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The Restless Hobo

6 Week Australia Itinerary

Lisa Mullally · April 16, 2019 · 4 Comments

Trying to decide what to include in a 6 week Australia itinerary? Well, you’ve come to the right place my friend! You’re about to set off on the absolute trip of a lifetime, with so many amazing stops and adventures to choose from. Here’s my own 6 week itinerary to help get you started.

Hobart – 4 nights

I flew pretty much non stop from Dublin to Hobart (Dublin-Dubai-Melbourne-Hobart). I wanted to get the toughest and longest part of the journey over as early as possible so that I could have the maximum amount of time in Australia. I have family in Hobart and had visited there a couple of times before, so I knew my time there would be relaxed and give me a chance to get over any potential jet lag before heading off on my own.

There’s so much to see in and around Hobart that 4 nights is definitely not too long for anybody. It could be an advantage to hire a car as some of the sights are well outside the city; otherwise there is an excellent tourist office that can help you work out how to get to everywhere you want to go.

Within Hobart itself, there is a vibrant bar scene, and the Salamanca markets on Saturday morning are an absolute must for all sorts of souvenirs and delicious fresh food.

Be aware that Tasmania is a huge state and that if you want to see more than just Hobart and it’s surrounds, you will need a lot more than 4 days.

Adelaide – 2 nights

After flying from Hobart back to Adelaide, I spent 2 nights there before heading off for the Great Ocean Road. I honestly wasn’t a big fan (sorry, Adelaide!), and recommend skipping it if you’re short on time. I spent most of my one full day there doing laundry and getting myself sorted with an Australian SIM card.

Adelaide to Melbourne via the Grampians and the Great Ocean Road – 3 days and 2 nights

Next up was my 3 day, 2 night Grampians and Great Ocean Road trip with Groovy Grape tours. Honestly, I hadn’t heard much about the Grampians and it wasn’t really on my must-see list for the trip. But when I started looking at my options for seeing the Great Ocean Road and spotted the trip, it was the perfect choice.

It picks up in Adelaide on the morning of day 1 and drops off in Melbourne on the afternoon of day 3 (it also runs in reverse, Melbourne to Adelaide), so there’s no doubling back or trying to sort out transport from one city to the next. The Grampians National Park is absolutely beautiful and I got to see some Aussie wildlife that I probably wouldn’t have seen otherwise, so I definitely recommend the trip.

Melbourne – 3 nights

Melbourne is pretty much universally considered the cultural capital of Australia, so you will need AT LEAST 3 nights here. It’s a big-ass city with a ton to see and do, so use your time wisely and try to stay in the area where you feel you’ll spend the most time.

I stayed in St. Kilda on 2 of my 3 visits to Melbourne, including the most recent one. Make sure to get a Myki card to make travelling on public transport quick and easy.

Overnight train from Melbourne to Sydney – 1 night

Click here for bookings .

Sydney – 3 days and 2 nights

I had already visited Sydney on a few occasions in the past, so I opted for a short visit this time. If it’s your first visit though, 2 nights is just not going to be enough. As with Melbourne, you’ll need to choose whether to stay in the CBD area, or one of the more chilled-out beachside suburbs.

Check out this blog post for recommendations on what to see and do in Sydney, and click here for details on how to get around the city.

Overnight bus from Sydney to Byron Bay – 1 night

Greyhound Australia offer a great bus service up and down the east coast. Visit their website here for fare prices and bookings .

Byron Bay – 2 nights

Being a bit of a beach bum at heart, I loved my time in Byron Bay. I was there for Christmas Day and so I didn’t do much other than checking out the hippie vibe and taking a break from the city scene before heading to Brisbane.

I definitely recommend including at least 2 nights here. There’s plenty to see and do as well as just enjoying the laid back atmosphere of the town itself. Consider a day tour to Nimbin, something I didn’t get a chance to do myself.

Brisbane – 3 nights

Unlike Melbourne and Sydney, Brisbane isn’t filled with Instagram famous sights like Sydney Harbour or Hosier Lane in Melbourne. It has a lazy charm of it’s own though, with a manmade beach and the Brisbane sign in the South Bank area offering a relaxing days sightseeing.

There are also day tour options to Moreton Island and Australia Zoo, as well as river dinner cruises and the chance to see the southern part of the Great Barrier Reef. Some Fraser Island tours offer pick up and drop off in Brisbane, although this does cost considerably more than leaving from Hervey Bay or Rainbow Beach (or even Noosa), so I only advise doing this if you don’t plan on heading further north up the coast.

Hervey Bay – 1 night

Hervey Bay is one of the starting points for the very popular Fraser Island experience (the others are Rainbow Beach, Noosa and Brisbane). We made our own way from Brisbane to Hervey Bay using the Greyhound bus service and stayed there overnight, meeting our Fraser Island tour bus the following morning.

Hervey Bay is a nice little town, with some decent bars and restaurants but doesn’t really call for any longer than a quick overnight stop between other locations or activities.

Fraser Island – 4 days and 3 nights

If I were to urge you to do just one thing during your time in Australia, a Fraser Island tour would absolutely be it. I visited 12 years ago on my first visit to Oz and was certain that I wanted to go back this time.

There are various tours available, from shorter 1 night/2 day visits, to a 4 night/5 day experience. Viator.com is always a good starting point to see what tours are available, although it is generally cheaper to book the tours directly with the provider once you’ve decided on what you want to do.

We took the 4 day/3 night Cool Dingo tour with Adventure Free tours and were very impressed with the package. It was great value for money with a professional guide to do all the 4 wheel driving so we could just sit back and relax.

Agnes Water – 2 nights

Agnes Water is another small town that I absolutely recommend stopping in for a night or 2. We originally included it because I wanted to take the Scooteroo tour, where we would have dressed in leathers with fake tattoos and ridden mini Harleys around at sunset.

When we got there though, it was seriously too hot for wearing leathers, so we decided to take a local tour instead, visiting a kangaroo sanctuary and seeing some other local sights before enjoying wine and nibbles on the beach at sunset.

Overnight bus to Airlie Beach to board our Whitsundays tour – 1 night

Whitsundays sailing tour.

This was another of our organised tours where we decided to splurge a little bit. It’s honestly pretty difficult to have a DIY experience of the Whitsundays. There are ferries between the islands so it is possible to some extent. But to have the full experience of living on the sea for a few nights, it’s best to book a tour.

Once again, we booked with Adventure Free tours as they were offering great value packages, and had lots of different options with dates and trip durations. We chose a 3 day/3 night experience on an old sailing boat and absolutely loved it.

Airlie Beach – 1 night

We had a quick stop in Airlie Beach for one night after our Whitsundays sailing trip. I definitely recommend spending at least one night here before moving on as most of the sailing trips organise some sort of “after party” type event somewhere in Airlie Beach where you can spend an evening with your new BFFs before saying goodbye.

Be sure to check out the Airlie Beach lagoon. I found it just as impressive as the more famous one in Cairns, and much less crowded and more chilled, even though we were there on a Saturday afternoon.

Magnetic Island – 2 nights

This was another destination where our plans completely changed from what we had originally hoped to do. Magnetic Island is relatively small but has quite a lot of wildlife. One of the popular things to do is to rent an open top jeep and drive around the island spotting kangaroos and koalas in the wild.

The jeeps apparently book up quickly so it’s best to arrange rental in advance. The weather warnings had been pretty unpredictable though so we decided to wait and try our luck on the day if the weather was on our side.

On our arrival on the island, the weather was fabulous but we both agreed to skip the jeep tour and just enjoy a lazy day by the hostel pool. However, due to another unexpected change, we had a front row seat (from our sea view room) of a very impressive thunderstorm.

Townsville – 1 night

This was another quick stop after our return from Magnetic Island. We have a friend from Ireland who lives in Townsville, so we planned a quick catch up and a one night stay at the Rambutan hostel. Townsville is big and impressive and we both wished we could stay longer.

Read my full review of the excellent Rambutan hostel in Townsville here .

Cairns – 6 nights

Honestly, 6 nights in Cairns felt like too long. It was one of my least favourite places we visited on the entire trip, and I wished that we had spent longer in Agnes Water or Townsville instead of spending so long in Cairns.

A visit to the Great Barrier Reef is obviously a must while in the area, and there’s an opportunity to skydive in Cairns itself or at Mission Beach. I also recommend taking the Kuranda Railway and spending a few hours in Kuranda, a pretty little town surrounded by the Daintree rainforest.

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The ULTIMATE 6-week Australia Itinerary of the East Coast & Beyond!

Guest blogger and author of TheFlainsTravel.com , Jordie Flain, takes the wheel of the Greyhound blog to share an epic 6-week Australia itinerary of the East Coast and beyond, perfect for a short sabbatical.

Posted in: Itineraries

A Six Week Australia Itinerary From Sydney

Last updated: October 14, 2020 . Written by Laurence Norah - 2 Comments

In this post, the second on travelling to Australia for around six weeks, I propose an itinerary for travellers starting their adventure in Sydney.

This is partly to answer a question posed to me recently by some friends who are doing this very thing, and secondly because I think it’s a fairly common trip to take.

If you missed the first post , that one covers things to consider like transport options and the climate. This one focuses on the nitty gritty of the actual trip, in weekly itinerary form, for a six week trip, highlighting some of the most amazing parts that this country has to offer. Enjoy!

A six week road trip from Sydney to the Red Centre

I’m going to go with a road trip for this itinerary because I think it’s the best way to see the country over a six week period. Normally I’d advise saving money by buying a vehicle and then selling it at the end of the trip – but this might be a bit much hassle for a trip lasting only six weeks. If you’re confident in your salesmanship though, then go for it. It should work out cheaper!

Australia six week itinerary Painted desert Australian Outback Coober Pedy clouds sky.png

My favourite part of Australia has to be the vast and incredible nothing that is the outback.The endless open road, the scorched earth look – there is nothing like it. So a road trip to the middle to visit the world’s most famous rock would be my perfect trip

But that’s not to say in your six weeks you couldn’t do a bit more than see the outback. Here’s what I’d do over that six weeks:

Week one – Sydney, Blue Mountains, Canberra.

Sydney is one of Australia’s most iconic cities, so any trip to Australia that starts in Sydney needs to include some time in this place. You’ll want an absolute minimum of two days – partly because there is so much to see, and partly because you’ll probably be recovering from jet lag!

Sydney opera house at night - New South Wales - Ausralia

After some time spent exploring Sydney, you’ll want to head out into the country side. So saddle up your ride, pack the tent (or book a hostel / hotel, whichever works for you!), and head east. First stop, the Blue Mountains.

Located just about 100km west of Sydney, the Blue Mountains are a really incredible collection of mountain mesa’s and deep forested valleys, with great views and excellent hiking opportunities. The town of Katoomba is an excellent base from which to explore the area.

From here I’m going to recommend finishing off the first week or so with a trip down to Australia’s capital, just to take in the weirdness that is Canberra . Here you can wander perplexed around the highly designed city, pop into parliament, and wonder quite why anyone would want to visit.

Distance covered, aprox 450km. Total trip distance, aprox. 450km.

Weeks two and three – Canberra to Port Fairy

From Canberra I’d head south down to the coast via the wonderful alpine scenery of the Kosciuszko National Park . This is home to Australia’s highest mountain, and keen hikers might want to head deeper into the park for more exploration, either of this park or the neighbouring Snowy River National Park. Then it’s time to hit Australia’s southern coastline.

Clouds on Mount Bogong - Victoria - Australia

Along the coast to Melbourne there is stunning coastal scenery, including the gorgeous ninety mile beach. Of particular interest on this route is the Wilsons Promontory National Park , home to some really quite fabulous white sandy beaches, scenery and hiking. Worth a couple of days of your time, at least.

From here it’s a quick trip up to Melbourne , Victoria’s capital city and a rival with Sydney for coolest Australian city. Here you’ll find great food, great bars, and a relaxed laid back style.

If you can tear yourself away from Melbourne, it’s time to take in one of the world’s greatest road trips: the Great Ocean Road. This runs along the Victorian coastline from just outside Melbourne to Port Campbell.

Here you will find funky surfer seaside towns, incredible coastal views such as the twelve apostles, lighthouses and magnificent coastal rainforest. Little wonder that this stretch of road regularly makes top ten lists of the worlds greatest road trips.

Distance covered, aprox 1200km. Total trip distance, aprox 1650km)

Week four – Port Fairy to Broken Hill

Done with the great ocean road, it is time to turn your nose back inland and head for the outback town of Broken Hill . On the way, I’d recommend stopping off in the Grampians National Park for some rather fine bush walking and scenery.

North of Halls Gap you’ll head up towards the town of Mildura, where a great deal of Victoria’s fruit production takes place. It also used to be home to the longest bar in the world, but that is long gone. You will also pass the Murray Sunset National Park , where you will start getting used to seeing the kind of sunsets that only outback Australia can produce. Enjoy!

Outback sunset - Western Australia - Australia

The stretch of road north of Mildura to Broken Hill will introduce you to properly arid outback scenery. We’re talking brown / red dirt, dried out lake beds and endlessly blue skies. This is also mining country, so the odd giant mining pit will loom.

The city of Broken Hill was a real frontier environment back in the day, and it is Australia’s oldest lived-in mining city. Mining is really big here, which you’ll notice very quickly – even the street names are all mineral themed.

Classic outback scenery Australia road trip

Since you’re at Broken Hill already, you should take a side trip to the ghost town of Silverton , about 25km away. Here you’ll find a small artistic community, and the remains of what was once a thriving mining village, now long abandoned. You’ll also find an excellent pub, which happened to be the filming location of Mad Max 2 . Totally worth the trip.

Distance covered, aprox 900km. Total trip distance, aprox 2550km)

Week five – Broken Hill to Coober Pedy

The last couple of weeks of this trip require quite a bit more driving. At this point in the adventure, the scale and vastness of Australia’s outback become apparent, as the highlights along the route become further and further apart.

Still, a road trip in Australia is always going to involve some driving, right? Practice your outback wave (one finger raised off the wheel will suffice), watch out for kangaroos, and pop some tunes on the stereo. Life, you will realise, doesn’t get much better than this.

From Broken Hill you have a couple of options, depending on how adventurous you are feeling, to get to Coober Pedy . You can head across to Port Augusta and then up the nice and safe Stuart Highway, or you can go properly outback, read the terrifying warning signs, and take on the Oodnadatta Track.

If you and your vehicle are up to it, then I can highly recommend the latter option. This is a classic bit of outback driving which will give you an unforgettable adventure. On the way you will be able to experience the beautiful Flinders Ranges , take a side trip to the Mars like terrain of Arkaroola , and stop off at the vast dried out lake bed of Lake Eyre . You’ll even see the weirdness of Planehenge at the Mutonia Sculpture Park. Totally worth it.

Finally, after covering a whole lot of road, you’ll pull in to Coober Pedy , the opal mining town where everyone lives underground. This has to be seen to be believed. It’s also close to some seriously funky local attractions, including the Moon Plain, and the Painted Desert, both of which are worth the extra bit of driving.

Distance covered, aprox 1150km. Total trip distance, aprox 3700km)

Week six – Coober Pedy to Alice Springs

From Coober Pedy you can either head back on to the Oodnadatta Track and keep on experiencing the wonder of outback dirt road driving, or you can plough on up the Stewart Highway. This section of the road trip really just requires a lot of driving, so the Stewart Highway may be the best option at this point.

The highlights along this section of road become few and far between – you are basically aiming for Uluru, and you need to cover ground to get there. I can recommend stopping off at a roadhouse for a night, though, to experience true outback hospitality with a whole host of characters, from cowboys to truckers. You’ll likely have a night you’ll never forget… if you can remember it that is.

A great deal (seriously great) of driving later, and you will arrive at the world’s most amazing rock, where you will suddenly find yourself surrounded by people, which will come as a bit of a shock after a couple of weeks of driving and barely seeing another soul.

Uluru is an incredible place, although you will not be experiencing it alone. I can recommend quelling the urge to run screaming from the hordes of tourists, of which you are one, and just take it all in. Do the sunset watching thing, walk around the rock (or up it, if you don’t mind ignoring 40,000 years of aboriginal tradition), and enjoy yourself. Just make sure you also head over to the Olgas too, the other, less well known rock formation in the area.

Then, once you’re all rocked out, it’s back onto the highway for the final stretch of driving to Alice Springs . On the way up, you really should take the time to stop off at Kings Canyon , which is another spectacular bit of outback geology. Then, arrive into Alice, from where you can explore the amazing MacDonnell ranges, and this road trip ends.

Distance covered, aprox 1250km. Total trip distance, aprox 4950km)

This trip describes an ideal scenario where you can hire a vehicle in Sydney, finish your trip in Alice Springs and fly home. It should be pointed out that one way rentals usually carry a supplement over a return trip, as someone has to return the vehicle to where it started from.

If you go for the purchasing option, you may be better off continuing up to Darwin or even across to Cairns and trying to sell there, although for the distances involved, this may not be worth the added expense. Maybe you can find someone looking to do something similar in reverse, and sell the car to them. Or, find a very dear friend willing to lend you a car 😉

A trip of this magnitude is always going to need some planning and forethought. However, I believe that this route really showcases some of Australia’s most magnificent scenery, from rainforest to beaches to outback, in a slightly compressed timescale. If you have the funds and will, then it’s totally worth doing!

Finally, here’s a Google Map of this route for your to peruse:

There are 2 comments on this post

Please scroll to the end to leave a comment

16th February 2019 at 9:52 am

Why on earth would you go to Broken Hill rather than via Adelaide? By far the prettiest capital city, surrounded by vineyards and beaches rather than by arid dust. If you think thsi is the best way to spend six weeks in Australia you’ve clearly not been to the best parts. Yorke Peninsula, Flinders Ranges, Kangaroo Island, Coffin Bay? You’ve bypassed all of them.

Laurence Norah says

17th February 2019 at 2:03 pm

Thanks for your comment and feedback. This was the route I took, because I preferred the outback of Australia, which for me is the more unique and most beautiful part of the country. One man’s arid dust is another man’s paradise I guess! But of course everyone will have their own preferences. I spent a year driving around Australia, and it still wasn’t enough to see it all, and I did visit many of the locations you mention. Hopefully other readers will find inspiration in your comment 🙂

Safe travels!

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Your Perfect Australia Itinerary For 1-4 Weeks

Post last modified: January 3, 2024
Post category: 10+ Days / Australia / Itineraries

Australia is huge! Like the size of the continental U.S. huge. So don’t assume you can see it all in a few days. You need a month or more to travel to all of the territories in Australia. And Australia can be expensive. However, Australia is also the most amazing place we’ve ever been! And we want you to have an amazing Australian vacation too. So we’ve put together our three week Australia itinerary that includes all the best stops along the Eastern coast. We’ve also included plenty of suggestions to help you plan a 1, 2, 3, or 4 week Australia itinerary that is perfect for you.

Stuff In This Post

How Many Days In Australia Is Enough?

You need at least one week to see just one or two regions of Australia. If you want to see all the main tourism areas you’ll need at least one month.

How To Plan Your Perfect Australia Itinerary?

First, you need to decide how much time you have. Next, you need to decide what you really want to see. Sure Cairns has the Great Barrier Reef , but if you don’t like snorkeling or scuba diving, do you really want to spend time there? So what is important to you?

We’ve broken down popular travel regions and listed how many days we think you need to visit that location. You can easily piece together your own itinerary with all of these mini itineraries.

New South Wales – 1 week

Sydney – 3 days
Sydney Day Trips – 1-2 days
Pacific Coast road trip – 3-4 days

Northern Territory – 4 days

Alice Springs – 1 day
Uluru – 3 days

Queensland – 1+ week

Cairns – 4 days ( Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest)
Brisbane – 1 day
The Queensland Coast – 4-5 days

South Australia – 3 days

Adelaide – 2 days
Kangaroo Island – 1 day

Tasmania – 5 days

Victoria – 5 days

Melbourne – 2 days
Phillip Island – 1 day
Great Ocean Road – 2 days

Western Australia – 9+ days

Perth – 2 days
Western Coast Road Trip – 1+ week

How To Get Around Australia?

First, several areas of Australia are perfect for the road trip! And traveling by car in Australia is easy to do. It’s also much cheaper to rent a car in Australia than in the US – something about insurance – which was really nice. Road trips are an affordable way to get around Australia. However, gas can be expensive so make sure you get a vehicle that has good gas milage.

However, Australia is HUGE – did we mention that already. So you can’t drive everywhere unless you have unlimited time. And quite honestly there are some places that you wouldn’t enjoy the drive either. This is where domestic Australian flights come in. Those are also really cheap compared with domestic flights in the US.

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So using a combination of domestic Australian flights and scenic road trips you’ll be able to see all of Australia without breaking the budget.

Three Week Australia Itinerary

This is the three week Australia itinerary that we followed. It was our favorite vacation we’ve ever taken and also one of the cheapest per day. Feel free to use the entire vacation or pick and choose days to make your own perfect Australia itinerary.

Day 1 – Arrive in Australia

A big portion of your morning will likely be spent arriving in Australia and getting your rental car. Most international Australian flights from the U.S. arrive in Sydney so you’ll likely have to take a connecting flight to Melbourne to start this Australia itinerary. We arrived in Melbourne around 11 AM and started this itinerary from there.

First things first, listen to Down Under by Men At Work to start your vacation right!

Then drive straight through Melbourne and on to Phillip Island.

Stay overnight on Phillip Island in a cute home rental.

Day 2 – Phillip Island

On our first day in Australia, we took it easy as we adjusted to the time difference. And what is more relaxing than seeing Australian critters and walking the beach?

While you await the nightly Penguin Parade, consider walking along the beaches or visiting the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit . We would have liked to visit the Grand Prix for a tour but there was an actual event happening when we visited so we walked the beaches instead. However, we did notice that most beaches in the area were beautiful but the waves were too aggressive for swimming when we visited.

Next, head to the Phillip Island Nature Park . Here you’ll get great views of the ocean and you’ll probably spot your first kangaroo/wallaby.

PS: We asked several Australians how to tell the difference between kangaroos and wallabies and the answer was size. When we asked how to tell the difference between a big wallaby and a small kangaroo, no one could tell us.

Grab a quick dinner before it gets dark.

Once it gets dark, the Penguin Parade begins. Grab your tickets ahead of time and come ready to spot the cute tiny penguins as they go to their burrows from the ocean at the end of the day.

Stay overnight on Phillip Island again.

Day 3 – Melbourne

First, wake up early to start your journey back into Melbourne .

Spend the day exploring Melbourne. Keep in mind that there is a free tram that goes through the Central Business District of Melbourne that you can use for all of your transportation needs. So find somewhere to park your car for the day. We chose Melbourne accommodations that had free parking.

For a full list of fun things to do in Melbourne, check out our post here.

Our most highly recommended piece of Melbourne advice for your day is to visit the Queen Victoria Market for lunch. This farmers market meets flea market is a great place to sample some of the local Australian fare. We bought little snacks throughout the market to make up our lunch.

Next, spend your evening enjoying a game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. There are games almost every night and any game is impressive in this stadium.

Stay overnight in Melbourne.

Day 4 – The Great Ocean Road

First, drive west of Melbourne to take the greatest road trip of all time, The Great Ocean Road . This is one of the best road trips we’ve ever been on. The views are gorgeous.

For this part of your Australia itinerary, you’ll drive as far west as you can get in the day along the coast. The Twelve Apostles are the show stopper along this road trip so plan to spend most of your time enjoying these viewpoints.

For more information on visiting the Twelve Apostles, check out the guide here.

Stay overnight along the Great Ocean Road; we stayed in a home rental in Port Campbell .

Day 5 – The Great Ocean Road

You may be able to spend a bit of your day continuing west to finish up any Twelve Apostle sights that you weren’t able to see yesterday.

Then, head back east to Melbourne along the inland road.

Here, you’ll want to spend plenty of time exploring the oldest rainforest and looking for koalas in the wild.

For more details on this two day Great Ocean Road Trip, check out our complete itinerary here.

**Alternative transportation option** We like driving ourselves around and the freedom that gives us. However, if you don’t, you could forgo the self drive options here and ditch the rental car. There are Phillip Island half-day trips and Great Ocean road overnight trips that you can take with tour companies from Melbourne. By buying from this link , we’ll earn a commission at no extra cost to you so we can afford to keep this blog up and running.

Head back into Melbourne and stay overnight near the airport .

Day 6 – Travel and Kuranda

First, catch an early morning flight from Melbourne to Cairns. This flight, with airport and travel time, took about 6 hours. You’ll need an early morning flight if you want to have time to visit Kuranda.

