travel down east coast australia

Australia East Coast Road Trip Itinerary: A Complete Guide

Australia’s East Coast is one of the most popular places in the world to travel. It spans the length of Queensland and into New South Wales, and features the larger cities of Cairns and Brisbane. With its world class beaches, ancient rainforests, endless adrenaline activities and charming towns, it’s truly a destination like no other. So the main aim of this guide is to equip you with everything you need to know to plan your own Australia East Coast road trip itinerary.

I’ve done three road trips along Australia’s East Coast (mad, I know!). The first time, I joined an organised tour from Brisbane up to Cairns. It was fast paced and more fun than I could have ever imagined. The second time, I chose to do the journey more slowly in a camper van south from Cairns to Byron Bay. For the third visit, I did an awesome but far shorter one week road trip from Byron Bay to Noosa. So I feel I’ve got really sound experience in devising an East Coast itinerary.

One of the best things about the East Coast of Australia is the sheer variety in things to do. On each East Coast trip, I’ve ended up doing completely different things and each road trip has been equally incredible.

If you’re trying to decide which direction to travel the East Coast, there aren’t really any overarching reasons to go one way and not the other. The biggest factors will be around your plans before and after the East Coast, plus the time you have available. If you are planning to take 6+ weeks, I would suggest perhaps starting in Cairns. Then you could carry on driving south past Brisbane and on towards Sydney and Melbourne.

For the purpose of this blog post, I will share an Australian East Coast road trip itinerary starting in the tropical city of Cairns in the north. From here, the itinerary will weave south past pristine beaches, rugged mountains ranges, waterfalls, tropical rainforest, charming surf towns, some of the world’s best diving spots, as well as the epic K’gari island (also known as Fraser Island).

This guide is aimed at all travellers, with suggestions for both backpackers and those on a slightly bigger budget throughout. It can be used for anyone travelling in Australia as it covers all the best things to do along the East Coast.

Australia East Coast Road Trip Itinerary: Essential things to know

Wow, so where to start! Some of the most important things to consider for an Australia East Coast road trip itinerary are time of year to visit, vehicle type and budget. So let’s get stuck in!

When is the best time to travel the East Coast of Australia?

First things first – when is the best time of year to plan a road trip for Australia’s East Coast?

As you can see below, Australia is a huge country. You can fit about two thirds of Europe into its land mass. And therefore, the weather across the whole of Australia does vary, especially more so in the Australian winter months (May to September). I’ve summarised this below, but do make sure to check out my detailed Australia climate guide too.

Cairns, in Tropical North Queensland, is the largest northernmost town on the East Coast and has hot weather year-round. However, this is divided into two distinct seasons – wet and dry.

During the Australian winter ( May to September ), Cairns experiences warm, dry weather and low crowds .

During the Australian summer ( November to April ), Cairns is hot and humid, with plenty of rain . This tropical monsoonal starts building up in December and by January, the rains are mostly daily and can be torrential.

Although the days can still be hot and sunny, the tropical rains can make diving conditions more challenging, and visibility worse for seeing underwater life. And as Cairns is popular for diving, it could be a real shame to visit and not be able to enjoy this fully.

Another key factor with Cairns and the surrounding area is stinger season. This refers to the presence of tiny stinging box jellyfish in the water. The sting can be extremely painful, and can be fatal in some cases. If you do visit in the months when this is at its worse (Jan to March), you will have to wear stinger suits in the water.

So, where possible, visiting Cairns in the Australian winter means long, sunny days, with minimal rain and no stingers in the water. As mentioned above, conditions for diving in the Great Barrier Reef are optimal with perfect water temperatures and visibility in excess of 50m. It’s also an excellent time to see the magnificent Daintree Rainforest at its best and full of life. Furthermore, the water levels are ideal so white water rafting is an awesome activity to during this time, but can often be too dangerous during the months from January to March.

From personal experience, I found the weather in Cairns during August/September to be perfect. We were able to experience every activity and as this is the start of spring, there was plenty of colour and life in the plants and trees. On my second road trip, we were in Cairns in the month of December which was still quite good, although noticeably hotter and humid. It was early December and we experienced no rainfall, but prices for accommodation were higher. I also got stung by a rogue stinger who had made an early arrival into the waters in the Great Barrier Reef. It was very painful for about 30 minutes, and then the sting subsided.

So to summarise, it depends on the activities you plan to do in Cairns as to when is the best time to visit, but generally the months from May to September are best.

Then, at the southern end of Queensland is Brisbane. It receives some of the most enjoyable and reliable weather in Australia throughout the year. It has a warm-temperate climate, meaning there are few days you’d need a jumper.

As with Cairns, the Australian summer from January to March bring the hottest and most humid weather . During this period is the highest chance of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms, although they are mostly in the late afternoon.

The best time to visit Brisbane is April to May and September to November , when temperatures are comfortable and humidity and rainfall are low. However, June through to August is also a great time to go to Brisbane, but the temperatures are slightly cooler.

I found Brisbane in the months of September and December to be really lovely, with long hot, sunny days. However, visiting Brisbane and the surrounding area in February did bring a lot of rain.

So when should I plan my East Coast road trip?

Overall, visiting Queensland, which spans from Tropical North Queensland to just south of Brisbane, is best avoided from January to March in order to have the best experience for most activities. If you’re embarking on a longer Australia trip, then it might be best to spend these months in New South Wales (Sydney and surrounds) and Victoria (for Melbourne and surrounds), as the weather here is at its peak from January to March. The same goes for visiting the Outback, which is generally best visited from April to October/November.

If your Australia trip is focused purely on the East Coast, with the Cairns to Brisbane road trip being the primary focus, then a trip from May to August would be the best time. This also avoids stinger season completely. It would be slightly cooler in Brisbane, but you would still unlikely need a jumper or a jacket.

If you’re on a longer trip in Australia, then as just mentioned, you could spend December – March exploring Victoria and New South Wales, before then heading to the East Coast from April onwards. Alternatively, you could do the Australia East Coast Road Trip Itinerary during August, September and/or October, before heading down to Victoria and New South Wales onwards for the better weather during the Australian summer.

How long does it take to travel East Coast Australia?

If you’re short on time, then it can be done in two weeks. This would cover the highlights. If you can spare longer, perhaps 4-6 weeks you’ll have enough time to see and do just about everything, and have some time to relax!

If you have two months or so, then an awesome adventure would be to drive from Cairns to Melbourne which would easily take in some of the very best parts of Australia. You’d traverse through some seriously different climates and experience both the tiniest beach towns as well as the huge, cosmopolitan cities of Sydney and Melbourne.

Should I go for a car or a camper van for my East Coast road trip?

Any road trip in Australia is best with a camper van. The freedom is unparalleled and you can truly travel at your own pace.

With a camper van, you can adjust your itinerary more easily and generally, it offers better value as the camper van doubles up as your accommodation each night. However, a camper van isn’t for everyone as space can be challenging.

The main camper van companies in Australia are:

• Spaceships Rentals
• Wicked Campers

Pros and cons of a camper van

• Can save costs on more expensive hotel or lodging accommodation
• It can save money on food costs as you have your own stove/kitchen area in the van which is great for easy breakfasts and some dinners
• Is a good way to split fuel costs between friends if there’s a few of you
• You can easily stay longer somewhere you like if you don’t need to look for accommodation
• There are many free campsites, motorway rest stops or areas to park and sleep overnight (check Wikicamping and the state parks’ app/websites )
• You can sleep and wake up so much closer to nature
• You don’t need to carry suitcases or bags in and out of hotels
• In the busiest months, the cost of a camper van can be steep
• You will spend more on fuel as the vehicle is heavier
• Making the bed each night can get a little tiring and sand from the beaches gets everywhere
• You can’t really keep the air-con on overnight without draining the battery, so it gets hot!
• Also, it’s likely you will lose stuff within the van all the time. There are just way too many cubby holes and spaces for things to fall down
• There may be some days you go without a shower
• Can be moments where it’s difficult to park, especially if you visit cities like Brisbane
• There are many ways to lose money from your deposit with a camper van as there are so many more parts to it to break!

If you really fancy resting your head somewhere a little more comfortable each night, then a car is a great option. You still have a huge amount of freedom, but just slightly less freedom as you do need to find somewhere to sleep each night.

Pros and cons of hiring a car

• Lower initial cost for renting a vehicle
• Also lower petrol costs
• Easier to park in general
• You have a boot to keep your suitcase in, and act as an on-the-go wardrobe space
• Less risk of losing things as the vehicle is way smaller
• No need to go without showers and guaranteed a slightly more comfortable and cooler sleep every night
• May save money if hotels, lodges etc include breakfast in the rate
• Need to find a place to stay each night, which can be expensive and time consuming/stressful in peak season
• In my option, there’s a slight less feel of ‘adventure’ with a normal hire car, as opposed to a camper van

Joining an organised tour or using bus services

I joined an organised tour one year with Topdeck (read all about the trip here ). Generally, I don’t tend to join multi-week tours but it was aimed at students and more than 40 of my friends booked on. So as you can imagine, it was one of the best experiences of my life. I enjoyed some awesome adventures each day, with nearly all meals and activities included, it was excellent value. Except for skydiving, all other activities were already paid for, including bungee jumping, white water rafting and admission to the Australia Zoo.

Organised tours along the East Coast of Australia are very popular, but naturally, they don’t allow for any freedom or adjusting the itinerary at all. However, it can be a great way to meet people and have all logistics taken care of.

Some great companies include: Contiki , G Adventures , the Oz Experience, Intrepid

Stray also has a great value Cairns to Sydney bus pass, which you can book online here .

Another alternative is to use bus services such as Greyhound or Premier. Both of these companies offer dozens of buses stopping at hundreds of convenient stops across the East Coast every day. Plus, you can book the tickets just the day before and sometimes on the day, which can be really handy. If you don’t fancy driving the East Coast yourself, this is a great way to travel. They also offer hop-on hop-off bus passes which can be great value – for example, Greyhound has a bus pass that covers you for 90 days and starts at around $349.

Greyhound offers the slightly more expensive bus tickets of the two, but the buses are comfortable and offer on board Wi-Fi.

Finally, I wouldn’t recommend planning to do this trip by hitchhiking. It’s not as common as movies might suggest!

Eating on the East Coast

Three meals a day, plus snacks and coffees/drinks can add up quickly when travelling in Australia.

Fortunately, BBQ-ing in Australia is every bit as popular as you might imagine. There are gas BBQs all over Australia in parks, by beaches, in national parks and next to boardwalks. They are free to use and really easy to operate, most having utensils to use too. There’s always plenty of table space nearby and it’s one of the most easy ways to assimilate into Australian life, as these are equally popular with locals and tourists.

Supermarkets are really geared up to this, and their meat section sells all kinds of meats in different marinades, making it really easy. Furthermore, they always have a delicatessen section with choose-your-own salad bowls and side dishes. It couldn’t be more simple to pull together an amazing BBQ spread in Australia.

The big supermarket chains are Woolworths and Coles, which have the most competitive pricing and a huge range. In some smaller locations, you might find an IGA or a SPAR which can be a tad more expensive.

When you don’t feel like cooking or don’t have the chance to do a food shop, there are popular fast food chains such as Hungry Jacks and Pie Face, or smoothie chains like Boost. I personally prefer to sample the local food in cafes in town, or a family-owned fish and chip shop instead. There are also plenty of pubs in Australia, which are pretty cheap but the quality can be a bit iffy (like Wetherspoons in the UK).

A popular place for a pub-like meal on a Sunday is the local Surf Life Saving Club, and you’ll see these dotted all along the coastline – particularly in the Gold Coast. Mostly aimed at local members, they nearly all welcome in tourists (with sign-in at the door). It’s a very Australian experience if you like beer, local live musicians and ridiculously big portions of chips, nachos and battered fish!

Then of course there are excellent restaurants all across the East Coast.

Deciding where to stay on the East Coast – hotels, lodges, hostels or camping

Even if you do the road trip along the East Coast in a camper van, there will be some nights where you’ll need to opt for a campsite for its shower facilities.

And there are hundreds of campsites along the East Coast. Some are your traditional pitch and stay camping grounds, and some are huge, expansive holiday resorts. Whilst these are typically aimed at domestic travellers, everyone is welcome and you may be blown away by the facilities.

The best resources for campsites on the East Coast of Australia are:

• Pitchup (can book directly on this site too)
• Tourism Australia
• Camping in Queensland
• Camping in NSW

The East Coast is also home to hundreds and hundreds of hostels. There are also some hostel chains in Australia, and nearly always one where you’re travelling. The two biggest chains are Nomads and Base. Staying in one of these means a fairly reliable and comfortable experience. The dorms are clean and secure, and the social areas are often amazing. Staying in hostels add to a quintessential Australia experience. I’ve had some brilliant stays and met some awesome people.

However, I prefer now to travel and stay in hotels where possible. On my most recent visit to Australia, we had a hire car and spent our nights in various Airbnbs and hotels along the East Coast. We stayed in some amazing Airbnbs, including a treehouse in the Gold Coast and a Balinese style villa in Noosa.

However, throughout this itinerary I will suggest a couple of options for each destination that cover campsites, hostels and hotels. I’ve managed to stay in all three types nearly everywhere along the East Coast now, so I’ve got some good experience!

Money and Budget

The currency in Australia is the dollar (AUD). Generally across Australia card payments are widely accepted, and contactless is very popular as the limit is $200.

For slightly more remote locations or for any really small villages you visit, I would recommend keeping cash on hand.

In terms of budgeting, prices are approximately the below:

Accommodation:

• Camping site (tent) – $10-20 per night
• Camper van spot at campsite – $20 – $50 per night, depending on size and facilities of the campground/holiday resort
• Double room in a value hotel or holiday resort: $100-140
• Double room in a 4 or 5 star hotel: $200 – $300 depending on time of year you visit

Food (based on two people):

• On-the-go coffees: $9
• Fast food or take away meal: approx $20
• Local cafe or pub meal: $60
• 3 Course meal in a good restaurant: $140-200

In terms of alcohol, it’s not sold at supermarkets but instead at bottle shops such as Dan Murphy’s. Prices are a little more than in the UK and the US, but they do sell boxed wine, affectionally called ‘goon’ in Australia. Boxed wine doesn’t taste the best BUT it’s cheap and lasts longer than a bottle!

Excursions and activities are likely to be your greatest expenditure. There are so many bucket list activities on the East Coast of Australia vthat I highly recommend putting budget aside so you can make the most of these. As an indication, here are the approximate prices of several activities:

• Animal sanctuary entrance fee: approx $40 per adult
• 15,000 ft sky dive in Cairns: $359 per person (not including video or photos)
• Entry to Daintree National Park and canopy walk: $35 per adult

As an approximate guide, the AUD to GBP conversion is roughly half. So animal sanctuary entrance is around £20 ($40).

The AUD to USD conversion is about 1.5, so animal sanctuary entrance is around USD $25 (AUD $40).

Finally, fuel in Australia is similar in price to the UK, but more expensive than the USA. Fuel for the whole route could cost around AUD$600-800, or more depending on detours you might take.

Deciding where to go on your Australia East Coast Road Trip Itinerary

So you’ve decided when to embark on your epic road trip, and you’ve got your vehicles or bus pass sorted. Now the fun part – deciding where to go!

If you can’t already tell, I love the East Coast of Australia. It has everything AND warm weather year round.

As mentioned above, I have driven the route in both directions but my favourite was probably the Cairns to Brisbane drive. This would also be considered the most iconic road trip for the East Coast of Australia too. It spans world class beaches, dozens of stunning national parks as well as incredible Great Barrier Reef and the twinkly Whitsunday Islands.

So for the purpose of this blog post, we’ll be starting in Cairns but this itinerary can be modified in any way, and of course started in Sydney, Byron Bay or Brisbane. I also list the minimum to maximum number of days needed in each place to help you plan and decide where to visit.

The most important thing to remember is that Australia is BIG . The Cairns to Brisbane road trip spans 1,682km (or 1,045 miles), and that’s taking the most direct route without any detours. It’s around 19 hours of driving if you were to go straight through. There are also some seriously long stretches of driving without any major towns or stops too.

One thing you must remember is to fill your car or van with fuel whenever you can. Never leave a town with less than a full tank – I speak from experience!

So without further ado, let’s jump in with our first stop, Cairns!

Suggested time for Cairns: 3-5 days

This tropical city is one of my favourite places in Australia. Although the town is somewhat unassuming, the adventures to be had in and around Cairns are epic!

The relaxed tropical lifestyle in Cairns will ease you in to an Australia road trip, but could also make a relaxing end point too to your road trip.

Cairns could easily be one of the places where you choose to spend longer, but only if your budget allows. There are countless awesome sights to see and places to visit in Cairns , but the tours can add up and makes Cairns quite an expensive stop. That being said, one of the best things to do in Cairns is free – and that’s spending the day at the incredible Esplanade Lagoon in the heart of town.

Best things to do and see in Cairns

Free or low cost:

• Cool off and relax in the magnificent Cairns Lagoon
• Take a road trip to the Daintree Rainforest at Cape Tribulation via Port Douglas
• Spend the day in the Behana Canyon, a swimming hole surrounded by dense rainforest. Why not join this tour .
• Eat and drink your way around some of the beautiful waterside restaurant and bars
• Visit the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Centre

More expensive but bucket list activities:

• Join a boat trip to the incredible Great Barrier Reef where you can snorkel or learn to dive
• Take a boat out to the stunning Fitzroy Island
• Brave the ultimate leap of faith at the AJ Hackett bungee jump centre
• Go ATV riding in the rainforest
• Take the train to spend the day at the Kuranda Rainforest Skyway , an awesome journey across the rainforest finishing at the epic Mossman Falls
• Enjoy a hop on hop off beer and drinks tour of Cairns
• Join a tour of the Atherton Tablelands , and visit beautiful waterfalls and scenic lakes (including the famous Milla Milla Falls)
• Enjoy a foodie tour and wine tasting in the Atherton Tablelands
• Visit the Daintree Rainforest and enjoy Cape Tribulation .

Blow-the-budget fun:

• Book a super special day on the Sunlover Reef pontoon , where you enjoy all the activities at this mini village floating on the Great Barrier Reef
• Organise a helicopter ride over the Great Barrier Reef, a true once in a lifetime experience, or even a scenic flight !
• Enjoy an epic skydive over Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef

Where to stay in Cairns

In Cairns, there are no free camping options in the city centre, but there are some paid campsites on the edge of town. Make sure to check this guide on camping near Cairns .

And here are my best picks for accommodation in Cairns:

Best luxury stay: Shangri-La at The Marina (£90pn) or the Pullman Reef Casino (from £97pn)

Great value mid-range stay: Pacific Hotel Cairns (from £63pn)

Best hostel: Gilligans Backpacker Resort (dorm from £17pn, private room from £70) has some of the best facilities I have experienced anywhere. It’s a lively party place but does also offer great value if you book out a 4 or 6 bed dorm for your group.

Cape Tribulation, Port Douglas and the Daintree Rainforest

• Suggested time for the Daintree Rainforest: 1-2 days
• Driving distance from Cairns to Port Douglas: 68km (1hour) along the Captain Cook Highway
• Driving distance from Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation: 75km (1h30)

This beautiful corner of Australia is home to the Daintree Rainforest, which is the world’s oldest! It is also unique as it the only place in the world where two UNESCO World Heritage-listed sites meet – the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef.

Cape Tribulation however is considered one of the most dangerous beaches in the world. This is due to the huge population of crocodiles that reside here, as well as the often-fatal stings from Box Jellyfish in the water.

Whilst driving to Cape Tribulation can easily be done as a full day trip , it’s well worth an overnight stay if you have the time. I would perhaps recommend opting for a small hire car for the day, instead of taking a camper van however. The roads can be narrow and difficult to drive, especially as you get deeper into the rainforest. Note that driving further north from Cape Tribulation towards Cooktown and the Cape York Village requires a 4WD and some previous experience essential as the tracks here are very challenging.

Port Douglas on route is also a beautiful upscale resort town which is definitely worth a stop for a few hours. The beach is beautiful and over four miles long, and its main street is packed with quirky shops and independent cafes and restaurants. If you visit on a Sunday, make sure to check out the beachside markets too.

In terms of activities in the Daintree forest, there are plenty:

• Soar above the rainforest on a zipline adventure
• Explore the rainforest from the elevated walkways
• Take on some of the best hikes, including the Mount Sorrow hike
• Spot crocodiles on a river cruise on the Daintree River
• River drift snorkelling near Port Douglas
• Explore the deserted and untouched beaches, and see where the rainforest meets the reef
• Visit the Daintree tea plantation
• Swim in the Mossman Gorge

The Cairns to Port Douglas drive is spectacular, with the road weaving between the rainforest and the azure ocean. The views are stunning. From Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation, the road is often surrounded by the dense, lush rainforest and you have to take a small ferry to cross the Daintree River. I’ve written a complete itinerary guide to driving from Cairns to Cape Tribulation, so make sure to check this out.

In terms of places to stay in Port Douglas or Cape Tribulation, there are some wonderful eco-stays including:

• Niramaya Villas & Spa (around £450pn)
• Noah Creek Eco Huts (around £157pn)
• Thala Beach Nature Resort (around £220pn)

In Port Douglas, there is also the beautiful Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort (from £129 pn) too or the stunning Shantara Resort (from £229 pn).

Alternatively, you can of course join a day trip, such as this one which is a full day exploring the Daintree rainforest, the Mossman Falls and Cape Tribulation . Or this day trip, which includes a stop at Port Douglas and Wildlife Habitat .

Mission Beach

• Suggested time for Mission Beach: 1-2 days
• Driving distance from Cairns to Mission Beach: 139km (1h50)

Next stop, Mission Beach. In my opinion, the drive from Cairns south is stunning with the Bruce Highway bordered on both sides by sugar cane plantations, followed by banana trees. The first moderate sized town is Innisfail, which I personally don’t think is worth a stop. So I recommend heading straight to Mission Beach. Make sure to look out for cassowaries at the side of the road!

Mission Beach is popular with backpackers for its laidback vibes and excellent beaches. What it lacks in obvious activities and sightseeing opportunities, it makes up for in huge stretches of glorious sandy beaches and walking tracks in the rainforest. I’ve only ever stopped at Mission Beach in October and December which is stinger season, so we could not enter the water.

I would recommend a night in Mission Beach, especially as it provides a decent break in the long drive between Cairns and Townsville, which is the next large town (347km, 4hrs). Mission Beach is also right next to Tully’s River, which is home to some of the best white water rafting in Australia.

Book your white water rafting trip to Tully’s River here!

Where to stay in Mission Beach

• Best luxury stay: Castaways Resort & Spa Mission Beach (from £100pn)
• Good value mid-range stay: Mission Reef Resort (from £54 pn)
• Best hostel: Jackaroo Treehouse (from £30pn)

Townsville & Magnetic Island

• Suggested time for Townsville: half day (but longer if visiting Magnetic Island)
• Driving distance from Mission Beach to Townsville: 235km (2h40)

This large town is largely residential and also home to a big Australian military and naval base. I personally don’t think there’s a huge amount to see in Townsville but it is home to my absolute favourite wildlife sanctuary in Australia, which is the Billabong Sanctuary .

I cannot recommend stopping at this amazing wildlife sanctuary more! It’s the perfect place to meet a whole host of the most iconic Australian animals, such as the echidna, wombat, koala and kangaroo. Billabong Sanctuary is a really well-run wildlife centre, with lots of opportunities for animal interaction, plus the location itself is beautiful. It’s located 17km south of Townsville, so you could spend the afternoon there as you continue on your road trip south.

Townsville is the starting point for the ferry to Magnetic Island. This slice of paradise is popular with backpackers but a little less frequented by other types of tourists. I haven’t been to Magnetic Island, so I cannot comment from personal experience but I understand it’s super-laidback and full of beautiful, scenic spots. Make sure to book your ferry tickets from Townsville to Magnetic Island in advance here.

If you do choose to spend a night in Townsville, the Oaks Gateway Suites offer great rooms at a good price (£67 pn). Alternatively, there is a BIG4 Holiday Park at Rowes Bay with beachside cabins from £50.

Airlie Beach & The Whitsundays

• Suggested time for Airlie Beach & The Whitsundays: 2-5 days
• Driving distance from Townsville to Airlie Beach: 273km (3h10)

Airlie Beach is the gateway to The Whitsundays, and this stop is a must-do on any East Coast road trip itinerary. Make sure to read my detailed guide to visiting the Whitsunday Islands here .

The town itself is popular with backpackers, although there are few luxury hotels. Those on a slightly smaller budget or tighter time frame can visit The Whitsundays on a full day boat trip.

But if you have time, then I highly recommend splurging on a sailing trip around the Whitsundays. You can spend around 2-3 days on living onboard a sailing boat, where you can snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef and visit Whitehaven, one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

Alternatively, you could stay on one of the Whitsunday Islands for a couple of nights, for the ultimate barefoot paradise experience.

There are some amazing resort hotels in The Whitsunday Islands, with the InterContinental Hayman Island being one of the very best stays.

I’ve done both a sailing trip and a 3 night stay on the islands, and I honestly couldn’t say which I preferred. Both were incredible.

For day sailing trips, you could wait to book this in Airlie Beach, but you risk the boats being full, so I recommend booking a tour in advance. Here are a few excellent suggestions:

• Whitsundays Full-Day Catamaran Sailing Adventure from Airlie  (£108pp)
• Half Day Whitsunday & Whitehaven 6-Hour Cruise  £63pp)
• Whitsundays Ocean Rafting Tour: Snorkel, Walk & Whitehaven  (£85pp)

For 1 or 2 night sailing trips, you could check the below companies:

• OzSailWhitsunday s (2 day, 2 night trips) – starts at £208pp
• Whitsundays Sailing Adventures  (offer a 1 night sailing trip) – starts at £216pp
• The same company also offers an awesome  3-day, 2-night sailing and diving trip  – starts at £390pp
• Red Cat Adventures  (2 nights) – starts at £260pp
• Wings Whitsundays Adventure  (2 nights) – starts at £260pp
• ProSail offer 2 or 3 night sailing adventures – starting at £398pp

Back on Airlie Beach, there isn’t a huge amount to do, so if you choose to visit the islands as a day trip, you could spend a relaxing day at the Airlie Beach Lagoon.

But this could be a place to splurge and explore the Whitsundays from a difference perspective entirely. For example, this  1-hour scenic flight over the Whitsundays Island archipelago  looks incredible, or what about a  tandem skydive over the Whitsundays ?

Or you could go all out with a  helicopter trip to the Whitsunday Islands . It even lands on Whitehaven beach – possibly the most incredible day imaginable.

Slightly further inland from Airlie Beach (and slightly more affordable), there are some great hiking routes in the Conway National Park and waterfall swimming at the beautiful Cedar Creek Falls.

Where to stay in Airlie Beach

There’s a huge number of places to stay in Airlie Beach, covering every budget. In fact, you can find some seriously nice stays at very good value. Here’s my pick:

• Base Airlie Beach (dorm from £16 per night, double from £53)
• Big4 at Whitsundays Tropical Eco Resort (camping from £19 per night)
• Magnums Airlie Beach (from £31 per night)
• Mantra Club Croc Airlie Beach (from £57 per night)
• Airlie Beach Hotel (from £82 per night)
• Mirage Whitsundays (from £117 per night)
• Coral Sea Resort Hotel (from £139 per night)

Where to stay on the Whitsundays

I’ve written about all the various options in the Whitsundays in more detail, which I recommend you check out.

Fortunately, there’s a good range of tropical island resorts to stay on, with Daydream Island offering excellent value. Rates here start from £150 per night.

One of the most luxurious resorts to stay in in the Whitsunday islands is the InterContinental Hayman Island  (formerly the One&Only). Rates start from around £450 per night.

Alternatively, some other ultra-lux options include:

• Beach Club , an opulent hotel on Hamilton Island . Rates start from £397 per night
• Elysian Retreat  can only host 20 people at any time, and is the ultimate in barefoot luxury with all stays on all-inclusive basis. Rates start at £630 per night.
• Or, the exceptional Paradise Cove Resort. I recommend this excellent boat tour and 2 nights all inclusive in a secluded villa  at the island resort. (£311 per person)

Capricorn Caves

• Suggested time for the Capricorn Caves: 1/2 day
• Driving distance from Airlie Beach to the Capricorn Caves: 460km (5hrs)

The stretch south from Airlie Beach is a long one – I think the second longest stretch of driving on this road trip. Optional stops before the Capricorn Caves include Mackay, a small quiet town with some lovely cycling and hiking, but no essential bucket list adventures. After Mackay, the next potential stop point would be Rockhampton, where (without exaggerating) there is nothing to do.

I recommend breaking up the long drive from Airlie Beach to the next key stop (Hervey Bay/K’gari Island) with a visit to the Capricorn Caves. These are fairly near to Rockhampton, so depending on the time you arrive in this area, you may want to consider an overnight stay near Rockhampton or a little further south at Gladstone (137km/1hr41).

The Capricorn Caves are called this because they are located on the Tropic of Capricorn. They are an awesome complex of caves, with over 1.5km of passages to explore. They only way to visit is on a tour, often called the ‘Cathedral Tour’ as they all take in the incredible largest cave, which often holds wedding and special events. The acoustics are incredible and it was like nowhere I’d seen before.

Book a tour to the Capricorn Caves here!

Taking around one hour in total, it’s well worth a visit and is often missed off travellers’ East Coast itineraries.

Suggestions for affordable places to stay around this area:

• Mackay: Central Tourist Park (£41 per night)
• Rockhampton: Denison Boutique Hote l (£54 per night)
• Capricorn Caves: Capricorn Motel (£65 per night)
• Gladstone: Barney Beach Accommodation (£50 per night)

Rainbow Beach

• Suggested time for Rainbow Beach and K’gari Island: ideally 3-4 days
• Driving distance from Rockhampton/theCapricorn Caves to Rainbow Beach: 601km (6hrs40)

From the Rockhampton area onwards, there are a few stops to consider including Agnes Water/1770 and Bundaberg. The latter is famous for its rum, and visiting the Bundaberg Distillery makes for a brilliant stop. Make sure to book a tour to the local brewery too!

The town of 1770, sometimes written as Seventeen Seventy, is the second spot in Australia that James Cook and his crew landed in the year 1770. We did stop here and I was fairly disappointed with the lack of things to do and see, so I wouldn’t necessarily recommend visiting.

So unless you make a brief stop at Bundaberg, I recommend driving straight through to the Rainbow Beach area. It’s a long old drive, that’s for sure! Looking back, that was why we stopped at 1770 – to break it up!

Rainbow Beach is located in the Great Sandy National Park and is a tiny backpacker town, surrounded by huge, towering sand dunes. The town is mostly a starting point for Fraser Island tours, but you can definitely spend a relaxing day here too.

One of my favourite things to do in Rainbow Beach is climb the huge Carlo Sand Blow and admire the spectacular views across the ocean. The Great Sandy National Park is well worth exploring too – you can even do this on horseback !

Where to stay in Rainbow Beach

There are quite a few places to stay in Rainbow Beach, many of which offer great value stays. Here are my suggestions:

• Freedom Hostels (formerly Dingos) – from £26 per night
• Pippie’s Beach House – from £77 per night
• Rainbow Ocean Palms Resort – from £110 per night

K’gari Island

K’gari Island, previously referred to as Fraser Island, is one of the most popular things to do in Australia. Most tours here are typically aimed at a young backpacking crowd and last 2 days/1night or 3 days/2 nights. There are several other options, including day trips too but as the world’s largest sand island, there’s something special about staying overnight if you can. Unless you have a 4WD drive and significant experience driving on sand, you won’t be able to take your own car to K’gari Island. Several tours however let tourists drive the company’s 4WD vehicles though on what they call a ‘tag along’ basis .

If you book an overnight K’gari Island tour you will have a briefing the evening before departure at 6pm, so you’ll always need to stay the night before in Rainbow Beach. You may also want another night in the town once you come back from K’gari so you don’t have to rush straight off. However it’s worth nothing that you can also start a K’gari Island from trip from Noosa or Hervey, if you prefer.

K’gari Island is a bucket list activity in Australia and for good reason. For many people, K’gari Island is the highlight of their Australia trip!

You definitely should book your K’gari Island tour in advance. Do not leave it for on arrival in Rainbow Beach/Hervey Bay/Noosa, unless you’re arriving several days in advance (at least).

These are the best K’gari Island tours:

• Full day Fraser Island tour from Rainbow Beach (£125pp)
• 2 day/1 night tour from Rainbow Beach (£218pp)

Best things to do on Fraser Island

• If you’re over 21 and on a tag-along tour, you’ll have the opportunity to drive the 4WD along the sand, which is epic
• Swim in the crystal clear freshwater Lake Mackenzie
• Bathe in the beautiful Champagne Pools
• Drift along the natural lazy river at Ely Creek
• Explore the tropical rainforest
• Spot dingos (wild dogs) from afar
• If on an overnight tour, spend the evenings around the campfire drinking and relaxing with new friends
• Drive along 75 Mile Beach
• Hike up to Indian Head to spot sharks and stingrays
• Explore the Maheno shipwreck
• Hike to Lake Wobby

If you visit Fraser Island on a one day tour from the mainland, you’ll be able to do most of the above, but at a quicker pace.

• Suggested time for Noosa: 2-4 days (or as long as possible..)
• Driving distance from Rainbow Beach to Noosa: 117km (1hr37)

Noosa is an absolute must-visit on any East Coast road itinerary and is hands down my favourite place in Australia. Whether you’re a backpacker, on honeymoon, a group of friends or a family, Noosa is the perfect place. The town centre is charming with some brilliant shopping, the beaches are phenomenal and the surrounding scenery is just breathtaking. It’s also the place in Australia where I’ve seen the most koalas in the wild.

Best things to do in Noosa

• Explore the magnificent Noosa National Park, which is easily accessed whether on foot from the town centre or if you drive to its entrance and park
• Beach hopping from Noosa Main Beach to the dog-friendly waters at the Noosa Spit and over in Noosaville too
• Get surfing or take part in a surf lesson
• Go on a dolphin-watching safari by kayak , where your chances of seeing dolphins are super high
• Bar hopping along Main Street
• Tucking into some of the town’s best food, including the phenomenal Spanish set menu at 10 Hastings Street
• Kayak through the Noosa Everglades
• Hike nearby Mt Coolumb
• Get stuck into the craft beer scene in Noosa
• Drive to nearby Emundi to go to the popular Farmer’s Market, running Wednesday to Saturday until 1pm or so
• Go hiking in the magnificent Glasshouse Mountains

Most of Noosa’s main attractions revolve around the beautiful beaches, the National park, the surf and the food. It’s pretty easy to see why I love it so much.

Where to stay in Noosa

There are some beautiful places to stay in Noosa, covering all budgets and preferences.

Best luxury hotels: There are some amazing hotels in Noosa. Some of top luxury stays would be Noosa Shores (£350), Netanya or the beautiful Sofitel Pacific Resort (from £158 per night). However, there’s also the more affordable Peppers Resort on the beach (from £92 per night) and Tingirana .

Good value stays: My favourite good value spot is 10 Hastings Street Boutique Motel . It also has one of the best restaurants town downstairs! Rates start from about £60 per night.

Best hostels: Nomads Backpackers is the best spot in town. Dorm rooms start at £37, or a double is £44.

• Suggested time for Brisbane: 1-2 days
• Driving distance from Noosa to Brisbane: 141km (1hr44)

Queensland’s big city! Brisbane is a modern metropolis, with year-round warm weather and unique city beaches. I like Brisbane, but not even half as much as Melbourne and Sydney.

It’s probably a great city to live in, but visiting for a couple of days at a time, I have never fallen for Brisbane. However, it does have a fantastic manmade city beach at South Bank where I have spent many hours catching the rays.

I also have to recommend my favourite restaurant in Brisbane, which is New Shanghai located in the Myer Centre on Queen Street. There’s a few of these dotted across Australia, but for me, the Brisbane one is just amazing.

Things to do in Brisbane

Brisbane as a city may not be quite as cosmopolitan and lively as Melbourne and Sydney, but it does happen to make a fantastic base to visit other nearby areas. The winter months are an especially lovely time to visit the city, so make sure to check out this guide to the top things to do in Brisbane in the winter .

For example, if diving is your thing, then there are some impressive shipwrecks at Moreton Island.

You can also visit the famous Australia Zoo near Brisbane , which is of course known for being founded by Steve Irwin himself.

• Take a boat ride along the river onboard a Kookaburra River Queens Cruise, which are old style paddlewheel vessels
• Hike a bike to explore the city or join a guided segway tour
• Spend some time in the city’s magnificent Botanical Gardens
• Join a guided kayak tour along the river
• Visit the city’s impressive collection of museums and art galleries
• Take the river boat to the popular Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary on this excellent city tour
• Go shipwreck diving at Moreton Island or visit on snorkelling day tour
• Take a day trip to the beautiful Stradbroke or Bribie Islands

Where to stay in Brisbane

Best luxury hotel: W Brisbane is the coolest place to stay, with rooms starting from £127 per night. Another great luxury hotel would be The Westin (from £155 per night).

Great value stay: Royal on the Park is a beautiful hotel, and a steal with rooms starting from £53 per night

Best hostel: Bunk Hostel (dorms from £21) or Base Brisbane (dorms from £11)

Cairns to Brisbane road trip itinerary

So there’s my Australia East Coast road itinerary, covering the Cairns to Brisbane drive. As you can see, this route takes in countless iconic Australian experiences. I would say this is easily one of the best road trips in the world.

For international travellers coming to the end of the trip, Brisbane makes a wise finishing point as it has an international airport.

However, for those flying onto Australian domestic destinations or with more time, then I highly recommend continuing your journey. For example, onto the Gold Coast and Byron Bay where there are domestic airports in both destinations. If you have plenty of extra time, you could do the Brisbane to Sydney drive. Although this is another 1000km and 10hrs driving, the beaches are fantastic. However, as mentioned before, the drive from Byron Bay to Sydney would be quite cool if done in the Australia winter (May to August).

Brisbane to the Gold Coast and Byron Bay

• Driving distance from Brisbane to the Gold Coast: 99km (1hr10)
• Suggested time for the Gold Coast: 1-4 days
• Driving distance from Brisbane to Byron Bay: 166km (1hr50)
• Suggested time for the Byron Bay: 1-4 days
• Driving distance between Gold Coast and Byron Bay: 93km (1hr)

Both Gold Coast and Byron Bay are popular holiday destinations with Australians as well as international travellers. And as mentioned, with domestic airports near both locations, you could potentially also finish your road trip itinerary further south of Brisbane. For example, we finished our road trip from Cairns at Ballina Airport, which is just near Byron Bay. This was really convenient as there were rental companies to return you car or camper van.

Gold Coast and Surfer’s Paradise

Gold Coast is a city made up a dozens of smaller beach areas, with expansive stretches of white sand and some of the best surfing in Australia. This whole area is the most popular tourist place in Australia. It’s like visiting a beach resort town in Florida, USA or a resort in Spain. Gold Coast is where young Australians flock to party and have fun every summer, and there are a lot of bars and activities geared towards this. Surfer’s Paradise is at the heart of all the action but I wouldn’t recommend spending long here, unless partying is something you’re keen to do.

The other beach areas surrounding Surfer’s Paradise are amazing, and a great spot to recoup for a couple of days. In fact, the challenge can be deciding which beach to spend the day at.

Alternatively, Gold Coast is packed with all kinds of tourist attractions, including theme parks like Wet’n’Wild and Dreamworld . My personal favourite thing to do in Gold Coast is to visit Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary . This is a brilliant place to spend a full day. Plus, they have their own wildlife hospital with huge glass windows so you can see all kinds of animals being operated on. On the day we went, I saw birds, tortoises and koalas being treated!

Best things to do in Gold Coast

• Go hiking in nearby Tamborine Mountain or get your adrenaline pumping at the high ropes course
• Or why not visit Mt Tamborine and stop by the beautiful wineries and distilleries on this tour with lunch
• Explore Springbrook National Park and swim in the refreshing waterfalls
• Meet some of Australia’s most unique wildlife at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
• Head to the farmer’s markets at different beaches – my favourite is at Burleigh
• Rent bikes and cycle from one point to another, for example Burleigh Heads to Mermaid Beach
• Explore the stunning waterways of Coolangatta
• Join a surf lesson in Surfer’s Paradise
• Visit the World-Heritage Listed Lamington National Park and explore the beautiful waterfalls and landscape
• Check out the incredible views from the Sky Point Observation Deck

Where to stay in the Gold Coast

There is a seriously huge amount of places to stay in the Gold Coast. It’s hard to even know where to start.

If you are looking to get stuck into the nightlife, then you could stay right in the heart of Surfer’s Paradise .

Otherwise, I recommend picking a beachside community for a couple of days such as Burleigh or Coolangatta . Due to the sheer number of hotels and places to stay in the Gold Coast, you can definitely find some good value stays!

Check rates for all hotels, lodges and holiday parks in the Gold Coast here.

I’ve stayed in several areas around the Gold Coast, and I particularly love the InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort . This resort is beyond stunning, with a huge lagoon beach swimming pool, and access to an amazing health club with golf and tennis.

I could have stayed here for weeks, so I’d say, if there was once place to splurge en route, it would be this resort!

Book your stay at the InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort here.

There’s a certain magic in the air in Byron Bay that makes so many fall in love with the town. So many travellers arrive for a couple of days, but end up staying for weeks.

The main thing Byron Bay is known for is surfing, but there’s so much going on away from the away from the waves. The town is particularly popular with backpackers who get quickly drawn into Byron Bay’s hippy, bohemian, anything-goes lifestyle. But there’s increasing appeal for honeymooners, families and even those looking for a spot of luxury.

Best things to do in Byron Bay

• Hit the waves, or take the chance to learn to surf
• Beach hop – as well as the main beach, visit Clarks Beach, Tallow Beach, Belongil Beach and The Pass
• Go dolphin-spotting from your kayak
• Hike to the Cape Byron lighthouse, the most eastern point in Australia
• Visit one of the many local markets, for example the Byron Bay Artisan Market (every Saturday evening from October to March)
• Enjoy live music at one of the awesome bars
• Shop at some the wonderful unique boutique stores
• Stop for happy hour at some of the excellent cafes
• Explore the craft beer scene in Byron Bay
• Experience a scenic hot air balloon journey over Byron Bay
• Get up and close personal with the elusive platypus a nature walk with a local guide
• Take a day trip to nearby Nimbin, a small hippie town stuck in the 60s which is famous for its very liberal attitude towards marijuana. There’s an iconic bus tour which you can book onto.
• Dance the night away with local musicians performing on Main Beach
• Explore the beautiful Nightcap National Park with waterfalls and great hiking routes
• Go hiking along the trails in the Arakwal National Park, followed by a swim in the ocean
• Have a delicious dinner at The Roadhouse , just on the edge of town
• Drive to Byron Bay Farm for day surrounded by farm animals, and for some seriously delicious food

Where to stay in Byron Bay

Best luxury hotel: Far and away, the most opulent hotel is Elements of Byron Resort & Spa . It’s perfect for couples, groups of friends and honeymooners. Rates start from around £245 per night, per villa.

Other great upscale stays include Atlantic Byron Bay (from £130 per night), Azur Villas (from £142 per night), The Bower Byron Bay (from £151 per night).

Great value stays: Bayhaven Lodge (from £71 per night) or Byron Palms (from £70 per night)

Best hostels: There are plenty of hostels in Byron Bay, as it’s so popular with backpackers and Australians visiting for ‘schoolies week’. There is the Byron Bay YHA , Nomads and Wake Up! all with similar rates for double rooms and dorm rooms (around £33 per night).

Finally, I couldn’t not mention the iconic Arts Factory Lodge . Located just outside of town in a beautiful forested area, this a mammoth campground, lodge and artsy bohemian stay all in one.

We chose to stay here with our camper van which was great – it has a pool, on-site cafes and bars, and even things like didgeridoo lessons! A dorm bed here is around £14 per night, and a double room around £68 per night.

Australia East Coast Road Trip Itinerary

So that rounds out my super long and very detailed itinerary guide for an East Coast Australia road trip.

I really hope this is useful for you if you’re planning a trip to the beautiful East Coast of Australia. As you can see, there is literally so much to do, particularly on the Cairns to Brisbane stretch. And as I said, you can do the highlights in two weeks, but the longer you have, the more you’ll be able to take in and soak up. Ideally, a month to 6 weeks would be the best for an Australia East Coast road trip itinerary.

If you enjoyed my Australia East Coast road trip itinerary guide, then please do consider sharing through one of the below links, that would be amazing. Also, if there’s anything else I can share or answer for you, please do let me know in the comments below.

For further Australia guides, please do check out my other guides:

• Visiting the Whitsunday Islands
• Noosa Travel Guide
• Best day trips from Cairns
• Cairns to Cape Tribulation road trip
• Taking the Ghan train from Darwin to Alice Springs

Wanna see more? Check my Instagram  here , my Facebook  here  or my Twitter  here !

Disclaimer: This Australia East Coast road trip itinerary guide is based on multiple visits to Australi a . There was no involvement from any local companies or the tourist board . However icelolly.com arranged two local tours on the East Coast: dolphin watching in Noosa and entry to Currumbin Wildlife Park.

Enjoyed my guide to an Australia East Coast Road Trip Itinerary? Pin it!

You may also enjoy:

Exploring the australian outback: darwin to …, best day trips from cairns: 10 activities …, best time to visit australia – climate …, new zealand travel guide: best places ….

What an incredible resource! Thank you so much! Do you have something similar for New South Wales and Victoria?

Thank you! Unfortunately no! Although I lived in Victoria, I didn’t travel the state as extensively as Queensland 🙁

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East Coast of Australia – A Complete Travel Guide

By: Author Sunset Travellers

Posted on Last updated: December 31, 2023

Categories Australia , East Coast Of Australia

So you are planning to travel the East Coast of Australia?

Awesome! There is a lot of East Coast of Australia must do’s, and it is one of the most popular backpacker routes.

We spent a month travelling the East Coast of Australia and attempted to see everything it has to offer.

From pristine white-sand beaches, lush rainforests, natural wonders to iconic sites and cosmopolitan cities, it is one of the best road trips anyone could do in Australia.

What cities are on the East Coast of Australia?

The East Coast has a lot of larger and smaller cities worth exploring. From the famous Sydney to lesser-known places such as Seventeen Seventy. 

Here are the top 10 cities to include on your East Coast itinerary:

• Magnetic Island
• Whitsunday Islands
• Fraser Island
• Rockhampton
• Rainbow Beach
• Sunshine Coast
• Coffs Harbour

Here are the most important tips for travelling the East Coast of Australia

How long does it take driving up the east coast of australia:.

As I’m sure you know, Australia is huge so make sure you plan out how much time you have (sounds obvious but it can be a lot bigger than you think!).

So how long is Australia’s East Coast???

The distance between Cairns and Sydney on the coastal route is almost 2 600 km which is about 30 hours of solid driving time.

You could easily drive the distance in a week, but you won’t be able to explore what the coast has to offer.

Ideally, you need a month or two to travel the East Coast of Australia and truly explore it.

If you are on a budget and have less time, two-three weeks will also be sufficient enough. It will just mean that you won’t be able to spend too much time sightseeing.

Most of the popular destinations such as Cairns, Whitsundays and Sydney will require at least three+ nights to experience these places.

We highly recommend at least one month.

Best time to travel the East Coast of Australia ( Australian weather):

The most popular time to travel the East Coast of Australia is during the summer (December-February), however, it is also the hottest and rainiest season in tropical Northern Queensland.

We recommend travelling in the offseason, spring (September-November) or fall (March-May), when there are fewer crowds, prices are lower, and the weather is still good along the coast.

Make an actual plan on where are you are going to make your stops, what you want to see, and how much you wish to spend in each place.

Travelling up or down the east coast of Australia can be a nightmare if you are short on time!

Ideally, you are looking at 48-72 hrs+ at each location.

How to travel the East Coast of Australia on a budget:

Well, you can make it as cheap as you want or splash out a stay at Airbnb’s and hotels. Keep in mind Australia is expensive, so expect to pay top $ for accommodation.

The most popular cities are going to be much more expensive than you might be prepared for. 

Unless you seriously budget, you are looking at 2-3k+(depending on how long you are travelling and where you are going to sleep).

But I highly recommend you book one of these East Coast Australia tours!

Here are typical prices you will find on the East Coast road trip:

$20-40 per night in a hostel dorm booked via Hostelworld . 

$90-200 for a hotel room via Booking.com.

$4 for a long black coffee.

$10 for a pint of beer ( you might want to opt-in instead for the goon, i.e. boxed wine).

$10-20 for a main course in a restaurant.

If you are on a budget and relying on hostels, you might want to buy your own groceries and cook your own food to cut down the costs. 

Don’t worry we will talk about prices and give you more info on how much everything costs further down.

Driving the East Coast of Australia:

Here are our five best ways of getting around Australia’s East Coast:

• Greyhound or Premier busses
• Hop on Hop off with Oz Experience, Loka or Stray Travel
• Go on a fully guided tour 

The best and cheapest way to travel is in your own car or a campervan.

If you don’t own a car, hiring a campervan in Australia might be your best option.

There are a lot of budget-friendly campervan hire websites, such as :

• Wicked campers
•   Aussie campervans
• Vroom  – they compare most websites for the best price and availability.
• Holiday Autos – comparison car rental website.

If you are very flexible, you can get a relocation deal where you hire a campervan for $1 a day. Here you usually get 5-7 days to travel from point A to B.

Keep in mind that there is usually $1000 deposit required and little to no fuel allowance.

If you want to know more about relocations read this guide.

Cost of fuel on the East Coast of Australia can be high. Expect to pay $500-700 for fuel depending on the length of your journey.

To find free and low-cost campsites make sure to download CampsAustraliawideApp and check CaravanTour.com .

Greyhound buses in Australia are another great option for the east coast of Australia. They do ‘hop on hop off’ passes.

Cairns to Sydney pass, for example, costs $469 and you have three months to travel.

Keep in mind that with these passes there are few rules:

• the first day of travel must commence within 12 months of purchase date
• they are valid for one-way travel only
• valid for 90 days from the date the first sector is travelled
• the pass is non-transferrable
• once you have started travel, you cannot change direction

If you have little time, we recommend looking into flights, they, however, tend to be expensive.

We always use Skyscanner to find the cheapest deals.

Don’t forget to join as many Facebook groups as you can; people constantly post spare seats there.

Accommodation options on the East Coast of Australia road trip:

The options are limitless, but if you want to stay within a budget, then hostels are your best bet.

Hostelworld.com    and Tripadvisor are the most popular websites when it comes to finding a discounted place.

Hostel dorm prices start at $20-50 and up. Depending on the city and location, the prices may vary.

Keep in mind that Sydney is one of the most expensive places when it comes to accommodation, therefore, expect to pay $50+ for a bed in a dorm.

We usually book via  AirBnB as the accommodation is not too expensive, in great locations, and you get excellent advice from the locals.

Food cost on the East Coast of Australia road trip:

If you are staying in hostels or self-contained accommodation, then it’s easy (well besides the cooking part).

Food is expensive , and if you add parties to it, then it is easy to spend $70-150 a day!

Yes, we know that from our experience, again that’s for two people.

There is a lot of fast food places where you can get a burger for $5. When it comes to restaurants, they are more expensive, and a meal can cost anything from $10-30+ depending on what you want to order.

Here is a list of the best restaurants on the East Coast of Australia.

We recommend buying cheap drinks such as 3l of goon (boxed wine).

Connecting with other travelling the East Coast of Australia backpackers:

There is a great app called Backpackr that can help you chat with others like-minded backpackers and get good advice on where to go, what to see or where to eat.

The app helped us a lot, and you can meet cool people near you for a coffee, pint or just to hang out with.

Make sure to join Facebook groups to find travel mates.

What are the best places to visit on the East Coast?

Australia East Coast must-see places:

The perfect east coast of australia itinerary for 4 week’s holiday, cairns – 4-day itinerary.

The main reason most people travel to Cairns is to explore The Great Barrier Reef and pristine white sand beaches.

Cairns doesn’t have a beach, but there is the Cairns Lagoon where you can relax, go for a swim, have a picnic or BBQ.

It is a very lively backpacker town packed with great bars, restaurants, hotels and tour agencies.

There is a lot of travel desks offering cruises to the reef. We did a lot of research before decided on the company.

Here are the best Great Barrier Reef snorkelling or diving cruise companies:

• Silverswift ($216+ per person for cruise and snorkelling)
• Passions of Paradise ($159+ per person).

If you are thinking about a cheaper company, make sure that they are going to the outer reef as the waters are much clearer there.

Cairns also has an amazing Rainforest, and you can explore it via rail.

The Kuranda Village , located in the rainforest is accessible via the   Kuranda Scenic Railway . On the way back, we decided to take a cable car called the Skyrail .

The price is about $116.50 per person for both experiences and a return transfer to your hotel, well worth it!. In high season, book this tour in advance, as it gets fully booked.

Also, make sure to experience it in the order we did, as it’s the most amazing experience you will ever have!

While in Kuranda visit the markets, art galleries and the  Butterfly Sanctuary .

