Your Trip, Your Way

Australia East Coast: Build Your Own

This is solo travel made easy. You choose how long you want to travel for, where you want to start and end and we’ll do the rest. We’ll plan your activities, book your hostels, your buses and give you all the confidence and support to travel at your own pace.

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You Decide

Trip Length

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Anywhere

Start & End

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Bus or Camper

Transport

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Budget, Premium or Mix

Accomodation

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Before, During & After

Support

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Any Day

Departure Dates

Trip of a lifetime

Callum

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Jan 26

How good it is that we have people like you in the world that are able to plan a whole trip of a lifetime for people, it’s amazing and I am really grateful to you!

So special and memorable

Erin

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Sep 26

I just want to say one more thank you, for making my experience of Australia so special and memorable. I really appreciate all the effort you went to, I know this is your job but it truly means so much to me and I couldn’t have had a better time.

Genuinely changed our lives

Molly

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Sep 26

We did a build your own east coast tour & it genuinely has changed our lives! Myself & my partner started in Cairns & worked our way down to end in Sydney for New Years Eve and the timing was perfect, we spent 6 weeks on the east coast & along the way met some of our now closest friends!

Informative & friendly

Ellie

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May 24

Had such a great experience with Welcome to Travel! They helped us plan our own East Coast campervan trip and made the whole process so easy. Super informative, friendly and always available whenever we had questions. We had the best time and would 100% recommend them to anyone.

5.0

Over 4,000 Reviews

How It Works

See where you want to go

Browse popular stops and must-do activities to get a feel for your perfect Australia East Coast adventure.

Fill in our Build Your Own form

Got a date and budget in mind? Even better. A few quick questions about your travel style and we’ll take it from there.

Get matched with an expert

Our Community Team have travelled the East Coast (and most of Australia) themselves. They’ll turn your answers into a custom itinerary, built just for you.

Book your epic trip

Happy with your itinerary? We’ll send a payment link and handle the rest. One email with everything you need – all that’s left is to show up and follow your plan.

OUR STORY

Made By Backpackers, For Backpackers

There’s no AI here, every trip is created personally by our Community Team. We’ve all travelled the East Coast and learnt lessons, found hidden gems and are eager to share our tips with you. When you build your own trip with us, you’re not getting a generic template, instead you’re getting real advice from people who’ve lived it, travelled it and loved it.

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Where You Could Go

The beauty of a Build Your Own Trip is that you get to choose.

We’ve included the must-see spots below to help inspire you. But we have so many more we can add to your personalised itinerary. You’ll get to choose where you want to go, what you want to see and how long you want to travel for. 

Melbourne

Wander the laneways for coffee, street art and rooftop bars. Head out the city to the Great Ocean Road or see tiny penguins emerge from the ocean.

Sydney

Iconic in every way. Visit Sydney Harbour, spend an afternoon on Bondi Beach and grab the ferry over to Manly for the best sunset views.

Surf Towns

Byron Bay is where the surfers come to play. Grab a board to try the ultimate Aussie pastime, kayak to find dolphins and walk to the lighthouse.

Sunshine Coast

Stunning beaches, glorious National Parks and wildlife at every turn. Noosa is a firm favourite for a reason.

K’gari (Fraser Island)

This is the largest sand island in the world! Spend three days swimming in freshwater lakes, finding shipwrecks and sleeping under the stars.

The Whitsundays

Sail around these picturesque islands on a three-day adventure. Short on time? No worries we have day trips you’ll love. Don’t forget to add-on a scenic flight.

Rainforests

Visit the world’s oldest rainforest, marvel at Cape Tribulation, take a croc spotting cruise and then come back to swim in waterfalls.

Great Barrier Reef

It’s a must-do activity and for good reason. Blue seas, colourful coral and fish everywhere. This is your Finding Nemo moment.

Melbourne

Wander the laneways for coffee, street art and rooftop bars. Head out the city to the Great Ocean Road or see tiny penguins emerge from the ocean.

