East Coast
Your East Coast Guide
Experience The East Coast of Australia
Iconic destinations
You’ll explore the surf towns of Byron Bay and Noosa, the stunning islands of K’gari and the Whitsundays plus the must-see cities of Brisbane and Cairns.
Adventure awaits
Learn to surf, sail around the Whitsundays, drive a 4×4, swim and scuba dive, chase waterfalls and jump out of a plane! You’ll never forget your time in Australia.
Awe-inspiring nature
Spot wild kangaroos and koalas, kayak with dolphins, spot wild dingos, swim with turtles and reef sharks. Then take a walk through ancient rainforests.
Friends for life
Whether it’s on tour, whilst partying or at incredible sunset spots, it’s so easy to meet like-minded travellers on the East Coast.
Visit the East Coast on These Tours
Semi-Guided
30 Days / 29 Nights
Welcome to Australia: East Coast
On our 30-day semi-guided East Coast tour you’ll tick off every East Coast must-do with a group of new mates! Drive a 4×4 on K’Gari, fly over and cruise the Whitsundays then snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef.
Trip Builder
Flexible Days
Build Your Own: East Coast
Take your time travelling the East Coast with a personalised trip to match your budget, travel-style and time scale. Whether you’re a nature-lover, adrenaline-junkie, beach-bum or all three we’ll create your perfect trip.
Tour Package
52 Days / 51 Nights
The Irwin
We’ve combined our Welcome to Sydney, Blue Mountains road trip, semi guided East Coast tour AND a 5 day surf camp together to make the most epic travel itinerary. By the time you’ve finished, you’ll be an honorary member of the Irwin family in no time.
Tour Package
45 Days / 44 Nights
The Rebel
This one’s for the Sydney-siders! The Rebel combines Welcome to Sydney, Blue Mountains road trip & our semi guided East Coast tour. Tick off all your bucket list activities in only 45 days, how insane is that!?
Tour Package
52 Days / 51 Nights
The Hemsworth
The Hemsworth combines BOTH our Welcome to Melbourne, Great Ocean road trip & semi guided East Coast tour together to make the most epic travel itinerary. Oh and don’t forget the 5 day surf camp included! This is the best combination of activities for those who want to see and do it ALL!
Tour Package
52 Days / 51 Nights
The Margot
If you’re coming to Australia but think you’ll be cheering for the Melbourne side, then the Margot combines BOTH our Welcome to Melbourne, Great Ocean road trip & semi guided East Coast tour. This is one not to miss!
I want to travel the East Coast! But what time of year should I travel to Australia?
One of your first questions will be when is the best time to come to Australia. And the answer is, it’s always a good time!
Australia is a big country, so there are a few different climates going on as you make your way up or down the East Coast. In the north, you’ll find a tropical climate with a dry season in winter and the wet season in summer with some heavy but generally short shower spells. In the south, it’s a temperate climate with hot sunny days in the summer and cooler days in the winter. And don’t forget Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere, so summer runs from December to March and winter is June to September.
So what does that mean?
- Come in summer for hot, humid weather and Christmas on the beach
- Come in winter for cooler temperatures, dry season and lower crowds
- Come in spring or autumn for the best of both worlds
Psst, we also want to tell you about stinger season. We know Australia is home to some less fun animals but we’re not talking about the spiders and the snakes here. Jellyfish season runs from November to May with stingers mostly found in the north tropics but rest assured any trip you do during stinger season will supply you with a stinger suit so you can still snorkel and swim to your heart’s content.
Should I travel Australia on my own or with a group?
Coming solo?
We LOVE solo travelling! It’s the most freeing way to travel and the biggest confidence boost of your life.
Australia is the perfect country for solo travellers, especially the backpacker route up the East Coast. Here you’ll find plenty of other solo travellers (aka your new friends), hostels that have a great social scene, easy transport links and incredible trips that cater for solo travellers (which will turn into the best memories of your life).
So if you want to meet lots of people, it’s really easy to do so. But if you need to charge your social batteries, that’s ok too – that’s the beauty of solo travel – you can do what you want, when you want.
