Australia East Coast Explorer

You will be travelling with a group of fun, exciting and interesting people from everywhere in the world! And you can easily make new friends along the trip.

Small groups, insider access, and personal freedom to follow the whim of the moment are the order of the day, every day.
Groups sizes are usually between 3 – 10 people with most groups even celebrating reunions years after their trip! Chat with other people from your group before you leave home!

All visitors to Australia (excepting those from New Zealand) will require a visa or e-visa/ETA to enter. These must be applied for before departure, and if you’re planning on working in Australia whilst you’re out here you’ll need a Working Holiday Visa. If you are just heading to Australia for fun however, an ETA will suffice. Both visas can be applied for online. Please feel free to contact us if you need any more information.
Also, check out the general Australian visa requirement here.

Sure! We recommend searching and comparing flight prices using SkyScanner.com.
Travel insurance is highly recommended for all of our trips in Australia. You can get this in the Insurance section of our site.

If your start date is more than 40 days away, you can secure your spot by paying a 10% deposit.
Simply select the ‘deposit’ option when you Check out. We’ll hold you a spot on your chosen start date and send you a link to pay the remaining amount.

The balance must be paid in full at least 40 days prior to your tour start date. If you are booking within 40 days of your start date the deposit option is not available so you need to pay in full.

We’ll organise your airport transfer so your arrival into Sydney will be smooth and easy. You will need to go to a pre-set meeting point at Sydney airport and a greeter will direct you to the shuttle bus which will take you directly to your hostel to begin your East Coast adventure!
The Absolute Oz East Coast Adventure tour departs from Sydney on Monday on Day 1 of the itinerary (04:00 pm). It’s best to arrive on the actual start date.
Arriving early? Choose to add additional pre-tour nights when you book with us, or chat with our res team to organise extra nights.

Keen to explore Sydney before your East Coast adventure? Our Sydney add-on tour is available to combine with this East Coast tour. See more details in tour add-ons.

Your Absolute Oz East Coast adventure starts here in Sydney, with a guided tour of the city and an orientation at our office. Get to know your group at our welcome dinner before we begin our epic journey up the East Coast. We’ll travel overnight by luxury, air-conditioned coach, complete with wifi and reclining chairs so sit back, relax and get ready for 5 weeks exploring the very best of the wonderful East Coast of Australia!

16:00 | Start point: Haymarket New South Wales 2000, Australia.

This morning, we arrive in Byron Bay, the boho hub of the East Coast. Explore the town, chill on the stunning beaches and embrace the laid-back surfer vibes of Byron! We’ll take part in a fun, professional surf lesson so you’ll be riding the waves like a pro in no time! We’ll explore the town, beaches and head to the famous Byron lighthouse to take in the gorgeous ocean views. Tomorrow we’ll zen out at morning yoga on the beach, enjoy more time exploring Byron, and then have some tasty wine & cheese at our hostel this evening! For you fitness junkies, you also have the option to get some personal training at the hostel gym. Keen for more? No worries, go kayaking with Dolphins, or explore the famous hippie hub of Nimbin (add-ons). The choice is yours!

After a morning exploring Byron’s boutique shops, we’ll set off for our next stop; Surfers Paradise! Known for its awesome waves, never-ending nightlife and long sandy beaches, Surfers is a real highlight of the East Coast. We’ll explore the town and the beautiful beaches, before getting dressed up and heading out to our favourite bars and clubs for a fun night out on the town. If you love theme parks – your tour guide can also help you organise a visit to Dreamworld, the most famous theme park on the Gold Coast. Spend the next day chilling by the pool, soaking up the sun or exploring the city, before we get together for a Sausage Sizzle and a few bevvies.

In the morning, we’ll hop on the bus and head to Brisbane! With accommodation right in the buzz of the city, we’ll explore the best bits of Brisbane, from man-made Streets Beach to Southbank, the cultural hub. If you fancy, you also have the option to head to the famous Australia Zoo and see some amazing wildlife! (add-on).

Tropical greenery, diverse wildlife, and beautiful beaches – Noosa, our next stop, is gorgeous. We’ll arrive in the afternoon, chill by the beach and watch the sunset. Tomorrow, we’ll take a hike over the coastal headlands taking in the amazing sea views. The rest of the day is yours: chill by the pool or have a couple-a beers at the bar. The choice is yours!

