20 days in New York City & Hawaii Itinerary

Writer Pearl Buck once called New York City “a place apart,” and this giant urban center remains unlike any other in the world.

New York City is known for museums, nightlife, shopping, historic sites, and parks. Your plan includes some of its best attractions: take in the pleasant sights at Central Park, admire the masterpieces at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, make a trip to Grand Central Terminal, and learn more about the world around you at American Museum of Natural History.

To find photos, more things to do, maps, and more tourist information, read our New York City road trip app .

Melbourne, Australia to New York City is an approximately 26-hour combination of flight and bus. You can also do a combination of train, flight, and bus. The time zone difference when traveling from Melbourne to New York City is minus 15 hours. When traveling from Melbourne in December, plan for colder days in New York City, with highs around 10°C, while nights are a bit cooler with lows around 2°C. You'll have a few hours on the 3rd (Fri) to wrap things up before traveling to Honolulu.

In many ways much more Asian than American, Honolulu is Hawaii's largest city and its center of government, transportation, commerce, and tourism.

Explore Honolulu's surroundings by going to Pu’u O Mahuka Heiau State Monument (in Pupukea), Haleiwa (Sunset Beach Park & Waimea Bay) and Kailua Beach Park (in Kailua). There's still lots to do: steep yourself in history at USS Arizona Memorial, step aboard Battleship Missouri Memorial, enjoy the sand and surf at Waikiki Beach, and see the interesting displays at USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park.

For other places to visit, photos, maps, and tourist information, read our Honolulu day trip planner .

Do a combination of bus and flight from New York City to Honolulu in 14 hours. Alternatively, you can fly. The time zone changes from Eastern Standard Time to Hawaii Standard Time, which is usually a -5 hour difference. Expect warmer temperatures when traveling from New York City in January; daily highs in Honolulu reach 32°C and lows reach 22°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 7th (Tue) to allow time to travel to Hilo.

One of the island of Hawaii's major towns, Hilo contains a mix of Asian and Polynesian cultures and is known for its proximity to a national park encompassing two active volcanoes.

Change things up with these side-trips from Hilo: Mauna Kea (in Kailua-Kona) and Kilauea Iki Trailhead (in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park). There's much more to do: admire the sheer force of Akaka Falls State Park, admire the natural beauty at Liliuokalani Gardens, see the world from above with a helicopter tour, and appreciate the extensive heritage of Basically Books.

To see photos, traveler tips, and other tourist information, go to the Hilo travel itinerary planner .

You can fly from Honolulu to Hilo in 2.5 hours. Expect a daytime high around 32°C in January, and nighttime lows around 20°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 10th (Fri) early enough to travel to Kula.

Kula is a district of Maui, Hawaii, that stretches across the "up-country", the western-facing slopes of Haleakalā, from Makawao to Ulupalakua. On the 11th (Sat), learn about winemaking at Maui Wine, Ulupalakua Vineyards, stop by Ali'i Kula Lavender Farm, then brush up on your knowledge of spirits at Ocean Vodka Organic Farm and Distillery, then relax in the rural setting at Surfing Goat Dairy, and finally experience rural life at No Ka Oi Protea Farm. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 12th (Sun): look for all kinds of wild species at Waikamoi Preserve, take in nature's colorful creations at Kula Botanical Garden, and then tour the pleasant surroundings at Wailua Valley State Wayside Park.

For more things to do, traveler tips, maps, and more tourist information, go to the Kula day trip site .

You can fly from Hilo to Kula in 2.5 hours. Another option is to do a combination of bus and flight. January in Kula sees daily highs of 32°C and lows of 20°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 12th (Sun) to allow time to travel back home.