While in Cairns, make a trip to Fitzroy Island .

You can take a ferry there for the day since is close to mainland or book overnight accommodation. It’s a lied back place, great for relaxing and getting a bit of tan on the beach.

Just make sure you won’t go there to experience the reef as you will be disappointed.

Townsville and Magnetic Island – 3 day itinerary (approximately 4 hours drive from Cairns)

Magnetic Island is located within 30 minutes ferry ride from Townsville. The island is famous for hiking and exploring nature.

The main trails include The Forest Walk where you can spot koalas in their natural habitat and the Radical Bay .

The second walk goes from Horseshoe Bay and to get most of it, make sure to return back to the base before sunset as the Horseshoe Bay is famous for its stunning sunsets.

To book the ferry to the island simply go to Sealink Queensland website. The return ferry costs $30 per person.

The island has plenty of accommodation and you can find a nice Airbnb for as little as $20 per night.

Airlie Beach and The Whitsunday Islands – 4-day itinerary (approximately 3-4 hours drive from Townsville)

Airlie Beach is the getaway point to Whitsunday Islands. We stayed here for 4 days at an Airbnb .

There are other accommodation options, however, most of the centrally located hostels and hotels host parties until late at night.

The Whitsunday Islands are East Coast of Australia must do!

To explore the islands we recommend a cruise with Cruise Whitsundays.

For an all-day package including breakfast on Daydream Island, lunch on Hamilton Island and all afternoon at Whitehaven Beach we paid $200 per person.

Airlie Beach is also well known for Great Barrier Reef day cruises to Reefworld .

We highly recommend this cruise as you get to explore the most beautiful parts of the reef.

If you have more time book a sailing cruise through Whitsunday Sailing Adventure . They have amazing deals for sailing trips around the Whitsundays!

For those on a very tight budget looking to see the Whitehaven Beach, therefore we recommend checking some of these tours .

Rainbow Beach and Fraser Island – 3 day itinerary (approximately 11 hours drive from Airlie Beach)

Since there isn’t much between Airlie Beach and Rainbow Beach, you can drive this distance in a day.

We, however, don’t recommend doing so.

Instead, split this distance into two parts.

Part one: Arlie Beach to Rockhampton (approximately 6 hrs drive)

Here stay at campground, hotel or hostel and explore the Capricorn Caves .

Part two: Rockhampton to Rainbow Beach (approximately 5.5 hrs drive)

On the way to Rainbow Beach stop at the Bundaberg Distillery .

Once you reach Rainbow Beach, there are several companies available to explore Fraser Island.

East Coast of Australia tour companies worth checking out:

• Fraser explore tours
• tours to go
• cool dingo tours

Prices for the two-day tours usually start at $350 per person. It isn’t one of the cheapest experiences, but if you can afford it we highly recommend to do 2+ day trip to Fraser.

Make sure to book your tour well in advance, most of all we want you to avoid disappointment.

Fraser Island is worlds biggest sand island, therefore you simply cannot explore it in one day.

Sunshine Coast – 4 day itinerary (approximately 2 hours drive from Rainbow Beach)

Sunshine Coast has the perfect beach – mountains combination and it is a perfect stop on the East Coast of Australia trip.

Make sure to first explore the long stretches of golden sandy beaches and then wander into Glasshouse Mountains and the  Blackall Range ( download pdf map here ).

Spend a day at the Kondalilla National Park , the park has incredible mountain views and stunning waterfalls. There is usually no one around the park during the shoulder and offseasons.

You will also find here Steve Irwin’s Zoo where for $59 (adult general admission), you can explore this world-famous attraction.

The Gold Coast – 3 day itinerary (approximately 2 hours drive from Sunshine Coast)

Gold Coast is famous for Surfers Paradise, skyscrapers, number of theme parks and endless walking/cycling tracks.

Make sure to rent a bike for the day and explore the area. On day two, cycle all the way to Miami and Burleigh Heads.

Burleigh Heads is a much quieter area, where you can relax at small cafes or soak up the views of Gold Coast from the beach.

Gold Coast is packed with bars and restaurants and has a lively nightlife.

If you are here for something different and looking to relax, head to one of the World Heritage-listed parks such as:

• Tamborine Mountain
• Springbrook

Sydney – 7 day itinerary (approximately 10 hours drive from Gold Coast)

The distance between the Gold Coast and Sydney is over 800km, therefore, it might be a long journey for one day.

Instead, we recommend splitting it into two days.

Part one: Gold Coast to Coffs Harbour (approximately 4 hours drive)

Here take a detour to nearby Dorrigo National Park (one hour drive from Coffs Harbour) and explore this World Heritage-listed rainforest.

The park has a beautiful waterfall, plenty of breathtaking viewpoints and lots of rest/BBQ areas. It’s a perfect destination for all nature and bird lovers.

Part two: Coffs Harbour to Sydney (approximately 5.5 hours drive)

We spent over a week here and highly recommend 5-7 days Sydney itinerary to explore the city.

Accommodation in Sydney is very expensive (in fact, one of the most expensive so far), therefore we decided to take Airbnb as the prices were much lower in comparison at the time.

While here go to the worlds biggest IMAX Cinema  screen.

Take ‘ Sydney Hop on Hop off ‘ bus to Bondi Beach  and explore each area (about $40 per adult for a day pass).

Also, don’t miss out on checking out  Sydney Opera House and the famous  Sydney Bridge .

Make sure to visit Manly Beach reachable by ferry for about $18.20 per person/return.

If you are looking for something different and close to nature, then go to the Blue Mountains .

The Blue Mountains are only 2 hours outside of Sydney and are easily accessible via train (less than $20 one way).

If you want to take a great picture of the Opera House at sunset, go to a park by Mrs Macquarie’s Chair. You don’t have to take a boat tour to get excellent pictures.

If you are going to Manly by ferry, you will swim right by Sydney Opera House,  probably the best selfie opportunity.

See as much as you can and spend some time in each place so that you will never regret that you missed something!

Wondering what is the best month to go to australia.

Seasons in  Australia  are opposite to those in the Northern Hemisphere, with summer from December through February, and winter from June through August. The exact type of weather you’ll experience depends largely on the region.  

 Useful links for your East Coast of Australia road trip:

Airbnb  – We love Airbnb and use it everywhere you travel! If you are new to Airbnb follow the link for up to $76 discount of your first stay.

Booking.com  – Perfect alternative to Airbnb when you need a short place to stay.

Hostelworld  –  If you need a cheap place to stay where you can meet other travellers, Hostelworld is the best.

CurrencyFair – Our favourite money transfer company. They are 8x cheaper than banks. Follow the link for 10 free transfers with CurrencyFair.

OFX  – Another great money transfer company for larger transfers. We use them for large lump sums. Follow the link for free transfers for life over 1k.

SafetyWing and TrueTraveller  – The best travel insurance companies on the market! We personally used them both and can highly recommend them.

Sendmybag  – Best company to ship your excess luggage to and from Australia. Follow our link for 5% discount of your shipment.

Be sure to Pin this image 🙂 

Safe Travels,

Steve and Sabina

Be sure to share this if you found it useful; we appreciate it.

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Thursday 13th of August 2020

Thanks for sharing detail info.

Emily Jonhson

Saturday 21st of September 2019

Great detail of putting the best routes, then it's confusing and you end up taking alternate routes not so interesting.

Thursday 22nd of August 2019

Awesome! So happy to be able to read your blog. Thank you for sharing your experiences and knowledge about holidays. Theapartmentscanggu.com

PLAN your EPIC EAST COAST AUSTRALIA Road TRip Itinerary

Planning the perfect East Coast Australia road trip Itinerary is worth a little of research, knowing the towns you don’t want to miss and getting a feel for how long you need to cover the route is a great place to start. Consider this a primer to help you on your way to creating your own great trip!

There’s a lot more to the east coast of Australia than Sydney and the Great Barrier Reef . This is a vast area, filled with small towns, amazing beaches , and lots of opportunities for adventure sports and activities. If you’re trying to plan an East Coast Australia Itinerary, then you will have your pick of places to go and things to see. To make that process a little easier, here’s some advice for seeing the best this region has to offer.

The best time to travel Australia’s East Coast

Where to begin your east coast australia road trip, how long does it take to drive the east coast, east coast australia travel map – suggested stops, hire a campervan, join a tour, the whitsundays, fraser island, choose an east coast tour.

This page may contain affiliate links. Read our full disclosure policy  for more information.

The east coast of Australia is extraordinarily diverse.

• The far north is tropical, which means it’s hot and humid pretty much year-round.
• The south end of the coast has the standard four seasons, and you will even need your winter woollies.

When you’re planning your East Coast Australia road trip, you’ll need to take this considerable variation into account.

How you choose to travel will probably determine when you visit.

• If you plan to camp and sleep outdoors, avoid winter (June-August) as it will be too cold to sleep outdoors in the south.
• If you like to swim or just want good weather, then don’t travel in the middle of summer. This is the wet season in the far north of Queensland, which means lots of rain. It’s also box jellyfish season, so swimming at the beaches can be dangerous – if not deadly.
• If you want to avoid these issues, try travelling in spring (September – November) or autumn (March-May).

When planning your East Coast Australia itinerary, you’ll have to choose whether to start in Cairns in the north of Melbourne in the south or if time is limited then Sydney or Brisbane . There isn’t a lot of difference between these choices. All four cities have an international airport, offer lots of places to stay and things to do, as well as places to hire everything you’ll need for your trip. The deciding factors are weather and time.

However, if you’re planning an East Coast Australia itinerary for autumn, it might be better to start in Melbourne. That means you’ll be in warm, sunny Queensland by the time the cold sets in.

Most people don’t realise just how big Australia is. You can’t drive from Cairns to Melbourne, or the other way around, in a day or even in a few days. These cities are over 3,700 km apart. It would take you at least 40 hours to get from one city to the other without stopping, slowing for traffic, or encountering hold-ups. Obviously, your East Coast Australia itinerary will have to take these kinds of distances into account.

You could drive this distance in a week if you push it, but longer is better. Around four weeks is good if you want to see all the highlights along the way. But if you want to take your time and spend a few days in all the good spots, you should probably plan for 6-8 weeks.

How should you travel the East Coast of Australia ?

This is probably the first choice you need to make when you’re planning your East Coast Australia itinerary. You can fly between cities and popular spots, but you will miss a lot along the way. Flights within Australia can be costly, so this is the more expensive option.  

The best way to see everything is to drive. Here are your choices for a driving trip:

This is the easiest way. You can hire a car in Cairns or Melbourne and drop it off at the end of the trip. This works if you’re travelling on your own or with a friend and don’t mind staying in hotels, hostels, and campsites along the way.

If you’re travelling with a family or just want your own accommodation, you can hire a campervan or motorhome for your trip. There are lots of choices of camper vans, from budget Jucy to luxury offerings from Britz. We rented from Let’s Go Motorhomes and explored the NSW section of the coast in 2020. Whatever your travel style and budget, you can find a campervan to match.

If you can’t drive, take the trusty Greyhound bus . Their routes are extensive, and you can get hop-on-hop-off passes that are fairly cost-effective. This is also one of the most comfortable ways to travel, as you can sleep while you’re on the move.

Sometimes if you are short of planning time or would rather someone else sorted out all the logistic a multi day tour makes sense. These can be loads of fun, particularly if you are travelling alone and while they are certainly more expensive than doing it yourself they offer you a quality carefree experience where you just have to enjoy yourself and let someone else do the daily worrying!

This 8 day tour covers the stretch from Cairns to Brisbane and can be a good choice if you don’t have a lot of time. You could do this tour and then do the next stretch in a rental campervan. The best of both worlds, really.

If you are not a local, we suggest you read our guide on Driving in Australia before you get behind the wheel.

The Best Places to Stop on your East Coast road Trip

And now the best part of your East Coast Australia itinerary – deciding where to go. Whether you like beaches, cities, weird little towns, international cities, or stunning landscapes, you’ll have the opportunity to see everything during your road trip in Australia.

Here are the most popular places to visit:

Cairns is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and all its wonders, so it’s a not-to-be-missed stop on your trip. Located in tropical Far North Queensland, it’s a small town that’s mostly known for its reef access, so don’t expect to do a lot in the town itself. You might like to base yourself a little further north, we have written a guide to the towns near Cairns so you can decide which is right for you.

While you’re in Cairns, make sure you see:

• Cape Tribulation
• The ancient Daintree Rainforest
• The Atherton Tablelands

While you’re in the far north, you have to see the Whitsundays. Often called one of the most beautiful places on earth, the Whitsundays are a series of islands that can be accessed from Arlie Beach.

They offer unparalleled access to the Great Barrier Reef and beautiful, pristine beach experiences. Why not stop for a few days, book a one day Whitsunday’s sailing tour or find out how to charter a yacht and become an ocean explorer? For a really special experience, we recommend a night on Reefsleep.

If you enjoy the beach, then Fraser Island needs to be part of your East Coast Australia itinerary. It’s the largest sand island in the world and a World Heritage Listed site that offers untouched rainforest, animal experiences, and the chance to get lost in rugged natural surroundings.

Fraser Island is located further down the coast near Hervey Bay; if you want to see whales during your trip, then this is where to go.

If you’ve made it from Cairns to Brisbane, you probably need to stay in a big city and shake the sand from your shoes. Brisbane is the perfect place to do that.

Young and vibrant, with great weather nearly year-round, Brisbane offers lots of attractions such as:

• Shopping on Edwards Street
• Interesting local markets
• South Bank Beach
• Top restaurants
• Great hikes
• Numerous breweries and small bars
• Museums and Art Galleries

If you stop for a few days, you might like to check out our favourite day trips from Brisbane that will help you discover some of the nearby gems.

Just over the border of New South Wales Kingscliff and beauty of Kingscliff and the entire Tweed region is a surprise to most travellers. If you are not one for big cities you could skip Brisbane and head straight here.

• Discover the small communities in the Tweed Valley
• Visit Cabarita Beach – named Australia’s best beach back in 2020 and still one of our favourites
• Snorkel the rocky shore of Hastings Point
• Taste the famous Ink Gin at Husk Distillery and sample the amazing rum

Camp at Hosanna Farm – with camping spots, farm animals to meet and espresso coffee it’s a fantstic spot to call home for a couple of nights.

Byron Bay, a small town that has become a mecca for alternative living, healing and wellness, is a well established stop on any east coast road trip. Once a sleepy beach town, it’s now filled with yoga and healthy living centres. But this doesn’t detract from its beauty. Byron Bay’s beaches are simply stunning, and the natural surroundings are green, lush – just what you need to heal your soul.

While you’re in Byron Bay, take the famous Cape Byron Lighthouse walk , go surfing, swimming, skydiving, or just hang out and enjoy the vibes.

Located just south of Byron Bay and Coffs Harbour, Dorrigo is the gateway to the ancient rainforest and dramatic waterfalls of the World Heritage-listed Dorrigo National Park. If you have time for a detour explore the Waterfall Way.

The park is just north of the town and offers:

• Walking trails
• Exhibitions on some of the local flora and fauna
• Incredible lookouts
• Accommodation to suit every budget
• Delicious local produce
• Aboriginal cultural experiences
• Lots of charming small towns

We have written about of favourite National Parks in Australia if you want to explore more

Everyone’s heard of Sydney because of the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. But this city has a lot more to offer – from a fun beach vibe to easy access to the Blue Mountains .

Whether you’re visiting for the concrete jungle or want to be out in nature, Sydney should be an essential stop on your trip. Our tips for a weekend in Sydney is a good read before you hit the town.

Three hours’ drive south of Sydney, Jervis Bay is said to have some of the whitest sand in the world. It’s one of Australia’s most popular seaside destinations because of its peaceful, aqua coloured waters and summery charm.

While you’re there, go scuba diving, camping, or take a whale and dolphin watching cruise and enjoy the outdoors before you hit Melbourne’s concrete walls.

And then we have Melbourne, one of the busiest and most international cities in Australia. This is where you’ll find some of the best restaurants in the country, our sporting capital, and some fantastic shopping.

Whether you’re starting or ending your East Coast Australia itinerary in Melbourne, it’s a great place to spend a couple of days. There are heaps of free things to do in Melbourne and you must explore the city’s street art , it’s world-class.

While you are in Melbourne, try to do at least a couple of these walks

How to Travel in Australia on a Budget

You don’t plan a trip to Australia if you’re on a tight budget. The fact is that Australia is fairly expensive to travel and live in, and you won’t find any areas that offer huge discounts. But if you’re looking to save as much money as you can, here are some suggestions for your East Coast Australia itinerary:

• Travel in winter to take advantage of low season prices.
• Use DriveNow to make sure you’re getting the best prices for transport. 
• Stay in local hostels or camp out whenever possible.
• Check out the bus passes if taking the Greyhound bus is part of your East Coast Australia itinerary.
• Check out relocation deals for cheap campervan rentals.

If you are travelling alone and want some company or prefer not to drive there are a number of tours that cover Australia’s east coast

• 3 Week East Coast Surf Road Trip : Melbourne to Brisbane – learn to surf every day!
• Boutique Brisbane to Cairns Australian east coast tour – 7 Day small group 4 star accommodation
• Stray Australia: Sydney to Cairns – Freestyle Pass – travel the coast over 2 weeks – valid for 12 months
• Stray Australia: Brisbane to Cairns – Freestyle Pass – allow a week to see this magical part of the coast

The best thing about an East Coast Australia trip is the freedom. You can choose where you go and when, take advantage of interesting side trips, and move on when you feel the need. This is the kind of trip that’s all about you, so get planning and enjoy the feeling of a holiday that’s literally an open road.

Got a question? Head over to our Australia Travel Tips Facebook Group and ask a local.

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How to Plan the Perfect East Coast Australia Itinerary on a Budget

By: Author Taylor Lorenz

Posted on Last updated: 10/25/2023

The East Coast of Australia is a must-do for every backpacker in the country. It is the most popular route for travellers and easily has the most things to see in Australia. There is a very beaten backpacker trail as you as either go north or south so you’ll most likely run into people along your trip.

The East Coast is a very long route as you will be travelling most of the country. The first mistake people make is thinking it can be done quickly. Australia is about the size of the USA so driving the entire strech of the East Coast will take days. So even through there are so many things to do in Australia along this trip they will still take time to get to so be prepared to buckle up and plan to spend some time in Australia to really see it all.

The best part of an East Coast trip is that most places to visit in Australia are natural. From stunning beaches to gorgeous islands and even the oldest rainforest in the world, you’ll find them all and what to do in Australia in this sample itinerary.

Table of Contents

East Coast Australia Itinerary

Recommended australia tours.

• Most of the Coast: Sydney to Cairns
• Australian Highlights
• Uluru & Kings Canyon Adventures (I personally did this tour and highly recommend it!)

Daily Breakdown of My Australia Trip Itinerary

How this itinerary works:  In order to accommodate itineraries varying from 2-6 weeks I list the minimum amount of days to the maximum amount of days to spend in each spot to give you a rough idea of how much there is to do in each stop along the coast. I list typical activities to do in each stop, day trips and then link to further resources to help you create the perfect itinerary for each destination.

This East Coast Australia guide is made specifically for backpacking Australia but it can also be used for anyone travelling the East Coast as it covers what to see in Australia and the best places to visit in Australia.

Suggested Time: 2-5 days

There are so many things to do in Melbourne that you could easily spend a week here. Spend a day roaming around the CBD (central business district), exploring the hidden bars and street art in the alleyways. Grab a bite to eat at one of the fabulous restaurants along the Yarra River and find a rooftop bar to hangout for the evening.

Hit up St Kilda beach for an afternoon, wander through the Botanical Gardens and don’t miss out on trying a freakshake! Melbourne is a foodies paradise so the chances are that there will be some kind of food festival going on while you’re visiting. Most of the museums are also free and you can find out tourist info in Fed Square.

There are also a number of days trips from Melbourne that are totally worth it:

• Great Ocean Road :  A stunning 2-day road trip or day tour, if you do any day trips from Melbourne make it this one
• Philip Island : See the fairy penguins, famous because they’re so small and adorable
• Yarra Valley : Wine lovers head here to one of Australia’s biggest and best wine regions for a day of tastings
• Peninsula Hot Springs :  Take a day to relax in the cave pool, hot springs, sauna and bath house

READ MORE: 51 Things to do in Melbourne (21 of Them are Free!)

Suggested Time: 3-4 days

A stop in Sydney is a no-brainer. You simply must day a take to wander through the CBD, making your way over to the Sydney Opera House where you can stop for a drink and take in views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. From there walk through the Royal Botanic Gardens for even better views. Roam around The Rocks and find yourself at Darling Harbour for the evening for dinner and drinks.

A second day should be spent at one of the many beaches such as Bondi Beach, the most famous. Don’t skip the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk for breathtaking views of the water and beaches. And if you’re feeling adventurous try climbing the Harbour Bridge for an epic photo opp.

A third day can be spent on another beach, Manly Beach, cruising around the water or visiting the zoo .

Sydney also has a number of really great day trips:

• Blue Mountains : This national park is famous for the Three Sisters. You can get here by public transport, hike around the stunning area and be back in Sydney for dinner
• Hunter Valley : Another treat for wine lovers, Hunter Valley is another one of Australia’s best wine regions
• Royal National Park : If want Insta pictures in those cool figure eight pools, this is where you find them
• READ MORE: 5 Easy Trips from Sydney

Suggested Time: 2-3 days

With so many places to go in Australia the smaller spots are often overlooked or unherd of. Yamba is a small town that is off the beaten track but it is quickly becoming popular. It’s the perfect place to chill out for a few days on one of the 12 beaches with its laid back vibe. And if you’re Canadian you’ll find the most folks from home in Australia in this spot!

Surfers must stop here as it is home to the best surfing in Australia, is where a number of pro surfers live and the creator of Billabong. Surf lessons here are extremely cheap, I’m talking under $20 so if you want to give it a go you won’t find any cheaper.

There’s only one hostel where you can sign up for surf lessons and you must do Shane’s Yamba tour, for $15 it’s probably the cheapest tour in Australia.

Suggested Time: 2-4 days

So many people fall in love with Byron Bay and end up staying here longer than planned. I don’t blame them and you’ll see why too. This is another top spot for surfers but has more action for those who don’t like spending so much time in the water.

Here you can still get outdoors by hiking up to the Cape Byron lighthouse and visiting the most easternly point in Australia close by. Or spend your days chilling out on one of the many beaches such as Main Beach, Clarks Beach, The Pass and more. Byron Bay is also known for its dolphins which you have a very high chance of spotting. So jump in a kayak and have a leader take you to the best lookout spots.

Byron Bay is a popular hangout for backpackers, it is also quite touristy but still has a very laid back vibe. So shop your heart out at the chain and local stores or at some of the top markets such as the Byron Bay Artisan Market (Saturday nights, October-March) and   Byron Bay Markets (first Sunday of every month). And spend your evenings partying at the local bars.

There is one popular day tour from Byron Bay:

• Nimbin :  This small hippie town is completely stuck in the 60s and is known for its “special” treats. Many tours include waterfalls and cliff jumping too

If you love to party you’ll love Gold Coast. Gold Coast is not actually an area like the Sunshine Coast is but a city in itself. It is the most touristy city in Australia. Despite its most popular area’s name, Surfers Paradie, the surfing is only okay. The beach itself is fine but my best advice is to only spend a few days as there are much better beaches along the coast.

You can spend a lot of time shopping and partying here. All the main tourist attractions are here and day trips can be taken to amusement parks such as Sea World, Dreamworld and many more. Plus there’s spectaular natural scenery on the city’s doorstep like these waterfalls .

In all honesty I found Brisbane to be the most boring city in Australia. However a stop here will break up your trip between Gold Coast and Noosa and it will be the last city you see until the end of the this trip!

Spend a day roaming around the CBD where there are lots of shops and make your way over to Southbank. It’s here that you’ll find the famous Brisbane sign along the river. Walk a little further and there are a ton of restaurants, a pool and a manmade beach in the middle of the city.

A trip to the city’s West End will show you the quirkier side of Brisbane with some of the city’s best restaurants and bars. The city’s best collection of art can be found at GOMA. And don’t miss the chance to hop on the free ferry for a ride down the river where you can jump off to explore more of the city. As for nightlife the trendy hot spot is Fortitude Valley.

The most popular day trip from Brisbane is:

• Australia Zoo :  Made famous by Steve Irwin himself, this is the biggest zoo in Australia

I’m a little obsessed with Noosa. It is hands down my favourite place in Australia, but I won’t hype it up too much. People always prefer one or the other: Noosa or Byron Bay. Noosa has an even more chill vibe, there is less partying and more beach time with sunsets.

Spend some time on the Main Beach, watch sunset from that beach or walk along it to where the river meets the ocean for even better views. Surfing here is also quite good.

But the best part about Noosa is the national park that has an amazing coastal walk. Get up early and watch the sunrise from Hell’s Gate or walk it during the day, seriously it could be a daily activity. Stop by the fairy pools for a dip in the natural pools in the rocks during low tide. Stop and just take in the stunning views and watch the surfers along the way.

Shop along the main street, Hastings Street, but bring your credit card. Window browsing is all you’ll be able to do if you’re on a budget. Though you can find cheaper places for coffee and gelato here too. Lastly take a 30 minute bus ride to the Emundi Markers which are every Wednesday and Saturday until about 1PM. There is everything here from local crafts, food, jewelry, photography and so much more.

Noosa also has popular day trips:

• Noosa Everglades :  There’s only two in the world, so if you love nature jump in a boat and tour to see the River of Mirrors where you can canoe or kayak, a self-guided tour is always a cheaper option
• Australia Zoo : You can also do a day trip to the Australia Zoo from here as it’s about half way between Brisbane and Noosa

READ MORE: 14 Things to do in Noosa

Fraser Island

Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world. It is a must-do trip so you can drive along the beach, star gaze, learn about the history and culture of the island and see local wildlife such as dingoes. You can do a trip to Fraser Island from one of 3 jumping off points: Noosa, Rainbow Beach or Hervey Bay. There are also options to start in Noosa and then finish in Rainbow Beach which is more north so you can continue your East Coast trip up.

I will warn you that a Fraser Island tour is not cheap but it is well worth the splurge to see this incredible place. A 2-3 day tour is recommended, but one-day tours are available if you’re limited on time.

READ MORE: The Australian Island You Can’t Miss: Fraser Island Tours with Drop Bear Adventures

Agnes Water and Town of 1770

Suggested Time: 1-2 days

A stop here breaks up the long trip between Noosa or Rainbow Beach and Airlie Beach as bus journeys are about 9 hours between Noosa and Agnes Water and Agnes Water and Airlie Beach (be sure to get night buses!).

Agnes Water is really just a small tourist town so you don’t need long here. Stop by for some surfing (lessons here are also very cheap) or hire a bike to get to some areas for hiking such as the scenic trail to the Captain Cook monument. You could also do a Larc tour, a boat that drives on land as well as in the water.

What you absolutely can not miss is the Scooteroo tour. They’ll be given a leather jacket and will drive around Agnes Water and 1770 in a group to see the area and then watch sunset. Even if you don’t do Scooteroo a sunset is in order as the Town of 1770 is one of the best spots along the East Coast to watch.

Airlie Beach and Whitsunday Islands

In Airlie Beach itself there is not a whole lot to do. It mainly acts as a jumping-off point for the Whitsunday Islands. However you will most likely have some time to kill before of after your tour so you can chill out at the Airlie Beach lagoon, visit the beaches such as Boathaven Beach or do the coastal walk to Cannonvale Beach.

This is most certainly not a budget option but I highly recommend it. I swear a scenic flight over the Whitsunday Islands and the outer Great Barrier Reef was the best splurge I had on my trip along the coast. I paid $179 but I’ve heard you can find them for as cheap as $99! This is where you can see the famous Heart Reef.

And while you’re here don’t miss a sailing trip around the Whitsunday Islands. This is what everyone comes here to do! Spend 2-3 days on a sailboat where you can visit one of the world’s most beautiful beaches, Whitehaven Beach, snorkel the Great Barrier Reef and soak up the sun on the deck. Prices range significantly on tours and some boats are known to be party boats. I recommend using BookMe where you can find tours with big discounts or Get Your Guide because they have an awesome selection that shows you majority of the tours available.

Townsville is another stop to help break up long trips and is also the jumping-off point for Magnetic Island. There’s no need to spend long here, you can explore the entire coastal city in just 2 days. One of the most popular things to do in Townsville is a hike to the top of Castle Hill for views of the city and Magnetic Island.

Spend some time along The Strand where you’ll find beaches, restaurants and parks. The Reef HQ is awesome for those who don’t like diving or snorkelling as you can see a ton of underwater life as it’s the largest living coral reef aquarium. Then there’s the Billabong Sanctuary where you can experience Australian wildlife and interact with the animals.

Magnetic Island

Magnetic Island is a quick half an hour ferry ride from Townsvile and one of my favourite places in Australia. The locals often refer to it as Maggie, since Australian’s shorten everything. What’s so special about this island is its unique formation of rocks that jut out to create a different landscape.

Activities on the island include lots of hiking. Some of the best trails are The Forts Walk where you can spot wild koalas and the hike to Radical Bay from Horseshoe Bay. Be sure to time getting back to Horseshoe Bay for sunset as it’s stunning with islands in the background.

If you haven’t already you can get your picture with a koala or have breakfast with koalas at Bungalow Bay which is also the hostel I recommend staying at. By far the coolest thing to do is rent one of the famous Barbie cars to cruise around to different hiking spots. It isn’t cheap but if split 4 ways it is affordable. And you must visit the rock wallabies, they are tiny wallabies that live in the rocks that are just too cute!

Mission Beach

Mission Beach is Queensland’s little secret. This small town of only 3000 people is most known for being the best spot to sky dive in Australia . My best advice is to wait until you get here to do it as you’ll fall through the sky over the Great Barrier Reef and it is the only spot in Australia to guarantee a beach landing.

If sky diving isn’t for you then you can walk along the beach, it’s perfect to because of its packed sand. Or try a day trip of white water rafting in nearby Tully. There are also hikes throughout the area in the tropical rainforest. However if you don’t have a car exploring Mission Beach is a challenge.

Suggested Time: 3-5 days

Cairns is the most popular for one of the top Australia attractions: diving and snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef. There are so many options available from multi-day dives to half day snorkelling tours . The city itself is a bit of a party town as it’s the biggest city since Brisbane and people tend to get a little wild.

But being back in a city means art galleries are around but luckily it still have a small-town feel. You can explore the markets such as the Cairns Night Market and The Esplanade Market. And during the day you can hangout at The Lagoon, a manmade spot by the water with a swimming pool and beach that’s a favourite among locals and tourists.

There are also the Botanical Gardens which has a few hikes. But what Cairns has the most of is days trips.

• Snorkelling and Diving Tours : The most popular islands to visit off the coast are Fitzroy Island and Green Island
• Cape Tribulation : An area known for its ecotourism in the Daintree Rainforest, people visit here for the wildlife and jungle surfing (zipling through the trees)
• Atherton Tablelands : A part of the UNESCO World Heritage site that also inclues the Daintree Rainforest, the Atherton Tablelands are an area with ancient rainforest and contain the popular waterfall route that will take you to stunning waterfalls in the region

When you visit Australia you’ll quickly notice how expensive things are but if you’re smart, plan ahead and know what to look out for you will be able to do all of the pricey activities and not miss any of the best sights in Australia.

Best Time to Travel East Coast Australia

If you plan on spending a lot of time on the beach or in the water the best time to visit Australia’s East Coast is during the summer (December-February) however it will be wildly hot and rainy season in tropical Northern Queensland. This is also peak tourist season. My recommendation is to travel in the off seasons, spring (September-November) or fall (March-May) when prices are lower, there are less crowds and the weather is decent on all parts of the coast.

That being said, there really is no bad time to travel Australia’s East Coast as it will be warm throughout the year in Queensland but prepare for the cool weather in New South Wales and Victoria! By cool I mean it can snow in Melbourne in the winter (December-February).

How Long Does it Take to Travel East Coast Australia?

If you don’t have a lot of time it can be done it two weeks. This just covers the highlights. If you want the full East Coast experience plan to spend 4-6 weeks. With this timeframe you will be able to see and do everything plus have time to relax.

Backpacking Australia on a Budget

A budget in Australia is like splurging in places like Southeast Asia, but a budget trip can be done if you’re smart, know what to budget for and plan.

Food and Drinks

The easiest way to save money is on food and drinks. It can be difficult because drinking is a huge part of travel down the East Coast but save your money for some of the more expensive experiences instead.

Eating about can cost you anywhere from $5 at fast food restaurants to $15 at sit down restaurants with a lunch special to $20+ for dinner. When buying your food from grocery stores and cooking you can spend as little as $6 a day! I’m proof, I did this while living in Melbourne.

For drinks pre-drink before going out by picking up booze at bottleshops such as Dan Murphy’s where you can stock up on Goon, boxed wine for around $15. But expect a hangover and I can’t claim that it tastes delicious. When going out use an app like Happiest Hour to help you find the closest drink deals around.

READ MORE: Australian Cuisine

Travelling Around Australia

Australia road trip.

The most budget-friendly option is to road trip Australia and it is also a very popular option. Some people even buy a car at the start and then sell it at the end. Finding used cars is very easy and common in Australia. But as a solo traveller (like me) you may not want to drive alone, you may not want to drive or camping isn’t your thing.

Travel in Australia is the easiest with the next best option, getting a bus pass. The most popular companies are Greyhound and Premier that travel not just along the East Coast but across the entire country. There are passes available based on kilometres travelled and hop on hop off passes. The main difference is that with a kilometres pass you can back track, with a hop on hop off pass you can’t. I personally recommend the hop on hop off as it works out cheaper and gives you 90 days of use between point A to B. A Sydney to Cairns pass will start at $410 with Greyhound but that is all of your travel covered!

You can also book buses pretty last minute as well so you can be flexible with your travel and change bookings for each stretch of your journey.

If you are short on time flying is the best option for you as it will be the quickest. Australia is huge and you don’t want to waste precious time spending days (yes driving can take that long!) getting between destinations. Luckily Australia has budget airlines and if you book in advance you can score awesome prices. You can also watch out for sales by signing up for budget airlines newsletters such as Tigerair and Jetstar.

Australia Accommodation

Camping on the Australia East Coast is the cheapest option. Some campsites will be free, others can be pricey. You can use books like Camps Australia Wide to find free campsites along the coast. If you have a campervan you can also pay to park in some hostels parking lots and use the bathroom and kitchen facilities.

Hostels in Australia

Personally I stayed in hostels because camping is not my thing and they’re a great place to meet people as a solo traveller. Hostels cost anywhere from $20-50 a night in a dorm room. Prices vary depending on where you are. Sydney is the most expensive so expect to pay $50 a night when there. Breakfast is often included and is typically cereal, toast and condiments, coffee and tea. Sometimes you’ll get pancakes! Be sure to check out Booking.com for an excellent selection of hostels with reviews from previous travellers and great deals.

Travel Insurance Australia

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The Ultimate East Coast of Australia Road Trip Itinerary

So many people dream of undertaking an east coast of Australia road trip — an epic tour along Australia’s Pacific coast from Sydney to Cairns. From pristine beaches, ancient rainforests, cosmopolitan cities, incredible national parks, islands and wildlife — this coastline really does offer a bit of everything, and has enough activities to satisfy even the biggest adrenaline junkie.

This itinerary aims to show you the very best of Australia’s east coast — from scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef, to driving a 4×4 along the world’s largest sand island, to hiking in the national parks and so much more.

I spent 6 weeks touring the east coast of Australia; here’s a low down of my route and itinerary up the coast from Sydney to Cairns!

EAST COAST OF AUSTRALIA ROAD TRIP OVERVIEW

Sydney Byron Bay Gold Coast Brisbane Noosa Heads Fraser Island Whitsunday Islands Magnetic Island Cairns

An epic east coast of Australia road trip itinerary

Following the classic route from Sydney to Cairns, here is my recommended route for your east coast of Australia road trip. This itinerary will take about 6 weeks, but feel free to chop and change it as you like to fit in with your time budget.

Where to stay in Sydney: Wake Up! Sydney Central

Start your east coast of Australia road trip in Sydney – the country’s most iconic city. I recommend spending at least 2 days here, but more if you can! It’s an effortless blend of both urban and beach lifestyles, where world-renowned landmarks meet world-class beaches.

Obviously, you’ll want to check out the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Head to Circular Quay, where you’ll be able to spend some time photographing these iconic landmarks. Just a few minutes walk away from Circular Quay, you’ll find the Royal Botanic Garden. A verdant oasis in the heart of Sydney, spend some time exploring the garden and perhaps bring a picnic to enjoy.

No visit to Sydney would be complete without hiking the iconic Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk — a beautifully scenic 6km route which will take you to some of the best beaches along the eastern suburbs of Sydney.

I also recommend you take the ferry across to Manly Beach for a day, a suburb known for its scenic coastal walks and excellent snorkelling. The ferry from Circular Quay to Manly Beach takes just 30 minutes, so it’s well worth the trip.

Things to do in Sydney

• Visit the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge
• Stroll around the Royal Botanic Gardens
• Complete the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk
• Visit Manly Beach

Where to stay in Byron Bay: Byron Bay YHA

Ah, Byron. It’s easy to see why it’s one of the most popular spots on the east coast of Australia. I’ve not met anyone who didn’t fall in love with Byron’s charm – the vibe is chilled, the people friendly, and the beaches blessed with astonishing beauty.

There are plenty of beaches, bars, and restaurants to enjoy in Byron, and I highly recommend an afternoon of relaxation at Wategos beach, where it’s not uncommon to see dolphins at play.

One of the most popular activities in Byron Bay is walking to the Byron Bay Lighthouse at sunrise. Start your walk from the Beach Hotel, a famous pub on Bay Street. From here, simply follow the path parallel to the beach. The view from the lighthouse is awe-inspiring, and I promise the early morning wake-up call will be worth it!

While you’re in Byron, I also recommend taking a day trip to Nimbin – the alternative lifestyle capital of Australia. Nimbin is an interesting place to explore, adorned with shops selling psychedelic clothing, spiritual wares, and cafes where you can * ahem* relax. My trip to Nimbin was the wackiest day I had in Australia – we were driven through the hinterland in a rainbow-coloured bus, driven by an outlandish Bob Marley enthusiast called Jimmy.

Things to do in Byron Bay

• Walk to the Byron Bay Lighthouse
• Take a surfing lesson
• Spot dolphins at Wategos beach
• Visit Nimbin
• Relax on the beach

The Gold Coast

Where to stay on the Gold Coast: BUNK Surfers Paradise

For transparency, I want to state that I personally didn’t like the Gold Coast. However, lots of people  do  love it, so I’ve included it in this itinerary so that you can make your own decision about whether or not it’s somewhere you’d like to visit.

I found the Gold Coast to be somewhat tacky, but perhaps that’s part of the fun. It’s a huge entertainment city, full of shopping, theme parks and lively nightlife. If you love this kind of thing, then the Gold Coast may be perfect for you!

After feeling a little annoyed with the city, we took a tram to nearby Burleigh Heads National Park. It was really beautiful there, and we spent some time walking through the National Park, before arriving at Tallebudgera Creek. Tallebudgera Creek was beautiful; the sun was shining, and people were swimming, paddle boarding and jumping into the creek. If you want to visit Burleigh Heads National Park, too, you can get tram no. 700 going towards Tweed Heads . The journey is about 40 minutes.

Things to do on The Gold Coast

• Chill out at Surfers Paradise Beach
• Visit Q1’s Sky Deck for views over the city and coast
• Go hiking in Burleigh Heads National Park
• Hit up a theme park
• Shop, drink and party!

Where to stay in Brisbane: Selina Brisbane

Brisbane, or Brissie, as the locals call it, is a pleasant, modern city away from the coast.

Brisbane’s South Bank is the place to be; sprawling lawns and gardens, nice restaurants, bars and cafes, the Brisbane Ferris Wheel, and best of all, the lagoon. As Brisbane is not actually on the coast, a man-made lagoon has been   placed in the city centre instead! It’s actually really nice, and we spent a couple of days here enjoying the sun and water.

Queen Street is the main street in Brisbane and is home to a mall, plaza and a plethora of restaurants and bars. We went out for dinner here one night (a rare event given our backpacker budget) and could easily have spent more time shopping and exploring around the area.

One of the most popular Brisbane attractions is the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. It’s the oldest koala sanctuary in the world and home to 130 of these critters! To get there, you can take a bus directly from Queen Street.

Things to do in Brisbane

• Chill out at South Bank
• Visit Roma Street Parkland
• Eat and shop at Queen Street
• Visit the Botanical Gardens
• Visit Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

Where to stay in Noosa: Halse Lodge Guest House

For fans of the great outdoors, Noosa is the perfect stop. It’s home to the Noosa Heads National Park, one of the Sunshine Coast’s top natural treasures. Noosa was without a doubt one of my favourite places along the east coast of Australia.

The national park comprises of over 9,800 acres of rainforest and heathland, and there are 5 designated walking tracks for you to choose from. The park is highly accessible, too; simply walk up the hill from Noosa Main Beach towards the Noosa National Park car park, from where 15 kilometres of hiking trails thread through the wilderness.

I personally completed both the Tanglewood Track — where I saw some wild koalas — and the Coastal Track, which is probably the most popular. I definitely recommend the Coastal Track if you like a good hike, but be sure to bring plenty of water as the majority of the track is unshaded. It starts at Noosa Heads and ends at Sunshine Beach, passing by lots of stunning bays, the so-called Fairy Pools and plenty of wildlife spotting opportunities.

Noosa town itself is also a nice place to look around. Be sure to check out Hastings Street, the heart of Noosa Heads, which is home to lots of restaurants, cafes, art galleries, boutiques and designer stores.

The town is fringed by Noosa Main Beach, a gorgeous crescent of golden sand, perfect for relaxing and enjoying the views. There was a surf festival on while I was there so the beach was pretty buzzing! Sunshine Beach, on the opposite side of Noosa Heads, is also spectacular.

Not only this, but Noosa is also home to one of only two Everglade systems in the world (the other being in Florida) and kayaking down them is a popular activity. I highly recommend a day trip, or even an overnight trip, to go kayaking on the Everglades. It’s simply beautiful.

Things to do in Noosa

• Go hiking in Noosa Heads National Park
• Go kayaking in the Noosa Everglades
• Relax at Noosa Main Beach and Sunshine Beach
• Shop and eat at Hastings Street

Fraser Island

Book your Fraser Island trip with Cool Dingoes

Fraser Island is up there as one of the highlights from my time in Australia, and if you can only afford one big-ticket attraction on your east coast of Australia road trip, make sure it’s this! Stretching 122km, and abundant in rainforests, sand dunes and freshwater lakes, Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world.

Fraser Island can be accessed from Hervey Bay or Rainbow Beach , both of which have ferry crossings to the island. We chose to spend the night before and the night after our time on Fraser Island at Rainbow Beach.

You can rent a 4×4 and drive yourself around the island, or you can join a guided tour. We personally chose to join a guided tour and signed up for a multi-day camping and 4×4 adventure package, which was one of the best things we did in Australia. We drove a 4X4 along the beach, swam in secluded lakes, discovered shipwrecks, and camped beneath the stars.

On Fraser, you’ll discover The Maheno Shipwreck — a 5000-tonne ocean liner that traversed Australia and New Zealand in the 1900s. In 1935, she was washed ashore after a raging cyclone and has been left abandoned on Fraser Island ever since.

Other highlights include Eli Creek, a meandering stream where you can sit on an inflatable tube and flow gently along its waters. Climb up to Indian Head Lookout, where you’ll be graced with a sensational view of the island. Or, take a dip in the Champagne Pools, a beautiful swimming hole known for its pools of bubbling water.

The ultimate highlight, though, is Lake McKenzie. Probably the most visited site on the island, its waters consist of pure rainwater and its shore of pure silica sand. It’s said that the sand is so pure, you can wash your jewellery with it. Spend a couple of hours swimming in Lake McKenzie’s perfect waters, and enjoy the impossible natural beauty of Fraser Island.

Things to do on Fraser Island

• Drive along Fraser’s “highway” in a 4×4
• Swim in Lake Mackenzie
• Visit the Maheno shipwreck
• Go tubing in Eli Creek
• See the spectacular view from Indian Head Lookout

Whitsunday Islands

Book your Whitsunday Islands trip with True Blue Sailing aboard New Horizons

From Rainbow Beach, head south towards Airlie Beach — the gateway to the Whitsunday Islands. The Whitsundays are a spectacular group of 74 islands, characterised by dense rainforest and snow-white beaches. It’s no wonder it’s one of the most popular sailing destinations in the world.

There are all kinds of sailing trips to choose from — fast-paced day trips, crazy party tours, adventure cruises, family cruises, and everything in between. Make sure to book one suited to you!

The Atlantic Clipper is by far the most famous; an exciting 2-night party tour featuring scuba diving, bush walks and merry, goon-fuelled evenings. You’ll be able to sunbathe on deck in giant bean bags, relax in the onboard Jacuzzi, and mingle with 52 other like-minded backpackers. Oh, and let’s not forget the huge inflatable water slide!

If you’re looking for a more chilled-out vibe, opt for a Whitsundays cruise with New Horizon instead. New Horizon is still social, but with a little more adventure. You’ll have the opportunity to go paddle boarding, scuba diving, bushwalking, and swimming.

Your sailing adventure will likely take you to Whitehaven Beach; an impossibly white stretch of sand that’s so soft, it’ll squeak beneath your feet. Be sure to walk up to the Hill Inlet viewpoint, where you’ll be graced with a mesmerising landscape consisting of blue and white swirls, where the shifting tide causes the sand and ocean to twist together.

Things to do in Whitsunday Islands

• Visit Whitehaven Beach
• See the spectacular view from Hill Inlet viewpoint
• Go snorkelling or scuba diving
• Sunbathe on the deck of your yacht

Magnetic Island

Where to stay on Magnetic Island: Nomads Magnetic Island

Another of my East Coast of Australia highlights, Magnetic Island — or Maggie, as the locals call her — is a beautiful, chilled-out little island 18km off the coast from Townsville.  SeaLink  offers 18 daily ferries from Townsville to Magnetic Island, so you’ll have no problem booking yourself onto one!

Once you arrive, I recommend you hire a barbie car . Magnetic Island is well known for these fun, brightly-coloured, topless cars that tourists hire and cruise all over the island. They’re fun, quirky and a novelty that you should absolutely buy into.

Magnetic Island is home to 23 little bays, and we had a lot of fun driving around to visit as many as we could. My favourite was Horseshoe Bay, as it was the most picturesque and a great place to watch the sunset.

Horseshoe Bay, Alma Bay/Arcadia, Nelly Bay and Picnic Bay are the main residential bays, but there are many quieter ones and you may just find one all to yourself. 

As dusk approaches, pull up into Geoffrey Bay and you’ll see dozens of rock wallabies hanging out. They’re pretty inquisitive and will have no qualms about coming up to you to investigate. You can also buy wallaby pellets from the store in Arcadia if you want to feed them.

I also recommend you take on the Forts Walk, which is a scenic 4km walk that takes you to the ruins of an old WWII Forts complex, as well as to lookouts providing stunning views across the ocean. Not only this, but Magnetic Island has the highest number of wild koalas in Australia and the Forts Walk is known as the best place on the island to spot them. We were lucky enough to see two! Early morning or late afternoon will give you the best chance of seeing them.

Things to do in Magnetic Island

• Hire a novelty car to drive around in
• Spot wild koalas on the Forts Walk
• Hop between the bays
• Feed the rock wallabies at Geoffrey Bay
• Watch the sunset at Horseshoe Bay

Where to stay in Cairns: Travellers Oasis

Thought of as the adventure capital of Australia, Cairns is the perfect place to end your east coast road trip. Sandwiched between the ancient Daintree Rainforest and the world-famous Great Barrier Reef , you won’t be short of things to do in Cairns. It’s a lively backpacker town, with a range of adrenaline activities on offer — including bungee jumping, skydiving, and white water rafting.

While Cairns itself doesn’t really have a beach, it does have a beautiful man-made lagoon in the centre of town. Here, you can swim, relax, have a picnic, and escape from the stifling heat of tropical north Queensland.

Be sure to make a trip to the Daintree Rainforest, too; it’s the oldest tropical rainforest in the world, where you’ll discover spectacular waterfalls, beaches, and wildlife.

Now, it simply would not be a trip to Australia without visiting the world-famous Great Barrier Reef. Luckily, Cairns is the gateway to the reef, and there is no shortage of companies ready to take you scuba diving or snorkelling. Opt for a day trip with SeaQuest, where you’ll be whisked away to the outer reef for a day of sun, sea, snorkelling and scuba. Expect to see colourful coral, rainbow fish, and perhaps even a sea turtle.

If you’re looking for a party-orientated place to stay in Cairns, I recommend Gilligan’s . Popular with both locals and travellers, Gillie’s is cheap and sociable, with a wild nightclub attached to the premises. If you’re hoping to catch up on your beauty sleep, you’ll probably want to skip a stay at Gilligan’s, but it’s worth visiting for an evening of partying.

Top things to do in Cairns

• Go scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef
• Relax at Cairns Lagoon
• Visit the Daintree Rainforest
• Go bungee jumping, skydiving, or white-water rafting
• Party at Gilligans

Planning your east coast of Australia road trip

From the best time to visit to what kind of vehicle you need, here is everything you need to know about the logistics of planning your east coast of Australia road trip.

Best time to travel the east coast of Australia

As Australia is such a huge country, the weather in the north and south can vary massively.

In North Queensland, where the climate is tropical, the summers (December – February) are hot and humid, and the winters (June – August) are dry and mild. The summer months can bring strong monsoon rains, which you’ll likely want to avoid.

While the weather may be perfect in the north of Australia during the winter months, it may be a bit cold in Australia’s south – temperatures can drop to 7 Celsius in Sydney during this time.

This means that if you want good weather throughout your trip, you’ll likely need to strike a balance.

I travelled the east coast from south to north from February to April. This meant I was in the south of Australia during the end of summer and by the time I hit the north, it was autumn. The weather was pretty perfect the whole way and we had only a few days of rain.

If you travel from north to south, i.e. from Cairns to Sydney, travelling from the end of winter into spring may be ideal. This way, you’ll avoid scorching temperatures in the north and be in the south by the time spring hits.

How long does it take to road trip the east coast of Australia?

Many people just don’t seem to realise how huge Australia is. The distance between Sydney and Cairns is over 2,800km, which is about 36 hours of solid driving time. Given how vast the distances are, you’ll want to give yourself ample time to see and do things along the way – without feeling like you did nothing but travel! Travel between destinations often takes longer than it may seem on the map, so be sure to allow yourself enough time.

I would recommend an absolute minimum of 2 weeks if you’re strapped for time, but 4 – 6 weeks is ideal . You could tick off the main sights in 2 weeks, but travelling more slowly and taking the time to explore places properly will allow you to have a much better experience.

What kind of car do I need?

In my opinion, any Australian road trip is best with a camper van. The freedom is unparalleled and you can travel at your own pace. However, driving a campervan isn’t for everyone and travelling the east coast of Australia by car is also a great option. It entirely depends on your comfort level, and whether you’ll want to stay in hostels/hotels or are happy to spend nights in your campervan.

Can I travel the east coast of Australia without a car?

Absolutely! The famous Greyhound services Australia’s east coast very extensively, meaning you can go everywhere on this itinerary and more by bus. Greyhound’s Whimit Travel Passes are Hop On Hop Off tickets, offering unlimited and flexible travel along the east coast. This means you can travel from A to B at your convenience!

I hope this post has helped you to plan your east coast of Australia road trip!

Where to next?

• Take on an unforgettable Western Australia road trip itinerary
• See the best places to spot wildlife in Australia
• Learn how to be a sustainable tourist at the Great Barrier Reef

About The Author

Lauren Pears is a freelance travel writer and blogger based in London. She writes about active adventure travel, aiming to encourage and inspire travellers to make the most of the great outdoors.

Thank you for reading! If you found this post useful, I’d be grateful if you would consider using the affiliate links below when planning your travels. I’ll make a small commission at no extra cost to you. This will help me to keep this blog running. Thanks for your support – Lauren. Hotels –  Booking.com Hostels –  Hostelworld Cheap flights –  Skyscanner Travel insurance –  World Nomads Outdoor gear –  Decathlon  /  GO Outdoors Cycling gear –  Chain Reaction Cycles Alternatively, you could buy me a coffee to say thanks!

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13 comments.

I hope to visit Australia one day and of course the East Coast will be high on the to visit list of Australia. Very complete guide of the places that should appear on this to visit list 🙂

I hope you get to visit soon; it was an amazing trip!

Your photos are amazing!! I can’t wait to explore Australia one day and the side of the World!

Thank you! Hopefully you’ll get to see Australia soon 🙂

This looks so exciting! I can’t wait to roadtrip Australia! Thankd for the tips x

You’ll have an amazing time! When are you going? 🙂

End of October is the plan 🙂 I’ll definitely use this post as reference 🙂 x

Ah nice! Have the best time 🙂

Nice blog and great pictures!