Next, take a taxi from the airport to your accommodations and get your bags stored before heading to Kuranda . You will not need a rental car in Cairns as you can rely on tours to get you around. Take the tram car up to the mountain to explore Kuranda before taking the railroad back down.

Finally, spend the evening walking along the Esplanade Boardwalk and exploring the town of Cairns. Most shops along the boardwalk stay open late.

For more ideas on things to do in Cairns, check out our post here.

Lastly, eat at Prawn Stars . Period. The coolest seafood restaurant we’ve ever been to.

Stay overnight in Cairns . Try to stay somewhere with free luggage storage so you can leave extra luggage on land when you explore the Great Barrier Reef. Lots of hotels in the area offer this as reef tours here are popular.

Day 7 & 8 – The Great Barrier Reef

Next, spend two days on a live aboard dive trip or an overnight snorkeling trip exploring the Great Barrier Reef . This is a bucket list worthy adventure and you need two days to do it. This is because most of the best dive sites are farther out and take several hours to get to. Two days exploring the Great Barrier Reef is totally worth the extra money this overnight tour will cost you. Read more about our tour here.

Return to Cairns in the evening and stay another night there.

Day 9 – Daintree National Park

Take a day tour into the Daintree National Park . Most day trips include visits to Port Douglas, Cape Tribulation and plenty of time in the rainforest.

Stay overnight in Cairns.

Day 10 – Brisbane

First, get another early morning flight from Cairns to Brisbane for the final leg of your trip. We caught another early flight and were in Brisbane before lunch. Once in Brisbane, rent a car as you’ll be driving the Pacific Coast from Brisbane to Sydney.

You’ll likely arrive in the afternoon and there are two great options. First, you can drive a few hours to the Australia Zoo . Alternatively, you can drive a little less for an amazing beach just outside of Brisbane. Some of the best beaches are along this stretch of the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast. Whatever you choose to do it will be fabulous.

Stay overnight in Brisbane.

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary - kangaroo feeding

Day 11 – Brisbane

Next, spend the day exploring Brisbane.

For a full list of activities, check out the things to do in Brisbane here.

Whatever you end of doing, make sure to check out the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary . This is one of the best zoos we’ve ever been to and the opportunity to interact with Australian critters here is amazing.

Check out our full post on what to expect at Lone Pine here.

Day 12-15 – Australia’s Pacific Coast

Spend 4 days making your way down the sunshine coast as you drive one of Australia’s best road trips.

Want more information on all of the stops, we wrote all about our road trip here.

One the end of day 14 of this Australia itinerary, stay overnight in Newcastle .

Day 16 – The Blue Mountains

Start early in the morning so you can spend one full day exploring the Blue Mountains . Additionally, don’t forget to take a tour of the Jeolan Caves as well.

To learn more about our one day Blue Mountain itinerary, check out our post here.

Stay overnight in a home stay in Katoomba.

Day 17 – Bondi Beach

First, spend the morning driving to Sydney, specifically Bondi Beach . Spend a few hours here relaxing and soaking up the sun. After you’re done at the beach, do all or part of the Bondi to Coogee Coastal walk .

Next, return your rental car. You won’t need it to get around Sydney if you are staying near public transport so this will save you a bit of money. Then head to your Sydney accommodations to get checked in a drop off luggage.

Stay overnight near public transportation in Sydney .

Day 18 – Sydney Sights

Spend the first day in Sydney doing a hop-on-hop-off tour of Sydney . We love these types of tours in large cities as it gives us an opportunity to learn about everything but only focus time on the things that interest us.

However, there are two sights that every Sydney visitor needs to see and that is the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera house .

For the breakdown of how we spent our time in Sydney, check out our detailed Sydney itinerary here.

Day 19 – More Sydney

Spend the final day of your Australia itinerary, exploring more of Sydney. There is plenty of history and nature to explore in Sydney. Don’t forget to stop in at the Australian Museum to learn all about the country you’ve been tramping around for the past three weeks of this Australian itinerary.

For a full list of popular things to do in Sydney, check out our list here.

Day 20 – travel home.

Finally, wake up and enjoy your last breakfast in Australia on this final day of your Australia itinerary. Catch a flight home.

Want To Adjust the Australia Itinerary?

One australia itinerary.

With one week in Australia, most people stick to New South Wales. Honestly, this wasn’t our favorite area in Australia . However, it is the region with the most to do packed into the smallest area, which makes it a great spot if you are short on time. It also makes it cheaper as you have to spend less on transportation costs.

Day 1-3 – Sydney – follow Days 17-19 above
Day 4 – Blue Mountains – follow Day 16 above
Day 5-7 – Drive Australia’s Pacific Coast from Sydney to Brisbane, make sure to stop at least one night in Byron Bay

Additionally, with one week in Australia, you could pick two cities to base yourself in and then explore farther afield with days trips.

Our suggestion would be Melbourne and Cairns, our two favorite cities in Australia.

Day 1 – Melbourne
Day 2-3 – Great Ocean Road trip
Day 4 – fly to Cairns, see Cairns
Day 5-6 – Great Barrier Reef liveaboard
Day 7 – Daintree Rainforest tour

However, we understand that most people want to see Sydney on a Australian vacation . So this one week in Australia itinerary includes Cairns and Sydney.

Day 1-2 – Sydney – follow Days 17-18 above
Day 3 – Blue Mountain day trip

Two Week Australia Itinerary

Two weeks in Australia is possibly the hardest Australia itinerary to decide upon. Because you can see a ton of different things OR you can really delve in to a few areas and do some road trips. We would recommend visiting Cairns, Sydney and Melbourne and doing short trips from those areas.

Day 1-2 – Melbourne, with a day trip (or half day trip) to Phillip island
Day 3-4 – Great Ocean Road trip
Day 5 – fly to Cairns, see Cairns
Day 6-7 – Great Barrier Reef liveaboard
Day 8 – Daintree Rainforest tour
Day 9 – fly to Sydney
Day 10-12 – Sydney , follow days 17-19 above
Day 13-14 – Blue Mountains

Four Week Australia Itinerary

With four weeks in Australia, you can add in a visit to Uluru. Honestly, most three week Australia itineraries include a visit to Uluru and skip Victoria. However, when we visited Australia, we’d just got done spending a lot of time in Arizona, so we were kinda desert rock-ed out. However, with four weeks in Australia, you can visit Victoria, then South Australia, the Northern Territory, then Queensland and lastly New South Wales.

Days 1-5 – Victoria – follow the Day 1-5 itinerary above
Day 6 – Continue driving the Great Ocean Road on to Adelaide
Day 7 – Take a day trip to Kangaroo Island
Day 8 – Explore Adelaide in the morning, Fly to Alice Springs in the afternoon
Day 9 – Explore Alice Springs
Day 10-13 – Explore Uluru , including Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon
Day 14-17 – Queensland – follow the Day 6-9 itinerary above
Day 18-28 – New South Wales – follow the Day 10-20 itinerary above

We hope that this three week Australian itinerary has helped you to plan your own Australia vacation. If you need more inspiration for planing your Australian vacation, check out all of our Australia posts here.

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6 Weeks Backpacking Australia

Well, this is going to be a big post! Somehow, I'm going to attempt to summarize every single fantastic thing I squeezed into the six weeks I backpacked around Australia. I've seen it all: from big cities to small villages, stunning beaches to mountaintop views.

I've taken 9 coaches, 12 ferries and 9 flights, hundreds of buses, trams, shuttles and trains and stayed in 17 hostels. I've gone hiking, biking, swimming, roadtripping, snorkeling, sand-boarding and even tried surfing.

I've seen koalas, parrots, kangaroos, lizards, pelicans, cockatoos, quokkas, wild goats, sting rays, crabs, crocodiles, dolphins, dingoes, eagles, coral, puffer fish, wild horses, sheep, manta rays, turtles, snakes and wallabies and discovered more about this country than I ever knew before.

Plenty of people have visited and explored Australia, but many people I spoke to said that trying to cram the entire country into such a short period of time was an unachievable goal. Well, I'm here to give you my entire detailed itinerary on how I did this life-changing trip so that perhaps you can embark on such an adventure yourself, too.

Before you get started down under, check out my detailed guide on everything to do before you go from visas to vaccinations, insurance to planning and everything in between.

The currency here is the Australian Dollar. Due to the 2.5% Visa charge on every purchase made with your credit card, I highly recommend taking money out of an ATM once or twice per month and paying most everything in cash. Although you have to pay a fee when you withdraw money, in the long run this fee is substantially smaller than the Visa charge. Keep in mind also that Australia is fairly expensive in comparison to other backpacking destinations. Budget about $80-$100 a day to cover your accommodations, food, transport and activities.

In the summer, Australia gets crazy hot. Particularly important, especially with the ozone hole in this part of the world, is to constantly apply sunscreen against the burns that can spring up on you. Wear a hat to protect your head from the sun rays and avoid spending too much time with uncovered skin in direct sunlight. Always remember to reapply after you've been in the water. I highly recommend bringing plenty of thin t-shirts so you can keep your shoulders covered.

Getting Around

Australia is big. Really, really big. Sometimes you can hop on a long bus journey to your next destination but often, it is actually cheaper and quicker to fly. JetStar and Tiger Air are Australia's main low-cost carriers but be wary as they can quickly add extra fees with luggage and seats! Qantas and Virgin Australia are Australia's better quality but often more expensive airlines. Also be aware that from each airport, transferring to the city usually costs $15-$20 each way. Within most cities, transit is great. Sydney especially has a wide-reaching transport system including buses, trains and ferries that allow you to get practically anywhere.

I highly recommend getting yourself a SIM card for while you're traveling in Australia so you can access Google Maps while you're out and not get lost! Just stop by a vendor at the airport and pick up a SIM card. One of the biggest networks is Vodafone and you're very likely to be able to score up to 20GB of data plus some international calling and texting for under $40.

Accommodation

Expect to pay between $25-$50 per night in a decent hostel, which you'll want to book in advance during high season to guarantee a spot (November-March). I have found that the price when booking directly from the hostel's website is always cheaper than even the cheapest HostelWorld or Booking.com rates because those sites charge a separate booking fee!

Food & Water

Australia is expensive, so in order to stretch your money further, avoid going out to eat for your meals. You can pick up cheap groceries in most places - I recommend Woolworth's, Cole's, IGA or Aldi. Almost every hostel I stayed in had a kitchen for guests to use which included big fridges to store your food. Also good to know is that most hostels have a basket for leftover food that other guests have had to leave behind as they move on with their travels! Remember also to always carry a reusable water bottle with you and fill it up at water refill stations as you go to stay hydrated in the heat. Check out my detailed guide about what to eat while traveling here!

Sydney, 6 nights

ARRIVE: fly into Sydney International Airport and catch the AirportLink train into the city.

GET AROUND: purchase an Opal Card at the airport to use on all trains, buses and ferries around Sydney. I spent approximately $40 during the week on public transport.

STAY: I cannot say enough good things about Wake Up! Hostel right across the street from Central Station.

DO: walk around the city to see the Opera House, Royal Botanical Gardens, Harbour Bridge, Sydney Observatory and the State Library. Spend a day on the beach at Bondi and then walk along the coast to Coogee. Tackle the 10km hike from Manly to Spit, one of the most beautiful walks I've done. Watch the fireworks every Saturday at Darling Harbour in the summer.

DAY TRIPS: head out to the Blue Mountains to spot waterfalls and viewpoints. Go bushwalking in Royal National Park.

READ MORE: check out my detailed guide about how to spend a week in Sydney.

Bondi Beach

Watsons Bay

Manly to Spit Walk

Canberra, 1 night

ARRIVE: take a Murray's bus from Sydney Central Station to Jolimont Centre in Canberra.

GET AROUND: the transit system here is called MyWay, but for just a day or two you're better off just paying cash to the bus drivers. It's $5 for a single trip (with 90 minute transfer) or $9.60 for a day pass.

STAY: since it's not as touristy, there aren't many hostel options. Canberra City YHA is a good choice for its central location.

DO: walk around the city to see all the free national institutions. The Capital Exhibition, the Library, the Gallery, the Museum and the International Flag Display all show important and interesting Australian history. Pay $2 to walk around the Old Parliament House before tackling the 1-hour return hike up Mount Ainslie to view Canberra from above.

READ MORE: check out my detailed guide about how to spend a day in Canberra.

National Library at Lake Burley Griffin

Mount Ainslie Lookout

Melbourne, 4 nights

ARRIVE: fly from Canberra to Melbourne; TigerAir flights are cheap and take approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes. Take the SkyBus for $19 from the airport to Southern Cross Station and make your way from there.

GET AROUND: trams in inner Melbourne are free, but to head out of the free zone, you'll need to purchase a myki card for trains and buses.

STAY: there's loads of options in this backpacker-friendly city; Flinder's Backpackers has a great central location and daily free breakfast.

DO: spend a day walking around town to visit some of the acclaimed attractions such as the art alleyways, the National Gallery of Victoria and the beautiful Shrine of Remembrance. Head south to see the bright boxes at Brighton Beach.

DAY TRIPS: hop on a tour to see the best part of the area: the Great Ocean Road . Favourite stops included Mait's Rest Rainforest Walk, Gibson Steps, Loch Ard Gorge and the famous 12 Apostles (of which there are not twelve!).

READ MORE: check out my detailed guide about how to spend a week in Melbourne.

Hosier Lane

Great Ocean Road

Brighton Bathing Boxes

Launceston, 2 nights (add 6 nights if hiking Overland Track)

ARRIVE: fly roundtrip to the island state of Tasmania from Melbourne to Launceston. From Launceston Airport, the shuttle will drop you off in the city for $15 one-way.

GET AROUND: Tasmanian public transport is practically non-existent, with many of the most beautiful places being impossible to visit without a car. If you don't have your own wheels, I suggest picking a few things you really want to see and booking a tour.

STAY: there's plenty of boutique hotels around, but in terms of hostels your options are numbered. Launceston Backpackers offers cheap and central accommodation in the heart of Launceston.

DO: spend a day exploring town, stopping to grab a sweet treat at Charlie's Dessert House before heading off to explore Cataract Gorge. Visit the Japanese monkeys in City Park and, if you're there on a Sunday, enjoy the live music.

DAY TRIPS: Take a tour to some of Tasmania's more famous and more isolated areas such as Bay of Fires and Bridestowe Lavender Estate. Have more time? Head to Hobart to climb Mount Wellington, stopping in Wineglass Bay along the way. Make a pit stop on Bruny Island to climb The Neck. If you've got a week to spare, I highly recommend hiking on the world-famous Overland Track at Cradle Mountain.

READ MORE: check out my detailed guide about how to spend a weekend in Launceston.

Cataract Gorge

jana meerman bridestowe lavender farm launceston (6)

Bridestowe Lavender Estate

Bay of Fires

Perth, 6 nights

ARRIVE: from Launceston, it's actually cheaper to book a roundtrip Melbourne-Launceston when you visit the island and then to book a one-way to Perth. Flights Launceston-Perth are pricey! From the airport, the #380 Bus goes into town and $4.80 will get you a 2-hour 2-zone pass.

GET AROUND: within Perth, I recommend walking to the local attractions as everything is quite close together. If you're heading down to and Cottesloe Beach, the Fremantle Line train takes about 20 minutes. A day pass for all transport in all zones costs $12.80.

STAY: Perth has plenty of budget accommodation to choose from so pick something that's close to things you want to see. Ensure your choice has a kitchen (aka, not Hostel G - it's not all it's hyped up to be).

DO: spend a day exploring town visiting Yagan Square, Elizabeth Quay and especially the beautiful King's Park. Head down to Cottesloe Beach to relax in the sand. I also spent Australia Day in Perth with beautiful fireworks!

DAY TRIPS: take the 5-minute ferry to Penguin Island to meet penguins and go bird-watching in Shoalwater Islands Marine Park. Spend the day biking around Rottnest Island visiting beautiful beaches and spotting quokkas.

READ MORE: check out my detailed guide about how to spend a week in Perth.

Penguin Island

Rottnest Island

Perth to Exmouth Roadtrip, 7 nights

ARRIVE: your tour guide will likely pick you up and drop you off at a meeting point in downtown Perth. Some tours are one-way only, ending either in Exmouth or further north in Broome.

GET AROUND: there's a reason Western Australia is called the roadtrip state! If you don't have your own wheels, head to the Western Australia Visitor Centre and book a tour that takes you past the most beautiful sights on the west coast up to Exmouth and back. I booked a 7-night, 8-day tour with Red Earth Safaris .

STAY: your tour will arrange all your accommodations for you; this will likely be either camping or hosteling or a combination of both.

DO: see koalas at Yanchep National Park, try sand-boarding in Lancelin, explore Cervantes, watch sunset at the Pinnacles in Nambung National Park, feed rescued kangaroos at Greenough, feel small at the Kalbarri cliffs, wade through Pink Lake, hike the gorges of Kalbarri, float in salty water at Shell Beach, spot dolphins from the beach at Monkey Mia, see Stromatolites, the oldest creatures on the planet, spend the night under the stars at Warroora Farm, go snorkeling on the Ningaloo Reef and take in the panoramic view of the most western point of Australia in Cape Range National Park. Sound convincing? It's fantastic.

READ MORE: check out my detailed post about my fantastic Perth to Exmouth Roadtrip .

Ningaloo Reef

Greenough Wildlife Park

Monkey Mia dolphins

Uluru, 3 nights

ARRIVE: fly from Perth to Ayers Rock. JetStar and Virgin Australia do the route with a layover in Sydney or Brisbane; Qantas operates via Cairns and Alice Springs. A free AATKings resort shuttle will take you from the airport to all of the 6 accommodations in Ayers Rock.

GET AROUND: a free commuter bus drives the 20-minute loop of Yulara from 5:30am to 12:30am including stopping at Town Square with little shops and a great supermarket. Getting to Uluru and Kata Tjuta requires a 1-, 2- or 3-day pass for the hop-on, hop-off bus.

STAY: the only hostel near Uluru is the Outback Pioneer Lodge in Yulara. There are five other types of accommodations ranging from hotels to apartments to camping. The hostel is big and clean, although there are no lockers. Avoid paying $6.50 for water at reception and pick up a bottle for $1.50 at IGA.

DO: stop in at the Cultural Centre to learn about the incredible Aboriginal history. Watch sunrise at Kata Tjuta before tackling the Valley of the Winds hike. Watch sunrise over Uluru, then circumnavigate the impressive rock around the 10km base before finishing off with sunset.

READ MORE: check out my detailed guide for five things to do at Uluru.

jana meerman kata tjuta uluru sunrise (4)

Sunrise over Uluru

jana meerman kata tjuta uluru sunrise (2)

Brisbane, 4 nights

ARRIVE: fly direct from Ayers Rock to Brisbane. From Brisbane Airport, the Brisbane Airtrain will take you into the city for $19 one way.

GET AROUND: the best way to get around Brisbane is to walk and when you wish to cross the river, to take the free City Hopper ferry.

STAY: I spent 2 nights at the Breeze Lodge near Kangaroo Point. The wifi was great, there were lockers and plugs in each room and it was clean. I also spent 2 nights at the Chill Backpackers right across the street from the Roma Street train station. The location was great but there's no free wi-fi, no lockers and it wasn't very clean.

DO: take in the view of Brisbane City from Kangaroo Point before wandering the beautiful South Bank and taking a dip at Streets Beach. Explore Roma Street Parkland. Head out of the downtown core to Mount Coot-tha for great views over the city.

DAY TRIPS: head over to North Stradbroke Island for the day and catch the bus to Point Lookout to do the 1.5km North Gorge Walk along stunning beaches and pristine oceans with the chance to spot manta rays and turtles dancing in the waves! Take a day trip up to Noosa to walk around the national park to Hell's Gate and the Fairy Pools.

READ MORE: check out my detailed guide for how to spend a weekend in Brisbane.

Kangaroo Point

Stradbroke Island

Byron Bay, 4 nights

ARRIVE: take the Greyhound from Brisbane Coach Terminal to Byron Bay. The journey takes just under four hours. From the Greyhound terminal you can either catch a shuttle or walk to your accommodations in Byron Bay.

GET AROUND: the best way to get around Byron Bay town is to walk. A bike will get you a bit further afield to places like Broken Head. Wake Up! lends them out to guests for free.

STAY: after my great experience at Wake Up! in Sydney, I decided to book into Wake Up! Byron Bay . It's in the more secluded part of town, away from the major touristy things, but in bus or walking distance to all the beautiful sights Byron is known for. It's by far one of the best hostels I've ever stayed at with big, clean rooms, personal lockers, strong wi-fi, a warm and welcoming atmosphere and free bikes and surfboards!

DO: spend a day at Broken Head Nature Reserve and walk the Three Sisters Track. Try your hand at surfing at the beach. Walk the stunning Cape Byron Track along Wategos Beach, the Pass, Byron Lighthouse and Tallows Beach.

DAY TRIPS: head out to Newrybar in the hinterland for a day to rummage through delightful shops and dine on exquisite local produce.

READ MORE: check out my detailed guide for how to spend a week in Byron Bay.

Surfing at Byron Beach

Cape Byron Lighthouse

Gold Coast, 2 nights

ARRIVE: take the Greyhound from Byron Bay to the part of the Gold Coast you are staying in. There's Southport, Surfer's Paradise, Broadbeach, Currumbin and Coolangatta. In Coolangatta, you can take the bus from the Greyhound Depot to your accommodations.

GET AROUND: I stayed just outside Coolagantta just across the street from the 700 bus which runs frequently all along the towns of the Gold Coast between Tweed Heads and Broadbeach which is a few stops south of Surfer's Paradise on the train.

STAY: I checked into the YHA in Coolangatta on the beach. The wi-fi only works in the kitchen unless you're willing to pay for premium and there's no plugs by the beds, but there's a swimming pool and a free shuttle into town. Guess you win some, lose some.

DO: visit Burleigh Head National Park and then walk all the way along the Gold Coast Oceanway passing beaches and towns before ending up in Surfer's Paradise. Head into Coolangatta to visit Snapper Rocks and see all the surfers.

READ MORE: check out my detailed guide for walking the Gold Coast Oceanway.

Surfer's Paradise behind Miami Beach

Burleigh Head National Park

Due to bad weather and flooding, I was unable to finish my original itinerary which included going up the Whitsundays as well as to Cairns to see the Great Barrier Reef. I will return soon to complete these and will update this post at at that time!

6 Weeks in Australia

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE READ OUR DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO.

Last Updated on May 14, 2021 by Amy

I have very bad news for you. Let me just get this painful part out of the way; I can not narrow down this trip for you. I can not give you highlights. Because every single place we went to on our trip for 6 weeks in Australia was AMAZING.

Despite ending on a low note (our fault, not Australia’s), the whole trip was pretty amazing. We would be very hard pressed to pick a part we would leave out if you only had 5 and a half weeks.

Table of Contents - Click to Jump

All the blog posts

54 Hours in Canberra
Adelaide to Melbourne Road Trip
Melbourne Laneways Self-Guided Walking Tour
Tasmania in 8 Days
Surfing in Bondi
5 Nights in the Red Centre
Diving in Ningaloo with Sail Ningaloo
Liveaboard sailboat with Sail Ningaloo
Travel FAIL in Ningaloo Reef
Rottnest Island

Driving Versus Flying around Australia

Australia is such a huge country, and we would have loved to cover it via buying a car like we did in New Zealand . We knew we had to get to the Red Centre, and driving to the Red Centre takes far too much time out of a six-week trip. It just isn’t feasible to get to as many places as we did in six-weeks if you plan on driving. I think an east coast road trip is an amazing option if you want to get a long drive in (and buy a car). It would be cheaper, but you would miss out on the center of the country and the west coast.

Alternatively, you can use a relocation deal to get a campervan for $1 a day .

Trip Statistics

All 6 states & mainland territories
3,000 km of driving
5 scuba dives
1 surf lesson
3 awesome Milky Way shots
5 biggest cities in Australia
3 boat trips

Nights Breakdown

Canberra: 2
Adelaide: 2
Driving to Melbourne: 6
Melbourne: 4
Tasmania: 8
Kings Canyon: 1
Alice Springs: 2
Fremantle: 2
Ningaloo Reef: 5

It’s important to remember that we’ve spent a lot of additional time on the east coast already, including nearly 3 weeks in Sydney and 3 days in Brisbane . Between May 1 and mid-July we will be taking our sailboat from Scarborough (outside of Brisbane) to Thursday Island. We look forward to a lot of amazing stops between now and then.

Some of my Favorite Photos

Australian airlines.

We flew four major domestic airlines:

Jetstar Airways

Our strategy was to fly non-stop as much as possible (which we achieved) and not have to get up insanely early anywhere, so we did spend a bit more on our flights than someone who’s absolutely penny-pinching.

