East Coast Australia Tours

Welcome to the East Coast Australia tours

East Coast Australia Tours: Get ready to embark on an epic adventure as we uncover the breathtaking beauty of East Coast Australia. From stunning beaches to vibrant cities, this coastal paradise has it all. So grab your sunglasses. And guess what? You can also camp overnight on the world’s largest sand island. It truly feels like living in a dream. 

Arguably the most well-known tour route in Australia, embarking on an East Coast tour of Australia is the perfect way to explore the varying terrain. From the tropical rainforests, to the pristine beaches, and a paradise at the Whitsunday Islands and the Great Barrier Reef. Stretching for most of Queensland, the East Coast offers travellers the chance to explore the native wildlife and take in the more tropical areas of Tropical North Queensland, including the Daintree and Cape Tribulation. Who knows – you might even spot a cassowary whilst on your travels!

East Coast Australia Tours Guide

• Must-Visit Places For Backpackers and Working Holiday Makers
• Must-Visit Destinations For Couples
• East Coast Australia Average Cost Summary
• Ultimate East Coast Buckets List and Average Costs
• The Best Time of Year to Travel on East Coast Australia Tours
• East Coast Australia Research Tips
• East Coast Australia Festivals

Must-Visit Places for Backpackers and Working Holiday Makers

Things to do in Sydney – Starting your East Coast Tours

Possibly topping the list of the best cities in Australia, there will be little hesitation in travelling to Sydney. The Sydney Harbour, Sydney Harbour Bridge, and the Sydney Opera House have risen to the highest level of travel status, and not to mention attractions like Bondi Beach, Manly Beach and Palm Beach, which have everyone running for the shore to get a touch of the Aussie bliss. Whether you are looking to learn to surf in Sydney or perhaps party in Sydney, check out festivals in Sydney and then even brush off your hangovers with an English Sunday Roast at one of the best pubs in Sydney, this city truly bends to everyone’s taste and in no way could it ever disappoint a single East Coast traveller.

7 Things To Do In Sydney For New Expats

East Coast Australia Tours – New South Wales

10 Things to Do in Sydney

• Sydney Harbour Bridge
• Sydney Harbour
• The Opera House
• Sydney Botanical Gardens
• Kings Cross
• Bondi Beach
• Manly Beach
• Palm Beach
• Blue Mountains
• Ku Ring Gai Chase National Park

Things to Do in Byron Bay  – “Obviously Byron Bay”

What man or woman alive does not travel from Sydney to Byron Bay on their East Coast Australia Adventures – Not a single one! If it doesn’t go without saying, it doesn’t go on the bucket list of top destinations on the east coast of Australia. If you have not already started to eye up Byron Bay as your next best destination in New South Wales, you need this article more than you can imagine. The itinerary for Byron is pretty straightforward… Learn to surf in Byron Bay, Chill, eat and drink, and try not to make drunken mistakes! The best surf camps in Byron Bay are not hard to come by, the best places to eat in Byron Bay are all literally within a stone’s throw, and if you are looking for all the top things to do in Byron, you have to rock up and allow yourself to be swallowed by all the Byron Bay hype.

Top Things to Do in Byron Bay

• Learn To Surf in Byron Bay
• Visit the Markets in Byron Bay
• Festivals in Byron Bay
• Visit one of the many excellent pubs in Byron Bay
• Walk up to the Byron Bay Lighthouse
• Get loose at one of the backpacker bars in Byron Bay

Sydney to Byron Bay Tours by Bus

East Coast Australia Tours – Queensland

Things to Do in the Gold Coast

As your next place from Byron Bay, The Gold Coast will push you over your hippie hump, undoubtedly acquired in Byron, and will have you drinking G and T’s in a tailored-made. The Gold Coast is amongst the best places in Queensland. Although it is just outside Brisbane, this city shows off its own. The beaches on the Gold Coast are the next level from anything you have seen before. Naturally, finding accommodation there is as easy as finding your own hands. This city is well prepared for the travellers dying to reach its shores.

Top Things to Do in The Gold Coast

• Warner Bros Movie World
• Sea World
• Dream World
• Learn to Surf the Gold Coast
• Skypoint Observation Deck
• Springbrook National Park
• Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

Holidays Gold Coast Style With Party Cruises Gold Coast

Things to Do in Brisbane

This is what feels like the start of tropical Queensland, as it can feel quite humid, but there is no mistaking or second-guessing, travelling to Brisbane is like reaching the gateway to heaven. Imagine the party at heaven’s gateway –  same thing! Between Brisbane and Cairns is everything a traveller could hope for, but Brisbane will do its damnedest to ensure you never leave because it’s just that good. If you are wondering what the best things to do in Brisbane are, make sure you do not skip this incredible city.