Sydney

Iconic in every way. Visit Sydney Harbour, spend an afternoon on Bondi Beach and grab the ferry over to Manly for the best sunset views.

Surf Towns

Byron Bay is where the surfers come to play. Grab a board to try the ultimate Aussie pastime, jump in a kayak to find dolphins and take a walk to the lighthouse.

Sunshine Coast

Stunning beaches, glorious National Parks and wildlife at every turn. Noosa is a firm favourite for a reason.

K’gari (Fraser Island)

This is the largest sand island in the world! Spend three days swimming in freshwater lakes, finding shipwrecks and sleeping under the stars.

The Whitsundays

Sail around these picturesque islands on a three-day adventure. Short on time? No worries we have day trips you’ll love. Don’t forget to add-on a scenic flight.

Rainforests

Visit the world’s oldest rainforest, marvel at Cape Tribulation, take a croc spotting cruise and then come back to swim in waterfalls.

Great Barrier Reef

It’s a must-do activity and for good reason. Blue seas, colourful coral and fish everywhere. This is your Finding Nemo moment.

Where You Could Stay

We believe where you stay can make or break your trip – so we’ve set the bar high. Our best hostel policy means we only recommend places we’d stay in ourselves. Comfortable, social and safe – the perfect base to relax, connect and make memories that last.

Budget

8-10 bed hostel dorms will keep costs down and put you right in the middle of the social scene. Comfortable, clean and safe.

Premium

Excellent facilities and little extra touches that make a stay stand out. Upgrade to a smaller or gender-specific dorm for added comfort.

Private

Your own room for yourself, or to share with a partner or friend. Ensuite upgrade also available. Private, relaxed and all to yourselves.

Campsites

Hit the road on your own schedule, stopping off at hidden beaches and tucked-away towns as you go. Freeing and flexible.

"Welcome to Travel matched me with the perfect hostels on my trip. Social and comfortable!"

- Emily, Wales

How You Can Travel

The East Coast is huge. It’s nearly 3,000KM from Melbourne to Cairns so we’ll help find the best and most cost-effective travel style for you. Longer bus passes are more effective but you can mix and match travel styles too.

Bus

The most cost-effective and popular way to travel the coast. Reclining seats, regular rest spots and even onboard wifi. And you’ll be dropped off right in the centre of the action too.

Campervan

Hit the road on your own schedule, stopping off at hidden beaches and tucked-away towns as you go. Freeing and flexible, and even better with a mate or two along for the ride.

Fly

Short on time? Hopping on a quick flight can take days off travelling on ground-level. We can suggest when it’s worth flying and when it’s worth staying on the ground.

Make It Yours

Choose Your Bucket List Activities

This is where you can make it your trip. Add as many or as few as you want. Or let us recommend our favourites. 

Scenic Flight
The Whitsundays
Skydive
Mission Beach
Surf Lesson
Byron Bay
Rainbow Beach
1 Day Speed Boat
The Whitsundays
Intro Scuba Dive
Great Barrier Reef
Bungy Jump
Cairns
Australia Zoo
Queensland
Overnight Sail Boat
The Whitsundays
Waterfall Tour
Cairns
Moreton Island
Brisbane
Dolphin Kayak
Byron Bay
Rainbow Beach
White Water Rafting
Cairns
Daintree Rainforest
Cairns
Jetski Safari
Airlie Beach
Fitzroy Island
Cairns

SEE IT FOR YOURSELF

Tried, Tested & Loved By Backpackers

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Looking For Inspiration?

Check out our most popular East Coast itineraries below. Use them as inspiration. Mix and match to suit your needs or leave everything up to our team. This is your trip. Your way. And we’re here to make it happen. 

Brisbane to Cairns in 3 Weeks

THE ESSENTIALS ROUTE

A fast-paced adventure. You’ll take on the top half of the coast starting in Brisbane before exploring surf towns and national parks. Next up it’s the Big 3: explore K’gari, sail The Whitsundays and snorkel in The Great Barrier Reef. 

