Your Quick Guide to Traveling Australia’s East Coast

The East Coast of Australia is filled with picture perfect images that entice people from all over the world to come and visit this big, beautiful country. With everything to offer from city life and sea-side villages to mountain ranges and wild rain forests, the east coast has become the most popular backpacker route within Australia. Along the way you will meet people from all walks of life, all nationalities, all ages and all abilities ticking off this bucket-list trip and they are all doing it differently. Because there are so many ways of experiencing the east coast of Australia, people can often feel stuck on where to start, how to approach it, and what to do. I am going to share with you how I did it – a way that works best for budget backpackers and those who are kind of flying by the seat of their pants. But even if you’re not on a budget, you’ll want to make note of these incredible destinations. 

However, as much as I enjoyed every minute of it, I would highly recommend taking the option of renting (or buying) a vehicle and doing a road trip. This option works best if you have a travel partner or two who can offset the costs of fuel and vehicle maintenance and if you want to be 100% free in where you go and when. I chose to road trip through Western Australia with a friend and thought it was one of the best experiences of my life. For the east coast I was going at it solo, and so choosing the bus option is what worked best for me. This guide will explain exactly how I did that, starting from Sydney and ending in Cairns.

CHOOSING A BUS COMPANY

There are two main bus companies that travelers decide between when opting to bus their way up Australia’s east coast. Greyhound is by far the most popular with comfier seats, charging ports to keep all of your electronics powered up, and more bus times to choose from in each destination. Greyhound offers a hop on hop off bus option that will take you in one direction only (for example, from Sydney to Cairns). Alternatively, they offer a KM option – where you have more flexibility in that you can backtrack, but you need to have a rough idea of how many KM you will be traveling so you know how many KM to purchase.

GREYHOUND SYNDEY – CAIRNS COST: $445 AUD

Premier Motor Service is the second runner up for bus companies that most travelers along Australia’s east coast are looking at. The seats don’t recline as far, there are no charging ports on every seat and their departure times are only once a day (sometimes at 3AM). So why is it the runner up? Premier is possibly the cheapest way to travel the east coast, also with the same hop on hop off theme as Greyhound.

PREMIER SYDNEY – CAIRNS (30 DAY PASS): $230 AUD
PREMIER SYDNEY – CAIRNS: $320 – $350 AUD

ACCOMMODATION

Accommodation along the east coast is where the majority of your money is going to go once you’ve paid for your transportation. Even for budget travelers, the hostel costs add up. You will be looking at roughly $30-$35 a night for most hostels along the east coast. Luckily, most of the ones I experienced were pretty nice. Many of them will have a pool to cool off in, a sociable common area to meet new people and easy access to the best sights to see in each place. I would highly recommend not booking all of your accommodation at once.

Take this trip in a stride – you’ll end up wanting to leave some places sooner and stumbling along places that you will want to stay at for longer. I usually like to book as I go, securing accommodation for the next destination a day or two before I leave the last one.

BOOKING TOURS

One of the most overwhelming things about traveling up the east coast of Australia is the amount of tours available! Everywhere you go you’ll find tour agencies claiming to have the best deals and their friendly salespeople out trying to strike up a conversation with you on the street to get you inside. You’ll come to know them all by name: Happy Travels, Peter Pans, Intrepid, etc.

I really lucked out and found an incredible deal on a combination package from the tour desk at Backpackers Inn On The Beach in Byron Bay: 2 days, 1 night Whitsundays and 2 days, 1 night Fraser Island for just over $400. You’ll find a lot of the agencies offering similar prices but they also tend to be really inflated. My best advice for you is to shop around, talk to as many as you need, understand what they offer and what they don’t. Don’t be afraid to go in to hostels to see what packages they’re offering, either. A great website for booking your Whitsundays or Fraser Island tours is BookMe. I didn’t use them personally but a lot of people I met along the way got their tours for the same price as I did through Backpackers Inn or even for less.