Best Things to Do in Brisbane

• Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
• South Bank
• Mount Coot-tha
• Glass House Mountains
• Brisbane City Botanic Gardens
• Check Out The Big City Night Life

Free Things To Do In Brisbane

Things to Do on Fraser Island 

You’ll be provided with a proper send-off by getting here via Rainbow Beach to Fraser Island or Hervey Bay to Fraser Island. If you are looking for Fraser Island tours, be prepared to be marooned with mania! Amongst all the Islands off Queensland, you only experience the most outlandish Fraser Island 4WD Tours, mixed with Outback Camping and possibly becoming the main highlight of your Queensland Adventure.
Tours most commonly provide food and accommodation on Fraser Island, but be cautious about sharing with the dingos because when the food runs out, there’s only you left to eat (just kidding—kinda).

Tour Fraser Island with Drop Bear Adventures

Things to Do in The Whitsundays

Here, there is no mistaking it, you’ve reached the North Tropics, one of the top destinations in Queensland, which will no doubt offer you the best tours in Queensland and is arguably the most beautiful place on the planet – how about that then – Big Statement right!. Accommodation in the Whitsundays is usually found at Airlie Beach, which ironically, is where all the backpacker party shenanigans happen. Once you dust off the Night before, tours to The Great Barrier Reef, Night Tours around the 74 islands off the Whitsundays, and Sailing Charter Tours are all within your reach and all within the realm of the most incredible things to do in Queensland, well, heck, even Australia!

Top Things to Do in The Whitsundays

• Whitehaven Beach Tours
• Hamilton Island
• Boat Haven Beach
• Whitsunday Sailing Tours
• Hire Jet Skis
• Party in Airlie Beach

Top Five Things To Do In The Whitsundays

Things to Do in Cairns

North Queensland is riddled with pockets of travellers’ havens, and from everything between Sydney and Cairns, Cairns will compete with every single top destination on the East Coast of Australia! If you are looking for the best things to do in Cairns, this place is so alive with tourism that tours in Cairns are easier to find and impossible to hide from. Tours in the northern regions of Queensland most commonly involve the Great Barrier Reef or the Daintree Rainforest, but Cairns is also partial to the odd bungee jump and other mayhem. Places to party in Cairns are endless, and all the best hostels in Cairns will have no problem pointing you in the right direction!

Top Things to Do in Cairns

• Sky Rainforest
• Palm Cove
• Great Barrier Reef Tours
• Rainforest Nature Park
• Bungee Jumping
• Barron Falls
• Visit Fitzroy Island
• Cairns Night Markets

Sydney To Cairns Overland Tours

Things to Do in Port Douglas 

Travelling from Cairns to Port Douglas is one of Australia’s greatest coastal drives, but you’ll experience the calmer and more tranquil version of Cairns on arrival. Although Port Douglas is much smaller, Tours in Port Douglas are just as popular and even just an hour north of Cairns, Port Douglas has greater access to tours in the Daintree Rainforest and Tours in Cape Tribulation. Port Douglas has great hostels and excellent bars and restaurants in Port Doue, the last destination on your East Coast adventure, but Port Douglas will have you thinking it’s just begun!

Top Things to Do in Port Douglas

• Daintree Rainforest Tours
• Cape Tribulations Tours
• Port Douglas Wildlife Habitat
• Indulge in the Endless Restaurants
• See How the Locals Get Down in The Evening

Best Beach Hostels In Port Douglas

East Coast Australia Tours – Must-Visit Destinations for Couples

The Chances are, if you are travelling in a couple, you will still be interested in all the destinations above. However, there is still more to explore, and for these destinations, you may wish to take specific deviations from the backpacker route to give a little couple’s flair to your adventure.

New South Wales

Wine Tasting

If you are travelling with your loving partner, Wine Tasting in places like Hunterers Valley, Hastings River, and Tumbarumba is a must. Click here to find out more!

Beach Hopping in Sydney

Does it get better than chilling next to your partner in the sun and looking out at pristine waters? No, it does not! This is why you will most certainly want to go beach hopping in Sydney. Beaches that you absolutely should not miss out on, you ask? This article should have you covered!