We got served food on every Quantas flight we took, although it was usually pretty bad. Quantas and Virgin always allowed 23 kg of luggage, versus Tigerair and Jetstar that had additional fees for luggage over 15 kg. The additional fee depends on the length of time for your flight. Additionally, Tigerair and Jetstar charge a fee to pick your seats.

I did look at booking using a third-party website for a few flights, but when I ran the numbers, it was only a few dollars more to book directly with Quantas or Virgin. Weirdly, third-party sites are allowed to advertise a lower price for these airlines, but then charge additional fees for seating, etc.

Cell phone service

My SIM card is Vodaphone, and David’s is OVO. Vodaphone did not have service in parts of Tasmania or Exmouth. OVO had service in all of Tasmania and in parts of Exmouth. Telstra is the best option if you are traveling extensively in Western Australia.

6 Weeks in Australia Trip Costs

I would say David and I have a moderate budget when traveling. We skimp on accommodations and do lots of free activities in order to eat delicious food and buy the one or two really big special activities that we got to do.

Airfare: We spent $4,500 AUD ($3,500 USD) on airfare.

Accommodations: Of 34 nights in hotels or Airbnbs, we paid an average of $130 AUD a night. That’s $4,400 total over 34 nights. The most expensive nights were at Exmouth Escape in Exmouth, WA (very nice apartment-style) and Outback Pioneer at Uluru, NT (meh).

Car Rental: We did 3 car rentals for a total of $1,300 AUD (Adelaide to Melbourne, Tasmania, and Red Centre).

Final Thoughts

We had an amazing time. We’d seen a lot of the country, and many Australians we talked to said: “wow, I’ve never been to most of these places”. Australia is such a huge and diverse country, and we are so glad to have been able to explore so much of it. And we’re not done yet!

PS. The next few blog posts are going to be boat project related! Enjoy. 🙂

Looking for more big trip ideas? How about a month (or more) in the US or 35-days in New Zealand ?

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Hi Guys, I just watched your youtube video about the race you had with Sandy Cheeks and Cheeky Monkey. I purchased Sandy Cheeks in February 2018. She is moored just around the corner from you in Newport Marina. We refueled on Sunday and saw you at Scarborough. Are you going to be around tomorrow night (Tuesday 1st May)? I would love to catch up.

Craig Symons (Sandy Cheeks)

Hey Craig! Saw your message on Facebook and replied there! Hope to see you soon!

Incredible collection of pictures, Amy. Love your posts – they are always a great read.

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East Coast Australia: 6 Week | ULTIMATE

Fully Guided

Traveled in March 2024

Places You’ll See

Fully guided group tour
Ultimate Stay at Sydney’s Number 1 Hostel
Ultimate have Direct Beach access in Byron Bay
FREE Wifi on all bus transport
2 nights at Australia’s voted number 1 Hostel 2017
Private Sydney Cruise on Ultimate Catamaran
Introduction
Day 1 Welcome to Sydney
Day 2 Sydney Harbour Cruise
Days 3 - 4 Bondi Beach and Manly Beach
Day 5 Blue Mountains
Days 6 - 8 Explore Sydney's attractions
Days 9 - 12 Byron Bay: Boho Vibes
Days 13 - 15 Surfers Paradise
Days 16 - 18 Brisbane City
Days 19 - 20 Noosa
Days 21 - 26 Rainbow Beach & (K'Gari) Fraser Island
Days 27 - 28 Airlie Beach
Days 29 - 31 Whitsunday Sailing
Days 32 - 35 Magnetic Island
Days 36 - 37 Mission Beach
Days 38 - 43 Cairns

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Customer Reviews

Overall Rating Excellent 4.4
Itinerary Excellent 4.5
Guide Excellent 4.9
Transport Excellent 4.3
Accommodation Excellent 4.1
Food Good 3.7
Tour Operator Ultimate Travel 4.6
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RL Rixt · 16th May 2024 amazing! Our tour guide Eli made sure we didn’t have to worry about anything because everything was taken care of. She was the best!! Always made sure we had something to do :) Trip date: April 2024
EB Esmee · 16th May 2024 I loved it, Eli our tourgide made it so much fun and unforgettable!! I am most grateful for these 6 weeks Trip date: March 2024

East Coast Australia: 6 Week | ULTIMATE reviewer 3

M merel · 16th May 2024 We had a very nice tour guide and everything was well organised Trip date: March 2024
O Olivia · 9th June 2020 Couldn’t of asked for a better tour guide (cheers Chloe!), honestly was amazing! Absolutely loved this guided tour, was worried it was going to feel like a school trip but honestly Chloe was more of a friend then a leader and she sorted everything out... Show more Trip date: February 2020

East Coast Australia: 6 Week | ULTIMATE customer review photo 1

MC Megan · 8th April 2020 Went on tour mid-Feb and returned at the end of March. The last 5 days or so of the trip were cancelled because of the COVID-19 outbreak, but Ultimate Travel put us up in accommodation until the ending tour date which was good of them. Other than this,... Show more Trip date: February 2020
L Lucy · 23rd March 2020 Definitely do it! It’s amazing, the people are great and the activities included are so good as well! Also the tour guide, Paul was incredible and really made my tour in Australia! He is so enthusiastic, energetic and wanted us to enjoy ourselves as... Show more Trip date: February 2020

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How to Plan the Perfect East Coast Australia Itinerary on a Budget

By: Author Taylor Lorenz

Posted on Last updated: 10/25/2023

How to Plan the Perfect East Coast Australia Itinerary on a Budget

The East Coast of Australia is a must-do for every backpacker in the country. It is the most popular route for travellers and easily has the most things to see in Australia. There is a very beaten backpacker trail as you as either go north or south so you’ll most likely run into people along your trip.

The East Coast is a very long route as you will be travelling most of the country. The first mistake people make is thinking it can be done quickly. Australia is about the size of the USA so driving the entire strech of the East Coast will take days. So even through there are so many things to do in Australia along this trip they will still take time to get to so be prepared to buckle up and plan to spend some time in Australia to really see it all.

The best part of an East Coast trip is that most places to visit in Australia are natural. From stunning beaches to gorgeous islands and even the oldest rainforest in the world, you’ll find them all and what to do in Australia in this sample itinerary.

Table of Contents

East Coast Australia Itinerary

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Daily Breakdown of My Australia Trip Itinerary

How this itinerary works: In order to accommodate itineraries varying from 2-6 weeks I list the minimum amount of days to the maximum amount of days to spend in each spot to give you a rough idea of how much there is to do in each stop along the coast. I list typical activities to do in each stop, day trips and then link to further resources to help you create the perfect itinerary for each destination.

This East Coast Australia guide is made specifically for backpacking Australia but it can also be used for anyone travelling the East Coast as it covers what to see in Australia and the best places to visit in Australia.

Suggested Time: 2-5 days

There are so many things to do in Melbourne that you could easily spend a week here. Spend a day roaming around the CBD (central business district), exploring the hidden bars and street art in the alleyways. Grab a bite to eat at one of the fabulous restaurants along the Yarra River and find a rooftop bar to hangout for the evening.

Hit up St Kilda beach for an afternoon, wander through the Botanical Gardens and don’t miss out on trying a freakshake! Melbourne is a foodies paradise so the chances are that there will be some kind of food festival going on while you’re visiting. Most of the museums are also free and you can find out tourist info in Fed Square.

There are also a number of days trips from Melbourne that are totally worth it:

Great Ocean Road : A stunning 2-day road trip or day tour, if you do any day trips from Melbourne make it this one
Philip Island : See the fairy penguins, famous because they’re so small and adorable
Yarra Valley : Wine lovers head here to one of Australia’s biggest and best wine regions for a day of tastings
Peninsula Hot Springs : Take a day to relax in the cave pool, hot springs, sauna and bath house

READ MORE: 51 Things to do in Melbourne (21 of Them are Free!)

Australia travel | Sydney | Sydney Australia things to do in

Suggested Time: 3-4 days

A stop in Sydney is a no-brainer. You simply must day a take to wander through the CBD, making your way over to the Sydney Opera House where you can stop for a drink and take in views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. From there walk through the Royal Botanic Gardens for even better views. Roam around The Rocks and find yourself at Darling Harbour for the evening for dinner and drinks.

A second day should be spent at one of the many beaches such as Bondi Beach, the most famous. Don’t skip the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk for breathtaking views of the water and beaches. And if you’re feeling adventurous try climbing the Harbour Bridge for an epic photo opp.

A third day can be spent on another beach, Manly Beach, cruising around the water or visiting the zoo .

Sydney also has a number of really great day trips:

Blue Mountains : This national park is famous for the Three Sisters. You can get here by public transport, hike around the stunning area and be back in Sydney for dinner
Hunter Valley : Another treat for wine lovers, Hunter Valley is another one of Australia’s best wine regions
Royal National Park : If want Insta pictures in those cool figure eight pools, this is where you find them
READ MORE: 5 Easy Trips from Sydney

Suggested Time: 2-3 days

With so many places to go in Australia the smaller spots are often overlooked or unherd of. Yamba is a small town that is off the beaten track but it is quickly becoming popular. It’s the perfect place to chill out for a few days on one of the 12 beaches with its laid back vibe. And if you’re Canadian you’ll find the most folks from home in Australia in this spot!

Surfers must stop here as it is home to the best surfing in Australia, is where a number of pro surfers live and the creator of Billabong. Surf lessons here are extremely cheap, I’m talking under $20 so if you want to give it a go you won’t find any cheaper.

There’s only one hostel where you can sign up for surf lessons and you must do Shane’s Yamba tour, for $15 it’s probably the cheapest tour in Australia.

Australia travel | Byron Bay | Byron Bay lighthouse

Suggested Time: 2-4 days

So many people fall in love with Byron Bay and end up staying here longer than planned. I don’t blame them and you’ll see why too. This is another top spot for surfers but has more action for those who don’t like spending so much time in the water.

Here you can still get outdoors by hiking up to the Cape Byron lighthouse and visiting the most easternly point in Australia close by. Or spend your days chilling out on one of the many beaches such as Main Beach, Clarks Beach, The Pass and more. Byron Bay is also known for its dolphins which you have a very high chance of spotting. So jump in a kayak and have a leader take you to the best lookout spots.

Byron Bay is a popular hangout for backpackers, it is also quite touristy but still has a very laid back vibe. So shop your heart out at the chain and local stores or at some of the top markets such as the Byron Bay Artisan Market (Saturday nights, October-March) and Byron Bay Markets (first Sunday of every month). And spend your evenings partying at the local bars.

There is one popular day tour from Byron Bay:

Nimbin : This small hippie town is completely stuck in the 60s and is known for its “special” treats. Many tours include waterfalls and cliff jumping too

Australia travel | Gold Coast | Surfers Paradise Australia

If you love to party you’ll love Gold Coast. Gold Coast is not actually an area like the Sunshine Coast is but a city in itself. It is the most touristy city in Australia. Despite its most popular area’s name, Surfers Paradie, the surfing is only okay. The beach itself is fine but my best advice is to only spend a few days as there are much better beaches along the coast.

You can spend a lot of time shopping and partying here. All the main tourist attractions are here and day trips can be taken to amusement parks such as Sea World, Dreamworld and many more. Plus there’s spectaular natural scenery on the city’s doorstep like these waterfalls .

In all honesty I found Brisbane to be the most boring city in Australia. However a stop here will break up your trip between Gold Coast and Noosa and it will be the last city you see until the end of the this trip!

Spend a day roaming around the CBD where there are lots of shops and make your way over to Southbank. It’s here that you’ll find the famous Brisbane sign along the river. Walk a little further and there are a ton of restaurants, a pool and a manmade beach in the middle of the city.

A trip to the city’s West End will show you the quirkier side of Brisbane with some of the city’s best restaurants and bars. The city’s best collection of art can be found at GOMA. And don’t miss the chance to hop on the free ferry for a ride down the river where you can jump off to explore more of the city. As for nightlife the trendy hot spot is Fortitude Valley.

The most popular day trip from Brisbane is:

Australia Zoo : Made famous by Steve Irwin himself, this is the biggest zoo in Australia

I’m a little obsessed with Noosa. It is hands down my favourite place in Australia, but I won’t hype it up too much. People always prefer one or the other: Noosa or Byron Bay. Noosa has an even more chill vibe, there is less partying and more beach time with sunsets.

Spend some time on the Main Beach, watch sunset from that beach or walk along it to where the river meets the ocean for even better views. Surfing here is also quite good.

But the best part about Noosa is the national park that has an amazing coastal walk. Get up early and watch the sunrise from Hell’s Gate or walk it during the day, seriously it could be a daily activity. Stop by the fairy pools for a dip in the natural pools in the rocks during low tide. Stop and just take in the stunning views and watch the surfers along the way.

Shop along the main street, Hastings Street, but bring your credit card. Window browsing is all you’ll be able to do if you’re on a budget. Though you can find cheaper places for coffee and gelato here too. Lastly take a 30 minute bus ride to the Emundi Markers which are every Wednesday and Saturday until about 1PM. There is everything here from local crafts, food, jewelry, photography and so much more.

Noosa also has popular day trips:

Noosa Everglades : There’s only two in the world, so if you love nature jump in a boat and tour to see the River of Mirrors where you can canoe or kayak, a self-guided tour is always a cheaper option
Australia Zoo : You can also do a day trip to the Australia Zoo from here as it’s about half way between Brisbane and Noosa

Fraser Island

Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world. It is a must-do trip so you can drive along the beach, star gaze, learn about the history and culture of the island and see local wildlife such as dingoes. You can do a trip to Fraser Island from one of 3 jumping off points: Noosa, Rainbow Beach or Hervey Bay. There are also options to start in Noosa and then finish in Rainbow Beach which is more north so you can continue your East Coast trip up.

I will warn you that a Fraser Island tour is not cheap but it is well worth the splurge to see this incredible place. A 2-3 day tour is recommended, but one-day tours are available if you’re limited on time.

READ MORE: The Australian Island You Can’t Miss: Fraser Island Tours with Drop Bear Adventures

Australia travel | Town of 1770 | Agnes Water

Agnes Water and Town of 1770

Suggested Time: 1-2 days

A stop here breaks up the long trip between Noosa or Rainbow Beach and Airlie Beach as bus journeys are about 9 hours between Noosa and Agnes Water and Agnes Water and Airlie Beach (be sure to get night buses!).

Agnes Water is really just a small tourist town so you don’t need long here. Stop by for some surfing (lessons here are also very cheap) or hire a bike to get to some areas for hiking such as the scenic trail to the Captain Cook monument. You could also do a Larc tour, a boat that drives on land as well as in the water.

What you absolutely can not miss is the Scooteroo tour. They’ll be given a leather jacket and will drive around Agnes Water and 1770 in a group to see the area and then watch sunset. Even if you don’t do Scooteroo a sunset is in order as the Town of 1770 is one of the best spots along the East Coast to watch.

Australia travel | Whitehaven Beach | Whitsunday Islands | Whitsundays Australia

Airlie Beach and Whitsunday Islands

In Airlie Beach itself there is not a whole lot to do. It mainly acts as a jumping-off point for the Whitsunday Islands. However you will most likely have some time to kill before of after your tour so you can chill out at the Airlie Beach lagoon, visit the beaches such as Boathaven Beach or do the coastal walk to Cannonvale Beach.

This is most certainly not a budget option but I highly recommend it. I swear a scenic flight over the Whitsunday Islands and the outer Great Barrier Reef was the best splurge I had on my trip along the coast. I paid $179 but I’ve heard you can find them for as cheap as $99! This is where you can see the famous Heart Reef.

And while you’re here don’t miss a sailing trip around the Whitsunday Islands. This is what everyone comes here to do! Spend 2-3 days on a sailboat where you can visit one of the world’s most beautiful beaches, Whitehaven Beach, snorkel the Great Barrier Reef and soak up the sun on the deck. Prices range significantly on tours and some boats are known to be party boats. I recommend using BookMe where you can find tours with big discounts or Get Your Guide because they have an awesome selection that shows you majority of the tours available.

Australia travel | Townsville Australia | Castle Hill Townsville

Townsville is another stop to help break up long trips and is also the jumping-off point for Magnetic Island. There’s no need to spend long here, you can explore the entire coastal city in just 2 days. One of the most popular things to do in Townsville is a hike to the top of Castle Hill for views of the city and Magnetic Island.

Spend some time along The Strand where you’ll find beaches, restaurants and parks. The Reef HQ is awesome for those who don’t like diving or snorkelling as you can see a ton of underwater life as it’s the largest living coral reef aquarium. Then there’s the Billabong Sanctuary where you can experience Australian wildlife and interact with the animals.

Magnetic Island

Magnetic Island is a quick half an hour ferry ride from Townsvile and one of my favourite places in Australia. The locals often refer to it as Maggie, since Australian’s shorten everything. What’s so special about this island is its unique formation of rocks that jut out to create a different landscape.

Activities on the island include lots of hiking. Some of the best trails are The Forts Walk where you can spot wild koalas and the hike to Radical Bay from Horseshoe Bay. Be sure to time getting back to Horseshoe Bay for sunset as it’s stunning with islands in the background.

If you haven’t already you can get your picture with a koala or have breakfast with koalas at Bungalow Bay which is also the hostel I recommend staying at. By far the coolest thing to do is rent one of the famous Barbie cars to cruise around to different hiking spots. It isn’t cheap but if split 4 ways it is affordable. And you must visit the rock wallabies, they are tiny wallabies that live in the rocks that are just too cute!

Mission Beach

Mission Beach is Queensland’s little secret. This small town of only 3000 people is most known for being the best spot to sky dive in Australia . My best advice is to wait until you get here to do it as you’ll fall through the sky over the Great Barrier Reef and it is the only spot in Australia to guarantee a beach landing.

If sky diving isn’t for you then you can walk along the beach, it’s perfect to because of its packed sand. Or try a day trip of white water rafting in nearby Tully. There are also hikes throughout the area in the tropical rainforest. However if you don’t have a car exploring Mission Beach is a challenge.

Australia travel | Cairns | Cairns Australia things to do in

Suggested Time: 3-5 days

Cairns is the most popular for one of the top Australia attractions: diving and snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef. There are so many options available from multi-day dives to half day snorkelling tours . The city itself is a bit of a party town as it’s the biggest city since Brisbane and people tend to get a little wild.

But being back in a city means art galleries are around but luckily it still have a small-town feel. You can explore the markets such as the Cairns Night Market and The Esplanade Market. And during the day you can hangout at The Lagoon, a manmade spot by the water with a swimming pool and beach that’s a favourite among locals and tourists.

There are also the Botanical Gardens which has a few hikes. But what Cairns has the most of is days trips.

Snorkelling and Diving Tours : The most popular islands to visit off the coast are Fitzroy Island and Green Island
Cape Tribulation : An area known for its ecotourism in the Daintree Rainforest, people visit here for the wildlife and jungle surfing (zipling through the trees)
Atherton Tablelands : A part of the UNESCO World Heritage site that also inclues the Daintree Rainforest, the Atherton Tablelands are an area with ancient rainforest and contain the popular waterfall route that will take you to stunning waterfalls in the region

When you visit Australia you’ll quickly notice how expensive things are but if you’re smart, plan ahead and know what to look out for you will be able to do all of the pricey activities and not miss any of the best sights in Australia.

Best Time to Travel East Coast Australia

If you plan on spending a lot of time on the beach or in the water the best time to visit Australia’s East Coast is during the summer (December-February) however it will be wildly hot and rainy season in tropical Northern Queensland. This is also peak tourist season. My recommendation is to travel in the off seasons, spring (September-November) or fall (March-May) when prices are lower, there are less crowds and the weather is decent on all parts of the coast.

That being said, there really is no bad time to travel Australia’s East Coast as it will be warm throughout the year in Queensland but prepare for the cool weather in New South Wales and Victoria! By cool I mean it can snow in Melbourne in the winter (December-February).

Australia travel | Millaa Millaa Falls | Atherton Tablelands | Atherton Tablelands waterfalls

How Long Does it Take to Travel East Coast Australia?

If you don’t have a lot of time it can be done it two weeks. This just covers the highlights. If you want the full East Coast experience plan to spend 4-6 weeks. With this timeframe you will be able to see and do everything plus have time to relax.

Backpacking Australia on a Budget

A budget in Australia is like splurging in places like Southeast Asia, but a budget trip can be done if you’re smart, know what to budget for and plan.

Food and Drinks

The easiest way to save money is on food and drinks. It can be difficult because drinking is a huge part of travel down the East Coast but save your money for some of the more expensive experiences instead.

Eating about can cost you anywhere from $5 at fast food restaurants to $15 at sit down restaurants with a lunch special to $20+ for dinner. When buying your food from grocery stores and cooking you can spend as little as $6 a day! I’m proof, I did this while living in Melbourne.

For drinks pre-drink before going out by picking up booze at bottleshops such as Dan Murphy’s where you can stock up on Goon, boxed wine for around $15. But expect a hangover and I can’t claim that it tastes delicious. When going out use an app like Happiest Hour to help you find the closest drink deals around.

Travelling Around Australia

Australia road trip.

The most budget-friendly option is to road trip Australia and it is also a very popular option. Some people even buy a car at the start and then sell it at the end. Finding used cars is very easy and common in Australia. But as a solo traveller (like me) you may not want to drive alone, you may not want to drive or camping isn’t your thing.

Travel in Australia is the easiest with the next best option, getting a bus pass. The most popular companies are Greyhound and Premier that travel not just along the East Coast but across the entire country. There are passes available based on kilometres travelled and hop on hop off passes. The main difference is that with a kilometres pass you can back track, with a hop on hop off pass you can’t. I personally recommend the hop on hop off as it works out cheaper and gives you 90 days of use between point A to B. A Sydney to Cairns pass will start at $410 with Greyhound but that is all of your travel covered!

You can also book buses pretty last minute as well so you can be flexible with your travel and change bookings for each stretch of your journey.

If you are short on time flying is the best option for you as it will be the quickest. Australia is huge and you don’t want to waste precious time spending days (yes driving can take that long!) getting between destinations. Luckily Australia has budget airlines and if you book in advance you can score awesome prices. You can also watch out for sales by signing up for budget airlines newsletters such as Tigerair and Jetstar.

Australia Accommodation

Camping on the Australia East Coast is the cheapest option. Some campsites will be free, others can be pricey. You can use books like Camps Australia Wide to find free campsites along the coast. If you have a campervan you can also pay to park in some hostels parking lots and use the bathroom and kitchen facilities.

Hostels in Australia

Personally I stayed in hostels because camping is not my thing and they’re a great place to meet people as a solo traveller. Hostels cost anywhere from $20-50 a night in a dorm room. Prices vary depending on where you are. Sydney is the most expensive so expect to pay $50 a night when there. Breakfast is often included and is typically cereal, toast and condiments, coffee and tea. Sometimes you’ll get pancakes! Be sure to check out Booking.com for an excellent selection of hostels with reviews from previous travellers and great deals.

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Australia East Coast Road Trip Itinerary: A Complete Guide

Australia’s East Coast is one of the most popular places in the world to travel. It spans the length of Queensland and into New South Wales, and features the larger cities of Cairns and Brisbane. With its world class beaches, ancient rainforests, endless adrenaline activities and charming towns, it’s truly a destination like no other. So the main aim of this guide is to equip you with everything you need to know to plan your own Australia East Coast road trip itinerary.

I’ve done three road trips along Australia’s East Coast (mad, I know!). The first time, I joined an organised tour from Brisbane up to Cairns. It was fast paced and more fun than I could have ever imagined. The second time, I chose to do the journey more slowly in a camper van south from Cairns to Byron Bay. For the third visit, I did an awesome but far shorter one week road trip from Byron Bay to Noosa. So I feel I’ve got really sound experience in devising an East Coast itinerary.

One of the best things about the East Coast of Australia is the sheer variety in things to do. On each East Coast trip, I’ve ended up doing completely different things and each road trip has been equally incredible.

If you’re trying to decide which direction to travel the East Coast, there aren’t really any overarching reasons to go one way and not the other. The biggest factors will be around your plans before and after the East Coast, plus the time you have available. If you are planning to take 6+ weeks, I would suggest perhaps starting in Cairns. Then you could carry on driving south past Brisbane and on towards Sydney and Melbourne.

For the purpose of this blog post, I will share an Australian East Coast road trip itinerary starting in the tropical city of Cairns in the north. From here, the itinerary will weave south past pristine beaches, rugged mountains ranges, waterfalls, tropical rainforest, charming surf towns, some of the world’s best diving spots, as well as the epic K’gari island (also known as Fraser Island).

