Allow a minimum of three weeks. Any less than that, and I encourage you to focus on only one country. Five weeks would give you time to see three different areas of Australia without feeling rushed — Sydney, Uluru/Ayers Rock and the Great Barrier Reef is a popular grouping.

To truly experience both Australia and New Zealand in a single trip in 2026, a minimum of 21 to 28 days is highly recommended. These are two geographically massive and diverse countries that cannot be "seen" in a standard two-week vacation. For Australia, you need at least 12–14 days to cover just the highlights, such as the Sydney Opera House, the Great Barrier Reef (Cairns), and the Red Centre (Uluru). For New Zealand, a minimum of 10–14 days is required to explore both the North Island (Auckland and Rotorua) and the spectacular South Island (Queenstown and Milford Sound). Traveling between the two countries involves a 3.5-hour flight, and the internal distances within Australia are comparable to traveling across the entire United States. If you only have 14 days, the "pro" advice is to pick just one country or limit yourself to one city in each (e.g., Sydney and Queenstown). In 2026, with the rise of "slow travel" and the high cost of long-haul flights, most travelers find that a full month is the only way to justify the jetlag and see the incredible variety of landscapes these Pacific neighbors offer.