Welcome to Australia: East Coast

30 Days / 29 Nights Semi-Guided Tour

Secure your spot for just $400AUD

FROM

$4,299AUD

The new way to travel the East Coast of Australia

The East Coast of Australia has it all and we will make sure you see it properly. We will explore bohemian Byron Bay with its laid back surfer backpacker vibe and explore the world’s largest sand island (K’gari / Fraser Island) by 4WD. You will snorkel the Great Barrier Reef out of Cairns, get up close to Koalas on Magnetic Island as well as see the incredible Whitsunday Islands TWICE, once by boat and then once from the sky as we take you on a spectacular scenic flight above Heart Reef. Truly special.

This is just the start, this Semi-Guided Tour will make sure that you and your new travel family have the best 30 days on the East Coast of Australia.

30 Days / 29 Nights

Tour Length

Travellers wanting a group tour but with freedom

Perfect for

Max 24 travellers

Group Size

Semi guided

Travel Style

You will have us here to help, all the way up the coast!

Support

We will cater for your dietary needs

Some Meals Included

"We wanted to create the perfect mix of guided tours, free time and amazing advice... and with this tour we did!"

Darryl | Welcome to Travel Co-founder

Top Experiences

Experience Byron Bay

Explore Byron Bay with your guide before doing an incredible sunset glow kayak. You’ll spend 3 days in Byron Bay.

Fly Over the Whitsundays

Before an incredible boat trip, you will see the Whitsundays from the sky on a special scenic flight over Heart Reef.

Explore K’Gari (Fraser Island)

Spend 3 days at our favourite place in Australia, driving through rainforest, swimming in freshwater lakes and relaxing in lazy rivers.

Aboriginal Experience

Discover the rich Aboriginal history and culture of the Gold Coast with a guided walking tour of Burleigh Headland.

Unique Everglades Stay

Stay amongst kangaroos in lakeside cabins before exploring the Everglades by cruise and canoe!

Great Barrier Reef

Get up close to Nemo and if you want, upgrade to a Scuba Dive!

Magical Magnetic Island

Spend two days relaxing amongst koalas and wallabies on Magnetic Island, also a great place to swim or hike!

Add-On Options

Whether it’s our Skydiving, White Water Rafting or Surfing we can help with all of it!

WHERE YOU'LL GO

Starting in Sydney, you will travel all the way up the East Coast of Australia until Cairns. Hitting the beautiful small towns, getting off the beaten path with unique destinations but also experiencing the big three: Great Barrier Reef, Whitsundays and K’Gari (Fraser Island).

WHERE YOU'LL STAY

As we make our way up the East Coast, we’ll be staying in our favourite hostels in the different towns along the way. You’ll also spend two nights camping on K’Gari (Fraser Island) and two nights on an overnight bus.

Tour Inclusions

Experiences

Relax with our day 1 group Meet and Greet Session
Secret fun pre-departure Sydney activity
Get to know each other at our Welcome Meal
Explore Byron Bay as a group
Beach time and lighthouse walk in Byron Bay
Byron Bay dinner on your first night in town
Team night out on final evening in Byron Bay
Go kayaking at sunset in Byron Bay
Discover the rich Aboriginal history and culture of the Gold Coast with a guided walking tour of Burleigh Headland
Hit the beach and the bars in Surfers Paradise
Get to know Queensland’s capital city, Brisbane
Visit beautiful Noosa National Park, home of the Fairy Pools
Afternoon boat trip on Noosa River with Roundaboat (BYO snacks and drinks) Noosa National Park, home of the Fairy Pools
Frisbee golf and wIldlife spotting at the stunning Habitat Noosa
Cruise (boat trip) and canoe on (optional but already included!) 1 of 2 of the world’s Everglades National Parks
Bring in sunset at beautiful Carlo Sandblow
Spend 3 days on K’Gari (Fraser Island)
Take a scenic flight (this is included!) over the Whitsundays and Heart Reef
Experience a boat trip to the world famous Whitehaven Beach
Snorkel the pristine waters around the Whitsundays
Chill out on Magnetic Island
Visit the Great Barrier Reef trip. Snorkelling is included, scuba diving is possible to add on