This guide is aimed at all travellers, with suggestions for both backpackers and those on a slightly bigger budget throughout. It can be used for anyone travelling in Australia as it covers all the best things to do along the East Coast.

Australia East Coast Road Trip Itinerary: Essential things to know

Wow, so where to start! Some of the most important things to consider for an Australia East Coast road trip itinerary are time of year to visit, vehicle type and budget. So let’s get stuck in!

When is the best time to travel the East Coast of Australia?

First things first – when is the best time of year to plan a road trip for Australia’s East Coast?

As you can see below, Australia is a huge country. You can fit about two thirds of Europe into its land mass. And therefore, the weather across the whole of Australia does vary, especially more so in the Australian winter months (May to September). I’ve summarised this below, but do make sure to check out my detailed Australia climate guide too.

Map of the country for an Australia East Coast Road Trip Itinerary

Cairns, in Tropical North Queensland, is the largest northernmost town on the East Coast and has hot weather year-round. However, this is divided into two distinct seasons – wet and dry.

During the Australian winter ( May to September ), Cairns experiences warm, dry weather and low crowds .

During the Australian summer ( November to April ), Cairns is hot and humid, with plenty of rain . This tropical monsoonal starts building up in December and by January, the rains are mostly daily and can be torrential.

Although the days can still be hot and sunny, the tropical rains can make diving conditions more challenging, and visibility worse for seeing underwater life. And as Cairns is popular for diving, it could be a real shame to visit and not be able to enjoy this fully.

Another key factor with Cairns and the surrounding area is stinger season. This refers to the presence of tiny stinging box jellyfish in the water. The sting can be extremely painful, and can be fatal in some cases. If you do visit in the months when this is at its worse (Jan to March), you will have to wear stinger suits in the water.

So, where possible, visiting Cairns in the Australian winter means long, sunny days, with minimal rain and no stingers in the water. As mentioned above, conditions for diving in the Great Barrier Reef are optimal with perfect water temperatures and visibility in excess of 50m. It’s also an excellent time to see the magnificent Daintree Rainforest at its best and full of life. Furthermore, the water levels are ideal so white water rafting is an awesome activity to during this time, but can often be too dangerous during the months from January to March.

From personal experience, I found the weather in Cairns during August/September to be perfect. We were able to experience every activity and as this is the start of spring, there was plenty of colour and life in the plants and trees. On my second road trip, we were in Cairns in the month of December which was still quite good, although noticeably hotter and humid. It was early December and we experienced no rainfall, but prices for accommodation were higher. I also got stung by a rogue stinger who had made an early arrival into the waters in the Great Barrier Reef. It was very painful for about 30 minutes, and then the sting subsided.

So to summarise, it depends on the activities you plan to do in Cairns as to when is the best time to visit, but generally the months from May to September are best.

Then, at the southern end of Queensland is Brisbane. It receives some of the most enjoyable and reliable weather in Australia throughout the year. It has a warm-temperate climate, meaning there are few days you’d need a jumper.

As with Cairns, the Australian summer from January to March bring the hottest and most humid weather . During this period is the highest chance of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms, although they are mostly in the late afternoon.

The best time to visit Brisbane is April to May and September to November , when temperatures are comfortable and humidity and rainfall are low. However, June through to August is also a great time to go to Brisbane, but the temperatures are slightly cooler.

I found Brisbane in the months of September and December to be really lovely, with long hot, sunny days. However, visiting Brisbane and the surrounding area in February did bring a lot of rain.

Whitsunday Islands Paradise on an Australia East Coast Road Trip Itinerary

So when should I plan my East Coast road trip?

Overall, visiting Queensland, which spans from Tropical North Queensland to just south of Brisbane, is best avoided from January to March in order to have the best experience for most activities. If you’re embarking on a longer Australia trip, then it might be best to spend these months in New South Wales (Sydney and surrounds) and Victoria (for Melbourne and surrounds), as the weather here is at its peak from January to March. The same goes for visiting the Outback, which is generally best visited from April to October/November.

If your Australia trip is focused purely on the East Coast, with the Cairns to Brisbane road trip being the primary focus, then a trip from May to August would be the best time. This also avoids stinger season completely. It would be slightly cooler in Brisbane, but you would still unlikely need a jumper or a jacket.

If you’re on a longer trip in Australia, then as just mentioned, you could spend December – March exploring Victoria and New South Wales, before then heading to the East Coast from April onwards. Alternatively, you could do the Australia East Coast Road Trip Itinerary during August, September and/or October, before heading down to Victoria and New South Wales onwards for the better weather during the Australian summer.

Beautiful beaches in Tropical Northern Queensland

How long does it take to travel East Coast Australia?

If you’re short on time, then it can be done in two weeks. This would cover the highlights. If you can spare longer, perhaps 4-6 weeks you’ll have enough time to see and do just about everything, and have some time to relax!

If you have two months or so, then an awesome adventure would be to drive from Cairns to Melbourne which would easily take in some of the very best parts of Australia. You’d traverse through some seriously different climates and experience both the tiniest beach towns as well as the huge, cosmopolitan cities of Sydney and Melbourne.

Should I go for a car or a camper van for my East Coast road trip?

Any road trip in Australia is best with a camper van. The freedom is unparalleled and you can truly travel at your own pace.

With a camper van, you can adjust your itinerary more easily and generally, it offers better value as the camper van doubles up as your accommodation each night. However, a camper van isn’t for everyone as space can be challenging.

The main camper van companies in Australia are:

Spaceships Rentals
Wicked Campers

Pros and cons of a camper van

Can save costs on more expensive hotel or lodging accommodation
It can save money on food costs as you have your own stove/kitchen area in the van which is great for easy breakfasts and some dinners
Is a good way to split fuel costs between friends if there’s a few of you
You can easily stay longer somewhere you like if you don’t need to look for accommodation
There are many free campsites, motorway rest stops or areas to park and sleep overnight (check Wikicamping and the state parks’ app/websites )
You can sleep and wake up so much closer to nature
You don’t need to carry suitcases or bags in and out of hotels
In the busiest months, the cost of a camper van can be steep
You will spend more on fuel as the vehicle is heavier
Making the bed each night can get a little tiring and sand from the beaches gets everywhere
You can’t really keep the air-con on overnight without draining the battery, so it gets hot!
Also, it’s likely you will lose stuff within the van all the time. There are just way too many cubby holes and spaces for things to fall down
There may be some days you go without a shower
Can be moments where it’s difficult to park, especially if you visit cities like Brisbane
There are many ways to lose money from your deposit with a camper van as there are so many more parts to it to break!

If you really fancy resting your head somewhere a little more comfortable each night, then a car is a great option. You still have a huge amount of freedom, but just slightly less freedom as you do need to find somewhere to sleep each night.

Driving from Cairns to Brisbane in a camper van on an Australia East Coast Road Trip Itinerary

Pros and cons of hiring a car

Lower initial cost for renting a vehicle
Also lower petrol costs
Easier to park in general
You have a boot to keep your suitcase in, and act as an on-the-go wardrobe space
Less risk of losing things as the vehicle is way smaller
No need to go without showers and guaranteed a slightly more comfortable and cooler sleep every night
May save money if hotels, lodges etc include breakfast in the rate
Need to find a place to stay each night, which can be expensive and time consuming/stressful in peak season
In my option, there’s a slight less feel of ‘adventure’ with a normal hire car, as opposed to a camper van

Joining an organised tour or using bus services

I joined an organised tour one year with Topdeck (read all about the trip here ). Generally, I don’t tend to join multi-week tours but it was aimed at students and more than 40 of my friends booked on. So as you can imagine, it was one of the best experiences of my life. I enjoyed some awesome adventures each day, with nearly all meals and activities included, it was excellent value. Except for skydiving, all other activities were already paid for, including bungee jumping, white water rafting and admission to the Australia Zoo.

Organised tours along the East Coast of Australia are very popular, but naturally, they don’t allow for any freedom or adjusting the itinerary at all. However, it can be a great way to meet people and have all logistics taken care of.

Some great companies include: Contiki , G Adventures , the Oz Experience, Intrepid

Stray also has a great value Cairns to Sydney bus pass, which you can book online here .

Another alternative is to use bus services such as Greyhound or Premier. Both of these companies offer dozens of buses stopping at hundreds of convenient stops across the East Coast every day. Plus, you can book the tickets just the day before and sometimes on the day, which can be really handy. If you don’t fancy driving the East Coast yourself, this is a great way to travel. They also offer hop-on hop-off bus passes which can be great value – for example, Greyhound has a bus pass that covers you for 90 days and starts at around $349.

Greyhound offers the slightly more expensive bus tickets of the two, but the buses are comfortable and offer on board Wi-Fi.

Finally, I wouldn’t recommend planning to do this trip by hitchhiking. It’s not as common as movies might suggest!

Eating on the East Coast

Three meals a day, plus snacks and coffees/drinks can add up quickly when travelling in Australia.

Fortunately, BBQ-ing in Australia is every bit as popular as you might imagine. There are gas BBQs all over Australia in parks, by beaches, in national parks and next to boardwalks. They are free to use and really easy to operate, most having utensils to use too. There’s always plenty of table space nearby and it’s one of the most easy ways to assimilate into Australian life, as these are equally popular with locals and tourists.

Supermarkets are really geared up to this, and their meat section sells all kinds of meats in different marinades, making it really easy. Furthermore, they always have a delicatessen section with choose-your-own salad bowls and side dishes. It couldn’t be more simple to pull together an amazing BBQ spread in Australia.

The big supermarket chains are Woolworths and Coles, which have the most competitive pricing and a huge range. In some smaller locations, you might find an IGA or a SPAR which can be a tad more expensive.

When you don’t feel like cooking or don’t have the chance to do a food shop, there are popular fast food chains such as Hungry Jacks and Pie Face, or smoothie chains like Boost. I personally prefer to sample the local food in cafes in town, or a family-owned fish and chip shop instead. There are also plenty of pubs in Australia, which are pretty cheap but the quality can be a bit iffy (like Wetherspoons in the UK).

A popular place for a pub-like meal on a Sunday is the local Surf Life Saving Club, and you’ll see these dotted all along the coastline – particularly in the Gold Coast. Mostly aimed at local members, they nearly all welcome in tourists (with sign-in at the door). It’s a very Australian experience if you like beer, local live musicians and ridiculously big portions of chips, nachos and battered fish!

Then of course there are excellent restaurants all across the East Coast.

Deciding where to stay on the East Coast – hotels, lodges, hostels or camping

Even if you do the road trip along the East Coast in a camper van, there will be some nights where you’ll need to opt for a campsite for its shower facilities.

And there are hundreds of campsites along the East Coast. Some are your traditional pitch and stay camping grounds, and some are huge, expansive holiday resorts. Whilst these are typically aimed at domestic travellers, everyone is welcome and you may be blown away by the facilities.

The best resources for campsites on the East Coast of Australia are:

Pitchup (can book directly on this site too)
Tourism Australia
Camping in Queensland
Camping in NSW

The East Coast is also home to hundreds and hundreds of hostels. There are also some hostel chains in Australia, and nearly always one where you’re travelling. The two biggest chains are Nomads and Base. Staying in one of these means a fairly reliable and comfortable experience. The dorms are clean and secure, and the social areas are often amazing. Staying in hostels add to a quintessential Australia experience. I’ve had some brilliant stays and met some awesome people.

Visiting the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns

However, I prefer now to travel and stay in hotels where possible. On my most recent visit to Australia, we had a hire car and spent our nights in various Airbnbs and hotels along the East Coast. We stayed in some amazing Airbnbs, including a treehouse in the Gold Coast and a Balinese style villa in Noosa.

However, throughout this itinerary I will suggest a couple of options for each destination that cover campsites, hostels and hotels. I’ve managed to stay in all three types nearly everywhere along the East Coast now, so I’ve got some good experience!

Money and Budget

The currency in Australia is the dollar (AUD). Generally across Australia card payments are widely accepted, and contactless is very popular as the limit is $200.

For slightly more remote locations or for any really small villages you visit, I would recommend keeping cash on hand.

In terms of budgeting, prices are approximately the below:

Accommodation:

Camping site (tent) – $10-20 per night
Camper van spot at campsite – $20 – $50 per night, depending on size and facilities of the campground/holiday resort
Double room in a value hotel or holiday resort: $100-140
Double room in a 4 or 5 star hotel: $200 – $300 depending on time of year you visit

Food (based on two people):

On-the-go coffees: $9
Fast food or take away meal: approx $20
Local cafe or pub meal: $60
3 Course meal in a good restaurant: $140-200

In terms of alcohol, it’s not sold at supermarkets but instead at bottle shops such as Dan Murphy’s. Prices are a little more than in the UK and the US, but they do sell boxed wine, affectionally called ‘goon’ in Australia. Boxed wine doesn’t taste the best BUT it’s cheap and lasts longer than a bottle!

Activites to do on the East Coast Australia

Excursions and activities are likely to be your greatest expenditure. There are so many bucket list activities on the East Coast of Australia vthat I highly recommend putting budget aside so you can make the most of these. As an indication, here are the approximate prices of several activities:

Animal sanctuary entrance fee: approx $40 per adult
15,000 ft sky dive in Cairns: $359 per person (not including video or photos)
Entry to Daintree National Park and canopy walk: $35 per adult

As an approximate guide, the AUD to GBP conversion is roughly half. So animal sanctuary entrance is around £20 ($40).

The AUD to USD conversion is about 1.5, so animal sanctuary entrance is around USD $25 (AUD $40).

Finally, fuel in Australia is similar in price to the UK, but more expensive than the USA. Fuel for the whole route could cost around AUD$600-800, or more depending on detours you might take.

Sailing day trip to the Whitsunday Islands

Deciding where to go on your Australia East Coast Road Trip Itinerary

So you’ve decided when to embark on your epic road trip, and you’ve got your vehicles or bus pass sorted. Now the fun part – deciding where to go!

If you can’t already tell, I love the East Coast of Australia. It has everything AND warm weather year round.

As mentioned above, I have driven the route in both directions but my favourite was probably the Cairns to Brisbane drive. This would also be considered the most iconic road trip for the East Coast of Australia too. It spans world class beaches, dozens of stunning national parks as well as incredible Great Barrier Reef and the twinkly Whitsunday Islands.

So for the purpose of this blog post, we’ll be starting in Cairns but this itinerary can be modified in any way, and of course started in Sydney, Byron Bay or Brisbane. I also list the minimum to maximum number of days needed in each place to help you plan and decide where to visit.

The most important thing to remember is that Australia is BIG . The Cairns to Brisbane road trip spans 1,682km (or 1,045 miles), and that’s taking the most direct route without any detours. It’s around 19 hours of driving if you were to go straight through. There are also some seriously long stretches of driving without any major towns or stops too.

One thing you must remember is to fill your car or van with fuel whenever you can. Never leave a town with less than a full tank – I speak from experience!

So without further ado, let’s jump in with our first stop, Cairns!

Suggested time for Cairns: 3-5 days

This tropical city is one of my favourite places in Australia. Although the town is somewhat unassuming, the adventures to be had in and around Cairns are epic!

The relaxed tropical lifestyle in Cairns will ease you in to an Australia road trip, but could also make a relaxing end point too to your road trip.

Cairns could easily be one of the places where you choose to spend longer, but only if your budget allows. There are countless awesome sights to see and places to visit in Cairns , but the tours can add up and makes Cairns quite an expensive stop. That being said, one of the best things to do in Cairns is free – and that’s spending the day at the incredible Esplanade Lagoon in the heart of town.

The Cairns Esplanade Lagoon, a must visit on an Australia East Coast road trip itinerary

Best things to do and see in Cairns

Free or low cost:

Cool off and relax in the magnificent Cairns Lagoon
Take a road trip to the Daintree Rainforest at Cape Tribulation via Port Douglas
Spend the day in the Behana Canyon, a swimming hole surrounded by dense rainforest. Why not join this tour .
Eat and drink your way around some of the beautiful waterside restaurant and bars
Visit the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Centre

Best things to do in Cairns on an Australia East Coast road trip itinerary

More expensive but bucket list activities:

Join a boat trip to the incredible Great Barrier Reef where you can snorkel or learn to dive
Take a boat out to the stunning Fitzroy Island
Brave the ultimate leap of faith at the AJ Hackett bungee jump centre
Go ATV riding in the rainforest
Take the train to spend the day at the Kuranda Rainforest Skyway , an awesome journey across the rainforest finishing at the epic Mossman Falls
Enjoy a hop on hop off beer and drinks tour of Cairns
Join a tour of the Atherton Tablelands , and visit beautiful waterfalls and scenic lakes (including the famous Milla Milla Falls)
Enjoy a foodie tour and wine tasting in the Atherton Tablelands
Visit the Daintree Rainforest and enjoy Cape Tribulation .

Blow-the-budget fun:

Book a super special day on the Sunlover Reef pontoon , where you enjoy all the activities at this mini village floating on the Great Barrier Reef
Organise a helicopter ride over the Great Barrier Reef, a true once in a lifetime experience, or even a scenic flight !
Enjoy an epic skydive over Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef

Overnight stay on the Great Barrier Reef

Where to stay in Cairns

In Cairns, there are no free camping options in the city centre, but there are some paid campsites on the edge of town. Make sure to check this guide on camping near Cairns .

And here are my best picks for accommodation in Cairns:

Best luxury stay: Shangri-La at The Marina (£90pn) or the Pullman Reef Casino (from £97pn)

Great value mid-range stay: Pacific Hotel Cairns (from £63pn)

Best hostel: Gilligans Backpacker Resort (dorm from £17pn, private room from £70) has some of the best facilities I have experienced anywhere. It’s a lively party place but does also offer great value if you book out a 4 or 6 bed dorm for your group.

Cape Tribulation, Port Douglas and the Daintree Rainforest

Suggested time for the Daintree Rainforest: 1-2 days
Driving distance from Cairns to Port Douglas: 68km (1hour) along the Captain Cook Highway
Driving distance from Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation: 75km (1h30)

This beautiful corner of Australia is home to the Daintree Rainforest, which is the world’s oldest! It is also unique as it the only place in the world where two UNESCO World Heritage-listed sites meet – the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef.

Cape Tribulation however is considered one of the most dangerous beaches in the world. This is due to the huge population of crocodiles that reside here, as well as the often-fatal stings from Box Jellyfish in the water.

Whilst driving to Cape Tribulation can easily be done as a full day trip , it’s well worth an overnight stay if you have the time. I would perhaps recommend opting for a small hire car for the day, instead of taking a camper van however. The roads can be narrow and difficult to drive, especially as you get deeper into the rainforest. Note that driving further north from Cape Tribulation towards Cooktown and the Cape York Village requires a 4WD and some previous experience essential as the tracks here are very challenging.

Port Douglas on route is also a beautiful upscale resort town which is definitely worth a stop for a few hours. The beach is beautiful and over four miles long, and its main street is packed with quirky shops and independent cafes and restaurants. If you visit on a Sunday, make sure to check out the beachside markets too.

In terms of activities in the Daintree forest, there are plenty:

Soar above the rainforest on a zipline adventure
Explore the rainforest from the elevated walkways
Take on some of the best hikes, including the Mount Sorrow hike
Spot crocodiles on a river cruise on the Daintree River
River drift snorkelling near Port Douglas
Explore the deserted and untouched beaches, and see where the rainforest meets the reef
Visit the Daintree tea plantation
Swim in the Mossman Gorge

The Cairns to Port Douglas drive is spectacular, with the road weaving between the rainforest and the azure ocean. The views are stunning. From Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation, the road is often surrounded by the dense, lush rainforest and you have to take a small ferry to cross the Daintree River. I’ve written a complete itinerary guide to driving from Cairns to Cape Tribulation, so make sure to check this out.

Driving from Cairns to Cape Tribulation on an Australia East Coast road trip itinerary

In terms of places to stay in Port Douglas or Cape Tribulation, there are some wonderful eco-stays including:

Niramaya Villas & Spa (around £450pn)
Noah Creek Eco Huts (around £157pn)
Thala Beach Nature Resort (around £220pn)

In Port Douglas, there is also the beautiful Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort (from £129 pn) too or the stunning Shantara Resort (from £229 pn).

Alternatively, you can of course join a day trip, such as this one which is a full day exploring the Daintree rainforest, the Mossman Falls and Cape Tribulation . Or this day trip, which includes a stop at Port Douglas and Wildlife Habitat .

Beaches in Cape Tribulation on an Australia East Coast road trip itinerary

Mission Beach

Suggested time for Mission Beach: 1-2 days
Driving distance from Cairns to Mission Beach: 139km (1h50)

Next stop, Mission Beach. In my opinion, the drive from Cairns south is stunning with the Bruce Highway bordered on both sides by sugar cane plantations, followed by banana trees. The first moderate sized town is Innisfail, which I personally don’t think is worth a stop. So I recommend heading straight to Mission Beach. Make sure to look out for cassowaries at the side of the road!

Mission Beach on the East Coast of Australia

Mission Beach is popular with backpackers for its laidback vibes and excellent beaches. What it lacks in obvious activities and sightseeing opportunities, it makes up for in huge stretches of glorious sandy beaches and walking tracks in the rainforest. I’ve only ever stopped at Mission Beach in October and December which is stinger season, so we could not enter the water.

I would recommend a night in Mission Beach, especially as it provides a decent break in the long drive between Cairns and Townsville, which is the next large town (347km, 4hrs). Mission Beach is also right next to Tully’s River, which is home to some of the best white water rafting in Australia.

Book your white water rafting trip to Tully’s River here!

Where to stay in Mission Beach

Best luxury stay: Castaways Resort & Spa Mission Beach (from £100pn)
Good value mid-range stay: Mission Reef Resort (from £54 pn)
Best hostel: Jackaroo Treehouse (from £30pn)

Townsville & Magnetic Island

Suggested time for Townsville: half day (but longer if visiting Magnetic Island)
Driving distance from Mission Beach to Townsville: 235km (2h40)

This large town is largely residential and also home to a big Australian military and naval base. I personally don’t think there’s a huge amount to see in Townsville but it is home to my absolute favourite wildlife sanctuary in Australia, which is the Billabong Sanctuary .

I cannot recommend stopping at this amazing wildlife sanctuary more! It’s the perfect place to meet a whole host of the most iconic Australian animals, such as the echidna, wombat, koala and kangaroo. Billabong Sanctuary is a really well-run wildlife centre, with lots of opportunities for animal interaction, plus the location itself is beautiful. It’s located 17km south of Townsville, so you could spend the afternoon there as you continue on your road trip south.

Townsville is the starting point for the ferry to Magnetic Island. This slice of paradise is popular with backpackers but a little less frequented by other types of tourists. I haven’t been to Magnetic Island, so I cannot comment from personal experience but I understand it’s super-laidback and full of beautiful, scenic spots. Make sure to book your ferry tickets from Townsville to Magnetic Island in advance here.

If you do choose to spend a night in Townsville, the Oaks Gateway Suites offer great rooms at a good price (£67 pn). Alternatively, there is a BIG4 Holiday Park at Rowes Bay with beachside cabins from £50.

Airlie Beach & The Whitsundays

Suggested time for Airlie Beach & The Whitsundays: 2-5 days
Driving distance from Townsville to Airlie Beach: 273km (3h10)

Airlie Beach is the gateway to The Whitsundays, and this stop is a must-do on any East Coast road trip itinerary. Make sure to read my detailed guide to visiting the Whitsunday Islands here .

The town itself is popular with backpackers, although there are few luxury hotels. Those on a slightly smaller budget or tighter time frame can visit The Whitsundays on a full day boat trip.

But if you have time, then I highly recommend splurging on a sailing trip around the Whitsundays. You can spend around 2-3 days on living onboard a sailing boat, where you can snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef and visit Whitehaven, one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

Alternatively, you could stay on one of the Whitsunday Islands for a couple of nights, for the ultimate barefoot paradise experience.

There are some amazing resort hotels in The Whitsunday Islands, with the InterContinental Hayman Island being one of the very best stays.

I’ve done both a sailing trip and a 3 night stay on the islands, and I honestly couldn’t say which I preferred. Both were incredible.

