A journey along the east coast of Australia guarantees an adventure full of variety. With our itinerary for the east coast, you’ll venture into the world’s oldest rainforest to search for unique flora and fauna, explore the paradisiacal Whitsunday Islands during a multi-day sailing trip, and tick off the most beautiful hotspots in Sydney. The vast east coast has been a popular travel destination for all kinds of travelers for decades. The nature is exotic, but the culture will make you feel right at home. It’s a unique combination that you won’t find in many other places.

Transportation for the East Coast Australia Itinerary

For your journey along the east coast of Australia, there are several transportation options. You can travel by bus, camper, or rental car. We chose to travel by rental car for the freedom it provided, and we enjoyed staying in hostels and hotels. Read our tips for traveling by rental car in Australia. Traveling by camper also offers freedom, but it’s less comfortable for such a long trip, so it needs to be a good fit for you. Lastly, you can also travel by bus. Greyhound Australia offers a hop-on, hop-off bus service along the popular spots on the east coast. It offers less freedom than a rental car or camper but is more affordable.

Determining the Direction of Your Route: North to South or Vice Versa?

The northern and southern parts of the east coast have different climates, so the best direction to travel depends on when you’re visiting. The best time for this route is in the spring or fall, with May and October being ideal months.

• Travel from September to November from north to south (Cairns > Sydney): This allows you to arrive just before the wet season starts in the north, and enjoy the first rays of Australian spring in the cooler south.
• Travel from April to June from south to north (Sydney > Cairns): Start in the south during Australian fall, then head north after the wet season ends, when the dry and pleasant weather begins.

How Many Weeks Do You Need for This Australia Itinerary?

The east coast of Australia boasts many beautiful places that are quite far apart. If you’re overzealous with your planning, you might end up with a rushed schedule. We chose not to over-schedule our trip and only traveled from Cairns to Sydney. No matter how much time you have for your trip, there’s always more to see. If you don’t have months to spare, you’ll need to make choices. For our itinerary, we recommend setting aside four weeks. This gives you plenty of time to enjoy the beautiful destinations and provides a comfortable duration for the distances to be covered. If you have more or less time, feel free to adjust the route or the pace to your liking. In total, we traveled 4336 kilometers (2693 miles) with this itinerary.

Cairns

We kick off this itinerary with a visit to Cairns, often referred to as the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. From the Cairns harbor, you can board a sailboat or speedboat and head to the world’s largest reef. Don your snorkel gear and marvel at an abundance of colorful fish and corals up close. Snorkeling or diving in the Great Barrier Reef is a must-do for your east coast Australia itinerary. Besides the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns offers plenty of other fun activities and day trips. Check out our