We’ll also be there every step of the way, we’ll plan your perfect itinerary, and you’ll be able to pick and choose exactly what you want to do and where you want to go. But that’s not all, we’ll also be a helpful hand at the other end of the phone or email if you have any questions while you’re travelling.
Go on, take that jump, you honestly won’t regret it!
Coming with a mate or partner?
This is such a fun way to travel, especially if you all have the same travel plans and similar budgets. You’ve got the best of both worlds, someone to sit next to on the buses and the chance to meet new friends and try new experiences together.
We can plan your East Coast trip of dreams, making sure you’re booked onto the same epic activities and in the same dorm rooms each night. And if you can’t wait to go skydiving but your friend isn’t sure… no worries we can book it just for you.
It’s guaranteed to be an adventure like no other!
Wanting a group adventure?
We get it you’re travelling to make friends. That’s what our Welcome Tours in Melbourne and Sydney are designed for! Come as a solo traveller or with your partner and leave with a whole new group of mates. You’ll be guided along every step of the way so you can just simply turn up and have a blast.
If you’re keen for an even bigger group adventure, our 30 day semi-guided East Coast group tour is the tour for you. By the end of the four weeks, you’ll have made friends for life and memories to match. We’ve done all the hard work for you, booked you into our favourite hostels and the best trips on the East Coast (did someone say Whitsundays scenic flight 👀) you’ll have an itinerary to follow and a guide to start your trip with, then a fun-filled 30 days with your group!
Want to do both? We hear you! So much so, we’ve designed our packages to do just that. Choose whether you want to start your trip in Melbourne or Sydney, then pick one of our epic packages which combine our Welcome tours with our 30 day East Coast tour plus some extra fun activities like surf camp. You’ll make even more friends as you spend up to 52 days travelling the coast and did we mention these are our best value trips? So you can see more of Australia for less.
However you choose to travel you’ll make memories and friendships you’ll never forget.
How do I get up or down the East Coast?
The East coast is massive. It’s nearly 3,000km from Melbourne to Cairns (or 31 hours of non-stop driving to put that in perspective).
So with a big distance to cover the wheels you choose will have a big impact on your trip. Here’s a quick overview of your options:
Travel the East Coast by bus
This is a backpacker rite of passage! The East Coast is home to the iconic Greyhound bus network and with a Greyhound bus pass, you’ll be free to roam the East Coast, stopping off at each epic destination. The buses are comfy too, with reclining seats, usb chargers and regular rest breaks.
This is a popular choice for a reason, the main one being the price as the most cost-effective way to travel the East Coast. Chat to our Community Team for our bus pass deals!
Travel the East Coast with a campervan
You’ll never look cooler than when you’re driving a van on the East Coast. A campervan is ideal if you’re travelling with a partner or friend so you can share the driving and the epic memories you’ll make.
You’ll get to experience more freedom too as you can explore away from the Greyhound route if you please or simply rock up at a beach or waterfall for lunch. But with more freedom comes a higher cost, our tip is to think of it as your transport AND accommodation in one, so your expenses on the road will be lower.
There are many car and campervan companies that we like to work with and with so many different models and configurations, our Community Team can quote up a price for your trip.
Road trip the East Coast with a car
If you’re planning a smaller road trip or section of the East Coast, a car will give you the most freedom and offer a slower pace from the bus route. So put some tunes on and explore the East Coast’s hidden gems!
Unsurprisingly, this is the most expensive option as you’ll still have to book your accommodation for each night.
Like with campervans, there are so many different companies and models, so get in touch with our Community Team who will find the perfect car for your trip.
Fly around the East Coast
Okay, so we thought we’d at least mention flying. The East Coast is SO big, that if you’re short on time a flight or two will help you see the most of the coast without missing out.
Some popular spots to fly between are Sydney to Brisbane (and then travel the top half of the coast by bus) or if you’re super limited, fly straight to Cairns from Melbourne or Sydney for a tropical adventure.
How long should my East Coast trip be?