The stunning white sands of Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays

For day sailing trips, you could wait to book this in Airlie Beach, but you risk the boats being full, so I recommend booking a tour in advance. Here are a few excellent suggestions:

Whitsundays Full-Day Catamaran Sailing Adventure from Airlie (£108pp)
Half Day Whitsunday & Whitehaven 6-Hour Cruise £63pp)
Whitsundays Ocean Rafting Tour: Snorkel, Walk & Whitehaven (£85pp)

Sunset in the Whitsundays on an Australia East Coast road trip itinerary

For 1 or 2 night sailing trips, you could check the below companies:

OzSailWhitsunday s (2 day, 2 night trips) – starts at £208pp
Whitsundays Sailing Adventures (offer a 1 night sailing trip) – starts at £216pp
The same company also offers an awesome 3-day, 2-night sailing and diving trip – starts at £390pp
Red Cat Adventures (2 nights) – starts at £260pp
Wings Whitsundays Adventure (2 nights) – starts at £260pp
ProSail offer 2 or 3 night sailing adventures – starting at £398pp

Exploring the Whitsunday Islands National Park

Back on Airlie Beach, there isn’t a huge amount to do, so if you choose to visit the islands as a day trip, you could spend a relaxing day at the Airlie Beach Lagoon.

But this could be a place to splurge and explore the Whitsundays from a difference perspective entirely. For example, this 1-hour scenic flight over the Whitsundays Island archipelago looks incredible, or what about a tandem skydive over the Whitsundays ?

Or you could go all out with a helicopter trip to the Whitsunday Islands . It even lands on Whitehaven beach – possibly the most incredible day imaginable.

Slightly further inland from Airlie Beach (and slightly more affordable), there are some great hiking routes in the Conway National Park and waterfall swimming at the beautiful Cedar Creek Falls.

Where to stay in Airlie Beach

There’s a huge number of places to stay in Airlie Beach, covering every budget. In fact, you can find some seriously nice stays at very good value. Here’s my pick:

Base Airlie Beach (dorm from £16 per night, double from £53)
Big4 at Whitsundays Tropical Eco Resort (camping from £19 per night)
Magnums Airlie Beach (from £31 per night)
Mantra Club Croc Airlie Beach (from £57 per night)
Airlie Beach Hotel (from £82 per night)
Mirage Whitsundays (from £117 per night)
Coral Sea Resort Hotel (from £139 per night)

Airlie Beach, the gateway to the Whitsunday Islands

Where to stay on the Whitsundays

I’ve written about all the various options in the Whitsundays in more detail, which I recommend you check out.

Fortunately, there’s a good range of tropical island resorts to stay on, with Daydream Island offering excellent value. Rates here start from £150 per night.

One of the most luxurious resorts to stay in in the Whitsunday islands is the InterContinental Hayman Island (formerly the One&Only). Rates start from around £450 per night.

Alternatively, some other ultra-lux options include:

Beach Club , an opulent hotel on Hamilton Island . Rates start from £397 per night
Elysian Retreat can only host 20 people at any time, and is the ultimate in barefoot luxury with all stays on all-inclusive basis. Rates start at £630 per night.
Or, the exceptional Paradise Cove Resort. I recommend this excellent boat tour and 2 nights all inclusive in a secluded villa at the island resort. (£311 per person)

Capricorn Caves

Suggested time for the Capricorn Caves: 1/2 day
Driving distance from Airlie Beach to the Capricorn Caves: 460km (5hrs)

The stretch south from Airlie Beach is a long one – I think the second longest stretch of driving on this road trip. Optional stops before the Capricorn Caves include Mackay, a small quiet town with some lovely cycling and hiking, but no essential bucket list adventures. After Mackay, the next potential stop point would be Rockhampton, where (without exaggerating) there is nothing to do.

I recommend breaking up the long drive from Airlie Beach to the next key stop (Hervey Bay/K’gari Island) with a visit to the Capricorn Caves. These are fairly near to Rockhampton, so depending on the time you arrive in this area, you may want to consider an overnight stay near Rockhampton or a little further south at Gladstone (137km/1hr41).

The Capricorn Caves are called this because they are located on the Tropic of Capricorn. They are an awesome complex of caves, with over 1.5km of passages to explore. They only way to visit is on a tour, often called the ‘Cathedral Tour’ as they all take in the incredible largest cave, which often holds wedding and special events. The acoustics are incredible and it was like nowhere I’d seen before.

Book a tour to the Capricorn Caves here!

Visiting the Capricorn Caves on an East Coast Australia road trip itinerary

Taking around one hour in total, it’s well worth a visit and is often missed off travellers’ East Coast itineraries.

Suggestions for affordable places to stay around this area:

Mackay: Central Tourist Park (£41 per night)
Rockhampton: Denison Boutique Hote l (£54 per night)
Capricorn Caves: Capricorn Motel (£65 per night)
Gladstone: Barney Beach Accommodation (£50 per night)

Rainbow Beach

Suggested time for Rainbow Beach and K’gari Island: ideally 3-4 days
Driving distance from Rockhampton/theCapricorn Caves to Rainbow Beach: 601km (6hrs40)

From the Rockhampton area onwards, there are a few stops to consider including Agnes Water/1770 and Bundaberg. The latter is famous for its rum, and visiting the Bundaberg Distillery makes for a brilliant stop. Make sure to book a tour to the local brewery too!

The town of 1770, sometimes written as Seventeen Seventy, is the second spot in Australia that James Cook and his crew landed in the year 1770. We did stop here and I was fairly disappointed with the lack of things to do and see, so I wouldn’t necessarily recommend visiting.

So unless you make a brief stop at Bundaberg, I recommend driving straight through to the Rainbow Beach area. It’s a long old drive, that’s for sure! Looking back, that was why we stopped at 1770 – to break it up!

Rainbow Beach is located in the Great Sandy National Park and is a tiny backpacker town, surrounded by huge, towering sand dunes. The town is mostly a starting point for Fraser Island tours, but you can definitely spend a relaxing day here too.

One of my favourite things to do in Rainbow Beach is climb the huge Carlo Sand Blow and admire the spectacular views across the ocean. The Great Sandy National Park is well worth exploring too – you can even do this on horseback !

Where to stay in Rainbow Beach

There are quite a few places to stay in Rainbow Beach, many of which offer great value stays. Here are my suggestions:

Freedom Hostels (formerly Dingos) – from £26 per night
Pippie’s Beach House – from £77 per night
Rainbow Ocean Palms Resort – from £110 per night

K’gari Island

K’gari Island, previously referred to as Fraser Island, is one of the most popular things to do in Australia. Most tours here are typically aimed at a young backpacking crowd and last 2 days/1night or 3 days/2 nights. There are several other options, including day trips too but as the world’s largest sand island, there’s something special about staying overnight if you can. Unless you have a 4WD drive and significant experience driving on sand, you won’t be able to take your own car to K’gari Island. Several tours however let tourists drive the company’s 4WD vehicles though on what they call a ‘tag along’ basis .

If you book an overnight K’gari Island tour you will have a briefing the evening before departure at 6pm, so you’ll always need to stay the night before in Rainbow Beach. You may also want another night in the town once you come back from K’gari so you don’t have to rush straight off. However it’s worth nothing that you can also start a K’gari Island from trip from Noosa or Hervey, if you prefer.

K’gari Island is a bucket list activity in Australia and for good reason. For many people, K’gari Island is the highlight of their Australia trip!

Exploring Fraser Island on a full day tour

You definitely should book your K’gari Island tour in advance. Do not leave it for on arrival in Rainbow Beach/Hervey Bay/Noosa, unless you’re arriving several days in advance (at least).

These are the best K’gari Island tours:

Full day Fraser Island tour from Rainbow Beach (£125pp)
2 day/1 night tour from Rainbow Beach (£218pp)

Best things to do on Fraser Island

If you’re over 21 and on a tag-along tour, you’ll have the opportunity to drive the 4WD along the sand, which is epic
Swim in the crystal clear freshwater Lake Mackenzie
Bathe in the beautiful Champagne Pools
Drift along the natural lazy river at Ely Creek
Explore the tropical rainforest
Spot dingos (wild dogs) from afar
If on an overnight tour, spend the evenings around the campfire drinking and relaxing with new friends
Drive along 75 Mile Beach
Hike up to Indian Head to spot sharks and stingrays
Explore the Maheno shipwreck
Hike to Lake Wobby

If you visit Fraser Island on a one day tour from the mainland, you’ll be able to do most of the above, but at a quicker pace.

Suggested time for Noosa: 2-4 days (or as long as possible..)
Driving distance from Rainbow Beach to Noosa: 117km (1hr37)

Noosa is an absolute must-visit on any East Coast road itinerary and is hands down my favourite place in Australia. Whether you’re a backpacker, on honeymoon, a group of friends or a family, Noosa is the perfect place. The town centre is charming with some brilliant shopping, the beaches are phenomenal and the surrounding scenery is just breathtaking. It’s also the place in Australia where I’ve seen the most koalas in the wild.

Spotting koalas in Noosa Heads National Park

Best things to do in Noosa

Explore the magnificent Noosa National Park, which is easily accessed whether on foot from the town centre or if you drive to its entrance and park
Beach hopping from Noosa Main Beach to the dog-friendly waters at the Noosa Spit and over in Noosaville too
Get surfing or take part in a surf lesson
Go on a dolphin-watching safari by kayak , where your chances of seeing dolphins are super high
Bar hopping along Main Street
Tucking into some of the town’s best food, including the phenomenal Spanish set menu at 10 Hastings Street
Kayak through the Noosa Everglades
Hike nearby Mt Coolumb
Get stuck into the craft beer scene in Noosa
Drive to nearby Emundi to go to the popular Farmer’s Market, running Wednesday to Saturday until 1pm or so
Go hiking in the magnificent Glasshouse Mountains

Most of Noosa’s main attractions revolve around the beautiful beaches, the National park, the surf and the food. It’s pretty easy to see why I love it so much.

Noosa Main Beach on the East Coast Australia

Where to stay in Noosa

There are some beautiful places to stay in Noosa, covering all budgets and preferences.

Best luxury hotels: There are some amazing hotels in Noosa. Some of top luxury stays would be Noosa Shores (£350), Netanya or the beautiful Sofitel Pacific Resort (from £158 per night). However, there’s also the more affordable Peppers Resort on the beach (from £92 per night) and Tingirana .

Good value stays: My favourite good value spot is 10 Hastings Street Boutique Motel . It also has one of the best restaurants town downstairs! Rates start from about £60 per night.

Best hostels: Nomads Backpackers is the best spot in town. Dorm rooms start at £37, or a double is £44.

Suggested time for Brisbane: 1-2 days
Driving distance from Noosa to Brisbane: 141km (1hr44)

Queensland’s big city! Brisbane is a modern metropolis, with year-round warm weather and unique city beaches. I like Brisbane, but not even half as much as Melbourne and Sydney.

It’s probably a great city to live in, but visiting for a couple of days at a time, I have never fallen for Brisbane. However, it does have a fantastic manmade city beach at South Bank where I have spent many hours catching the rays.

I also have to recommend my favourite restaurant in Brisbane, which is New Shanghai located in the Myer Centre on Queen Street. There’s a few of these dotted across Australia, but for me, the Brisbane one is just amazing.

Things to do in Brisbane

Brisbane as a city may not be quite as cosmopolitan and lively as Melbourne and Sydney, but it does happen to make a fantastic base to visit other nearby areas. The winter months are an especially lovely time to visit the city, so make sure to check out this guide to the top things to do in Brisbane in the winter .

For example, if diving is your thing, then there are some impressive shipwrecks at Moreton Island.

You can also visit the famous Australia Zoo near Brisbane , which is of course known for being founded by Steve Irwin himself.

Take a boat ride along the river onboard a Kookaburra River Queens Cruise, which are old style paddlewheel vessels
Hike a bike to explore the city or join a guided segway tour
Spend some time in the city’s magnificent Botanical Gardens
Join a guided kayak tour along the river
Visit the city’s impressive collection of museums and art galleries
Take the river boat to the popular Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary on this excellent city tour
Go shipwreck diving at Moreton Island or visit on snorkelling day tour
Take a day trip to the beautiful Stradbroke or Bribie Islands

Where to stay in Brisbane

Best luxury hotel: W Brisbane is the coolest place to stay, with rooms starting from £127 per night. Another great luxury hotel would be The Westin (from £155 per night).

Great value stay: Royal on the Park is a beautiful hotel, and a steal with rooms starting from £53 per night

Best hostel: Bunk Hostel (dorms from £21) or Base Brisbane (dorms from £11)

Cairns to Brisbane road trip itinerary

So there’s my Australia East Coast road itinerary, covering the Cairns to Brisbane drive. As you can see, this route takes in countless iconic Australian experiences. I would say this is easily one of the best road trips in the world.

For international travellers coming to the end of the trip, Brisbane makes a wise finishing point as it has an international airport.

However, for those flying onto Australian domestic destinations or with more time, then I highly recommend continuing your journey. For example, onto the Gold Coast and Byron Bay where there are domestic airports in both destinations. If you have plenty of extra time, you could do the Brisbane to Sydney drive. Although this is another 1000km and 10hrs driving, the beaches are fantastic. However, as mentioned before, the drive from Byron Bay to Sydney would be quite cool if done in the Australia winter (May to August).

Cassowaries on the East Coast Australia road trip

Brisbane to the Gold Coast and Byron Bay

Driving distance from Brisbane to the Gold Coast: 99km (1hr10)
Suggested time for the Gold Coast: 1-4 days
Driving distance from Brisbane to Byron Bay: 166km (1hr50)
Suggested time for the Byron Bay: 1-4 days
Driving distance between Gold Coast and Byron Bay: 93km (1hr)

Both Gold Coast and Byron Bay are popular holiday destinations with Australians as well as international travellers. And as mentioned, with domestic airports near both locations, you could potentially also finish your road trip itinerary further south of Brisbane. For example, we finished our road trip from Cairns at Ballina Airport, which is just near Byron Bay. This was really convenient as there were rental companies to return you car or camper van.

Gold Coast and Surfer’s Paradise

Gold Coast is a city made up a dozens of smaller beach areas, with expansive stretches of white sand and some of the best surfing in Australia. This whole area is the most popular tourist place in Australia. It’s like visiting a beach resort town in Florida, USA or a resort in Spain. Gold Coast is where young Australians flock to party and have fun every summer, and there are a lot of bars and activities geared towards this. Surfer’s Paradise is at the heart of all the action but I wouldn’t recommend spending long here, unless partying is something you’re keen to do.

The other beach areas surrounding Surfer’s Paradise are amazing, and a great spot to recoup for a couple of days. In fact, the challenge can be deciding which beach to spend the day at.

Alternatively, Gold Coast is packed with all kinds of tourist attractions, including theme parks like Wet’n’Wild and Dreamworld . My personal favourite thing to do in Gold Coast is to visit Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary . This is a brilliant place to spend a full day. Plus, they have their own wildlife hospital with huge glass windows so you can see all kinds of animals being operated on. On the day we went, I saw birds, tortoises and koalas being treated!

Best things to do in Gold Coast

Go hiking in nearby Tamborine Mountain or get your adrenaline pumping at the high ropes course
Or why not visit Mt Tamborine and stop by the beautiful wineries and distilleries on this tour with lunch
Explore Springbrook National Park and swim in the refreshing waterfalls
Meet some of Australia’s most unique wildlife at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
Head to the farmer’s markets at different beaches – my favourite is at Burleigh
Rent bikes and cycle from one point to another, for example Burleigh Heads to Mermaid Beach
Explore the stunning waterways of Coolangatta
Join a surf lesson in Surfer’s Paradise
Visit the World-Heritage Listed Lamington National Park and explore the beautiful waterfalls and landscape
Check out the incredible views from the Sky Point Observation Deck

Where to stay in the Gold Coast

There is a seriously huge amount of places to stay in the Gold Coast. It’s hard to even know where to start.

If you are looking to get stuck into the nightlife, then you could stay right in the heart of Surfer’s Paradise .

Otherwise, I recommend picking a beachside community for a couple of days such as Burleigh or Coolangatta . Due to the sheer number of hotels and places to stay in the Gold Coast, you can definitely find some good value stays!

Check rates for all hotels, lodges and holiday parks in the Gold Coast here.

I’ve stayed in several areas around the Gold Coast, and I particularly love the InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort . This resort is beyond stunning, with a huge lagoon beach swimming pool, and access to an amazing health club with golf and tennis.

I could have stayed here for weeks, so I’d say, if there was once place to splurge en route, it would be this resort!

Book your stay at the InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort here.

There’s a certain magic in the air in Byron Bay that makes so many fall in love with the town. So many travellers arrive for a couple of days, but end up staying for weeks.

The main thing Byron Bay is known for is surfing, but there’s so much going on away from the away from the waves. The town is particularly popular with backpackers who get quickly drawn into Byron Bay’s hippy, bohemian, anything-goes lifestyle. But there’s increasing appeal for honeymooners, families and even those looking for a spot of luxury.

Best things to do in Byron Bay

Hit the waves, or take the chance to learn to surf
Beach hop – as well as the main beach, visit Clarks Beach, Tallow Beach, Belongil Beach and The Pass
Go dolphin-spotting from your kayak
Hike to the Cape Byron lighthouse, the most eastern point in Australia
Visit one of the many local markets, for example the Byron Bay Artisan Market (every Saturday evening from October to March)
Enjoy live music at one of the awesome bars
Shop at some the wonderful unique boutique stores
Stop for happy hour at some of the excellent cafes
Explore the craft beer scene in Byron Bay
Experience a scenic hot air balloon journey over Byron Bay
Get up and close personal with the elusive platypus a nature walk with a local guide
Take a day trip to nearby Nimbin, a small hippie town stuck in the 60s which is famous for its very liberal attitude towards marijuana. There’s an iconic bus tour which you can book onto.
Dance the night away with local musicians performing on Main Beach
Explore the beautiful Nightcap National Park with waterfalls and great hiking routes
Go hiking along the trails in the Arakwal National Park, followed by a swim in the ocean
Have a delicious dinner at The Roadhouse , just on the edge of town
Drive to Byron Bay Farm for day surrounded by farm animals, and for some seriously delicious food

Where to stay in Byron Bay

Best luxury hotel: Far and away, the most opulent hotel is Elements of Byron Resort & Spa . It’s perfect for couples, groups of friends and honeymooners. Rates start from around £245 per night, per villa.

Other great upscale stays include Atlantic Byron Bay (from £130 per night), Azur Villas (from £142 per night), The Bower Byron Bay (from £151 per night).

Great value stays: Bayhaven Lodge (from £71 per night) or Byron Palms (from £70 per night)

Best hostels: There are plenty of hostels in Byron Bay, as it’s so popular with backpackers and Australians visiting for ‘schoolies week’. There is the Byron Bay YHA , Nomads and Wake Up! all with similar rates for double rooms and dorm rooms (around £33 per night).

Finally, I couldn’t not mention the iconic Arts Factory Lodge . Located just outside of town in a beautiful forested area, this a mammoth campground, lodge and artsy bohemian stay all in one.

We chose to stay here with our camper van which was great – it has a pool, on-site cafes and bars, and even things like didgeridoo lessons! A dorm bed here is around £14 per night, and a double room around £68 per night.

Australia East Coast Road Trip Itinerary

So that rounds out my super long and very detailed itinerary guide for an East Coast Australia road trip.

I really hope this is useful for you if you’re planning a trip to the beautiful East Coast of Australia. As you can see, there is literally so much to do, particularly on the Cairns to Brisbane stretch. And as I said, you can do the highlights in two weeks, but the longer you have, the more you’ll be able to take in and soak up. Ideally, a month to 6 weeks would be the best for an Australia East Coast road trip itinerary.

If you enjoyed my Australia East Coast road trip itinerary guide, then please do consider sharing through one of the below links, that would be amazing. Also, if there’s anything else I can share or answer for you, please do let me know in the comments below.

For further Australia guides, please do check out my other guides:

Visiting the Whitsunday Islands
Noosa Travel Guide
Best day trips from Cairns
Cairns to Cape Tribulation road trip
Taking the Ghan train from Darwin to Alice Springs

Wanna see more? Check my Instagram here , my Facebook here or my Twitter here !

Disclaimer: This Australia East Coast road trip itinerary guide is based on multiple visits to Australi a . There was no involvement from any local companies or the tourist board . However icelolly.com arranged two local tours on the East Coast: dolphin watching in Noosa and entry to Currumbin Wildlife Park.

Enjoyed my guide to an Australia East Coast Road Trip Itinerary? Pin it!

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Best time to visit australia – climate …, sailing the whitsunday islands in australia: …, exploring the australian outback: darwin to …, new zealand travel guide: best places ….

What an incredible resource! Thank you so much! Do you have something similar for New South Wales and Victoria?

Thank you! Unfortunately no! Although I lived in Victoria, I didn’t travel the state as extensively as Queensland 🙁

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How To Spend 6 Weeks In Australia

Gabby Boucher

April 29th, 2024

8 minute read

How To Spend 6 Weeks In Australia Image | East Coast Tours Australia

6 weeks in Australia is sure to be the adventure of a lifetime, especially because you have ample time to appreciate this fabulous country! For those who have always dreamed of travelling Australia , 6 weeks is an amazing time frame for taking in the highlights of the East Coast . You can take your time experiencing all the natural and cultural wonders from Cairns down to Melbourne without rushing. You can even plan your budget accordingly so you don't spend all your savings on this epic trip.

Here is our ultimate guide to spending 6 weeks in Australia, including an ideal backpacker itinerary, price breakdown, and travel tips.

There is no right or wrong way to spend 6 weeks in Australia, but we're going to provide an ideal 6-week itinerary so you can optimise your time on the East Coast . Australia is a huge country with lots of incredible things to see, but all the best destinations are spread out quite far along the massive coastline. Travel times can be long and popular experiences may sell out, so ensure you don't miss anything and plan your itinerary in advance!

Here is a sample 6-week Australia itinerary that you can use as a guideline. We will shortly outline the highlights of each place and recommend the best ways to get around so you can better visualise what 6 weeks in Australia might look like.

6 Week Australia Bucket List

How to get around during 6 weeks in australia.

The easiest ways to travel around during six weeks in Australia are any combination of flights, Greyhound buses , or campervan rentals . Most backpackers opt for the Greyhound Whimit Pass , as this is one of the cheapest and easiest methods for travelling around Australia. You can buy a bus pass that lasts for 30, 60, or 90 days and enjoy unlimited bus travel to all the top destinations.

If you wanted to cover any long distances quickly, you could also take domestic flights. They are generally pretty cheap and are much quicker than a long bus ride. Alternatively, you could hire a campervan and enjoy slow travelling along the coastal roads. This is also cost-effective because you can cook meals and sleep in your van to save money!

travellers floating along eli creek on k'gari

Six-Week Australia Itinerary – Cairns to Melbourne

Day 1 - 5: cairns, great barrier reef & rainforest.

As the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest, Cairns offers the ultimate tropical adventure. Snorkel or scuba dive, hike through the oldest rainforest on Earth, and soak in the laid-back energy of the city.

snorkellers near coral reefs in the great barrier reef

Day 6 - 8: Mission Beach

Mission Beach is a quaint coastal town in Australia's Tropical North. It's a hotspot for skydiving over the beach and embarking on adventure sports in the rainforest!

two travellers admiring palm trees in port douglas australia

Day 9 - 11: Magnetic Island

A magical oasis located just off the coast of Townsville, Magnetic Island gives travellers the chance to mingle with the island's koala population, snorkel at some breathtaking beaches, and drive around the lush landscapes in a mini topless car.

girl in a colorful jeep on magnetic island australia

Day 12 - 13: Airlie Beach

Airlie Beach is the Gateway to the Whitsunday Islands, but you'll want to spend a few days enjoying this vibrant tourist town before you head to sea. From swimming in a local waterfall to partying with other backpackers in the exciting town centre, Airlie Beach has so many fun things to do !

backpackers enjoying cedar creek falls in airlie beach

Day 14 - 16: The Whitsunday Islands

Embark on a breathtaking sailing tour through the Whitsunday Islands ! Glide over turquoise waters, soak in the sun on the famous Whitehaven Beach, admire the swirling sands from Hill Inlet, and snorkel with colourful marine life in this slice of paradise.

travellers walking on the whitsunday islands beaches

Day 17 - 19: Rainbow Beach

Rainbow Beach has some of southern Queensland's most impressive natural landscapes. It's a small, peaceful town, but it's surrounded by rippling sand dunes, rugged coastal cliffs, and sapphire waters that are perfect for water sports!

rainbow beach coloured cliffs and ocean in australia

Day 20 - 22: K'gari (Fraser Island)

From Rainbow Beach, depart on an epic 4WD adventure as you tour the world's largest sand island! K'gari (Fraser Island) , is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has iconic and rare wildlife, perched lakes, ancient dunes, and magnificent rainforests.

backpackers near maheno shipwreck at sunrise on k'gari

Day 23 - 26: Noosa

Next stop, Noosa , one of the most gorgeous coastal towns in Australia. With a charming town centre, pristine beaches, tranquil Everglades and enticing national parks, Noosa has something for everyone.

people canoeing along the noosa everglades rivers

Day 27 - 28: Brisbane

As the bustling capital city of Queensland, here you can find an endless array of activities, attractions, and entertainment. From street food markets, to world-class museums, to landscaped gardens, to compelling architecture, Brisbane offers a wealth of epic experiences for travellers.

aerial view of brisbane city skyscrapers and river

Day 29 - 30: Surfers Paradise & Gold Coast

After a few days in the city, head back to the coast to soak in the sunshine on the Gold Coast ! Home to famous beaches like Surfers Paradise and Burleigh Heads, the Gold Coast is like heaven for surfers and beach bums.

two girls walking along the beach with skyscrapers in the background

Day 31 - 35: Byron Bay

Byron Bay is an inviting surf town in northern New South Wales that beckons travellers with its impressive coastal landscapes, diverse marine life, eclectic atmosphere, and hipster energy.

travellers checking out the views in byron bay

Day 36 - 40: Sydney

Arguably Australia's most famous and touristy city, Sydney is well worth the hype. Here you can admire famous landmarks in Sydney Harbour, surf at Bondi Beach, take a day trip to the stunning Blue Mountains, or just get lost and absorb all the cool architecture and culture.

two travellers posing in sydney harbour australia

Day 41 & 42: Melbourne

Finish off 6 weeks in Australia with a visit to Melbourne, the capital of Victoria. Known for its cultural landmarks and expert coffee scene, Melbourne is one of the coolest and most cosmopolitan cities in Australia.

man walking past street art in melbourne city australia

Best 6-week itineraries in Australia

Here are the best 6 week itineraries for East Coast Australia!