If you really love a jam-packed schedule and super organization, hostel travel desks and tour agencies will sit down with you and map out your entire east coast trip with you. If you like flexibility, being spontaneous, and not sure where you will be and when, booking the tours in advance can be trickier.

Now that the technicalities of your trip are sorted, it’s time to go! While it can be helpful to have a rough idea of what destinations you want to stop at along the way, you’ll soon find out that there is a very worn in and well-traveled backpackers route up the east coast. Chances are, you’re going to do something similar. The following places are where I chose to stop. I skipped a few places based either on finances or preference.

BYRON BAY

There’s nothing like starting an adventure off with a bang. Byron Bay was my first stop after Sydney and I couldn’t have been more excited to arrive. People whisper about Byron like it’s a magical unicorn waiting to sprinkle its stardust all over you. It’s a coastal town with an eccentric personality. Drum circles at sunset overlook the sea, musicians sing their heart out to crowds that grow from three to twenty in alleyways off the main street, and the world is happy. Eager surfers are up at the crack of dawn to catch the waves, walks to the lighthouse reward you with sweeping views, and people from all walks of life come together.

Byron captures their souls and begs them to stay just a little longer, to discover more, to dig a little deeper to find out what it is that they truly want from this life. Bryon Bay was one of my favorite places not just on the east coast but in all of Australia – and it rained most of the time I was there. If I can love a place in the rain, it must be pretty special. I would recommend a full five days here to really get into the spirit of the community. But if you don’t have that time, a minimum of three days. Maximum time? No limit.

SURFER’S PARADISE

In an attempt to escape the rain we said a sad, too-soon goodbye to Byron Bay and hopped on the next bus taking us to Surfer’s Paradise. Located in the Gold Coast, Surfer’s is just what you might imagine: a fan favorite among surfers. Constant, decent sized waves crash into a shoreline that stretched for miles. It was one of the most unique beaches I’d ever been to because as soon as the sand stops, the city begins. Skyscrapers line the beach and you’re immediately in downtown. The Gold Coast has a very distinct personality. It’s flashy, neon lights are everywhere and it reminds me a little of how I imagine Vegas would be. What do people do here? We tried to find out the same thing.

Mostly, it’s a place where people come to shop, to party, and to surf. Our time here was spent on a Saturday night pub crawl, attempting to have a beach day (but mostly being covered in sand thanks to the high winds that day), and wandering ’round. Had we wanted to stay a little longer and rent a car, it did sound like there were a few day trips into the headlands that would be worth checking out. If you love to experience nightlife, shop til you drop and generally enjoy the city scene, you’ll want to check this place out.

BRISBANE

My stopover in Brisbane was more of a courtesy stop, really. I needed to break up the journey from Surfer’s Paradise to Noosa and had booked a quick overnight stay. We arrived on a cloudy, misty, wet day and after dropping our bags in the hostel we took off to explore. My one real spot to see was South Bank. Because Brisbane isn’t actually on the coast, there are no natural beaches like the rest of Australia’s east coast. Instead, they have a man-made beach in the middle of a city and my expectations were blown away.

The beach is extremely well done, with sandy spots to lay out a towel, clear blue water and palm trees all over. I had very low expectations of Brisbane and it ended up being one of those places that sneak up on you unexpectedly. I left loving the place after spending only about 24 hours there. It reminded me a lot of Perth, my first stop when I arrived in Australia.

NOOSA

Ah, Noosa. This was another one of my favorite stops along the east coast. Located in the beautiful Sunshine Coast, Noosa is like Byron Bay’s wealthier older cousin. It still has that laid-back charm but with a splash of sophistication and is a popular spot not only for backpackers and world travelers but also for vacationing families and retirees. If you are staying in hostels, you will find that some of them are a bit of a distance to the main beach. They usually offer a daily shuttle service that will leave every couple of hours throughout the day to take you to the junction (where you can find some bars and restaurants) or to the main beach area (which is kind of the main spot to be in Noosa). I went to the junction only once one evening to check out a cool new bar that had popped up and spent the rest of my time near the main beach. Here, you’ll find a main street lined with boutique shops, cafes selling delicious smoothie bowls, and some upscale restaurants.