  • Brisbane Explore Queensland's Capital and visit Australia Zoo.
  • Noosa Learn to surf, hike the coastal path, then hit the beach.
  • K'gari The world's largest sand island. Enough said.
  • The Whitsundays Sail out to Whitehaven Beach and fly over the Heart Reef.
  • Cairns The adventure capital. Skydive, bungy jump or croc spot.
  • The Great Barrier Reef We've saved the best til last.

Want to slow down or add more stops? This is just a starting point – build it out however you like.

City exploring
Surf
Scenic Flight
Snorkel

Sydney to Cairns in 4 Weeks

THE HIGHLIGHTS ROUTE

The sweet spot. Take time to really enjoy each destination without rushing. You’ll tick off the Big 3, spend time island-living, explore surf towns and end your trip in the tropics spending your days between the rainforests and the reefs.

  • Sydney Take in Bondi Beach, the Harbour Bridge and Opera House.
  • Byron Bay Learn to surf, spot wild dolphins, then hit the beach.
  • Brisbane The gateway to Australia Zoo and Moreton Island.
  • Noosa Our favourite surf town and home to the famous fairy pools.
  • K'gari Drive 4x4s, swim in freshwater lakes and camp under the stars.
  • Airlie Beach See the Whitsundays and Heart Reef from the sky.
  • The Whitsundays Spend 3 days on a sailboat (or choose a day trip).
  • Magnetic Island Relaxed island-living surrounded by koalas.
  • Cairns The Great Barrier Reef one day, the world's oldest rainforest the next.

Want to slow down or add more stops? This is just a starting point – build it out however you like.

Opera House
Surf
Island exploring
Scenic Flight
Sail Boat
Snorkel
Rainforests

Melbourne to Cairns in 6 Weeks

THE SEE IT ALL ROUTE

Time to linger in each destination, explore extra spots and soak in Australia’s very best beaches. You’ll explore the main cities, learn to surf, seek out islands, rainforests and so much more. This is the full East Coast experience.

  • Melbourne Explore the laneways , coffee culture and rooftop bars.
  • Sydney The beach city and famous harbour await.
  • Surf Camp Become a true Aussie. Choose from a 3 or 5 day camp.
  • Byron Bay Kayak with dolphins and soak in the chilled atmosphere.
  • Surfers Paradise Famous for its nightlife and skyscrapers.
  • Brisbane Australia Zoo, adventure-filled islands and a buzzing city.
  • Noosa Our favourite surf town and National Park in one.
  • Habitat Retreat Stay in cabins surrounded by kangaroos.
  • Rainbow Beach The best sunset on the East Coast.
  • K'gari 3 days on the world's largest sand island.
  • Airlie Beach Take a scenic flight over the Whitsundays and Heart Reef.
  • The Whitsundays Spend 3 days on a sailboat (or choose a day trip).
  • Magnetic Island Relaxed island-living surrounded by koalas.
  • Mission Beach Did someone say skydive? We did!
  • Cairns The Great Barrier Reef one day, the world's oldest rainforest the next.

Want to slow down or add more stops? This is just a starting point – build it out however you like.

Opera House
Surf
Island exploring
Scenic Flight
Sail Boat
Skydive
Snorkel
Rainforests

Build Your Dream Adventure

Mix & Match Your Experience

You don’t have to build your whole trip from scratch. Bundle our fully guided tours to get the perfect blend of group and solo travel.

Community Fave

Welcome to

Melbourne

The Award Winning Welcome to Melbourne tour is our OG tour. This tour has over 2,000 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ reviews on Google.

from

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Bucket List

Welcome to

Sydney

Sydney is as iconic as they come. Experience this bustling city along with the chill beachy vibes of the south coast.