Awesome photos!!! Australia is on my bucket-list and you pretty covered a lot on this post. Thank you for sharing!

God bless! JM Kayne | #InMyHeart♥

You’re welcome! I hope you do visit one day, it was an amazing couple of months 🙂

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Comprehensive East Coast of Australia Road Trip Itinerary

Posted on Last updated: August 16, 2023

Are you ready for the adventure of a lifetime? Buckle up and get ready to explore the stunning coastal route of Australia on an epic road trip. The East Coast of Australia offers a plethora of beautiful beaches, vibrant cities, and unforgettable experiences that will leave you in awe.

So pack your bags, grab your friends or family, and buckle up… because we are about to embark on an adventure filled with wonder and excitement through this east coast of Australia road trip!

Planning Your East Coast Australia Road Trip

So, you’ve decided to embark on an epic adventure on the stunning East Coast of Australia road trip, starting from the vibrant city of Brisbane and heading south towards Mission Beach. Get ready for breathtaking landscapes and endless opportunities for exploration on this Australian journey. But before you hit the road, it’s essential to plan strategically for a smooth and unforgettable experience.

Research and plan your route to make the most of your time and see all the highlights.

The East Coast of Australia, particularly the southern region, is vast and diverse, offering a myriad of attractions that can easily overwhelm even the most seasoned Australian travelers. To maximize your time and make sure you don’t miss out on any must-see destinations in Brisbane and beyond, thorough research and planning are key. Consider creating an Australian road trip itinerary to explore this beautiful part of the country.

Start by identifying the main highlights along the route such as Sydney, Byron Bay, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Whitsunday Islands, Cairns, and the Great Barrier Reef. Once you have an idea of which places you want to visit, consider how much time you have available for your road trip. Are you looking at a week-long adventure or do you have more time to spare? If you’re heading south from Cairns, make sure to include a stop at the beautiful rest area near Airlie Beach.

Next comes mapping out your itinerary for a stroll in the place. Take into account driving distances between each stop and factor in realistic driving times. It’s important not to underestimate travel times as some stretches can take hours or even days due to winding coastal roads or traffic congestion in popular areas.

Consider factors like distance, driving times, and attractions when creating your itinerary.

When crafting your East Coast road trip itinerary, strike a balance between drive time and sightseeing opportunities. While it may be tempting to cover as much ground as possible in a short period, rushing through each destination can leave you feeling exhausted rather than exhilarated. Take breaks at rest areas to stretch your legs and rest for a few hours. Consider the distance between each stop and plan for a leisurely stroll in each location.

Allocate ample time on your Australian East Coast road trip at each location to truly immerse yourself in its unique offerings. Whether it’s exploring Sydney’s iconic landmarks like the Opera House or Bondi Beach or snorkeling in the crystal-clear waters of the Great Barrier Reef – allow yourself enough breathing room to savor the experience. Create an epic East Coast Australia road trip itinerary that includes these must-see destinations.

Factor in any specific attractions or activities in Brisbane and Cairns that you don’t want to miss. Research popular day trips or excursions from each destination and include them in your itinerary. This could be anything from hiking through the lush rainforests of Daintree National Park to visiting the famous Australia Zoo on the Sunshine Coast. Make sure to allocate the suggested time for each activity.

Make sure to check for any necessary permits or passes required for certain destinations.

As you plan your East Coast Australia road trip, it’s crucial to be aware of any permits or passes that may be required for certain destinations. Some national parks, campgrounds, rest areas, or even specific attractions may have entry fees or require advance bookings. Make sure to check if any permits are needed for the campsite or rest area you plan to visit near Brisbane. Additionally, keep an eye out for cairns along the way, as they can serve as helpful markers on your journey.

If you’re planning a road trip itinerary from Brisbane to Cairns, be sure to include Fraser Island in your plans. To drive on the island’s sandy tracks, you’ll need a permit. Additionally, when exploring the Great Barrier Reef area, it is recommended to book a tour with a licensed operator.

By doing thorough research beforehand and checking official websites or contacting local tourism offices, you can ensure you have all necessary permits and passes for your epic east coast Australia road trip in place before setting off on your adventure. This will save you from any last-minute disappointments or unexpected hurdles along the way, ensuring a smooth Australian east coast road trip experience.

Pack essentials such as maps, a first aid kit, snacks, and plenty of water for a smooth journey.

A well-prepared road trip from Cairns to Brisbane is a successful road trip! To avoid unnecessary stress during your adventure along Australia’s East Coast, make sure you pack all essential items for your campsite that will contribute to a smooth journey. Plan your suggested time accordingly.

Start with physical maps or navigation devices when planning your camping trip. Relying solely on GPS signals can sometimes prove unreliable, especially when you’re in remote areas far from civilization. Having backup options ensures you won’t find yourself lost without cell service when navigating unfamiliar territory, searching for a campsite, or trying to find water sources. Additionally, keeping an eye out for cairns along the way can help guide you in the right direction and mark important distances.

Safety should always come first when embarking on any road trip. Be sure to pack a well-stocked first aid kit for your campsite stay containing bandages, antiseptic ointment, pain relievers, and any necessary prescription medications. It’s better to be prepared for minor injuries or illnesses than to scramble for supplies in an emergency. Remember to maintain a safe distance from others and plan your suggested time accordingly.

Snacks and plenty of water are essential for those long stretches during an epic East Coast Australia road trip. Stay energized and hydrated throughout the journey, especially if you’re traveling in the hotter months. This is important when you’re camping at a campsite and covering a significant distance over several days.

With these essentials in tow, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that you’re well-prepared for any situation that may arise on your road trip from Cairns to Brisbane. Whether you’re camping or staying at a campsite, make sure to pack everything you need for the area.

So, gear up for a road trip along the stunning East Coast of Australia, from Brisbane to Cairns. Plan your route wisely and pack your bags with all the necessities. Get ready to embark on an unforgettable adventure, exploring breathtaking landscapes and vibrant cities. Your next stop? A campsite in the area, where you can create memories that will last a lifetime!

Best Time to Travel the East Coast: Weather and Seasons

Choose your time wisely.

Planning a east coast of Australia road trip from Brisbane to Cairns? You’re in for an unforgettable adventure! But before you hit the road, it’s important to consider the best time of day to travel. The weather and seasons in both Brisbane and Cairns play a significant role in determining your experience, so let’s dive into some key factors.

Embrace the Warmth or Opt for Milder Temperatures

If you’re someone who loves basking under the scorching sun and enjoys lively beach vibes, then summer (December to February) is your go-to season in Brisbane. During this time, temperatures soar, providing ideal conditions for swimming and sunbathing along the coast. It’s the perfect time to stay in Brisbane and make the most of the day, as the distance from the city to the beach is short.

On the other hand, if intense heat isn’t your cup of tea and you prefer more comfortable temperatures, spring (September to November) or fall (March to May) are excellent choices for an epic east coast Australia road trip. These seasons offer milder weather that allows you to explore the Australia East Coast without feeling overwhelmed by the heat. It’s worth noting that during spring and fall, you might encounter occasional showers, so packing a light rain jacket is advisable for your east coast road trip itinerary.

Watch Out for Cyclones Up North

If your East Coast Australia road trip takes you towards the Gold Coast and other northern regions like Cairns, it’s crucial to be aware of Australia’s cyclone season . Spanning from November to April, this period sees increased tropical activity that can impact travel plans and the distance you can cover in a day. While cyclones are relatively rare occurrences, keeping an eye on weather forecasts before setting off is essential. Stay informed about any potential storms heading your way and plan accordingly for safer travels.

Check Weather Forecasts Along the Coast

As you venture down Australia’s east coast on your epic road trip, remember to check weather forecasts regularly for the cairns, campsite, and other destinations along the way. Weather conditions can vary significantly from one location to another due to geographical factors and the distance of the coast.

For instance, while Sydney, located approximately 1,400 km from Cairns, might be experiencing warm and sunny days, Melbourne, situated around 1,800 km from Cairns, could be a bit cooler with occasional rain showers. By staying updated on the forecast, you can pack appropriate clothing and gear for each leg of your journey to the campsite. It’s all about being prepared and ensuring that you make the most out of every stop along this picturesque coastline.

School Holidays: A Crowded Affair

Another factor to consider when planning your East Coast road trip is the distance between each campsite. If you prefer a quieter experience with fewer crowds, it’s best to avoid traveling during peak seasons when schools are on break. These periods typically coincide with Christmas holidays in December-January and Easter holidays in April. Make sure to stay near cairns for convenient access to hiking trails and scenic views.

During these times, popular tourist spots like Byron Bay or the Great Barrier Reef can get quite crowded as families flock to stay at campsite in Cairns and enjoy their vacations. Accommodation options may be limited, and attractions might have longer queues. So if you’re seeking a more peaceful journey with less hustle and bustle, plan your trip outside of these peak travel seasons and enjoy a relaxing day at the campsite in Cairns.

Top Destinations on an East Coast of Australia Road Trip

Sydney: the ultimate city experience.

Sydney is a must-visit destination on any east coast of Australia road trip. This vibrant city offers a perfect blend of iconic landmarks and stunning natural beauty. Start your adventure by exploring the world-famous Sydney Opera House, located within close distance to the sparkling harbor. Take a guided tour to learn about its fascinating history and catch a live performance if you can. This will be a memorable day on your journey from Sydney to Cairns, with plenty of campsite options along the way.

No trip to Sydney is complete without a visit to Bondi Beach, a popular beach in Cairns. Here, you can soak up the sun, ride the waves, or simply relax with a refreshing drink in hand at the campsite. This beach is known for its golden sands and crystal-clear waters, making it an ideal spot for swimming and surfing enthusiasts alike. Explore the bustling Bondi Icebergs Club or stroll along the scenic coastal path for breathtaking views of the distance.

Byron Bay: Laid-back Vibes and Surfing Paradise

If you’re planning an east coast of Australia road trip, Byron Bay should be high on your list. This bohemian town along the Cairns route exudes a relaxed atmosphere that instantly puts you at ease. Spend your days lounging on pristine beaches such as Main Beach or Wategos Beach, where you can bask in the sun or take a dip in the turquoise waters. Find a campsite nearby to stay and enjoy the laid-back vibes of this popular destination. Don’t worry about the distance, as it’s worth the drive.

For those looking for adventure, head to Cape Byron State Conservation Area, a popular campsite near Cairns. Home to Cape Byron Lighthouse – Australia’s most easterly point – it offers breathtaking views of the distance. Embark on a coastal walk through lush rainforest trails while keeping an eye out for dolphins or even migrating whales during certain times of the day.

Great Barrier Reef: Dive into Underwater Paradise

No east coast of Australia road trip would be complete without experiencing the distance of one of nature’s greatest wonders – the Great Barrier Reef. This UNESCO World Heritage Site spans over 2,300 kilometers (1,430 miles) along Queensland’s coastline and boasts an abundance of marine life and vibrant coral reefs. Cairns is the perfect starting point for exploring this magnificent site, with day trips available to explore the reef up close.

Immerse yourself in the underwater paradise of the east coast Australia road trip by snorkeling or diving among the colorful corals and tropical fish. Witness the majesty of giant clams, sea turtles, and even reef sharks as you explore this mesmerizing ecosystem. If scuba diving isn’t your thing, you can still marvel at the beauty of the reef by taking a scenic helicopter or boat tour. Enjoy this unforgettable experience during your day trip from Cairns, covering a significant distance along the east coast Australia road trip.

Fraser Island: Nature’s Playground

As you continue your road trip along the east coast of Australia, make sure to include Fraser Island and Cairns in your itinerary. This stunning island and vibrant city are renowned for their unique landscapes, diverse wildlife, and exciting day trips, earning them a well-deserved spot on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Embark on an exhilarating east coast Australia road trip and hop aboard a 4×4 vehicle for an adventure-filled day. Explore sandy tracks that wind their way through this natural paradise, discovering crystal-clear freshwater lakes like Lake McKenzie. Float down Eli Creek, a natural lazy river that meanders through lush rainforest, while keeping an eye out for fascinating creatures such as dingoes and brumbies, wild horses that call this island home.

Must-Visit Spots Along the East Coast of Australia

Crystal-clear waters and stunning islands: whitsunday islands.

If you’re looking for a slice of paradise on your East Coast Australia road trip, the Whitsunday Islands should be at the top of your list. Picture yourself sailing through crystal-clear waters, surrounded by breathtaking islands. This picturesque archipelago is made up of 74 islands, each with its own unique charm and beauty. From world-renowned Whitehaven Beach with its pristine silica sand to the vibrant coral reefs teeming with marine life, the Whitsundays offer an unforgettable experience.

As you explore the stunning islands on your East Coast Australia road trip, make sure to go snorkeling or scuba diving to discover the vibrant underwater world beneath the surface. The Great Barrier Reef, just a stone’s throw away, provides an opportunity to witness one of nature’s most awe-inspiring wonders. Whether you choose to relax on secluded beaches or embark on thrilling water sports adventures like kayaking and jet skiing, the Whitsundays on your East Coast Australia road trip will leave you spellbound.

Majestic Limestone Stacks: Twelve Apostles

Along your journey down the Great Ocean Road, prepare to be captivated by one of Australia’s most iconic landmarks – the Twelve Apostles. These majestic limestone stacks rise dramatically from the Southern Ocean, creating a sight that will take your breath away. Formed over millions of years through erosion and weathering, these towering formations stand as a testament to nature’s incredible power. It’s a truly breathtaking sight to behold on a sunny day.

Take your time exploring the east coast Australia road trip as you wander along well-maintained boardwalks offering panoramic views. Witness how sunlight dances upon these rugged cliffs during sunrise or sunset for truly magical moments. While there are currently only eight apostles left due to natural erosion, their grandeur remains unmatched. Don’t forget your camera; this is a sight that deserves to be captured forever on your day trip.

Ancient Rainforests and Abundant Wildlife: Great Otway National Park

For nature enthusiasts on an east coast Australia road trip, a visit to the Great Otway National Park is an absolute must. This pristine wilderness offers a diverse range of experiences, from discovering ancient rainforests to encountering abundant wildlife. As you venture through the park’s lush greenery, you’ll be surrounded by towering trees, cascading waterfalls, and hidden fern gullies every day.

Embark on one of the many walking trails along the east coast Australia road trip that wind their way through this enchanting landscape. Marvel at the towering Californian Redwoods in the Aire Valley or wander along the Maits Rest Rainforest Walk, where moss-covered trees create an otherworldly atmosphere. Keep your eyes peeled for native wildlife such as koalas dozing in eucalyptus trees or colorful bird species fluttering overhead during the day.

Coastal Paradise: Noosa National Park

Nestled along Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, Noosa National Park is a coastal paradise that seamlessly blends natural beauty with outdoor recreational opportunities. Lace up your hiking boots and explore scenic trails that wind their way through lush coastal forests and offer breathtaking views of turquoise waters below. Keep an eye out for dolphins frolicking in the waves or even spot a migrating humpback whale during whale-watching season. It’s the perfect destination for a day of adventure and relaxation.

Noosa National Park offers a perfect day of outdoor fun. Explore the park’s pristine beaches, like Tea Tree Bay and Little Cove Beach, where you can relax and swim in crystal-clear waters. For the more adventurous, catch some waves at Alexandria Bay or Sunshine Beach with a surfboard.

Itinerary: Melbourne to Brisbane or Cairns – 2-Week Road Trip

Day 1-3: explore melbourne’s vibrant city life and visit nearby attractions like the great ocean road..

Melbourne, known as Australia’s cultural capital, offers a vibrant city life that is sure to captivate you from the moment you arrive. Start your road trip by immersing yourself in the bustling streets of Melbourne. Take a stroll along the Yarra River and explore the iconic Federation Square on your first day. Indulge in some retail therapy at Bourke Street Mall or visit the famous Queen Victoria Market for an authentic shopping experience.

One of the highlights of this leg of your journey is undoubtedly the Great Ocean Road. This scenic coastal drive stretches over 240 kilometers and offers breathtaking views of rugged cliffs, pristine beaches, and iconic landmarks such as the Twelve Apostles. Make sure to stop at popular spots like Apollo Bay and Lorne to soak in the beauty of this coastal paradise during the day.

Day 4-7: Drive along the stunning coastline, stopping at destinations such as Wilsons Promontory and Lakes Entrance.

Leaving Melbourne behind, embark on a picturesque drive along Australia’s stunning coastline. Make Wilsons Promontory National Park your next stop for a day of immersing yourself in nature’s wonders. Hike through lush forests, discover secluded beaches, and witness an abundance of wildlife in their natural habitat. Don’t forget to climb Mount Oberon for panoramic views that will leave you breathless.

Continuing your east coast Australia road trip, make a pitstop at Lakes Entrance – a charming seaside town nestled between lakes and ocean waters. Here you can indulge in various water activities such as fishing, boating, or simply relaxing on one of its pristine beaches. Enjoy fresh seafood delicacies while taking in mesmerizing sunsets over Gippsland Lakes during the day.

Day 8-11: Experience the beauty of Sydney, including its iconic landmarks and nearby Blue Mountains.

As you approach Sydney, get ready to be captivated by the beauty of Australia’s most famous city. Start your exploration with a visit to the iconic Sydney Opera House and take a stroll along the picturesque Sydney Harbour Bridge. Immerse yourself in history at The Rocks, where you can wander through cobblestone streets lined with charming cafes and boutique shops. Make the most of your day in Sydney.

For nature lovers, a trip to the nearby Blue Mountains is a must. Explore stunning waterfalls, ancient rainforests, and breathtaking viewpoints such as Echo Point, where you can witness the awe-inspiring Three Sisters rock formation. Take a scenic cable car ride or go on a thrilling bushwalk to truly experience the natural wonders of this UNESCO World Heritage site. Spend a day immersing yourself in the beauty of the Blue Mountains.

Day 12-14: Head north to explore Byron Bay, Gold Coast, and end your trip in either Brisbane or Cairns.

As you head north from Sydney, make sure to include Byron Bay on your itinerary. This laid-back coastal town is renowned for its pristine beaches, vibrant surf culture, and bohemian atmosphere. Spend some time relaxing on the golden sands of Main Beach or hike up to Cape Byron Lighthouse for panoramic views of the coastline. It’s the perfect destination for a day trip.

Continue your journey to the Gold Coast – Australia’s playground for sun-seekers and adventure enthusiasts alike. Enjoy thrilling theme parks like Dreamworld or Warner Bros. Movie World, or simply soak up the sun on Surfers Paradise Beach. Indulge in some retail therapy at Pacific Fair Shopping Centre or explore trendy dining precincts like Burleigh Heads. Make the most of your day in the Gold Coast with these exciting activities and attractions.

Finally, conclude your road trip in either Brisbane or Cairns depending on your preference. In Brisbane, discover its thriving arts scene at South Bank Parklands or take a leisurely cruise along the Brisbane River. If you choose Cairns as your final destination, dive into an underwater paradise by exploring the Great Barrier Reef or embark on an unforgettable rainforest adventure in the Daintree National Park.

No matter which route you choose, an East Coast Australia road trip promises to be an unforgettable journey filled with stunning landscapes, vibrant cities, and endless opportunities for adventure. So pack your bags, hit the open road, and let the beauty of Australia’s east coast unfold before your eyes.

Budget-Friendly Tips for an East Coast Australia Road Trip

Cook your own meals using campsite facilities or shared kitchen spaces in hostels..

When you’re embarking on a budget-friendly road trip along the stunning East Coast of Australia, one of the best ways to save money is by preparing your own meals. Many campsites and hostels provide excellent facilities such as communal kitchens where you can cook up a storm without breaking the bank. By making use of these shared spaces, you can whip up delicious and nutritious meals using locally sourced ingredients, all while enjoying the company of fellow travelers.

Not only does cooking your own meals offer significant savings compared to eating out at restaurants every day, but it also allows you to have full control over what goes into your dishes. This means that if you have any dietary restrictions or preferences, you can easily cater to them without any hassle. Shopping for groceries at local markets or supermarkets along the way provides an opportunity to support local businesses and discover fresh produce unique to each region.

Here are some ideas for budget-friendly meals that you can prepare during your road trip:

• East coast Australia road trip pasta dishes: Whip up a simple yet satisfying pasta dish using affordable ingredients like pasta, canned tomatoes, garlic, and olive oil. Add in some fresh vegetables or protein options like tuna or beans for added flavor and nutrition.
• BBQ feasts: Take advantage of public barbecue facilities available at many campsites and parks along the East Coast. Grill some sausages, burgers, or vegetables for a delicious outdoor feast.
• East coast Australia road trip: Sandwiches and wraps are perfect for picnics on the go. Prepare sandwiches or wraps filled with your favorite ingredients such as deli meats, cheese, salad greens, and spreads.
• One-pot wonders: Create hearty one-pot meals like chili con carne or vegetable curry using a single pot or pan. These dishes not only save time on cleaning up but also allow you to make the most of limited cooking facilities.

Save on accommodation costs by camping or staying in budget-friendly hostels.

Accommodation can often be one of the biggest expenses during a road trip, but there are plenty of budget-friendly options available along the East Coast of Australia. Camping is an excellent value choice, allowing you to immerse yourself in nature and enjoy picturesque surroundings while keeping costs low. There are numerous campsites scattered along the coast, ranging from basic sites with minimal facilities to more developed ones offering amenities such as showers and electricity.

If camping isn’t your cup of tea, consider staying in budget-friendly hostels that cater specifically to backpackers and road trippers. These accommodations offer shared dormitory-style rooms at affordable rates, providing an opportunity to meet fellow travelers and exchange stories. While the facilities may be simple, they often include communal areas where you can relax, socialize, and even cook your own meals using shared kitchen spaces.

When planning your East Coast Australia road trip, it’s essential to book accommodations in advance. This allows you to secure deals or take advantage of early bird discounts for both campsites and hostels. Opting for accommodations slightly away from major tourist hotspots can often result in lower prices without compromising on quality or convenience.

Take advantage of free activities like hiking, swimming at public beaches, or exploring national parks.

Exploring the East Coast of Australia doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag. There are plenty of free activities that offer incredible experiences while keeping your budget intact. Whether you’re a nature enthusiast or simply looking for some outdoor fun, there’s something for everyone along this stunning coastline.

Hiking is a fantastic way to get up close and personal with the natural beauty of the East Coast. Lace up your walking shoes and embark on trails that wind through lush rainforests, lead to breathtaking waterfalls, or provide panoramic views from coastal cliffs. Not only does hiking offer an excellent workout, but it also allows you to discover hidden gems that are often off the beaten path.

Another free activity that should not be missed is swimming at public beaches. The East Coast boasts some of the most picturesque and pristine beaches in the world. Whether you’re seeking rolling surf or calm waters ideal for snorkeling, there’s a beach to suit every preference. Soak up the sun, take a refreshing dip, and enjoy the beauty of these natural wonders without spending a dime.

National parks are abundant along the East Coast and offer an array of free activities for nature lovers. From exploring ancient rainforests to spotting unique wildlife species, these protected areas provide endless opportunities for adventure.

Accommodation Options: Hostels, Campsites, and More

Stay in backpacker hostels for affordable accommodation with communal facilities.

Looking for budget-friendly accommodation options along the East Coast of Australia? Look no further than backpacker hostels. These vibrant and lively establishments are perfect for travelers on a tight budget who still want to enjoy comfortable accommodations and meet fellow adventurers.

Hostels offer a range of room types, from dormitories to private rooms, catering to different preferences and budgets. Dormitories are a popular choice among solo travelers or those looking to make new friends. With shared facilities like kitchens, lounges, and common areas, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to socialize and exchange travel stories with other guests from around the world.

One of the main advantages of staying in hostels is the affordability factor. Compared to hotels or luxury resorts, hostels provide significantly cheaper rates without compromising on comfort. This allows you to save money for other exciting activities during your road trip adventure.

Moreover, many backpacker hostels offer additional amenities such as free Wi-Fi, laundry facilities, tour booking services, and even organized social events. It’s not uncommon to find bars or communal spaces within the hostel premises where you can unwind after a long day of exploring.

Some highly recommended backpacker hostels along the East Coast include Nomads Noosa in Queensland, Byron Bay YHA in New South Wales, and Base Magnetic Island in Queensland. These popular spots not only provide comfortable stays but also serve as hubs for meeting like-minded travelers.

Campgrounds Offer a Budget-Friendly Option with Access to Amenities

If you’re an outdoor enthusiast or simply prefer sleeping under the stars while on your road trip along Australia’s East Coast, camping is an excellent option. Campgrounds dotting the coastline offer stunning natural surroundings combined with essential amenities that make camping hassle-free.

Campsites typically provide basic facilities such as showers, toilets, and cooking areas. Some may even have communal BBQ pits where you can grill up a delicious meal while enjoying the fresh coastal breeze. These amenities ensure that you have everything you need for a comfortable camping experience.

There are various types of campsites available, ranging from national park campgrounds to privately-owned caravan parks. National parks offer picturesque settings and allow you to immerse yourself in nature, with options like Fraser Island National Park in Queensland or Jervis Bay National Park in New South Wales.

On the other hand, private caravan parks often provide additional conveniences such as powered sites for RVs or camper vans, laundry facilities, swimming pools, and playgrounds for families traveling with children. Examples of well-regarded private campgrounds include Big4 Holiday Parks and Discovery Parks located throughout the East Coast.

Camping not only saves you money but also allows you to fully embrace the beauty of Australia’s natural landscapes. Wake up to breathtaking sunrises over the ocean or fall asleep under a star-studded sky—camping offers an unparalleled connection with nature during your road trip adventure.

Motels Provide Comfortable Rooms with Basic Amenities for Privacy Seekers

If privacy is a priority during your road trip along the East Coast of Australia, motels are an excellent accommodation choice. Motels offer comfortable rooms equipped with basic amenities, providing travelers with their own space after a day of exploration.

Motels come in various sizes and styles, ranging from small family-run establishments to larger chains. They usually offer en-suite bathrooms, television sets, air conditioning or heating systems, and sometimes even mini-fridges or kitchenettes for added convenience.

Unlike hostels or camping grounds where facilities are shared among guests, motels provide individual rooms that guarantee privacy and tranquility. This makes them particularly appealing to couples on romantic getaways or families seeking a peaceful retreat.

Along the East Coast, you’ll find an abundance of motels catering to different budgets and preferences. From boutique motels with unique designs to well-known chains like Best Western or Travelodge, there’s something for everyone.

Motels are often conveniently located near popular tourist destinations, making them a great base for exploring nearby attractions. Whether you’re planning to visit the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland or the iconic Sydney Opera House in New South Wales, you can easily find a motel nearby that suits your needs.

Airbnb Offers a Range of Options from Private Rooms to Entire Apartments/Houses

For those seeking more flexibility and variety during their East Coast road trip, Airbnb is an excellent accommodation platform to consider.

Renting a Camper Van vs. Car Rental: Pros and Cons

Convenience on wheels: camper vans combine transportation and accommodation.

Imagine hitting the open road, with the freedom to explore the stunning East Coast of Australia at your own pace. A camper van offers an all-in-one solution, combining both transportation and accommodation in a single vehicle. With a campervan rental, you have the convenience of having everything you need right at your fingertips.

No need to worry about booking hotels or finding suitable accommodations along the way. Your cozy little home on wheels is always with you, ready to provide a comfortable place to rest after a day of adventure. Whether you decide to park up in a scenic campground or simply pull over by the beach for the night, having your accommodation on board gives you unparalleled flexibility.

Flexibility Galore: Car Rentals Allow for Varied Accommodation Options

On the other hand, renting a car provides its own set of advantages when embarking on an East Coast road trip. While it may not offer the same level of convenience as a camper van, it allows for greater flexibility in terms of choosing different types of accommodations along the way.

With a car rental, you have the freedom to stay at various hotels, motels, guesthouses, or even luxurious resorts depending on your preferences and budget. This flexibility is particularly beneficial if you prefer experiencing different styles of accommodation during your journey. You can immerse yourself in local culture by staying at unique boutique hotels or indulge in luxury stays when desired.

Fuel Consumption Considerations: Campervans May Have Higher Costs

When planning your epic road trip down Australia’s East Coast, it’s important to consider fuel consumption as well. While both campervans and cars require fuel to get from point A to point B, campervans tend to have higher fuel consumption compared to regular cars due to their larger size and weight.

The added weight of the camper van, along with its built-in amenities and facilities, can result in increased fuel consumption. This means you may find yourself making more frequent stops at petrol stations to keep the wheels turning. On the other hand, renting a regular car typically offers better fuel efficiency, allowing you to cover more distance with each tank.

Off-the-Beaten-Path Adventures: Car Rentals Unlock Hidden Gems

One of the advantages of opting for a car rental instead of a campervan is the ease of exploring off-the-beaten-path destinations. While campervans are great for convenience and comfort, they may not always be suitable for venturing into remote or less accessible areas.

With a car rental, you have the freedom to explore those hidden gems that might be tucked away down winding dirt roads or tucked between towering mountains. You can take spontaneous detours and embark on thrilling adventures without worrying about navigating tight spaces or maneuvering a larger vehicle.

Exploring Nature and Wildlife: Waterfalls, Beaches, and Natural Pools

Are you ready to embark on an unforgettable road trip along the stunning East Coast of Australia? Get ready to immerse yourself in the beauty of nature and encounter incredible wildlife as you explore a plethora of waterfalls, beaches, and natural pools. From cascading falls to pristine shores and refreshing swimming spots, this ecotourism adventure will leave you in awe.

Discover stunning waterfalls like Josephine Falls in Queensland or MacKenzie Falls in Victoria.

Prepare to be mesmerized by the sheer power and beauty of Australia’s waterfalls. One must-visit destination is Josephine Falls located in Queensland. As you make your way through lush rainforest trails, the sound of rushing water grows louder until you reach a breathtaking sight. The crystal-clear waters cascade down multiple tiers, creating a picturesque scene that will leave you speechless. Take a refreshing dip in the cool pools at the base of the falls or simply sit back and marvel at nature’s masterpiece.

Another waterfall not to be missed is MacKenzie Falls in Victoria. This majestic waterfall flows over rugged cliffs into a deep gorge, surrounded by ancient rock formations. Prepare for a short hike through scenic landscapes before being rewarded with the awe-inspiring view of MacKenzie Falls. Feel the mist on your face as you stand near its base or capture stunning photographs from various lookout points along the trail.

Relax on pristine beaches such as Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsunday Islands or Wineglass Bay in Tasmania.

No road trip along Australia’s East Coast would be complete without spending some time soaking up the sun on its beautiful beaches. Head towards Whitsunday Islands’ crown jewel – Whitehaven Beach. With its pure white silica sand stretching for miles and crystal-clear turquoise waters gently lapping at its shores, this beach is truly paradise on Earth. Take leisurely walks along its powdery sands, swim in the inviting waters, or simply bask in the tranquility of this idyllic setting.

Another beach that will captivate your senses is Wineglass Bay in Tasmania. Nestled within Freycinet National Park, this crescent-shaped beach boasts pristine white sands embraced by granite peaks and crystal-clear waters. Hike to its lookout point for a panoramic view that will leave you breathless. Whether you choose to relax on the beach or embark on a coastal walk, Wineglass Bay promises an unforgettable experience.

Take a dip in natural pools like Champagne Pools on Fraser Island or Mossman Gorge near Port Douglas.

Escape the heat and dive into refreshing natural pools along your road trip. One such oasis can be found on Fraser Island – the Champagne Pools. These unique rock formations create shallow pools filled with bubbly seawater as waves crash over them. Immerse yourself in these effervescent waters while enjoying panoramic views of the ocean. The Champagne Pools offer a truly invigorating experience that will rejuvenate both body and soul.

For another enchanting swimming spot, make your way to Mossman Gorge near Port Douglas. Surrounded by ancient rainforest, Mossman Gorge is home to crystal-clear waters cascading over smooth granite boulders. Follow well-marked walking trails through lush greenery until you reach secluded swimming holes where you can take a refreshing dip amidst nature’s serenity. Let the cool water wash away all your worries as you connect with the beauty of this tranquil paradise.

Encounter unique wildlife including kangaroos, koalas, dolphins, and even whales during migration season.

Australia is renowned for its diverse wildlife, and your road trip along the East Coast offers ample opportunities to encounter some of its most iconic creatures. Keep an eye out for kangaroos hopping across open fields or lounging under shady trees as you drive through national parks and scenic routes. These fascinating marsupials are a true symbol of the Australian outback.

If you’re a fan of cuddly koalas, head to designated koala sanctuaries or wildlife parks along your journey.

Highlights of the Great Ocean Road: Scenic Drive Along the Coastline

Are you ready for an unforgettable adventure on Australia’s stunning east coast? Buckle up and get ready to embark on a east coast of Australia road trip like no other. The Great Ocean Road awaits, offering breathtaking coastal views that will leave you in awe. This iconic drive is a must-do for any traveler seeking natural beauty and unforgettable experiences.

Witness Breathtaking Coastal Views

Prepare to have your breath taken away as you cruise along the Great Ocean Road. This scenic route stretches over 240 kilometers, offering spectacular vistas at every turn. As you wind your way along the coast road, be prepared to witness stunning cliffs plunging into the turquoise waters below. The rugged coastline is dotted with secluded beaches, hidden coves, and picturesque lookouts that will make you reach for your camera at every stop.

Visit Iconic Highlights

No journey along the Great Ocean Road would be complete without visiting its famous landmarks. One such highlight is the Twelve Apostles, a collection of towering limestone stacks rising majestically from the Southern Ocean. These impressive formations are best viewed during sunrise or sunset when they are bathed in golden hues.

Another must-see spot is Loch Ard Gorge, named after a shipwreck that occurred here in 1878. Explore this dramatic gorge with its towering cliffs and learn about its fascinating history. Nearby, don’t miss London Arch (formerly known as London Bridge), a natural rock formation shaped by thousands of years of erosion.

Explore Charming Seaside Towns

The Great Ocean Road isn’t just about scenic drives; it also offers opportunities to explore charming seaside towns along the way. Stop by Lorne and Apollo Bay, where you can indulge in local cuisine and enjoy beach activities such as swimming or sunbathing. These vibrant towns offer a laid-back atmosphere with plenty of cafes, shops, and galleries to explore.

Enjoy Outdoor Adventures

For adventure enthusiasts, the Great Ocean Road has plenty to offer. Whether you’re into surfing, hiking, or wildlife spotting, there’s something for everyone. Grab your surfboard and catch some waves at popular surf breaks like Bells Beach or Torquay . Lace up your hiking boots and explore the lush rainforests of Great Otway National Park, where you can discover hidden waterfalls and encounter native wildlife.

Keep an eye out for koalas dozing in the treetops or kangaroos hopping through the bush. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a pod of dolphins frolicking in the waves as you drive along this stunning coastal route.

Make Your East Coast Australia Road Trip Epic

Planning a road trip along the east coast of Australia? Get ready for an unforgettable adventure filled with breathtaking landscapes, vibrant cities, and endless opportunities for exploration. Whether you’re a nature enthusiast, beach lover, or culture seeker, this road trip has something for everyone. From planning your itinerary to finding budget-friendly options, here’s everything you need to know to make your East Coast Australia road trip truly epic.

To ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey, proper planning is essential. Start by mapping out your route and deciding on the duration of your trip. Research the attractions and destinations you want to visit along the way and create a flexible itinerary that allows for spontaneity.

The weather plays a crucial role in determining the best time for your road trip. The east coast experiences different climates throughout the year, so it’s important to consider factors like rainfall, temperature, and peak tourist seasons when planning your travel dates.

Top Destinations on an East Coast Australia Road Trip

From Sydney’s iconic Opera House to the stunning Whitsunday Islands, there are countless must-visit destinations along the east coast of Australia. Explore vibrant cities like Melbourne and Brisbane, relax on pristine beaches in Byron Bay or Noosa Heads, and immerse yourself in the natural beauty of places like Fraser Island and Great Barrier Reef.

Must-Visit Spots Along the East Coast of Australia Road Trip

While every destination along the east coast has its own unique charm, some spots simply cannot be missed. Marvel at the Twelve Apostles along Victoria’s Great Ocean Road or take a dip in Queensland’s famous Whitehaven Beach. Don’t forget to explore national parks such as Daintree Rainforest or hike up Mount Warning for panoramic views.

If you’re short on time but still want to experience the best of the east coast, a 2-week road trip from Melbourne to Brisbane or Cairns is a great option. This itinerary allows you to visit major cities, stunning beaches, and natural wonders along the way while providing enough flexibility for detours and side trips.

Traveling on a budget? No problem! There are plenty of ways to save money during your road trip. Consider camping instead of staying in hotels, cook your own meals instead of dining out all the time, and take advantage of free attractions and activities offered in many destinations.

There are various options available along the east coast. Hostels provide affordable stays with opportunities to meet fellow travelers, while campsites allow you to immerse yourself in nature. If you prefer more comfort, there are also plenty of hotels and vacation rentals to choose from.

Deciding between renting a camper van or a regular car depends on your travel preferences. A camper van offers convenience and flexibility as it combines transportation and accommodation in one. On the other hand, renting a car provides more freedom.

One of the highlights of an East Coast Australia road trip is undoubtedly its stunning natural landscapes. From chasing waterfalls in the hinterlands to snorkeling with tropical fish in the Great Barrier Reef, there are endless opportunities for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts along the way.

No East Coast Australia road trip would be complete without experiencing the beauty of the Great Ocean Road. This iconic drive takes you along the breathtaking coastline of Victoria, offering stunning views of rugged cliffs, pristine beaches, and the famous Twelve Apostles.

So what are you waiting for? Pack your bags, hit the road, and embark on an epic adventure along the East Coast of Australia. Whether you’re seeking thrilling outdoor activities or simply want to relax and soak up the sun, this road trip promises memories that will last a lifetime.

Is it safe to travel alone on an East Coast Australia road trip?

Traveling alone along the east coast of Australia is generally safe. However, it’s always important to take necessary precautions such as informing someone about your itinerary and staying aware of your surroundings. It’s also advisable to have a reliable means of communication in case of emergencies.

Are there any tolls on the roads during an East Coast Australia road trip?

Yes, there are some toll roads along the east coast of Australia. Make sure to check which roads have tolls and plan accordingly. Some rental companies offer electronic tags that automatically pay for tolls, while others may require manual payment at designated locations.

Global Gallivanting

How to plan an epic east coast australia road trip.

The East Coast of Australia is the most popular route for traveling Oz and for good reason – it offers so much to see and do and best way to see it all is with the freedom of your set of wheels on a road trip!

An East Coast Australia road trip will give you a great taste of the best scenery and experiences that Australia has to offer;  from cosmopolitan cities and iconic sites to world class natural wonders, pristine beaches, reefs and ancient rainforests.

Australia is just perfect for road trips – get immersed in the stunning scenery, take off beat diversions whenever you want, feel the thrill of the open road and have the freedom to go at your own pace.

That said, Australia is a huge country, so you should plan your route or a rough itinerary for your East Coast Australia road trip in advance.

I’ve driven this route a couple of times now so this post contains all my top tips for planning an epic East Coast Australia road trip itinerary. As well as some of the most beautiful and best places to visit in Australia, I’ll also give you plenty of suggestions for discovering off beat places and hidden gems.

How to Plan your East Coast Australia Road Trip

Best time to travel East Coast Australia

Anytime is good but if it’s winter (June – August) then it may be a bit cold sleeping in a campervan in Southern Australia but perfect weather in QLD. In Summer watch out for stingers and monsoon rains in North Queensland.

How long do you need for an East Coast Australia road trip?

Many people don’t realise just how huge Australia is and underestimate how long they need for an East Coast Australia road trip.

The distance between Cairns and Melbourne on the coastal route is over 3,500km   which is about 40 hours of solid driving time , you could drive it in a week but that wouldn’t leave hardly any time at all to see or do anything on the way.

I would recommend a minimum of 2 weeks for this road trip but a month is much better. You could tick off the highlights of Australia’s East Coast in 2 weeks, but traveling slow and taking the time to discover those off the beaten track hidden gems, meet people and really soak up the place always leads to be better travel experience. If you have more time a month or even more is much better.

Hiring a campervan for an Australia road trip

I’ve travelled East Coast Australia by Greyhound bus and by campervan, and the best way to do a road trip in Australia is undoubtedly by campervan!

If your planning on doing an epic East Coast Australia road trip like this its handy to rent the campervan in one city and arrange to drop it off in a different city (usually for extra cost) to avoid traveling back on yourself.

To find the best campervan hire deals I use Motorhome Republic.  Being the largest campervan and motorhome rental site in the world you should be able to find the best deal by comparing all the leading campervan rental companies. You can also read real reviews from previous customers.

If the dates you want to take your eastcoast Australia road trip are flexible then also check out how you can  rent a campervan for only $1 per day by scoring a relocation deal. But usually you only get a week so you have to rush a bit (I’ve done it but you won’t get to see everything)

I spent at least $500 on fuel each time I’ve done an East Coast Australia road trip, but a campervan is still the most affordable way to travel Australia as it also saves you money on accommodation, tours and food as well as giving you ultimate freedom.

You could also rent a car and stay in hotels along the way, there are plenty of them, but it will cost alot more than camping!

If you plan on traveling Australia for longer (perhaps on a  working holiday visa ) then buying a campervan offers the ultimate freedom and flexibility and can be a really cost effective way to explore Oz if you can sell it at the end of your trip.

If you can’t afford a campervan then cheaper options are a station wagon – chuck a mattress in the back or hire a car and take a tent. If you can’t drive you can get the Greyhound bus to the major destinations or take a tour.

For more tips check out my post on backpacking East Coast Australia and see my Australia money saving tips and  tips for traveling Australia by campervan.

Accommodation, hostels and campsites

A campervan is the way to go for an epic East Coast Australia road trip, however, contrary to popular belief you can’t just camp up and sleep anywhere.

I used the   Camps Australia Wide book  to find free campsites all down the East Coast. It lists the facilities you can find at each campsite and rest stop and also lists low cost campsites as well as more expensive camping resorts with swimming pools and loads of facilities.

I’m not going to list all the campsite because you’ll need to maps to find them. The Camps book is really useful as it’s also a map and contains points of interest and as there can be limited mobile internet reception outside of the towns the book is a really value resource for road tripping Australia on a budget. You can buy it here on Amazon. 

I also used the Lonely Planet East Coast Australia Guide Book to help me plan my Australia road trips- its packed with loads of useful maps, tips, info and things to do.

There are also many hotels and motels and backpacker hostels if you are on a budget. Some hostels will let you park up for the night and use the facilities for a small fee.

Visas: You get can an ETA or E Visa online for trips up to 3 months.  Get more info and apply here.  If you are under 31 and want to work and travel in Australia you may be eligible for a years  working holiday visa

An Epic Cairns to Melbourne East Coast Australia Road Trip Itinerary

So starting from the North of Australia in Cairns, here are some essential stops and things to see on the perfect East Coast Australia road trip down to Melbourne. You can also reverse the route if you prefer.

I’ve listed the minimum amount of days to spend here, what to do and approximate driving times between the major stops for a 2 week East Coast Australia road trip itinerary.

If you can, also allow time for extra stops, to venture of the beaten track and just explore – take a road that looks interesting and just see what surprises you discover. Spontaneity is part of what makes a road trip around Australia so much fun.

Cairns –  4 days

Cairns  is most famous for being the gateway to the  Great Barrier Reef  and snorkelling or diving the reef is a must visit on any East Coast Australia road trip.

Cairns doesn’t really have a beach but the Cairns Lagoon  and esplanade and is a great place to swim, relax, BBQ and play sports. The city has become a bit of a backpacker party town and there are also many things to do and see in the beautiful scenery around Cairns too.

You can’t visit Cairns without taking a  trip snorkelling or diving the Great Barrier Reef . You can take a day trip or a live aboard multi day trip where you can go further out on the reef and maybe even do some night diving.

Be aware that sadly some of the inner reef areas nearer to Cairns are damaged, often cheaper companies are licensed only to visit the inner reef so it pays to be selective for which tour you take – both to get the best out of your experience and to help preserve the reef for the future.

The eco friendly, multi award winning Passions of Paradise is one of the best reef day trips from Cairns and the one I went on. They take you to 2 unique outer reef locations for diving and snorkelling on their sleek sailing catamaran and the staff are fun and friendly too. Check out the trip advisor reviews.

Before you head South its well worthwhile going North to visit UNESCO listed the  Daintree Rainforest  and  Cape Tribulation  and see where two world heritage sites meet. You can go as far as Cape Tribulation but after that the road ends and you’ll need a 4WD.

As a day trip from Cairns you can head inland to explore the alternative town of  Kuranda  nestled in the rainforest only 20 mins drive from Cairns. Take the scenic railway or cable car to get there and visit the markets and art galleries. The  AJ Hackett Bungjy jump and Minjin swing  is also a thrilling way to enjoy the rainforest!

As you drive South you could drive the scenic route through the  Atherton Tablelands  and the waterfall circuit. (More info on where to go for the waterfalls here.) The  AJ Hackett Bunjy jump and Minjin swing  is also a thrilling way to enjoy the rainforest!

Cairns to Mission Beach  – 2 hours direct drive

The Cassowary Coast: Mission Beach, Tully and Innisfail

A big  Cassowary  welcomes you to  Mission Beach , these huge, unique birds are only found in this area, around the Daintree Rainforest and parts of Papua New Guinea although it is not common to spot them this area is still worth a stop.

Chilled out  Mission Beach  is quite an underrated spot with a string of nice beaches and small communities and loads of activities like  skydiving  and also don’t miss  white water rafting nearby in Tully.

Mission Beach to Townsville – 3 hours drive

On the way to  Townsville , known as the Great Green Way, you pass through national parks, rainforest and miles of fields of sugar cane and banana plantations while tropical islands lie just out to sea.

It’s one of the most scenic parts of an East Coast Australia road trip so its worth taking the time to head inland from Ingham   to visit   Wallaman Falls , Australia’s highest single drop waterfall.

Townsville and Magnetic Island – 3 days

Townsville is a pleasant town but the real draw is just across the water at  Magnetic Island .  There are many walks you can do around the island and it’s a great place to get close to the animals – we saw kangaroos, wallabies, and even rode horses on the beach and in the sea. There’s also full moon parties.

If you want to get a taste of the Outback on your East Coast Australia road trip just take a detour about an hour ½ inland from Townsville to the tiny gold mining village of Ravenswood and the living museum of gold rush town  Charters Towers.

There are quite a few free camping spots around Townsville listed in the Camps book. On Magnetic Island the Bungalow Bay Koala Village YHA is a lovely resort style hostel near the beach at Horseshoe Bay that offers camping, cabins, dorms, a swimming pool and even has its own wildlife park!

Townsville to Airlie Beach – 3 1/2 hours

Airlie Beach and The Whitsunday Islands – 3 days

Airlie Beach  is the jumping off point for exploring the beautiful  Whitsunday Islands and a bit of a party town and backpacker hangout. Don’t miss the Whitsunday Islands, one of the most stunning sights in the whole of Australia and an essential stop on any East Coast Australia road trip.

Seeing the view from the famous  Hill Inlet  and spending time on  Whitehaven Beach  is a must – this is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen.

Multi day  Live aboard trips  cruising and sailing and diving the Whitsunday Islands are popular (and pricey) but you can also  take a day trip with Ocean Rafting   like I did for a really fun and cheaper option.

You can also do  a skydive  here, in what must be one of the most beautiful locations in the world!

Free or cheap campsites are rare around popular Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays. Nomads and Base hostels are spacious resort style hostels that will also let you park your camper overnight and use the facilities for a reasonable fee. You can also camp on some islands for a little as $5.95 per person per night ( get a permit first here )

Extra offbeat tip: Fancy seeing a platypus in the wild? You can with just a short diversion from your east coast Australia road trip route. Just after leaving Airlie Beach head about 1 hour inland to Eungella National Park  – one of the best places in the world to see a platypus in the wild. On the way stop at the Pinnacle Pub for an amazing pie!

Airlie Beach to Agnes Water – 8 hours drive

After Airlie Beach it’s a long stretch of at least 5 hours driving with not that much of interest to see between the big country towns of  Mackay  and  Rockhampton apart from the funny signs along the highways to try and keep drivers awake.

If you want to break up the journey stop by the  Capricorn Caves , spectacular above-ground caves in a limestone ridge. You could also get a cattle station experience at Myella Farm  where you can learn to be a cowboy and try farm experiences like riding horses and motorbikes, milking cows, lassoing and even whip cracking.

This is the longest stretch of not much of interest on the East Coast Australia road trip route. If you’re tired of driving, you could stay the night around Rockhampton (Capricorn Caves offers camping spots or you can find free campsites along the route in Camps Australia Wide book ) or push on another 2 and a half hours to Agnes Water.

If you have more time (its about 6 hours driving one way) Carnavon Gorge is a beautiful place to explore with great walks and ancient aboriginal art. Camp at Takarakka Bush Resort.

Town of 1770, Agnes Water and Bundaberg

The  Town of 1770  was the first western settlement in Australia, named after the year it was discovered by Captain Cook and has some cute surf beaches to break up the journey.

Agnes Water  nearby is also a nice beach town to take a break, it’s the first surf beach you’ll reach coming this way and has probably the cheapest surf school in Australia – the Reef to Beach Surf School charges only $17 for a 3 hour lesson with all gear included.

You can explore explore nearby Eurimbula and Deepwater National Parks.

Agnes Water to Bundaberg – 1 1/2 hours driving

Along this East Coast Australia road trip route you will drive through miles and miles of fields of sugar cane. If you want to see how they make it into rum stop at the famous Bundaberg distillery, home to the famous Bundaberg (Bundie) Rum.  Stop here for a tour of the rum distillery and stock up on discounted bottles for essential Queensland tipple!

Bundaberg to Rainbow Beach – 2 1/2 hours drive

Fraser Island – 3 days

Hervey Bay and Rainbow Beach are both quaint coastal towns that offer a jumping off point for the amazing  Fraser Island which shouldn’t be missed off any East Coast Australia itinerary.

Don’t miss visiting the World Heritage-listed Fraser Island. It’s the largest sand island in the world, it’s a unique and  essential Australian experience  with miles of beaches, rainforests and sparkling lakes, rusting shipwrecks and wild dingoes.

You can take a  day tour of Fraser Island  but it’s better to spend at least a few days and nights exploring Fraser Island trekking, swimming and camping out on the sand dunes under the stars.

There are a few ways to do it but you won’t be able to take your 2WD campervan or car onto the sandbar! You’ll need to hire a 4WD and get the ferry across then you can explore yourself ( just don’t get stuck in the sand!)

You could also go with a group as part of  a self drive ‘tag along’ tour or take a tour like Cool Dingo that are affordable, fun and popular with backpackers.

In the winter Hervey Bay is also one of the best places in the world to  see humpback whales  on their migration ( This is the whale watching tour  I took, it was awesome how close they got!)

Rainbow Beach to Sunshine Coast – 2 hours driving

Next you will drive through Maryborough , Queensland’s oldest provincial city and see a larger-then-life Ned Kelly and some nice historic buildings before hitting the coast again.

Sunshine Coast – 3 days

The Sunshine Coast is less developed and more sophisticated than the Gold Coast, if you prefer nature over bars and theme parks and only have time to stop at one on your East Coast Australia road trip then I’d recommend the Sunshine Coast.

Spend sun drenched days exploring the long, golden beaches, surf or just chill out in chic and charming, stylish  Noosa ,  explore the Noosa everglades, enjoy the watersports and also check out the markets in new age Eumundi .

When on the Sunshine Coast also visit famous  Australia Zoo and the ethereal volcanic crags of the Glasshouse Mountains national park . 

Sunshine Coast to Brisbane  – 2 hours drive

Brisbane – 2 days

Queensland’s capital is no longer just a big country town – it’s increasingly cultured and cool centered city worth including in your East Coast Australia road trip itinerary.

The city is centered around the winding river and has a great array of museums and a urban beach on the lovely southbank. For more see my Backpacker’s Guide to Brisbane. 

You can also use Brisbane as a base to do many  day trips and tours  around the nearby area. Explore Morten, Stradbroke or Bribie Island or escape into the hinterland of lush rainforests and waterfalls.

As you’d expect with a large city there’s not many places to camp near the center. Brisbane Holiday Village I think is the closest. But there’s loads of good campsites not far from Brisbane .  There are also lots of cheap hostels you can stay in or look for a motel on the outskirts with parking.

Brisbane to the Gold Coast – 1 hour drive

The Gold Coast – 2 days

South of Brisbane is the Gold Coast. Home to  Surfers   Paradise , skyscrapers and theme parks. The Gold Coast is a bit tacky but can be fun.

Surf, shop, visit the theme parks and sample the lively night life. If you want to do lots of theme parks and attractions  save money with a Gold Coast flexi attractions pass.

If it sounds a bit like Vegas on the beach then head inland and discover three World Heritage-listed national parks:  Tamborine Mountain, Springbrook  and  Lamington  and as you head South a detour to climb Mount Warning at sunrise  is worthwhile for the amazing views.

Gold Coast to Bryon Bay – 1 hour drive

Byron Bay – 3 days

Bryon Bay is one of the most popular stops on an East Coast Australia road trip with it’s amazing sunsets and surf, beach lifestyle and cool, bohemian, alternative vibe.

