Cairns
The gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns is one of the more popular backpacker towns. The town has gotten such a party reputation that it's common to see Aussie footy teams make a team “bonding” (drinking) trip up here to help clear their head before or after a big season. There is always a place to go out and always a group of people keen on going out. During the day, the town is pretty low-key with most people hanging out by the pool or lagoon (which is just a bigger public pool). You can’t go in the water at the beach because of the immense amount of deadly jellyfish. Your desire to have a heavy nightlife experience can determine how long you should stay in Cairns, but we think its best that you stay there at least five nights in order to ease into the East Coast trip and meet a ton of people.
Where to Stay
Stay at Gilligan's. A little pricey, but it's the most talked about hostel on the East Coast. Known for its wild parties and late night fun, this hostel has three bars attached and one club. If you miss frat parties and utter debauchery, Gilligan's is there waiting for you. The hostel also offers a AUD $5 backpacker dinner every night to help people save money (usually pretty decent too).
What To do
We recommend the Cairns Premier Reef + Island Tour. The Great Barrier Reef is one of the most visually stunning marvels on our planet. Everyone should visit the Reef at least once in their life so don't miss your opportunity while in Cairns. With climate change affecting the reef, tours help spread awareness of the human-caused problems that are ruining this natural wonder. We recommend Premier Reef because they are the only family run reef company still in existence and will give you a thorough rundown on how you can help the reef survive. They give an excellent tour of the reef, their guides are extremely passionate, and their lunch spread is top notch. Want to go scuba diving but do not have your Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) certification? Not a problem! Premier offers an introductory dive, in which a guide takes you through a marvelous section of the reef. However, the reef is quite shallow and can be just as well appreciated through snorkeling. Plenty of marine life (including a barracuda who is friends with the boat) will be around so you’re guaranteed to get your money’s worth.
Townsville and Magnetic Island
Townsville is not an exciting city, but serves as a stop over place for people who are traveling to Magnetic Island by ferry. Most people will pick up their car from here which is why it is a notable destination, but we recommend skipping it and going straight to Maggy.
A small island off the coast of Townsville, Maggy is known for its beautiful beaches and secluded vibe. Rent a 4X4 and go off roading to check out every corner of the island. There are always people looking to share a rental so don't worry if you're solo traveling. Be advised that all the 4x4’s have GPS locators on them that disallow you from going off the given roads, unless you want to be fined. Every company will give you a map that makes it very hard to take a wrong turn (Maggy is small after all), but still something to look out for.
where to stay
We recommend Base Hostel Magnetic Island. There’s a reason they call themselves the best hostel on the East Coast. Base has everything you can want in a hostel: a relaxing vibe, a social atmosphere and a picturesque view right on the water (the only hostel you will find that is literally on the beach).
what to do
Go watch the sunset at West Point. End a perfect day of driving around Maggy by grabbing a blanket, some wine, and enjoying the pleasure of some company on one of Maggy’s beautiful beaches.
Airlie Beach
The gateway to the Whitsundays, Airlie is a sleepy beach town that does not offer much, besides an overnight spot before your boat leaves for the Whitsundays. The town will always be heavily populated with backpackers, which only leads to one thing: drinking. Our friendly guide Zach Dubin accurately referred to the Airlie experience as “summer camp for adults.” Every night is a party in Airlie because people are either celebrating arriving or leaving. All the boats have after parties when they return, which ends up being every day. Before going out, head to Boaty’s, then Beaches to meet fellow backpackers and get cheap drinks. After taking advantage of their great deals, follow the crowd to either Boom, Mama Africa or Paddy Shenanigans to close out another rowdy night out on the East Coast. To cure your hangover, grab brunch at Garuma, before heading to the lagoon (stingers plague the beach) to soak up some sun and sweat it out.
where to stay
Three hostels dominate Airlie and can be broken down into two categories. Magnums is the budget hostel, that is serviceable, but lacks the social atmosphere. While perhaps somewhat less social, it does have excellent live music and massive TVs showing sports all day. The team was there for the Australian Open and loved watching Roger dominate before beginning their night out. However, Magnums is stingy on deposits and wifi which can be annoying at times. Base and Nomads are the other two options. Both are massive and actually share a property. While a little more expensive than Magnum’s, they have a clearly more social vibe and two on-property bars.
where to eat
We are not exaggerating when we say that Tropic Kebabs is the best kebab on the east coast (and dare we say Australia/this universe?). Tropic goes great after a night out and its conveniently located next to every bar/club (Airlie also conveniently has one street). We cannot decide if it is there overpriced menu or poor service that enhances the quality of their kebabs, but nonetheless, they will always have our business.
what to do
We recommend the Honeyeater Track/Lookout. One of the few attractions in Airlie is this beautiful (and strenuous) hike. Sweat out your toxins with a steep uphill hike leading to a lookout over the entire bay. Along the way, the hike will introduce you to some of the indigenous animals, some massive lizards and some overly friendly turkeys. The hike is worth it for the view and for the feeling of gratification you get after completing the difficult hike. While there are longer and steeper hikes, there are few that you would attempt in the condition you'll undoubtedly be in after a night out in Airlie.
Whitsunday Islands
This collection of 74 islands off the coast of Airlie has some of the most pristine beaches on the planet. Highlighted by the world famous Whitehaven Beach, which at 99% silica is the purest beach in the world, the Whitsundays is one of the most photographed spots in Australia. You'll be stunned daily by light blue waters and immaculate sand. In fact, the sand at Whitehaven is so fine that NASA bought some to make the mirrors in their deep space telescopes. It’s also literally irreplaceable, as it doesn’t regenerate like the sand at other beaches, and there is a AUD $10,000 fine for taking even a teaspoons worth. There are dozens of options for seeing the Whitsundays, with boats leaving daily. You can either take a day boat or stay overnight on the water, which we recommend. Either way, Whitehaven Beach is a must see.
what to do
If you're looking to party and see the islands, there is no better option than the SS Atlantic Clipper, the premier party boat in the Whitsundays for good reason. This three day, two night venture gives you the full experience, from scuba diving and snorkeling to late-night antics and rough mornings ("this is your automated wake up message!"). It's the biggest boat that sails Whitsundays and its reputation may be even bigger. Everyone will hear a different war story from the Clipper, each one seeming more extravagant than the last. Regardless of how wild your group is, the Clipper is just an absolute blast. It has two water slides, social activities every night, and a hilarious crew that has clearly rehearsed their routine many times. Every night will always be a social one that inevitably ends with watching the pure, unpolluted night sky. While the price and stories may give you pause, the Clipper is ultimately worth it in the end because of the people you meet and the views you'll see.
However, if you'd like a more relaxing cruise, we would recommend Wings Whitsundays. With Wings, you will spend nearly the same amount of time in the Whitsundays, but with a quieter crowd and on a smaller boat. This trip is good for people who want a basic relaxing trip through the islands. While Wings has an older crowd, it's still a good way to meet fellow travelers and experience the Whitsundays.