Accommodation

21 Nights dorm accommodation in Australia’s best hostels
2 Nights in an incredible lakeside Wildlife Retreat, Kangarooms
2 Nights camping on K'Gari (Fraser Island)
2 Nights dorm accommodation on beautiful Magnetic Island
2 Overnight buses
Extra nights available for before and after the tour

Meals and Drinks

2 Breakfasts
7 Lunches
5 Dinners
Food and drink discounts and specials for every destination
Suitable for vegans
Beer tasting at lakeside brewery (optional)

Community

Connect with your group on WhatsApp, before, throughout and after the tour
Lifetime membership with Welcome to Travel
Access to free regular Welcome to Travel events
Discounted rates for Melbourne and Sydney events (parties, bar crawls)
Private lifetime member Facebook group access

Transport

Bus: modern, air conditioned coach travel up the coast (WiFi/USB)
Ferry: your transport to Magnetic Island
4WD Jeep/Troupes on K'Gari (Fraser Island)
Fast Boat: your trip to the Whitsundays
Plane: flight over the Whitsundays

Additional Advice Travel Help

Travel information session
Free recommendations for every destination on your tour
Book other activities with the help of our Community Team
Customised travel planning
National travel specials and discounts
Ongoing travel help after your tour

East Coast Itinerary

Before You Travel

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Before You Travel

Before and after you book the tour, we know that you’ll have questions about travelling to Australia. This is totally natural and we’re able to help with all of this, not just over email but through our famous free, personalised travel advice calls.

We’ll do one of these on your preferred platform at a time that works for you meaning you can ask us anything and everything. Book one in by clicking the button below.

The support continues with helpful info emails leading up to you joining us on tour. The week before your tour we’ll also create a group on our app to connect you with everyone that you’ll be on tour with!

Day 1: Sydney

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Sydney

Day 1

Today is the day, the day you meet your new tour guide and the day that you meet your new travel family for the best 4 weeks of your life.

We will get to know each other in our meet and greet session, where we’ll also go over your itinerary for your East Coast adventure, answering anything and everything so that you feel as relaxed and excited as possible.

After that we’ll head for a cool secret inclusion followed by a Welcome Dinner, our first meal as a travel fam! That evening be getting the overnight bus to our next stop, beautiful Byron Bay.

Days 2-4: Byron Bay

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Byron Bay

Days 2-4

With its beautiful beaches, epic surf, great food and good vibes, every traveller has Byron Bay on their bucket list.

You will do a tour of ‘the Bay’ with your tour guide before having a group meal to celebrate your first night in town.

The next 2 days are all about you, that’s the beauty of our style of trip. Some of your group may want to surf or just chill on the beach. Everyone’s different but whatever you want to do, our tour guide will be able to help with.

We’ll spend the twilight hours of your 2nd evening on a stunning river kayak tour finishing at the pub. The final evening in Byron Bay will be a team night out, what a great first few days!

Whilst in Byron Bay we’ll be staying at the incredible Surf House, which is 100m from the beach AND has a rooftop bar.

Days 5-6: Surfers Paradise

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Surfers Paradise

Days 5-6

From Byron Bay, you’ll be heading up the Coast as a group without your tour guide, but worry not, before this your guide will host a special session to help with the rest of your time in Australia.

However, you will have guided experiences throughout your East Coast trip and the first one is in Surfers Paradise.

You’ll be taken on a guided walk around Burleigh Heads coastline with an Aboriginal guide who will be telling you all about the rich history of the land and their people… which is mind blowing.

Your next stop is Surfers Paradise where you’ll stay in the best hostel on the Gold Coast.

Here you’ll have time to hit the beach, or go to one of the many theme parks, all of which we can help organise for you!