6 Week Cairns To Melbourne Ultimate (semi guided)
6 Week Melbourne To Cairns Ultimate (semi guided)
6 Week Guided Sydney To Cairns Group Tour (fully guided)

These itineraries will give you the full East Coast Australia experience without any hassle! All the activities, transport, and accommodation are booked for you to ensure you don't miss anything. Semi guided tours give you some free time and more flexibility with your travel days. Guided tours are great for first-time travellers as everything is led by an experienced tour guide. Either way, a pre-booked itinerary is a great way to get the most bang for your buck in Australia.

travellers posing in the dense forest of k'gari

How much money do I need to travel East Coast Australia for 6 weeks?

It's hard to say exactly how much money you would need for 6 weeks in Australia, but most travellers probably average around $200 AUD per day. This includes transport, accommodation, tours, food, and other daily costs. Of course, if you use any classic budget travel tips your daily costs may be lower, and if you treat yourself you can spend more than $200 per day, but it's a good estimate to start with when measuring your savings.

6 Weeks in Australia Itinerary Cost

If you book an itinerary, the upfront price includes most of the big costs such as accommodation, transport, and tours. You'll just need a bit of extra cash for meals and daily expenses. But when you're on a multiday tour, such as in the Whitsundays or K'gari, meals are included!

Cost breakdown for 6 week Australia itineraries

6 Week Cairns To Melbourne Ultimate - $5469 ($130 per day)
6 Week Melbourne To Cairns Ultimate - $5469 ($130 per day)
6 Week Guided Sydney To Cairns Group Tour - $5599 ($130 per day)

Average daily costs for food, drinks, and souvenirs during 6 weeks in Australia

Here is a quick breakdown of what things cost in Australia so you can estimate your daily spending. Remember to factor this into your budget on top of the itinerary price! If you're looking to save money in Australia , there are ways to cut costs while still having a fulfilling adventure. For example, cook your meals at home in the hostel to save money on dining out, or book tours at off-peak times for cheaper prices.

Either way, think realistically about your own spending habits when planning a budget for Australia. If you love to eat out and drink cocktails, you'll spend much more than if you're fine with cooking at home and skipping out on souvenirs.

These are standard cost estimates for daily spending in Australia:

Tight budget: $60 - $90 per day
Mid-range budget: $100 - $140 per day
Luxury budget: $150 - $250 per day

traveller taking a photo of sydney harbour bridge

Can you explore East Coast Australia in 6 Weeks?

You can explore so much of East Coast Australia in 6 weeks! Though many travellers only spend a couple of weeks or even one month touring the East Coast , 6 weeks gives you more flexibility and more wiggle room for extending your stay in places you really love. You won't be rushing as much and you'll get to enjoy each destination for longer. Having 2 to 4 days in each location gives you time for day trips, city exploration, water sports, fun excursions, and plenty of downtime where you can just melt into the landscape and relax with no plans.

So whether you're hopping off on an adventure during your Working Holiday Visa in Australia, or you're just on a fantastic 6-week holiday, fill your days with natural beauty, sunshine, and culture on the East Coast!

travellers smiling with drinks in the whitsunday islands

Check out our handy DIY itinerary planner for planning 6 weeks in Australia!

You can also chat with a local travel expert for personalised advice, or browse our curated itineraries , start your own journey.

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How to Backpack the East Coast Australia: 6 Week Itinerary

Known for its many outdoor backpacking activities such as surfing, rock climbing, caving, and scuba diving (amongst many others of course), both the coast and smalls towns found more inland offers a plethora of activities and things to see during your 6 week backpacking NSW holiday.

Regardless of whether you are following a travel guide for Sydney and the surrounding areas to the T or are getting a more rugged and off-the-beaten path adventure , you must take the time to backpack the east coast of Australia.

Take a look at these top places to see in the New South Wales territory during a 6-week backpacking trip through the East Coast of Australia.

East Coast Australia Itinerary in 6 Weeks

1) sydney –.

Kicking off with the bustling beauty of Sydney is the hallmark of a promising itinerary for the NSW holiday. Sydney is a city that boasts of sparkling harbors, beautiful parks, and pristine beaches. With a lot of thriving markets and excellent restaurants, a visit to Sydney is worth every penny and stress invested.

You can visit the Zoo, the Sydney opera house or see the famous Harbour Bridge. The jewel in the crown is the visit to the Blue Mountains National Park, a place that is attractive for excursion amongst residents.

2) Snowy Mountains –

In the Snowy Mountains, regardless of the time of visit, there a lot of extreme adventures to do. Activities like fishing, horse riding, mountain biking, hiking, road cycling, and bushwalking are bound to keep you occupied. The towns in the Snowy Mountains also surround the Kosciuszko National Park where you can explore the highest parts of Australia.

In the Snowy Mountains, there are also activities like water sailing, skiing, swimming, and kayaking. There are many activities, and they happen all year round.

3) Hunter Valley –

Backpacking Hunter Valley NSW Wine Country

Hunter Valley nicknamed ‘wine country’ is a serene and beautiful environment. As suggested by its nickname, a place with many wine companies that offers you the opportunity of sampling some of Australia’s finest wines and cuisine. You also have a chance to go on historical tours of the museum and old architectural facilities.

It also boasts of a world-class National Park where there are lots of wildlife and one of Australia’s most beautiful golf courses.

4) Kosciuszko National Park –

The Kosciuszko National Park is the home to Australia’s highest mountain, Mt Kosciuszko, which is the largest park in Australia. In the Snowy Mountains, there is a lot to do like snowboarding and skiing although it’s not quite as intense as skiing in Aspen, Colorado . The region is also notable for its steepness and the air that is as clear as crystal.

You can also see the Yarrangobilly Caves, at the northern wing of the park. The caves are five in number and are about 440 million years old. If you are visiting during the warmer months, you can engage in activities like kayaking, camping, mountain biking, rafting, caving, and horse riding.

5) Newcastle –

Newcastle, being amongst the largest cities in the New South Wales territory, and also home to the wine country of Hunter Valley, is a place to be if you want to enjoy beach surfing and great nightlife. You will also have the chance for day tours to the Hunter Valley wineries.

6) Dorrigo National Park –

Feel the excitement of browsing through the towering forest that looks like where dinosaurs once roamed. This wilderness is among the list of ancient World Heritage Sites just like the famous Sagamartha National Park – where you can see Mt. Everest . There is also an opportunity for bird watching, hiking as well as watching silent waterfalls.

7) Byron Bay –

East Coast Australia Itinerary 6 Weeks - Byron Bay Lighthouse

A region known for its alternating healing practices like Yoga, Byron Bay is home to Gaia Retreat and Spa that is located among hills and lush rainforest with packages to help you find inner peace. There are also beaches, a thriving food scene made of local foods and a natural environment coupled with a laid-back lifestyle.

8) Jervis Bay –

Just a three hours’ drive to the south of Sydney, Jervis Bay is renowned for its powder-fine sand and turquoise waters. Experience scuba diving at the Jervis Bay Marine Park, visit the Hyams beach , and go camping at the Booderee National Park. These water-based activities are among the best in the New South Wales region of Australia and can be enjoyed by nearly all ages – especially travelers who are planning to take a future vacation .

9) Lord Howe Island –

Backpacking NSW Australia Lord Howe Island in 6 Weeks

Lord Howe Island is a paradise. It is a destination you must not miss when you are thinking of visiting the NSW for the holidays. With services scheduled all year, Lord Howe Island is a place to take out some time and relax. Notable for its natural environments, breathtaking views, and most especially its twin peaks, the island is suitable for biking or hiking as you may also want to discover a lot of the place on foot while traveling with your family .

Activities like snorkeling, diving, swimming, paddle boarding, bird watching, fishing, kitesurfing, and windsurfing are also bound to keep you busy throughout your stay.

10) Kangaroo Valley –

Hidden between Cambewarra and Barrengarry is one of Australia’s jewels. A 2-hour drive from Sydney can get you to this beautiful valley, and its characteristics are silent rivers, picturesque villages, and productive farms. It is a popular place to visit for canoeing, kayaking, golfing, or wine sampling.

Would you like to take a 6-week vacation and backpack the East Coast of Australia to explore the beautiful attractions in New South Wales?

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About the author: ronald robbins.

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I’d never heard of Lord Howe Island, but it looks gorgeous! I’m definitely adding it to my bucket list now lol. Thanks!

I’m glad you approve Jillian!

Woah this is great 🙂 ☝???

Thanks Rany!

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Itineraries East Coast Australia: Ultimate road trips for 2 to 6 weeks traveling along the coast!

Creating an itinerary for the east coast of Australia can be quite difficult. This coastline is very large and has more than enough sights to keep you entertained for months. In short, how do you choose a manageable itinerary along the east coast of Australia?

We have also written travel guides for a number of Australian hotspots. These travel guides are full of our travel experiences, photos, fun things to do and great hotels to sleep in. This gives you a good impression of a destination and what it is like to travel along the east coast of Australia.

5 itineraries for an unforgettable road trip along the east coast of Australia!

Australia is a wonderful camping country to travel through. Camping facilities are plentiful. In many places, you will find opportunities to barbecue, shower or use a toilet for free. Along the road, you also have campgrounds where you can spend the night for free. In short, Australia is a perfect destination to discover the great outdoors by campervan.

Last year there have been heavy bush fires that have destroyed a lot of nature. Above Sydney, you hardly see (any) traces of these fires. The further you go southwards to Melbourne, the more consequences you will see from these forest fires. However, the coastal itinerary to Melbourne is still very impressive to make . So don’t be put off by this and just go on that road trip with the camper!

We’ve put together 5 itineraries to help you plan your Australian East Coast journey. Varying from 2 weeks to 2 months ! In this way, you get some inspiration for planning your road trip and you immediately get an impression of how big Australia is regarding travel distances.

East Coast Australia map: Highlights and top attractions for your road trip

To help you plan your trip, we’ve created a map showing almost all the sights and top attractions of Australia’s east coast. To keep this map lean, not all attractions are listed. Think of nature parks, special waterfalls, smaller coastal villages, etc. These places are mentioned in various travel blogs about Australia.

Curious which hotels, hostels and accommodation we like in Australia? Then read our Australia hotels east coast blog!

5 great itineraries among the east coast of Australia per campervan

These 5 itineraries built up in terms of weeks. The first travel itinerary is for travellers who only have 2 weeks. The next itineraries are for backpackers who have more time available for exploring all the highlights of the gorgeous east coast of Australia.

1. Itinerary Sydney to Brisbane including a visit to Fraser Island | 2 weeks

Are you travelling along the east coast of Australia and do you want to include Byron Bay in your itinerary? Then consider travelling itinerary from Sydney to Brisbane on a two-week road trip ! The highlights of this trip are:

Sydney – Blue Mountains – Hunters Valley – Port Macquarie – Byron Bay – Surfers Paradise (Gold Coast) – Noosa – Fraser Island – Brisbane

Read here our free travel guide for Brisbane : 12 cool things to do in just 2 days!

2. Itinerary Cairns to Sydney | 3+ weeks

Is diving in the Great Barrier Reef, sailing the Whitsundays and surfing in Byron Bay already at the top of your list of destinations to visit during your road trip through Australia? Then consider travelling from Cairns to Sydney on a 3-week road trip. In 3 weeks it is possible to make this beautiful itinerary along the coast. Highlights of this road trip by campervan are:

Cairns – Palm Cove – Great Barrier Reef – Whitsundays – Fraser Island – Sunshine Coast – Brisbane – Gold Coast – Byron Bay – Hunter Valley – Blue Mountains – Sydney

Read here everything you need to know when visiting Fraser Island on a self-drive !

3. Itinerary Melbourne to Brisbane | 4 weeks

Are you travelling along the east coast of Australia and want to drive the famous Great Ocean Road , discover vibrant Sydney and surf ? Then consider traveling from Sydney to Brisbane on a 4-week road trip! This beautiful 4-week itinerary brings you along the coast, high cliffs, national parks, vineyards, golden beaches and impressive cities. Do you love nature parks and climbing as well? Then consider adding Grampians National Park , Great Otway National park or Springbrook National Park to this trip.

Melbourne – Great Ocean Road – Philip Island – Wilson Promontory/Mount Oberon – Jervisbaai – Sydney – Blue Mountains – Hunters Valley – Port Macquarie – Byron Bay – Gold Coast – Fraser Island – Brisbane

Do you love surfing, hiking and shopping all together? Then, visit this lovely cozy village Noosa !

4. Itinerary Melbourne to Cairns | 6 weeks

This itinerary from Melbourne to Cairns takes you across the 3 states of the Australian east coast: Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. In this road trip, you will pass all the beautiful sights and top attractions the east coast has to offer. A possible 6-week itinerary per campervan could be:

Melbourne – Great Ocean Road – Yara Valley –Philip Island – Wilson Promontory/Mount Oberon – Sydney – Blue Mountains – Hunters Valley – Port Macquarie – Byron Bay – Gold Coast – Brisbane – Sunshine Coast/Noosa – Fraser Island – Whitsundays – Great Barrier Reef – Cairns

Looking for the best hotspots in Byron Bay ? Read here our travel guide about this amazing surf town including the best places to eat!

5. Itinerary among the east coast, countryside and Alice Springs | 2 months

Do you have plenty of time for discovering Australia? Then consider exploring the entire East Coast and driving back to Melbourne via the mainland. In this 2-month round trip , you come across the beautiful Alice Springs and Uluru . Besides, you have more options for free campgrounds in the countryside than along the coast. In this adventurous 2-month itinerary you will visit:

Melbourne – Yara Valley – Philip Island – Wilson Promontory/Mount Oberon – Sydney – Blue Mountains – Hunters Valley – Port Macquarie – Byron Bay – Gold Coast – Brisbane – Sunshine Coast/Noosa – Fraser Island – Whitsundays – Great Barrier Reef – Cairns – Alice Springs – Grampians National Park – Great Ocean Road – Melbourne

How expensive is a road trip through Australia? Read here our Australia travel budget blog!

Must-do activities for your road trip along the east coast of Australia!

These are 5 special things to do during your road trip along the east coast of Australia. These unique activities range from skydiving to sailing through Whitsundays. Below, 5 cool experiences for your journey along the east coast of Australia.

1 Skydiving and sailing to the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns

Adventure junkies pay attention! Cairns is the place for skydiving in Australia! This is possible from €154.65 per person. Read here all about this adventure activity! Cairns is also a great base for visiting the Great Barrier Reef . Have you always wanted to visit this famous place? You can easily book a day tour by catamaran here . From €98.86 per person.

2. Rafting and discovering the Whitsundays!

Do you only have one day to explore Whitsundays from Arlie Beach ? Then consider this cool day activity and go rafting, snorkelling and hiking in this energetic day-trip! From €92.50 per person. Click here for more information. Do you prefer to experience the Whitsundays by catamaran ? This family-friendly activity can you book here!

3. Day tour to Fraser Island from Hervey Bay

Not enough time or budget to discover Fraser Island by 4×4? You might consider visiting the largest sand island in the world on a day trip from Harvey Bay. This is possible from €105 per person. Click here for more information and availability .

4. Experience Coles Bay in Tasmania with a nice glass of wine on a cruise ship!

If you visit Tasmania you shouldn’t skip Coles Bay . A relaxed way to explore Coles Bay is by boat. During this tour, you will be pampered with drinks. This relaxing activity can be booked from €93.21 per person. Click her e for more information.

5. Experience a hot air balloon ride in Alice Springs!

A special way to experience Alice Springs is by hot air balloon! This is possible from €166 per person. After this unforgettable flight, champagne is awaiting you. For more information about this special highlight of Australia click here !

Best time to visit the east coast of Australia

The continent of Australia has 3 different climate zones. This makes it difficult to say what the best travel time for Australia is. If you visit the entire east coast of Australia you will not have nice weather everywhere.

The most popular travel time is f rom October to March . The most expensive month to travel is January when the whole of Australia also has a holiday too. Airlines, hotels and car rental companies charge high prices. Depending on your destination, you can expect temperatures in January between 20 and 40 degrees Celsius . In the north, you can encounter have rain showers since it is the rainy season.

The east coast of Australia borders 3 states. It is not possible to visit all states in the “best time”. Below, you find the best travel time by state:

Queensland (Brisbane and surrounding area): June to October
New South Wales (think Sydney and surrounding area): November through April
Victoria (think Melbourne and surrounding area): November to March

Tip : know that Australian seasons run opposite to those of Europe. If it is winter in Europe, then it is summer in Australia.

Early bird discount: Book at least 3 months in advance and get a 5% discount on a Spaceships campervan! Click here for the deal and more information!

How long do you need for visiting the east coast of Australia?

From the Netherlands point of view, Australia is almost on the other side of the world. You don’t go there quickly. Besides, this continent is very large. In short, 2 weeks is really the minimum . In 3 to 4 weeks you have more time and you can travel at a slower pace. If you have more than 4 weeks, that is great and gives you plenty of space to explore this beautiful western country.

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Hola! Great information thank you. We are an older couple, 60 and 55) and we are planning our first trip to Australia(and outside the USA and Mexico). My husband dream is to explore and see first hand kangaroos. We will be there in June 2023 and I read so much and still have so many doubts and questions. Where is the best place to do this? I read about Kangaroo Island (not seen in your blog; unless is known with a different name) Please advise and yes we will like to rent a campervan for part of the trip. Best of luck to you and husband.

Hi Isabel! Oh how nice that you will be visiting Australia! It is such a beautiful country! I am not sure what the very very very best place to do this is, but we can recommend Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. There they are tam and do not live in the wild. Other locations could be Yuraygir National park where you will be able to see many in the wild (don't approach them close by) and at North Strandbroke Island you might also see some in wild. Hopefully this helps? Kind regards, Charlotte

Hola Isabel, We have kangaroos in many places around Australia - don't worry they are easy to see! Kangaroo Island is off the coast of South Australia, and though the name suggests it is a kangaroo haven, it is many things - beautiful and rugged. The only thing is, it was devastated by bushfires in 2019-20, so many animals were killed. Today it is growing back and welcoming visitors again. Good luck! A beautiful country.

I am reasearching for our trip to Australia, and your's is the bestest blog I have seen on this topic. You are amazing at what you do! Thanks a ton for easy to consume representation (image) and descriptions.

Ooo so happy to hear that we can help you!! Enjoy your trip and its preparations!

The PERFECT 1, 2 or 3 Week Australia Itinerary [2024]

Last Updated: January 30, 2024

Whether you have 1, 2, or 3 weeks in Australia, here are some suggestions for an Australia itinerary that will help you make the most of this huge, diverse, and stunning country!

Planning a trip to Australia can be quite difficult, simply because the country is so huge.

Lots of its best attractions, cities, and natural landmarks are very spread out, so it’s impossible to see everything in a short amount of time.

Australia is also an expensive country to visit, so most backpackers and average travellers won’t be able to visit every single point of interest without spending a lot.

Despite these challenges, planning an epic trip to Australia is definitely possible.

You just have to be smart about your Australia itinerary, sticking to one or two major areas and picking travel routes that are logical.

For example, you won’t be able to fit Sydney, the Great Barrier Reef, Melbourne, Uluru, Tasmania, and beaches and national parks of Western Australia and the Northern Territory into a 1 week Australia itinerary.

To see all those incredible places, you’d need at least one month, and even then you’d be rushing to get everywhere.

What you can do, is pick the areas that appeal to you the most and plan your trip accordingly.

READ MORE: Check out our comprehensive guide with everything you need to know about travelling in Australia !

So you’d be better off picking either the east coast or the west coast and hanging around there if you only have 1 or 2 weeks in Australia.

In this article, I’ll provide a few sample Australia travel itineraries.

Each Australia itinerary will include a few of the country’s best places to visit, while maintaining reasonable travel times.

Whether it’s your first trip to Australia or you’ve been here for a while, there is always something incredible to see!

Table of Contents

How to Get Around Australia

Days 1-2: sydney, days 3-5: brisbane , days 6-7: airlie beach and the whitsundays, days 1-3: sydney, days 3-6: melbourne , day 7-8: the great ocean road, day 9-10: adelaide, day 11: kangaroo island, day 12-14: perth, days 3-4: byron bay, days 5-6: the gold coast, days 7-8: cairns, days 9-10: port douglas and the great barrier reef, days 11-13: cape tribulation and the daintree rainforest, day 14: darwin, days 15-17: kakadu national park, days 18-20: uluru and the red centre, the ultimate australia itinerary travel guide.

Having travelled all around the country, we’re excited to share these epic 1, 2 and 3 week Australian itineraries that’ll cover the best places around.

But first, a tip…

It’s also important to consider how you’ll get around Australia during your visit.

As I mentioned, the country is huge and public transport like buses or trains is expensive.

If you’re staying in one area, it’s worth renting a car for a few days so you can explore and do day trips, but driving from one city to the next may take 12+ hours of driving.

The best way to get around is to rent a car and explore on your own! We recommend Rental Cars , which has the largest range of vehicles for the best value on the market.

Catching cheap domestic flights is the best way to jump from one state to the next, and you can take public transport or drive within smaller areas.

Though every traveller will have their own unique preferences and modify these itineraries as necessary, here are some sample Australia itineraries that will hopefully help you plan your dream trip!

7 Day Australia Itinerary

One week in Australia goes by quickly, but some people can’t afford to take much longer off of work or their other responsibilities.

You can still manage to experience some of the Aussie culture and natural beauty in one week.

In this 7 day Australia itinerary, you’ll be sticking to the middle east coast.

You’ll begin in Sydney, then head up to Queensland to enjoy the Great Barrier Reef.

This plan is perfect for 7 days in Australia because it doesn’t require huge amounts of travel time.

READ NEXT: 25 Amazing Things to Do in Australia

After arriving in Sydney and getting settled, you have two days to enjoy the city.

You can spend one day visiting all the popular tourist attractions, like the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Tower Eye, the Royal Botanic Gardens, and maybe some of the museums.

Another day can be spent swimming and sunbathing on one of the city’s main beaches.

The northern beaches around Manly, or the western beaches around Bondi and Bronte are great options for a fun day in Sydney.

Bondi Beach has a very strong health and fitness scene, so they have lots of incredible healthy cafes where all the locals like to fuel up.

Visit Berri Bar Bondi Beach for a refreshing Acai bowl, Porch and Parlour for a healthy breakfast on homemade bread, or Umu for some nourishing organic lunch bowls.

After 2 days in Sydney, you can catch a quick, 1-hour flight up to Brisbane.

Check out this post on how to spend one day in Sydney if that’s all the time you have.

Brisbane is another incredible city to visit in Australia.

After 2 days in Sydney, however, you may be sick of the crowded city streets.

Luckily, Brisbane makes a great gateway for exploring more peaceful areas of Queensland.