The quick answer is as long as you want! With so many epic destinations to see you could spend months exploring the East Coast. We find for most travellers 6-8 weeks is an ideal time to be travelling.
We’ve put together a few suggested time scales:
6-8 weeks:
Our favourite time scale! Start with one of our Welcome Tours in Melbourne or Sydney, then travel up the coast all the way to Cairns. You’ll be able to fit in a surf camp, a 3 day Whitsundays sailing trip AND a 3 day K’gari camping trip plus all our favourite surf towns, cities and beach spots as you go. This time scale also allows for a few down days where you can hit the beach or relax at the hostel pool (and believe us you’ll need these when you’re on the road). In fact, we love this time scale so much, we’ve designed our incredible East Coast packages to be this length, so you can tick off every must-do in Australia with a new group of mates.
4 weeks:
This is a great time frame to just travel the coast, starting with either a few days in Melbourne or Sydney then heading north. It’ll still give you time to do the trips to K’gari and the Whitsundays but may be a slightly quicker pace depending how many destinations you want to fit in. We love our 30 days semi-guided itinerary and at just over 4 weeks, we think it’s the best way to see the coast from Sydney to Cairns.
2-3 weeks:
This is a speedy time frame to try and see the whole East Coast in. Which is why we recommend picking and choosing your must-see spots. Popular options include starting in Melbourne or Sydney and then flying to Brisbane where you’ll pick up the buses and make your way north. You might have to sacrifice overnight trips to K’gari and the Whitsundays but you’ll still be able to see these amazing destinations.
Where should I start my East Coast trip?
Melbourne
A city packed with sport, culture and music. There’s so much on offer in Melbourne from hip rooftop bars to excellent coffee shops. And geographically, Melbourne is an ideal starting point as you get to see Victoria’s capital and surroundings before heading north to Sydney and up the Coast. It’s also home to our OG, the Welcome to Melbourne tour.
Melbourne’s international airport, Tullamarine, has regular flights coming in from across the world. If you’re travelling from Europe, you’ll most likely have a layover in the Middle East or Asia before arriving in Australia. Then it’s either a taxi ride or the Skybus into the city, but if you’re joining us on one of our Melbourne tours, we’ll organise you a lift from the airport to your hostel.
Sydney
The iconic Harbour Bridge and Opera House make Sydney a picture-perfect first base in Australia. Home to incredible beaches, epic surf and a buzzing CBD, there’s plenty to keep you occupied in the city.
Sydney’s international airport is only a 15 minute train ride from the city, making arriving in Sydney, even with jet lag, as easy as can be. And then from Sydney, heading north up the coast is a doddle on the Greyhound.
Plus, Sydney is the starting point for our epic 30 days East Coast tour.
Cairns
Switch things up and travel down the East Coast, start in Cairns, the adventure capital of Australia to explore the rainforest, reefs and beaches. Then work your way south finishing in either Sydney or Melbourne. This is ideal if you’re starting in the winter months, which allows the south to warm up a little before you explore the cities of Sydney and Melbourne.
Our top tip? If you’re coming to Australia in November or December, start your East Coast trip in Cairns so you can be in Sydney for New Year’s Eve.
Cairns International Airport is more limited with its flights, so you may find it easier to fly into the bigger international hubs or Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane and take a quick internal flight to Cairns.
Ready to plan your trip?
You’ve decided you definitely want to travel the East Coast (best decision ever!) but now how do you even start planning a trip up the East Coast?
How far in advance should I book my East Coast trip?
As soon as possible! You can secure your spot on our tours with a deposit, and we offer free date changes, perfect if your itinerary changes a tad. Once you have a date in mind, start looking at flights as these fluctuate in price the most. Get your visa sorted next, and we also recommend organising your travel insurance too.
Then it’s the fun part, planning your amazing East Coast adventure! We’ve got so many incredible destinations to tempt you, so we recommend you check out our Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria pages for all your inspiration needs.
We do find that the most popular activities and hostels can book up during the peak summer months. But no matter when you book, our amazing Community Team will always be able to find a way to make your East Coast trip of dreams come true! But we do like to recommend the earlier you book, the higher the chance you’ll have of securing exactly the trip you want.