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Frequently Asked Questions

SWIPE TO SEE MORE

Simply fill in our Build Your Own Form and let us know when you’d like to travel Australia, how long you want to travel for and any bucket-list activities you have to do. And we’ll do the rest! You’ll be matched with a member of our Community Team who’ll turn your answers into a personalised itinerary.

You can then email back and forth or jump on one of our handy free travel calls. Once you’re happy with your personalised itinerary, we’ll send you a payment link and get you all booked in. You’ll receive all your travel tickets, bus times and recommendations of things to do in one handy email so you – no need to check multiple apps, confirmations and websites! And that’s it. You’re ready for your adventure!

Absolutely not, this is all part of our service! We can plan your trip, jump on a call, make changes, make more changes and jump on another call – until you are 100% happy. This is all free of charge and there are no obligations to book.

We aim to share your personalised itinerary within 24-48 hours of filling in your form. We’re real humans planning your trip for you (no AI here!), using our own knowledge and experience from travelling the East Coast, so please be patient during busy periods when it may take a little longer to get back to you.

Once you’re happy with your plan, we’ll send over a quote and once paid get everything booked in.

If you’re travelling very soon, we can absolutely get a trip booked within a few days and we’ll prioritise your travel plans. Most travellers get in touch 4-6 months before their planned dates and we recommend to get the best availability and price to book 3 months ahead of your start date.

Already in Australia? Pop by our office in Sydney or Melbourne and we can get you booked in same-day – now that’s seriously speedy!

As many as you’d like during the planning process! We want this to be your dream trip, so we know you’ll have questions and requests as we go. So we’ll keep updating your itinerary until it’s perfect!

We do want to let you know, that we do have to work with supplier departure dates and bus timetables, so we may suggest staying an extra night in one place because we know from experience you can’t get the bus in time! But that’s why you’re using our expert knowledge and recommendations.

Once you’re happy with your personalised itinerary, we’ll send over one payment link to get you all booked in. We’ll then book in every hostel, bus and activity in one go – so you know your solo trip will work seamlessly.

We’ll send over all your travel tickets, these will contain all the info you need – your hostel addresses and dates, your bus times and all your activities including pick points and times.

We highly recommend it! We see time and time again certain spots and locations selling out, especially Whitsunday boats, K’gari trips, buses and popular hostels. So by booking everything together you know you’re going to get to do your dream trip without missing out or creating any gaps in your itinerary. If the budget is a bit tight, we can set up a payment plan for you on request to make this a bit easier, no stress!

We’ll send you all your travel tickets and a calendar to follow making it super easy to know where you’ll be going! Your bus will drop you in the centre of town, then simply find the name of your hostel on your travel tickets (and the address will be on there too) and pop the address into Google Maps. It’s normally only a short walk from the bus stop to your hostel.

All your booked tours and activities details will also be on your travel tickets including pick up times and locations (these are normally at your hostel, but always double check). Then for things to do on your free days, you’ll find a handy PDF with our top tips and recommendations.

Solo travel has never been so easy.

This is your personalised itinerary, so it’s just you on your specific trip. But that doesn’t mean you’ll be alone, you’ll make friends at every hostel and on your included tours and activities. We’re experts in putting together itineraries that are super social, and you never know… your new best friend may be in your next hostel dorm.

If you’d prefer to travel with a dedicated group, check out our group tour in Sydney, Melbourne and on the East Coast.

Yep! We can book personalised travel for you and your partner, you and your friend or a whole group of friends. You’ll travel on the same itinerary and we’ll make sure you’re in the same dorm room when staying in the hostel, or if you’d prefer your own space, we can book you in private rooms throughout your trip (or a mixture too!).

You won’t have a guide on your trip, as this is a solo adventure! But you will have tour guides during your included activities and tours – so you’ll have guided elements across your trip.

If you choose to join a 3 day K’gari trip, overnight Whitsundays Sail Boat and the overnight Cape Tribulation and Waterfalls trip from Cairns – these are all fully guided group trips. We love mixing small group trips into a longer solo trip as a great way to meet more backpackers and experience these unique destinations fully.