We spent one morning taking advantage of the free kayak rentals at our hostel to take off from the nearby dock and go for a kayak through the river until we reached the ocean, seeing the main beach far in the distance. Another day was spent soaking in the sun and swimming in the water at the main beach. But the most beautiful thing to see in Noosa? Noosa National Park. Just a stone’s throw away from all of the development and tourists is a stunning piece of Mother Nature with 15km of trails to explore.

The most popular route is the Coastal Track which will take you right up above the coast the entire way. The views here are some of the best I’ve ever seen and the trail will take you past tea tree forests, dolphin lookout points, and hidden bays that seem too beautiful to be real life. Bring plenty of water with you, lather on the sunscreen and grab a hat to block the hot Australian sun – the coastal walk offers little to no shade. If you are going to cool off in the sea, be aware that none of the beaches are patrolled and make sure the sea conditions are safe.

FRASER ISLAND

Next up on my list was to spend a night on Fraser Island, one of the most popular tourist destinations on Australia’s east coast. Depending on who you book your tour through (or some go at it on their own), you will be departing from Rainbow Beach or Hervey Bay. Because I have family in Hervey Bay, I made sure to leave from there and spent a few days before and after visiting with relatives and enjoying the warm welcoming and sense of home that only family can offer. Fraser Island is the world’s largest sand island filled with panoramic viewpoints, lazy rivers, lakes to swim in, dingoes to spot, and an uninterrupted view of the brightest starry sky.

There aren’t really any real streets here – the roads are made of dirt like the dirtbike and quad trails you might find here in Canada. Cruising around in a 4×4, bumping along through the trees from one side of Fraser to the other is half the fun but if you’re prone to being carsick, try to get a seat up front and take an anti-nausea pill if you have to. Because it is definitely a bumpy ride. I’ll do a separate post dedicated entirely to my two days on Fraser Island. A lot of travelers say that Fraser Island is the highlight of their entire trip. I didn’t leave with the same impression (we had almost constant rain when we visited, which might have made things a bit different) but I will say that it is a beautiful and unique place and one that I have no regrets visiting.

Hervey Bay itself was a charming little town with friendly people and beautiful scenery. I intend to visit again in the future to experience a snorkel with the humpback whales during their whale season. Hervey Bay is one of the few places in Australia that offer this experience and it is one that I had wanted to do while I was there but didn’t get the chance.

AIRLIE BEACH AND THE WHITSUNDAY ISLANDS

There is a stop in between Fraser Island and Airlie Beach that a lot of travelers do to break up the distance. The Town of 1770 and Agnes Waters are two stops that I skipped over, so I can’t speak to how they are. From what I hear, they are sleepy little seaside towns that people spend a night or two in before moving on. That being said, most people seem to like their time there so if you have the time and want to slow things down, give them a visit. If you’ve been, let me know your thoughts in the comments at the end of this post! Instead, I did the entire 10 hour journey from Hervey Bay to Airlie Beach in one shot.

Airlie Beach was yet another dream destination. Of the entire east coast trip, there are two “must-see” places for almost every traveler: Fraser Island and Airlie Beach. Airlie Beach is a lovely little beach town with barbecues scattered along the walking paths for friends to gather, live music playing in the little bars that dot the main road, hostels and hotels within walking distance to everything, and the take-off point for everyone visiting the Whitsundays. That is what brings most people here initially: the multi-day boat trips out to the Whitsunday Islands.

You have a few options of how to experience the Whitsundays – one to three day boat trips being the most popular option as well as splurging on a helicopter that will take you high above to witness it all from a bird’s eye view. I opted for the 2 day 1 night boat trip and thought it was the perfect amount of time and, I miraculously ran far enough from the impending rain further south and enjoyed sunshine the entire time! Those two days were full of a great mix of adventure and relaxation. There were mini hikes, beach walks, snorkeling, dolphin and turtle spotting, stars to gaze up at and sunrises to wake up to while sitting on the deck with a warm cup of coffee.