Walk along Cape Byron to the  Byron Bay lighthouse  on Australia’s most easterly point, enjoy the beaches, try surfing, diving, kayaking with dolphins, take a yoga class or indulge in some alternative therapies, check out the towns many excellent eateries or shop for organic food at a farmers market.

You can also take a side trip to nearby  Nimbin  and hang out with the hippies or check out the creative and cultural arty scene in  Lismore .

I loved the unique, quirky Arts Factory   it’s a super cool, hippiesh resort set in a private subtropical forest with a pond about 10 minutes walk from the town center. There’s a swimming pool and hot tub, spa, restaurant, kitchen, beer garden, cinema, yoga classes, workshops and even a recording studio. You can stay in your camper outside and use the facilities and feel the vibe.

There are also many free parking spots where you can camp, for example the Yelgun rest area, if you head north of  Byron Bay  along the Pacific highway.

Byron Bay to Sydney – 9 hours drive

If you’re short on time (for instance doing a campervan relocation deal ) you could steam down this section from Bryon to Sydney in about 9 hours, but if you’ve got the time for a longer East Coast Australia road trip then here’s where you should check out:

Yamba about 1.5 hrs South from Bryon is a nice, laid back place with great beaches and surf and worth a stop. Ulmarra, a nice heritage town on the river   makes a nice lunch stop.

Heading further South, look out for the Big Banana near Coffs Harbour which has been stopping traffic and the feature of many silly photos since 1964. A little further on the artsy, alternative hill town of Bellingen  and Dorrigo National Park makes a nice quick detour.

Further South  Nambucca Heads and Port Macquarie  are pleasant enough coastal towns worth a lunch stop or overnight rest but compared to the show stoppers further up the coast shouldn’t keep you too long.

The Lakes Way  which starts from Taree and winds through the Myall Lakes and Booti Booti National Parks is a scenic alternative to the Pacific Highway.

Newcastle, New South Wales easy going 2 nd  city has nice surf beaches and heritage architecture. Nearby Nelsons Bay (the dolphin capital of Australia) Port Stephens and the Tomaree Peninsula  are home to some extraordinary sand dunes (that you can sand board on) deserted beaches, national park, the Worimi Conservation Lands.

Heading inland from Newcastle you can check out the wineries of the scenic  Hunter Valley  Australia’s oldest wine region. Most wineries offer free tastings and there is also gourmet cheeses, chocolates and other foods to try.

You might want to leave the car or camper behind for this one! You can take a day trip from Newcastle or Sydney  This Hunter Valley trip  includes tasting not only wine but also chocolates, cheeses and includes a gourmet lunch.

There’s also many national parks in the region including Barrington Tops, Yengo and Wollemi if you want to add them to your East Coast Australia road trip.

Sydney – 4 days

Sydney! Australia’s most iconic city is a must see and an important stop on any East Coast Australia road trip! Sydney is blessed with a stunning harbour and beaches that make it one of the most beautiful cities in the world and home to one of the most iconic views.

Learning to surf on famous Bondi Beach and explore the beautiful harbour and nature by taking the spectacular cliff top walk from Bondi to Coogee and catch a ferry to Manly and do the scenic Manly to Spit walk. See more things to do in Sydney and tips in my Backpacker’s Guide to Sydney.

If you want to stay in the centre of Sydney and enjoy amazing iconic views from the rooftop whilst not breaking the bank look no further than award wining  Sydney Harbour YHA . They also have a heated pool, sauna, bar, cafe, cinema and lots of free activities and run one of Sydney’s best pub crawls.

Also don’t miss the UNESCO listed Blue Mountains National Park. You can visit the Blue Mountains on a day trip from Sydney, but if you have more time it’s well worth spending a few days here. As the area is so huge do some research into where to stay in the Blue Mountains first.

Sydney to Melbourne –  9 hours drive inland or 13 hours via coastal route

So after Sydney you can choose – do you take the quickest route to Melbourne, take time out and see Australia’s often overlooked capital Canberra , a purpose built city with many great museums, o r take a bit more time and carry on along the coastal route to Melbourne – called the Sapphire Coast.

The highlights along the coastal route from Sydney to Melbourne include Jervis Bay  and stunning  Hyams Beach only about 3 hours south of Sydney. There’s also Croajingalong   national park and the Gippsland Lakes– Australia’s biggest inland waterway.

If you have time, take a detour to the beautiful Mornington Peninsula or the Wilson’s Promontory before hitting Melbourne.

Melbourne – 3 days

Melbourne is Australia’s cultural capital of cool and Australia’s most European city. Explore the laneways, art and culture, markets and food and sporting scene of this lively, trendy cosmopolitan city.

The jury’s out about which city is cooler – Melbourne or Sydney so you will just have to visit both and decide for yourself… See more in my Backpacker’s Guide to Melbourne.

The Great Ocean Road – 2 days

What better way to finish of an epic East Coast Australia road trip (or get off to a amazing start if you want to reverse the route) than with one of the best coastal drives in the world – The Great Ocean Road  , just outside Melbourne.

The Great Ocean Road trip is famous for the magnificent Twelve Apostles, a constantly changing coast line and famous surf beaches.

But there is a lot more to see on a Great Ocean Road trip so don’t rush it – take your time and soak up the scenery and discover all the other secrets it  holds along the way. Here’s my tips for the perfect  3 day Great Ocean Road Tri[p itinerary. 

Where next after your East Coast Australia road trip?

Now you’ve seen all the highlights of East Coast Australia you could return to Melbourne or carry on driving to Adelaide and then head straight up through Australia’s Red Center, the Outback, Uluru (Ayers Rock) and all the way up to the Top End and Darwin.  

Don’t forget to go into the Outback at some point on your Australia road trip – the Outback is where the uniqueness and magical of the land down under really shines!…But that’s another trip for another post!

But don’t forget to leave the well trodden route of the guide book behind sometimes because often the best things are the off beat surprises and hidden gems that you discover when you get lost or take a wrong turn!

I hope this post helps you to plan your own amazing East Coast Australia road trip!

If you want to stay longer and immerse yourself in Aussie culutre and earn some money for further travels then maybe consider a years  working holiday visa  then download my free backpacker’s guide to see if you are eligible for a working holiday visa 

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More Australia blog posts:

• The Ultimate Backpacker’s Guide to Buying a Campervan in Australia
• Campervan Relocation Deals – How to hire a campervan in Australia for $1 a day
• Things to do in Australia – 30 Epic Australian Experiences
• A Backpacker’s Guide to a Working Holiday in Australia
• The Ultimate Guide to Backpacking Australia on a Budget
• Our Off beat Outback Australia Road Trip

Have you traveled Australia? What do you think of my perfect East Coast Australia Road Trip itinerary anywhere you loved that I missed out, or any awesome free campsites you want to share?

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I am going on a 5 week journey to Australia and I found your guide extremely helpful! I have already pinned it for later planning 🙂 Do you think that Melbourne and Great Ocean Road would still be okay to visit in May?

Hi Lena. Glad that you found the guide helpful and excited to hear that you are going to Australia. The weather in Melbourne can be very unpredictable especially in winter you have have wind, rain, cold and warm sun all in one day. May isn’t the best time but you might get lucky but take some warm clothes as it can really cold in a campervan in winter in the South of Australia!

Perfect itinerary for an east coast trip. Magnetic Island and Fraser Island were my favourite places along the coast. It was definitely an expensive few weeks. Well worth it though!

Hey Nathan, Glad you liked the post! The East Coast of Oz is sure an amazing trip! Glad you had a good one too 🙂

Wow… what a trip! So jealous. Always wanted to do the East Coast of Australia and you’ve made that goal more real and intense. Awesome photos too!

Thanks! It really is an epic trip! 🙂

Beautiful photos. This looks like the kind of trip the whole family would enjoy. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks, yes its a really popular route – I’m sure kids would love it too 🙂

Hi, just reading your blog….we have just returned from 20 months travel with our two kids to start school…but I’m wondering whether we needed to!! W are finding it hard to settle in, after so much family time together…and. Work, school etc taking so much of the precious family time! W hope we can get ourselves financially independent again to start the travels again!

Thanks Sherman, glad you liked it, great that you travelled so much with your kids and hope that you get back on the road soon. Happy Travels 🙂

Port Stephens is actually a stunning area with 26 beaches of its own, lots of activities and it’s the self-proclaimed dolphin capital of Australia. It is here that you can participate in the only permitted wild dolphin swim in New South Wales with Dolphin Swim Australia😀! Come and check us out!!

Sounds awesome! 🙂 Hopefully I’ll make it there next time

Hi Anna. Great article and wonderful pictures! I travelled from Sydney to Brisbane by train, and I have to say it was an awful experience! The trains there are as slow as they were in 1900, so it took me 14 hours to reach Brisbane. But then at the same time, I got to meet interesting people during this long journey so it wasn’t so bad after all:)

Thanks Alice, glad you liked the article. Shame you didn’t have a good experience traveling Australia by train, I never tried it as I heard it was slow and the network was limited. Better to take the greyhound or if you can drive rent a car or campervan for the ultimate road trip!

Very informative post. Me my partner and near 2 year old will be traveling the east coast Brisbane to Melbourne over 14 days. (From england ) If love to hear your must sees as out time is precious. A lot of people have said Noosa . We are collecting van FROM Brisbane though. So struggling in making the itinery eeeeeekkk!

Hi Anna! So glad I run into your article! I have always wanted to do the roadtrip from melbourne to cairns so this is very helpful for me. Im with my work and holiday visa and my sister is comming next year and this is something that we always wanted to do together. I just wonder how much money did you spend? I know it can be relative depending on the things you do, etc but just want to have an estimate so I can arrange my savings here haha. Thanks!!

Hi Pia. It’s an amazing trip – you should def do it! I did the trip twice once in a camper that we rented for only $7 for a week with a relocation deal https://www.global-gallivanting.com/campervan-relocation-australia-deals/ and the other time in my own campervan and stayed mostly at free campsites so didn’t have to spend money on accommodation. We spent $500 on gas each time and some money on food from the supermarket for meals which we cooked ourselves so I did it very cheaply. I can’t remember how much we spend on sightseeing but mainly we did free things.

Wow, what a long itinerary. Good thing is, Cairns lagoon and GBR are at the start. Great job!

Hey Anna! Currently as far as Hervey Bay on our east coast road trip to Melbourne and I’ve referred to your guide numerous times for tips… fantastic! Thankyou very much 😊

Hi Kate! Wow so nice to hear my post has been useful. Glad to hear you’re having a great time in Oz! I miss it so much! 🙂

Hi Anna, My wife and I just found your guide. We found it to be extremely detailed and helpful. I’ve already bookmarked many of the resources you recommend. We are visiting NSW and QLD on a six month trip beginning in September 2018 and are very excited. I sincerely wish it could be longer, but that is all the time they will let us stay. We will be house sitting most of the time–there are lost of opportunities in Australia. Thanks very much for your help.

Hi Neil. Glad you found it helpful and hope you have an amazing trip. House sitting sounds like a great way to save money on accommodation!

Great artical and you have included some hidden gems Warrabungles which is inland from northern NSW Is a volcanic plain beautiful scenery and a lovely drive So many awesome places inland from the East Coast Lake Nuga Nuba inland from central Queensland There are so many places not mentioned in the tourists brochures eg Hat Head National Park with beautiful beaches and Smokey Bay lighthouse

Thanks for the tips and glad you liked the article 🙂

Hi Anna. seems great experience! .i am also looking to visit there at the end of year

Nice experiences traveling at Australia !

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Ultimate East Coast Australia Itinerary: Best Stops from Melbourne to Cairns

East Coast Australia is a classic road trip destination, but making the drive all the way from Melbourne in the south to Cairns in the far north is an epic overland journey!

There are vast distances to cover, and hundreds of potential stops on the way. Stop off in Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, and many more destinations before seeing the best sites in Queensland .

Here’s our guide to planning the ultimate East Coast Australia road trip. Strap in, watch out for kangaroos, and enjoy the ride!

Don’t leave home without: Lonely Planet Australia (Travel Guide)

Ultimate East Coast Australia Guide

Table of Contents

How Long is the Melbourne to Cairns Road Trip?

Before you start planning an epic Australia road trip along the East Coast, it’s important to know how far you could be driving. Australia is vast, and the distance along East Coast Australia is enormous.

If you’re sticking to the coastal roads, you’ll be driving a minimum of 2200 miles through East Coast Australia to reach Cairns from Melbourne. There will be long days of driving because the cities are incredibly far apart.

As a minimum, you’re going to want at least 3 weeks to make the drive enjoyable, with leisurely stops en route. Even that will mean just a few days, or less in most places.

The more time you do have, the more fun your Australia road trip is going to be! We spent 6 weeks driving this route and truth be told, still didn’t see everything on offer.

Quick Info:

• Melbourne to Cairns: 4,800 km – 2983 miles
• How long is a Melbourne to Cairns road trip: 55-hour drive.
• How many days should a road trip from Melbourne to Cairns take? It takes 3 days but we recommend at least 2-3 weeks or more depending on how many stops you want to make.
• What is the halfway point between Melbourne to Cairns? Riversleigh, Australia.

Renting a car? We use  Discover Cars  to compare car prices, find deals and book rentals.

Road Trip Vs Bus Vs Tour

Making your way up and down the East Coast of Australia can be done in one of three ways. By independent vehicle, coach bus or tour.

Doing this route by road trip, as we did, offers the most flexibility and allows you to stop off in places that both the bus and tours miss.

The best way is by campervan, allowing you to camp and save on accommodation costs. It is also possible to use a plain rental car too. This way of seeing Australia is wildly popular and a fantastic adventure.

You’ll see a lot of advice in this guide that is catering to doing this route by road trip.

The most popular way of navigating this route is by using the coach bus system that operates the entire East Coast.

Acting like a hop on hop off bus, you can purchase a ticket with the start and end destination and then get off anywhere the bus stops along the way. We met so many people doing this and they saw plenty of the highlights.

Lastly, you could just as easily book a tour that will hop you up along the coast to hit the highlights. This will be your most expensive option but you will be able to see more in a shorter time period.

Best Stops Along the East Coast of Australia

Our East Coast Australia road trip itinerary will take you to all the major cities and tourist destinations, but remember that there are so many more places to visit.

You can take the ferry across to Tasmania if you have an extra week to spare, or you can go off-grid and drive through Outback Queensland if you need a change from the coastal scenery!

Start your journey in Melbourne, the capital of Victoria, and Australia’s most cultural city.

Often listed as one of the best places to live in the world, you might not even want to leave Melbourne on your epic Australia road trip!

Enjoy the coffee culture in the city, visit Philip Island to see the Penguin Parade, or chill out on the beaches of St Kilda. Oh, and don’t forget to visit the set of the iconic TV show Neighbours while you’re in the city!

There is so much to see that figuring out what to do in Melbourne is best done in advance to ensure you hit at least the highlights.

Top 5 things in Melbourne that you simply must do :

• Melbourne Complete Walking Tour
• Yarra Valley Wine Tasting Tours
• Premium Phillip Island Penguin Express Tour from Melbourne
• Melbourne Balloon Flight at Sunrise
• Melbourne City Sights Kayak Tour

Top 3 places to stay in Melbourne:

• The Hotel Windsor
• Atlantis Hotel Melbourne
• Stamford Plaza Melbourne

Drive the Great Ocean Road

If you have the time, you could consider starting your itinerary by driving west along the Great Ocean Road before heading east.

This starts just outside of Melbourne in Torquay, and it’s often named one of the best road trips in the world!

This is one of the most iconic and scenic drives in all of Oceania , so if you have the time you do not want to miss it.

Wilson’s Promontory

Your first stop out of Melbourne isn’t too far away; we recommend calling into Wilson’s Promontory as you head out on your Australia road trip.

This beautiful area of wilderness is home to some lovely hiking trails and plenty of wildlife, as well as spectacular views out over the ocean.

Top tours that includes Wilson’s Promontory :

• Wilsons Promontory Day Trip from Melbourne
• 2-Day Phillip Island and Wilsons Promontory Tour from Melbourne

Top 3 places to stay in or near Wilson’s Promontory:

• Wilsons Promontory Wilderness Retreat
• Tidal River Cabins Wilsons Promontory
• Prom Gate Getaway

From Wilsons Promontory, you now need to drive north, because your next stop is the aptly named town of Eden. This is the most southerly town in New South Wales, so after this, you’ll be driving into the state of Victoria.

Visit the local museum, where you can learn about the town’s whaling history, before heading to the beach to admire the spectacular coastline.

In the right season, you can join a whale-watching trip to see how the locals transitioned from whaling to whale watching!

Stay awhile and truly feel the Eden area:

• Coast Resort Merimbula – Luxury
• Seahorse Inn – Midrange
• Eden Gateway Holiday Park – Budget

Next up, it’s a long drive to the nation’s under-visited capital city, Canberra. This purpose-built city is often overlooked by travelers, but it’s well worth a stop, especially as it’s halfway between Melbourne and Sydney.

Visit Australia’s national museums and take a Parliament building tour before getting on the road again. 

Top 5 things to do in Canberra that you simply must do!

• Cockington Green Gardens General Entry Ticket
• Skip the Line: Telstra Tower Observation Deck Ticket
• The best of Canberra Walking Tour
• Twilight Animal Tour
• Batemans Bay Overnight Kayak Camping Tour from Canberra – All Inclusive

Top 3 places to stay in Canberra:

• Novotel Canberra
• Pavilion On Northbourne
• Capital Executive Apartment Hotel

Take the highway south from Sydney, and your first stop on the road trip will be Jervis Bay . This beautiful seaside community is home to what the locals claim is one of Australia’s best beaches.

That’s a huge claim, but when you see the beach for the first time, you might just agree. Spend your day relaxing on the soft sands or get active and enjoy the snorkeling because the water here is crystal clear.

Stay awhile and truly feel the Jervis Bay area:

• Dolphin Sands – Luxury
• Dolphin Shores – Midrange
• Huskisson Beach Bed and Breakfast – Budget

Top 5 things to do in Jervis Bay:

• Jervis Bay Whale Watching Cruise
• Jervis Bay Dolphin Watch Cruise
• Hiking The Castle in the spectacular Budawang Mountain Range
• Jervis Bay Passage Cruise
• Fishermans Paradise Eco-walk

One of the best stops on any Australia road trip is Sydney, the East Coast’s most iconic destination.

Sydney is well worth spending a few days exploring because there are great museums, iconic sights such as the Opera House and Harbor Bridge, and legendary beaches at Bondi and Manly.

Top 5 things to do in Sydney that you simply must do!

• The Rocks Walking Tour: the Original Guided Walking Tour of The Rocks
• Chef-Led Hunter Valley Gourmet Food and Wine Day Trip from Sydney
• Sydney Opera House Guided Backstage Tour
• Sydney Harbour Unique Cruise Including Lunch
• Sydney City Highlights Small-Group Electric Bike Guided Tour

Top 3 places to stay in Sydney:

• Amora Hotel Jamison Sydney
• Shangri-La Hotel Sydney
• Grace Hotel Sydney

Blue Mountains

On your way out of Sydney, detour inland to visit the Blue Mountains National Park . This epic area is where you’ll find the Three Sisters, a unique rock formation hanging over a deep gorge. 

You can take the scenic cable car across the gorge, or venture along the hiking routes that stretch through this beautiful national park.

Top 5 things to do in the Blue Mountains:

• Blue Mountains Day Adventure | BBQ Lunch | Small Group | Chilled & Unique 🙂
• Blue Mountains Hop-on Hop-off Tour with Optional Scenic World Rides
• Blue Mountains Hanging Rock Self-Guided Mountain Bike Tour
• Blue Mountain 4WD Tour Including the Lost City and Capertee Valley
• Canyoning at Stunning Empress Canyon

Top 3 places to stay in the Blue Mountains:

• Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains – MGallery
• Nesuto Leura Gardens Hotel
• Carrington Hotel

Port Macquarie

Head north from the Blue Mountains and your next stop will be the popular coastal town of Port Macquarie, one of New South Wales’ premier tourist destinations.

As well as great beaches and lookouts over the Pacific Ocean, Port Macquarie is famous for the local koala hospital, which has been rehabilitating injured koalas for years.

You can join a tour of the koala hospital to see these furry little animals as they are being cared for and learn more about the dangers they face in the wild (many of which are directly related to human activity in Australia).

It’s a fascinating place where you can learn about the fragile yet unique ecosystem of Australia.

Stay awhile and truly feel the Port Macquarie area:

• Rydges Port Macquarie – Luxury
• Macquarie Barracks Motor Inn – Midrange
• Excelsior Motor Inn – Budget

Coffs Harbor

Now, your drive north really begins, as you head from Sydney up towards Coffs Harbor.

This small coastal town is a great place to break up the journey. You can explore the Muttonbird Nature Reserve, visit the unusually themed Big Banana Amusement Park, and enjoy the great ocean walks.

Don’t forget to stop off at The Big Banana for a photo op and signature banana split ice cream!

Top 5 things to do in Coffs Harbor:

• Coffs Harbor Coastal Adventure
• Coffs Harbor Rainforest & Waterfall Experience
• Coffs Harbour Ground Rush or Max Freefall Tandem Skydive on the Beach
• Coffs Harbour – Jetty by Bike Tour
• Private Full-Day Trip to Dorrigo National Park and Coffs Harbour

Top 3 places to stay in Coffs Harbor:

• BreakFree Aanuka Beach Resort
• Aqualuna Beach Resort
• Absolute Beachfront Opal Cove Resort

Keep driving north, and you’ll reach Byron Bay , a coastal town that’s pretty legendary among backpackers and travelers.

Byron Bay has a fantastic beach. While the rough waves aren’t great for swimming, they are excellent for surfing. In fact, the number one thing to do here is surf.

You can also visit the iconic Bryon Bay Lighthouse, enjoy beautiful sunrises over the Pacific Ocean, and make the most of the quirky cafes and bars in town.

Top 5 things to do in Bryon Bay:

• Byron Bay Whale Watching Cruise
• Byron Bay Wildlife Safari
• Afternoon session Brewery and Distillery tour in Byron Bay
• 3-Hour Sea Turtle Snorkeling Experience in Byron Bay
• Kayaking with Dolphins in Byron Bay

Top 3 places to stay in Bryon Bay:

• Arts Factory Lodge
• Glen Villa Resort
• The Lord Byron

Cross the state border from New South Wales to Queensland, and one of the first stops will be the Gold Coast.

This is an excellent addition to any East Coast Australia road trip. The Gold Coast is where you’ll find some of the best beaches in the country.

This is where the city meets the sand, as tall skyscrapers rise alongside the Gold Coast’s broad, golden beaches. Enjoy the long promenades and boardwalks, surf the epic waves, and enjoy the sunshine!

Stay awhile and truly feel the Gold Coast area:

• Palazzo Versace – Luxury
• QT Gold Coast – Midrange
• Nobby Beach Holiday Village – Budget

Top things to do in the Gold Coast:

• Gold Coast Jet Boat Ride from Main Beach
• Small group Gold Coast Mountain Tour: Springbrook National Park and Mt Tamborine
• Gold Coast Parasailing – Solo, Tandem, Triple
• Gold Coast Brewery Tour Including Balter, Burleigh and Black Hops
• Small Boat Whale Watching Tour with Sea the Gold Coast

From the Gold Coast, it’s not a long drive to Brisbane, the capital of Queensland. This is another must-visit destination on East Coast Australia, and you’ll quickly fall for Brisbane’s laid back lifestyle.

Visit the Museum of Queensland to learn more about local history, see the Koalas at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, and enjoy meandering walks in the sunshine along the Southbank.

Top 5 things to do in Brisbane:

• Springbrook and Tamborine Rainforest Tour Incl Natural Bridge and Glow Worm Cave
• O’Reilly’s Lamington National Park and Treetop Canopy Tour
• North Stradbroke Island Day Trip from Brisbane
• Brisbane Story Bridge Adventure Climb
• Brisbane River Sightseeing Cruise

Top 3 places to stay in Brisbane:

• Riverside Hotel Southbank
• Oaks Brisbane Casino Tower Suites
• Meriton Suites Herschel Street

Noosa and the Sunshine Coast

Drive north from Brisbane, and you’ll soon reach Noosa and the Sunshine Coast. This is one of the most laid back areas along the East Coast of Australia.

This sunny part of Queensland is best known for its beaches and its surfing, and the town of Noosa is often the location for surf competitions throughout the year.

We loved the atmosphere of Noosa, with many shops, cafes and cute streets. There is also some great hiking trails accessible from right in town. It’s also a great place to camp out and enjoy nature on the edge of town.

Hit the waves or lounge on the beach and enjoy a relaxed stop on your long journey north to Cairns!

Stay awhile and truly feel the Noosa area:

• Netanya Noosa – Luxury
• Noosa International Resort – Midrange
• Nomads Noosa Backpackers – Budget

Top 5 things to do in Noosa & Sunshine Coast:

• Merrick’s Noosa Learn to Surf: 2 Hour group surfing lesson
• Seaplane Adventure Flight over Maroochydore for 2
• Full-Day Guided Noosa Everglades Kayak Tour
• The Great Beach Drive: 4WD Tour Between Noosa and Rainbow Beach
• Noosa Whale Watching Tour

Fraser Island

One of the best places to visit on your Australia road trip is Fraser Island , the largest sand island in the world. The entire island is formed from sand, and you’ll need to join a 4 by 4 tour to get around.

There are beautiful lagoons, wild dingoes, and a famous shipwreck on the beach itself. You can camp out overnight or multiple nights like we did to really experience the best of this sandy wilderness.

Top Fraser Island tours:

• All-Inclusive Fraser Island Day Tour
• All-Inclusive 2-Day Fraser Island Tour
• 3 Day 4wd Tagalong Tour – Fraser Island
• 3-Day Fraser Island Resort Package

Agnes Water and 1770

Keep driving north until you reach Agnes Water and 1770, two small towns that make a wonderful stop on your east coast journey from Melbourne to Cairns.

By now, you’ll realize how vast the distances are, so take a break here and enjoy the fantastic coastline.

From here, you can visit several islands in the Great Barrier Reef if you can’t wait to start exploring the underwater marine world that Queensland is famous for!

Stay awhile and truly feel the Agnes Water area:

• The Edge On Beaches – Luxury
• Captain Cook Holiday Village 1770 – Midrange
• Beachside 1770 YHA – Budget

Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays

The next epic spot can be just as sandy because the Whitsunday Islands are known for their incredible beaches.

Base yourself in Airlie Beach , where you can join multi-day sailing trips on yachts or speedy day trips on catamarans to explore the islands.

You can snorkel or scuba dive on the Great Barrier Reef, enjoy the spectacular lagoon at Hamilton Island, and experience one of Australia’s truly magnificent areas of natural scenery.

Top Airline Beach and the Whitsundays tours:

• Whitehaven Beach Half-Day Cruises
• ZigZag Whitsundays Day Tour – Whitehaven Beach – Snorkel – Island Resort
• Airlie Beach Tandem Skydive
• Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet | Aussie Style | Awesome Beach BBQ | Iced Esky
• 2 night Whitsunday Islands Cruise on New Horizon from Airlie Beach

Top 3 places to stay in Airline Beach:

• Club Wyndham Airlie Beach
• Coral Sea Resort Airlie Beach
• Magnums Backpackers

Townsville and Magnetic Island

Townsville is the largest city along the northern stretches of East Coast Australia, and it makes for a great stop on your way up to Cairns.

Townsville itself is very residential, but take a ferry over to Magnetic Island to find unspoiled nature and beautiful beaches.

Book your Aquascene Magnetic Island Discovery Tour today!

Top 3 places to stay in Townsville:

• Madison Plaza Townsville
• Grand Hotel and Apartments Townsville
• Mercure Townsville

Mission Beach

Mission Beach is a small coastal town on the way up to Cairns. It makes for a great place to relax and enjoy the tropical surroundings without the tourist crowds that you’ll soon be encountering.

Mission Beach is known for its beach, but the surrounding areas are also home to the fabled Cassowary, a large, flightless bird that has been around since prehistoric times.

Drive carefully, and you might spot one if you’re lucky.

Top 5 things to do in Mission Beach:

• Great Barrier Reef Dive and Snorkel Cruise from Mission Beach
• Tully River White Water Rafting from Mission Beach or Self Drive Cairns
• Fozzy’s 3 Hour, 3 Island Tour
• Beach Skydive from up to 15000ft over Mission Beach
• Dunk Island Round-Trip Water Taxi Transfer from Mission Beach

Top 3 places to stay in Mission Beach:

• Eco Village Mission Beach
• Mission Beach Resort
• Castaways Resort & Spa On Mission Beach

After over 2000 miles of driving, you’ll have made it to Cairns , the tourist hub of Far North Queensland. The weather here is very different to Melbourne. You’re in the tropics now.

Using Cairns as a base, you can scuba dive and snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef , take the scenic train to Kuranda, visit the ancient Daintree Rainforest , and head up to Cape Tribulation .

If you’re looking to escape the heat, take a road trip up into the Atherton Tablelands from Cairns.

This high plateau has a very different climate to the tropical coastline below and is known for its farm shops and volcanic crater lakes!

Top 5 things to do in Cairns:

• Atherton Tablelands Waterfalls Tour from Cairns
• Seastar Luxury Outer Great Barrier Reef Island and Reef Tour from Cairns
• Bungy Jump or Giant Jungle Swing or Bungy & Swing Combo
• Cairns ATV Adventure Tour
• Green Island & Great Barrier Reef Sailing Cruise from Cairns – only 25 guests

Top 3 places to stay in Cairns:

• Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort
• Pacific Hotel Cairns
• Mantra Esplanade Cairns

Short on Time? Alternate Itineraries

We get it, not everyone has the luxury of being able to spend multiple weeks or months exploring the East Coast of Australia. But that doesn’t mean you should scrap the idea all together.

We’ve broken this massive trip down into three popular routes. These itineraries offer more manageable distances for shorter trips and plenty of Australia’s highlights.

• Ultimate Melbourne to Sydney Itinerary
• Ultimate Sydney to Brisbane Itinerary
• Ultimate Brisbane to Cairns Itinerary

Each one of these itineraries can be done in two to three weeks. If it’s your first time to Australia, we’d recommend the Brisbane to Cairns route, if you can only pick one.

Road Safety in Australia

Remember to keep on the left-hand side of the road in Australia, but more importantly, watch out for kangaroos and other wildlife.

In rural areas, kangaroos are a real problem on the roads, and they can cause serious damage. Kangaroos are most active at dawn and dusk, so avoid driving at these times.

You won’t need a four by four for an East Coast Australia trip, as you’ll be on paved roads the whole time. It’s good practice to make sure you have breakdown cover, though, as you don’t want to get stuck in the middle of nowhere!

Don’t forget your travel insurance! Protect your investment and yourself. Read  Is Travel Insurance Worth It?

Supplies and Accommodation on the Road

If you’re sticking to the coastal roads and main highways, you won’t need to worry too much about supplies or filling up on gas.

East Coast Australia is well populated, and there are lots of supermarkets and gas stations within easy reach.

The further north you get, however, the longer the driving days will be. Try to keep your gas tank filled up when you have the chance.

Always keep some spare water and a bit of food in the car in case you get stuck somewhere.

One of the best ways to road trip Australia is in a campervan , or failing this, by camping out along the way. There are many great campsites or caravan parks where you can spend the night or even a few days.

More on Australia:

• 25 Top Things to Do in Australia (On Your First Visit!)
• Backpacking in Australia: 8 Week Recap & Travel Tips
• 11 BEST Things to Do in Darwin, Australia
• Oceania Travel Guide

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Lina is an award-winning photographer and writer that has been exploring the world since 2001. She has traveled to 100 countries on all 7 continents. Member: SATW, NATJA, ATTA, ITWA

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A Complete Guide: Travelling the East Coast of Australia

The East Coast of Australia is up there with the most popular backpacking trails in the world. The Great Barrier Reef, the Whitsunday Islands, Fraser Island, the Great Ocean Road, Sydney’s Opera House… the entire coastline has many ‘must sees’ that continue to attract travellers from across the globe. Here at Nomads, we have traveled the East Coast numerous times and we can tell you now – it never gets old! So here it is… our complete guide to travelling the East Coast of Australia.

Where is the East Coast of Australia?

The ‘East Coast Trail’ refers to the long stretch of road that follows the eastern coastline between Cairns and Melbourne. Traditionally, the East Coast began in Sydney, however as Melbourne’s alternative and cultural persona has attracted much international acclaim over the years, the southern city has now become a popular starting or ending point for many East Coast voyagers. For those short on time, the majority of the East Coast can be explored between Brisbane and Cairns.

Quick Facts:

• The total distance along the coastline between Melbourne and Cairns is around 4000km
• It would take about 50 hours of non stop driving to travel along the coastline between Melbourne and Cairns
• The major highway connecting Brisbane and Cairns is called the “Bruce Highway” – can’t get more Aussie than that!
• The East Coast is nothing like the Outback of Australia (or Wolf Creek). Although there will at times be long drives between each major tourist destination, you will find petrol stations and little towns at least every 30 mins apart
• Aussie locals are very laid back and friendly. You will be including Aussie Lingo such as No Worries Mate, No Dramas, Heaps Good, Thongs and Barbie in no time! Check out our guide to Aussie Slang
• Australia is an Eftpos nation – you will be able to pay by credit or eftpos card in most cafes, service stations, hostels, bars and supermarkets. However it is handy to have a little bit of cash when passing through smaller towns

Australian Weather:

• Many backpackers assume that Australia is warm and sunny all year round! Because of the country’s size, it could be snowing in one state and 35 Degrees in the next!
• Melbourne and Sydney can be quite cool during Winter (June to August) so make sure you pack a warm jacket, pants and closed shoe
• Byron Bay to Bundaberg attracts mostly sunny weather all year round. As you head north of Bundaberg and into Tropical North Queensland you may need to prepare for wet season. Wet Season is within Australia’s summer season and usually hits the tropics between November and March. Expect tropical rain, high humidity and A LOT of sweat! We suggest packing a very light, waterproof jacket with a hood

How much time will you need to travel the East Coast?

• Like every country, it depends on how you like to travel. If you have just 2 to 3 weeks, the major sites between Sydney and Cairns can ‘be done.’ However you will spend a lot of time getting to and from each destination and little time to relax and really explore what each destination has to offer. If you have 3 weeks or more, then you will be able to travel the coast between Melbourne and Cairns more comfortably. We usually suggest 4 to 6 weeks!

Cost (AUD):

• A dorm room in a hostel will range between $25 – $40 per night
• Coffee is around $3.50
• Breakfast – most hostels offer all you can eat brekkies for around $5 per day. Eggs on Toast or Cereal will cost around $7 from a cafe.
• Lunch & Dinner – Most major cities will have many restaurants and cafes available. Aussies love their international cuisine so you can usually find anything from Cheap Pizza places, Kebabs, Fish & Chips, Indian, Thai, etc. Main Meals will usually cost you around $10 – $20
• Use the hostel kitchen and buy cheap food from supermarkets or the many great markets around Australia
• Pint of Beer $7 – $10

Getting Around Australia’s East Coast:

• Campervan Hire  can be a great way of exploring the East Coast of Australia if you have more than 3 – 4 weeks of travel. Most campervan companies in Australia offer one way rentals between Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane and Cairns. There are many hostels along the coast north of Brisbane that allow you to park up for the night at a small cost and use the hostel facilities. You will also find many free camping zones outside of the major cities.
• Greyhound and Premier are both public bus lines that tend to be the most popular form of travel for backpackers. Although these bus lines are open to the public, due to the popularity all services are usually jam packed with travellers. Both Greyhound and Premier offer flexible hop on and hop off passes between Melbourne, Sydney, Byron Bay, Brisbane and Cairns and they stop at all tourist destinations along the coast!
• Hop on Hop Off Busses. The busses mentioned above both have hop on hop off options but you can also travel with Oz Experience, Stray Travel or Loka where you get a tour guide and are taken to some key locations asa well as being able to hop off and explore somewhere in a little more depth.
• Fully Guided Tours are a great means of exploring the East Coast if you are a little nervous about travelling on your own, or only have a short amount of time. Tour companies such as  Wayoutback  and  Topdeck  offer fully inclusive tours along the coast

Accommodation on the East Coast

• There are many budget accommodation options available along the East Coast of Australia. Nomads Hostels have properties in Sydney , Brisbane ,  Byron Bay ,  Noosa and  Airlie Beach .
• To save $$ or keep your travels completely flexible, we suggest buying a  multi-night accommodation pass that allows you to book as you venture along the coast. Most hostels along the East Coast are located in central areas and close to public transport

The Must Sees on Australia’s East Coast

Whether you are travelling along the coast by Bus, Campervan or Tour, here is our guide on where to go and what to see.

Melbourne is Australia’s cultural and artistic city with loads going on from film festivals, markets, live music, live theatre and rooftop bars. We suggest exploring Melbourne’s graffiti and coffee lined laneways (you can view our  Top 5 laneways  here) and taking a trip up to the top of  Eureka Skydeck  for 360 degree views of the city. A great way to explore the city for free is by hopping on the red city circle tram which provides commentary as you pass by the city’s iconic and historic landmarks.

St Kilda Beach  is also well worth a day trip. The colourful beach side suburb is just a 15 minute tram ride from the city centre and is oozing with cafes, cake shops, bars and of course, the iconic Luna Park! If you have a few days in Melbourne, taking a tour along the  Great Ocean Road  and to the Twelve Apostles is also a must!

• Read our tips on the Best Things to do in Melbourne
• On a budget? Check out some Free or Cheap Things To Do in Melbourne
• Visit the excellent Queen Victoria Market
• Stay at Base Melbourne , in the stunning suburb of St Kilda

There’s no doubt that Sydney is one of the most photogenic cities in the world! You will need at least 3 to 4 days to explore the city and its surrounds. One of our favourite ways to get some great photo opportunities of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House is by purchasing a Ferry Ticket (around $5 – $10 for the day) and cruising around the CBD. The ferry also runs return transfers to Manly Beach – a great day out!

A day tour (or overnight for the hiking enthusiasts) to the beautiful Blue Mountains National Park is also a must! And of course – the Coastal Walk between Bondi and Coogee Beaches should also be on the top of your Sydney Bucket List. Public buses operate from the CBD to Bondi Beach and Coogee Beach all day. A walk down to Darling Harbour is also worth your while, as well as checking out Chinatown for a cheap bite to eat and Paddy’s Markets for a spot of souvenir shopping.

• Read our tips for  Top 10 things to do in Sydney
• On a budget? Check out some Free or Cheap Things To Do in Sydney
• Visit some  Sydney Markets
• Stay at Nomads Sydney

If learning to Surf (or if you consider yourself a pro), a stop by Mojosurf’s Spot X Surf Camp on your way to Byron Bay is a must. Located on a private beach front property 3 hours south of Byron Bay, both Greyhound and Premier Bus companies stop here. You can book everything from an overnight, 2 night or week long stay here. Packages include accommodation overlooking the coast, surf lessons, board and kayak hire, a bonfire and the ultimate chilled out atmosphere. Alternatively, Mojosurf also offer day lessons from Byron Bay.

• Mojo Surf Packages  at Spot X.
• Stay at Spot X Surf Camp .

The most easterly point in Australia never fails to capture the hearts of travellers passing through. The vibe is chilled, the people are relaxed and the beaches and surrounding waterfalls and rainforest of the  Byron Hinterland  is amazing. If travelling to Byron Bay from Sydney (or in the other direction), we suggest getting an overnight Greyhound or Premier bus.

When in Byron Bay, a day trip to the historical and colourful hippie village of  Nimbin  should also be on your Byron Bucket List. The day trip is by far one of the weirdest and wackiest experiences we have ever had in Australia, rolling through the hinterland in a rainbow bus with the Bob Marley tunes a-blaring! Walking to Byron Bay  Lighthouse  for sunrise is an unforgettable experience and don’t forget to check out the markets.

• Read our tips on the best Things to do in Byron Bay
• Check out some  Fun and Free things to do in Byron Bay
• Visit the Byron Bay Markets
• Stay at the famous Arts Factory Lodge in Byron Bay

Travelling 1 hour north from Byron Bay, you will arrive in Surfer’s Paradise (in the Gold Coast). Surfer’s Paradise is commonly compared to England’s Blackpool – and we love it! The nightlife is great, the beaches are amazing and there are 4 of Australia’s biggest theme parks all within a short drive away. We suggest 2 or 3 nights here, but if on a short time frame, you could probably scoot right through to Brisbane. If you are planning on heading to the theme parks you will need to allocate an entire day!

If you have a car, be sure to check out the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Gold Coast hinterland – there are loads of natural waterholes, walking trails, waterfalls and amazing lookouts to explore. Jupiter’s Casino is worth a cheeky visit and a spot of shopping at Pacific Fair never goes astray.

• Read our tips on the best Things To Do in Surfers Paradise

A 1 hour bus journey north of Surfer’s Paradise will land you in Brisbane. Don’t be fooled – Brisbane has a lot to offer. One of our favourite (and FREE) things to do in Brisbane is jumping on the Red City Hopper Ferry from Southbank and cruising along Brisbane River. You will get some great sights of the city, Storey Bridge and the Botanic Gardens. Jump off in Eagle Farm and head to Fortitude Valley for a few cheeky beers and a spot of shopping.

Brisbane’s night market scene is definitely on point (maybe because of the fantastic year round weather) and Westend is an alternative suburb with loads of cool bars and cafes worth visiting. XXXX Brewery offer tours for the beer enthusiasts and a trip to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary will have you getting up close and personal with the furry mammals. If you are looking for a little bit of island love, a day trip to Moreton Island is a must – a great place for snorkeling, spotting for dolphins and sand boarding!

• Read about the Best Things to Do in Brisbane .
• Check out our Top Ten Reasons to Visit Brisbane .
• On a budget? Check out some Free Things To Do in Brisbane
• Stay at Nomads Brisbane Hostel

Mmm… Noosa. Noosa is located in Australia’s Sunshine Coast and is just a short 2 hour bus journey north of Brisbane. Not only is it a popular gateway to Fraser Island, but it’s also the ultimate place to check out  Australia Zoo.  Make sure you explore the secluded beaches through  Noosa National Park  and see what wildlife you can spot. Not to be missed are the fantastic  Eumundi Markets . We highly recommend trying surfing in Noosa or going on a kayak tour through the  Everglades . We suggest a minimum of 2 to 3 days in Noosa to RELAX!

• Read our Top 9 Awesome things to do in Noosa .
• On a Budget? Check out 20 Things to Do for under $20 in Noosa
• Stay at Nomads Noosa Youth Resort

Fraser Island

Ok EVERYBODY who visits Australia wants to visits the world’s largest sand island! And there’s no surprises why.  Fraser Island  is home to some of the most stunning white sandy lakes and Eucalyptus Rainforests in the entire country. The island is BIG and the only way to get around is by a 4X4 vehicle. There are a number of tour options available including Tag Along and Guided options departing from Brisbane, Noosa, Rainbow Beach and Hervey Bay.

Most budget travellers will opt for the Tag Along option as it is a lot more affordable. If you have a license, you can actually drive the 4WD on the Fraser Coast ‘highway.’ Most Tag Along tours will have you joining a convoy with other travellers led by a professional driver in a lead car. You can camp or stay in a hostel on the island – and don’t forget to spot for Dingoes! Nomads Fraser Island offer 3 and 2 day Tag Along tours from Noosa.

• 2 day 1 night Fraser Island tour from Noosa
• 3 day 2 night Fraser Island tour from Noosa
• 3 day 2 night Fraser Island Camping Tour from Noosa

Town of 1770 / Agnes Water

From Noosa or Rainbow Beach you will have a 15 hour, overnight bus journey to Airlie Beach – Whitsundays. Yep – we weren’t joking when we said Australia is HUGE! To break up the journey, many travellers tend to stop by a little, coastal town by the name of  1770 . Located 6 hours north of Rainbow Beach, this is the place on the East Coast where the Great Barrier Reef meets the surf coast. It’s really chilled with a small town feel and the infamous Scooteroo Tour (where you drive around in a leather jacket on a Harley Davidson spotting for Kangaroos) tends to attract many backpackers to the region.

• Stay at 1770 Southern Cross Backpackers

Airlie Beach – the Whitsundays

As you arrive into Airlie Beach you will really begin to feel the sense of being in the Tropics! As you cruise along the old Bruce Highway you will begin to notice Sugar Cane and Banana Plantations, towering green mountains and rainforest. To put it simply – you can get by day by day in flip flops, tees and shorts. As you arrive into the tiny yet bustling town of Airlie Beach, prepare to be blown away by the views!

Airlie Beach is the gateway to the 74 islands that make up the Whitsundays. There are loads of different tours and activities available – from fast paced day trips, overnight sailing tours, relaxed catamaran cruises and party tours on ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ style schooners! Most travellers will opt for a 2 day / 2 night sailing trip, but if you are short on time, we recommend a day tour with  Ocean Rafting  or a 2 day / 1 night trip on a maxi racing yacht.

The 3 day / 2 night sailing trips include onboard accommodation, food, most are BYO alcohol and snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef. All tours will guide you to Whitehaven Beach – where the sand is so white and pure that you can actually clean your jewellery with it! If you have some more time in Airlie Beach, be sure to check out the surrounding walking trails. Or if you prefer to relax then chill by Airlie Lagoon and bask away your hangover at Airlie Beach’s man made beach. Or take a short drive to Cedar Creek Falls , a stunning ‘secret’ location.

• Read our tips on what to do if you have 7 Days in Airlie Beach
• Stay at Nomads Airlie Beach Hostel

Magnetic Island

Magnetic Island is becoming more and more popular over the years as word of this tropical island paradise continues to spread. Greyhound and Premier bus offer pick ups and drop offs at the Magnetic Island ferry terminal in Townsville (located 4 hours north of Airlie Beach). Overnight island packages at Base Magnetic Island are available and include beach front accommodation, ferry transfers and a few extra goodies. It is the ultimate place to chill by the beach front pool, snorkel, check out the surrounding look outs and party the night away. Also – don’t forget to plan your trip around the Island Life Beach Party – it is EPIC!

• Read  10 Reasons Why Magnetic Island should be on your bucket list
• Stay at Base Backpackers Magnetic island

Travelling a further 4 – 6 hours north of Townsville – Magnetic Island you will reach the end of the East Coast Backpacker trail. Cairns is the adventure capital of Australia and there is pretty much any adrenaline activity on offer here – Bungy Jumping, Skydiving, Cable Ski, White Water Rafting, Jungle Surfing – you name it!

A trip to  Atherton Tablelands  is a must if swimming in natural waterholes, beautiful lakes and visiting the famous waterfalls as featured in Peter Andre’s “Mysterious Girl” is up your alley. Taking the scenic railway and cable car to the hidden rainforest village of Kuranda should be on your to do list. As well as a visit to nearby  Fitzroy  and Green Islands. The Great Barrier Reef is an absolute must do in Cairns. There is everything from day tours to 5 Day Open Water PADI Courses on offer. Have a chat to one of our MAD Travel staff to choose your best option.

You will be surprised by the vast differences between the small and humid town of Cairns vs the bustling streets of Sydney’s CBD. ‘Queenslanders’ are a lot more relaxed than their southern neighbours!

• Read our tips on the Best Things to Do in Cairns
• On a Budget? Check out some Free or Cheap Things to Do in Cairns
• Visit the Cairns Markets

For those with enough time, we suggest a little stop by Mission Beach, a stunning rainforest town located just one hour south of Cairns. It is the best location to try White Water Rafting through Tully River and a popular spot to Skydive (imagine views of the Great Barrier Reef and a beach landing).

We also highly recommend an overnight tour to  Cape Tribulation  (with a one night stop over in Port Douglas). It’s located 2 hours north of Cairns and is where the Rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef.

Travelling the West Coast as well? Check out our Guide to Western Australia

On a tight budget? Read these  Tips to Help You Travel Australia on a Budget  or this for more budget Australia travel ideas

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17 thoughts on “ A Complete Guide: Travelling the East Coast of Australia ”

Hi myself and 3 friends are hoping to do a trip fro Cairns to Sydney, Just wanted to enquire how much a 23- 25 day trip would cost Thanks a mill Julie

Hi Julie, contact [email protected] who can pass your enquiry onto someone who can help you. Give them approximate dates for your travel and any activities you’d like to do. If you include your phone number within the email they’ll be able to give you a call to discuss all the options. Alternatively you can pop into one of our travel shops (located at our hostels) and speak to a travel agent face to face.

Looking for help planning an itinerary for my wife and myself. I’m competing in a regatta in Hervey Bay November 15-23. From there we will have 10 days, with a car, to see what we can. We imagine we would travel north from there, ending up in Cairnes where we would fly out. We live at the beach, so we don’t want to spend all our time focusing on beaches. We are healthy/active 50ish year olds, who love wildlife and nature. It would seem that we would start with an overnight trip on Fraser Island. We prefer local flare and flavor over posh accommodations. Any suggestions on where we could turn for help making arrangements? We have so little time and there is so much to see and do. Thanks, Tracy and Kim

Hi Tracy – email your basic itinerary to [email protected] – including all the info above and your phone number and someone can get back to you with a suggested itinerary 🙂

Hi there, I’m mayo, I want to travel from Melbourne to Cains, unfortunately we only have 7-8 days. Can you guys please provide guideline

Hi Mayo if you email [email protected] with your budget, dates and what you want to do they’ll be able to provide you some guidance

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hii me and my friends was thinking to trip Cairns to Sydney so please tell me what is the cost

Hi Rahul, the cost depends on many things… the dates you want to travel, how many of you there are, if you want to travel by bus, plane, hire car, how many trips / tours you want to do on the way etc etc. If you know what you want to do on your trip and how long you have to do it then email [email protected] and they’ll be able to give you more of an idea of potential costs.

hey wonderful posts

Hi, I’m make and sixty in October so in November to celebrate I would like to do Cairns ending up in Melbourne for xmas and New Year as my son will be there. I will be traveling on my own, can you give me some advice as to the best way to do this journey on my own. I was going to bring a small backpack, what should I bring? and when going site seeing what do lone travellers do with there valuables if going in the sea? any other advice will be much appreciated regard Ian

Alright Ian No offence but If I was you I’d try a trip a bit less ambitious mate. Cheers

Australia is very nice place to travel.. A perfect plan for summer bring your family and love one because of the beautiful view i am pretty sure you will enjoy it. I’m planning to go there. See you Australia. I’m gonna road trip with my girlfriend there.

Australia is beautiful i wish i had the funds and confidence to travel places like this..

i love the site thanks for the information

useful information

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East Coast Australia

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East coast australia road trip itinerary and ultimate guide.

Show-stopping beaches, charismatic little towns, eden-like national parks and unforgettable adrenalin filled activities mean it’s no wonder why the east coast of Australia is one of the world’s most popular travel destinations.

And it’s all relatively easy to explore; you just need a vehicle or a coach pass, a chunk of time (I’d recommend 6-8 weeks if you really want to see everything, or 4 weeks if you’re just after the highlights), sufficient funds and a sense of adventure!

This east coast Australia road trip itinerary will take you from just above the tropical city of Cairns, to hidden gems such as Mission Beach and Innisfail, through world famous sites like Magnetic Island and the Whitsundays, down through little surf towns and some of the best diving sites on the east coast to the bucket-list destination of Fraser Island, through south Queensland’s Sunshine Coast and its capital, Brisbane.

It will then traverse the Brisbane to Sydney drive, through the backpacker haven of the Gold Coast, then to northern New South Wales, an area that includes Byron Bay (one of my favorite places in the world) and its surrounding quirky towns and beautiful hinterland.

The route then follows the Pacific Coast Highway and travels through various beautiful New South Wales coastal towns before arriving at Sydney.

From Sydney, the east coast Australia road trip is directed to Melbourne via the coastal route, where the road calls at various other New South Wales and Victorian towns, national parks, and even an island before finishing in the state capital of Victoria; the cosmopolitan city of Melbourne.

It’s a long way, it will take you through a range of different climates and cultures, through tiny in-the-middle-of-nowhere towns to backpacker hubs and bustling cities, and will span some of the most gorgeous beaches on the planet as well as breathtaking inland natural scenery nearly every step of the way.

Are you ready for the ultimate east coast Australia road trip itinerary? This route is completely customisable to your wishes and needs. It could be done in reverse, or in chunks – if you’re flying into a different city, you might want to start elsewhere.

There are international airports in Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns, Melbourne and the Gold Coast on this route – check out this Gold Coast airport review to learn about this point of entry to the east coast of Australia.

If you’re not doing the whole Cairns to Melbourne drive, use this nifty table of contents to take you to just the part of the road trip that you want to go on.

Organise your vehicle for your East Coast Australia Road Trip

I traveled all over Australia in my trusty Subaru Forester, and I’d highly recommend to anyone to make this odyssey in your own (or rented) vehicle.

Not only does your own car or van give you the freedom to travel at your own pace, editing your itinerary if you want to stay longer or shorter somewhere, it often works out cheaper, because you can split fuel costs with friends and stay at free campsites.

