You've probably heard most people tell you that to visit Australia, you need to set aside at least 2-3 weeks to really experience the country. For that reason, many people dream of Australia but never go. In an overworked America with few vacation days, how can it be possible to take that dream trip?

Well, I'm here to tell you that this country can be visited with only a week to spare, and you'll still come home with all the experiences you dreamed of.

The first trick, really, is to understand that you cannot see it and do it all. Instead of trying to cram in every single city or Australian icon into your itinerary, take a moment to sit back and really think about what it is you want to see and most of all experience while you are in Australia.

For example, say you want to experience the Great Barrier Reef, the Daintree Rainforest, and the Outback. A typical itinerary for this would often include going to Cairns and Ayer's Rock, usually with a stay in a major city. With only a week's travel time, this might be more of a whirlwind tour than you want, with only 1 or 2 nights in each destination. But if you want to see the Outback, but don't necessarily care about Ayer's Rock, you can fly into Cairns and base your travels out from there - it is the perfect stopping destination for both the Rainforest & the Reef, and is also a short distance from the Australian Outback. Full day tours can take you out to the Outback from Cairns or the Northern Beaches, or head out to Wrotham Park Lodge (only 300 km west of Cairns) for a unique stay on a working cattle ranch. Thus, you can leisurely spend a week in Cairns (or a combination of, say, five nights in Cairns with 2 nights at the Wrotham Park Lodge), and gain the Australian experiences you desire: reef, rainforest, and outback - even some great Aboriginal experiences at Tjupakai.

This is just one example of how a week can be spent in Australia. The key really is to focus in a single region, rather than trying to traverse the entire country. Sydney, for example, not only has the vibrant city to explore, but the Blue Mountains just outside the city offer gorgeous scenery, and the Hunter Wine Valley within easy day's reach offers award-wining wineries and boutique resorts.

This is where working with an Australia Specialist, rather than just purchasing a standard package to Australia, can really benefit you. They know the regions in detail and can truly help you plan your stay, making the most of your short week there. Tourism Australia can put you in touch with their Premier Aussie Specialists on their website at www.australia.com.

So don't give up on Australia even if you only have a week vacation time to spend there - you can still have the experience of a lifetime by focusing in on a particular region. You'll not only get to experience more of the 'real Australia' by spending in-depth time in one region, but you'll come home with plenty of stories and pictures to share to make friends and family wonder: "You did all that in a week?"