There are tons of amazing day trips from Brisbane that allow you to explore nature and see more of Australia, including:

Burleigh Heads: a charming coastal town with a massive beach and national park
Hervey Bay: one of the best spots in Australia for whale-watching
Lamington National Park: full of hiking trails and waterfalls
Stradbroke Island: a beautiful location that’s great for kayaking, paddleboarding, and trying other water sports
Fraser Island: the world’s largest sand island

After exploring Brisbane and the surrounding areas, catch another cheap domestic flight from the city up to Airlie Beach.

Read our list of the best things to do in Brisbane for more inspiration!

Airlie Beach is known as one of Australia’s most stunning beaches, complete with soft white sand and clear turquoise water.

From here, you can soak in the postcard-worthy views in the Whitsundays Islands and do a day trip to the Great Barrier Reef and the famous Whitehaven Beach.

Book an ocean rafting day tour that include all your snorkelling gear and takes you to Whitehaven Beach and the best locations in the Whitsundays.

BONUS – Booking ahead of time ensures you won’t miss out on the tour, and get the best price too! And just for NOMADasaurus readers, if you use the Klook discount code “NOMADS10” on the website when checking out, you’ll get $10 off your first booking!

Snorkelling, scuba diving, and sailing through the Great Barrier Reef will make an unforgettable ending to your 7 day Australia itinerary.

At the end of your week in Australia, you can fly from Airlie Beach back to Sydney for your departing flight.

2 Week Australia Itinerary

Two weeks in Australia allows you a bit more time to see different areas of the country.

This two week Australia itinerary will start in Sydney, move down to Victoria to explore Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road , and will then curve up to Adelaide in South Australia and end in Perth in Western Australia.

So with two weeks in Australia, you can still manage to visit 4 states! If you’d prefer to spend more time in one place rather than jumping around so much, you can always modify this.

For example, you could skip Perth and spend a few more days exploring New South Wales, Victoria, or South Australia.

But here is a sample two weeks in Australia itinerary.

Once again, you’ll fly into Sydney and begin your Australian adventure in the capital city of New South Wales.

In addition to all the touristy stuff like the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House and touring a local art gallery, you could spend one of your days in the lush nature surrounding the city.

Two perfect day trips from Sydney are:

The Blue Mountains: Full of waterfalls, scenic lookouts and hiking trails, connected to Sydney by train so you don’t even need a car. Here’s what you should do there .

The Royal National Park: Dramatic coastal scenery with rugged cliffs and secluded beaches. Check out these awesome Royal National Park walks .

After 3 days in Sydney, hop on a plane for a 1-hour flight down to Melbourne.

As one of the most vibrant and cosmopolitan cities in Australia, Melbourne is a favourite among travellers and locals alike.

Spend your days in Melbourne visiting street markets, sipping cocktails from rooftop bars, checking out all the cool cafes and restaurants, and experiencing the wild nightlife.

You can also visit St. Kilda Beach in the south of Melbourne, or head to Brighton Beach to photograph the colourful Brighton Bathing Boxes.

Or take a day trip to Phillip Island or tour the Melbourne Cricket Ground .

After you visit Melbourne, continue on to the famous Great Ocean Road.

One of the highlights of Victoria is the natural wonders of the Great Ocean Road.

This coastal road runs for 243 kilometers in total and is full of Australian wildlife, quaint little towns, surfing spots, picturesque viewpoints, campgrounds, and overall gorgeous scenery.

Be sure to see the Twelve Apostles, Split Point Lighthouse, Port Campbell National Park, Apollo Bay, Loch Ard Gorge, and other stunning landscapes along the way.

You can either rent a car from Melbourne and drive the road on your own, or book a day tour .

It only takes one day to see all the best spots along the road, but you’ll need to save some time to make your way back to Melbourne and you don’t want to rush.

You can also stop by the Australian National Surfing Museum in Torquay at the start of the Great Ocean Road.

Fly from Melbourne to Adelaide.

Spend the next days of your two weeks in Australia itinerary soaking in the culture of Adelaide .

Enjoy the delicious food, the museums and galleries, and the laid-back charm of South Australia’s capital.

One of your 2 days in Adelaide should definitely be spent touring a vineyard and wine tasting in the Barossa Valley.

Again, you can either rent a car in the city and drive yourself around the vineyards (make sure you don’t drink too much!), or you can book a day trip.

As one of the most unique places in South Australia, Kangaroo Island makes a super fun day trip from Adelaide.

Take photos of the interesting rock formations in Flinders Chase National Park , stroll along the pristine golden beaches, or search for some local animals like wallabies, koalas, and of course, kangaroos.

Head back to Adelaide after Kangaroo Island and hop on another quick flight to Perth to finish up this two week Australia trip.

Read next: 8 Amazing Things to Do in Kangaroo Island, Australia

Your last few days of visiting Australia will be well-spent in Perth, the capital city of Western Australia.

Enjoy the beaches, explore the Fremantle Markets, visit wineries and wildlife parks, and more.

You could also treat yourself to one last epic adventure in Australia by taking a day trip to Rottnest Island .

This island is full of fun activities, natural wonders, beautiful views, and cute little quokkas, which are small, native Australian marsupials similar to wallabies.

After a few days in Perth, either catch your departing flight from here or fly back to Sydney if your flight leaves from there.

You could also consider a day trip to Margaret River , one of the top wine and surfing regions in Western Australia.

It’s a 3 hour drive from Perth to Margaret River, so only make the trek if you feel like you have time.

3 Week Australia Itinerary

3 weeks in Australia allows you to visit some big cities and tourist spots, but it also allows you to venture out to more remote and isolated areas.

In this 3 week Australia Itinerary, you’ll visit Sydney and Byron Bay at the start.

Then you’ll head up to The Gold Coast, and tropical north Queensland to the Daintree Rainforest.

Continue your journey up north by travelling to Darwin and Kakadu National Park, and then venture inland to Uluru (Ayer’s Rock).

Again, spend your first couple days in Australia checking out Sydney and maybe doing a day trip to the Blue Mountains of the Hunter Valley Wine Region.

Be sure to visit Sydney Harbour, Darling Harbour, and the famous Bondi Beach during your time in Australia’s largest city.

Then fly to Ballina, a small airport 30 minutes away from Byron Bay.

Check out our Sydney to Brisbane road trip guide if you’d prefer to rent a car and drive up the east coast.

Byron Bay is a hub for backpackers, and it is a very fun place to experience when you visit Australia.

From bar crawls and drum circles on the beach, to night markets and street art, to coastal walks and lovely beaches, a couple days in Byron Bay will feel like bliss.

Even if you aren’t on a strict backpacker budget, Byron Bay has so many great hostels that it’s worth immersing yourself in the backpacker scene.

Some of the best hostels in Byron Bay include Wake Up! Byron Bay and Byron Bay Beach hostel.

Both of these have hundreds of great reviews from travellers cost around $30 per night, which is pretty cheap for Australia.

If you want to meet other cool people and take part in all the fun social activities of Byron Bay, you may want to stay in one of these fun hostels instead of a hotel!

You can choose to hang out in Byron Bay for a few more days, or catch a flight from Ballina to the Gold Coast for a taste of the Sunshine Coast surf vibes.

The Gold Coast is one of the best places to learn how surfing when you visit Australia.

You can take a surf lesson from an experienced local and ride the waves, or just relax on the beach, eat some great food, and hit the bars and nightclubs in the evening.

The Gold Coast combines the excitement of the city with the salty air and water sports of a beachside town, so it’s a diverse and fun place to visit.

Fly from the Gold Coast up to Cairns.

The next few days of your 3 week Australia Itinerary will take you up along the coast of Tropical North Queensland.

This corner of Australia is hot, humid, and jam-packed with rich jungles, Aboriginal culture, waterfalls and the marine life of the Great Barrier Reef.

Keep in mind that during the rainy season, from October to April, you can’t swim in the ocean here because there may be crocodiles and jellyfish.

Cairns is the gateway to tropical north Queensland.

The real beauty lies outside the city, but spend a couple days adjusting to the heat, partying with the many backpackers, shopping at Rusty’s Fruit Market, and swimming in the big public swimming pool called the Lagoon.

Also check out Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park and the nearby Barron Gorge National Park near Kuranda.

Then you’ll take the local bus up to Port Douglas. You can buy your bus ticket from any tourism agency or from the main bus station, and take the Cairns to Cooktown route.

Only about an hour north of Cairns is Port Douglas, a small, relaxed town with one backpacker hostel, a few amazing restaurants, and a nice park lined with palm trees for viewing the sunset.

This is one of the best places to book a Great Barrier Reef snorkelling or diving tour because up here, the reef isn’t as crowded as near Cairns. A snorkelling reef trip is one of the most popular Australia tours and shouldn’t be missed!

So spend one of your days in Port Douglas swimming in the crisp, blue waters of the reef and seeing some incredible, colourful marine life.

From here, get back on Cairns to Cooktown bus and continue north up to Cape Tribulation in the Daintree Rainforest.

Located in the midst of the jungle, Cape Tribulation is the perfect place to disconnect from technology and reconnect with nature.

There is only one main road running through the town, if you can even call it a town.

Cape Tribulation has a few resorts and hostels, a couple tourism companies and about two shops, and that’s it.

But the powerful presence of the rainforest is more than enough to entertain you for a couple days.

The Daintree is the oldest rainforest in the world, and is one of the true natural wonders of Australia.

Go hiking, ride horses on the beach, book an ATV sightseeing tour, do an exotic fruit tasting at Cape Trib Farm, visit the Daintree Discovery Center, or take a boat cruise on the Daintree River to spot some crocodiles.

Try to avoid visiting Tropical North Queensland in December through February, however. This is the wet season and many roads may be flooded and tours will be closed.

On your third day, take the bus back to Cairns then fly to Darwin.

Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, and it is a convenient starting point for a trip into Central Australia and Ayers Rock, in the south of the state.

Use this day to walk around and sightsee a bit, relax and unwind, and plan your journey into Kakadu National Park.

Check out our guide for the best things to do in Darwin!

Rent a car in Darwin and spend the next couple days exploring the largest national park in Australia!

You can swim in waterfalls, find ancient Aboriginal rock art, and go hiking through some incredible landscapes.

If you have a van or a tent, you can camp at one of the park’s campgrounds. Otherwise there is a handful of resorts where you can stay overnight in Kakadu.

Most of the accommodation in Kakadu is located in Jabiru, the main town of the park.

You could also book a guided tour to Kakadu as a day trip from Darwin. This is a good option for those who want to take a break from planning and driving. A tour will take you right to the best spots in the park, which is handy because the park is so huge.

After exploring the national park, drive back to Darwin and then fly to Alice Springs at the heart of Australia’s Red Centre.

(Alternatively if you don’t want to keep travelling so much, you could stay in the Northern Territory and explore more natural wonders like Nitmiluk National Park.)

From Alice Springs in the center of the Northern Territory, it’s time to begin your journey to Uluru!

The Red Centre is the central desert area of Australia, consisting of Alice Springs and the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park.

Uluru, or Ayers Rock, is a sacred monolith and it one of the most famous places to see on a trip to Australia.

You have two options for getting to Uluru.

Option 1: Rent a car in Alice Springs and complete the 5-hour drive on your own. Keep in mind it’s also 5 hours to get back, so that’s a 10 hour road trip in total. You should also have your own camping gear and pack enough food and water for the road trip.

Option 2: Book a tour from Alice Springs if you are tired of driving. You can choose a straightforward day trip . It’s a bit pricier to do a guided tour, but it takes away a lot of the effort on your part.

Either way, watching the sunrise and sunset bathe Uluru in soft, natural hues is a sight you’ll never forget, so the journey is worth it.

If you are renting a car and doing your own road trip, consider also heading out to Watarrka National Park and Kings Canyon. This amazing spot is a 3 hour drive from Ayers Rock, which is a short drive for the Outback!

READ MORE: Check out all the incredible things to do in Uluru !

Your final day of the 3 week Australia itinerary will mostly be spent travelling.

Drive back to Alice Springs, then fly back to Sydney for your flight home.

I just want to add that there are many other natural wonders that I didn’t get to mention!

Australia is massive so it’s hard to fit in so many cool places in a short time.

For example, the north of Western Australia is stunning, but it’s very remote and not convenient to add to a few weeks in Australia.

Few Australians even make it out here on holiday.

But riding a camel on Cable Beach , snorkelling with Whale Sharks in Exmouth , or camping in Cape Range National Park are amazing experiences that you can have if you have the time to venture out there.

Tasmania is also one of the most gorgeous places in Australia. The island is home to some of the best hiking and camping in the country , but it requires lots of prior planning and preparation and gear.

You could also road trip around Australia, taking more time to see all the attractions and not having to rush.

But it would take you months or even years to road trip all of Australia!

Regardless of how much time you spend here, don’t stress about seeing everything!

It’s impossible to see everything, and no matter where you go, you’re sure to have an epic time.

DISCLAIMER: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, which means if you book accommodation, tours or buy a product, we will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. These commissions help us keep creating more free travel content to help people plan their holidays and adventures. We only recommend the best accommodations, tours and products that ourselves or our fantastic editorial team have personally experienced, and regularly review these. Thanks for your support, kind friend!

Gabby Boucher

Hi, We’re Alesha and Jarryd!

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Australia Road Trip Budget: A Detailed Cost Breakdown

By: Author Lotte

Posted on Last updated: December 16, 2022

Categories Australia

Australia-travel-b budget-important-facts-and-figures-lotte-travels.com

In this post you can read about our Australia road trip budget, I hope this will give you an idea about the cost to travel to Australia.

Australia is the 6th biggest country in the world, so big in fact that it counts as a continental landmass!

With more than 823,000 kilometers of road available to be explored, it is an amazing road trip destination ( read more Australia Trivia here ).

We love love love love road trips, in fact, it's our favorite way to travel. We've gone on lots of road trips in countries such as New Zealand , Japan , Portugal , Oman , Canada , and the U.S.A.

I can say from experience that road-tripping is one of the best and cheapest options to travel!

Australia road trip budget: how much does it cost to travel to Australia?

Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you!). We're very grateful when you use our links to make a purchase:-).

How much does it cost to go to Australia?

Have you always dreamed about a Working Holiday in Australia? Check out Global Work & Travel and get a €100 discount with the coupon code PHENOMENALGLOBE .

Australia-working-holiday-Phenomenal-Globe-Travel-Blog

Australia is infamous for being a rather expensive destination, however, we managed to travel Australia on a very reasonable budget.

For everyone wondering: Is Australia expensive to visit? It doesn't have to be! We spent less than €100 a day (for us as a couple) during our 6-week road trip from Cairns to Melbourne.

Check the infographic below for our Australian budget breakdown and read along for tips to save money in Australia.

How to travel Australia on a budget! A trip to Australia doesn't have to be expensive, we spent less than €100/150 AUD per day during our 6-week road trip along the East Coast. Detailed budget breakdown and information about the costs of renting a camper van, campsites, petrol, food & activities. #australia #roadtrip

Australia travel budget: important facts and figures

I traveled around Australia with my husband , and all expenses mentioned are for the two of us together.
I quote prices in € and Australian Dollar (AUD) . The exchange rate usually is around €1 = 1,50 AUD. Of course, the exchange rate varies, check the most recent rates here .
We spent 6 weeks in Australia, on an average day we spent €98 / 146 AUD .
Our average daily travel budget includes all our travel costs in Australia, it does not include the costs for our tickets to Australia. Also, as a travel blogger, I was fortunate enough to work with Travellers Autobarn campervan rental and several tour companies which decreased our expenses.
My trip started in Cairns and ended in Melbourne. You can find our East Coast road trip itinerary here .

Cost to travel Australia: our average daily expenses

Campervan: 65% of daily costs
Accommodation: 4% of daily costs
Food and drinks: 19% of daily costs
Activities and miscellaneous expenses: 12% of daily costs

1. Renting a campervan in Australia: how much does it cost?

I'm 100% convinced the cheapest way to travel to Australia is with a camper van (or a car and a tent).

We rented a Kuga campervan from Travellers Autobarn and drove from Cairns to Melbourne in a little less than 6 weeks.

The Kuga van was great and very comfortable! The kitchen had a sink, a m icrowave, and a small fridge. The 35-liter water tank usually lasted us around 3 days.

Campervanning Australia - beautiful freedom campspot

The large bed could easily be converted to a seating area, but since we traveled in November and December we spent most of our time outside.

The curtains let in very little light, which was nice because the sun came up quite early in the South. During our trip we never had any issues with the car, it was well-maintained and clean.

In the infographic, you can see that the daily rental costs for the campervan were €63 / 93 AUD . These costs are divided into 2 categories:

Rent of the campervan

Costs for petrol.

Daily rental costs

I was fortunate to work with Travellers Autobarn and received a discount on the daily rental price of our Kuga. With this discount, the costs per day for the camper van were €47 / 70 AUD .

The only insurance we added was a 75 AUD payment to insure any damage to the windshield.

We didn't take out any additional insurance to reduce our bond liability (in case of an accident we would have had to pay up to 2500 AUD).

It's always a gamble whether or not insurance will be worth it or not. During our New Zealand road trip I bumped into another car and I was very happy we had taken out additional insurance.

During our Portugal road trip we paid for extra insurance as well but didn't need it, so we kind of wasted that money.

In the end you won't know what's smart until you hand the vehicle back in, damaged or not. It's up to you if you want to risk it;-).

Check prices online

Depending on the season, the type of campervan you want to rent and the additional items you choose you can pay as little as 35 AUD per day .

You can see the different types of vans and get a quote on the Travellers Autobarn website .

View from the back of a campervan in Australia

Fuel isn't cheap in Australia and distances are big, so fuel made up a significant portion of our daily expenses (17%) .

On average we paid €16 / 23 AUD per day. We fueled up on either Unleaded 91 or Unleaded 95. Not all gas stations sell 91, but at the ones that do this is usually the most economical option.

What really helped us to find the cheapest fuel option available was the Motormouth website (also available as an app).

The website shows the current price level of petrol stations all around Australia, there can be quite a big difference between them.

Checking the Motormouth website or app before fueling up can definitely help to save some money!

The Twelve Apostles, Great Ocean Road, Australia

2. How to find budget accommodation and free campsites in Australia

In the infographic, you can see that the total daily costs for accommodation were €4 / 6 AUD . These costs are divided into 2 categories:

Paid campsites

Airbnb accommodation

We slept in our campervan pretty much all the time and were pleasantly surprised by how many free campsites we found during our road trip.

We found these campsites via Campermate , a great free app where you can find information about the site and read comments from recent visitors.

Some of these free campsites even had free hot showers! During our six-week road trip we only paid for 2 campsites, the rest of the sites were free.

Free campsite on a budget campervan trip Australia

We stayed at an Airbnb in Brisbane (2 nights) and Melbourne (1 night). In Yamba and Sydney, we stayed with friends (3 nights), which was great and also saved us a lot of money.

3. Cost of food in Australia

The easiest and most effective way to save money in Australia is by cooking your own food. A cheap dinner will set you back at least €10/ 15 AUD per person.

Cooking your own meal will only cost about €10/ 15 AUD for a couple , so you'll already save 50% each day by making your own dinner!

We paid € 1 9 / 28 AUD for food and drinks on an average day. We made our own breakfast, coffee, lunch and dinner on 95% of the days. Every once in a while we bought a fresh fruit juice, pizza or steaming bowl of ramen.

Oatmeal pancake - Australia road trip breakfast

4. Activities and miscellaneous Australia vacation cost

The average daily costs in this category were €12/ 19 AUD . These costs can be split between:

Miscellaneous costs

Visit the Hill Inlet Lookout for the best view of the Whitsunday Islands

Most days we went bush-walking, explored a beautiful beach or did some sightseeing in a village or city, these activities were free. However, we also did some pretty cool excursions in Australia.

We went scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef, flew over the treetops with the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and sailed around the marvelous Whitsunday Islands.

I worked with these companies and received a discount or complimentary trip, which saved us a lot of money.

This category is a little bit of everything, ranging from public transport in Brisbane, Sydney and Canberra to costs for laundry, a local SIM, postcards home, etc.

Plan your trip like a pro with these tools: ✈️ Find the best flight deals on Kiwi.com . ? Get the best car rental deal for your road trip on Rentalcars.com . ?️ Find your dream accommodation on Booking.com or Agoda . ? Book the best tours via Get Your Guide , Viator or Klook . ? Plan your journey with the Lonely Planet . ?️ Travel safely and get reliable travel insurance from Safety Wing .

Australia trip budget: in conclusion

That's all our Australia expenses! I hope this post has shown it's possible to travel to Australia on a budget and has inspired you to visit this beautiful continent!

Feel free to ask any questions you may have and enjoy planning your trip to Australia !

Also check this post about work and travel in Australia in case you're interested in getting an Australian work and holiday visa.

Also read about the best things to do in Sydney with kids and about places to visit in Daylesford .

This post was updated in October 2020.

Wednesday 4th of March 2020

Thanks a lot for this information. I wanted to know, we are doing a road trip from Cairns to Sydney on a campervan. The payment for the campervan has already been made so that’s counted. My question is, if we want to go diving on the Great Barrier Reef and to Whitsundays (basically that’s all we want to do as “paid” activities), do you think we, as a couple, can manage to spend an average of 60 eur per day? (This would be excluding the campervan as I mentioned above).

Do you have any details of your trips to Whitsunday and the great barrier?

Thanks so much!

Monday 16th of March 2020

Hi Beatriz,

That sounds like a wonderful trip! Regarding your question, well, it will be a bit of a tight budget as these two activities unfortunately don't come cheap... Sailing the Whitsundays is around 200AUD per person and diving is 300AUD for 2 dives and 320AUD for 3 dives. Without these activities, 60euro for a couple is definitely possible but if you really want to do these two activities I'd try and save another 1000AUD for your road trip (if possible).

You can find more information here: https://cruisewhitsundays.com/experiences/camira-sailing-adventure/ http://www.tusadive.com/prices/

Have a great trip! Lotte

Veronica Ricalde

Sunday 21st of October 2018

How safe is to stay in free Camping sites? we would like to go with two small Kids (6 months and 6 years) and my husband Freak out when i said that we can camp for free. do they have toiletts and showers? thank u and lovely regards

Thursday 25th of October 2018

Hi Veronica,

We never had any issues at the free campsites and I always felt safe. Free campsites usually do have toilets but no showers (though some do, but you may have to pay for the shower). In the Campermate app (https://www.campermate.com.au/welcome/index) you can find information about free (and paid) campsites. Keep in mind that some free sites are located along busy roads, which may not be ideal for you and your family. Enjoy your road trip!

Sunday 1st of April 2018

Hi Lotte! We are planning an East coast Australia road trip (4-5 weeks) in October and then on to New Zealand for 2 months. We will be using a campervan in both countries. How long in advance do we need to book the campervan to get the best deals? Can you still get a good deal a few weeks in advance or do they become really expensive by then? Thanks for your interesting blog!!

Monday 2nd of April 2018

Hi Charlotte,

Wow, your trip sounds awesome! Regarding your question, for Australia you'll be a bit ahead of the high season so I reckon you could get good deals there even if you don't book very early. For New Zealand however, you'll be traveling in peak season and I recommend to book as early as possible. While November may be easy to book, December is summer holiday for the Kiwis as well. Hope this helps! Have a wonderful time in Aussie and New Zealand!

Katie Farrant

Wednesday 17th of January 2018

Hey, I'm just wondering whether you will be uploading your Australia itinerary soon?! My partner and I are off there on the 31st Jan starting in Adelaide and going up to Cairns (by tours and greyhound) for 7 weeks. Would be great to read any recommendations you have for free/cheap activities. We have booked up a few tours- but the cost is adding up! We are off to NZ after Aus for 5 weeks and your blog made me decide to book a camper with car rental village! I can't wait!

Thanks for your comment and your trip(s) sounds great! Which tours will you be doing along the way? Yes, costs definitely add up but luckily many hikes and sightseeing in cities/villages is free. I'm working on the itinerary post, it's going to be very long (5000+ words;-). My goal is to publish the post this week because I start a new job on Monday. Perhaps you can subscribe via RSS feed so you'll receive an update when the article goes life?

So cool you'll be going to NZ as well, it's still my favorite country in the world... Have a great trip and let me know if you have questions about the itinerary once it's published.

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What do people think?

Rough calculation 2500 translates to about 88 dollars a day AU. That's pretty tight. I would start deciding what exactly you want to do along the way and see how much your tours or entry fees are going to set you back. Reef trips are expensive as you have obviously noted already.

I agree with Snodge. 6 weeks is a long time so make the most of it.

I've not read any reviews about the Oz Experience bus on this forum so you may want to do some research about reviews and also check that their timetables suit you.