Sydney Bridge Climb
The best way to end your time in Sydney is to get an epic photo for the memory books at the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Some moments simply have to be captured, and this is one of them!

The Gold Coast vs The Sunshine Coast
Sure, you will find countless Backpackers in both the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast, but these destinations simply cannot be missed. Plus, there is plenty to do for couples. Here is everything for the Gold Coast through to the Sunshine Coast.

Six Touristy Things To Do In Sydney, Australia

East Coast Australia Tours – Discover Queensland

MT Tamborine National Park

Travelling North from the Gold Coast, Tamborine Mountain is only 36km from Southport via the Pacific Highway and Oxenford–Tamborine Road. This means you could enjoy a coffee with breakfast in the morning and still get to this incredible national park before lunch.

Surfers Paradise

1, because beaching it up never gets old, and 2, this is a perfect chance to see if Surfers Paradise does what it says on the tin and get yourself out in the ocean to catch some waves. These are the memories you’ll be able to bring home and be thankful that you jumped into the deep end for a try!

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

This is a perfect chance to have a close encounter with Australia’s native animals. If it’s Australian, cut,d, or deadly, then you’ll be able to find it here in this incredible wildlife sanctuary.

Brisbane

Brisbane would always cut, no matter your age, preferences, or budget. Brisbane has something for everyone, and if you are travelling as a couple, the CBD has every level of romance, dining, and shopping your heart could desire.

Noosa

Noosa is another place that should always be visited, no matter who you’re travelling with, budget or age. If you have some extra cash put away, Noosaa can cater for finer tastes or walk along the coastal path. Noosa is so pretty that if you travel in a couple, perhaps you can put this place above others. There is also the Food and Wine festive,l which ismind-blowingg!16th6 to May 20, so be sure to plan your trip around this because it is epic!

Tropical Queensland

Again, many backpacker destinations still have something special for everyone, but some offer a more personal experience.

Ra throughout Queensland, Bowen Beach

Rainbow Beach is a hotspot for hopping over to Fraser Island on Fraser Island 4WD Tours, which obviously you won’t want. But also, Rainbow Beach is so stunning and almost exclusive, with never more than a couple of hundred people at any given time. This is definitely a place to unwind and have the sunset all for yourself.

Agnes Water
This is where the tropics start to meet the sea, and if you like camping, surfing, and small charming towns, this place is worth stopping at if you are travelling as a couple. It is also worth resting up here for a while because from here, there is a massive drive ahead.

The Tablelands
Try to find a place more astonishing than here—it can’t be done! The Tablelands are slightly inland on the way to Cairns, the perfect deviation for those travelling as a couple. Each summit opens to yet another mind-blowing horizon!

Cook Town
As you will undoubtedly pass through Cairns, Port Douglas and Cape Tribulation, you will also find that this is usually when the backpacker migration stops. They either turn back down the coast, cut across the Northern Territory, or look for their farm work in Australia. Don’t miss the chance to take a couples retreat away from the backpacker crowd in the blissful haven of Cook Town!

Camping Locations in Queensland To Visit

East Coast Australia Average Cost Summary 

Average cost for a camper van hire per night / per week / month$20 – $30 Per Night$140 – $210$600 – $900

Average cost for car hire per night / per week / month$15 – $25 Per Night $105 – $175 Per Week$420 – $700

Best Company Night Hire From

• Awesome Campers

• Space Ships

• Travellers Autobarn

• Rental Cars

• Holiday Australia‘s East Coast: The Average Cost for Accommodation on Australia’s East Coast

Average cost for a hostel dorm room 1 night /3 nights/7 nights ​$15 – $25 Per Night £45 – $75 per 3 Nights $105 – $175 7 Nights
Average cost for a private room in a hostel 1 night / 3 night / 7 nights$45 – $70 Per Night $135 – $210 Per 3 Nights $315 – $490AverageNight for a 3 or 4 Star hotel or Boutique hotel1 night / 3 night / 7 nights$70 – $150 PerNightt $210 – $450 Per 3 Nights$490 – $1050 Per 7 Nights
The average cost for a campsite 1 night / 3 nights / 7nights: $100 – $25 25per night, $300 – £75 per 3 nights, $70 – $175 per 7 Nights