If you want to wait and see, you’ll also have the opportunity to plan your East Coast trip as part of your Welcome tour, this is ideal if you’re wanting to meet your group and travel with your new friends.
How should I plan my East Coast trip?
With our help! If you’re trying to decide between our 30-day group tour or a Build Your Own East Coast trip, you can book a travel call with our Community Team to chat through your plans and decide the best trip for you!
We’ll chat to you about your travel preferences, budget and time scale and ensure you have the perfect trip planned.
Can I travel flexibly?
We get it, you want to see how you go and explore at a chill pace. If you’ve been lucky enough to travel Asia, you’ll have been able to be super flexible and last minute with your plans, booking buses or hostels the day before. Australia… well she doesn’t quite work like that.
We see first-hand just how busy the peak season is, and how many activities, hostels and buses book out weeks or months in advance. Especially the big bucket-list items like overnight K’gari trip and Whitsunday sailing adventures.
So we highly recommend that if you’re wanting to travel the East Coast, book it all together as one trip, that way you’re guaranteed to see and do everything you want and can sit back and enjoy your travels… without frantically scrambling to find a hostel for the weekend.
East Coast Destination Inspo
Melbourne
Sydney
Byron Bay
Gold Coast/Surfers Paradise
Brisbane
Noosa
K'Gari
Whitsundays
Cairns
Visit the East Coast on These Tours
Semi-Guided
30 Days / 29 Nights
Welcome to Australia: East Coast
On our 30-day semi-guided East Coast tour you’ll tick off every East Coast must-do with a group of new mates! Drive a 4×4 on K’Gari, fly over and cruise the Whitsundays then snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef.
Trip Builder
Flexible Days
Build Your Own: East Coast
Take your time travelling the East Coast with a personalised trip to match your budget, travel-style and time scale. Whether you’re a nature-lover, adrenaline-junkie, beach-bum or all three we’ll create your perfect trip.
Tour Package
52 Days / 51 Nights
The Irwin
We’ve combined our Welcome to Sydney, Blue Mountains road trip, semi guided East Coast tour AND a 5 day surf camp together to make the most epic travel itinerary. By the time you’ve finished, you’ll be an honorary member of the Irwin family in no time.
Tour Package
45 Days / 44 Nights
The Rebel
This one’s for the Sydney-siders! The Rebel combines Welcome to Sydney, Blue Mountains road trip & our semi guided East Coast tour. Tick off all your bucket list activities in only 45 days, how insane is that!?
Tour Package
52 Days / 51 Nights
The Hemsworth
The Hemsworth combines BOTH our Welcome to Melbourne, Great Ocean road trip & semi guided East Coast tour together to make the most epic travel itinerary. Oh and don’t forget the 5 day surf camp included! This is the best combination of activities for those who want to see and do it ALL!
Tour Package
52 Days / 51 Nights
The Margot
If you’re coming to Australia but think you’ll be cheering for the Melbourne side, then the Margot combines BOTH our Welcome to Melbourne, Great Ocean road trip & semi guided East Coast tour. This is one not to miss!
Travel is all about meeting people
Before Your Tour
Connect with future travellers
Our official Facebook group to help future travellers connect with one another, ask questions and get expert advice.
When Booked On a Tour
Connect with your group on WhatsApp
A week before your tour, you’ll be added to a WhatsApp group chat that includes all of your future new friends and Guide that will be joining you on tour. Get to know each other beforehand, plan meetups, share tour bants and pics, and keep in touch here well after the tour ends.
After Your Tour
Connect with the WTT Community
Our official Facebook group for everyone who has travelled with Welcome to Travel. Your tour may be over but we want to make sure we stay in touch, know all about your travels and be a community that helps one another.
Want To Know More About Our East Coast Tours?
We love to hear from you and help you with your travel plans. If you have any questions at all then feel free to get in touch. Not only can you message us, we also offer free travel advice calls meaning you can have a real conversation with a real person that’s been in your shoes.