Absolutely! The East Coast of Australia is one of the friendliest places in the world. Yep we said it. It’s a really popular route for first-time solo travellers, which means everyone you meet is likely travelling solo and keep making friends as they go.

We love to recommend social hostels that make meeting people super easy, make sure you join in with all the hostel events and make the most of any happy hours too! And on your tour and activities, you’ll also meet lots of other backpackers. So yes, we speak from experience, you’ll make lots of friends!

This is a question we get asked a lot especially if you’ve previously travelled around Asia which is super flexible.

Unfortunately the East Coast isn’t set up for lots of flexible travel – it’s a big country to travel around with a relatively small population which means there’s not multiple options to see and do everything all the time.
The big activities including overnight Whitsunday Sailing Boats and K’gari tours regularly book up weeks in advance in the peak summer months. And we see buses book up days in advance too. We’re not saying this to scare you, we just have seen too many disappointed backpackers!

So we really recommend booking your whole trip together, then you won’t have to wait or skip a spot and can enjoy your East Coast adventure in full.

Anywhere you want! That’s the beauty of a personalised solo trip!

The most popular destinations to start your East Coast adventure are Melbourne or Sydney and then travel up to Cairns. Or you can start in Cairns and travel down the coast.

Short on time? Then doing a half coast from Brisbane to Cairns will make sure you get to see the Big 3.

Again as many as you want! Most East Coast tours visit between 8 and 15 spots depending on how long you have to travel. Check out our example itineraries above to see where you could go.

As long as you like! We’ve helped with 8+ week itineraries and also 2-3 week trips to see the highlights. The most popular length is 4-6 weeks. Let us know your time frame and we’ll recommend the best itinerary for you.

With warm weather year-round, there’s never a bad time to travel the East Coast. Australia’s summer (Nov-Feb) is the most popular so you can expect hot days, super social hostels and as you head north the occasional tropical shower. Winter (June- Aug) brings cooler but still warm days but is also the dry season so you’ll get sunshine everywhere you go. Then the shoulder seasons of spring and autumn are warmer than winter but not as busy as summer so a nice sweet spot. Still unsure when to travel? We go into even more detail on our blog.

The Big 3 are the main bucket-list destinations on the East Coast. These are:

  1. K’gari (Fraser Island) The largest sand island in the world! Spend 3 days camping on the island, driving 4x4s and swimming in freshwater lakes.
  2. The Whitsundays 74 beautiful islands and home to the best beach in Australia, Whitehaven Beach. Choose between a speed boat day trip or an overnight sailing boat.
  3. The Great Barrier Reef This is Finding Nemo in real life. Snorkel among the colourful coral, swim among the fishes and try out scuba diving for the very first time.

Yep! You can choose everything! Pick from our bucket-list activities above or let us recommend our favourites. You could be surfing, kayaking, snorkelling then spending your days living on a sail boat. Ready for some adrenaline? What about skydiving, bunny jumping or White Water Rafting? Pick and choose depending on your travel style.

Of course you can! You can’t come to Australia and not at least try to surf! We’ll add a beginner surf lesson to your itinerary or if you’d like to master a new skill, you can try a 3 day or 5 day surf camp.

Yep! This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and we know the best place to skydive on the East Coast. There’s truly no feeling like jumping out of a plane… and then landing right onto the beach.

We’re here to help you have the best possible experience in Australia, you’ll receive expert advice from real people – we’ve been there, travelled the East Coast and picked up tips and recommendations on our way. There’s no AI or outdated info here, we use our own experience and regular feedback from our backpackers who are travelling right now.

You can book everything in one go, and make the most of our special rates too. So no need to have four apps on the go at any one time as you check multiple reviews and websites, or work out what time bus you need to make a certain tour – that’s what we’re here for! We’ll book everything you need and pop it in one handy email, so you can focus on having the best possible time. Plus, if you need our help or something goes wrong on your adventure, we’re just a quick phone call or email away.