I had my own car for this trip and all of my Aussie road trips, and if you are planning on traveling more than just the east coast (which you should, as the rest of the country is spectacular) then I’d recommend you buy a car of your own.

But if this road trip is a one-off or you don’t want the hassle and commitment of buying a car, renting is also an option.

I haven’t used any of these myself, but some popular companies are:

• Jucy campers
• Wicked Campers

If you’re planning on drinking 24/7 or just don’t fancy driving all of that way then taking the coach is probably the best bet for you.

Greyhound and Premier both plough the east coast daily – Greyhound is known for having better facilities, offering free (temperamental) wifi, power sockets, and comfier seats – but Premier is slightly cheaper.

Greyhound’s southern service from Sydney goes inland and pretty much straight to Melbourne via Canberra, but Premier follows closely to the Sydney to Melbourne coastal drive I have suggested.

Once you get to Eden, which is right near the New South Wales/ Victoria border, V Line will get you through eastern Victoria and into Melbourne.

Once you’ve sorted your car, van or coach pass out, you’re ready to hit the road!

Do you want some more information about transport in Australia, where to stay, and what to eat in the land down under? Check out this Australia travel guide for some really helpful information.

When to Go On the East Coast Australia Road Trip

This East Coast Australia road trip itinerary begins in Cairns and travels south to Melbourne.

This is a great way to do your trip if you’re traveling in Australia’s autumn, as Victoria takes a while to heat up!

The reverse is true if you’re journeying in the spring.

If you’re road tripping in winter, brace yourself for cold temperatures in Victoria, New South Wales, and South Queensland but look forward to near-perfect weather in Central and North Queensland.

In the summer, you’ll be sweltering everywhere – but watch out for tropical storms and seriously hot temperatures in the North, and make sure you wear stinger suits everywhere that they’re recommended.

Where to stay on the East Coast of Australia – hostels or camping?

Nowhere quite does hostels like the East Coast of Australia – and I’m pretty sure that no hostels are quite as expensive as the East Coast of Australia.

You’ll make some great friends in the East Coast’s hostels and it would be a shame to miss them out completely, as they are a part of the coast’s backpacking experience.

But you may have to declare bankruptcy if you stay at all of them.

That’s why I’ve recommended selected hostels in some of the tourist hotspots, that I’ve either stayed at personally or that have come highly recommended by fellow travelers.

In all the gaps where hostels haven’t been mentioned, there are plenty of free camping options – which are perfect if you have your own vehicle.

If you’re intrigued about free camping in Australia and want to find out more, click on the below link.

If not, there are plenty of hostels, Airbnbs, and hotels in most of the tourist spots on your East Coast Australia road trip.

Cairns to Brisbane Drive Itinerary

Perhaps the most iconic road trip in all of Australia, the Cairns to Brisbane drive odyssey spans over 1700 kilometres, through countless national parks, beside hundreds of postcard-perfect beaches and a huge reef and takes you from the tropics to the subtropics.

There are so many reasons why the Cairns to Brisbane road trip is a world-famous travel journey; and this itinerary takes you through all of the best!

Suggested time frame – 3-4 days

Cairns is a backpacker hotspot, with many travellers to Australia beginning their trips here – which makes it the perfect place to start your Cairns to Brisbane drive.

The tropical city is a great place to accustom to Australian lifestyle and a few days can easily be passed chilling by the lagoon, dining at the many cafes and restaurants of the city and enjoying its nightlife scene.

However, amidst all of this hardcore relaxing, do save some time to venture to the outstandingly beautiful areas around the city.

Things to do in Cairns

• Cool down with a dip in the lagoon
• Dine and drink at the many establishments in the city
• Do a free fitness class on the esplanade
• Go on a tour of the Atherton Tablelands This area is a fantastic day trip from Cairns (although longer can be easily spent in the region) and includes gorgeous waterfalls , scenic lakes, outstanding lookouts and quirky towns. Take a self-drive trip or book a day tour.
• Do a Great Barrier Reef tour I went with Ocean Freedom, who are fantastic for first time divers. People who are not certified (I was one of the only two on my boat who were!) have the chance to dive with an instructor after a safety briefing. It’s a great chance for anyone who’s thinking about learning to dive but is unsure if it’s for them. If you are certified, you’ll likely get the chance to go an a semi-private dive – I got whisked away on a speedboat for my second dive which was just me and the instructor.

Great Barrier Reef Tours

Where to stay in cairns.

Which hostel to pick in Cairns largely depends on how much you want to party. Cairns City Backpackers is pretty chilled out, with a BYO alcohol policy and quiet time late at night. It’s set in tranquil, rainforest-like setting and is a bargain price for a smaller dorm room. Click here for more information and to book .

If you do want to party, then there’s only one real option; the infamous Gilligans. Some people love it, some people hate it, but it’s without a doubt one of the busiest, loudest and most raucous hostel in Cairns.

It’s spread out over four levels, with amazing facilities such as free airport pick up, free WiFi and a lagoon swimming pool, and has an entertainment venue with bars and clubs within the hostel. They also offer cheap dorm rates and $5 dinners with free drinks. Click here for more information and to book .

There aren’t any free camping options within the city itself, but some in the local area. There are also a few paid campsites in and around the city. Drive north to Daintree National Park – 1 hour OR take a tour from Cairns

The Daintree Rainforest

Suggested time – 1-2 days

The Daintree can be done in a day trip from Cairns, but I think it’s worthy of a section all of its own. It’s a huge national park north of the city, with a tarmac road driving straight through the thick of the rainforest; and every so often, you’ll get a glimpse of the sea, which the road runs directly parallel to.

This is exactly why the ‘rainforest meets reef’ slogan of Far North Queensland was invented. There are short walks, cultural experiences, croc spotting cruises and four wheel drive tracks to be enjoyed within the breathtaking national park.

Things to do in the Daintree National Park

• Hike through the rainforest and around the beautiful Mossman Gorge
• Explore the Daintree tea plantation
• Have a picnic overlooking the beautiful Cow Bay
• Walk through the jungle at the Jindalba Boardwalk, Dubuji Boardwalk and Kulki Boardwalk
• Take on the challenging Mount Sorrow hike
• Enjoy the ‘reef meets rainforest’ vistas of Cape Tribulation beach
• Go croc spotting at Daintree River
• Check out the gorgeous Emmagen Creek at the start of the Bloomfield Track
• If you have a 4WD vehicle, drive the Bloomfield Track; an unsealed road heading north to Cooktown

Daintree National Park Tours

Don’t have your own vehicle? There’s plenty of tours from Cairns to the Daintree National Park.

From Daintree National Park, drive 23 minutes/ 23.5 km south to Port Douglas. If you are on a tour, some also stop in Port Douglas.

Port Douglas

Between Cairns and Daintree National Park is Port Douglas, a hip town which has luxury restaurants, quirky cafes and a busy backpacker scene.

It’s a fun place to pop in for an afternoon or spend a couple of days in; depending on how much time you have! I know a few people who have lived and worked in the town as well.

Things to do in Port Douglas

• Browse the beachside Sunday markets for tasty food and arty souvenirs
• Drive or hike up to the top of Flagstaff Hill for a spectacular lookout over the town and four mile beach
• Sample coffee at the various cafes of the town
• Laze back on the gorgeous four mile beach

Where to stay in Port Douglas

If you’re after a bustling backpacker scene, Dougies is located just 300 metres from the beach and is fully equipped with everything you could want in a hostel in the tropics; an outdoor pool and barbecue, a bar and free parking. Choose from a 4 or 7 bed dorm or a private room and bathroom.

For rates and to book, click here . From Port Douglas, drive south back through Cairns, which takes 1 hour 5 minutes. Or return to Cairns on your tour!

The Port Douglas to Cairns drive is known as ‘Far North Queensland’s Great Ocean Road’ and the views of vibrant green rainforest bordering onto turquoise blue ocean are nothing short of spectacular. It’s one of my favourite drives in Australia (and I’ve drove around nearly all of it!) so take your time and stop off at as many viewpoints as possible. Either stay another night in Cairns, or begin your journey south to Innisfail and Mission Beach

Drive or catch a coach from Cairns to Innisfail, which is a distance of 88 kilometres and takes approximately 1 hour 10 minutes. 

Suggested time – 1 day

Known by many to be ‘the place where everyone does farm work’, many road trippers whizz past Innisfail. But there’s lots to do in and around the town to pass a day or more; so if you have time on your East Coast Australia itinerary, be sure to check this beautiful town out!

Things to do in Innisfail

• Check out Josephine Falls, located between Cairns and Innisfail
• Stroll around the town and enjoy the art deco architecture, which has bene in place since 1918
• Sunbathe on the gorgeous sands of Etty Bay – and watch out for cassowaries!
• Explore the rainforest from the Mamu Tropical Skywalk

Drive or take the coach from Innisfail to Mission Beach, which takes 40 minutes and is 52 kilometres in distance.

Mission Beach

Suggested time – 2-3 days

Mission Beach isn’t on every Tropical North Queensland itinerary, but it damn well should be – it’s one of my favourite parts of the east coast. The beaches here are absolutely mesmerising – when I walked down to my first I actually let out a little yelp of joy.

There’s a variety of walking trails through the rainforest region, opportunities to spot cassowaries (we didn’t see any, boo), some absolutely delightful cafes and restaurants, and, as the name suggests, kilometre after kilometre of gorgeous beachfront.

If I could get an ‘I HEART MISSION BEACH’ t-shirt, I would.

Things to do in Mission Beach

• Hike up to Bicton Hill for a stunning view
• Laze on 14 kilometres of beaches – but remember to use the stinger nets from October to May!
• Eat at the quirky Bingil Bay Café
• Take a water taxi to Dunk Island and do some of the walk tracks and marvel at the beaches there
• Go scuba diving – the Great Barrier Reef stretches along most of Tropical North Queensland including all of Mission Beach

Accommodation in Mission Beach

If you’re looking for accomodation to relax and unwind in for a few days, Jackaroo Hostel is just the place. The treehouse-style hostel is set in beautiful grounds with a spectacular view, and just being there basically screams zen. Choose from a 6 bed dorm room or a private double room, all which come with included breakfast. For rates and to book, click here . Drive south 2 hours 48 minutes, which is 235 kilometres, or take the coach to Townsville.

On the Bruce Highway, I’d recommend taking a pit stop at the Frosty Mango restaurant, an eatery that serves all things mango, including delicious dairy-free ice cream. There’s also a huge mango outside (if you don’t know already, Australia loves its huge things) to snap a picture with!

Suggested time – 2 days

Townsville, ‘the capital of Northern Queensland’ is the gateway to Magnetic Island.

But there’s plenty within Townsville to occupy a day or two too, so before you hop over to the paradise that is Maggie Island, take some time to explore what Tropical North Queensland’s largest city has to offer.

Things to do in Townsville

• Learn about wildlife in Tropical North Queensland, the history of scuba diving, ancient shipwrecks and more at the Museum of North Queensland
• Learn about the region’s history at the Herbert River Museum
• Visit the historic Old Brandon Church
• Enjoy the bars and restaurants of the city
• Walk around the picturesque marina

Accommodation in Townsville

Rambutan YHA is a popular backpacker hangout, located in the centre of the city. It doesn’t cut any corners, with facilties such as a rooftop pool, outdoor bar and restaurant and $10 dinner specials. Choose from a 5, 6 or 8 bed dorm or private rooms in different sizes.

Click here for rates and to book .

Take the ferry over to Magnetic Island, which is a 20 minute journey, costing around $19 per person.

Magnetic Island

A pure slice of paradise, Magnetic Island is worlds away from the city of Townsville.

The entire island seems to run at its own time, with a chilled-out pace that it seems you could only find within a certain number of degrees to the equator.

On Magnetic Island, there are historical walks, climbs to hidden beaches, snorkelling, safe swimming spots, and amazing sunset viewing areas… or there’s the chance to get very merry on cocktails and general island life and spend the day lazing in a hammock. The choice is yours.

Things to do on Magnetic Island

• Take the forts walk to learn about the wartime history of the island and spot koalas
• Go snorkelling at Geoffery Bay – you can pick up a self guided snorkelling tour from the visitors centre for $5
• Hike to Balding Bay (which is Maggie’s unofficial nudist beach, FYI) or Radical Bay, both beautiful spots that are much quieter than the main beach!
• Go for a dip in Nelly Bay’s stinger net
• Discover more of the island’s history at the Magnetic Island History and Crafts Centre
• Catch an amazing sunset at one of the many spots around the island

Where to stay on Magnetic Island

The home of Australia’s only full moon party, Base Backpackers is set in stunning surroundings and enjoys a bar, BBQ facilities and a swimming pool. The bar hosts themed nights and activities.

For rates and to book, click here .

From Magnetic Island, take the ferry back over to Townsville and start heading south. Drive from Townsville to Bowen, which is around 2 hour 20 minutes and 202 kilometres, or take a southbound bus.

Suggested time – stopover/ half a day

Although some people stop to do their farm work in Bowen, for many it’s not really much more than a quick pit stop. But the laid back town vibes, beautiful beaches and hikes to impressive lookouts do make it a worthwhile stopover on a southern drive!

Things to do in Bowen

• Check out some of the eight amazing beaches that make up the area around Bowen
• Learn about the tropical town at the Bowen Historical Musuem
• Take a ferry over to Stone Island
• Check out Horseshoe Bay from the Rotary Lookout
• Snap a photo with yet another big mango!

Drive from Bowen to Airlie Beach, which is about 77 kilometres and takes around 58 minutes, or hop on a coach. 

Airlie Beach

Airlie Beach is somewhere you’ll constantly hear about as you’re travelling down the East Coast of Australia – and it is definitely a backpacker hub.

The town is catered for tourists, but if you’re looking for somewhere for a cheap dinner, a couple (dozen, maybe) beers and to meet some new travel mates, Airlie is your go to. Most people who are at Airlie Beach are coming off a Whitsundays tour, or about to get onto a boat. But there are a few things to do in the town itself.

Things to do in Airlie Beach

• Take a dip in the refreshing Airlie Beach Lagoon
• Browse the markets, which are held every Saturday
• Check out the gorgeous Cedar Creek Falls, located en route to Proserpine
• Visit the rainforest Conway National Park and go hiking

Where to stay in Airlie Beach

Nomads pretty much dominates the backpacker accommodation in Airlie Beach, and it’s easy to see why. The establishment is half hostel half campsite, with options for any type of backpacker.

The entire hostel is al-fresco based and as well as the standard amenities (kitchen, laundry, chill out area etc), it enjoys two bars, a swimming pool and free wifi. For rates and to book, click here .

The Whitsunday Islands

Suggested time – 3 days

The Whitsunday Islands are one of the ‘must see’ Australian odysseys that make the east coast famous. It’s vital to include visiting the islands in your east coast Australia road trip itinerary, and I’d advise doing the full 3 day 2 night tour to get the full experience.

I went with Wings , who offer a chilled out, sociable atmosphere with stop offs to all of the most beautiful spots of the islands. Also included was:

• SO MUCH FOOD including buffet-style meals, snacks every time any of us got a twinge of hunger, and tea and coffee. They catered for dietary preferences really well and even let the special diets have first choice, which gave me yet another reason to love vegetarianism!
• A shared cabin-style dorm – I slept in a little cubby hole, but it was pretty cosy!
• All the snorkelling gear and four stops to see some of the best marine life in the area
• A guided walk to Whitehaven Beach and to a look out
• Slideshows of photos in the evening
• Friendly, knowledgeable staff

Alcohol was brought on a BYO term. The boat isn’t an in-your-face party kind of boat, but a few of us got very merry on beer/ goon in the evenings.

If you want an in-your-face party style boat, I’d go with Clipper .

This isn’t the boat to choose if you want a good night’s sleep – but it’s hugely popular with travellers on the east coast! (it does also have a huge inflatable slide which looks awesome).

And if you’re looking for a bit more luxury, Ride to Paradise offers the same style tour, but instead of the boat, stays in luxury accommodation. There are dozens more Whitsundays tours, so if none of those take your fancy don’t fret – you’ll almost certainly find a great tour for you.

Whitsundays Tours

Your Whitsundays boat tour will take you back to Airlie Beach. Spend another night there, if you wish (there will most likely be an after party!), or head straight back to the road. Coaches leave Airlie Beach to Mackay, or drive the distance – just under 2 hours and 150 kilometres. 

I had a fantastic time in Mackay, although I didn’t do much other than get a subway (a sandwich, not an underground train). I’ve never felt so immediately welcomed into a city – at first, I thought everyone knew each other, but when they all greeted me with equal cordiality, I realised that people in Mackay are actually just that friendly.

Mackay is a launching point for the southern Great Barrier Reef and is home to some fantastic parks to the north and the west.

Within the town, there are lookouts, great food, lagoons and cycling trails. It’s a tropical city that’s worth a spot on your East Coast Australia itinerary.

Things to do in Mackay

• Cycle on the Bluewater Trail
• Take a dip in the Bluewater Lagoon
• Visit Lambert’s Lookout for a Pacific view
• Explore a sugar cane mill
• Camp with kangaroos at Cape Hillsborough
• Go hiking and platypus spotting at rainforest-based Eungella National Park

Take a coach or drive the distance to Rockhampton, which is 3 hours 40 minutes and 336 kilometres. 

Rockhampton

Suggested time – 1 day When I told a few people I was adding Rockhampton to my east coast Australia road trip itinerary, they laughed and said there was nothing there. I then looked up the best things to do in Rockhampton – and discovered that 5/9 revolved around the beef industry – not exactly a vegetarian’s dream. But, dig a little deeper and there’s some great things to do in Rocky that don’t involve meat of any kind.

Things to do in Rockhampton

• Visit the Dreamtime Cultural Centre which tells significant stories of the state and country’s Aboriginal population and their Dreamtime stories which is the basis for their culture
• Catch the sunset over Mount Archer
• Cross over the tropics at the Tropic of Capricorn Spire
• Explore Quay Street and marvel at the historic, opulent buildings
• Admire the works at the Rockhampton Art Gallery

Take a coach to Agnes Water, or drive the 2 hour 30 minutes, 225 kilometre journey.

Agnes Water/ 1770

A lot of people just stop in Agnes Water for a break up between the long bus between Airlie Beach and Rainbow Beach (although hopefully I’ve convinced you to make a few extra stops along the way too!).

But the surf town is a cool place to hang out for a few days. If you aren’t pushed for time on your Cairns to Melbourne road trip itinerary, take the chance to kick back on the beach for a few.

Things to do in Agnes Water/ 1770

• Take a surf lesson for either $17.70 or $25 (I chose the $25 option, which is allegedly better – saying that, I chose it because it was the only one running in the afternoon. But I definitely felt like I got more than my money’s worth).
• Do the Scooteroo tour – the tour takes you around the twin towns on scooters that are made out to look like huge badass motorbikes. I didn’t do it, but it looks like a lot of fun!
• Check out some of the local national parks, such as Eurimbula, which has breathtaking coastline, 4WD tracks and scenic sunset spots.

Tours Around Agnes Water

Where to stay in agnes water/ 1770.

Southern Cross Backpackers is a super chilled out hostel with a variety of accommodation options – there’s a campsite that you can drive onto, or dorms.

Set in beautiful subtropical grounds, the hostel has a pool and a great chill out/ bar area. But the best thing about this hostel is that it has a really nice community feel, with staff who take the time to get to know and help you out and encourage guests to socialise. It’s not a mad party hostel, but rather one where you can enjoy a few beers of an evening with like minded travellers.

For rates and to book, click here . Journey to Rainbow Beach by driving 3 hours 40 minutes and 322 kilometres, or taking a coach.

Rainbow Beach

Suggested time – 1 day Rainbow Beach is a tiny little town (if you can call it a town!) nestled between Agnes Water and the Sunshine Coast. It’s an ever popular backpacker destination because… here is where you go on your Fraser Island tour. But Rainbow Beach is lots of fun too – kick back here for a couple of days if you have the chance.

Things to do in Rainbow Beach

• Sandboarding at Carlo Sand Blow
• Surfing and sunbathing at Double Island Point
• Driving around the gorgeous Great Sandy National Park

If you’re booking on a Fraser Island tour, you’ll need to be at the safety briefing for 6pm the day before. This means staying at least one night in Rainbow Beach – and it’s a good idea to book for the day after too, so you’re not rushing after your tour and have some time for drinks with your group!

Where to stay in Rainbow Beach

Dingos is one of the only hostels in Rainbow Beach, but it’s ran so well that there’s really no need for any competition. It’s outside-based, with two fun bars often featuring live music, $7 dinners every night and free vegan pancakes for breakfast each morning.

Choose from a hostel dorm room or sleep in your car or campervan for just $10.

Fraser Island

For Fraser Island you have two options. If you have a four wheel drive vehicle with a large clearance, 4WD knowledge, are sure that your car won’t break down on the island, good car knowledge in general and a sense of adventure then go ahead, do a self-guided tour of the island.

If you don’t (the only criteria of these I really met was a sense of adventure – unless I can count hair-raisingly navigating down the Gibb River Road in Western Australia as 4WD knowledge?) then the best thing is to book a tour.

I went with Dingos – who are ran by the same people as Dingos hostel – and highly recommend them. The tour involves four 4WD vehicles drove on a ‘tag along’ basis – so everyone who has a licence and is 21+ gets a chance to drive the cars.

The tour definitely burns the candle at both ends – so if you want to drive first thing in the morning you really have to limit the drinking the night before. There’s video footage of me on night two, dancing around a gazebo with a bag of goon. Needless to say I was not on the list of designated drivers the following morning.

Dingos Tours: What Do They Include?

• Knowledgeable and friendly guides
• Three meals a day – if you have any dietary requirements just state at the time of booking and they will provide an altered meal plan
• Use of the 4WD vehicle for three days
• Ferry crossing to Fraser Island
• Campsite accommodation

Now, I’m never really a huge fan of tours – I much prefer hitting the open road with my own car and stopping wherever I want to, for however long I desire. But for Fraser it is kind of a necessity, and it’s a great place to meet new people.

Highlights of Fraser Island

• The brilliantly blue Lake Mackenzie
• 4WD – ing through the subtropical rainforest
• Being drifted away in Eli Creek, a natural lazy river
• The spectacular Champagne Pools
• Gazing over the island from Indian Head lookout
• Drinking (and dancing with) goon back at the campsite. Backpackers eh…

Other Fraser Island Tours

Return back to Rainbow Beach with the tour – you’ll probably want to stay another night at Dingos.  The next day, drive 1 hour 40 minutes, 134 kilometres to Noosa Heads or jump on a coach.

Noosa and the Sunshine Coast

Noosa is a charming town nestled in Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. It’s loved by backpackers and locals alike, because of its beautiful surroundings and bustling atmosphere.

Things to do in Noosa

• Exploring the coastal and inland tracks of Noosa National Park – which is very easily accessible from the town, even if you don’t have a car
• Lazing, BBQing or swimming on one of the town’s many beaches
• Café hopping and seeing who really does the best soy cappuccino in Noosa
• Similarly, check out every breakfast spot in town (warning: you’ll need a huge appetite or a few days)
• Climb up Mount Tinbeerwah for amazing panoramic views of the whole coastline
• Go on a kayak tour of Noosa Everglades
• Go stand up paddleboarding in Little Cove

Where to stay in Noosa

Nomads Noosa is located right in the heart of town, making all of Noosa’s main attractions easily accessible. There’s options to play beach volleyball or pool and drink at the on site bar. Choose from 8, 10 and 16 bed dorms and click here for rates and to book today . Trav el 141 kilometres, 1 hour 45 minutes, to Brisbane.

You’ve reached the big city!! I was most excited to get to Brisbane because it meant I could go to LUSH and stock up on shampoo bars, but there are lots of other things to do in Brissy too.

The city has a certain air of glitz and glamour about it, and within Brisbane, there are some great museums, fantastic restaurants and bars, a bridge climb and city beaches.

Things to do in Brisbane

• Visit the museum of Queensland and learn all about the state you’ve just been exploring
• Explore the world of contemporary art at Queensland Gallery of Modern Art
• Rent a bike and ride around the city and its ‘burbs
• Take a Kookaburra River Queens cruise – which use old style paddlewheel vessels – around Brisbane’s river, taking in the city’s attractions.
• Go shipwreck diving at Moreton Island
• Climb the city’s Story Bridge and get impressive views of the entire cityscape
• Enjoy all sorts of artwork at Queensland Art Gallery
• Visit South Bank Parklands and laze away a hot Brissy day at one of the city beaches
• Go on a whale watching tour (seasonal) to see humpback whales travel from the Antarctic to Queensland’s more mild waters

Note – one of the most popular Brisbane attractions is the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary.

I’ve omitted it off this list because I don’t think that any institution, sanctuary or not, is ethical if it allows you to hold a wild animal who normally likes its space. If you can hold it, it has likely been unnaturally domesticized. If you want to see koalas, head to Magnetic Island or the Great Ocean Road where there are plenty in their natural habitat.

Where to stay in Brisbane

Brisbane City Backpackers is a friendly, well-equipped hostel with a bar and a roof terrace that boasts a fantastic view of the city’s skyline. Many people choose to stay in the hostel while working, but it’s equally welcoming to short-term visitors.

The on-site bar stands out for its $10 dinner options every night and fantastic drink deals. The atmosphere here encourages a party mood, but if you’re seeking a more relaxed experience or recovering from dancing with a bag of goon on Fraser Island (like me), getting a good night’s sleep is easy. The staff are always ready to offer helpful daytime activity recommendations.

One notable perk is the availability of free parking, a rare find in the heart of Brisbane.

Brisbane to Sydney Drive Itinerary

  You still with me? The Cairns to Brisbane drive itinerary was the longest chunk of your trip – but that’s not to say that the next two segments aren’t just as epic. If you’re venturing south of Brisbane, let me show you the very best spots to visit on this Brisbane to Sydney drive! Drive 1 hour, 78 kilometres, to reach Surfers Paradise. You can also jump on a Greyhound to do the distance, or take local buses and trains.

  If Australia was a cupboard of condiments, Gold Coast would definitely be marmite – you either love it or you hate it. (it wouldn’t be Vegemite, Australia’s answer to Marmite, because every Aussie young or old loves it).

Gold Coast is home to lots of beaches, plenty of good surf, parties until 6am and high rise buildings. The centre of the Gold Coast is Surfers Paradise, which is where most of the backpacker hangouts are.

Things to do in Surfers Paradise

• Go out – it’s what the city built its popularity on. Surfers Paradise has all night parties, day sessions, boozy BBQs – you name it
• Believe it or not, it’s a popular destination for surfing – although the waves definitely seem for the more advanced, there’s some spots that are great for beginners too
• Go to the all-vegan Lord of the Fries. These burger stalls are all over Melbourne and Sydney, but I think the Surfers Paradise joint was the first to be completely vegan. It mainly serves mock meat, which was a bit strange to eat – but it’s tasty comfort food and it saves animals and the world
• Check out views of the city from the Sky Point Observation Deck
• Head to Infinity, which is a house of optical illusions and a fantastic place to spend a rainy day!
• Browse the beachfront markets on a Wednesday, Friday and Sunday night
• Check out some more free things to do on the Gold Coast here .

Pssst… I’ll let you in on a little secret. If you’re after a lively backpacker scene and crazy parties, stick to Surfers. BUT there’s lots of quieter beaches in the Gold Coast that are amazing for a more chilled out holiday; make sure you visit some of these hidden gems on your Brisbane to Sydney drive!

Other beaches on the Gold Coast

• Burleigh Heads
• Coolangatta
• Kirra Point
• Mermaid Beach

Check out this Gold Coast Beaches Guide for some more information about alternative beaches.

Where to stay in Surfers Paradise

A well-facilitated hostel that’s perfect for both chill and party, BUNK is centrally located, with an outdoor swimming pool and hot tub. The hostel offers free breakfast, and each dorm has ‘privacy pods’ with individual lights and power sockets. However, if you want to socialise, there’s plenty of areas perfect for meeting new travel mates.

Drive 1 hour 2 minutes and 78 kilometres from Surfers Paradise to Mullumbimby. If you are taking the coaches down the east coast, you’ll need to fast track straight to Byron Bay.

Queensland/ New South Wales Border

Crossing over into New South Wales from Queensland is pretty uneventful – if you’ve ever crossed into Western Australia, you’ll know how painful border crossings can be!

You’re not too far from Byron Bay, one of the best places on the planet in my humble opinion , but there are a few gorgeous spots that are worth visiting before you reach the hippy town.

Mullimbimby

Suggested time – stopover Slightly inland is the charming town of Mullimbimby – which many regard to be ‘Byron Bay 20 years ago’. It’s one of those towns where great pleasure can be had just by strolling around.

Things to do in Mullimbimby

• Stroll around the Mullimbimby Community Garden
• Check out the local Rainforest Walk
• Enjoy the markets – Mullum Community Market runs on the 3 rd Saturday of every month and the Mullum Farmers Market is every Friday 7-11am
• Check out some of the charismatic cafes
• Stroll around the murals painted by local artists
• Attend a yoga or pilates class or unwind at the day spa

Drive 10 minutes or 7.7 kilometres (yes, that’s it!) to Brunswick Heads

Brunswick Heads

Suggested time – stopover

Photo via Flickr by Richard Rydge Heading out to the coast from Mullimbimby is the tranquil Brunswick Heads, home to bushland opening out onto serene beaches.

Things to do in Brunswick Heads

• Canoe, birdwatch or hike in the Brunswick Heads Nature Reserve
• Catch a surf on the local beach
• Jump from the old wooden bridge into the clear river (at high tide!)
• Enjoy the vistas of the bush opening out to beach
• Go stand up paddleboarding at Torakina Beach

Drive 18 minutes or 18 kilometres to Byron Bay

Suggested time – 3-4 days

Ahhh… Byron Bay. My second home and the only place in 18 months of travelling that could persuade me to stay longer than a month. I actually lived in Byron Bay, in a tent, for five beautiful months and I would go back in a heartbeat. There’s lots of reasons why so many people fall in love with beautiful Byron Bay, and it will no doubt be a highlight on your Brisbane to Sydney drive.

Here’s why it changed my life . I’d recommend staying in Byron Bay for as long as possible – but if you only have a few days, here’s the highlights.

Things to do in Byron Bay

• Walk up to the lighthouse
• Catch a wave at The Pass
• Go scuba diving at Julian Rocks
• Catch some live music at The Rails or the Northern
• Watch the sunset while dancing away at the drum circle
• Watch some of the amazing entertainers (often fire spinners or buskers) at Main Beach
• Catch the Arts Factory’s talent show

I genuinely feel a pang in my heart while writing about Byron Bay – I miss it every day.

Byron Bay Tours

Where to stay in byron bay.

There’s no better place to stay at in Byron Bay than The Arts Factory.

Spreading out over 5 acres of gorgeous grounds, The Arts Factory is less of a hostel and more of an experience.

It’s got a name as a bit of a hippie hangout, and it definitely attracts the free-spirited and artistic – but really, there’s something for everyone at the Arts Factory.

Enjoy didgeridoo lessons, yoga classes, bush walks, the weekly talent show, and more at the Arts Factory, while staying in one of their dorms, private rooms, or even on the attached campsite, which is affectionately known as ‘The Jungle’.

I lived here for five months and couldn’t get enough of it.

The Hinterland of Byron Bay

Byron Bay’s famous for its beaches, but don’t forget to check out its amazing hinterland too. Home to waterfalls, national parks, forests and quirky towns, there’s something kind of magical about the Byron Bay hinterland.

Things to do in Byron Bay’s Hinterland

• Eat locally sourced food in Newrybar’s Harvest restaurant
• Head to Nimbin, which is possibly the hippiest town in Australia. Enjoy the laidback, organic lifestyle of the town and stock up on some erm… treats… if you’re into that kind of thing!
• Hike to the top of Mount Warning to be the first in mainland Australia to see the sun rise
• Walk to the base of the spectacular Minyon Falls
• Stroll through rainforest of the Nightcap National Park to the gorgeous Protestor Falls
• Have a swim in the plunge pool of Killen Falls

Drive 1 hour 40 minutes, 126 kilometres from Byron Bay to Yamba, or catch a coach heading south

Yamba is a sleepy little coastal town with lots of natural beauty and attractions. While it’s not the most visited town on the east coast by any means, it’s gaining popularity with backpackers and travellers doing the Brisbane to Sydney drive.

Things to do in Yamba

• Go surfing at the many beaches
• Bask in the stunning natural beauty of the Angourie Blue and Green Pools
• Take the Angourie Walking Track along the stunning coastline
• Enjoy the vista with a picnic at the Yamba Lighthouse
• Do ‘Shane’s 10 buck tour’ which takes you around the town, telling you its stories in the tour operator’s own wicked humour

Where to stay in Yamba

Yamba YHA Backpacker Beach Resort is located right in the centre of town, and has the option of dorms or private rooms with en suite bathrooms. There’s an on site café and bar, BBQ facilities and free parking, and the hostel is where the famous ‘Shane’s Tour’ begins. For rates and to book, click here .

Catch a coach heading toward Coffs Harbour, or drive the 1 hour 38 minutes, 138 kilometre distance

Coffs Harbour

Photo by Andrea Schaffer via Flickr   Famed mainly for ‘The Big Banana’, there are some other attractions in Coffs Harbour that aren’t big fruit. Some of the best attractions are coastal, but my favourite bit of Coffs is its hinterland.

Things to do in Coffs Harbour and the surroundings

• The gorgeous waterfalls of Dorrigo National Park
• The Big Banana’s waterslides and activities
• Koala spotting in Bongil Bongil National Park
• Visit the rugged Muttonbird Island
• Admire the boats at the marina and jetty

Drive 27 minutes, 34 kilometres, sout-eastwards from Coffs Harbour to Bellingen. If you are taking the coaches down the east coast, you’ll need to skip this part and head straight to Port Macquarie. 

Bellingen is a wonderful little country town; I was there just after same-sex marriage was passed in Australia, and was uplifted by all the banners and signs throughout the town expressing their joy at equality.

Pair this with stunning buildings and fantastic cafes set in the most picturesque setting, and you’ve got yourself a perfect little town.

Drive westwards from Bellingen toward Armidale. It’s 155 kilometres, and would take around 2 hours with no stops – but let’s face it, you’ll be stopping a lot. 

The Waterfall Way

The Waterfall Way has some of the most scenic falls in the country. It’s a 185 kilometre road traversing no less than five national parks.

Waterfalls along the way

• Dorrigo Rainforest Centre and Skywalk Lookout
• Crystal Shower Falls
• Tristina Falls
• Dangar Falls
• Wollombi Falls
• Chandler Falls
• Red Cedar Falls (which a difficult 8km hike is necessary to reach – but definitely head there if you have the time!)  

From Armidale, travel down the Oxley Highway to reach Port Macquarie. At a distance of 250 kilometres, it’s just over 3 hours of driving.

Port Macquarie

Whether you head back out to the coast via the Waterfall Way return route or head south in the hinterland, you’ll eventually find your way to the Central NSW town of Port Macquarie. Famed for its stunning beaches, this town has a lovely laid back atmosphere and plenty to pass a few days.

Things to do in Port Macquarie

• Check out the artistically painted rocks along the breakwall
• Check out a sunrise or sunset on the many beaches
• Grab a beer and watch the waves at the Beach House
• Walk the 9km coastal walk which traverses most of the town’s beaches
• Visit the ‘brothers’ and drive to the summit of the North Brother mountain, which offers spectacular views of the local area

Head 244 kilometres south to Newcastle, which should take you about 2 hours 10 minutes. Or hop on a coach heading in the same direction.

Suggested time – 1 day Just two hours north of Sydney, Newcastle is a buzzing town basking in scenic surroundings. Head to Newcastle to check out the coastal national parks and the charming atmosphere of the city itself.

Things to do in Newcastle

• Glenrock State Conservation Area
• Minmi Cemetary Walk, which tells some of the tales of the coal mining boom
• Enjoy the vistas of Nobbys Beach and the city’s lighthouse
• Visit the Newcastle Museum to learn more about the surrounding area’s history
• See some local art at the Newcastle Art Gallery  
• Go to the nearby Port Stephens and do the Tomaree Head Summit Walk .

From Newcastle, head to Palm Beach, which is a 173 kilometre or 2 hour 16 minute drive. If you are taking the coaches, you’ll need to head straight to Sydney.

Photo by Suzanne via Flickr You’re technically in Sydney’s northern beaches now! Palm Beach was made famous for being the setting of Home and Away, but there’s plenty to enjoy within the vicinity for not-so-big fans of the Aussie soap.

Things to do in Palm Beach

• Take in a great view from Barrenjoey Lighthouse
• Go paddleboarding from the beach
• Walk around the Home and Away set
• Dine at some of New South Wales’ classiest eateries  

Drive 43 minutes, 30 kilometres, along the side of the Pacific Ocean towards Manly, one of Sydney’s northern suburbs.

Manly  

I’m really dragging out this entrance to Sydney, aren’t I? You’re almost there – well, you’re technically there – Manly is and isn’t part of Sydney. It’s only a ferry ride to Darling Harbour, but the beaches and community atmosphere of the suburb make it an entity of its own. Many backpackers choose to stay, work and live in Manly over Sydney ‘proper’, and there’s plenty of draws to this part of the city.

Things to do in Manly

• Visit the resident penguins at Collins Beach
• Have a BBQ and catch the sunset at Shelley Beach
• Do the 9km North Head Sanctuary loop walk from Shelley Beach, which will give you fantastic views of Sydney Harbour and wildlife spotting opportunities
• Walk along the northern beaches via the Manly to Split walk
• Check out the bustling markets of the town

Where to stay in Manly

If you don’t fancy staying in Sydney proper, check out Manly Bunkhouse, which boasts en suite dorms and rooms, communal areas, central location and outdoor spaces. Click here to find out more . Take the ferry over to Sydney Central, which costs $15 – or $2.60 if you are going on a Sunday! Or drive the 18 kilometre distance, which should take about 30 minutes (traffic dependent). 

Suggested time – 4 days You made it! Congratulations on reaching Australia’s largest city. Sydney’s definitely a bucket list city that every keen traveller should visit at least once in their lifetime. Although it’s not my favourite place in Australia, it was the first part of Australia I ever went to and that makes it very special for me.

Things to do in Sydney

• Walk around the iconic Opera House
• Stroll through the beautiful botanic gardens, right by the harbour
• Walk to Mrs Macquarie’s Seat and snap a great picture of the Opera House
• Head to the Australian Museum to learn all about this weird and wonderful country
• Explore the funky suburbs such as Newtown
• Brunch in the upmarket Surry Hills
• Head to the Eastern Beaches; admire the outdoor pool at Bondi and complete the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk
• Go to the NSW Royal National Park to check out sights like the Figure 8 Pools and Wedding Cake Rock
• Check out this local’s guide to Sydney for more ideas

Sydney Tours

Where to stay in sydney.

Where you decide to stay in Sydney largely depends on what kind of scene you’re after; whether you want to enjoy the fast-paced life of the CBD, one of its quirky suburbs or chill out on Bondi Beach.

If you’re after a stay in Central Sydney, Railway Square YHA is a hostel with a difference – half of it is located in disused railway cabins! It also offers cheap breakfasts, excellent facilities and great events. For more information and to book, click here .

Sydney to Melbourne Drive Itinerary

So many people fast track from Sydney straight to Melbourne, and I think it’s such a shame. This area of the country is spectacular, with amazing coastline, unique national parks and quirky townships. Take some time for your Sydney to Melbourne drive; to explore a little of southern New South Wales and eastern Victoria, and I promise you won’t regret it!

The Blue Mountains

Suggested time – 2-3 days To reach the Blue Mountains, drive 55 minutes or 62 kilometres from Sydney to reach the edge of the National Park. It’s an extra 30 minutes/ 40 kilometres to reach the three sisters, the most prominent landmark in the park. Alternatively, you can take the train to the national park from Sydney Central.

I’m sending you on a little detour here, but it’s well worth it. The Blue Mountains are located 62 kilometres west of Sydney, and they are nothing short of spectacular. If you’re taking the Greyhound down the coast, I’d really recommend renting a car, taking the train or taking a tour to this national park – it’s definitely an Australia must-see. Covered in eucalypt forests, the Blue Mountains are named so because of how the oil from the trees mixes with water vapour. They span over  11,400 km2 and encompasses hills, waterfalls, lookouts and spectacular panoramic vistas.

Things to do in the Blue Mountains

• Three Sisters Lookout, the most popular and iconic spot in the Blue Mountains
• Evans Lookout, my personal favourite
• Traverse some of the many tracks of the mountains
• Visit the Waradah Aboriginal Centre

Psstt.. If you’re visiting the Blue Mountains on a day trip from Sydney, head there on a Sunday, when the train fare is just $2.60

Blue Mountain Tours

From Bathurst, which is located at the other end of the Blue Mountains National Park, drive 253 kilometres to Canberra, which should take you around 3 hours 13 minutes.  Alternatively you can reach Canberra by bus or train from Sydney Central.

Tell anyone you’re planning on a trip to Canberra on your east coast Australia road trip and their response will be ‘why’? Famed for its dullness, the capital of Australia isn’t the top spot on anyone’s itinerary. Why am I recommending you go there then? Well, for all my history and politics fans, there’s lots to do in Canberra if you’re interested in getting to know how Australia works and has worked in the past. And I think if you’re travelling in a country, these are things you have a duty to know. Canberra can be done in a day trip from Sydney – it’s a three hour drive to the city (just down the road, you know), or you can take a coach or train between cities. There is enough to keep you occupied for longer though – check out this post for some ideas of what to do in 2-3 days in Canberra . If you’re self driving down the east coast, you can head south-east from Canberra and then continue your Sydney to Melbourne drive via the coast.

Things to do in Canberra

• Visit the Parliament House and sit in on a question time (which is 2pm when the parliament is running)
• Walk around the Old Parliament House, home of the Museum of Australian Democracy
• See the Australian War Memorial
• Enjoy a sunset over Lake Burley Griffin
• See artwork at the National Gallery of Australia and the National Portrait Gallery
• Look out over the city from the top of Mount Ainslie

Check out this guide to Canberra for more ideas.

Where to stay in Canberra

A spacious hostel in the city centre, Canberra City YHA offers a swimming pool, sauna, rooftop terrace and an onsite bar and café. Choose from double, twin or dorm rooms and check here for rates and to book . From Canberra, drive 2 hours 55 minutes/ 222 kilometres eastwards to Jervis Bay. If you are taking public transport, taking a bus to Wollongong and then local transport south to Jervis Bay is an option.

Bladdy magical. That’s what Jervis Bay is. Three hours south of Sydney, it’s a spectacular beach with white-as-it-gets sand and the bluest of blue waters. If it’s hot on your visit, it’s a great place to have a beach day – or there are hiking trails and swimming spots to enjoy. Whatever the weather, it will no doubt be a highlight on your Sydney to Melbourne drive!

Things to do in Jervis Bay

• Have picnic at Greenfield Beach and enjoy the beautiful rockpools
• Take the White Sands Walk from Greenfield Beach along the bay
• Go on one of the walking tracks of Booderee National Park
• Walk the Abrahams Bosom Reserve which leads to some of the most secluded beaches in the area

From Jervis Bay, travel 1 hour 12 minutes or 87 kilometres to Ulladulla. If you are taking the coaches down the east coast of Australia, Premier serve this area of the country.

  Ulladulla

Suggested time – half a day

On your drive south, Ulladulla is worth a stop over on your Melbourne to Sydney coastal drive, mainly for the ‘one track for all’ walk which describes Aboriginal culture of the area, describing what happened when Europeans invaded and settled.   From Ulladulla, drive 50 minutes or 63 kilometres south to Mogo, or hop back on the Premier coach service.

Mogo is a quirky village that is really no more than a cluster of buildings on the side of the road, but it’s worth checking out to see some of the eccentric and arty shops, and admiring the treasures within each! From Mogo, drive 2 hours 20 minutes, 189 kilometres, to Eden, stopping in at some of the New South Wales state forests (many of which are also free campsites!) along the way.

New South Wales State Forests  

Suggested time – stopover or overnight stop

Away from the beach, New South Wales is home to some spectacular state forests. There are lots of free camping spots within these forests, each which contains walking trails and makes for a great leg stretch en route south. Look for signs to rest areas between Mogo and Eden; you’ll find information about local walking trails along this route.

Eden  

It’s scenic beaches all the way down now, and Eden is no exception. If you fancy lazing back on a beach, there’s plenty of those; or seek some adventure at one of the surrounding national parks.

Things to do in Eden

• Visit Woboyn Beaches – located on the shores of Disaster Bay! – to enjoy the spectacular oceanic vistas
• See the Ben Boyd National Park for 4WD tracks and short walks
• Enjoy the heritage of the town through the Heritage Walk or Heritage Drive

From Eden, head toward the New South Wales/ Victoria border and then drive to Lakes Entrance. Total driving time 2 hours 46 minutes distance 242 kilometres. If you’re taking public transport, transfer to a V Line coach to reach Lakes Entrance.

New South Wales/ Victoria Border

Just south of Eden is the New South Wales/ Victoria border, another unassuming crossing that only involves passing a sign.

Lakes Entrance  

A somewhat sizable town under 200kms from the NSW/ Victorian border, Lakes Entrance is a perfect mix of idyllic water, beautiful beaches and fascinating history. It’s a laid back kind of town which is perfect for holidaying, camping and unwinding. It’s also one of the most beautiful spots of the south coast, in my humble opinion!

Things to do in Lakes Entrance

• The Entrance to the Lakes walk which showcases some of the best natural scenery of the area
• Hire bikes and explore the town with two wheels
• Take an eco cruise to see some local marine life
• Explore the limestone formations of Buchan Caves Reserve  

From Lakes Entrance, drive 3 hours 34 minutes or 273 kilometres westwards towards Wilson’s Promontory. If you are taking public transport, it is easiest to travel from Lakes Entrance straight to Melbourne and organise day trips to Wilson’s Promontory and Phillip Island from there.

Wilson’s Promontory  

A national park bordering the beach, and the southernmost point of Australia, Wilson’s Promontory is a fantastic place to stop on a Victoria road trip.

The park is free to enter and explore, and includes hikes and beaches. Its   natural beauty makes it an essential stop on your Sydney to Melbourne drive.

Things to do in Wilson’s Promontory

• Walk to Sealers Cove, which is a 19 kilometre day walk
• Stay at Wilsons Promontory Lightstation
• See the world’s most southern mangroves
• Hike to the top of Mount Oberon
• Squeak around on the sands of Squeaky Beach  

Day Tour to Wilson’s Promontory

Drive just under 2 hours, 134 kilometres, to reach Phillip Island. The island is connected to Australian mainland by a 26 kilometre long bridge, so you don’t need to worry about ferry crossings!

Phillip Island

Located off the coast just 90 minutes from Melbourne, Phillip Island is a great pit stop.

Famed for its wildlife, water sports and motor sports, there’s plenty of great reasons to visit Phillip Island if you’re not quite ready for big city life and the end of your east coast road trip.

Things to do on Phillip Island

• Surf from one of the many beaches
• See some of the spectacular wildlife, including penguins, seals and koalas
• Go go-karting and learn about the history of motor spots at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit Visitor Centre
• Check out the crashing waves of Cape Woolami along the rugged coastline of the island

Phillip Island Tours

Drive 1 hour 50 minutes, which is 141 kilometres, from Phillip Island to Melbourne

Melbourne  

Suggested time – 4 days or more!

Bet you thought you’d never get there, right?

Nearly 3000 kms from Cairns – although if you’ve taken all of my suggested detours, you’ll have racked up a good few more kilometres – your arrival in Melbourne is a long time coming.

Melbourne is a vivacious, ever-changing city with a great community feel and upbeat spirit. It reminds me a lot of Bristol, my adopted hometown, and it has tons of amazing things to see and do.

Things to do in Melbourne

• Visit some of the amazing museums or galleries throughout the city
• Café hopping in funky Fitzroy or other suburbs
• Discover some literature gems at the State Library of Victoria (and of course snapping a photo of )
• Support  Melbourne’s most sustainable restaurant, Lentil as Anything
• Enjoy seaside vibes at St Kilda
• Watch the penguins at St Kilda
• Get lost in the other endless suburbs
• Catch a live music event at one of the many venues around the city
• Eat at some of the best restaurants in Melbourne
• Get out and exploring some of the surrounding towns and natural wonders. These include: the Grampians National Park, the Great Ocean Road, the city of Ballarat, the quirky town of Daylesford.
• If you’re not quite road tripped out yet, check out this Victoria road trip itinerary to see the best of the west of the state.

Where to stay in Melbourne  

For well-equipped accommodation at budget rates, there’s nowhere better than Urban Central. This busy hostel has lots going on, with cheap dinners, an on site bar and complimentary bike hire, rice, pasta, tea and coffee. The dorms are great for a good night’s shut eye; each bunk has its own light, a comfy mattress and a large locker with a power point inside each. For rates and to book, click here.

There are so many more things to do in Melbourne, and it’s a great place to set some roots down and live for some time. If you’re looking to find a job after your Cairns to Melbourne road trip, working a while in Victoria’s capital could be the answer!

East Coast Australia Tour

If you don’t fancy doing the whole trip by car or coach, guided tours from G Adventures travel the popular East Coast route. They’re a great company who have a sustainable influence with their tours. Click here to find out more.

Your ultimate Cairns to Melbourne road trip guide

If you’ve managed to read this Cairns to Melbourne road trip itinerary from beginning to end, I salute you – it’s one long post! But please do save it for later and check back – this is just the beginning of a series of posts on the East Coast of Australia. Expect destination specific hostel guides, packing lists, driving tips and example budgets online over the course of the next few weeks! Subscribe to never miss a post, or come and say hello over on Facebook !

Hey! I’m on YouTube too!

I’m currently travelling from Bali to London without taking a single flight! I’m documenting my journey on YouTube and would love it if you could follow me there! Here is a video detailing the journey a bit more:

Click here to go to my channel – I’d love it if you subscribed and joined the community! Thinking of exploring the rest of Australia? Please do, it’s awesome! I’ve written a few more handy guides like this one, which are perfect to put your wanderlust into action!

Related Posts

• Tasmania Road Trip Itinerary
• Melbourne to Perth Drive Itinerary
• Perth to Broome Drive Itinerary
• Broome to Darwin Drive Itinerary (via the Gibb River Road)
• Darwin to Adelaide Drive Itinerary
• Adelaide to Cairns Drive Itinerary (via the Inland Way)

If you’re yet to head to Australia, check out my packing list to make sure you’ve got everything and send your friends and relatives this Australia gift guide so they can get you a little something before you head off!

Finally, if you have a lot of questions, I now offer travel coaching! Here’s some more information about this service .

Disclosure: some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you make a purchase using these links, I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. This is just one of the ways I keep this blog running!

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5 thoughts on “ East Coast Australia Road Trip Itinerary and Ultimate Guide ”

Nice blog and great places to visit

Brilliant guide Claire, love the format and all the information you provide. Can I ask if you remember where the spot was from the photo you have of Eden in NSW? Looks amazing! (Not planning on visiting just yet thought due to the bushfires)

Hi Jake, thanks so much for your comment. the photo would have been from the Main Beach in the centre of town. Hopefully the bushfires get better soon there!

Hey, brilliant road trip Itinerary! We are halfway between our Cairns to Brisbane road trip and your post has been really helpful so thank you!

We will be going to Agnes water in a couple of days, can you tell me the company you did your afternoon surf lesson with please?

Thanks! Amber

Thanks for sharing the itinerary. Definitely gonna use this itinerary for my upcoming trip to East Coast Australia.

Comments are closed.

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The Australian East Coast Is .

The East Coast is the most popular travel route in Australia, and with good reason. It’s perfect for road trippers, adrenaline lovers, waterfall chasers and wildlife admirers. The East Coast is full of adventures.

Experience The East Coast of Australia

Spectacular Sights

Rainforests, reefs, waterfalls, beaches, mountains. So much natural beauty on one stretch of coastline.

Road to Adventure

From skydiving to surfing, the East Coast will sure get your heart pumping.

Making Friends

Whether it’s on tours, whilst partying or at incredible sunset spots, it’s so easy to meet like-minded travellers on the East Coast.

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From rainforest to reef to city, travelling the East Coast gives you the chance to experience such contrasting places.

Our East Coast Travel Options

30 days / 29 nights, welcome to australia: east coast.

Drive 4×4’s on K’Gari (Fraser Island),  fly over and cruise around the Whitsunday Islands, snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef, all this and a lot more. On this 30 day – semi guided tour.

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On a working holiday or gap year, take your time travelling the East Coast and let us create a custom made tour.

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10 epic spots to stop at on your east coast Australia road trip

Put together an awesome playlist, stock up on snacks, and hit the great open road on your way to some of Australia’s most beloved destinations.

The east coast of Australia is a traveller’s paradise with its internationally renowned beaches, centuries-old rainforests, and vibrant cities. Spanning 3,000km down the east side of Australia , a coastal road trip promises plenty of breathtaking landscapes and activities that will get your heart racing.

So you don’t miss out on a single must-stop-at destination, we’ve put together a complete list of the most popular places to adventure through, from the bustling city of Melbourne to the trendy neighbourhood of Byron Bay and the tropical Port Douglas . Whether you visit them all or just pick out your favourites, you’re bound to create a whole heap of memories you’ll cherish forever. Happy road-trippin’!

