Exploring Austria: How Long Should Your Trip Be?

Austria is a small country with a lot to offer, from its pastoral landscapes to its lively gastronomy and renowned art and music scene. If you're short on time, five days will allow you to see the top spots, but if you have more time, a week or ten days will allow you to explore the country's highlights in more depth. In ten days, you can see most of Austria's top sights by car or train. If you're visiting in December, you can enjoy the Christmas markets and see the cities lit up with festive lights.

How long to spend in Australia: 10 days is the recommended minimum, but the longer the better

Australia is a large country with a lot to see and do, so it's worth spending as much time there as you can. However, if you're short on time, 10 days is the recommended minimum.

In a week, you could visit some of Australia's famous highlights, such as Uluru, the Great Barrier Reef, and Sydney, but you'll spend a lot of time travelling. A better option is to explore one area in depth. For example, in a week, you could visit a stretch of coastline like the Gold Coast or get to know a couple of iconic cities like Sydney and Melbourne. Or, you could explore a single region like New South Wales.

If you have 10 days or a fortnight, you could venture into the outback or visit national parks. With three weeks or more, you could overland through the heart of the country, explore the Northern Territory, or tour Tasmania.

If you're planning an extended trip to Australia, make sure you have the right visa and travel insurance. The Travel Visa Australia Subclass 600 allows visitors over 30 to stay in the country for 12 months without having to leave every three months, although you can't work.

How to spend a week in Australia: explore one area in depth, like Sydney or Melbourne, or a single region like New South Wales

If you're spending a week in Australia, it's best to explore one area in depth, like Sydney or Melbourne, or a single region like New South Wales. This will save you from spending lots of time travelling from place to place.

If you're staying in Sydney, you could spend a day in the Blue Mountains, either by hiring a car or taking the train. You could also devote a day to exploring Bondi and the Coastal Walk, and another to the Harbour and the Opera House. Sydney also has plenty of incredible restaurants, including waterfront spots, and outdoor cinemas. There are also plenty of markets, beaches and easy day hikes to enjoy. You could also visit Surry Hills, Newtown and Enmore for a good variety of cafes and shops, or Double Bay for a taste of the high life.

In Melbourne, you can enjoy festivals, cheap eats, and plenty of family-friendly activities. You could also visit the Victoria Market for some amazing food, including bratwurst and doughnuts.

In New South Wales, you could spend a day exploring the vineyards of Mudgee and the Hunter Valley, or head to the coast to visit Port Stephens and Byron Bay. You could also visit the Southern Highlands, which offer a contrast to the bustle of urban life in Sydney, with mountains, caves, waterfalls, and quaint villages filled with historic homes and heritage sites.

How to spend 10 days in Australia: venture into the outback or visit national parks

In 10 days, you can venture into the outback or visit national parks in Australia. You could also explore one area in depth, such as a stretch of coastline like the Gold Coast or get to know a couple of iconic cities like Sydney and Melbourne.

Day 1: Arrive in Sydney and tour landmarks like The Rocks, Sydney Harbour, and Bondi Beach.

Day 2: Take an excursion to the Blue Mountains region.

Day 3: Head to Cairns for an Indigenous experience.

Day 4-5: Spend two days in Gold Coast to tour the beaches and enjoy some thrills.

Day 6: Visit Melbourne to experience the pub scene and embark on a wildlife tour of Phillip Island.

Day 7: Take a guided road trip through the Great Ocean Road.

Day 8: Venture into the "Red Centre" to visit the iconic Ayers Rock.

Day 9: Fly to tropical Cairns to cuddle a koala and snorkel the Great Barrier Reef.

Day 10: Explore the charming coastal towns and bewildering national parks along Western Australia's stunning Coral Coast.

How to spend 14 days in Australia: camp and hike in the outback, or journey between Darwin and Broome to explore the rugged Top End

Australia is a large country with a lot to see, so it's best to focus on one area. If you have 14 days, you could venture into the outback, or visit national parks.

One option is to camp and hike in the outback. You could book a multi-day tour that covers Uluru, Kata Tjuta National Park, and Kings Canyon. You can fly to Uluru from Sydney and begin your adventure there. You'll need to be prepared for the desert conditions, with strong winds and hot temperatures. You can expect to hike in the dark, using flashlights to guide your way, and you may need to wear fly nets to keep the insects at bay.

If you'd prefer to journey between two destinations, you could consider a road trip from Darwin to Broome. This trip covers around 1,850km and takes at least a week, but you'll want to spend longer if you plan to visit the National Parks near Darwin. The best time to take this trip is during the dry season, from May to October, when the weather is more predictable and the road conditions are better. You can follow National Highway #1 all the way, but there will be long stretches without phone or internet coverage. The roads are a mix of sealed and unsealed, so a 2WD or campervan will be fine, but if you want to tackle the more challenging terrain of the Gibb River Road, you'll need a 4WD.

Whichever option you choose, make sure you plan ahead, but leave a little wiggle room for spontaneity.

How to adapt to jet lag: try to adapt to local time as soon as possible, and allow for 7 days on land so you have time to adapt with no pressure to be anywhere

The length of your stay in Austria depends on what you want to do and see. If you're short on time, five days will allow you to see the top spots, but if you have more time, a week or ten days will allow you to see the highlights in more depth.

If you're travelling to Austria, you may experience jet lag. This is a type of fatigue caused by travelling across different time zones. The body needs anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to acclimatise to the new time zone – approximately one day for each hour of time zone change. To adapt to the local time as soon as possible, you can try a few different strategies. Before you leave, if you're flying westward, try to go to sleep as late as possible for two to three days. During the flight, limit or avoid alcohol and caffeinated drinks, and drink plenty of water. Try to nap whenever you feel sleepy and eat small meals frequently, choosing lighter foods like fruit and vegetables. When you arrive, maximise your exposure to daylight to 'reset' your body clock and nap briefly during the day when sleepy. Consume caffeine to help you stay alert and focused during the day, and wear dark glasses until you feel more adjusted.

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