Average East Coast Bus Prices 

Sydney to Byron Bay $100 – $200

Sydney to Gold Coast $150 – $240

Sydney to Brisbane  $180 – $250

Sydney to Noosa (Fraser Island) $200 / $270

Sydney to Whitsundays(Airlee Beach) $450 / £550

Sydney to Mission Beach $500 / $600

Sydney to Cairns $550 / $650

Gold Coast to Brisbane $20 / $30

Brisbane to Noosa £20 / $35

Brisbane to Whitsundays $200 – $300

Brisbane to Cairns $300 – $400

East Coast Australia Tours – Learn To Surf

Learn to Surf in Sydney

Best Surf Camps in Byron Bay

Learn to Surf the Gold Coast

Learn to Surf the Sunshine Coast

The Best Time of Year to Travel on East Coast Australia Tours

The Australian weather and climate variations are, to say the least, sitting on the hardcore end of the spectrum! The best time of year to visit Cairns is slightly more important to consider than when you are situated in Sydney. Winter in Cairns is bliss, whereas summer in Cairns is a life planning around getting to the nearest air conditioner. To make the most of the journey, it is popular to reach Sydney at the beginning of spring and work your way north. Tropical Queensland will not yet have reached its humid rainy season and will still be summer, but not unbearably hot.

East Coast Australia Research Tips

Travelling on your East Coast Australia Tours is a journey best started after you have gathered as much information and inspiration as possible.

Check Out These Travel Instagrams for More East Coast Australia Travel Information

Quite simply, these Instagram bloggers will serve as your main point of motivation. If you want to know how to explore the East Coast of Australia and even the rest of the world, then get browsing through these.

East Coast Australia Festivals

Splendor in the Grass

When:  End of July, Where:  North Byron Parklands, Website:  www.splendourinthegrass.com

Field Day

 When:  January 1 (New Year’s Day) Where: January 1Website:  www.facebook.com/FieldDay

Harbor lifee

When: Beginning of November
Where:  Sydney
Website: www.fuzzy.com.au

Lost Paradise

When:  Over New Year’s Eve
Where:  Glenworth Valley, New South Wales (75 minutes outside Sydney)
Website: www.lostparadise.com ‘Vin the Moo

When:  End of April / Beginning of May. Where:  Oakbank, Bunbury, Benoigo, Canberra,                Maitland, and Townsville. Website:  www.gtm.net.au

Festivals in Australia

East Coast Australia Bucket List Destinations 

Discover Australia’s Gold Coast

Explore Cairns & The Barrier Reef

Sail The Whitsunday Islands

Sydney to Cairns Tours

If you’re planning an East Coast Australia trip, you’ll know the most popular route is Sydney to Cairns.

Ultimate East Coast Australia Tours

Discover Jobs in Western Australia

Whitsunday Island Tours

Explore this tropical paradise with Awesome Whitsundays’ fantastic range of packages! Right in the heart of one of Australia’s greatest treasures, the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef, are the Whitsunday Islands, all white-sanded and wonderful.

Surrounded by the calm, warm waters of the Coral Sea, 74 tropical islands make up the Whitsundays, and each one you visit with Awesome Whitsundays is part of the Whitsunday Islands National Park. The abundance of pristine beaches, marine and wildlife, incredible views, and the sheltered turquoise waterways make it the perfect place for sailing or cruising.

Great Barrier Reef Tours 

Ocean Safari offers an exhilarating ride to snorkel the pristine, untouched Great Barrier Reef off the Daintree Coast at Cape Tribulation.

This half-day eco tour visits two snorkel destinations with an extraordinary array of marine life and coral species.

After a 25-minute ride, you are ready to snorkel at two fabulous locations: Mackay and Undine Reefs. On most days, the rainforest can be seen along the mainland beach whilst snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef alongside sea turtles, which are found in abundance, swimming over reefs full of colourful coral, along with myriads of tropical fish, eagle rays, giant clams and starfish.

Red Cat Adventures brings the ultimate bucket list experiences to travellers exploring Australia.

The Whitsunday Islands are a prime hot spot in Queensland, attracting thousands of tourists every year. That’s why Red Cat Adventures has been tailoring tours like the Ride to Paradise Tour to ensure travellers of all kinds get to experience the best of the Whitsunday Islands.

Whitehaven Beach Tours

Each Ocean Rafting day includes an exhilarating ride to the world-famous Whitehaven Beach, a pristine snorkelling reef, and guided walks through Whitsunday Island National Park—all in one day!