1.      Melbourne

While most east coast Australia road trips don’t start in Melbourne, we thought it best to include it on this list because it’s one of the most iconic cities in Australia and it’s definitely worth a visit.

From its graffiti-ridden laneways, addictive café culture (Melbourne’s known as the coffee capital of the country), historic shopping arcades, and world-class restaurants, this multi-cultural melting pot will delight your senses and ignite your imagination, proving to be the best spot to kick off your east coast adventure.

Whether you want to catch a game of footy at the iconic MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground), walk beside the water along St Kilda Beach, view the city skyline from above at the Eureka Tower, or try out one of the hundreds of rooftop bars scattered throughout the city, Melbourne is bound to get you excited for what’s to come.

RELATED: YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO MELBOURNE

2.       Sydney

Another day, another famed Australian city to explore. Perhaps the most recognizable city thanks to its impressive Harbour Bridge and architecturally designed Opera House, Sydney will enchant you from the moment you set foot in its energy-filled city centre.

Whether you’re a thrill seeker looking for an adrenaline hit (you can find it at the centrally located amusement park, Luna Park) or a foodie salivating at the thought of their next meal in one of Sydney’s trendiest restaurants, a couple of days here is just what your east coast road trip needs.

If you’ve had enough of the swarming crowds and lively atmosphere and want to experience something a little lowkey, all you have to do is head to one of the city’s many stunning beaches. From the super popular Bondi Beach and Manly Beach to the lesser visited but still insanely beautiful area of Cronulla, the city of Sydney offers travellers a diverse range of natural landscapes just waiting to be explored.

EXPLORE SYDNEY ON OUR SYDNEY TO BRISBANE ADVENTURE

3.      Byron Bay

If you think you’ve been to the prettiest place in Australia, but you haven’t stepped foot in Byron Bay then prepare to have your mind blown and your camera roll filled up. Known for its bohemian and relaxed vibe, this beach town remains firmly on travellers’ bucket lists thanks to its abundance of spas, yoga retreats, plant-based cafes, and restaurants bursting with freshly caught seafood.

From hitting the surf in the early morning – check out one of Byron’s quirky cafes for a delicious cold brew to properly wake you up – to hiking your way to the Cape Byron Lighthouse for an epic sunset you’re guaranteed to be transfixed by, Byron Bay is one of those special destinations you simply have to visit. If not for the endlessly captivating landscape, then for the solace and relaxation you’re sure to find walking its streets and sitting on its beaches

4.       Brisbane

The city of Brisbane may often get overlooked for its more laidback and tropical neighbours (such as Surfers Paradise and Noosa ), but it’s more than still worth a visit and has a different vibe to that of either Sydney or Melbourne.

There’s plenty to do in Brisbane from basking in Queensland’s good weather by taking a ferry over the gentle waters of the Brisbane River to setting up a picnic and marvelling at the colours that dance their way across the sky at sunset from some iconic Brisbane spots.

Whether you want to spend as much time as you can outdoors, like the idea of strolling through a gallery or two in the city centre or want to delight your tastebuds by dining on fresh produce at one of Brisbane’s best restaurants, this friendly and excitement-filled city will set you up perfectly for the next leg of your east coast Australia road trip.

5.      Noosa

You may have visited multiple stylish beach towns in your travels, but you haven’t stepped foot in one quite so captivating as Noosa. Often described as having as much star quality as any Hollywood A-lister or TikTok influencer, this tropical paradise isn’t afraid to flaunt its naturally good looks and once you set sail along its stunning coastline or test out several trails in Noosa National Park, you’ll understand why it deserves a spot on this list.

However, Noosa isn’t all natural beauty and no substance with the seaside town boasting plenty to do including shopping in trendsetting boutiques, eating out at classic Noosa restaurants, and drinking it up at several bars heavy with electric atmospheres – all while enjoying the fantastically warm and sunny weather this memorable region is known for.

RELATED: DINE AT THESE NOOSA RESTAURANTS ON YOUR NEXT TRIP

6.      Rockhampton

While Rockhampton may not instantly jump out at you as a must-travel-to destination, this unassuming yet naturally beautiful town adds the diversity your east coast adventure needs – after all, it can’t be stunning seaside spots and stylish cities all the time, can it?

Packed full of cultural history and a welcoming environment you’ll feel right at home in, Rockhampton offers fun activity after fun activity from wandering around its impressive art gallery and Heritage Village (a reproduction of the town in the 1850s-1950s) to relaxing on Great Keppel Island, this town’s best-kept secret.

7.      Townsville

You’d be forgiven for thinking your east coast Australia road trip can’t get any better, but Townsville will quickly prove you wrong and have fun while doing it. Not only does this tropical town boast 320 sunny days every year (yes, you read that right), but its laidback vibe and relaxed feel, as well as its mesmerising natural landscapes, promises to be the perfect next stop on your adventure.

Nestled at the base of luscious mountains and surrounded by crystal-clear water you could easily get lost in; Townsville is one of the best spots to enjoy all that Mother Nature has to offer. Proving that she did her best work in this tropical destination, Townsville is full of secluded watering holes, cascading waterfalls, and easy-to-challenging hiking trails guaranteed to gift you with the most epic of views to keep you busy.

EXPLORE TOWNSVILLE ON OUR QUEENSLAND COAST & ISLANDS ADVENTURE

8.       Airlie Beach

If there’s a destination along the coast that knows how to have a good time, it’s Airlie Beach. The beautiful Whitsunday Islands (where Airlie Beach is located) are breathtaking in themselves but this popular tropical spot is on another level.

Whether you feel like hopping on a jet ski and skimming along the crystal-clear water’s surface, taking in the Coral Sea from above on a scenic flight, or embarking on a day tour to the Great Barrier Reef , Airlie Beach offers enough activities to keep you occupied for days.

If those options don’t tickle your adventure-loving fancy, then you can also try your hand at sea kayaking, segway riding, or sail boating, and if you’d rather use your feet for exploring then strolling along the town’s quaint and charming main street is another great way to pass the days in paradise.

VISIT THIS STUNNING SPOT ON OUR WHITSUNDAY ISLANDS EXPLORER

9.       Cairns

The next stop on your east coast Australia road trip is Cairns, a place where the weather’s hot and the landscapes are even hotter. You’d be forgiven for thinking Cairns is just a jumping-off point for adventures to the Great Barrier Reef, but this tropical far north Queensland town has a lot more going for it with Fitzroy Island, Cape Tribulation and Mossman Gorge all spectacular highlights.

Definitely a bucket list destination you want to cross off, Cairns promises a plethora of natural wonders to explore and plenty of native animals to ooh and ahh over from the sleepy koala bear lazing in the region’s eucalyptus trees to the colourful cassowary making its over way over the rainforest floor. Consider taking a ride on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway or on the Kuranda Scenic Railway to marvel at the city from a different perspective.

RELATED: THE 5 EXPERIENCES YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS IN CAIRNS

10.  Port Douglas

While this tropical holiday spot offers easy access to some of the world’s most beloved natural wonders – the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef – it also makes for a perfect final road trip destination in its own right because of its undeniable beauty. Not only is Port Douglas known to have one of the best beaches in Australia (Four Mile Beach we’re looking at you) but it’s also filled with trendy restaurants all offering delicious meals featuring fresh, Queensland produce.

If that’s not enough to convince you to end your adventure in this laidback town, you can also head out on a hiking tour through the rainforest, take a cruise along the river, catch sight of a massive crocodile (in a perfectly safe and supervised setting), or swim amongst brightly coloured fish and over uniquely shaped coral on a snorkelling trip you’re going to remember forever.

What on earth are you waiting for?

BEGIN YOUR EAST COAST AUSTRALIA ROADTRIP ON ONE OF OUR TOURS

Feeling inspired?

Kate Gazzard

When I was 11, my parents asked me whether I wanted a pool for the house or a trip to Fiji. I chose Fiji, and I've made travelling as much as I can a priority ever since.

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The Ultimate Travel Itinerary: 3 Weeks on Australia’s East Coast

Australia’s East Coast is the most popular backpacking route in the world, and there’s little wonder why it’s earned a place in your itinerary! Travellers from all walks of life come to experience the spectrum of landscapes, glorious nature and cosmopolitan cities that line the coast of one of the most fascinating countries in the world.

Choosing to travel to Australia is easy, the real question is, how long should your trip be and where should you go? To ensure you get the absolute most out of your adventure, let me show you your perfect 3 week East Coast itinerary!

The article may contain affiliate links which I may be compensated for at no extra cost to you dear readers!

Table of Contents

The reason the East Coast is such a popular trail in the first place is because of the sheer variety along it! Between Melbourne and Cairns , you have everything from big cities and white sandy beaches to thick rainforests and desert islands! Each stop is like a different world!

To get the absolute most out of your East Coast adventure, your itinerary should be for at least 3 weeks! You could definitely stay longer, but Australia isn’t exactly cheap, and any less will barely give you enough time to enjoy everything.

The beautiful thing about this route is that it’s so easily interchangeable! If you wanted, you could easily spend an extra day somewhere or just move on earlier. You could also start the journey from either direction! Either way, you’ll still be following the same route!

Day 1-2: Melbourne

Where better to start off your Australian adventure than in the nation’s first capital city! The international melting pot of Melbourne has a uniquely European feel, no doubt influenced by the city’s original settlers hundreds of years ago! It’s even reflected in a few of the attractions such as Flinders Street or the home of Captain James Cook , the man who first claimed Australia for the British empire (sorry about that!)

The city also has a plethora of museums such as the National Gallery of Victoria and Melbourne Museum which gives a little more detail about the city’s history. There’s also a particularly beautiful memorial to Australia’s fallen men and women at the Shrine of Remembrance , which overlooks the rest of the city .

At least one of your days should be spent exploring the incredible nature on the outskirts of Melbourne. At Phillip Island , you’ll be able to visit some of Australia’s most iconic critters, including koalas, kangaroos and even penguins, that’s right, PENGUINS!

Each night hundreds of these cute little fuzz balls emerge from the sea and waddle their way to their homes for the evening. If you don’t want to go all that way, or pay to get into the island, then you can also spot these little waddlers under the decks of St. Kilda Pier , another of Melbourne’s must-see spots!

Day 3: Canberra

Sydney ’s the capital of Australia, right? WRONG, it’s this place! Though Canberra doesn’t have much of a reputation and doesn’t have that much for a curious traveller to see, it’s still worthy of a place on your East Coast itinerary!

Known affectionately as the Bush Capital , Canberra is one of those rare cities that was purposefully built to become the nation’s new capital! As such, the city is home to many of Australia’s important sites, such as the Parliament House and the High Court . Though if politics doesn’t take your fancy, you can spend your day exploring Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve and enjoy the views from Gibraltar Peak .

The East Coast of Australia is the world’s most popular tourist route which has some fantastic tours along it, but which are the best?

Click here!

Day 4-5: Sydney

Sydney will always have the top spot on any East Coast itinerary! Australia’s most famous city has plenty to offer every type of traveller, from the glories of the city to the wildlife that surrounds it.

Not only is the Sydney Opera House the most iconic image in all of Australia, but the entire city seems to gravitate around it! On one side you have the peaceful expanses of the botanical gardens and on the other, you have the modern skyline of Sydney Harbour , another attraction all in itself. Nearby is the neighbourhood known as the Rocks , the site of the city’s first settlement, which leads to yet another iconic site, the Harbour Bridge . From here you can get an amazing perspective of the city by scaling to its top as part of a tour!

Sydney’s other main highlight happens to be one of the most famous beaches in the world! Bondi Beach is the perfect spot to soak in a few rays and enjoy the splendour of the deep blue! If you’re not one for sitting still, then you can spend the time walking across the coast from Bondi to Coogee Beach , one of the most picturesque trails in Australia!

Day 6-7: Byron Bay

Oz may be known for its laid-back attitude, but there’s one area of the country which is the chillest of all. Byron Bay is renowned as the camper van driving, dreds swinging, guitar playing, hacky-sack kicking, weed-smoking paradise! The ultimate hippie haven.

You could spend your time visiting Cape Byron Lighthouse , the most easterly point in Australia, or just spend your day on the beach. Most simply come to enjoy the vibe of Byron Bay under a haze of questionable fog and mind-altering psychedelics.

You could also spend a day visiting the country’s alternative lifestyle capital, Nimbin . Two tour companies run regularly from Byron Bay and pass several spectacular natural wonders and iconic landmarks along the way, including Nightcap National Park  and Minyon Falls. It’s a chance to experience some of the incredible natural beauties surrounding Byron Bay, so you don’t just spend your time getting high as balls.

Day 8: Surfer’s Paradise

The next stop on your itinerary is the pinnacle of sun, surf and sex along the East Coast! There aren’t actually a whole lot of things to do in town, but it does throw one hell of a party! It’s a favourite amongst locals as the go-to party destination and has its fair share of clubs and bars across the beachfront.

If you’re not the party type, then the area has much more to offer! As the name suggests, the nearby ocean has some of the best surfing opportunities across the country! If you rather avoid shark bites, then you could also spend your day exploring the thick jungles of the Hinterland Regional Park .

People have many fears that keep them from backpacking, but one country is easier than any other, Australia. This article explains why.

Day 9-10: Brisbane

Though it’s one of the few big cities that line the East Coast, it’s the area’s nature that truly puts this place on the map! The outskirts of the city have some of the most iconic animal experiences in all of Oz!

The most famous landmark of all has to be Australia Zoo , which belonged to the one and only national treasure, Steve Irwin. Or would you prefer the opportunity to hold a real-life koala and hand-feed kangaroos at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary ? If you’re not an animal lover, you could spend the day scaling Mount Coot-tha for some incredible views of the city and surrounding landscape.

Within the city itself, you can spend your time exploring the Brisbane River , either by following the promenade or even paddleboarding along it! Also, be sure to track down the all-important Brisbane sign, how else will people know you were there? On the way, you can also check out Brisbane CBD to see daily life in the city.

Day 11-15: Rainbow Beach & Fraser Island

There are a ridiculous number of amazing tours you can be a part of in Australia, but none are as mind-blowing as this one! Fraser Island is an enormous sand island standing in the middle of shark-infested waters off the coast of Queensland, and it’s the venue for one hell of an adventure!

You’ll live for a few days in the wilderness while you explore the island in monstrous 4x4s searching for some of Fraser Island’s best hotspots. They include the stunning white sands of Lake Mckenzie, or Lake Wabby, an oasis that is filled with tiny fish that gently nibble away at your dead skin!

After a long day of exploring shipwrecks and spectacular rock formations, the convoy will return to base camp to prepare dinner over barbeques and finish the limited amount of booze you brought with you. Oh, and did I forget to mention that the island is home to wild dingoes!! If you’re very lucky, you might be able to spot one scuttering by.

Back on Rainbow Beach itself, you can spend your time kayaking with dolphins or exploring the multicoloured sand dunes, hence the name. Truly an adventurer’s paradise!

Day 16-19: Airlie Beach & Whitsundays

If spending your time on a desert island doesn’t take your fancy, how about living out at sea? Spending a few days sailing amongst the Whitsunday Islands has become a rite of passage for most travellers in Oz. The views of Whitehaven Beach at low tide have to be one of the most awe-inspiring places in the entire country.

You’ll also have your first opportunity to experience the Great Barrier Reef! Each tour includes a stop-off at some of the best snorkelling spots amongst the islands, where you might be lucky enough to spot some dolphins, sharks and maybe a few turtles! As the sun begins to set, you’ll get to spend your evenings enjoying your limited supply of booze while the boat’s crew prepare your dinner. If you ever wanted a slice of luxury, this is it!

Many people come to Gili Trawangan in search of sun, surf and tranquillity, while others come for a much darker reason, drugs.

Day 20-21: Cairns

That brings us to our last stop on your East Coast itinerary, and time to finish with a bang! Cairns is the ultimate nature paradise, the highlight of which is of course the Great Barrier Reef! As it’s the best place to visit it, there are endless amounts of tours available which will take you to swim with some reef sharks, enormous sea turtles and eerie barracudas!

Back on land, Cairns also has other incredible natural wonders, such as the UNESCO-listed tropical rainforests of the Atherton Tablelands . Tours leave from Cairns daily and take you deep into the thick jungles to see some of the area’s highlights such as the Lake Barrine crater lake  and Paronella Park.  For most, the star attraction is being able to swim beneath Millaa Millaa Falls ! A natural paradise!

Thank You for Reading! Check Out These Other Helpful Links!

Thank you so much for reading The Ultimate Travel Itinerary: 3 Weeks on Australia’s East Coast ! Now check out these other helpful articles!

• The Ultimate Travel Plan: Fraser Island (K’gari)
• The 20 Best Highlights to See in Sydney
• The 20 Best Highlights to See in Melbourne
• 8 Best Tours on Australia’s East Coast

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Rainbow Beach & Fraser Island

Wow nice post and so helpful info. Really enjoyed your blog as I learned so much about 3 weeks tour in Australia. Thanks for sharing!

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3 Weeks on East Coast of Australia

DISCLAIMER: This post might have links to travel services and products that we enjoy. We might make a commission from it at no extra cost to you.

The East Coast of Australia is a dream destination for many. With its stunning beaches, famous cities like Sydney and Brisbane, and the breathtaking Great Barrier Reef, there’s something for everyone.

If you’re an adventure seekers, you can enjoy surfing and snorkelling , while those who love culture can explore vibrant city life and rich history. Plus, with its friendly locals and diverse wildlife , it’s a place where unforgettable memories are made, making it a must-visit spot for foreign visitors.

Australia’s beautiful East Coast has been drawing travellers from all over the world for decades. The postcard white sand beaches, shimmering water, world-class surf, and laid-back Australian island ambience – this is an exciting way to spend 3 weeks on East Coast of Australia.

We also have this massive 3 weeks across Australia itinerary where you could include a visit to the West Coast.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE GOING TO THE EAST COAST OF AUSTRALIA

Before you go book anything, there are a few things you should be aware of about visiting Australia, specifically the East Coast. In this part of the itinerary, I will help you decide when to visit, how much to budget, how to get around, and other travel tips:

When is the best time to go to the East Coast of Australia

The best time to visit the East Coast of Australia is generally during spring (September to November) and autumn (March to May) . These seasons offer pleasant weather with moderate temperatures, ideal for outdoor activities and exploring the coast.

The peak tourist season is during the Australian summer, from December to February . This period sees the warmest weather, perfect for beach activities, but it also brings larger crowds and higher prices.

Winter, from June to August, is cooler and less crowded . While it’s winter, the climate remains relatively mild, making it a good time for those who prefer a quieter experience.

The rainy season varies along the coast but is typically during the summer months, especially in the tropical regions of Queensland, where you might experience tropical showers and occasional cyclones.

Are 3 weeks enough for East Coast of Australia

If you put together a list of cities properly, 20 days on East Coast of Australia is plenty of time. You can easily visit 4-5 cities. Planning what mode of transportation to use will also play a big role in ensuring that you can maximise your time without wasting it on airport and transport terminals.

What to pack

This depends on which season you plan to visit and the activities you want to do. If you’re an experienced surfer, you probably want to bring your own board, but you can also rent at many places along the Sunshine Coast.

If you plan to hike, don’t forget to bring comfortable shoes . I also recommend you bring at least one jumper/pullover because the wind at night, especially along the coast, can still be chilly, even in summertime.

How to get around

Getting around the East Coast of Australia offers various options. The most affordable is often buses, providing extensive coverage at low costs . But they can be the slowest choice.

For speed and convenience, flying is ideal , especially for covering long distances quickly. Trains offer a scenic and comfortable journey, though they might not be the fastest.

Renting a car is ideal for flexibilit y and exploring off-the-beaten-path destinations. It allows you to travel at your own pace and access areas not served by public transport, making it a great choice for a comprehensive and personalized travel experience.

However, Australia is massive, even with just visiting the East Coast. This means that you must craft your travel itinerary carefully to avoid spending more time driving than exploring.

This 3 weeks on East Coast of Australia itinerary is perfect for renting a car though . You can pick up the vehicle in Melbourne and then take it all the way to Sydney (it’s a 9-hour drive, but you can also take a break in Canberra for a night and explore the capital city.

From Sydney, you can take the car to the Blue Mountains, and finally, your last leg of the trip, from Sydney all the way to The Whitsunday Islands. You can then drop it off there and fly from Whitsunday Coast Airport to Cairns.

Language and currency

The main language spoken in Australia is English . While English is predominant, the country’s multicultural population also means that languages like Mandarin, Italian, Arabic, Cantonese, and Greek are widely spoken within various communities.

The main currency in Australia is the Australian Dollar (AUD) . Tourists generally cannot pay with other currencies directly. Card payments are widely accepted and often more convenient than cash, especially in cities and tourist areas. Using cards also provide better exchange rates and security for international travelers, but don’t forget to have some local cash in hand for emergencies.

Average travel cost for East Coast of Australia

The cost of a vacation in Australia can really vary depending on your style and level of comfort. Visiting during the summer season, the prices skyrocket. On the other hand, the shoulder seasons can save you a great amount of money.

• Affordable : B udget travellers can expect to spend around AUD 1,500-2,500 . This includes hostel stays, public transport, and mostly self-catered meals.
• Midrange : For a more comfortable trip with midrange hotels, some dining out, and domestic flights or car rental, the cost can range from AUD 3,500-6,000 .
• Luxury : Luxury travellers might spend AUD 8,000-15,000 or more . This includes staying in high-end hotels or resorts, dining at upscale restaurants, private tours, and possibly internal flights in business class.

These estimates cover accommodation, transport, meals, and some activities. Prices can vary based on the specific destinations within the East Coast, the season, and personal spending habits. Activities like diving, guided tours, and special experiences will add to the overall cost.

If you plan to do extreme activities such as sky diving, diving, surfing, and others, you should really make sure that you have travel insurance valid for Australia .

Australia has a strict visa policy. There are a limited number of countries that could visit Australia without a needed visa.

If your passport is from the US, Canada, the UK, the EU, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, and Japan, you can enter and travel around Australia for up to 6 months, depending on what passport you hold.

However, all visa-free countries are still required to get an eVisitor permit , which you can obtain online. Make sure to get this at least one or two weeks prior to your departure date to Australia.

New Zealand citizens have a freedom of movement in Australia.

Other foreign visitors not mentioned above must apply for a visitor visa from the nearest Australian embassy or consulate in your location.

You must also remember that Australia has a strict import law . There are many foods that you cannot bring here (e.g. dried fruit, homemade food, etc), which were put in place to protect its sensitive ecosystem.

Other travel tips

You can start arranging some travel items, such as booking your accommodation and tours, once you have the dates picked. It’s the hotel that you want to book as soon as possible, especially if you plan to visit during the peak season.

The travel sites below are what we highly recommend on our blog because many of them are super flexible with cancellations and offer a wide range of choices.

PINNED MAP OF MUST-SEE PLACES ON THE EAST COAST OF AUSTRALIA

Click the enlarge button on the top right corner. Credit: map data: Google

TRIP COST CALCULATOR

Trip cost calculator, 3 weeks on east coast of australia itinerary.

Starting in Melbourne, Victoria, and ending in Cairns , Queensland, this detailed itinerary takes you through 3 Australian states . This means that if you follow this itinerary, you want to book your flight into Australia to Melbourne and then fly out of Cairns.

From mountainous bushland and rainforests to the whitest sand beach in the world to small surf towns, iconic sprawling cities, and pristine islands, this itinerary has it all.

For extra local tips and tricks to help you have the best time possible, I also reached out to my friend Luca Saunders. Luca is an 18-year-old traveller and creator of the travel blog Hello World, Here I Come . She’s also an Australian local who’s spent a large amount of time travelling up and down the East Coast. 

So what are you waiting for? Here is the top 3-week itinerary that’s guaranteed to give the best, authentic, and memorable experience of Australia’s beautiful coastline.

Melbourne for 4 days

Melbourne is one of Australia’s most popular and iconic cities, known for its art and music scenes, lively young crowds, and delicious food.

Melbourne is one of Australia’s most accessible cities by plane, making it a good starting point to access the greater East Coast . You can also take plenty of day trips to famous landmarks like the Great Ocean Road, 12 Apostles, and more.

From here, you can pick up a car rental, or you can do that once you reach Sydney instead.

Things to do in Melbourne

• Melbourne Cricket Ground – a tour that you can join
• National Gallery of Victoria
• Day trip to Phillip Island – see the penguins and Moonlit Sanctuary or the one with Penguin and Koala tour
• Shrine of Remembrance
• Melbourne Skydeck – check the updated price
• Federation Square
• Great Ocean and 12 Apostles – book a day tour from Melbourne
• South Wharf Area
• Polly Woodside – the country’s last surviving 19th-century ships
• Garden and Sporting Precinct River Cruise
• Ride Hot Air Baloon – check the tour price and reviews
• City Circle Tram
• Skydive Melbourne
• Luna Park in Melbourne
• Yarra River Cruise – enjoy a dinner cruise or balloon flight at sunrise or a bottomless brunch cruise
• Visit Yarra Valley and go on a Winery Tour
• National Tennis Centre (Rod Laver Arena)
• Williamstown Ferry Cruise – read the reviews and see the tour price
• Royal Botanic Gardens
• Day trip to Healesville Sanctuary – ride Puffing Billy and see the rescued wild animals
• Go to an art gallery

You wouldn’t have really visited Melbourne if you didn’t check out the city’s famous art scene. Visit the famed Australian Museum of Modern Art, then head to the Linden New Art Gallery to see some of Australia’s upcoming contemporary artists’ work.

• Go to an underground concert

Melbourne’s music scene is renowned, but not for large artists in stadium tours. Melbourne has a thriving underground music scene, with tiny packed bars showcasing local bands and artists. These shows aren’t often publicly promoted, so head to a Melbourne music Facebook page to see what you can find.

• Do a day trip along the Great Ocean Road and Visit the 12 Apostles

The best day trip from Melbourne has to be a drive along the Great Ocean Road. You can even stop along the way to see the iconic 12 Apostles. ( suggested tour ). So book a tour or rent a car and head out for a full day of exploring some of the country’s most dramatic coastal scenery.

• Take a food tour

Melbourne has some of Australia’s most diverse and delicious cuisine. Grab a tour or simply walk through the streets of some of Melbourne’s hip districts and find an unbelievable range of cuisines to taste. I recommend visiting A1 Bakery and Very Good Falafel.

• Try a delicious Australian coffee

Australia is famous for its coffee, and for good reason. Just walking around, you’ll find thousands of little coffee shops dotting the streets. The best coffee usually comes from small businesses, and for the full experience, get yourself the quintessential Aussie drink, the flat white.

• Take a walk through Fitzroy and Northcote

Fitzroy and Northcote are two of the city’s trendiest suburbs. Take a walk through the graffitied back allies to see street art, vintage shops, tiny galleries, record stores, and hip restaurants. 

Accommodations in Melbourne

• Affordable: Space Hotel or Flinders Backpackers
• Mid-range: The Victoria Hotel or Atlantis Hotel
• Luxury: The Langham or Crown Towers

Sydney and The Blue Mountains for 6 days

Sydney and its nearby Blue Mountains are two of the most famous spots to visit in Australia. S ydney is famous for its iconic landmarks like the Opera House and Harbor Bridge , while the Blue Mountains are famous for their stunning viewpoints and diverse native Australian forests. 

To get there from Melbourne, you can either take a short 1-hour flight, a 10-hour train or drive for roughly 8 hours. From the airport, the centre of Sydney is easily accessible due to the city’s amazing public transport system.

Things to do in Sydney and The Blue Mountains

• Sydney Opera House – book your tour in advance or watch La Boheme
• Chinese Garden of Friendship
• Explore the city and Bondi Beach – get your bus ticket or join a half-day tour or join a crime tour
• Darling Harbour
• Sydney Tower- look at the tour price and reviews and enjoy a buffet feast at the tower
• Luna Park Sydney
• Blue Mountains – book a day trip with a cruise
• Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
• Day trip to Katoomba Scenic World – get your hop-on, hop-off bus and park pas or bushwalk and lunch
• Cruise at Circular Quay
• Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park
• Madame Tussauds – skip the line and get a ticket in advance
• Queen Victoria Building
• Sydney Harbour – enjoy a sunset cruise or an all-inclusive dinner cruise
• BridgeClimb Sydney
• Art Gallery of New South Wales
• Day trip to Hunter Valley for wine, cheese, and chocolate tour
• King Street Wharf Darling Harbour
• Visit the iconic Australian landmarks

You can’t visit Sydney without visiting its iconic Australian landmarks. The Opera House, Luna Park, and the Harbor Bridge are the two most notable.

 For the cheapest experience, I recommend taking the Ferry from Circular Quay to Luna Park, which takes you right under the harbour bridge. From there you can take the train back over the bridge to see views of the Harbour and Opera House. 

Then take a picnic lunch and relax next to the Opera House in the beautiful Botanical Gardens.

• Relax at Manly Beach

Next, you have to visit the city’s iconic beaches. The best by far for overall experience is Manly. The beach has beautiful bright green ocean pools to swim and relax in, plus a surf break and hundreds of beautiful cafes, stores, and restaurants lining the beachfront. 

But make sure to put on sunscreen, and the Australian sun is relentless!

• Spend 2 days in the Blue Mountains National Park

A visit to Sydney is incomplete without heading to the Blue Mountains National Park, which is also where Luca grew up. The Blue Mountains are one of Australia’s natural wonders, with mountains that are actually… blue to the eye. 

The Mountains are the perfect place to go if you’re looking for peace, beautiful scenery, bushwalks, and adventure experiences. Relax under a waterfall, head for a walk, and enjoy the beautiful ambience. 

The Mountains are also one place in Australia where you can see snow! Read more in Luca’s expert guide on seeing snow in Australia . 

Read more about what to do and see in Luca’s Guide about why the Blue Mountains are worth visiting !

• Go rock climbing or canyoning 

One thing you must do in the Blue Mountains is experience Its world-class adventure. The Mountains are considered to be a mecca of Australian rock climbing, and with towering cliffs as far as the eye can see, that’s no surprise. Similarly, if you aren’t comfortable with heights, a canyon might be the way to go. 

If you aren’t experienced, make sure to book a tour instead. Try to book only tours with local guides from local companies, as private tourism has hurt the Blue Mountains over the last 10 years.

Accommodations in Sydney

• Affordable: Wake Up! Sydney Central or Sydney Harbour YHA
• Mid-range: Mariner’s Court Hotel or Meriton Suites
• Luxury: Sofitel Darling Harbour or Radisson Blue Plaza or Shangri-La

Noosa, Fraser Island, and The Whitsunday Islands for 9 days

Next, rent a car for the road trip of your life. Starting in Sydney, drive 11 hours up to the Sunshine Coast, stopping along the way if need be. You can take a night off at Rockhampton City, which is about 6 hours from Noosa, and then 5 hours to The Whitsunday Islands.

Spend 2 days exploring the beautiful beach town of Noosa , which has an unbelievable balance of facilities, rainforest, and beautiful beaches. There’s also a boat trip to Noosa Heads that you can book.

Then, drive just 4 hours from Noosa to K’gari (meaning paradise) , also known as Fraser Island. Spend 2 days there to soak up the unbelievable wildlife and natural scenery. You can see dolphins while doing sea kayaking as well.

From there, drive up to Airlie Beach , where you can access the beautiful Whitsunday Islands. The Islands are famed for being the whitest sand in the world and are an incredible place to explore Australia’s beautiful beaches and marine life. You need at least 3 days to experience this slice of paradise. 

Things to do in Noosa, The Whitsunday Islands and Fraser Island

• Noosa- Explore the hidden beaches

Noosa is famous for its beautiful boardwalk that spans from the town centre, along the main beach, and along the coast through the surrounding national park. Take a walk along the boardwalk to see some of Queensland’s most beautiful scenery, and hop off to spend some time at one of the pristine hidden beaches!

• Noosa- Do a surf lesson

Noosa has been a hub for surfers for decades. Take an afternoon to hop on a board and enjoy one of Australia’s world-class surf breaks. If you’re a pro, you can rent a board along the beach. If not, grab a surf lesson and experience a big part of Australia’s beach culture.

• K’gari- Drive a 75-mile beach

Taking a drive along a 75-mile beach is one of the best things to do on Fraser Island. Cars are allowed on the sand, so many locals can be found on nice days parked on the beach with a picnic and some beers to watch the sunset.

Driving along the beach is one of the best ways to experience the beautiful coastline to the fullest!

• K’gari- Explore the natural wonders

K’gari/ Fraser Island has some of Queensland’s most incredible natural sites. Find teaming Australian wildlife like quokkas and kangaroos, dunes as tall as the Opera house, crystal clear water, and native Australian bushland as far as the eye can see.

Spend a day simply hopping between the famous Champagne pools, the Pinnacles, and Lake Mckenzie, or take a drive along the sandy 4WD tracks from Eurong Beach to Kingfisher Bay to see the sub-tropical rainforest. From Noosa, you can book a cruise through Noosa Everglades .

• Whitsunday Islands- Relax on the whitest beach on earth

Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsunday Islands has been named the whitest beach on earth multiple times, and you can’t visit the area without seeing it at least once. Boats to the beach depart from the Port of Airlie Marina or the Coral Sea Marina daily. 

• Whitsunday Islands- Take a snorkelling tour

And you can’t miss a stay near the great barrier reef without going snorkelling. Here you can see vibrant coral, schools of colourful fish, turtles, manta rays, and much more. Dives and snorkelling expeditions can be expensive, but they’re well worth the experience and exposure to marine life you can’t find in many other places on Earth.

• Airlie Beach – Go Skydiving

For the adrenaline junkies among us, Airlie Beach is one of the best places on earth to go skydiving. Jump from 15,000ft and fall over some of the bluest water and lushest rainforests on the planet. The air is also warmer, making skydiving an even more enjoyable experience!

Accommodations in Noosa

• Affordable: Noosa Flashpackers or Ingenia Holidays or Robyn’s Nest BnB
• Mid-range: South Pacific Resort & Spa or At The Sound Motel or River Retreat Apartments
• Luxury: Sofitel Pacific Resort or Noosa Place Resort or Caribbean Noosa

Accommodations in Rockhampton City

• Affordable: The Heritage Hotel or Palms Motor Inn or The Q Motel
• Mid-range: Quest Rockhampton or Coffee House Apartment Motel or Denison Boutique Hotel
• Luxury: Korte’s Resort or CocoBew Boutique Apartments or The Stirling Motel

Cairns for 2 days

And finally, fly or drive from Airlie Beach to Cairns at the northeast tip of Australia. The city has one of Australia’s biggest airports, making it a great place to finish up your East Coast trip. But spend 1 to 2 days exploring the city before heading off. If you’re interested in the native tribes, join an Aboriginal cultural tour.

Here, you can also reach The Great Barrier Reef, which is definitely a must-see during your 3 weeks on East Coast of Australia. Plus, the fact that you can simply lie on the beach and enjoy the sun and water, is a great way to wrap up your trip.

Things to do in Cairns

• Head to Crystal Cascades

Head to Crystal Cascades for a nice afternoon relaxing by the natural freshwater pools and waterfalls. Drive through the rainforest to find this secluded spot, if you rent a car in Sydney, make sure to keep it to make these waterfalls more accessible.

• Take the Kuranda Scenic Railway

The Kuranda Scenic Railway is a train service that has been running since 1891 over the great dividing range, from Cairns to the town of Kuranda. The railway runs over raised tracks around the rainforest, towering mountains, and beautiful waterfalls. 

Make sure to bring your camera! This is one of the most beautiful scenic train rides in Australia. There’s a day trip to Kuranda to make your visit more convenient.

• Grab a bite to eat at the Cairns Night Markets

Finally, you can’t miss grabbing some delicious food at Cairns Night Markets. The markets have over 70 stalls and vendors, with countless choices for a delicious dinner experience in the city. 

• See the Great Barrier Reef

There are a few ways to enjoy the Great Barrier Reef, the most popular and easiest is taking a scenic flight over the reef . For those who want to get in the water, there’s a snorkelling or dive tour that you can sign up for. For an easier snorkelling day, you can skip the Barrier Reef, and book a full-day Green Island cruise .

Accommodations in Cairns

• Affordable: Cairns City Backpackers Hostel or YHA Cairns Central or Mad Monkey Central
• Mid-range: Nightcap at Balaclava Hotel or Estilo Bed & Breakfast or Coral Tree Inn
• Luxury: Crystalbrook Riley or The Abbott Boutique Hotel or Crystalbrook Flynn or Shangri-La The Marina or Crystalbrook Bailey

MUST-TRY AUSTRALIAN DISHES AND DRINKS

Australia might not be known for their food, but you have to try at least a few dishes and see which ones you like. Plus, it’s a diverse country offering fusions from cuisines of India, East Asia, and Europe. Don’t forget to try the local coffee as well as visiting breweries.

• Barramundi Fish – A popular Australian fish often grilled or fried.
• Moreton Bay Bugs – A type of lobster native to Queensland, usually grilled or barbecued.
• Lamingtons – A classic Australian cake, dipped in chocolate and coated in coconut.
• Meat Pie – A staple snack, often filled with minced meat and gravy.
• Chicken Parmigiana – A pub favourite, featuring breaded chicken topped with tomato sauce and cheese.
• Damper – A traditional Australian bread, typically baked in a campfire.
• Pavlova – A meringue dessert with a crisp crust and soft, light inside, topped with fruit and whipped cream.
• Vegemite on Toast – A quintessential Australian spread made from yeast extract, commonly eaten on toast.
• Tim Tams – Iconic Australian chocolate biscuits.
• Anzac Biscuits – Oatmeal coconut cookies, originally made for soldiers during WWI.
• Fairy Bread – Bread spread with butter and covered in sprinkles, a children’s party favourite.
• Golden Syrup Dumplings – Sweet dumplings made with golden syrup, a classic comfort food.
• Flat White – A popular coffee drink, similar to a latte but with a higher coffee-to-milk ratio.
• Bundaberg Ginger Beer – A famous non-alcoholic ginger beer from Queensland.
• Lemon, Lime and Bitters – A refreshing drink made with lemonade, lime cordial, and Angostura bitters.

SUMMARY OF 3 WEEKS ON EAST COAST OF AUSTRALIA ITINERARY

This East Coast of Australia Itinerary has everything, spanning 3 states and all kinds of experiences. From white sand beaches to sprawling mountains to iconic cities and towns, you’ll be able to experience everything the East Coast has to offer.

With Luca’s extra local knowledge, you’ll be able to visit undiscovered gems, have fun, adventurous experiences, and explore only the best the East Coast has to offer.

I hope that you found this itinerary for 3 weeks on East Coast of Australia helpful in planning your upcoming trip.

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What’s The Best Way To Travel East Coast Australia? (2023 Update)

Travelling up the East Coast of Australia is one of the worlds most popular backpacking routes – but what’s the best way to tackle it?

I’ve been getting a lot of email from readers lately asking about travelling the East Coast of Australia , an area of the world I’m pretty clued up on having spent heaps of time there over the last few years.

I’ve already chatted about how long you should take to travel the East Coast and how much you should budget for Australia so since it’s a topic a lot of you guys want more info on I thought I’d put together a stand alone blog post for you all showcasing some of the ways you can travel around on this awesome part of Oz.

So if you’re looking at heading that way – on a working holiday visa or just some time backpacking –  there’s a heap of options for you to choose from…

Updated for 2023

What’s The Best Way To Travel The East Coast Of Australia?

Greyhound australia.

Out of all the options on the list, the Greyhound Australia Bus is easily the most popular – simple, easy and budget friendly!

They’ve had a few pass options in the past, but currently they have two Greyhound Bus Passes options for people looking to travel around Australia.

The first is the  Greyhound WHIMit bus passes – which offers unlimited travel across the entire Greyhound network valid from 7 days to 3 months depending on the pass you choose – including backtracking and even their routes to/from the Red Centre!

This is perfect for those who aren’t sure of their plans but who have a set time frame in which to travel.

Price wise it really depends on your length of travel:

• 15 Day Greyhound WHIMIT Pass = $349
• 30 Day Greyhound WHIMIT Pass = $439
• 60 Day Greyhound WHIMIT Pass = $499
• 90 Day Greyhound WHIMIT Pass = $629

Secondly is the new Greyhound East Coast Australia Passes. They’re pretty similar to the WHIMit, however there are two main differences:

• The limited to routes between Melbourne and Cairns (so no Red Centre, NT or WA routes)
• They comes in 7, 15 or 30 day options – so they’re ideal for shorter trips.

Oh, and they’re slightly cheaper too:

• 7 Day Greyhound East Coast Pass = $249
• 15 Day Greyhound East Coast Pass = $319
• 30 Day Greyhound East Coast Pass = $389

The Greyhound Bus Passes tend to be the option of choice for self guided East Coast Australia Package Deals  as they’re cheap, flexible and hit up all the major spots. Plus you can self manage your trips using their online portal – so you can quickly check bus times and reschedule your bus trips when your travel plans change.

This would be my personal choice if I was doing the East Coast again as it’s cheap, flexible and takes in all the major stops. If you’re looking for a full list of where the Greyhound stops check out this post  – it’s also the option I suggest using for the trip in my How To Spend 1 Month In Australia, Sample Itinerary post

Premier Bus

The other main hop on, hop off style bus service is the Premier Bus . It’s the same as Greyhound in structure – running up/down the East Coast stopping at all the major destinations en route.

For the budget conscious the Premier Bus Passes are cheaper than Greyhound (roughly $100 per pass) so if money is the deciding factor this is the option to go with!

However with these savings come some disadvantages. Firstly you won’t be able to include Melbourne on any hop on hop off pass (although you can buy a Sydney to/from Melbourne pass with Greyhound on top) but more importantly is the fact Premier only has one departure per day compared with the multiple ones on Greyhound.

For some this won’t be an issue and the savings are worth it – but for certain route and overnight options this can be a huge inconvenience – especially into Noosa and Rainbow Beach when you have to attend safety briefings the night before your Fraser Island tour.

Still if you plan well and need the save as much money as possible it’s a solid option!

Stray Australia

2023 UPDATE: Unfortunately Stray Australia is currently not running their hop on, hop off options for 2023, but hopefully they’ll be returning soon!

The new kid on the block so to speak is Stray Australia (formally Loka Travel). The brainchild of the guy who launched Oz Experience and Kiwi Experience, it’s a hybrid and mid ground between the hop on, hop off bus passes and a full blown tour.

Basically it’s guided throughout, but you can hop off at any destination and extend your stay. This means it attracts a broad range of travellers – those who like to wing it and those who want some more structure, meaning there’s always a great group vibe and dynamic whichever pass you choose.

The Stray travel passes also mix it up a bit in terms of transport too – buses up to Noosa and then trains from there to Cairns. This cuts down travel time and also makes the journey heaps more comfortable too!

Stray Australia also takes in some more off the beaten track destinations too – including wine valleys and cattle farms. This means you’ll get to meet heaps of locals and see a different side to Oz.

They have now also launched the Freestyle Tour Passes too, which include your first nights accommodation in each stop and top tours like Fraser and Whitsundays, sos you can use them as a mini tour option as well. And with up to 12 months to complete your trip, it’s a great flexible option for those staying in Australia for longer.

A Guided Tour

If you’re travelling solo, are nervous or have a strict budget or time frame then a straight up tour through Australia might be a solid shout.

There’s heaps of different options on the market – including G Adventures and Intro Travel .

These usually work out more pricey than the bus pass options and are fixed times and dates – so it’s not for everyone. The fixed price and massive amount of inclusions do however have their advantage if you’re working within fixed time frames and money.

Personally I’m not a huge fan of the whole organised tour thing, especially since the East Coast of Oz is so much fun and easy to travel off your own back. Each to their own though and if it’s something you don’t feel comfortable doing solo or you really want to kick back and have all the key things organised for you this would be the option for you.

Campervan/Car Hire

If you want a bit more flexibility in your routing and really enjoy a road trip experience hiring a car or campervan could be worth a look.

The main advantage hiring a campervan in Australia is the fact you can obviously stop off wherever and you’re in control of your itinerary. Unlike buying a van it also means your hire is a fix cost ( except fuel of course ) and you don’t need to worry about selling it at the end.

If you add in breakdown and pay the extra for a full comprehensive insurance it also means there’s little in the way of worries about mechanics and what not too.

It can work out costly if it’s just a couple of people or over a long time period though and you do need to have set start/finish dates and places., but for shorter trips and groups it’s a great alternative way to travel.

I campervanned Perth – Darwin on the West Coast of Australia and it was heaps of fun, just don’t underestimate the travelling distances and times!

Check out companies like Spaceships , Jucy , Britz and Travellers Auto Barn – all of which have different models and prices. Or let the guys at RTW Backpackers find you the best deal with their Australia campervan hire enquiry form!

Buy A Campervan/Car

If you’re looking to be in complete control of your trip buying a campervan or car is the best option by far, in fact this is what I did on my working visa in Australia!

I bought a van, chucked a bed in the back, built a mini kitchen/BBQ thing and loaded my surfboard on the roof – easily the best travelling decision I’ve ever made!

HOWEVER this option does come with a rather hefty price tag and there are some serious pitfalls you need to avoid!

Do some homework before buying and it might even be worth paying a mechanic to check it over, the last thing you want is the engine to blow up 100km down the road after buying it…which actually happened to my buddy!

I lucked out with my van, the only extra cost was a replacement battery ( because I left the lights on! ) and sold it at the end of my trip with only a minimal loss. If I’d sold it in either Sydney or Cairns I would have easily made all of my money back!

Apart from dictating your own timescales and routes this option all means you can save some serious money on accommodation too.

There are heaps of spots around Oz where you can camp for free, although in key areas ( like Sydney, Byron Bay and Melbourne ) you may well have to pay for a camping spot, so keep that in mind.

If you’re sensible thought and buy a non graffiti covered car or van you can sneakily stay in residential areas to save some money.

I spent 3 weeks in Melbourne on a residential street and 2 weeks at Bondi Beach ( amongst others! ), just be quiet, considerate and don’t push your luck too much as they can hand out some hefty fines!

Vanlife isn’t always as Insta worthy as it might seem though so make sure you do your research and prepare for van life properly!

Find The Option That Suits You

As you can see no matter what your style of travel, budget or time frame there’s a good selection of ways to travel the East Coast of Australia – so check them all out and figure out which suits you best.

What I can say though is no matter which way you opt to travel around the East Coast is always full of treats and I’m sure you’ll be back for more…I’m always looking for a way to pencil it into my travel plans again!

If you’re heading there soon check out RTW Backpackers for heaps of awesome packages and travel passes.  Or let me help plan your Aussie adventure with my East Coast Australia Trip Planner !

Click here for more info and to book your Australia travel options

Have you travelled the East Coast of Oz?

Which option did you go with or did you use an alternative i’ve not covered, related posts.

Travelling Around Australia – The Greyhound Australia Bus Pass Guide

Australia Opens For Tourism From Feb 21st!

The Best Hostels In Byron Bay (2023 Update)

Australia Is Opening Up From 1st Dec 2021!

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37 comments

Aww, this brought back memories! I’ve done the buses, next time I want to use a campervan! Just need to learn how to drive … haha

The campervan is haps of fun – especially if you have a solid idea of where you want to head! Good luck with your test!

I’m looking at hiring a camper van to travel between Melbourne and Sydney. Any ideas on costs??

Hey Kerry – it really depends on size of the van, length of your trip and the season you’re heading there so it’s best to check out the sites for a quote.

Hi Kerry!! Its nice that you are planning to travel Australia!! I have travelled there once and booked online. I will recommend you to follow Aussie Campervans which offers best campervan suppliers for road trips in Australia. It consist of a huge collection of campervans , Motorhomes and RVs. There you can compare the rates in campervan on the basis of your requirement. Get a quote and enjoy the journey in the budget.

Now im thinking…….i land in sydney in january 2016…..do i do Sydney to Cairnes, or Cairnes to sydney? either way im flying back to the uk from sydney, will be using a greyhound pass in between. Whats the most popular? Which way do most backpackers go?

Hey Joe – sounds like an epic plan to me! To be honest you’ll have to get a flight in between the two anyway so it’s more personal preference, you’ll follow the better weather up the coast to Cairns, but over 5 weeks it won’t make heaps of difference. There’s plenty of people going both ways so if you’re landing in Sydney I’d use that as your starting point!

great thanks, cant wait to get started! :)

Have you heard much about the LOKA bus? They’re a lot more expensive but sound pretty fun rather than the greyhound bus. Hoping to do Sydney to Cairns next January but there are just so many options!

Hey Nicky, Yeah I’ve just patterned up with them on my other site – Epic Gap Year – actually after one of my buddies did it and had a blast! Greyhound is defo still the best option price wise but it depends what you want to get up to really, I think the LOKA fits the gap between bus pass and tour pretty nicely! For more info check out http://www.epicgapyear.com/travel-passes or drop me an email

Hey Chris!! I first read your blog in january and it’s one of the main reasons why I decided to book my east coast trip. Like I’ve always wanted to do it but I was so scared! I’ve been on the road for three weeks and I’m in byron bay now! I think I saw you walking on jonsons street two days ago and I was like WOw haha I got so excited it was like bumping into a celebrity!! On here it says you’re in byron so it could have actually been you! Well thanks for the inspiration! Have a great time Caty

Hey Cate – stoked I convinced you to hit up the east coast – you loving it here? Indeed I’m in Byron Bay at the moment – staying at Aquarius Hostel! Let me know if you’re around for a while and we’ll grab a beer! hahahaha like a celebrity?! Awwww that made my day!

Just stumbled upon your blog and I love it! I’m currently planning my WHV year in Australia for June 2016 and I’m so excited It’s been my dream ever since I can remember. I’ll be starting at Adelaide and working my way up to Cairns. I’ll be working inbetween and I just wanted to ask if it’s easy to get a job out there and save money? I want to work for a few months and then spend the rest of the year with the money I’ve hopefully saved to travel and explore properly. Where would be the best place to settle and work for a couple of months? Thanks in advance!

Ellie x PS- you’re hot!

Hey Ellie – first off thanks for the PS, totally made my day!hahaha! Stoked to hear you’re heading to Oz, good on you for following your dream trip! The only thing I’d quickly mention is Adelaide will be pretty cold in July, so keep that in mind! With finding work it really depends on how fussy you’re being and how proactive!haha! Land with your CV all ready to go and check out sites like seek.com.au to see whats around even before you land. Hostels are a great way to find jobs too and work for accommodation is an epic way to cut down your costs. Personally I’ve always worked in Byron Bay (love that place!) but there’s work everywhere if you’re prepared to put in the time finding it. Basically if you want and put in the effort it you’ll find it!haha!

Let me know if I can help out at all!

Liked your comments about Oz Experience and Greyhound now being essentially the same thing. Really good summary of East Coast trips! I actually did the Premier bus and found it suitable for my needs. One bus a day. Timetable not too bad, met lots of fellow backpackers on there. I know it doesn’t have such comfy seats and Wi Fi like the Greyhound….but i enjoyed saving over $100!

hahaha it’s pretty true though hey Carla – same same but different! Yeah Premier is a solid should too, although the single departures aren’t going to suit everyone, the savings might though!

Quality blog I am flying to sydney on the 19th December so I ca be there for new years and then going to travel up the east cost.. Bit of stupid question really I know its going to be HOTTTTT but is there any clothing I will need other than shorts and and t shirts haha

Hey Kraig, Stoked to hear you’re heading to Sydney for xmas and new year, it’s epic fun! I’d pack a hoodie and a pair of trousers too just to be safe – especially if you’re doing trips like Fraser Island as the evenings can get a little chilly if you’re camping!

Hi. Would you recommend buying the greyhound bus pass in the UK or when I get over to Australia? Thanks.

Hey Louisa, It works out the same either way – check out http://www.epicgapyear.com/travel-passes for more info :)

Absolutely loving your blog! I’m planning my WHV year at the moment, starting May 2016! Very excited and the east coast is my no 1 priority! I may be traveling on my own, which is quite nerve racking, but it’l be an experience to remember! I was just wondering, what time of the year would you recommend for the East coast? I am thinking of doing my farm June-Aug and then setting off to work and travel :) Thanks for all your info on your site! Such a huge help!! :)

Hey Tina, Nice to e-meet you and stoked you’re loving the blog! You’ll love the WHV experience in Oz, so much fun! With the East Coast it really depends how long you’re spending going up/down. Peak summer (Nov/Dec/Jan is best in the south for weather whereas ‘winter’ around June-Aug the weather will be better in the north. If you need any travel passes check out my other site – Epic Gap Year – you can even get the Oz Essentials sorted for free

http://www.epicgapyear.com/destinations/australia/

hi chris, my plan is to go traveling the east coast for 6 weeks from mid august – end of september via greyhound bus and i’m deciding on either doing melbourne to cairns or sydney to cairns, what would you recommend for the short time that i am there?

thanks rachel.

Hey Rachel, I’d say you could easily do the Melbourne to Cairns route in that time, depending on what extra stuff you wanted to fit into your time in Melbourne. Check out my post on East Coast travel times for some sample itineraries and see which suits your plans!

