15-day itinerary

Below is proposed itinerary - ANY suggestions will be helpful, especially around transport (rail passes needed), or more suitable order of places to stay after hike.

25/3/17 - Fly Melbourne to Osaka (Kansai Airport). Train to Kii Tanabe.

Day 2: Local bus (40 mins) to Takijiri-oji. Start Kumano Kodo Nakahechi route.  Walk Takajiri-Oji to Takahara (4km, 2 hours). 

Day 3: Walk Takahara to Tsugizakura (13km, 6 hours).

Day 4: Walk to Yunomine Onsen.

Day 5: Walk from Yunomine Onsen to Kumano Hongu Taisha. 3.5 km (1 1/4 hour).

Day 6: Walk 13km from Kumano Hongu Taisha to Koguchi.

Day 7: Walk from Koguchi to Kumano Nachi Taisha. 14.5 km (5 hour walk). 20 minute bus ride to stay overnight in Kii Katsuura (fishing village).

Day 8: Train along the coast from Katsuura to Kyoto (4.5 hours).

Day 9: Kyoto overnight.

Day 10: Kyoto overnight.

Day 11: Kinosaki onsen overnight.

Day 12: Kinosaki overnight.

Day 13: Train to Tokyo (6 hours)

Day 14 : Overnight Tokyo

Day 15: Fly Tokyo (Narita Airport) to Melb.

Thanks.

Kyoto to Kinosaki is 2 hours. I dont think you need any more than one night in Kinosaki. Unless you are doing the complete unwind after all those hiking days.

Thank you. Will head to Kinosaki for one night only. Any other places woth staying overnight from Kyoto or Tokyo to fill that extra day?

I personally cant get enough of Kyoto.
But if you want something different, Koya san or Uji can be a relaxing place to stay overnight. Peaceful places.