Days 7-9: Brisbane

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Brisbane

Days 7-9

Brisbane, the capital of Queensland is a cool metropolitan city, with so many beautiful national parks surrounding it.

It’s at this time where people either need to charge up their social batteries or go on an adventure. That’s the best part about it being semi guided.

Moreton Island is one of our most popular add-ons where you can be sandboarding down sand dunes, kayaking around shipwrecks and snorkelling with the local marine life.

Days 10-12: Noosa

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Noosa

Days 10-12

Noosa is a popular holiday destination for travellers, but also Aussies. To be honest, Noosa is as perfect as life gets.

Like Byron Bay, it has beaches to die for and a great food scene, but it also has a National Park that’s just 500m from town. This National Park is home to the famous Fairy Pools.

We have the best advice on how to explore the National Park and the rest of Noosa, as well as where the best sunset spots are.

We’re committed to you staying at the best hostels and here we’ll stay in Bounce, a brand new hostel that’s just minutes from the turquoise river, perfect of a swim. Not only is Noosa itself stunning, it’s not far away from 1 of the world’s 2 Everglades National Parks.

Days 13-14: The Everglades

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The Everglades

Days 13-14

After Noosa, we’ve organised for you to stay lakeside at Habitat Noosa. Here you’ll be staying together in cabins that are surrounded by kangaroos every evening. You can grab a kayak or paddleboard and hit the lake or chill out on land with a beer at the onsite brewery.

On your 2nd day at Habitat you’ll be lucky enough to experience the Everglades National Park, firstly on a boat cruise, and then secondly by canoe. Both are on the spectacular River of Mirrors. Don’t worry, it’s a short distance to canoe and they supply everything you need!

Days 15-20: K’gari (Fraser Island)

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K'Gari

Days 15-20

K’Gari (meaning paradise) is the traditional name for a place you may know as Fraser Island. The world’s largest sand island is one of the East Coast’s most popular places for travellers like you.

We explore the rainforest, sand blows and freshwater lakes (like Lake McKenzie) on a 4WD tag along tour so we can see every part of it. You will also get the chance to drive!* We stay as a group on the island, before returning to beautiful Rainbow Beach. Because it’s the coast’s perfect beginner beach, this is where we can book you a Surf Lesson!

*Must be 21+ and hold a valid drivers license.

Days 21-23: The Whitsundays

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Whitsundays

Days 21-23

We want you to experience the best things on the East Coast, and the Whitsundays is one of them. What’s better than experiencing the Whitsundays once? Experiencing it twice! We’re obviously going to ensure you see the Whitsundays by boat, on a fantastic day trip that includes snorkelling pristine waters and visiting Whitehaven Beach.

Before that though, we’re going to take you on a truly once in a lifetime experience, a 60 minute, scenic flight over Heart Reef. Yes, that’s included!

Days 24-26: Magnetic Island

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Magnetic Island

Days 24-26

You may not have heard of Magnetic Island but it is a true Welcome to Travel favourite, I mean look at it! After so many activities this is a great place to relax and recharge before your final stop, Cairns.

There’s no better place to chill than ‘Maggy’ home to so many wild koala bears and wallabies. While on Magnetic Island you’ll be able to do the famous Forts Walk, hire kayaks, snorkels or wait for it… Barbie Cars. All of which we’ll be able to help you with of course 🙂

Days 27-30: Cairns

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Cairns

Day 27-30

And just like that, you’ve travelled nearly 3000km and you are now a true travel family.

To celebrate this, you’re going to spend an incredible day out on the Great Barrier Reef, where you’ll snorkel with Nemo. If you want, you’ll also get the opportunity to scuba dive too! Following that, you’ll clink our glasses and say cheers to the best month of our lives at your final farewell meal.

With so many things to do, Cairns is THE place for backpackers. From white water rafting, to rainforest trips, bungy jumps, Skydives and more we can help you book all of these different things in Cairns.

