Itinerary for 3-5 week backpacking trip in Australia (Nov)?

Question

I'm trying to plan a backpacking trip to Australia for between 3-5 weeks in November, but after reading tour info don't know where to start! I have about £2000/2500, which needs to include return flights from the UK. Can any one give me any ideas/experiences to narrow my confusion down! I'd love to see any number of places including Perth, Sydney, Cairns, Alice Springs, Uluru and the great barrier reef. Perth is a definate, but after that I'm more interested in seeing less cities. Is the trip from Perth-Cairns a better option than Sydney-Cairns? And can I find my way from Cairns to Alice Springs? I'm planning on staying in hostels/tents/anything really, just want to explore. Does anyone have any ideas?

I realise the distances involved, hence asking if there was any ideas on how to manage the trip! It sounds like it is too much to do in one trip with the time and money I have. Perth has to be definate as I have family there who I need to see after not seeing them for a long time. Ideally I will fly in/out of Perth from the UK. Could it work then to start in Perth for a few days, then fly to Sydney and work my way up to Cairns with the 3/4 weeks I have and then just fly back to Perth to go home? And how can I see Uluru on this route - best to go from Sydney-Uluru-Cairns?
Thanks.

Answer 1

i suggest you look at a map of Australia(with distances on it) then decide what/where you can afford to see & go Perth-Cairns are on diffrent sides of the country & Uluru is about 1/2 way
as you will have to fly to fit in all those places in the time you have you may not have enough money to do it all

Answer 2

The trip from Perth to Cairns by road will take you a couple of weeks by itself. Australia is huge. The only way to get around in the time available is to fly and that will make quite a dent in your budget. It is a pity Perth is definite, it is so far from anywhere else. To put things into perspective, Perth to Sydney is the same distance as London to Baghdad. Sydney to Cairns is similar to London to Moscow.

Answer 3

I'd definitely be flying between the places you want to see .... it's a long way from A to B here. You really shouldn't miss the Barrier Reef - DON"T drive there though. Byron Bay is a must, Sydney's great, Driving from Sydney to Melbourne would be good, lots to see on the way and not too far. Jervis Bay just south of Sydney is really stunning - a trip to the Blue Mountains just west of Sydney should be done, and can be done as a day trip. I don't know much about Victoria, but I'm sure there's lots to see on the way to Melbourne. It really depends which aspects of Australia you want to cram in - a Lonely Planet guide would give you a lot of good ideas.

Answer 4

its a 1000.00 dollars just to fly from sydney to perth so if you fly everywhere you wont have the funds to do it all,and the time allowed isnt enough to do it all unless you fly