Australia Tours in January 2026
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10 best Australia trips in January 2026
Compiled by
SteffAustralia travel expert at TourRadar
- Indian Pacific Train with Sydney & Perth
- Oz Intro + Work
- 6-Day Esperance & Margaret River Adventure Tour
- Best Of The East Coast – 16 Day Boutique Tour
- Tassie's Wilderness Icons (2025/2026, Best Buys)
- Tasmanian Wonders (2025/2026)
- Tassie's Parks and Nature
- 3 Day Great Ocean Road & Grampians Melbourne Loop Tour (Accommodated)
- Best of Australia with Sightseeing Tours
- Best of Australia
Duration 13 days Destinations Sydney, Blue Mountains, Broken Hill, Adelaide, Nullarbor National Park, Perth, Rottnest Island, Margaret River Age Range 10 to 84 year olds Operator Australia and New Zealand Travel Company January departure dates
See All Departure Dates18 Jan, 2026 10+ spaces left 25 Jan, 2026 10+ spaces left From
- NZ$9,180
Oz Intro + Work
51 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“It's nice when you come to another country where you don't know anything you start safe with a group of people.”
Marieke, traveled in February
Duration 10 days Destinations Sydney, Byron Bay, Surfers Paradise, Brisbane Age Range 18 to 35 year olds Operator INTRO Travel January departure dates
See All Departure Dates4 Jan, 2026 10+ spaces left 7 Jan, 2026 10+ spaces left From
- NZ$1,549
6-Day Esperance & Margaret River Adventure Tour
52 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Beautiful scenery & wildlife. Sleeping in the swag a novel experience & much more comfortable than I expected.”
Sian, traveled in March
Duration 6 days Destinations Perth, Busselton, Margaret River, Walpole, Albany, Cape Le Grand National Park, Esperance Age Range 12 to 75 year olds Operator Untamed Escapes January departure dates
See All Departure Dates5 Jan, 2026 10+ spaces left 12 Jan, 2026 10+ spaces left From
- NZ$1,615
Best Of The East Coast – 16 Day Boutique Tour
3 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“It was a small group of like-minded people. We loved it!!”
Lorene, traveled in October
Duration 16 days Destinations Sydney, Hunter Valley, Newcastle, Port Macquarie, Byron Bay, Noosa, Rainbow Beach, Fraser Island, Brisbane, Airlie BeachSee all destinations Age Range up to 90 year olds Operator Via Travel Australia January departure dates
See All Departure Dates11 Jan, 2026 10+ spaces left 25 Jan, 2026 10+ spaces left From
- NZ$11,611
Duration 6 days Destinations Hobart, Strahan, Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, Burnie, Launceston Age Range up to 99 year olds Operator AAT Kings January departure dates
See All Departure Dates14 Jan, 2026 10+ spaces left 21 Jan, 2026 10+ spaces left From $4,099
10% Off- NZ$3,689You save $410
Duration 10 days Destinations Hobart, Strahan, Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, Burnie, Launceston, Bicheno, Richmond, Port Arthur Age Range up to 99 year olds Operator AAT Kings January departure dates
See All Departure Dates14 Jan, 2026 10+ spaces left 21 Jan, 2026 10+ spaces left From $6,430
10% Off- NZ$5,787You save $643
Tassie's Parks and Nature
2 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The places we went, the history we learned, the adventures we had...so much in a short time, but not over done.”
Lisbeth, traveled in February
Duration 7 days Destinations Hobart, Queenstown, Strahan, Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, Burnie, Sheffield, Launceston Age Range 5 to 99 year olds Operator AAT Kings January departure dates
30 Jan, 2026 10+ spaces left From $5,910
12% Off- NZ$5,201You save $709
3 Day Great Ocean Road & Grampians Melbourne Loop Tour (Accommodated)
5 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“We leave from Melbourne at 7 am and after that moment he started to explain a lot of interesting information about the area, the history of the place.”