Thanks so much for these guides – they’re incredibly helpful! Wonder if you could provide some advice please? I’m looking at how to do Sydney to Cairns in 2 weeks this August with my boyfriend who is visiting me while I travel on my big trip away. What would you recommend as the best way to travel up the East Coast? We’ve looked at both campervan hire and greyhound passes and just aren’t sure of the best mode of transport to maximise the time we have in each place. Thanks so much Lyndsey

Hey Lyndsey – stoked the site is helping you out! Hmmm with only two weeks to play with there’s a lot of ground to cover, have you thought about just doing a smaller stint with him, say Brisbane to Cairns? That way you spend less time travelling and more time enjoying stuff! Just an idea! With that time frame though I’d say Greyhound is your best bet as you can make use of overnight bushes (like Sydney to Byron) so maximise your actually time in places. I’ve actually just launched another site – OzBackpacker.com – so have a look around that and let me know fi you need any help packing everything together! Take it easy Chris

Hi! I’m coming to Sydney in March 2017 and booked my flight to Byron bay to start my east coast adventure! Not really sure I want to do one of thes ‘topdeck’ trips as there’s some activities I’m not fussed about and I want to go with the flow! Do you think that’s a good idea? And what travel service do you recommend? Greyhound or Loka? Thanks! :-)

Hey Chloe, Stoked to hear you’re heading to Australia! If you’re looking for flexibility I’d maybe book an open dated package so you’ve covered the cost of the main trip (greta for budgeting) but can lock in the date when you know them for sure. Greyhound v Loka is a tough call – Greyhound is heaps cheaper, but Loka is greta for meeting new people and experiencing some of the awesome Loka special stops!

If you need help booking anything check out my other site – RTW Backpackers – and I’ll sort you out with some discounts!

http://www.rtwbackpackers.com/tour-category/east-coast-packages/a

We are hoping to camper van from cairns down to Sydney with two children, aged 8 and 6 in tow… any recommendations in where to go to book … all seem pretty pricey…..many thanks

Hey Heidi, The prices really depend on the van and time of year you’re going so it can rack up in price. Check out RTW Backpackers for some good options – the Jucy Condo is one of my personal recommendations;

http://www.rtwbackpackers.com/tours/jucy-campervan-hire-australia/

Really awesome tips, so much of it resonated with me from my own trip! All these ever-changing laws are so difficult to keep track of though, aren’t they?!

Awesome tips!! I think The best way to travel east coast of Australia that is planning!! If you travel not only Australia but other country you must follow your budget and plan!!

Thanks for helping tips Chris

Campervan for sure!

such a fun way to travel hey? Although admittedly not the cheapest!

Decided to explore Australia after a long time of dream. Glad to come up on this guide for a more clear view. Super-excited to start my journey. Let me know how to arrange a camper van so that it will be a more enjoyable experience.

Share Bus is also another option you didn’t mention. Its a shared rental of a minibus,trailer and camping equipment between a group of backpackers. The start/end dates are fixed but the rest is totally flexible to do what you want. Not expensive, plus you get a group of travel mates and everything needed for a camping road trip. You should check it out!

East Coast Australia Itinerary – How To Spend 4 Weeks In Oz

Planning your dream East Coast Australia itinerary? Well here’s everything you need to know – inc locations, durations, top tours and more!

Putting together the perfect East Coast Australia itinerary can be tough – with over 2,400km of coastline to explore packing all the top locations and tours into your 4 week Australia itinerary takes some planning!

But no worries – I’ve spent years living, working and travelling around Australia so to help you kick-start your Australia trip here’s my recommendations on how to spend 1 months travelling Australia, including destinations, durations, where to stay and of course all the best trips and tours to check out…

Well hello there Sydney! What better place to kick off your Australia trip than one of the countries most iconic cities? Now I’m not much of a city fan but Sydney isn’t half bad and there’s lots to keep you busy.

Head over to Bondi Beach (admittedly a bit over rated!) but certainly one you have to tick off the bucket list before strolling along the stunning coastal path to Coogee Beach.

And then of course if the world famous Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge where you can grab your postcard perfect snapshot and the realisation that you’ve finally made it to Australia!

If you want to escape the city for the day a trip on the ferry across to Manly Beach is well worth it for some more laid back vibes – or perhaps venture further afield to the Blue Mountains or Port Stephens.

Where to stay = WakeUp! Sydney or YHA The Rocks

Overnight bus to yamba.

One of my favourite little hidden gems of East Coast Australia, Yamba is still pretty off the map as far as international tourists are concerned, so make the most of the stunning and largely empty beaches!

Head down to the famous Angourie Point and keep an eye out for wild kangaroos before enjoy some of the spectacular coastal walks in the area.

For surfers there’s plenty going on – with a huge range of surf spots to choose from, so enjoy the uncrowded lineups!

Where to stay = Yamba YHA now Yamba Central Hotel (but still just as good!)

Ah Byron Bay – my favourite spot on the whole of Australia and one of my top surf destinations on the planet!

As the sign says “slow down, chill out, cheer up” – so get ready for heaps of barefoot, hippie vibes in this once sleepy surfer town.

There are plenty of beaches in Byron Bay so get your boardies/bikini and sunscreen at the ready – and it’s an incredible place to learn to surf or for seasoned surfers to score heaps of fun waves.

In terms of non beach things to do in Byron Bay there’s plenty going on – from skydiving and dolphin kayaking, to Nimbin day trips, scuba diving Julian Rocks and even whale watching.

And then of course there’s the famous Lighthouse walk, which loops from town through to Wategos, Cape Byron Lighthouse and the most Easterley Point of Mainland Australia – which is well worth doing, especially for sunset or sunrise, with an epic Byron Bay breakfast after!

I’ve said 3 nights here but honestly you’ll probably want a few more!

Where to stay = The Surf House or Aquarius Hostel

Brisbane, aka Brissie, aka Bris Vegas is the capital of Queensland and to be honest isn’t my favourite stop, but I know a lot of you like the hustle and bustle of the city!

If you’re looking for a popular day trip out of Brisbane though Australia Zoo (home of Steve Irwin) is a super popular option.

Where to stay = Brisbane YHA

And you’re back at the beach! Noosa is a pretty upmarket beachside town so expect lots of boutique shops and really good places to eat and drink!

Kick back on the beach, take a stroll through the National Park up to Tea Tree Point and the Fairy Pools (whilst keeping an eye out for the wild koalas) and take a day trip kayaking the Noosa Everglades.

Again surfers rejoice – Noosa is home to some of the best point breaks in Australia and a mecca for longboarders, so if you’re into surfing this is going to be a highlight if it’s working.

Where to stay = Halse Lodge

Rainbow beach.

Things are pretty chill in Rainbow Beach – which gets its name from the multi coloured sand dunes. The main event here is a night pre and post Fraser Island tour, which should certainly be part of your East Coast Australia itinerary.

Where to stay = Pippies Beachhouse

Fraser island.

The first of the big Australia overnight tours I’d recommend is Fraser Island – or more importantly an overnight 4×4 tour!

The worlds largest sand island is packed full of incredible adventure and getting the opportunity to drive a 4×4 down the beach highway (yes it’s actually a dedicated highway!) or through the rainforest tracks is always heaps of fun.

Float down Eli Creek, take a refreshing swim in the pictureque Lake Mackenzie and stop off at the iconic Maheno Shipwreck – a Fraser Island tour is always a highlight of anyones trip in Oz.

Top Tours = Pippies (camping), Nomads (hostel style) or DropBear (nature & heritage)

Overnight bus to Airlie Beach

This ones a big one – roughly 18 hours!

Airlie Beach

After a long overnight bus up from Rainbow Beach, it’s time to recover a bit in Airlie Beach – which has a huge public lagoon pool in the middle of town and is the perfect place to soak up the tropical sun, meet some fellow travellers and maybe even have a BBQ too.

I’ve penciled in 3 nights here as you’ll also want a night pre and post Whitsundays tour too…

Where to stay = Nomads Airlie Beach

Whitsunday islands.

The second of the big tours, a sailing trip to the Whitsunday Islands is another East Coast Australia Itinerary must do.

For those looking for the most adventure an overnight sailing trip takes in the famous Hill Inlet Lookout (for those postcard perfect views), Whitehaven Beach and of course plenty of increidble snorkelling too.

There are boat options for all styles too – from backpacker party boats to luxury catamarans.

Or if you really want to go all out Ride To Paradise combines day trips around the islands with a stay on an island resort!

Top Tours = Tongarra, Wings, Powerplay or Ride To Paradise.

Magnetic island.

More island vibes just up the coast from Airlie Beach! You’ll need to make your way up to Townsville where you can jump on the ferry out to Magnetic Island – which is one of my East Coast highlights for sure.

Grab a package deal with either Base (if you like to party) or Bungalow Bay YHA (for more chilled vibes) which include your return ferry, accomodation and welcome drink.

Once you’re on the island make sure you hire one of the famous “Barbie cars” and explore the island – which you can easily zip around in a few hours!

Feed the rock wallabies, meet the wild koalas and soak up some Tropical North Queensland sunshine on the amazing beaches.

Where to stay = Base Magnetic Island (party vibes) or Bungalow Bay YHA (chilled vibes)

Mission beach.

If you want a bit of adrenaline in your East Coast Australia itinerary then Mission Beach is where you’re going to get it!

The big draw here is skydiving – so face your fears and jump out of a plane at 15,000 feet!  As well as stunning views across the coastline and Great Barrier Reef skydiving and Mission Beach is also the only beach landing in Australia – so here’s the spot to tick it off the bucket list!

There are miles of empty, palm tree fringed beaches in the area too, so find your own slice of paradise, or maybe drive out into the surrounding area to sample some locally grown chocolate or award winning ice cream.

Where to stay = Scottys YHA or Absolute Backpackers

Time to wrap up your East Coast adventure in Cairns – the crazy party town towards the top of Queensland!

There are heaps of awesome party vibes here – so pencil in a night for some beers at Gilligans and dancing on tables at the Woolshed.

It’s not all party party in Cairns though – its famous as the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef so make sure you book yourself on a day trip to visit one of the nature wonders of the world which can even be seen from space! Whether you snorkel, scuba dive or take the plunge with an intro dive for the first time it’s well worth it.

If you have a bit more time it’s also a really popular spot to complete your full dive course as well – check out Divers Den for that if you’re keen.

If you want to pack out the last few days of your trip I’d also highly recommend the Cairns Waterfall tour and also Cape Tribulation day trips to see more of this amazing part of Australia.

Where to stay = Gilligans

Got longer than 4 weeks.

Not constrained to 4 weeks and want even more fun in your Australia itinerary? Well here’s a couple of extra options for you to fit in…

Add in Melbourne

Instead of starting/finishing in Sydney why not head to its arch rival – Melbourne?! Famous for epic live music, sporting events and thriving coffee culture Melbourne is a great spot to explore. One of the biggest draws though is tackling the Great Ocean Road and visiting the 12 Apostles. Although you can do this as a day trip I’d personally recommend renting a campervan and roadtripping it if you have the time!

Add in Surfers Paradise

Surfers Paradise and the Gold Coast is another great spot if you love the city vibes. Situated between Byron Bay and Brisbane the Gold Coast (aka the Goldie) is the Miami of Australia – with sprawling beaches and pumping nightlife.

Extend Your Stay

Why not just chill out and extend a few stops instead?! Yup if you have a bit longer padding out a few extra nights at some of the destinations will really slow the pace down and allow you to enjoy the East Coast even more!

Plan Your Perfect Trip

Want to plan your perfect East Coast Australia itinerary no matter how long you have?

Then I highly recommend chatting to the crew of RTW Backpackers who can help you piece together travel passes, campervan hire, hostels, day trips and everything else you need to make the most of your time in Australia!

Fill out their Custom East Coast Package form and they’ll put together a free itinerary for you including heaps of deals and discounts!

Putting together your East Coast Australia itinerary?

What’s top of your to do list, related posts.

Surf Lakes Yeppoon Wave Pool – What’s It Really Like?

Scuba Diving Byron Bay – Everything You Need To Know (+ Promo Code!)

URBNSURF Wave Pool – Which Wave Option Should You Choose?

URBNSURF Wave Pool Melbourne – Everything You Need To Know

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10 Things You Need to Know Before Traveling the East Coast of Australia

Chilled out surf towns. Gorgeous beaches. Coral reefs teeming with sea life. Lush wilderness. Great nightlife. Traveling the East Coast of Australia is the ultimate backpacking adventure.

When you are traveling the East Coast of Australia you’ll be able to hit some of the best destinations, including Cairns, Byron Bay, the Whitsundays, Magnetic Island and much more. Each town and city along the way is beautiful and chilled out and there are many exciting things to do, from surf lessons to hiking to snorkeling and much more.

Before you set off on your Australia East Coast backpacking adventure, here are 10 important things that you should know.

1. Don’t Underestimate The Distance

Australia is an enormous country and even though you will only be traveling down a portion of one coast – the distances are huge. Make sure that you are aware of how long it will take you to travel between each destination you hit, so that you can allow yourself enough time.

Traveling the East Coast of Australia will take at least a month or two if you really want to take your time and savour it all. You could possibly do it in two or three weeks, but that would require careful planning and only spending a short time in each place.

2. Choosing Your Bus Pass

One great way of traveling the East Coast of Australia is to get yourself a bus pass. This way you will be able to have a flexible trip and get on and off the bus wherever you want. The long distance buses down the coast offer bus pass options that will include unlimited travel in one direction over a span of three months. You will simply need to book your seats at least a day ahead when you decide to leave (or perhaps a week ahead during the peak travel periods).

The two main options for bus passes are Greyhound and Premier Motor Service. Greyhound offers a “Kilometre Pass” where you buy an amount of kilometres and are free to use them however you like, so you can go back and forth between places. It is also possible to buy a pass for unlimited travel between Sydney and Cairns or Melbourne and Cairns. Take a look at all of the passes online and find the one that fits your budget and your travel plans.

Premier offers similar types of passes – including an Unlimited Sydney to Brisbane Backpacker pass and an Unlimited Melbourne to Cairns Backpacker pass. The Premier bus passes are cheaper than Greyhound, so if budget is your main concern this might be the best option for you. However, the savings does come with a disadvantage – Premier only has one departure per day compared to the multiple departures with Greyhound.

We chose the Greyhound pass, because we thought that the single departure per day might cause problems. There were certain stops on the route where the only departure was in the middle of the night or at a very awkward time, so we thought it would be worth paying a little more for the flexibility and convenience. However, if you don’t mind this and you plan well, it’s still a great option for traveling the East Coast of Australia.

You can buy your bus pass from any travel shop and they might be able to give you a discount on the price if you are cheeky enough to ask. We did and we were successful!

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kelly Dunning (@nomadgirlkelly)

3. Or, Consider a Campervan

Another option for getting up or down the East Coast in Australia is a campervan. The advantage of this is that you will have complete freedom. You won’t be constricted by bus routes and schedules, you can travel wherever you want and stop and stay for as long as you like. The cost will depend on the size of the van, the season and the length of your trip, so compare a few different sites to get an idea. You can actually use Skyscanner to compare the price of campervan rentals after entering your Point A and Point B and your travel dates.

There’s nothing quite like the excitement and freedom of hitting the open road and the East Coast drive will take you through some stunning scenery. There are plenty of campgrounds along the way where you can park your campervan and rest for the night – no need to worry about hostels or hotels. In some places you will have to pay for your camping spot, but in many places you will be able to camp for free.

You don’t have to buy a vehicle while you are in Australia – it is possible to rent one. This can save you a lot of hassle as you won’t have to worry about selling it at the end of your trip. If you are travelling as a group and you split the cost, this can be quite an efficient way to travel.

If you do choose to buy, make sure that you have the vehicle thoroughly inspected first. You want to make sure that it will last the journey down the coast in decent shape so that you can sell it before you leave Australia.

4. Where Should You Stop?

The East Coast of Australia is one long stretch of gorgeous coastal towns, islands and parks – each one more beautiful than the next. Where should you stop on your trip? You’ll have a tough time deciding, as there will be more beautiful places to visit than you will have time and room in your budget!

The best places to stop are up to you, as they depend on your budget and what you are interested in. For example, if you love surfing you might want to hang around Byron Bay, but if you love hiking you might enjoy Magnetic Island more. If it is on your bucket list to visit the Great Barrier Reef, you will want to stop in Cairns.

Some of the stops that you might want to consider while traveling the East Coast of Australia include Cairns, Townsville, Magnetic island, Airlie Beach, The Whitsundays, Rainbow Beach, Fraser Island, Noosa, The Sunshine coast, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Byron Bay and Sydney.

To get you started on planning your itinerary, here are some great resources:

11 of the Best Towns and Cities on the East Coast of Australia – by Jeremy from Travel Freak

The Perfect East Coast Australia Road Trip Itinerary – by Anna from Global Gallivanting

East Coast Australia – Cost, Route & Our Stops – by Jodie from The Little Backpacker

However, keep your itinerary flexible! While you are on the way, you might hear about somewhere you really want to visit and it’s nice to have the freedom to change course and adjust as you go!

5. Beware – The Sun Is Stronger Than You Think

Did you know that Australia is one of the most dangerous places in the world when it comes to sun exposure? In most places, the ozone layer will protect you from most of the UV rays of the sun. However, above the Land of Aus there is a huge hole in the ozone layer, which is one of the main reasons Australia is the skin cancer capital of the world. If you don’t want to bring home permanent UV damage as a souvenir of your East Coast of Australia trip – make sure that you take measures to protect yourself – such as:

• Cover up when you can – clothing will protect you from the sun’s harmful rays.
• Wear at least a 30 SPF sunscreen and reapply it if you are swimming or sweating.
• Avoid going out in the heat of the mid-afternoon. Plan your outdoor activities for early morning or late afternoon when the sun isn’t as strong.
• Wear a pair of sunglasses that will protect your eyes from the UV rays.

6. AirBnB Can Be a Good Option

We used AirBnb a lot when we were traveling the East Coast of Australia. Between the two of us, renting an apartment costs slightly more than staying in a hostel – but not much more as hostels in Australia are also more expensive. In truth, it offers a lot better value. You will have more privacy and you will be able to cook your own meals, which will save you a lot of money on eating out in restaurants.

Having a comfortable place to chill at night means that you can spend a few nights in during your trip – as even going out to a pub for a few drinks in Australia can be a big expense. In some Airbnb rentals you will share the space with the owner or other housemates, in other situations you will have the place to yourself. If you have never used Airbnb before, here are some tips from Nomadic Matt .

7. Tipping Is Not Expected

If you are from North America and you are used to paying an extra 20% whenever you dine at a restaurant – you don’t have to do this in Australia. Tipping is not a thing Down Under, just pay for your food or beer and don’t worry about leaving any extra. Don’t feel bad either – servers in Australia are paid a good wage and they don’t rely on tips for their income, so it’s just not part of the culture.

If you get exceptional service or you are feeling generous you can always give a tip. The staff will certainly appreciate it, but it won’t be expected.

8. Stay Connected With a Local Sim Card

Getting a local SIM card for your phone is one of the main tips we suggest when traveling anywhere, as it gives you many advantages. You will be able to use Google Maps to find your way around, you can look up information on the go and you can stay in touch with your new Australian mates.

Your best strategy is to bring your own unlocked phone and buy a SIM card when you arrive. There are phone shops at all of the airports and at most shopping centres, so you can get one easily no matter where you fly into. There are three main mobile networks in Australia – Vodafone , Telstra and Optus . Depending on where you are planning to travel, you should check the mobile network coverage maps. Some companies offer better coverage than others.

I had a Telstra SIM card while I was traveling the East Coast of Australia and in my experience it had good coverage in many locations, even in remote areas where people on other networks weren’t able to get a signal. However, this may only be relevant to you if you plan to travel off the beaten path – if you stick around the cities and main destinations you are sure to have coverage from all providers.

For more detailed information on buying a SIM Card in Australia, check out this great in-depth post from Too Many Adapters .

9. Save Up A Lot of Money, Then Save Some More

This is probably going to be one of the most expensive backpacking adventures you have ever had. Australia is not a cheap country to live in or travel in, so make sure that you have a lot of money in your savings. If you are visiting Australia on a Working Holiday Visa , you have the option of traveling down the east coast slowly and picking up jobs as you go along.

However, a job is never guaranteed – so it is always important to make sure that you have plenty of travel savings. Check out this guide I wrote to saving up money for travel .

10. How to Find Cheaper Food

The cost of eating food in a restaurant in Australia is very high, so if you want to stretch your travel budget further I would recommend staying in accommodation with a kitchen and cooking your own meals. Check out “ 6 Practical Tips for Hostel Cooking ” for some ideas on how you can prepare your own food for cheap.

When you are buying groceries to cook at your accommodation, most of the big supermarkets like Coles and Woolworths will have a section where they offer food which is close to it’s expiry date and has been marked down. Lee and I have found some great high quality food there at less than half it’s original price – including gourmet pizzas for 50 cents each and premium cuts of meat for only a few dollars. As long as you either freeze the food or eat it right away, this is a great way to eat well in the cheap in Australia.

More Tips for Eating Cheap on the East Coast of Australia

Here are some other tips for eating cheap when you are traveling the East Coast of Australia:

• Look for cheap meal deals at the pubs and backpacker bars.
• Eat lots of fresh tropical fruit, it is affordable and delicious.
• In most of the public parks and beaches in Australia there are free outdoor barbeques that anyone can use. A cheap meal can be just a few sausages and chicken wings from the supermarket, prepared while relaxing in a beautiful park.
• Shop at Aldi – although they don’t have much selection they have some products that are much cheaper than anywhere else – such as beer. 🙂
• Try to eat out for breakfast or lunch instead of dinner – the prices will be cheaper.
• Hit the food court in the shopping mall to find cheaper meals.
• When you sign up for a food ordering service like Uber Eats or Deliveroo, you will often get an introductory promotion with a discount on your order or a $20 voucher. Make sure you take advantage of this.

These are just a few of the things that you should know before traveling the East Coast of Australia. With a bit of planning and preparation, an East Coast trip can be one of the best backpacking experiences in the world!

If you have any other travel tips you have learned along the way, please share them with us in the comments below.

Posts about East Coast Destinations:

Snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef

Learning to Surf in Byron Bay, Australia

What to Do in Brisbane: The Museum of Brisbane

The Irresistible Pull of Magnetic Island

Kelly Dunning

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Hi, I wanted to go straight to the east coast. I have visited Australia many times, I really like it there. Do not rely on a standard set of excursions. Between the many sights of the country hundreds of miles, and not always the operators correctly reconcile routes. Check every conceived step, look for comfortable ways to move. And try to combine two areas of rest. That is, you can lie on the beaches of the northern coast of Australia for a couple of days, visit Kakadu National Park, and only then go, for example, to Melbourne or Sydney to spend the last days with full comfort in a civilized metropolis with museums and restaurants. Good luck!

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Thanks Kelly, I really am enjoying reading your travel blog to help plan holidays for next year!

Are you planning to do the west coast of Australia? if you ever do, get in touch and i can take you on a private tour.. special prices for bloggers!

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• A Two Week Travel Itinerary...

A Two-Week Travel Itinerary to Australia's East Coast

Known for its diversity, Australia’s east coast stretches almost 4,000 kilometres and comprises dazzling beaches, lush rainforests, sea side towns and major capital cities. Although the trip from Cairns to Melbourne can take three to four weeks, globetrotters looking to explore within a shorter timeframe should opt to take a road trip, as it allows for flexibility and spontaneous exploration.

Day 1: arrive in cairns.

Depending on where you’re flying from, you might arrive in Cairns or connect in Brisbane . Cairns Airport is 10 minutes from the city centre, and there is an extensive range of car hire options and taxis. However, it’s easiest to take the Shuttle Bus to the city, which costs $15 AUD. Once you’ve checked into your hotel—we recommend Tropical Heritage Cairns —visit Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Centre to discover the history of Australia’s Indigenous people through music, dance, art and storytelling. Afterwards, head to the Cairns Esplanade to cool off in the lagoon before dining al fresco at one of the many waterfront cafés and restaurants.

Day 2: Road trip to Airlie Beach

Day 3: Sail the Whitsundays

Airlie Beach is the doorway to the Whitsundays, which comprises 74 idyllic islands. Book yourself onto the Camira Sailing Adventure, which begins at 8am. On board a catamaran, you’ll sail to Hill Inlet lookout—one of the most photographed locations in Australia. Then laze on Whitehaven Beach, and swim in the pristine waters of the Great Barrier Reef before returning to Airlie Beach at approximately 5:45pm.

Day 4: Drive to Hervey Bay

After a restful night, travel further down the coast along Bruce Highway towards Hervey Bay. Although you’ll be spending all day on the road, the destination is worth it. Hervey Bay runs whale watching tours between July and November, and it’s within close proximity to Fraser Island, the largest sand island in the world and your destination for tomorrow. While still at Hervey Bay, choose from the a wide variety of food options at Charlton Esplanade, including Santini Pizza e Cucina. We recommend staying at Oceans Resort & Spa Hervey Bay .

Day 5: Fraser Island Tour

Fraser Island is one of the most remarkable locations in Australia, from the sparkling blue waters of Lake McKenzie to the Champagne Pools, shipwrecks, wild dingoes and the towering trees in Valley of the Giants. You can hire a 4WD vehicle, take the ferry across and explore at your own pace, or book a day tour . Make sure you see 75 Mile Beach on the eastern side of the island and the emerald Lake Wabby, Rainbow Gorge and the golden sand dunes.

Day 6: Noosa

It’s unlikely you’ll ever be truly ready to leave Fraser Island and Hervey Bay, but all good things must come to an end. Make the two-hour drive via Maryborough Cooloola Road to Noosa. Once you’ve arrived in the peaceful town, put on your hiking shoes and trek the Alexandria Bay track or the Costal track from Noosa to Dolphin Point. You can also hop on The Noosa Ferry , with prices from $5.50 AUD. For dinner, walk to Hastings Street, where you’ll find great options, including Bistro C and Noosa Beach House . We recommend staying at The Sebel Noosa .

Day 7: Continue to Brisbane

After brekky at Grind Café, it’s time to head off to Brisbane along the M1. The drive is only two hours, but with so much to see along the sunshine coast, you’ll want to take your time. After 45 minutes, visit Mooloolaba to wade into the warm waters of Spit Beach. Venture 25 minutes south-west to Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo , featuring the action-packed show at The Crocoseum . Follow Steve Irwin Way 20 minutes south to The Glass House Mountains Lookout, and savour the magnificent views before completing the drive to Brisbane. After checking into the ibis Styles Brisbane Elizabeth Street Hotel , explore South Bank, which has a number of restaurants and bars to choose from.

Day 8: Explore Brisbane

Start your day with a heart-pounding climb up Story Bridge , which provides the best panoramic views. You might choose to abseil from the top. Back on the ground, visit the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA), and shop up a storm on James Street, Brisbane’s fashion hub. While on James Street, visit Gerard’s Bar, which is part bar and part charcuterie house. Then, hit the road for the Gold Coast via M1, which will take one hour. Famous for theme parks, beaches and skyscrapers, the Gold Coast is epic fun. Drop your bags at Novotel Surfers Paradise Hotel , and then head for Cavill Avenue, host to buskers and entertainers and filled with restaurants, shops, nightclubs and bars.

Day 9: A Day of Fun on the Gold Coast

No trip to the Gold Coast is complete without visiting the theme parks, which feature thrilling rollercoasters, movie character meet-and-greets and animal encounters. Get individual tickets to Movie World, Wet’n’Wild and Dreamworld, or save money with the three day super pass. You can also check out the sparkling beaches, or explore the lush Gold Coast Hinterland. For a bird’s eye perspective of the entire region, enter Q1, the tallest building in Australia. As the day winds down, travel just more than an hour south via the M1 to Byron Bay.

Day 10: Byron Bay

One of the most popular stops along the east coast is the bohemian town Byron Bay . With a strong surf culture, alternative new-age philosophies and a colourful blend of people, this haven is sure to cast its spell over you. Check into your room at The Atlantic Byron Bay , and then start your day with a yoga session on the beach, or take to the water with a surf lesson or kayaking trip. Make sure to visit Byron Bay Lighthouse—Australia’s most easterly point. When the sun goes down, the party starts at Cheeky Monkey’s .

Day 11: Drive to Sydney via Coffs Harbour

The last leg of your road trip is a nearly nine-hour drive from Byron Bay to Sydney along the Pacific Highway. Three hours into the journey, pull over at The Big Banana in Coffs Harbour—an iconic roadside attraction since 1964—and snap a silly photo. For lunch, order fish and chips from Coffs Harbour Fishermen’s Co-op . Continue down the highway to Newcastle to stretch your legs before heading to Sydney. Once you’ve checked into the ibis Sydney Darling Harbour , take a well-deserved rest, or treat yourself to a cocktail at The World Bar in Kings Cross.

Day 12: Explore Sydney

Wake up early, and make the most of your day in Australia’s most populous city, home to attractions, such as the Sydney Opera House , The Rocks and Taronga Zoo. If it’s warm, take the bus from Circular Quay to Bondi Junction for a swim at Bondi Beach. Work up an appetite by climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge at twilight, and behold the dazzling 360-degree panoramic views as the sun sets over the water. Afterwards, head to Darling Harbour for a bite to eat.

Day 13: Fly to Melbourne

Bid farewell to Sydney, and take a morning hour-and-a-half flight to Melbourne. A week in this cosmopolitan metropolis is ideal, but you can cram the highlights into a couple of days. See the Royal Exhibition Building, and treat yourself to a jam donut at the Queen Victoria Market before making your way to Federation Square, where you’ll see Flinders Street Station and St Pauls Cathedral. Check out the street art in nearby Hosier Lane. Many of the best restaurants in town are found along Southbank, including Nobu and Gradi. Finish off the night at one of Melbourne’s rooftop bars. We recommend staying at Mantra on Little Bourke .

Day 14: Say Goodbye to Australia

During your second day in Melbourne, visit The National Gallery of Victoria, the most popular art gallery in Australia. Then stop by The Shrine of Remembrance and the Royal Botanic Gardens, which are all within walking distance. For a thrill, go to the Eureka Skydeck , and step out onto The Edge. Get around Melbourne easily on the free City Circle Tram. When you’re ready, grab a taxi to Melbourne Airport.

Fancy spending a day exploring picturesque islands? Check out our guide to amazing islands within reach of Cairns, Australia

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

Places to Stay

The best holiday homes and vacation rentals to book in australia.

The Best Motels to Book in Orange, New South Wales

The Best Accommodations to Book in Margaret River, Western Australia

Guides & Tips

How to make the most of your holiday time.

The Best Holiday Cottages to Rent in Australia

The Best Beach Hotels to Book in Australia

The Best Lodges to Book in Australia

The Best Family-Friendly Hotels to Book on the Gold Coast, Australia

The Best Cheap Hotels to Book in Surfers Paradise, Queensland

The Best Resorts to Book in Australia

6 Once-in-a-Lifetime Luxury Lodges in Australia

A Year Down Under: Why I'm Finally Heading to Australia

Culture trip spring sale, save up to $1,100 on our unique small-group trips limited spots..

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Travel The East Coast Of Australia: 2024 Complete Guide

We are Warren and Natasha from The Nomad Hive . Welcome to our guest post on Travelling The East Coast Of Australia! I, Warren, hail from Far North Queensland, the very top of the East Coast. Together, we embarked on an incredible journey, purchasing a van and spending seven months travelling down this spectacular coastline.

Our mission was to explore as many places as possible, immersing ourselves in the diverse beauty of the East Coast. From pristine beaches to cities, and lush rainforests to charming small towns, our journey was a mixture of experiences. In this guide, we’ll share with you what we discovered, offering tips, insights, and highlights to help you plan your own adventure along the stunning East Coast of Australia.

This post may contain affiliate links.  Please see our disclosure for more information.

Join our Australian Travel Planning – Staycation Australia private Facebook group here to get the latest on travel around Australia.

Table of Contents

Different Ways To Travel The East Coast Of Australia

Travelling along the East Coast of Australia is a dream come true for many. From bustling cities to serene beaches and lush rainforests, this iconic route offers endless opportunities for adventure and relaxation. With a myriad of ways to explore this breathtaking landscape, each one comes with its own set of pros and cons, depending on your preferences and travel style. Here’s an insight into some popular ways to explore this magnificent coastline:

What Is The Best Way To Travel The East Coast Of Australia?

In my opinion, the best way to explore the East Coast of Australia is with an off-road vehicle. This provides a perfect balance, allowing you to access the many unforgettable remote camping spots along the way while still being able to visit the beautiful coastal cities. Whether you opt for a 4×4 loaded with camping gear or an off-road caravan towed by a 4×4, you’ll be well-equipped to discover the many hidden gems of the East Coast.

Different Options For Travelling The East Coast Of Australia

Travelling in a campervan combines comfort with the convenience of mobility. Ideal for those who love the idea of a mobile home, it allows for stealth camping in urban areas, saving on accommodation costs. While it’s not a 4×4 and might not access some remote areas, there are still numerous beautiful camping spots accessible. Additionally, navigating cities is more manageable in a campervan compared to larger vehicles or caravans.

Caravans are synonymous with comfort. They offer the flexibility of detaching your car for explorations, meaning you don’t have to pack up your entire setup each time you want to venture out. Many caravans come with 4×4 capabilities, allowing access to more secluded camping spots. However, in city settings, caravans can be cumbersome and usually require staying at designated campgrounds.

4×4 Vehicle

A 4×4 vehicle is the key to unlocking the most remote locations along the East Coast. It is practical for both city and off-road exploration, offering a balance between adventure and convenience. While not as comfortable as a campervan or caravan, a 4×4 is cost-efficient, allowing for free camping options and affordable stays in campgrounds while you are in the cities and towns. Just be sure to be prepared for the mozzies while you are staying on the coast. Check out our picks for The 6 Best Portable Mosquito Netting to use while you are camping.

Working While Travelling

Working while travelling along the East Coast is a popular option for backpackers, offering a unique perspective on local life, especially in towns and cities. This option is great for those looking to immerse themselves in the local culture and community. Jobs are often available in farming and hospitality industries, with many employers providing accommodation or offering it at a discounted rate. This is a much slower way of travelling compared to the other options.

Staying in Hotels/Air Bnbs

For those seeking maximum comfort, hotels , and Air Bnbs are the go-to options. This choice, while more expensive due to the daily costs of accommodation and meals, offers a hassle-free and comfortable travel experience. It’s perfect for travellers who prefer having a stable base from which to explore the surrounding areas and are not on a tight budget.

Best Time To Travel The East Coast Of Australia

Choosing the best time to travel the East Coast of Australia is key to making the most of your trip. This region, stretching from the hot and humid tropical north in Queensland to the cooler southern areas of New South Wales, offers a diverse range of experiences.

Your ideal travel time will depend on the activities you’re interested in, whether it’s surfing, hiking, city exploring, or diving. Each season brings its own unique set of attractions and activities, making the East Coast a year-round destination.

Australian East Coast Weather

Understanding the varied climate patterns along the East Coast is essential for planning your journey to align with your interests.

Wet Season (November to April) : In Far North Queensland, the wet season is characterized by a noticeable increase in both temperatures and humidity. It is also marked by substantial rainfall, which often leads to the closure of roads. Such closures can result in you being temporarily confined to specific locations. This season, while lush and vibrant in FNQ, requires careful planning for travel and daily activities due to its unpredictable and sometimes challenging weather conditions. It would be better to enjoy this season in NSW and you will experience better weather!

Dry Season (May to October): The dry season, from May to October, is often considered the best time to visit North Queensland. The weather during these months is cooler and less humid, making outdoor activities much more enjoyable. This season is particularly ideal for visiting the Great Barrier Reef , as the ocean water is clearer, and there is minimal stinger activity. The dry season’s comfortable climate makes it perfect for a wide range of pursuits, from beach lounging to exploring national parks. Southern NSW can be very cold during this time of year so I would recommend enjoying time in the north.

Shoulder Seasons (April-May and October-November) : The shoulder seasons, encompassing April-May and October-November, provide a mild and pleasant climate. These months are an excellent choice for those looking to avoid the more extreme conditions of the wet and dry seasons. Travel during the shoulder seasons often comes with the added benefit of fewer tourists and more affordable prices. I would aim to travel in the Mid-Coast (South Queensland/North New South Whales) during these months.

How Long Is The East Coast Of Australia?

The East Coast of Australia is a magnificent stretch of coastline renowned for its breathtaking beauty, diverse ecosystems, and vibrant cultural hubs. Spanning approximately 3,200 kilometres (about 1,990 miles), it runs from the tropical north in Queensland, down through the stunning New South Wales coastline, and reaches as far south as Victoria. This extensive coastline encompasses a range of landscapes, including world-famous beaches, lush rainforests, and lively coastal cities.

How Long Does It Take To Travel The East Coast Of Australia?

The time it takes to travel the entire East Coast of Australia varies greatly depending on the mode of travel, the itinerary, and the pace of the journey. If you were to drive non-stop, it would take around 40 hours, depending on traffic and exact start and end points. This estimate is purely for driving time and doesn’t account for breaks, meals, or sleep.

As a whole journey, here are a few considerations:

Fast-Paced Travel (2 weeks) : For those on a tight schedule, it’s possible to cover the major highlights of the East Coast in about two weeks. This would require only stopping at key attractions and cities for 1 day at a time.

Moderate Pace (1-3 months) : A more leisurely trip, allowing for exploration and relaxation at each stop, could take anywhere from 1-3 months. This pace is ideal for those wanting to spend more time relaxing and immersing themselves in the local culture and environment.

Slow Travel (up to a year): For travellers who prefer a deeply immersive experience, taking time to explore off-the-beaten-path destinations and engage with local communities, the journey could extend up to a year. Slow travel allows for a flexible itinerary and the opportunity to discover hidden gems along the coast.

How Much Will It Cost To Travel The East Coast Of Australia

Travelling the East Coast of Australia can vary significantly in cost, depending on your travel style, the duration of your trip, and the choices you make regarding accommodation, transport, and activities. Whether you’re planning a quick tour or a prolonged adventure, understanding the potential expenses is key to planning a successful trip.

Slow Travel Costs (3+ months)

Slow travelling the East Coast over two months or more allows you to immerse yourself in the local culture and explore off-the-beaten-path destinations. The costs for this type of travel can be relatively lower on a day-to-day basis, but it adds up over time if you’re budgeting for the trip as a whole.

• Accommodation : Longer term stays (weekly) at caravan parks and campgrounds come with cheaper prices which will vary. Expect to pay from $15 to $50 per night depending on the location. You can also take advantage of free camping.
• Food : Cooking your own meals and occasional dining out can average around $15 to
• $30 per day.
• Fuel: This will be significantly cheaper to travel slowly. Expect to pay $10 – $20 per day.
• Activities: Free and low-cost activities, like hiking and beach visits, can help keep
• entertainment costs low, with occasional splurges on tours or special experiences.

Fast Travel Costs (Under 1 month)

Travelling the East Coast in under a month usually means a more condensed itinerary with much higher daily costs.

• Accommodation: As you would most likely only be visiting key destinations, expect to pay a premium price from these locations. Campgrounds will be $40-50 per night.
• Food : Will be similar to previously mentioned, at around $15 to $30 per day.
• Fuel: Will be significantly higher covering large areas. Expect to pay $50+ per day.
• Activities: Regular participation in paid tours and attractions can add around $30 to $50 per day

When we travelled the East Coast of Australia, we embraced the van life and took our journey at a leisurely pace. Living in a van allowed us a unique and intimate way to explore, and it took us around 7 months to complete the entire East Coast very leisurely. This slow-travel approach gave us the flexibility to truly immerse ourselves in each location and experience the local lifestyle.

Our weekly budget for two people was carefully planned and included the following expenses:

• Food : We spent about $300 per week on food. This included groceries for meals we
• prepared ourselves and eating out a couple of times a week to enjoy the local cuisine.
• Accommodation : Our accommodation costs, which mainly consisted of campground
• fees, averaged around $200 per week. Staying in campgrounds provided us with the
• necessary amenities while keeping us close to nature.
• Leisure Activities : We allocated about $200 per week for leisure activities. This
• included going on tours to explore the local area and occasionally enjoying drinks at a
• bar, which allowed us to socialize and enjoy the local nightlife.
• Fuel : Given our slow pace and efficient route planning, our fuel costs were relatively low, averaging around $50 per week. This was a significant advantage of travelling in a van and taking our time to explore.

This totaled about $3000 per month between 2 people.

Things To See On The East Coast of Australia

The East Coast of Australia is a diverse and stunning region, offering a wealth of experiences for travellers. From the tropical beauty of Queensland to the varied landscapes of New South Wales, every destination has its own unique appeal.

14 Must-See Places On The Queensland Coast

Daintree Rainforest, Queensland

The Daintree Rainfores t, a World Heritage site, is a place of remarkable biodiversity and beauty. It’s not just about the ancient flora; the rainforest is teeming with wildlife, from vividly coloured butterflies to the elusive cassowary. Explore the area through guided walks, canopy tours, and river cruises.

Cairns, Queensland

Cairns is a lively city that serves as the gateway to both the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest. Known for its relaxed tropical atmosphere, Cairns offers a variety of activities, including the famous Cairns Esplanade with its public swimming lagoon and vibrant arts and cultural scene.

Palm Cove, Queensland

Palm Cove , with its picturesque beach lined with ancient paperbark trees, is a haven of relaxation. It’s renowned for its spa resorts, fine dining, and as a peaceful base for exploring the Cairns region. The jetty here is popular for fishing and sunset strolls.

Mission Beach, Queensland

Mission Beach is a natural paradise, boasting a long stretch of golden sand backed by rainforest. It’s a hotspot for skydiving, white-water rafting, and exploring nearby tropical islands. The laid-back village vibe makes it a perfect retreat.

Townsville, Queensland

Townsville offers a mix of rainforest, reef, and outback experiences. Visit Magnetic Island for its pristine beaches and wildlife, explore the historic castle hill in the city centre, and experience the vibrant local culture and festivals.

Magnetic Island, Queensland

Magnetic Island, with over half of its area covered in the national park, is a nature lover’s paradise. It’s known for its fabulous walking trails, abundant wildlife, and picturesque bays. The island has a unique charm, with a blend of untouched natural beauty and small-town feel.

Airlie Beach, Queensland

Airlie Beach , the vibrant heart of the Whitsundays, is buzzing with a lively atmosphere. It’s the perfect launchpad for adventures into the Whitsunday Islands and the Great Barrier Reef. The town itself, with its lagoon and lively nightlife, is a destination in its own right.

Whitsunday Islands, Queensland

The Whitsundays are synonymous with paradise. These islands offer some of the world’s best sailing, crystal-clear waters for snorkelling and diving, and luxurious island resorts. Whitehaven Beach is a highlight with its stunning white silica sand.

Hervey Bay, Queensland

Hervey Bay is not just the whale-watching capital of the world; it’s also your gateway to Fraser Island. Enjoy the tranquil beaches, the charming esplanade, and the unique Pier, which is great for fishing and sunset views.

Fraser Island, Queensland

Fraser Island is a unique ecological wonder with its rainforests, sand dunes, and freshwater lakes like Lake McKenzie. Drive along the beach highway, and explore the island’s history, including the Maheno shipwreck, and spot dingoes in their natural habitat.

Noosa, Queensland

Noosa is the jewel of the Sunshine Coast, offering a blend of luxury and nature. Its national park boasts beautiful coastal trails, and Noosa Heads has some of the best surf breaks. The Noosa River is perfect for kayaking and paddleboarding, while Hastings Street is a hub for shopping and dining.

The Sunshine Coast, Queensland

The Sunshine Coast is a diverse region, offering everything from pristine beaches at Caloundra and Mooloolaba to the lush hinterland of the Glass House Mountains and Montville. It’s less commercialized, offering a peaceful and more authentic beach holiday experience.

The Gold Coast, Queensland

The Gold Coast is a hub of excitement and entertainment. From the famous surf breaks at Snapper Rocks to the family-friendly theme parks like Dreamworld and Sea World, there’s something for everyone. The hinterland offers rainforest walks and waterfall hikes.

11 Must-See Places On The New South Wales Coast

Byron Bay, New South Wales

Byron Bay is not just a beach town; it’s a lifestyle. Famous for its surfing culture, alternative philosophies, and stunning hinterland, it’s a place where you can relax on the beach, enjoy organic produce, and immerse in the local arts and music scene.

The Tweed Valley, New South Wales

The Tweed Valley offers a blend of cultural and natural experiences, from the World Heritage-listed Wollumbin National Park to creative communities like Murwillumbah. The valley is also a food lover’s paradise, with farm-to-table experiences and local food markets.

Coffs Harbour, New South Wales

Coffs Harbour, with its family-friendly atmosphere, offers a blend of beaches, nature reserves, and adventure activities. The Coffs Coast Regional Park and the nearby Dorrigo National Park provide excellent opportunities for bushwalking and bird-watching.

Port Macquarie, New South Wales

Port Macquarie combines stunning coastal scenery with rich history and wildlife. Apart from its beautiful beaches and the koala hospital, the town offers a vibrant food scene, with waterfront dining and local wineries.

Newcastle, New South Wales

Newcastle is a city that surprises you with its blend of beach life and cultural depth. Its historic architecture, burgeoning food scene, and coastal walks make it a unique destination.

Hunter Valley, New South Wales

Hunter Valley is not just about wine; it’s a region of cultural richness. Apart from the vineyard experiences, it offers gourmet dining, boutique accommodations, and beautiful gardens, making it a perfect romantic getaway or a gourmet escape.

Central Coast, New South Wales

The Central Coast is a haven for those seeking a quieter beach experience. It’s known for its natural beauty, with spots like Bouddi National Park and the tranquil Brisbane Water. The region is also rich in Aboriginal history.

Sydney, New South Wales

Sydney, a city that needs no introduction, is a mix of iconic landmarks, beautiful beaches, and vibrant cultural scenes. Explore the historic Rocks area, relax at Bondi Beach, and enjoy the culinary delights at the city’s many world-class restaurants.

The Blue Mountains, New South Wales

The Blue Mountains offer dramatic landscapes and charming towns. Enjoy scenic walks, explore caves and waterfalls, and experience the rich art and cultural scene in towns like Katoomba and Leura.

Jervis Bay, New South Wales

Jervis Bay is known for its crystal-clear waters and white sand beaches. It’s an ideal spot for water sports, and the Booderee National Park offers stunning natural scenery and indigenous heritage.

Tips: The Cheapest Way To Travel The East Coast Of Australia

Travelling the East Coast of Australia on a budget can be both feasible and enjoyable. By being savvy with your planning and choices, you can experience the best of this stunning region without overspending. Here are some practical tips for economical travel:

• Plan, Check Prices, and Book in Advance : Early planning and booking can lead to significant savings. Compare prices for campgrounds, accommodations, and activities. Booking in advance often results in better deals and discounts.
• Stay Longer in Each Location : By spending more time in each place, you can reduce your overall travel costs. Longer stays often mean lower daily rates for accommodation, and less frequent travel reduces fuel costs.
• Travel Off-Peak to Touristy Locations : Avoid the high season in popular tourist destinations. Prices for accommodation and activities are generally lower during off-peak times, and you’ll encounter fewer crowds.
• Use Public Transportation in Cities : In urban areas like Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane, take advantage of the extensive public transport networks. It’s much cheaper than renting a car and often more convenient for city exploration.
• Utilize Wiki Camps for Affordable Stays : Wiki Camps is an excellent resource for finding free or cheap camping spots and caravan parks. This app can help you locate budget-friendly accommodation options all along the East Coast.
• Cook Your Own Meals: Eating out frequently can quickly add up. Most campgrounds offer kitchen facilities, or you can bring your own cooking gear. Preparing your own meals is a cost-effective way to enjoy local produce.
• Stealth Camping in a Van : If you’re travelling in a van, stealth camping can be a free accommodation option. Just be sure to check for ‘no camping’ signs and follow local regulations to avoid fines.
• Enjoy Free Tourist Attractions : The East Coast is packed with free or low-cost attractions, including beaches, hiking trails, and public parks. Research free tourist spots along your route for enjoyable and affordable experiences.
• Seek Out Backpacker Deals and Discounts : Many tourist attractions and businesses offer special deals for backpackers. Keep an eye out for these, as they can provide substantial savings on activities and dining.
• Be Flexible with Your Travel Dates : Flexibility can lead to savings, especially if you’re willing to travel during less popular times. Keep an eye out for last-minute deals and be open to changing your plans to take advantage of discounts.

FAQs: Travel The East Coast Of Australia

How can you find cheap campgrounds and caravan parks.

Finding cheap campgrounds or caravan parks along the East Coast of Australia is quite straightforward with the right tools and knowledge. Resources like Wiki Camps and Camps Australia-Wide offer comprehensive listings and reviews of budget-friendly options.

Additionally, many national parks offer affordable camping spots, often in picturesque locations. These can be found on their official websites. Local tourist information centres are also a valuable resource, providing up-to-date information on the best camping deals in the area.

Can You Travel The East Coast of Australia Without A Car?

Travelling the East Coast of Australia without a car is entirely feasible. The major cities and towns along the coast are well-connected by public transport systems, including buses, trains, and ferries, making it easy to move from one destination to another. For longer distances, companies like Greyhound Australia and Premier Motor Service offer comprehensive long-distance bus services.

What Animals Can You See On The Way?

The East Coast of Australia is a haven for wildlife enthusiasts. As you travel, you’re likely to see a variety of marine life like dolphins and whales, especially during migration season. In the lush rainforests of Queensland, you might spot unique birds such as the cassowary, as well as koalas and various reptile species. Inland and bushland areas are great for seeing kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas, and a diverse range of bird species.

Additionally, the Great Barrier Reef, a world unto itself, is home to an astounding array of marine life including turtles, sharks, and a kaleidoscope of coral species.

What Is The Best Time To Visit The Great Barrier Reef?

The optimal time to visit the Great Barrier Reef is during the Australian winter and spring months, from June to October. During these months, the weather is more temperate, and there’s less rainfall, leading to clearer waters and better conditions for snorkelling and diving. This period also avoids the stinger season, making swimming safer. Moreover, the winter and spring months coincide with the whale migration, offering an added bonus of potentially sighting these majestic creatures during your reef visit.

How To Stay Connected While Travelling the East Coast?

The easiest way to ensure connectivity is by purchasing an Australian SIM card from local providers like Telstra, Optus, or Vodafone, which offer a variety of data packages suitable for travellers. Free Wi-Fi hotspots are commonly available in all of your campgrounds and accommodations. For a more reliable connection, consider a portable Wi-Fi device, which offers internet access in areas with mobile coverage. It’s also a good idea to download essential apps and offline maps before your trip to aid in navigation and local information.

If you’re using an international phone, your best option would be to purchase an ESIM when arriving in Australia to avoid roaming charges.

Can You Make Money While Travelling Australia?

Certainly! Travelling in Australia while earning money is entirely possible with various options. One popular method is engaging in local jobs like fruit picking or hospitality roles. Australia’s vast agricultural sector frequently requires additional labour during harvest seasons, making fruit picking an ideal job for travellers seeking short-term employment. Alternatively, pursuing remote work online presents another viable option. This approach offers the flexibility to work from anywhere, allowing travellers to earn while enjoying the diverse landscapes and experiences Australia offers. As digital nomads ourselves, check out our Ultimate Digital Nomad Packing List for remote workers.

Conclusion: Travel The East Coast Of Australia

Travelling the East Coast of Australia is an unforgettable experience, offering a blend of natural wonders, unique wildlife, and vibrant cities. Whether you’re cruising through Queensland’s rainforests, enjoying the laid-back beaches of New South Wales, or exploring the bustling cities, there’s something for everyone.

The journey is a mix of adventure and relaxation, filled with moments that will stay with you long after you return home. Embracing the diversity of this stunning coastline, from the Great Barrier Reef to the cultural hubs of Sydney and The Gold Coast, ensures a trip full of enriching experiences.

Travel insurance  offers protection when things go wrong before or during your travels, that is why we highly recommend that you take out travel insurance.

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Travelling the East Coast of Australia: what you need to know

Hostelworld Blog | Posted on December 23, 2019 |

The East Coast is home to some of Australia’s biggest highlights. The world’s biggest coral reef, the world’s biggest sand island, the world’s biggest roofed stadium outside North Korea, oh, and the world’s biggest (plastic) banana. Spanning more than 3000km of sun-kissed coastline, the road trip from Cairns in tropical North Queensland to hipster haven Melbourne via sparkling Sydney is Australia’s most well-worn backpacker trail — a convoy of camper vans chasing beautiful beaches, adrenaline-fuelled adventures, idyllic islands and non-stop nightlife. From Fraser Island and the Great Barrier reef to Bondi, Brunswick and Byron Bay, this is everything you need to know about travelling the East Coast of Australia.

Sydney harbour, 📸: Getty Images

Jump straight to:

Best way to travel the east coast, how much does it cost to travel the east coast, how long does travelling the east coast take, best time to travel the east coast, accommodation around the east coast.

• Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef
• Townsville and Magnetic Island
• Airlie Beach and the Whitsunday Islands
• Central Queensland
• Hervey Bay and Fraser Island
• Sunshine Coast
• Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie
• Newcastle and Port Stephens
• South-Coast

To travel East Coast Australia is to tackle some serious territory. Cairns to Melbourne via Brisbane and Sydney is a 3600km marathon that’s like driving from Glasgow to Istanbul via Munich and Belgrade. One of the best ways to travel and the one most backpackers still choose is to road trip it — most car and van rental places like Maui , Britz and Jucy offer one-way rentals for this exact East Coast Australia itinerary.

Renting a camper van seems like a good idea to save money, but you can’t just camp anywhere — expect a tap on the window if you’ve just pulled up at some random beach rather than paid for a spot at a caravan park or a designated campsite, which aren’t dirt cheap and are sometimes booked out. That’s why the comfort of a hostel is always a good investment.

Driving gives you so much more flexibility and usually works out cheaper than public transport, especially when it allows you to see places like national parks that you’d otherwise have to fork out for a tour to see. Petrol costs about $1.50 a litre and car rental starts at about $30 a day. Split between a few mates, buying a set of wheels might even make sense for a long trip.

There are ways of getting around without a car, too. Greyhound and Premier buses both run a few services a day up and down the East Coast, while daily trains link Sydney with Melbourne and Brisbane (the Spirit of Queensland up to Cairns is a posh service that doesn’t fit into many backpackers’ budgets). Cut-price carriers like Tiger and Jetstar also offer affordable domestic flights — you can often spot Sydney to Melbourne for as little as $40, though it’s usually around $100, roughly the same price as the much, much slower bus or train.

Flinders Street Station Melbourne, 📸: @jamesdominko

So how much does travelling the East Coast of Australia cost? A hostel bed is about $20-40, a cheap meal is $10-15, beer or wine is at least $5-8, and organised tours — like a cruise of the Whitsundays or the Great Barrier Reef — cost $100-plus per day. Then you’ve got transport (car, bus, train or flights) on top of that. Budget about $60-70 a day, plus travel and tour costs.

How long it takes to travel the East Coast depends on how long you stay. To tick off all the places on the list below, six weeks would feel like a sprint, and even two months would fly by. Lounging around the beach is the whole point of these lazy beach towns, and who can put a time frame on that? If you’ve got a stricter schedule, fly rather than drive and cherry-pick the highlights: Cairns for the reef, Byron for the beach, then Australia’s two biggest cities Sydney and Melbourne. At a pinch, you could squeeze this into a fortnight.

It’s too cold for the beach — well, by Australian standards anyway – down south during the cooler mid-year months, and Melbourne has particularly bitter winters. Up north though, many beaches are closed over summer because of stingers (jellyfish that are as painfully stingy as they sound), while the tropics are also battered by monsoonal rains that time of year.

So, if you’re feasting on the entire East Coast enchilada, head north in autumn or migrate south in spring. For instance, catch the last of the summer sun in Melbourne in February or March before arriving in the tropics around June, or start in the North Queensland sunshine mid-year while Sydney and Melbourne warm up by October or November. Shoulder season suits shorter stays, April and October are relatively sunny and stinger-free everywhere. Crowds and costs crank up around the Christmas holidays so stay at home with your mum — she’ll appreciate it.

Australia has plenty of variety when it comes to hostels, so you can tailor your hostel picks to the kind of traveller you are. There are lots of hostels in Queensland with pools and outdoor seating areas, so you can soak up the Aussie sun and take a dive when it starts to really heat up.  Gilligan’s Backpacker Hotel & Resort Cairns  is a must stay for all pool party lovers.

You can find contemporary hostels in Sydney and Melbourne in central locations, with great social spaces like on-site bars. Wake Up! Sydney Central is right near Central Station and offers heaps of activities like fitness/yoga classes, city tours and trivia nights. Rowdy backpackers can also join in on one of their legendary parties at the the Side Bar!

Plenty of hostels in Australia are surrounded by exotic flora and fauna. For a true blue Aussie experience, stay at Bungalow Bay Koala Village YHA to make some furry friends! The Blue Mountains Backpacker Hostel will give you easy access to one of the most stunning nature parks in the country!

Wake Up! Sydney Central , Sydney

Best places to visit around the East Coast

1. cairns and the great barrier reef.

Great Barrier Reef, 📸: Getty Images

The Great Barrier Reef stretches along 2300km of sun-kissed Queensland coastline, and the city of Cairns  is the most convenient jumping off point. Hop on a tour to scuba-dive, snorkel or swim around this underwater oasis— make sure you book an operator with an eco-certification and a license to see the colourful stuff further out, because coral bleaching has ruined a lot of the reef closer to the city.

The town itself doesn’t have a beach, but the lagoon and esplanade gives somewhere to swim. Better outdoor adventures are found on day trips to tropical paradises like Green and Fitzroy Islands, or the town of Kuranda hidden in the rainforest high above the city. Cairns is also an adventure capital for bungee jumping, skydiving, white water rafting, and anything else that gets your adrenaline pumping.

A night out at infamous party hostel Gilligan’s Backpacker Hotel & Resort Cairns is perhaps the most hair-raising experience of all, pouring the cheapest drinks in town at their on-site pub and nightclub. Start your East Coast Australia itinerary with around four nights in Cairns… more if Gilligan’s hangovers erase a couple of days.

Cairns is surrounded by a string of possible extra stops, too. The twisting one-hour drive north to Port Douglas — an upscale resort town containing the curvaceous Four Mile Beach — leads you to the doorstep of the Daintree Rainforest, an ancient ecosystem crawling with crocodiles and swimming holes (not at the same time, if you’re lucky). The road north runs out in Cape Tribulation , where the rainforest meets the reef. Daintree Crocodylus Village is perfect for those who want a secluded stay among nature, where you could also spot some local wildlife.

Inland, backpackers go chasing waterfalls (and fruit-picking jobs) in the Atherton Tablelands. And two hours’ drive south lies Mission Beach , one of the few places on earth where you can spot the rare and elusive cassowary bird, as well as a skydiving hotspot and the launchpad for Dunk Island.

How many days: 4

Compare all hostels in Cairns

Gilligan’s Backpacker Hotel & Resort Cairns

2. Townsville and Magnetic Island

Townsville, 📸: Getty Images

Three hours driving through sugarcane fields and banana plantations brings you to Townsville , the de facto capital of North Queensland — and more importantly, the departure point for the tropical paradise that is Magnetic Island .

Maggie, as the locals call it, is only a 20-minute ferry from Townsville, but it feels like a different planet. As well as the stunning tropical scenery — the place is covered by more palm trees than a Bounty wrapper — Maggie’s big pull is the chance to get up close and personal with Australian wildlife like kangaroos, koalas and wallabies.

In fact, Bungalow Bay Koala Village is the only hostel in Australia with its own wildlife sanctuary on-site, putting on breakfast with the koalas plus the chance to snap a selfie cuddling one of the furry little fellas. Spend a couple of nights in one of the A-frame cabins around the serene pool nestled among the gardens.

How many days: 2-3

Compare all hostels in Townsville

3. Airlie Beach and the Whitsunday Islands

📸: Getty Images

Airlie Beach is another bustling backpacker hangout, full of travellers either itching to sail the Whitsunday Islands or busy bragging to friends back home about the white-sand wonderland they’ve just experienced. The Whitsundays are a shimmering highlight for anyone travelling the East Coast of Australia, and Airlie is the gateway. The 74 islands might be covered in Australia’s glitziest resorts, but backpackers don’t have to miss out on the fun, with stacks of budget island-hopping cruises setting off from Airlie Beach with a bed on the boat plus food thrown in.

One of many posh hostels in town, Bush Village Budget Cabins oozes a chill vibe from the moment you arrive at reception — the desk overlooks the pool area, where your new mates are sunning themselves in the poolside hammocks. Bliss.

Compare all hostels in Airlie Beach

Bush Village Budget Cabins , Airlie Beach

4. Central Queensland

Bundaberg, 📸: Getty Images

Mackay, Rockhampton and Bundaberg — plus places like Innisfail and Bowen further north — are where backpackers on working holiday visas go to complete their farm work to extend their stay. But there are definitely some reasons to spend the night in Central Queensland that don’t involve picking fruit.

Mackay bookends the southern stretch of the Great Barrier Reef. The Capricorn Caves are carved into a limestone ridge near Rockhampton . Agnes Water is the first surf break south of the reef. Bundaberg boasts the distillery of Australia’s favourite rum, as well as Mon Repos beach, where impossibly adorable turtle hatchlings take their first tentative steps towards the shore in the first three months of the year.

And if nothing else, Airlie Beach to Hervey Bay is a mammoth 10-hour drive, so somewhere like Rocky halfway in between is a convenient pit stop for one night.

How many days: optional, 2-3

Compare all hostels in Queensland

5. Hervey Bay and Fraser Island

Scarness Pier Hervey Bay, 📸: Getty Images

The whale-watching hotspot of Hervey Bay is your entry point to Fraser Island, the largest sand island on the planet. More than 120km long and 20km wide, Fraser is blanketed in sparkling freshwater lakes like the serene Lake Mackenzie, shipwrecks rusting on pristine beaches, and a wild strain of dingo unique to the island.

Jump on a three-day tag-along tour where guides lead a convoy of four-wheel drives (4WDs) bashing along the sand – sorry, but your banged-up old campervan won’t cut it here. Back on dry land, the family-run Aussie Woolshed is a truly unique place to stay — a slice of the bush plonked in the middle of Hervey Bay with raw timber, corrugated iron, plus stirrups and saddles swinging from every beam. Rainbow Beach just south of Fraser Island is another stunning stop on the road south.

Compare all hostels in Hervey Bay

Aussie Woolshed , Hervey Bay

6. Sunshine Coast

Noosa National Park 📸: @samanthalreid

Noosa attracts plenty of upmarket Australian visitors escaping winter in the southern states, which explains all the trendy cafes, expensive boutiques and glam holiday villas. But even backpackers can afford the Sunshine Coast’s natural treats — diving into turquoise water, treading coastal walks through the Noosa National Park, kayaking the Noosa Everglades, then re-hydrating at Noosa’s many watering holes.

The Sunshine Coast is also where you’ll find Australia Zoo — the sanctuary set up by the late, great Steve Irwin, whose family continues his legacy — about 20 minutes’ drive inland from Caloundra, or 45 minutes from Noosa. Halfway between Fraser Island and Brisbane (two hours each way), the Sunshine Coast is a nice place to put your feet up on the sand for a couple of days before hitting the big city.

How many days: 1-2

Compare all hostels in Noosa

7. Brisbane

Residents of rival cities impolitely describe Queensland’s capital as a big country town, which is a little unfair. Brisbane mightn’t have the same pull as beachy Sydney or artsy Melbourne, but it’s worth a day or two of your East Coast Australia itinerary. Parks line the Brisbane River snaking through the city centre, Westend cafes and balmy night markets offer something for foodies, the XXXX Brewery pumps out the Sunshine State’s magical elixir, and there’s a lively row of Brisbane hostels on Upper Roma Street near Suncorp Stadium — the closest thing this sports-mad city has to a sacred site.

Brisbane is also a good base for day trips, particularly the laid-back North Stradbroke Island and the unspoiled Moreton Island, where you can snorkel or scuba-dive the historic Tangalooma shipwrecks. If you’re short on time, you could also tackle the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast on day trips from Bris Vegas.

Compare all hostels in Brisbane

8. Gold Coast

Surfers Paradise Gold Coast, 📸: Getty Images

The postcard image of the Gold Coast is of skyscrapers towering over golden sand. And sure, that version of the Goldie exists in Surfers Paradise — a Glitter Strip of nightclubs, casinos and high-rises that party-loving backpackers will lap up. BUNK Surfers Paradise is the newest hostel on the Gold Coast, with bright and brand new rooms only 100 metres from the sand, plus a sun-drenched pool lounge and stylish common areas you’d expect to find at a Generator in Europe.

But the Gold Coast stretches a lot further than that — 52 kilometres, in fact. South of Surfers, more blissful beaches like Burleigh Heads and Coolangatta are blessed with more than 300 days of sunshine a year. Inland, the jungly Gold Coast hinterland is protected by the Tamborine, Springbrook and Lamington National Parks. And the Goldie is also home to Australia’s premier theme parks — Dreamworld , Wet ’n’ Wild , Warner Bros. Movie World and the like. Surfers Paradise might get old after a couple of nights, but you could spend a lot longer relaxing in a calmer corner of the coast.

Compare all hostels on the Gold Coast

BUNK Surfers Paradise

9. Byron Bay

📸: @bradhalcrow

Only an hour over the Queensland-NSW border, Byron is quintessential East Coast Australia. Miles of beaches. Lush national parks. Pubs and cafes galore. No wonder there’s so many backpackers. Make loads of time in your itinerary for Byron Bay — it’s one of those places that sucks you in like quick sand, where the receptionist checking you in at the hostel arrived two years ago in a camper van and never left. The brand new Byron Bay YHA captures the vibe this town is famous for, with leafy gardens and kaleidoscopic murals surrounding a stylish pool area.

Cape Byron lighthouse marks the most easterly point on mainland Australia, casting a shadow over the bongo drum players, sun-bakers, yoga instructors and learning-to-surfers gathered on the sand below. Graffiti-caked streets house specialty coffee shops, craft breweries, artisanal bakers, cocktail joints, quirky art galleries, new-age eateries and everything else hippies and hipsters drool over. Oh, and Chris Hemsworth lives here, so you might spot Thor just chilling at the beach.

Byron Bay used to be a sleepy beach town, but it’s boomed with beach-loving backpackers, Sydney escapees and Hollywood A-listers in recent years. Ninety minutes down the coast, Yamba feels like Byron 20 years ago — join Shane’s legendary ten-buck tour from Yamba YHA to hear about all the best bits.

And in the Byron Bay hinterland you’ll find Nimbin — a town that whiffs like the inside of an Amsterdam coffee shop. This ‘alternative lifestyle’ capital (read: heaps of Bob Marley, heaps of dream catchers, and heaps of pot) contains an otherworldly YHA where you can sleep in a yurt overlooking the misty valleys of the Northern Rivers region.

How many days: 2-3 (depending on how much chillout time you want!)

Compare all hostels in Byron Bay

10. Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie

Muttonbird Island Coffs Harbour, 📸: Getty Images

Coffs Harbour (three hours’ drive from Byron) and Port Macquarie (another 90 minutes south) are a pair of convenient pitstops for road-trippers travelling the East Coast of Australia.

Coffs Harbour is known for the Big Banana, but if you stick around for longer than a selfie with this 13-metre long piece of fruit, you can visit even more great beaches, national parks like Dorrigo or Bongil Bongil, and the nearby new-age town of Bellingen.

Port Macquarie boasts, you guessed it, even more stunning strips of sand, as well as a heart-warming Koala Hospital that helped rehabilitate countless animals affected by the bushfires that ravaged this part of the world in late 2019.

How many days: 1

Compare all hostels in Coffs Harbour

11. Newcastle and Port Stephens

Newscastle, 📸: Getty Images

Newcastle — about two hours south of Port Macquarie — is the next nice stop breaking up the long drive to Sydney. An old mining town that still welcomes huge shipping containers into its harbour, Newy delivers a lot of the charm of Sydney — golden sand just a stroll from the city centre, cafes and pubs overlooking the water, a cutting-edge food and drink scene, particularly when it comes to coffee — without the crowds or the cost.

If you’ve got a bit of time to spend in Port Stephens , check out the dolphin capital of Australia – Nelson Bay, a series of secluded surf beaches around the Tomaree National Park, and the sand dunes of the Worimi Conservation Lands, a sacred Indigenous site. The country’s oldest wine region, the Hunter Valley, also sits next door to Newcastle — the purpose-built YHA is fringed in vines.

The Central Coast, halfway between Newcastle and Sydney, is another pile of gorgeous beaches. But a lack of hostels and public transport means it’s not exactly a hub of backpackers.

How many days: 2 days

Compare all hostels in Newcastle

📸: @cinjarella_glassslipper

Sydney is one of the most spectacular cities on the face of the earth, let alone just the East Coast of Australia. The glittering harbour shows off two globally recognised landmarks — the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The coastline is covered with world-class beaches. Here you can conquer the clifftop linking Bondi with Coogee to see Tamarama, Bronte, Clovelly and Gordon’s Bay, and catch the ferry to Manly for the essential Sydney Harbour experience. Inner-city neighbourhoods like Surry Hills and Newtown are packed with excellent cafes, bars and eateries (sorry, Melbourne, but Sydney’s cool too). And green spaces like the harbourside Botanic Gardens and the vast Royal National Park pepper the map.

Spend as long as you can (i.e. as long as your budget permits) in Sydney, but you’ll never get to the bottom of your to-do list no matter how many nights you stay. Backpackers have more than 80 hostels in Sydney to choose from, and most are based around Central Railway Station in the city centre, plus plenty near the beach in Manly, Bondi and Coffee. But Sydney Harbour YHA is the standout for those wanting the ultimate city experience. A custom-built property in the historic Rocks district, the hostel’s rooftop terrace has unimpeded views of the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge — an ideal backdrop to the free wine and cheese night every Thursday.

The best day trip from Sydney is the 90-minute train or two-hour drive to the Blue Mountains , named after the shimmer created by this never-ending eucalypt forest. The Echo Point lookout in the town of Katoomba provides the picture perfect vista of the Three Sisters rock formation, but an overnight stay gives you time to trek the web of walking trails that criss-cross the forest floor.

The country’s busiest airport is a sensible start or end point to any East Coast Australia itinerary, and Sydney to Cairns is the most backpacker-friendly chunk of this route. But there’s plenty to see south of the Harbour City, too.

How many days: 4-5

Compare all hostels in Sydney

Sydney Harbour YHA

13. South Coast

Jervis Bay, 📸: Getty Images

Many travellers dash straight from Sydney to Melbourne — 900km that you can smash out in less than nine hours, plus breaks, but the coastal route reveals miles more golden sand. Start in the Illawarra region an hour’s drive south of Sydney — the city of Wollongong , like Newcastle, is another old mining town ringed by brilliant beaches. Don’t miss Jervis Bay and the Instagram-famous Hyams Beach  (which reportedly has the whitest sand on earth)  on the road trip further down the coast.

Batemans Bay , another two and a half hours down the coast, opens up even more secluded arcs of sand. The beaches of the South Coast are much quieter than their Queensland counterparts up north, and most travellers here are grey nomads crawling their way around Australia, rather than backpackers looking for a party. So save your goon bags for Cairns and Airlie!

The south-east corner of the country is picturesque — Eden is as heavenly as it sounds, and so is the Mornington Peninsula on the road to Melbourne. But it isn’t exactly hostel central, so backpackers should just belt out the trip to the Victorian capital.

How many days: 5-6 days

14. Canberra

The more direct route from Sydney to Melbourne swings through Canberra, about three hours’ drive from the Harbour City. The nation’s capital has an undeserved reputation as being boring, expensive and full of politicians. Canberra was only founded to settle a squabble between Australia’s two biggest cities over which one should be the capital, and it kind of feels like it was built out of an Ikea flat pack.

Despite the attention on Sydney and Melbourne, Canberra is actually pretty cool. The Australian War Memorial , National Museum and National Gallery are engrossing for history buffs. There’s not one but two parliament houses to visit after a new one was built in 1988. Speaking of adults behaving like children, the hands-on Questacon science museum is a must-see. And the food and drink around Lonsdale Street matches anything you’d find in Melbourne and Sydney, even though the tables are filled with politicians. The city is home to some major national universities, so great nightlife has inevitably followed. Check out the city’s cocktail bars or dance up a storm at its buzzing clubs!

How many days: 2

Compare all hostels in Canberra

15. Melbourne

📸: @anniespratt

Melbourne is Australia’s capital of culture. Capital of coffee. Capital of cool. It’s the country’s hive of food and fashion, as well as Australia’s sporting epicentre — the Australian Open tennis in January, the Formula One in March, the horse-racing carnival in spring. Then there’s the city’s true obsession: AFL football, which lights up the mighty 100,000-seat sporting ground (MCG) over winter.

Feast on coffee, kale and quinoa in bohemian inner-city neighbourhoods like Fitzroy and Brunswick. Admire artistic graffiti on the walls of Hosier Lane and Centre Place, as well as galleries like the National Gallery of Victoria and the Australian Museum for Contemporary Art . Soak up the history oozing out of buildings like the State Library, Flinders Street Station, Old Melbourne Gaol and the ornate Royal Exhibition Building in the Carlton Gardens. And catch the sunset in St Kilda, as the little penguins come ashore after a day at sea.

There’s a collection of excellent hostels near Flinders Street, headlined by United Backpackers . Look forward to ultra-modern rooms, free pancakes for breakfast, and events seven nights a week in their secret underground bar. Most backpackers need at least four or five days to burrow into Melbourne.

To continue your East Coast Australia itinerary, head west of Melbourne down the Great Ocean Road in the Adelaide direction. As stunning as the drive from Cairns has been, nothing compares to the cliffside twists and turns of this stunning stretch of rocks snaking along Australia’s south coast. The 12 Apostles (giant standing rocks along the beach), can be bashed out on a day trip from Melbourne, but spend the night to explore every twist and turn.

Compare all hostels in Melbourne

United Backpackers

Brush up on your Aussie accent, grab your thongs, and soak up that stunning Eastern coastline. What are you waiting for mate?

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Tom Smith is an Australian writer living in Manchester. Obsessed with sport and travel, Tom has watched cricket in Cardiff, football in Fortaleza, baseball in the Bay Area, and there’s still plenty more to tick off the bucket list yet. Read more of his work  here.

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Does anyone have any knowledge of East Coast Travel, the Australian and New Zealand travel agency that provides affordable Holidays? Is it real? seemed to have filled out a form with all of my information 12 months ago..

16 replies to this topic

Is there any point to you having started this thread?

I have regular contact with the marketing managers and the booking manager and this gives me some assurance that I will be able to use the rest of my tokens in the future.

After reading the comments from the above reviews yes, it does make you think twice, but I can only comment on my own Experiences with East Coast.

We had a phone call one evening from Jake, one of the sales team members, a very polite man, he recommended some packages for hotels, and at first, we thought no way, this is too good to be true and thought it was hoax. We kept on throwing all these questions at him regarding how all this works, but he answered fairly to all the them, for some reason we became very interested in the packages. My wife and I thought why don’t we try a small package.

After we purchased the package we regretted what we had done, as we still thought it’s too good a deal, anyway, we started use and to book some hotels, just to see if this was a hoax, which we booked a few nights in the CBD, well everything went very smoothly. We then booked another 5 nights out in regional NSW, also went very well and very impressed by the hotels. Last week we just returned from 2 weeks in New Zealand and couldn’t be happier with all the properties Rachel booked for us.

In total, we must have already used 18 coupons and we have enjoyed every moment of them. We had a hic up in one of the New Zealand properties, which Rachel fixed within a hour.

I hope that the above comments are not as they say, as we have found East Coast fantastic so far. Keep the good work up East Coast.

Maybe I’m a cynic but seems rather dubious that we get this thread started and then 2 first time posters within days extolling the virtues if this company.

Whiffs of a clumsy shilling attempt to me

+1 to post #14.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Another big +1 to Amo’s comments in #14.

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It never rains but it pours: intense rain and flash floods have increased inland in eastern Australia

Visiting Fellow, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney

Professor, School of Mathematical And Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney

Disclosure statement

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

University of Technology Sydney provides funding as a founding partner of The Conversation AU.

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Before climate change really got going, eastern Australia’s flash floods tended to concentrate on our coastal regions, east of the Great Dividing Range.

But that’s changing. Now we get flash floods much further inland, such as Broken Hill in 2012 and 2022 and Cobar, Bourke and Nyngan in 2022 . Flash floods are those beginning between one and six hours after rainfall, while riverine floods take longer to build.

Why? Global warming is amplifying the climate drivers affecting where flash floods occur and how often. All around the world, we’re seeing intense dumps of rain in a short period, triggering flooding – just as we saw in Dubai this week.

Our research shows east coast lows – intense low pressure systems carrying huge volumes of water – are developing further out to sea, both southward and eastward.

This means these systems, which usually bring most of the east coast’s rain during cooler months, are now dumping more rain out at sea. Instead, we’re seeing warm, moist air pushed down from the Coral Sea, leading to thunderstorms and floods much further inland.

This month, a coastal trough along the Queensland and New South Wales coasts and an inland trough resulted in unusually widespread flooding , triggering flooding in Sydney as well as inland.

Read more: Why is Australia’s east coast copping all this rain right now? An atmospheric scientist explains

What’s changing?

On the coasts, extreme flash floods come from short, intense rains on saturated catchments. Think of the devastating floods hitting Lismore in 2022 and Grantham in 2011 .

Inland, flash floods occur when intense rain hits small urban catchments, runs off roads and concrete, and flows into low-lying areas.

The April flooding in NSW and Queensland had elements of both. Early this month, the subtropical jet stream changed its course , triggering a cyclonic circulation higher in the atmosphere over inland eastern Australia.

At the same time, a low-pressure trough developed low down in the atmosphere off the coast and another inland, through southern Queensland and NSW, where they encountered warm moist air dragged by northeast winds from as far away as the Coral Sea.

The result was localised extremely heavy rain, which led to the Warragamba Dam spilling and flood plain inundation in western Sydney.

This unusual event has been referred to as a “black nor’easter”, a term coined in 1911. These are characterised by a deepening coastal trough and upper-level low pressure systems further west, over inland eastern Australia. This term, mostly known in the marine fraternity, became less common during the 20th century. But it has returned.

Why? Global warming is changing how the atmosphere circulates. As ocean temperatures keep rising, the pool of warm water in the Coral and Tasman Seas grows. This gives rise to northeasterly airstreams, which funnel thick fronts of warm, moist air down towards inland Queensland and NSW.

These low pressure systems occur higher in the atmosphere, causing unstable conditions suiting the formation of thunderstorms. And because these systems move slowly, heavy rain can fall continuously over the same area for several hours. All up, it’s a perfect recipe for flash flooding.

We saw similar systems producing flash flooding in Sydney’s Nepean and Hawkesbury rivers during November and December last year, as well as in other regions of inland eastern Australia.

Is this new? Yes. Between 1957 and 1990, flash floods struck Sydney 94 times . But during this period, fast cyclonic airflow in the upper atmosphere was not connected to the jet stream. Instead, flash floods occurred when slow-moving upper-level low pressure circulations encountered air masses laden with moisture evaporating off the oceans. However, there wasn’t enough water in the air over the inland to trigger flash flooding.

In every case between 1957 to 1990, flash floods in Sydney were not linked to slower-forming riverine floods on the Nepean-Hawkesbury River system. When these rivers did flood during that period, they came from longer duration, less intense rain falling in the catchments, and largely from east coast lows. Now we’re seeing something new.

Haven’t there always been flash floods?

Flash floods are not new. What is new is where they are occurring. These sudden floods can now form well west of the Great Dividing Range.

Previously, inland floods tended to come after long periods of widespread rain saturated large river catchments. Inland flash floods were not so common and powerful as in recent decades.

In earlier decades, inland riverine floods during extreme rainfall years occurred when the fast-moving jet stream high in the atmosphere was further north. This occurred frequently in the cooler months, with long, broad cloud bands blown by or associated with the jet stream producing widespread rain inland. Known as the “autumn break”, it often primed agricultural land for winter crops.

In recent years, these crucial air currents have begun moving polewards .

Now that it’s moving south, we have increasingly warm air over inland eastern Australia which can hold more moisture and result in heavy falls, even in the cooler months.

What about the famous inland floods which move through Queensland’s Channel Country and fill Kati Thanda/Lake Eyre?

These are slow moving riverine floods, not flash floods. Flash floods are often limited to local regions. By contrast, Channel Country floods stem from heavy monsoonal rains from November to April.

Read more: Changes in the jet stream are steering autumn rain away from southeast Australia

Short, intense rain bursts are going global

The pattern we’re seeing – more flash floods in unusual places – is not just happening in Australia. Inland areas – including deserts – are now more likely to see flash floods.

Dubai this week had a year’s rain (152 mm) in a single day, which triggered flash floods and caused widespread disruption of air travel. Other parts of the United Arab Emirates got even more rain, with up to 250 mm. In Western Australia’s remote southern reaches, the isolated community of Rawlinna recently had 155 mm of rain in a day.

This is precisely what we would expect as the world heats up. Hotter air can hold about 7% more water for every degree of warming, supercharging normal storms. And these floods can be followed by extended periods of almost no rain. The future is shaping up as one of flash floods and flash droughts.

Read more: Flash droughts are becoming more common in Australia. What’s causing them?

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Australia urges Israel and Iran to avoid ‘spiral of violence’; Dfat issues Middle East travel advice – as it happened

This blog is now closed.

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• 19 Apr 2024 What we learned, Friday 19 April
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• 19 Apr 2024 Fire ants spotted near tip of Murray Darling Basin
• 19 Apr 2024 Stocks, Aussie dollar sink after reports of explosions in Iran
• 19 Apr 2024 Greens on Israeli missiles launched at Iran: ‘This must not become our next war beside the US’
• 19 Apr 2024 Non-citizens may prefer prison to immigration detention – ombudsman
• 19 Apr 2024 Boy, aged 9, among four killed in WA car crash
• 19 Apr 2024 Greens yet to take position on bill banning non-prescription vapes
• 19 Apr 2024 Samantha Ratnam to step down as leader of Victorian Greens for federal tilt
• 19 Apr 2024 Disability and mental health check for accused terror teenager
• 19 Apr 2024 Opposition leader says Palestinian state alongside Israel not ‘conceivable’ until Hamas defeated
• 19 Apr 2024 Youth on welfare ‘pushed’ into homelessness, report shows
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• 19 Apr 2024 Canavan declares ‘king coal’s reign continues’ as climate crisis continues to worsen
• 19 Apr 2024 Civil liberties council ‘concerned’ by push for tougher penalties on parents if children found with knives
• 19 Apr 2024 AFP commissioner outlines facts of Wakeley stabbing case, calls for unity
• 19 Apr 2024 Shorten suggests ‘more soldiers and police officers’ should be patrolling shopping centres
• 18 Apr 2024 Planned surgery wait times longest on record, medical association says
• 18 Apr 2024 Joint Jewish, Muslim and Christian statement released following recent tensions and violence
• 18 Apr 2024 Alleged offender in Wakeley church stabbing to face bedside court
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• 18 Apr 2024 Bondi Junction Westfield to reopen for trade after stabbings
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Australia urges Israel and Iran to 'step back'

The Australian government has urged Iran and Israel to “exercise restraint and step back to avoid a further spiral of violence”.

In response for a request for comment on Israel’s reported retaliatory military actions against Iran, the acting foreign minister, Katy Gallagher , said:

Australia remains extremely concerned about the potential for miscalculation and further escalation of conflict in the region. This is in no one’s interests. We urge all parties to exercise restraint and step back to avoid a further spiral of violence . Australia will continue working with partners to try to reduce tensions and prevent further regional spillover.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade had earlier updated travel advice for the region.

What we learned, Friday 19 April

And with that, we are going to put the blog to bed. Before we go, let’s recap some of the big headlines.

Bondi Junction Westfield will reopen for trade after last weekend’s stabbings

The first Australian navy officers have been assigned to US Virginia class submarines

Violence against women is a ‘scourge’ that is ‘perpetrated by men’, the attorney general, Mark Dreyfus , said

The alleged offender in the Wakeley church stabbing faced a bedside court hearing

Jewish, Muslim and Christian leaders released a joint statement following recent tensions and violence

Planned surgery wait times in public hospitals are now the longest on record, according to new data from the Australian Medical Association

Bill Shorten suggested ‘more soldiers and police officers’ should be patrolling shopping centres

The AFP commissioner, Reece Kershaw, outlined the facts of the Wakeley stabbing case and called for unity

The civil liberties council is ‘concerned’ by a push for tougher penalties on parents whose children are found with knives

Nationals senator Matt Canavan declared ‘king coal’s reign continues’ as the climate crisis continues to worsen

A think tank says young are people concerned government isn’t planning for the long term

Teenagers who rely on welfare to pay rent are being pushed towards homelessness, a new report shows

Peter Dutton has given a speech saying the idea of a Palestinian state alongside Israel “isn’t even conceivable” until after Hamas is defeated

The 16-year-old alleged Wakeley terrorist has shown behaviour consistent with mental illness or intellectual disability , his lawyer told a court today

Samantha Ratnam will step down as the leader of the Victorian Greens to run for the federal seat of Wills

The Greens say they are yet to take position on a bill banning non-prescription vapes

A boy, aged 9, was among four killed in a car crash in the WA Wheatbelt

The commonwealth ombudsman has warned non-citizens may prefer prison to immigration detention

The Greens say Israeli missiles launched at Iran ‘must not become our next war beside the US’

Stocks and the Aussie dollar sank after reports of explosions in Iran

Fire ants were spotted near the tip of the Murray Darling Basin

Dfat issues travel advice amid reports of explosions across the Middle East

Thank you for spending part of your day with us. We will be back tomorrow to do it all again!

Traditional owners welcome plan to stop visitors walking on Kathi Thanda-Lake Eyre without permission

Visitors will no longer be able to set foot on one of Australia’s premier tourist destinations under a proposed plan to protect its cultural significance for traditional owners, AAP has reported.

Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre is the continent’s largest lake. Swimming, driving, boating and landing aircraft on the lake are already banned, but the new plan would prevent visitors from setting foot on its bed without permission.

It is a sacred site for the Arabana people, who have lived in the region for millennia and are the lake’s native title holders.

The Arabana Aboriginal Corporation chairwoman, Bronwyn Dodd, said her people were proud to share Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre but urged visitors to respect their Ularaka (stories), lore and culture:

We have a responsibility to look after the lake and in turn, it looks after us. Preservation of this lake is also the preservation of our culture.

Attorney general calls on men to ‘step up’ against family violence

Echoing the words of anti-family violence campaigner Rosie Batty , the attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, has called on men in Australia to “step up” and stamp out attacks on women, AAP has reported.

In a speech to the family violence symposium held by the federal circuit and family court in Melbourne on Friday, Dreyfus likened the death of more than 25 women this year to an epidemic.

Dreyfus noted the event was being held against the backdrop of “shocking acts of violence against women” just days after five women were stabbed to death at a Bondi Junction shopping centre, and several women were killed in Ballarat in two months. More than 25 women have been killed in Australia so far this year.

“It’s time for men to step up,” he said. “It’s our responsibility to educate ourselves, our sons, our colleagues and our friends.”

New TikTok Notes app to be banned on Australian government devices

Federal government employees will not be allowed to install the new TikTok app that is the Chinese-owned company’s answer to Instagram, with the existing ban extended to Notes.

On Thursday, TikTok launched Notes , an app dedicated to still images and text in Australia and Canada for initial testing before a wider rollout.

It came a year after the Australian government banned the main TikTok app from government devices, saying the app “poses significant security and privacy risks to non-corporate Commonwealth entities arising from extensive collection of user data and exposure to extrajudicial directions from a foreign government that conflict with Australian law”.

On Friday, the Department of Home Affairs confirmed that the existing ban would also apply to Notes.

A spokesperson said:

Protective Security Policy Framework Direction 001-2023 addresses the significant security and privacy risks arising from the TikTok application’s extensive collection of user data and its exposure to extra-judicial directives by a foreign government that conflict with Australian law. The direction extends to TikTok accounts and features subsequently added to the TikTok application, including the photo-sharing capability of TikTok Notes.

Broken Hill newspaper the Barrier Truth announces shock closure

Broken Hill’s independently owned newspaper, the Barrier Truth , has announced its shock closure, AAP has reported.

After almost 130 years in operation, the Truth’s board announced to staff the union-run bi-weekly paper would be shut down as its final edition went to press.

The Barrier Industrial Council president and newspaper board chair, Roslyn Ferry, told AAP the masthead had closed until further notice.

The board planned to seek legal and financial support following the closure, she said.

“It probably comes as no surprise that maintaining operations, particularly over the past 12 months, has been extremely challenging,” Ms Ferry said in a statement.

Woodside revenue falls 31% in first quarter due to sluggish production and falling prices

Sluggish production and falling fossil fuel prices have slashed revenues at Australia’s largest oil and gas producer, Woodside , by almost a third, AAP has reported.

The Perth-based company’s revenue for the first quarter fell 31% compared with the previous year to $US2.97 billion ($A4.66 billion), it announced on Friday.

Over the same period, production dropped by 4% while gas and oil prices slumped by 25%.

Despite the lacklustre result, the chief executive, Meg O’Neill , said significant progress had been made on Woodside’s three major growth projects – Sangomar in Senegal, Scarborough in WA and Trion in the Gulf of Mexico.

Sangomar is now 96% complete, with first oil targeted by mid-2024, O’Neill said.

Electric cars must generate artificial noises under new laws

Electric cars sold in Australia will have to generate artificial noises when driving slowly in carparks and driveways, to aid pedestrian safety around the otherwise quieter vehicles, as part of design requirements unveiled by the Albanese government on Friday.

Acoustic vehicle alerting systems (Avas) will be required in new electric, hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell cars, trucks and buses from November 2025, under the new Australian design rule that brings the country into line with similar requirements in the United States and Europe.

When an electric car travels above 30km/h, it sounds much the same as a petrol-driven vehicle, as the noise is emitted from the tyres vibrating against the road rather than the engine. But below that speed, it becomes barely audible.

This can make encountering the vehicles more dangerous for pedestrians, particularly people with low vision. The new design rules are expected to prevent 68 fatalities and 2,675 serious injuries by 2060.

Vision Australia ’s manager of advocacy Chris Edwards said the group had been calling for Avas to be made mandatory in EVs in Australia since 2018.

Edwards said:

All pedestrians should have the right to feel safe and confident when navigating public spaces and today’s announcement is a significant step towards protecting that for people who are blind or have low vision. There is no doubt that this is an announcement that will save lives.

Manufacturers will ultimately get to decide what artificial noises they will feature. BMW has previously hired Hans Zimmer to help score their electric car sound. My colleague Jordyn Beazley has previously covered the question of what electric vehicles should sound like here:

$60m digital passenger declaration app experienced delays, end product ‘inflexible’, home affairs tells inquiry

The department’s acting chief information officer, Matt Jones , added the digital passenger declaration app – which was supposed to be the first step toward overhauling and digitising Australia’s travel and visa system – was also inflexible.

Labor chair, Julian Hill , asked what the department received from Accenture over its $60m contract before it was terminated prematurely: “So, [Accenture] built an app?”

Jones responded:

“Yeah, and a very hard-wired app, so if we wanted to change questions around, for example, health status, it was going to take weeks and weeks and weeks whereas our expectations and the requirements in the tender was that it was supposed to be configurable.”

Home affairs grilled over Covid-era passenger declaration app that operated for only 3 months

Officials from the home affairs department have been grilled by a parliamentary joint committee over their contract with IT company, Accenture , to build a $60m digital passenger declaration app for border re-openings that operated for just three months.

The department’s involvement in signing the contract with the IT firm back in September 2021 was the subject of a scathing report from the Australian national audit office , which found the department undermined its attempts to achieve value for money and did not adequately deal with conflict of interest issues.

The app, which asked incoming passengers to Australia for their health and vaccination status, launched in March 2022 but was ultimately dumped in July 2022 by home affairs minister, Clare O’Neil , after Labor took up government.

First assistant secretary, Claire Roennfeldt , told the hearing the contract with Accenture was “mutually” terminated due to a change in biosecurity laws but also spoke at length of how the IT firm failed to deliver on expectations and experienced ongoing delays.

Few women among election candidates in Solomon Islands as counting continues

Which 50 Solomon Islanders will make up the next government remains in doubt, but one thing is clear: few will be women.

The Pacific nation, where rapidly deepening ties with China have grabbed international headlines, held its biggest election day on Wednesday, with 1200 candidates running for seats in national and local parliaments.

Counting is expected to continue in earnest on Friday with a few surprises among the early results already declared.

Martin Fini, the pro-China leader of the country’s most populous province, was confirmed to have lost his seat a year after coming to power in Malaita in controversial circumstances .

But few victors across the country will be women, having made up a paltry 5% of candidates in the joint elections.

WA police call for witnesses after fatal Clackline crash

Police have asked anyone who might have seen the car to get in contact:

What I will ask is if anyone was on the road in the early hours or late evening yesterday or the early hours of this morning, if they did witness anything or did see a silver Nissan Navara utility travelling down that road, or have dashcam, if they could please contact Crime Stoppers. It’s really important that I remind people of the fundamentals of driving on our roads, particularly in regional WA. Do not drive tired, do not drink and drive or use drugs and drive. If you’re driving particularly long distances in the dark, in remote locations, you take suitable rest periods and respite periods, wear your seatbelt, and please do not touch your phones at all.

‘Three brothers and their family friend’ killed in Wheatbelt car crash, police confirm

A WA police spokesperson is speaking to media now:

When you lose three young men, three brothers and their family friend in one crash, this is a heartbreaking incident for WA. I attended the scene this morning and as you can imagine, it was a very confronting scene for first responders, to attend and, investigate.

He said the 21-year-old man was the driver, his two brothers aged 19 and 9 were in the back seat and their family friend, 45, was in the passenger seat.

All four occupants sustained critical injuries and they died at the scene. Major crash investigations have attended and they are conducting an investigation surrounding the circumstances of that death.

Police in Perth will give an update on the fatal crash soon . I will bring you that when it comes.

Many thanks for your company on the blog today. The lovely Cait Kelly will be here to take you through the rest of our rolling coverage. Take care, and enjoy your weekend.

The Bureau of Meteorology has shared a national weather forecast for the weekend ahead. Heads up for those on the east coast: don’t forget your umbrellas!

Here's what to expect across Australia over the weekend, including rain & thunderstorms in south-east #Qld & parts of #NSW , but mostly settled conditions elsewhere. Video current as of 12:30 pm AEST, Friday 19 April 2024. Latest: https://t.co/jlOoTZLz8d pic.twitter.com/d1WSSXiUqc — Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) April 19, 2024

Ahpra survey shows culture of bullying in trainee doctors

Non-binary and women medical trainees around the nation have reported higher experiences of bullying and mistreatment, AAP reports.

Serious concerns about the culture of medicine were raised by trainee doctors of all genders in the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency survey of more than 23,000 doctors in training in 2023.

Those who identify as non-binary reported the most instances of bullying, harassment, discrimination and/or racism.

16% of non-binary respondents disagreed that bullying, harassment and discrimination is not tolerated by anyone in the workplace.

Some 32% of female respondents witnessed bullying, harassment, discrimination or racism in the past year, while 58% of non-binary respondents said the same.

Female trainees also reported more workplace bullying and mistreatment than their male counterparts.

The Ahpra board chair said the culture of medical training needed ongoing attention. Anne Tonkin said in the December 2023 report:

In such a complex system of shared accountabilities and responsibilities, there is no quick fix. The urgent need for ongoing commitment to building a culture of respect in medicine and medical training remains.

More than 18,000 participants answered a question about their gender, with more than 9000 trainees identifying as female, 8000 as male and 67 as non-binary.

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Nature of Home

America’s Most Wanted: 5 Invasive Species Wrecking Ecosystems Across the U.S.

Posted: April 28, 2024 | Last updated: April 28, 2024

Forget the wild west – there’s a new breed of outlaws terrorizing the American landscape, and they’re not your typical bandits. These culprits have fur, scales, and even wings, but don’t let their appearances fool you.

They’re the most destructive invasive species in the U.S., and they’re wreaking havoc on our ecosystems. From the swamps of Florida to the forests of the East Coast, these critters are leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.

So, let’s count down the top offenders and explore the shocking damage they’re causing.

1. Burmese Pythons: The Everglades’ Unwelcome Guests

These slithering serpents, once beloved pets, have found a new home in the Florida Everglades. Released into the wild by irresponsible owners, Burmese pythons have become the apex predators in this delicate ecosystem. With no natural enemies to keep them in check, their population has exploded, and the consequences have been devastating.

Studies have shown that since the pythons’ invasion in 2000, the Everglades have seen a staggering decline in native animal populations ( ref ). Opossums have decreased by 98.9%, bobcats by 87.5%, and raccoons by a jaw-dropping 99.3%. Even the mighty American alligator isn’t safe from these voracious snakes.

Despite efforts to control their numbers through hunting and trapping, the python problem persists, leaving the Everglades in a precarious position.

2. Emerald Ash Borers: The Beetle That’s Eating America’s Ash Trees

Don’t let their shimmering green exterior fool you – emerald ash borers (EAB) are no friends to our forests. These invasive beetles, hailing from Asia, have spread like wildfire throughout the U.S. ( ref ), leaving a trail of dead ash trees in their wake. The larvae of these tiny terrors feed on the tree’s phloem tissue, effectively girdling and killing the tree within a mere two years.

The loss of ash trees has far-reaching consequences for the ecosystem. Gaps in the forest canopy allow sunlight to penetrate, paving the way for invasive plant species to take over.

Animals that depend on ash trees for food and shelter are left high and dry, while the very makeup of the soil is altered, impacting microorganisms. Treating individual trees is costly and impractical on a large scale, leaving the best defense as limiting the spread of infested ash wood.

3. Feral Hogs: The Billion-Dollar Boars

Feral hogs are the ultimate party crashers, and they’re causing a ruckus in at least 47 states. These roving swine are a menace to agriculture and natural resources, with a 2020 study estimating they caused a staggering $272 million in crop losses across just 12 states in a single year ( ref ). In Texas alone, individual producers can face losses upwards of $200,000 when accounting for management efforts and lost opportunities.

But the damage doesn’t stop at crops. Feral hogs’ rooting and wallowing behavior degrades sensitive habitats like wetlands and riparian areas, leading to increased erosion, sedimentation, and even the introduction of E. coli into watersheds.

Their foraging alters vegetation communities and reduces acorn production, a vital food source for native wildlife. As if that weren’t enough, these hogs also compete with native species for resources and prey on the nests of ground-nesting birds.

4. Cats: The Purr-fect Predators

They may be cute and cuddly, but don’t let their adorable antics distract you from the truth: cats are the most destructive invasive predators on a global scale. While many cat owners allow their feline friends to roam freely, these outdoor adventures come at a cost to native wildlife. Cats are responsible for the extinction of numerous bird, mammal, and reptile species worldwide.

A study conducted by the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found that domestic cats kill an estimated 2.4 billion birds and 12.3 billion mammals annually in the U.S. alone ( ref ). This staggering death toll makes cats the single largest human-influenced source of mortality for birds and mammals in the country.

While keeping cats indoors is the most effective solution, implementing trap-neuter-return (TNR) programs can help manage feral cat populations and mitigate their impact on wildlife.

5. Hemlock Woolly Adelgid: The Tiny Terror of the East Coast

Don’t be fooled by their minuscule size – hemlock woolly adelgids (HWA) are causing massive devastation to hemlock forests in the eastern United States ( ref ). These tiny, aphid-like insects, native to Asia, feed on the sap of hemlock trees, causing needle loss, branch dieback, and ultimately, tree death. Infested trees can die within 4 to 10 years, leaving once-thriving forests as eerie, lifeless landscapes.

The loss of hemlock trees has cascading effects on the ecosystem. Hemlocks provide critical habitat for a variety of wildlife, including birds, mammals, and fish. They also play a vital role in regulating stream temperatures and maintaining water quality.

As the trees die off, the delicate balance of these ecosystems is thrown into disarray. Researchers are working tirelessly to develop effective control methods, such as introducing predatory beetles that feed on HWA, but the battle against this tiny terror is far from over.

Controlling the Invaders

As these invasive species continue to wreak havoc on our ecosystems, it’s clear that we need to take action. From innovative control methods to public education campaigns, every effort counts in the fight against these destructive invaders.

By working together and staying informed, we can help protect our native wildlife and preserve the delicate balance of our environment for generations to come.

While this drive to protect vulnerable species and ecosystems is certainly valid, I wonder if we should reconsider the ways we’re going about things. More importantly, I believe it’s time for us to take a step back and look at invasive species from another angle.

• Don’t Miss: 7 Reasons to Rethink the Narrative of Invasive Plants

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East coast soaking headlines weekend of possible cyclone, frosty south, and endless WA heat

Australia's weather will serve up a smorgasbord of variability this weekend, including another bout of heavy rain for the eastern seaboard.

The soaking thankfully won't match the intensity of early April, but a separate weather system will also bring heavy rain to far north Queensland, while a tropical low threatens to intensify into a late season cyclone in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Clear skies will prevail across the rest of Australia this weekend but with a vastly different feel — southern states will rug up through frosty nights, while Western Australia's incredible run of unseasonable warmth heads into record territory.

Stormy week culminates in weekend drenching for east coast

The storm season ends in less than a fortnight, but this week has brought an unseasonably active outbreak of thunder and lightning to NSW, and occasionally southern Queensland.

While thunderstorms eased on Friday, the stormy skies are now being replaced by a broad rainband across south-east Queensland, along with heavy showers along the NSW coast.

The rain will result from a similar set-up to the previous deluge – a humid airstream off the Tasman and Coral seas clashing with a mass of cold air over the inland.

But thankfully a repeat of the severe floods which ravaged Sydney and the Illawarra is unlikely due to a low pressure system forming well offshore, as opposed to a fortnight ago when a low developed right on the coast.

The heaviest falls will arrive from Saturday to Monday from about Rockhampton to the Gold Coast where totals could exceed 100mm, potentially enough to trigger a few pockets of minor riverine flooding, and possibly very isolated flash flooding.

Brisbane can expect rain to develop on Saturday, persist on and off through Sunday, before easing on Monday, and is likely to pick up anything from about 20 to 80mm — the uncertainty due to the city's location on the southern periphery of the system.

For NSW, the heaviest falls this weekend will impact the northern half the coast where more than 50mm could accumulate.

Sydney's wettest day will be Saturday when up to about 20mm could fall across coastal suburbs.

Only a few millimetres should fall over western suburbs of Sydney, however Penrith has already received 264mm this month — more than five times the average and the wettest April in 36 years.

Bureau monitors tropical low and issues flood watch for north Queensland

Like the thunderstorm season, the northern wet season also wraps up in less than two weeks, but a weak tropical low has formed over the Arafura Sea and is showing signs it could develop further this weekend.

The bureau currently indicates there is only a 10 per cent chance the low will deepen into a cyclone, however regardless of the system's status, its movement is still of critical importance.

Thankfully for the flood weary north, a track slowly west is forecast this weekend, perhaps clipping the far north-east tip of the NT – a path which would avoid inland penetration and a subsequent heavy rain across tropical catchments.

Even including the unlikely addition of another system, the 2023-24 season will finish with below average cyclone activity in Australian waters, continuing the trend of declining numbers through the past few decades.

This season has produced eight named storms so far, comfortably below the annual average of 11 cyclones either forming or moving through Australia waters.

The last time an above average number of cyclones occurred was 18 years ago, with 12 recorded in 2005-06.

The drop in cyclone numbers this century is the result of climate change shifting the structure of broadscale tropical circulations, despite the warmer waters providing extra energy to fuel stronger systems.

The official season ends on April 30, although occasionally cyclones do develop in the dry season – typically well-off Australia's northern coastline.

In the meantime, a moist easterly could bring up to 100mm in 24 hours to north Queensland, prompting a flood watch for the northern and eastern Cape York peninsula north of the Mossman River.

The flood threat is being enhanced by wet catchments following hundreds of millimetres already falling this week from Innisfail to Cooktown.

Wintry nights to bring the first frost of 2024

This April is on track to break a run of 10 consecutive warmer than average months for Australia – mostly due to below average temperatures across central and southern regions.

The autumnal chill is due to high pressure systems sitting nearly permanently to the south of WA.

Winds spin anticlockwise around highs and the result has been cool southerly winds blowing on most days from the western interior to the Great Dividing Range.

Cool weather will continue for south-east Australia this weekend, especially at night as clearing skies and light winds provide the optimal conditions for low overnight temperatures.

Minimums will fall to single digits across Victoria, Tasmania and southern parts of SA and NSW, and fall close to freezing along the ranges.

Melbourne and Adelaide can expect the coldest temperature so far this year between Saturday morning and Monday, and while a brief spell of warmer northerly winds will arrive during Monday and Tuesday, cool southerlies will again return to southern states by midweek.

The year without an autumn — Perth baking in endless heat

The last six months has been the warmest and driest on record for western parts of WA.

From October to March, Perth received just 22mm of rain, easily below the previous record of 39mm in 1892.

During the same period the city's average maximum temperature has been 30.7 degrees Celsius, an incredible 3.4C above normal and also a record.

This April has only prolonged the trend with Perth's highs averaging 30.0C, a full 5C above normal and 5C above Taree's temperatures at the same latitude on the east coast.

The record dry spell also continues – the city's rain gauge has collected just 1mm this month, well short of the April average of 43mm.

So if eastern Australia is relatively cool and wet, why then does Perth's weather still resemble summer?

A quick glance through daily weather maps during the past few months supplies the answer – the pressure south of WA has been 5 hectopascals above average for six months.

In other words, high pressure systems have been favouring a position which ensures winds across WA are from the east, carrying dry desert heat from the interior to the west coast.

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