Another option which may be more expensive but has more extensive routes is the Greyhound bus - http://www.greyhound.com.au/help/types-of-passes/maps/map-australia-large.aspx

And finally, if you can afford to stretch more than $88 per day I think that would make you holiday so much better. Does the $88 include accommodation? If so, you'll be living in backpacker accommodation and eating very cheap meals - perhaps up to $10 per meal and if you like a drink, well not a lot out of your daily allowance for that either.

I would recommend that you either stretch the $$ or shorten the time here otherwise you could be penny pinching and if there are venues with admission fees, well ....

Tripadvisor staff removed this post either because the author requested it, or because it did not meet Tripadvisor's forum guidelines.

Thanks for all your replies!

The Oz Experience bus is $650 from Cairns to Sydney but I thought that would be a good opportunity to meet people of a similar age group as i'm travelling by myself...

If anyone has any further advise or recommendations for cheap but nice hostels that would be great. Thanks again.

Maybe you could pick up a cheap 2 man tent and stay in a few national parks and state forests. I'm trying to think creatively here. Team up with a fellow traveller to improve security perhaps.

There are free campgrounds and overnight parks scattered around Australia . There's even a book with Australia wide listings. They are for sale at BCF and Anaconda.

One of my favourite "cheap" places to stay is Inskip Point. It costs $8 a night for two people in a tent, caravans may be the same I think but you can check on this site ,,, http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/parks/list.php?alpha=i

National Parks and state forests are free to enter in Queensland but not in all other states.

This site might be useful... http://ozcamps.net/

and http://ozcamps.net/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=29

Hope this helps,

This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity.

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Inspire Your Trip

The Ultimate West Coast Australia Road Trip Itinerary (1-3 Weeks)

You contrary thing, you. For many roadtrippers with their own wheels, West Coast = Best Coast.

The diversity of experiences available, rare wildlife spotting opportunities and emptiness of landscapes (hellooooo, perfect Instagram shot!) makes for a magical off the beaten path experience.

How much time you have really depends on how many places you can see, we have put together two itineraries, for 7 or 21 days but both can be adapted to fit any time frames.

We’d recommend you allow a little longer for the West Coast than the East coast, due to the sheer distance between some remote places on this itinerary.

Having said that, if you’re pushed for time, you could easily spend a few less days on Shark Bay and Exmouth or opt out of exploring the Kimberleys.

Australia West Coast 1 Week Itinerary

If you’re after a real Aussie adventure with less time, a speedy one-week road trip headed north from Perth cuts the mustard.

First drive to Karrijini National park for iconic red rock gorges, natural waterfalls, tree-climbing and camping under the clearest starry sky (so clear you can legit see the galaxies).

Then swing back to the coast starting with Exmouth and its incredible coral reefs, swimming with whale sharks and sundowners on the sand dunes.

Make your way back to Perth stopping at Coral bay, Monkey Mia, Shelly beach, the pinnacles and back down to Perth.

This is a really quick and rushed itinerary but will allow you to see all the main highlights in a short period of time.

Australia West Coast 3 Week Itinerary

This 21 day itinerary starts in Perth and travels north. The itinerary can be adapted as you go.

Day 1: Starting our itinerary in Perth but before you hit the open road, we recommend you head to Rottnest Island to meet its gorgeous fuzzy residents and also see some of the most pristine beaches in the country.

Day 2: Set off up the West Coast. It’s around a two-hour drive from Perth to Nambung National Park, home to the Pinnacles. After a day exploring here, bed down in your camper in Cervantes, a cute coastal town nearby.

Day 3: Check out Cervantes’ Thirsty Point for views of the Indian Ocean after brekky, before driving the four and a half hours to Kalbarri, where there are plenty of campsite options.

Day 4: Explore the spectacular Kalbarri National Park!

Day 5: It’s around a four-hour drive to the first of your stops in the beautiful Shark Bay region. First stop, Shell Beach!

Day 6-8: With so many gorgeous beaches and wildlife encounters fit to rival Blue Planet, you’ll want a few days to explore Francois Peron National Park, Monkey Mia’s wild dolphin feeding grounds and Shark Bay’s amply other sandy enclaves at your leisure – they’re all within a short drive of each other.

Day 9: You can drive on to Coral Bay in three hours and pitch up for the night, or choose to rest and have lunch before continuing onto Ningaloo.

Day 10: It’s a short drive from Coral Bay beach to Ningaloo, where you can spend the day diving with whale sharks, snorkelling with turtles or boat tripping out to see humpback whales.

Day 11: Drive time between Ningaloo and Exmouth is under two hours. You’ll want to spend a few days in this heavenly beach bum’s paradise, soaking up more of the Ningaloo reef, and the marine life you missed at your last stop.

Day 13: It’s an eight hour drive from Ningaloo to Karijini National Park, so make sure you’re well rested – camping overnight under a blanket of stars here is a must.

Day 14-15: Rise early to take in Karijini’s landscapes on Day 14. On Day 15, set off on the five hour drive to Port Hedland for an overnight stop. These parts are remote, but there’s plenty of campsites with amenities.

Day 16: Port Hedland to Eighty Mile Beach is a three hour drive. Although the sea full of nasty critters you wouldn’t want to swim with, sunrise, sunset and the endless empty tidal flats here are made for photo opportunities, beers and general zenning out.

Day 17: On to Broome! Abandon your trusty campervan here, mount one of Australia’s million native camels (the Middx East does import them from here, you know) and ride down Cable Beach.

Days 18-20: Optionally tag an off-road adventure in the Kimberley region onto the end of your West Coast roadie. This area needs4WD vehicle, so we recommend a tour.

Day 21 You could decide to continue travelling up the coast to Darwin, or start your journey down back to Perth or other destinations in Australia either by car or flight from Broome.

Australia’s East Coast really does get all the love, but the West Coast will steal your heart. It is generally less touristy than the East, and although it doesn’t have famous sights like the Great Barrier Reef and WhitSunday Islands, you will absolute love travelling in this region.

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What's the best way of travelling around? I definitely want to spend maybe 1-2 weeks in Sydney as well as visiting Melbourne , Brisbane and the Great Barrier Reef. However, apart from that I'm pretty open to options but I am also aware of the distances between each. Are flights the best way to travel across Australia? Also, I love my culture and wondered what you thought the best attractions to visit would be, obviously the Opera House is up there.

Best places to stay? I'm unsure completely of my budget but I'm expecting about £400-£500 per week on accommodation.

I want to get in some sports as well whilst I'm over there. Any ideas on how much tickets to AFL or Cricket games can be (pretty glad I delayed going over for the Ashes this year!)

Finally, what kind of time of year is the best time to see Australia? I'm probably going to be traveling in 2015 (very early I know) but as I'll be coming from the UK I want to make it the best possible trip!

I understand this is pretty vague, any opinions at all would be greatly appreciated!

March and April are a good time to visit, Aussie weather http://www.bom.gov.au

Buses http://www.greyhound.com.au

Accommodation http://www.venere.com http://www.wotif.com Though you can find cheap accommodation locally.

http://www.airasia.com LCC airline , may be starting up flights from Europe to Australia .

http://www.australia.com

IMO spring is the best compromise if you want to visit both the south and the tropical north of the country. See the Top Questions on the right for the FAQ about Weather and Seasons. For you the timing of the sports would be a factor as well.

Speaking of transport, in general it is more efficient to fly the vast distances, but some routes are interesting/scenic and warrant doing a road trip.

Have a read of this and see what you think. http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/ShowTopic-g255055-i120-k2626647-Top_10_must_sees_Australia_attempt_no_2-Australia.html

Sydney - visually stunning city and fun to boot. Great to wander around, good beaches, good food and views everywhere. Could travel out to the Blue Mountains from there for a dose of nature, or up to Newcastle to see a lovely, smaller Aussie city.

Melbourne - cultural hotpot. Has a bit of absolutely everything: food, music, modern culture. Has varied and interesting inner city suburbs bordering the CBD like Fitzroy, Richmond and St Kilda, all with their own character. Good access to wine regions or down to the Great Ocean Road .

The AFL season runs from the very end of March/start of April with all finals being played through September. The general admission price for season games in 2014 will be $AUD 22 for an adult, this may change slightly for 2015, finals are always quite a bit more. For fixture and date information you can visit www.afl.com.au.

Then you can stop at Brisbane visit the XXXX Brewery, Lone Pine Sanctuary where you can cuddle koalas for free . Then make your way up to Sunshine Coast where Australia Zoo is located but some really nice places to stay like Mooloolaba and Noosa. You may want to sail around the Whitsundays so grab a flight to Airlie Beach , you can go out on boats from 1 to 7 nights, it's truly amazing. In Cairns it's more day trips unless you are into diving, plus you have the Rainforest areas like Cape Tribulation which is awesome.

depending on your interests you could do at least 3 weeks in Queensland alone and that's not going to the outback just the coastline. It really is up to you what you want to see most.

This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity.

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Crushing Harry and Meghan photograph resurfaces

This week, only two years ago, the royal family and the Sussexes gathered in public for the very first time and one shot captured the brutal reality.

Diana’s brother’s ‘immensely sad’ news

Beatrice act leaves Harry exposed

Queen Camilla snubs first lady in cringe clip

This week in 1953, freshly crowned that very day and with her lippie still in place, Queen Elizabeth sat down in Westminster Abbey’s Lady Chapel to pose for photographer Cecil Beaton.

The image that came out of that brief shoot would have to be one of the abiding images of her reign: A young monarch, then only 26 years old, a small smile on her face, the weight of the Imperial State crown. “Heavy is the head,” typed a thousand newspaper leader writers while they smoked and furiously filed copy … (Look, it was 1953).

If that image marks the beginning of the late Queen’s reign then we could bookend it with another image taken nearly 69 years to the day later of her grandson and granddaughter-in-law Prince Harry and Meghan the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend the National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral in 2022. Picture: Dan Kitwood – WPA Pool/Getty Images

The first days of June 2022 saw Platinum Jubilee celebrations sweep London and the Sussexes were back in town, freshly arrived from California, where they had washed up after the great rupture of Megxit and were in the midst of speaking their truth – Speaking their truth to Oprah Winfrey, to Netflix cameras and to Harry’s ghostwriter. The truth would set them free – and set them free from part of their mortgage, I wouldn’t wonder.

So, it was against this backdrop that they arrived in June 2022 for the service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral for what would be their first public reunion with his family in two-and-a-half years. The popcorn all but made itself.

The couple arrived, Meghan in bespoke Christian Dior and looking like the world’s chicest private detective, only for them to make their way up the aisle to be seated in … gasp! The ignominious second row.

This, their major return to the royal bosom after their conscious uncoupling from Crown Inc and here they were, being lumped in with the York princesses and their husbands and Lady Sarah Chatto, Princess Margaret’s daughter (29th in line to the throne back then).

And so, throughout the hour-long service, the Sussexes were left staring at the backs of the heads of the Duke of Gloucester and James, then the Viscount Severn (now the Earl of Wessex), 16th and 35th in line to the throne respectively at the time, sitting in the front row.

The ostracisation of the Duke and Duchess by Buckingham Palace seemed indisputable and complete. Off to Coventry they had been shunted as the BBC broadcast live.

Queen Elizabeth II poses on her Coronation day, in London. Picture: Intercontinentale/AFP

Royal revenge appeared to be a dish best served via seating chart.

History is littered with these sorts of pivot points – moments where a single choice like taking the next bus or missing a flight can change everything.

Now, from the position of 2024, I think we can say that that moment and their seating inside St Paul’s was one of them.

Throughout the service Meghan’s poise never wavered, proving that four years of a theatre major at Northwestern and seven seasons on Suits had not been for nought, while Harry gave off, at moments, a certain of constipated gloominess. Then, they had to process out of the cathedral behind Peter Phillips and Earl Snowdon (19th and 26th in line to the throne).

Later, when the milling part came as the extended family gathered outside St Paul’s, the same dependable clutch of cousins – Mike and Zara Tindall, Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Princess Beatrice and Jack “Tequila” Brooksbank – made chitchat with the Duke and Duchess of So-Cal, a service they have been repeatedly called on to provide in the years since then.

Throughout the service Meghan’s poise never wavered. Picture: Arthur Edwards/Pool/AFP

But let’s play counterfactual. What if someone had understood that seemingly needling the Sussexes and issuing a set-down for the benefit of the viewers at home was not ultimately in the royal family’s best interests?

When aides and courtiers had sat down with their cooling mugs of oolong in the weeks leading up and were working on the seating chart, had cooler heads prevailed and had a longer view been taken, then would things stand where they are now?

With things so bad that when King Charles was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year Harry took a 22-hour round trip to be afforded a slim half-hour window with his father and with Queen Camilla present?

Also this week, the Sussexes’ daughter Princess Llibet turned three. She has never spent a birthday with her British aunt or uncle or cousins or grandparents and has never spent a summer at Balmoral or celebrated Christmas at Sandringham. It seems highly unlikely she will any time soon.

But did things necessarily have to end up in such a state?

It all appeared to be a very public set down to Harry and Meghan. Picture: Phil Noble – WPA Pool/Getty Images

Back then, in 2022, watching the Sussexes have to take their seats behind a teenager and a 77-year-old Duke who had gotten front row, prime real estate seating, looked like a badly dinged and embarrassed institution delivering a very public set down to Harry and Meghan.

The Duke and Duchess had not only huffed off to the New World but they had then gone after the royal family. Here was the reaping what they had sown part of proceedings. (The Duke, via his lawyer, would later tell a London court they had “felt forced” to leave Britain.)

But from the perspective of 2024, I think we can clearly say, dumping the Sussexes in that second row was not the wise play. How might things have played out if the royal family had instead done a spot of killing with kindness during the Platinum Jubilee?

At that point in time, Harry and Meghan were still filming their six-hour Netflix soft-focus cathart-a-thon and he was still scribbling away on Spare . Realistically, the couple turning up in London and being shown all the due deference as the next King’s son and daughter-in-law with all the bells, whistles and welcome muffin baskets would not have prevented these projects going ahead.

Dumping the Sussexes in that second row was not the wise play. Picture: Victoria Jones/Pool /AFP

But, a couple of things. Firstly, Operation: Kindness could have led to a softening of the Sussexes’ attitudes towards Crown Inc and secondly, and more importantly, it would have gone some way to undermining the couple’s ability to portray the institution as out to punish them.

Meanwhile, the royal family would have come across as the bigger people, the adults in the room, willing to extend the hand of mature, caring, concern for the lost-sheep Sussexes who had strayed so far from the flock.

Instead, that St Paul’s moment set the tone and tenor for the Sussexes’ deeply awkward and uncomfortable interactions with the royal family that we have seen since then, including at the late Queen’s funeral and Harry at his father’s coronation. (I have two words for you: Third. Row.)

Does Meghan ever go back willingly for any length of time? Picture: Samir Hussein/WireImage

The Duchess has not visited the UK since September 2022 (aside from transiting through Heathrow on occasion). Really though – do we ever see her willingly, voluntarily going back for any length of time?

I wonder if that photo from June 2022, of Harry and Meghan being shown to their second-row seats is an image that will come to haunt the troubled psyches of the plucky sorts recruited to work for the palace in the years and decades to come and as they contend with the ripple effect of this particular hard line stance?

More Coverage

And I wonder if that Meghan outfit has already ended up in the Montecito dress-up box?

Throw in a magnifying glass and Lili has the perfect Carmen Sandiego look for book week.

Daniela Elser is a writer, editor and a royal commentator with more than 15 years’ experience working with a number of Australia’s leading media titles.

Princess Diana’s brother, Charles Spencer, has shared a heartbreaking announcement about his 13-year marriage.

The increasingly prominent royal has managed to achieve something that the Duke of Sussex still can’t get right.

Queen Camilla’s seemingly frosty encounter with French First Lady Brigitte Macron has been caught on video, with one dubbing it a “petty snub”.

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Make the most of 6 weeks on Australia's east coast, travelling from Sydney to Cairns on the adventure of a lifetime with many incredible stops along the way. Search +61 (7) 3130-0516. AUD. ... Travel insurance is a requirement for all trips & tours. Cashback codes are not earned on this tour. You will receive a $500 experience pass.
East Coast Australia: 6 Week
With the Active tour East Coast Australia: 6 Week | ULTIMATE, you have a 43 days tour package taking you through Sydney, Australia and 14 other destinations in Australia. ... Some departure dates and prices may vary and Ultimate Travel will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed. The following cards are accepted for ...
How to Plan the Perfect East Coast Australia Itinerary on a Budget
Daily Breakdown of My Australia Trip Itinerary. How this itinerary works: In order to accommodate itineraries varying from 2-6 weeks I list the minimum amount of days to the maximum amount of days to spend in each spot to give you a rough idea of how much there is to do in each stop along the coast.I list typical activities to do in each stop, day trips and then link to further resources to ...
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Canberra - the capital of Australia. Sydney - Cairns (3-6 weeks) Finally head up the famous East Coast, stopping off at the many beautiful destinations along the way (see the Small Budget itinerary above). Finally reaching the party town of Cairns for your goodbye to this magnificent country. Millaa Millaa Falls, Queensland - just outside ...
Australia Tour Packages
This is an Original ULTIMATE tour and one of the most popular Australia Tour Packages that we offer. // From Sydney to Cairns, we'll explore the best of Australia's East Coast in an epic 6 week East Coast Australia Tour. From Sydney's city vibes to the surf culture of Bondi Beach, we'll experience everything this amazing city has to ...
Australia East Coast Road Trip Itinerary: A Complete Guide
Suggested time for Airlie Beach & The Whitsundays: 2-5 days. Driving distance from Townsville to Airlie Beach: 273km (3h10) Airlie Beach is the gateway to The Whitsundays, and this stop is a must-do on any East Coast road trip itinerary. Make sure to read my detailed guide to visiting the Whitsunday Islands here.
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How to get around during 6 weeks in Australia. The easiest ways to travel around during six weeks in Australia are any combination of flights, Greyhound buses, or campervan rentals. Most backpackers opt for the Greyhound Whimit Pass, as this is one of the cheapest and easiest methods for travelling around Australia.You can buy a bus pass that lasts for 30, 60, or 90 days and enjoy unlimited ...
How to Backpack the East Coast Australia: 6 Week Itinerary
10) Kangaroo Valley -. Hidden between Cambewarra and Barrengarry is one of Australia's jewels. A 2-hour drive from Sydney can get you to this beautiful valley, and its characteristics are silent rivers, picturesque villages, and productive farms. It is a popular place to visit for canoeing, kayaking, golfing, or wine sampling.
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This itinerary from Melbourne to Cairns takes you across the 3 states of the Australian east coast: Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. In this road trip, you will pass all the beautiful sights and top attractions the east coast has to offer. A possible 6-week itinerary per campervan could be:
The PERFECT 1, 2 or 3 Week Australia Itinerary [2024]
Uluru, or Ayers Rock, is a sacred monolith and it one of the most famous places to see on a trip to Australia. You have two options for getting to Uluru. Option 1: Rent a car in Alice Springs and complete the 5-hour drive on your own. Keep in mind it's also 5 hours to get back, so that's a 10 hour road trip in total.
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How to travel Australia on a budget! A trip to Australia doesn't have to be expensive, we spent less than €100/150 AUD per day during our 6-week road trip along the East Coast. Detailed budget breakdown and information about the costs of renting a camper van, campsites, petrol, food & activities. #australia #roadtrip
6 weeks to travel Australia
13 years ago. Hi. I'm planning to go to Australia in October for about 6 weeks and want to make the most of such a short time. I have friends in Sydney and Brisbane so I'm thinking the East coast is going to be the main focus. I'll be backpacking and trying to spend as little as possible, but want to fit in as much as possible too.
6 Weeks in Australia
Answer 1 of 7: I want to spend 6 weeks in Australia in Oct/Nov. It will be my first time there and I'm travelling alone so was thinking of doing to Oz Experience bus from either Cairns to Sydney or Brisbane to Sydney. ... I regularly travel to Cairns and made the mistake of staying opposite Giligans back packers and it partied all night, couldn ...
The Ultimate West Coast Australia Road Trip Itinerary (1-3 Weeks)
Australia West Coast 3 Week Itinerary. This 21 day itinerary starts in Perth and travels north. The itinerary can be adapted as you go. Day 1: Starting our itinerary in Perth but before you hit the open road, we recommend you head to Rottnest Island to meet its gorgeous fuzzy residents and also see some of the most pristine beaches in the country.
6 Weeks in Australia
6 weeks will give you a good amount of time to really see some places properly. The easiest way to cover the distance between the main cities would be by plane, then you could potentially base yourself in each place and go from there.You could very easily spend 1 or more weeks in Sydney or Melbourne.You could do them in less time too of course (ie. 4-5 nights) and still get a great feel for ...
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Summer Travel Week. The summer travel season is in full-swing with millions of Americans passing through airports and going on road trips. Here's everything you need to know before you hit the ...
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The latest travel news, deals, guides and tips from the travel experts at USA TODAY. All the travel insights you need to plan your dream vacation.
International travel documents for children
Children traveling to the U.S. All children, including infants, must have their own travel documents such as a passport or document from a Trusted Traveler Program to enter the U.S. If you travel or are going to travel with a child, consider taking the following documents: If the child is traveling with only one of their custodial parents, they ...
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Dire scenes at Aldi stores across Australia. Once upon a time if you blinked, you'd miss Aldi's biggest sales event of the year. Now — product sits limp and lifeless weeks after the famed event.
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June 9, 2024 - 7:51AM. This week in 1953, freshly crowned that very day and with her lippie still in place, Queen Elizabeth sat down in Westminster Abbey's Lady Chapel to pose for photographer ...
Boarding Requirements FAQ
All guests must ensure that they are medically and physically fit for travel. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) provide guidelines as to which vaccinations are required in each country.
How to Get my U.S. Passport Fast
Routine: 6-8 weeks* Expedited: 2-3 weeks and an extra $60* *Consider the total time it will take to get a passport when you are booking travel. Processing times only include the time your application is at a passport agency or center. It may take up to 2 weeks for applications to arrive at a passport agency or center.

6 Week Australia Itinerary

Hobart – 4 nights

Adelaide – 2 nights

Adelaide to Melbourne via the Grampians and the Great Ocean Road – 3 days and 2 nights

Melbourne – 3 nights

Overnight train from Melbourne to Sydney – 1 night

Sydney – 3 days and 2 nights

Overnight bus from Sydney to Byron Bay – 1 night

Byron Bay – 2 nights

Brisbane – 3 nights

Hervey Bay – 1 night

Fraser Island – 4 days and 3 nights

Agnes Water – 2 nights

Overnight bus to Airlie Beach to board our Whitsundays tour – 1 night

Airlie Beach – 1 night

Magnetic Island – 2 nights

Townsville – 1 night

Cairns – 6 nights

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The ULTIMATE 6-week Australia Itinerary of the East Coast & Beyond!

Posted in: Itineraries

A Six Week Australia Itinerary From Sydney

A six week road trip from Sydney to the Red Centre

Week one – Sydney, Blue Mountains, Canberra.

Weeks two and three – Canberra to Port Fairy

Week four – Port Fairy to Broken Hill

Week five – Broken Hill to Coober Pedy

Week six – Coober Pedy to Alice Springs

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Your Perfect Australia Itinerary For 1-4 Weeks

How Many Days In Australia Is Enough?

How To Plan Your Perfect Australia Itinerary?

How To Get Around Australia?

Three Week Australia Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrive in Australia

Day 2 – Phillip Island

Day 3 – Melbourne

For a full list of fun things to do in Melbourne, check out our post here.

Day 4 – The Great Ocean Road

For more information on visiting the Twelve Apostles, check out the guide here.

Day 5 – The Great Ocean Road

For more details on this two day Great Ocean Road Trip, check out our complete itinerary here.

Day 6 – Travel and Kuranda

For more ideas on things to do in Cairns, check out our post here.

Day 7 & 8 – The Great Barrier Reef

Day 9 – Daintree National Park

Day 10 – Brisbane

Day 11 – Brisbane

For a full list of activities, check out the things to do in Brisbane here.

Check out our full post on what to expect at Lone Pine here.

Day 12-15 – Australia’s Pacific Coast

Want more information on all of the stops, we wrote all about our road trip here.

Day 16 – The Blue Mountains

To learn more about our one day Blue Mountain itinerary, check out our post here.

Day 17 – Bondi Beach

Day 18 – Sydney Sights

For the breakdown of how we spent our time in Sydney, check out our detailed Sydney itinerary here.

Day 19 – More Sydney

For a full list of popular things to do in Sydney, check out our list here.

Want To Adjust the Australia Itinerary?

Two Week Australia Itinerary

Four Week Australia Itinerary

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