MichelaBondioli, traveled in March
Duration 3 days Destinations Melbourne, Geelong, Anglesea, Apollo Bay, Great Otway National Park, Loch Ard Gorge, Warrnambool, Grampians National Park, Halls Gap, MacKenzie FallsSee all destinations Age Range 6 to 75 year olds Operator Autopia Tours January departure dates
See All Departure Dates11 Jan, 2026 10 spaces left 15 Jan, 2026 10 spaces left From
12% Off- NZ$967
Duration 13 days Destinations Melbourne, Apollo Bay, Twelve Apostles Marine National Park, Yulara, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Daintree National Park, Sydney, Blue Mountains Age Range 5 to 80 year olds Operator Australia and New Zealand Travel Company January departure dates
See All Departure Dates11 Jan, 2026 10+ spaces left 12 Jan, 2026 10+ spaces left From
12% Off- NZ$6,480
Best of Australia
28 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“It was fantastic the CEO went out of his way to help me. He came to the hospital and sat with me while I got stitches!”
Bruce, traveled in October
Duration 14 days Destinations Cairns, Cape Tribulation, Airlie Beach, Whitsunday Islands, Byron Bay, Port Macquarie, Blue Mountains, Sydney Age Range up to 90 year olds Operator G Adventures January departure dates
See All Departure Dates1 Jan, 2026 10+ spaces left 8 Jan, 2026 10+ spaces left From
12% Off- NZ$6,079
What people love about Australia Tours in January
- 6-Day Esperance & Margaret River Adventure Tour
I was lucky to attend the "Secrets of Esperance" tour with our lovely tour guide An! The tour was perfect, our guide was very easy going and impressed us with her knowledge. We had a fantastic group, too! Over all the experience was well worth and I never felt in a rush or such. Highly recommended!
- Oz Intro
got to be one of the best things i have done in my entire life, andy did my hair everyday and it looks amazing, i love muffins.
- UltimateOz - Gap Year | ULTIMATE
Had the most incredible Ultimate Oz week with Becky and Kevin! They were both so friendly and helpful with all my questions about Oz travel
What our customers ask about Australia Tours in January 2026
What's the weather like in Australia during January tours?
January brings summer temperatures across Australia with distinct regional variations. The northern cities of Cairns and Gold Coast experience temperatures of 30-35°C (86-95°F). The Great Barrier Reef area offers clear warm waters ideal for water activities. Sydney and other southern destinations maintain milder temperatures around 26°C (79°F). Recent travelers on TourRadar note: "The weather was perfect for outdoor activities and swimming at locations like Whitehaven Beach and the Great Barrier Reef."
What are the most popular destinations to visit in Australia during January?
The summer season draws visitors to Australia's coastal and tropical destinations. The Great Barrier Reef Whitsunday Islands Cairns Gold Coast and Sydney top the list. North Queensland's mix of rainforest and reef experiences attracts visitors to Port Douglas and the Daintree region. Properties like Flynn Hotel Cairns and Paradise Links Resort Port Douglas serve as popular bases. A TourRadar traveler reports: "Having traveled to 50+ countries now this tour was one of the most epic trips I've ever done."
Are there any special events or festivals in Australia during January?
January's calendar features nationwide Australia Day celebrations on the 26th alongside city-specific events. Sydney comes alive with its Festival offering free outdoor concerts art installations and performances. Melbourne hosts the Australian Open tennis tournament drawing international crowds. Premium hotels like Crown Towers Melbourne fill quickly during these events making early bookings essential.
What wildlife experiences are best in Australia during January?
The summer month presents prime opportunities for wildlife observation. Visitors can watch whales in Hervey Bay spot kangaroos during early morning national park visits and observe koalas in their natural environment. A TourRadar participant notes: "We saw incredible marine life while snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef in January - the water visibility was perfect and we spotted sea turtles reef sharks and colorful fish."
Is January peak season for tourism in Australia?
As Australia's high season accommodation and activity bookings require 3-6 months advance planning. This applies especially to sought-after experiences like Great Barrier Reef tours and Sydney harbor cruises. Morning activities prove popular for avoiding peak heat particularly in tropical areas. One reviewer advises: "Book early morning reef tours for better conditions and fewer crowds especially during the summer peak season."
What are the best beach destinations in Australia for January?
Summer beach destinations range from Sydney's Bondi Beach to the Whitsundays' Whitehaven Beach and Byron Bay. Luxury coastal stays at The Byron at Byron or Intercontinental Hayman Island offer premium beachfront experiences. According to a TourRadar visitor: "The beaches were absolutely perfect in January - we loved staying right on Bondi Beach and exploring the different coastal spots."