Georgian cottages, Salamanca Place and Constitution Dock. Book the Port Arthur/Mt Field day for tomorrow.
🚌Hire car drive ~4h (~£12 fuel)
🛏Hostel, Hobart CBD (~£30/night)
- →Drive through Tasmania's Midlands
- →Deloraine or Ross stop
- →Battery Point historic walk
- →Salamanca Place
Tasman Peninsula: Port Arthur + jet boat
Tasman Peninsula
Either self-drive to Port Arthur (~1h30) with entry ~£25, adding the Pennicott Tasman Island Cruises jet boat (~£110) — or book a combined Port Arthur + Tasman Peninsula day tour from Hobart via GetYourGuide (~£120-150 incl. transport and entry). Port Arthur includes 30+ historic buildings, the heritage gardens and the included harbour cruise.
🚌Self-drive (~1h30) or day tour pickup from Hobart
🛏Hostel, Hobart (~£30/night)
- →Port Arthur Historic Site
- →Heritage gardens and ruins
- →Tasman Peninsula jet boat ride
Fly to Sydney + Opera House
Sydney
Morning flight Hobart–Sydney (~£90-130, 1h45). Hostel in The Rocks or Surry Hills. Book a Sydney Opera House guided tour direct (~£25) for the afternoon, then walk the Royal Botanic Gardens and the harbour foreshore to Mrs Macquarie's Chair for bridge views. Cheap dinner in Chinatown or Spice Alley.
🚌Hobart–Sydney flight ~£110; Sydney Airport train ~£10
🛏Hostel, The Rocks/Surry Hills (~£40/night)
- →Flight to Sydney
- →Sydney Opera House guided tour
- →Royal Botanic Gardens
- →Harbour foreshore walk
Sydney: Bondi or Blue Mountains
Sydney
Choose: a Bondi Beach surf lesson (~£50, book direct), the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk (free), or a Blue Mountains day trip by train to Katoomba (~£6 each way, ~2h) for Echo Point and the Three Sisters — much cheaper than a coach tour. Optional Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb is ~£200+ if you want it.
🚌Opal card trains/buses ~£8
🛏Hostel, Sydney (~£40/night)
- →Bondi to Coogee coastal walk
- →Bondi surf lesson
- →OR Blue Mountains by train
Manly ferry + farewell dinner
Sydney
Morning ferry to Manly (~£5 each way with Opal — the best-value harbour cruise in Sydney), walk to Shelly Beach. Afternoon at the Art Gallery of NSW (free) or Queen Victoria Building. Final dinner with new hostel friends somewhere like Spice Alley or a Darling Harbour pub.
🚌Opal ferry ~£10
🛏Hostel, Sydney (~£40/night)
- →Manly ferry
- →Shelly Beach walk
- →Art Gallery of NSW (free)
- →Farewell dinner
Depart Sydney
Sydney
Last coffee, packing and airport train. If your flight is later, squeeze in a final harbour walk. Extend in Sydney if you want extra beach days.
🚌Sydney Airport train ~£10
🛏—
- →Airport transfer
- →Optional extra Sydney days
Self-launched vs. Globus
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Globus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£3,410 | £9,310 |
| Duration | 21 days | 21 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £5,900 per person (63%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Globus-style trips? Check them out here.~£3,410
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Australian Safari — Self-Launched (Brisbane to Sydney, 21 Days) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £3,410 per person for 21 days in Australia. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Globus?+
Yes — Globus charges around £9,310 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £3,410 — a saving of roughly £5,900 (63%) per person.
How long is the Australia trip?+
This itinerary runs 21 days, covering 21 day-by-day stops through Australia.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, wildlife, hiking trip through Australia, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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