The semi-rigid inflatable vessels are super fast, allowing you to experience a fun ride, adventure, and education amongst the natural beauty of the Whitsunday Islands. Ocean Rafting’s Whitehaven Beach tours visit the “Wild Side” of the Whitsunday Islands, the uninhabited islands with beautiful natural scenery brimming with marine, bird, and animal life.

With small groups, you’ll be able to experience the tropical paradise away from the crowds and 70% of the vessel is shaded, ensuring you’ll be protected from the unforgiving Aussie sun.

Dropbear Adventures – Fraser Island 4×4 Tours

K’gari, more popularly known as Fraser Island, is located of the East Coast of Queensland, Australia. Local Aboriginal people have long known the island as K’gari and recently succeeded in having the name recognised officially. We believe the story behind the Aboriginal name for Fraser Island, about a female spirit who was turned into this sandy island, enhances our understanding of this beautiful place.

K’gari effortlessly amazes with its beauty and abundant nature. Her feminine, curvaceous landscapes will seduce you into serenity, and her calming nature will have you relaxing on its pure white beaches surrounding crystal clear lakes and feeling her peaceful energy on a walk through its cool rainforests.

Brisbane to Cairns Northbound

Victoria has the Great Ocean Road, New South Wales has Bronte and Bondi, but head further north up Australia’s east coast and it’s a different kettle of fish. Queensland offers one coastal paradise after another: the atmospheric dunes of Fraser Island, the impossibly white beaches and blue waters of the Whitsundays, and the colourful coral tapestry of the Great Barrier Reef.

But before you delve into that legendary world wonder, The Adventure Tours Australia will detour inland to discover Tully Gorge National Park, where the Jirrbal and Gulnay people have nurtured the rainforest for thousands of years, and make tracks for the lush green hills of the Atherton Tablelands. With four-star accommodation throughout, this is an unforgettable East Coast adventure.

Fraser Island Tours From Rainbow Beach. Fraser Island must be on your itinerary if you’re planning a trip along the East Coast of Australia.

It’s here where you’ll find the world’s largest sand island sporting a 75-mile-long beach – aptly named 75 Mile Beach – as well as a real-life shipwreck, dingos, crystal clear lakes, and so much more.

So, what’s the best way to see all that Fraser Island offers? We suggest taking a group tour so you don’t miss a thing. On the Dropbear Adventures 3 DD3-Day, you can explore at your own pace and experience probably the best three days of your life—or at least travels!

Skyrail Rainforest Cableway

Skyrail Rainforest Cableway is a must-do Cairns attraction that is easily accessible from Cairns, Palm Cove, Port Douglas, and the Atherton Tablelands.

Enjoy a truly unique perspective of Australia’s World Heritage-listed Tropical Rainforest as you glide just metres above the pristine rainforest canopy before descending to explore the forest floor at Red Peak and Barron Falls Station. Discover, encounter and immerse yourself in The World’s Most Beautiful Rainforest Experience.

Cairn, Queensland’s Skyrail Rainforest Cableway

Great East Coast Australia Tours for Solo Travellers

Jungle Surfing Through The Daintree Rainforest 

Zipline between six tree canopy platforms and stand heart-to-heart with nature in the world’s oldest rainforest.
You would struggle to find this adventurous experience anywhere else, and it will definitely be on your bucket list.
Just a short drive north of Cairns in the Tropical North of Queensland, this exhilarating experience is truly unique, and there is no better way to see and explore the rainforest from a new angle high above the rainforest floor.

Sleep Overnight On The Great Barrier Reef

With Awesome Whitsundays, you can make your way out to the Reefworld Pontoon on the outer Great Barrier Reef atop Hardy Reef for a different reef experience. The Hardy Reef is just one of the thousands of smaller coral reefs that make up the Great Barrier Reef.
Here, you’ll discover an abundance of tropical fish, from tiny ones to even giant gropers. The vibrant subaqueous garden is where you will also have the chance to spot unicorn fish, cuttlefish, moray eels, parrotfish, marine turtles and reef sharks if you’re lucky.

Day Trips From Port Douglas

Are you planning a self-drive trip to Tropical North Queensland? If so, Port Douglas is a nice place to base yourself while exploring TNQ’s offerings.
A stay in Port Douglas promises gorgeous views of 4 Mile Beach and many nearby attractions to keep you busy during the day. Here’s our edit of the best day trips from Port Douglas.