Whilst in Cairns, you’ll be staying at the famous Gilligans Resort, complete with a pool and bar within it.

Optional Extras

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Optional Extras

There are some things we include, because we know you just have to do them, but there are some things only some people want to do. While you might want to learn to scuba dive you might hate heights, but the person next to you in your dorm might hate water but love jumping off things!

Everyone is different and that’s what we want to do, encourage you on your journey, to have the best possible experience. We can help with every one of these extras as you go, that’s what we’re here for. Not only that, we’ll have specials and discounts too, win!

Free Time

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Free Time

When travelling, you can be on the move a lot, and sometimes you just need some ‘me’ time and with our semi-guided style of travel, this is exactly what you get, all of the activities, group atmosphere and accommodation, but still some me time.

Undoubtedly you’ll also want to spend some of this free time exploring where you are. You might want to visit a national park in one town but hit the pub in the other.

As we keep saying, everybody is different, and that’s what makes travelling so great, you are constantly having new experiences with people that are so different to you. Because everyone is different, people like to spend their free time in different ways and that’s why we will give recommendations, advice and local tips for every type of mood for every type of person.

Why is Semi Guided so good?

Here are some reasons this new way to travel, is THE best way to travel the East Coast:

1. Your tour will start (Sydney to Byron Bay) with a guide to ensure a perfect start

2. You are travelling with the same group, who will become your travel family

3. All of your activities, transport and accommodation will be organised for you

4. Compared to a guided tour, you have more free time to relax or do your own thing

5. Through WhatsApp, you will have support from your Welcome to Travel guide all the way through your trip

6. Your activities will always have a guide

Welcome to Travel is all about helping people become the best version of themselves, and that includes ensuring you’re confident to continue travelling after you’ve travelled with us. This perfect blend of a group tour, with free time but a continuous support network will help you do that.

Want to Add This to a Welcome Tour?

We have several amazing packages to choose from, for whatever Australian adventure you’re looking for!

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!

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!

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.

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!?

Payment Plans Available

Unlimited & Free Date Changes*

Open Dated Bookings Available

Just $400AUD To Secure Your Spot

Check Available Dates & Book Your Tour

Please note bookings close 2 weeks before the tour start date.

Not quite sure when you’re travelling yet?

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How much spending money will I need?

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All of your accommodation and transport is included, as are 14 meals. How much money you need on top of this depends on if you’d like to add on more activities, how much you like to eat food out and how many beers you like 🙂 Money saving tips include making the most of hostel freebies and cooking as a group.

I have dietary needs, will that be catered for?

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Absolutely, when food is included we’ll always inform the tour of your requirements beforehand.

Will we have recommendations for free time?

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So many! Between our team, we have over 30 years of Australia travel experience and with that we know the sunset spot here and hidden waterfall there. We will give you the best advice for every single town or city you visit!

Will we have recommendations for meals and drinks?

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Yes, Welcome to Travel is full of foodies that have coffee addictions and are also known to enjoy a beer too. We have recommendations (and sometimes discounts/specials) for all of the way up the coast!

Can we book extra activities through you?

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You sure can! We know that there may be some things you’re not quite sure on and that’s ok, you can decide later on. We can offer all of the below and more once you’re here:

– Skydive

– Bungy Jump

– Surf Lesson

– White Water Rafting

– Dive Course

– Cape Tribulation

– Atherton Tablelands

– Moreton Island

If you’d like us to give you a quote for some of these activities on top of your East Coast tour, click the button below.

Will I be with the same group?

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That’s right! This is a perfect way to meet people and make friends for life while you travel. This way of travelling also means if don’t want to do a group activity every night, you don’t have to, it’s up to you!

Are the activities/tours guided?

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Yes! All of the activities you will do will have a local guide, meaning you will always be looked after by an expert.

Will we have support all of the time?

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Yes. Not only will you have your guide, you have a full team to support you for your entire trip!

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 Tour?

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.