Ah, the East Coast of Australia, a land of love, lust and opportunity (and goon; lots of goon). By far the most popular journey in Australia, this trip will take you from Cairns down to Sydney or vice versa (some even go as far up as Port Douglas). Every year, thousands of backpackers make this pilgrimage in order to experience the best weather and beaches that OZ has to offer. Most people book their trip ahead of time through one of the many travel agents across Australia. While this can help with organization and booking, it also raises the price a little bit. There are many spots along the trip which can make planning it overwhelming, so we will give you the highlights. The trip encompasses North Queensland, South Queensland and Byron Bay.
Best Times to Go
The Australian summer is unparalleled and highlights the beauty of the country. We recommend traveling the East Coast in either December or January in order to take advantage of the weather. However, because this is the most popular travel season in Australia, you will have to book most of your trip in advance.
Duration
Next, you have to decide how long you want to travel the East Coast. We recommend five weeks, as you get the full travel experience and have an optimal amount of time in each spot.
Up or Down?
There is really no distinction between the two and it really comes down to personal preference. People go in opposite directions and there is really no “best way” to do the East Coast. Either way, you’ll meet tons of people who are traveling in the same direction as you, which makes friendship inevitable. Chances are, the people you see on your first day in Cairns/Sydney, will be in your hostel on your last stop.
Transportation
Get used to long bus/car rides (for this we recommend unlimited cell data), because flights between each city are 1. not common and 2. incredibly expensive. The two best ways to travel the East Coast are by renting a car/campervan or by booking a pass with one of the major bus companies. If you are traveling solo, going the bus route is the best option as we (and the Australian government) do not recommend long, solo drives on the OZ highways. If you are traveling in a group, you can save time and sometimes money by renting a car for parts of the East Coast. You can go at your own pace and it can make your schedule more fluid. Want to stay an extra day in Noosa? No strict bus ticket or fare required to change your ticket. With a campervan, you can save money on accommodation, but it may be harder to find parking for the night (plus campervan prices can be steep). Keep in mind that most places make you return the car/campervan to a bigger city, which usually means Brisbane or Sydney.
Premier or Greyhound
These are the two big bus companies that travel the East Coast. Greyhound is the nicer of the two and Premier is considered the budget transportation option. Greyhound has nicer seats and buses and the “promise” of wifi on board (about as consistent as Melbourne’s weather). Greyhound usually has more trips per day which can make it easier to travel, as you don’t have to commit to an early departure every time. If you want to save some money, though, Premier is a perfectly fine bus company.
Keep in mind that there are several notable long, overnight bus rides that can be uncomfortable. Unless you are a contortionist or under five feet tall, sleeping on a bus is incredible uncomfortable. It might be smart to make an extra stop for a night to break up the bus ride. (Example: Stop in Coff’s Harbor on the way to Byron Bay from Sydney instead of sitting through a 14 hour ride).
Click through the buttons below to check out all the stops on the entire East Coast Trip.