For me, it was a blissful experience and easily one of the highlights of my east coast trip. And, while you might come here with the intention of doing your Whitsundays tour and moving on, Airlie Beach has a tendency to tug at the heartstrings that makes it difficult to leave. Swimming here isn’t always recommended due to the stingers present in the water so be sure to find out the conditions and maybe just make use of the man-made beach.

MISSION BEACH

By the time I had left for Mission Beach I had been in Airlie Beach for over a week, biding my time and trying to figure out my life as my bank account drained to dangerously low levels. With the prospect of potentially having a place to work in a hostel for free accommodation, I set off to Mission Beach and discovered a place that I found I never wanted to leave. Mission Beach is an often missed part of the east coast road trip for many people. That’s a shame because it was an incredible place that came to me just when I needed it the most.

As you can imagine, seeing your bank balance dropping below $100 while in a foreign country with no prospect of a job on the horizon can be a little bit stressful. Even in a place that looks like a tropical paradise. So when I found myself in Mission Beach, it was an incredible way to enjoy myself and reconnect to what this trip was all about. Staying in Jackaroo Treehouse was part of what made my time in Mission Beach so special. Just outside of the main part of town, Jackaroo was a little bit removed and nestled against a tropical rainforest. It was the ultimate place for some alone time, hammock reading, and relaxation. Thankfully they offered a free shuttle to take guests into town so the distance was no problem at all.

Most people coming to Mission Beach come to skydive and then leave but if you can, stay an extra day or two. There are national parks for hiking, stunning beaches lined with palm trees, and a friendly atmosphere that welcomes you with open arms. I wrote an entire blog post dedicated to things to do in Mission Beach, so have a read if you’re curious!

CAIRNS

Cairns has a reputation as being a bit of a backpacker party town – and it sort of is. There are a lot of backpackers and travelers who stay here long term, working in bars and restaurants around town as they try to sort out their farm work for a second year visa. While you can’t swim in the sea here, they have a great man-made beach and pool where you will find water babies and beach lovers using all throughout the year. Despite being the biggest city in the area, Cairns still holds a small-town charm and you can walk virtually everywhere within the city. The best thing about Cairns is the nature that surrounds it. You have access to the Great Barrier Reef on one side, thick rain forests with tons of hidden waterfalls to discover on the other, and Cape Tribulation in the north for a weekend getaway.

If you’re craving some time in the sea, head up to the Northern Beaches like Trinity Beach and Palm Cove. Although there are crocodile warnings, these two beaches are patrolled by lifeguards and people often swim up here. I personally felt safer swimming at Palm Cove and only when there were a bunch of other people in the water. Still want to swim but not too excited about the prospect of crocs? The waterfalls mentioned in the link above are great, crocodile-free options!

For those of you eager to lace up your sneakers and get your heart rate pumping, there are lots of options. Earl Hill in Trinity Beach is a short but steep hike with beautiful views once you reach the top. Barron Gorge National Park has loads of trail options that range from 30 minutes to 6 hours. Closer to town behind the botanical gardens you’ll find three different circuit walks: the red arrow trail ( 1.5km with lots of stairs), the blue arrow trail (a 6km bush track). the green arrow (3km one way up Mount Whitfield’s highest point), and the yellow arrow (1.9km one way and probably the easiest of them all).

Whether you’re an organized traveler or a spontaneous one, I hope this quick guide has given you an idea of what you might expect from some of the most popular destinations along Australia’s east coast. No matter what type of traveler you are, my main tidbits of advice for this kind of a trip is to have (at least) an idea of places or activities that you absolutely, 150% refuse to negotiate on seeing or doing. There are so many opportunities to take part in wonderful experiences all along the way that it can be easy to get caught up in doing absolutely everything and sometimes, this leaves you stranded without the funds to do the things you were excited for most. So have (at least) a rough idea of what you want to experience but go forward with the flexibility to enjoy any changes along the way.

Have you explored the east coast of Australia? What was your favorite place or experience?