We’re also an accredited travel agency, so you know you can trust us. Still not sure? Just look at our reviews!

We also often get asked if it’s cheaper to book on your own, and with our special rates and exclusive deals, it’s really not!

 

If you’d like to choose your hostels, you absolutely can! We’ll always recommend our favourite based on regular traveller feedback and our own experiences too. This is the big benefit of a Build Your Own trip, you have more control over which hostels you’d like to stay in. But you can also use our expertise here, we’ll normally ask if you’d prefer social hostels, party hostels, chill hostels or a mixture of them all.

The bus is the best value and a backpacker rite of passage! It’s as comfortable as can be with reclining seats, wifi, a toilet onboard and regular rest brakes too. You’ll also be picked up and dropped off in the centre of each destination, normally only a short walk from your hostel. So if you’re after good value for money and ease, a bus pass is the way to go!

But if you don’t want to travel by bus, you don’t have to! We can also organise campervan hire, car hire or recommend when it’s worth jumping on a quick flight.

Yep! If you want more freedom as you travel, a road trip is the perfect way to see the East Coast. You’ll be able to stop off at smaller beaches, take in trails and rainforests and so much more. We have a huge range of campervans from super budget-friendly to all the bells and whistles.

We also have exclusive discounts for camp grounds so get in touch and we’ll find the best campervan option for you.

If you’re short on time or keen to avoid overnight buses, a quick flight can cover a lot of ground. We’re happy to help recommend when a flight works well with your itinerary, however flights are the only thing we can’t book for you, so it’ll be your responsibility to organise any flights.

Some of your trips and activities will include meals, but overall, your meals aren’t included. Every hostel we book will have a kitchen you can use with all your pots, pans, crockery and utensils provided.

Yes, on request. This will depend on the time of year of your trip, how far away your trip is and would require a 20% deposit. If you’re interested in a payment plan, let us know during the process of planning your trip and we’ll chat through the best options for you.

You have to be over 18 to travel with us. As we’re backpacker specialists we focus on the youth market and most of the hostels we work with have an upper age limit of 35 (some up to 39). We’d always like to try and help where we can so please get in touch to find out how we can help if you don’t fit into our age range.

The earliest you can let us know the better! We’ll try our best to rework your plan if we can or move things around if your plans change. If you need to cancel your whole trip, you can find our full booking terms and conditions here.

We’ll always try our best to accommodate any changes to your trip, again, the earlier you let us know, the more we can do! We do have to work with our supplier’s terms and conditions and current availability, and any changes come under our booking terms and conditions here.

Yes! This is the biggest benefit of booking with us, we’re here to answer questions or help in the unlikely event things go wrong.

We’ve helped travellers who were homesick, travellers who have missed buses and helped get travellers book onto tours last minute too.

The best way to get in touch is to ring the office or send us an email. We also have an out of hours team ready to help too.

Of course you can! Drop us an email and we’ll be able to offer recommendations, check availability and get you booked in!

We’re always here to help! It’s normally fastest to ask the people on the ground first, so go to the hostel reception if you have an issue with your room. If you’re on a tour, ask your guide as they’ll have the best answers or check in with your bus driver.

We’re also at the end of the phone or email too. Our offices in Sydney and Melbourne can help throughout the day and we also have a dedicated emergency line for out of hours too.

Give our offices a ring on 03 7065 9970 and we’ll help! If it’s out of office hours, we also have an out of hours phone you’ll be redirected to.
Similarly send us an email, and then fill in the form on the reply from us so we can prioritise you.

You can also chat to the staff around you, head to your hostel reception or chat to your tour guide if your on a day or overnight trip as they’ll be in the best position to help.

And of course, in a serious emergency, please ring the emergency services on 000.

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We know what it is like trying to arrange your travels, so we want to make it as easy as possible for you.

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