30 Days / 29 Nights - Semi-Guided

Welcome to Australia: East Coast

30 days. One group. Explore the entire East Coast. Drive a 4×4 on K’gari, take a scenic flight over the iconic Heart Reef, cruise the Whitsundays and snorkel The Great Barrier Reef. With the best hostels, a group of new fitness and support all the way to Cairns – this is the best way to see Australia.

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Over 4,000 Reviews

Start: Sydney
End: Cairns

📆

30 Days / 29 Nights

Tour Length

🗺️

Semi-Guided

Travel Style

👥

24 - 30 People

Group Size

💬

Start - End

Support

🍕

Dietary Needs

Included

Why is Semi-Guided so good?

Come solo. Leave with friends for life.

All the support of a guided trip, all the freedom to explore your way. We take care of the big stuff, so you can focus on making memories.

Where You'll Stay

Best hostel policy. Epic locations. Unforgettable memories.

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 stay in places we’d stay in ourselves. Comfortable, social and safe – the perfect base to relax, connect and make memories that last.

Only the best hostels

Hand-picked for location, comfort and good vibes. Our best-hostel policy means you’ll only stay in places we’d call home.

Unique camping stays

Campfires at the ready. You’ll spend 2 nights on K’gari – tents, sleeping bags and marshmallows all provided.

Travel while you sleep

2 nights by overnight bus will ensure you wake up close to the next adventure. Comfortable, safe and hassle-free.

Your travel family

You’ll stay in 6-8 dorm rooms with your new friends on tour. We don’t leave anyone behind, so you’ll always be sharing with the group.

Bucket List Inclusions

Scenic flight over the Whitsundays

You’ve seen it on TikTok. Now it’s your turn.

The scenic flight over Heart Reef has been living in your saved folder long enough. First from the sky, then from the sea, we know it’s on your bucket list – that’s exactly why we made sure it’s included in your tour.

Top Experiences

Make It Yours

Personalise Your Dream Australia Tour

Choose from up to 20 optional add-ons to build your dream trip – pick what excites you, skip what doesn’t. 

East Coast Itinerary

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!

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.

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 your second 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.

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!

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. Also this is where you can head to Australia Zoo. Get up close with kangaroos and maybe even Robert Irwin.

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.

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 / safari tents 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!

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.

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!

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 🙂

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.

Tour Inclusions

Interactive Map

Browse Australia and learn where you’ll be going.

See more of Australia in one tour.

Your Welcome to Sydney is just the beginning. Combine it with our East Coast tour or add Melbourne for the full Australian adventure – all in one seamless booking.

OPTIONAL | START HERE

Welcome to Melbourne

5 Days

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CONTINUE THE ADVENTURE

Welcome to Sydney

5 Days

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You Are Here

Welcome to Australia: East Coast

30 Days

How it works

Step 1

You are here

Welcome to Australia East Coast – 30 days travelling up the East Coast.

Step 2

Want to add Melbourne first?

Start in Melbourne for 5 days before joining the Sydney tour. Optional but highly recommended.

Step 3

Explore Sydney

5 days guided in the city with a group. Flow straight from Sydney into the 30-day East Coast tour.

Welcome to Melbourne

Welcome to Sydney

East Coast

42 Days → Melbourne to Cairns

Welcome to Sydney

East Coast

34 Days → Sydney to Cairns

Payment Plans Available

Spread The Cost

Free Date Changes*

Unlimited, No questions asked

Open Dated

Book Now, Choose Dates Later

Only $400AUD Deposit

To Secure Your Spot

Ready To Make Memories?

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What Happens After You Book Your Tour?

Make Memories Fund

A portion of every booking goes towards good.

Every booking includes a donation to the Make Memories Fund split across four causes: land, ocean, First Nations culture and social impact. On tour we also educate on how to respect the country, showcase First Nations culture and highlight the issues that matter.

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

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

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!

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

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:

Rainforest Road Trip Add On

Skydive

Bungy Jump

Surf Lesson

White Water Rafting

Dive Course

If you’d like us to give you a quote for some of these activities on top of your East Coast tour, head here.

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! 

We totally understand feeling a little jittery about camping on a remote island in Australia…but honestly this is all part of the fun! There isn’t an option to upgrade to a room on K’gari but we can assure you that you’ll have the best time at camp – think star gazing, beach volleyball, fire pits, and games with your new friends!

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

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

You will be added to a group chat around a week before your tour starts.

Contact Us

We're Here To Help

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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