Our next stop is Rainbow beach, the gateway to our Fraser Island adventure! Check into our hostel and head out for a short hike to Carlo Sand Blow, a unique sand mass where you can watch the sunset over the southern tip of Fraser Island! In the morning, we head out early to Tin Can Bay, home to Australian Humpback dolphins! You’ll get the opportunity to enter the knee deep water in the marina to feed the resident pod of dolphins. The rest of the day is free for you to chill on the beach, explore Rainbow or relax at the hostel – before our Fraser Island safety briefing in the evening.

Ready to explore the world’s largest sand island? Today, we will begin our Fraser Island adventure, exploring this vast island in a 4×4! We will drive on the beach highway, take a dip in the amazing clear waters of Lake McKenzie, bathe in the champagne pools, and take in vast views from Indian heads lookout. We’ll be spending the 2 nights here in our own private campsite, just a few metres from the beach, so kick back and take in the amazing views! We’ll head back to Rainbow beach for another night, before journeying to our next spot.

Our next stop is Town of 1770 – named after Captain Cook’s second landing spot in Australia. We’ll check into our accommodation before having a classic Aussie camp fire with marshmallows on the fire – bliss! Our next two days here are free for you to spend as you like. Play games by the pool, chill on the beach, hire a surfboard and catch some waves or join 1770’s famous scooter tour (add-on). In the evening, we’ll hop on the overnight bus to Airlie beach, arriving the next morning.

Check into your hostel before heading out to explore tropical Airlie Beach, taking a dip in the famous harbourfront lagoon. The next day, it’s time to start our Whitsundays adventure! We’ll be spending the next few days cruising around the stunning Whitsunday islands on a Maxi sailing yacht. We’ll be sleeping onboard so get comfy, have a drink, enjoy some delicious food, and settle into the gorgeous surroundings. Snorkel in pristine blue waters, visit some of the whitest sandy beaches in the world, chill with your mates and witness some incredible sun sets. The Whitsundays are breathtaking! After two amazing days on the boat, we’ll head back to our hostel in Airlie Beach for the next two nights.

Arriving in the evening, we’ll hit the hostel terrace bar and reminisce on our Whitsundays adventure! The next day soak up the paradise vibes at Airlie’s lagoon, wander around the town or explore the surrounding national park before our journey to Townsville, the gateway to Magnetic Island!

You’re in for a treat as we spend the next 3 days exploring Magnetic Island – home to wild koalas, wallabies, and golden sandy beaches. Snorkel in the pristine island waters, take the guided Fort’s walk offering incredible views of the island and chill at the hostel. Our hostel even has an on-site wildlife park where you can get up close to Aussie wildlife such as koalas and wallabies! Want to explore the rest of the island? Rent a 4×4 ‘Barbie car’ and drive around the island with your mates (available for hire)!

Our next stop is Mission beach, where the rainforest and the reef meet and renowned for incredible sunrises. After a few drinks at the hostel bar, we’ll wake and explore the neighbouring National Park, traditional country of The Djiru Aboriginal people. If you’re up for a bit of adrenaline action, you have the option of joining an awesome white water rafting adventure in Tully, just a short distance from Mission Beach (add-on). Mission beach is also home to Australia’s highest skydive (15,000ft!) so if you’re feeling adventurous and ready for some adrenaline pumping action – get signed up (add-on). Fly over a reef, jump out a plane and land on a beach. Awesome!

Tonight we arrive in Cairns – the Ultimate backpacker destination, and home to the Great Barrier Reef. Enjoy luxury air-conditioned en-suite dorm rooms, a huge pool and daily entertainment in our resort style accommodation. We’ll be spending the next 5 days here, so settle in and get ready for an exciting few days ahead!
Keen to explore the rainforest? You’re in the right place – Cape Tribulation add-ons available.

Our first full day in Cairns will be spent exploring the Tablelands region, swimming under waterfalls, exploring rainforest and sliding down natural rock slides. If you’re lucky, you may even see some shy platypuses in the wild!

What better way to spend your last few days in paradise than a day trip to the breathtaking Great Barrier Reef? We’ll take a boat to the outer reef and snorkel around the vibrant coral, encountering turtles, stingrays and maybe even Nemo – an experience you’ll never forget! The final two days are open for you to explore Cairns. Chill at the hostel pool, make the most of the nightlife, visit the Cairns Lagoon and soak up the sun while you reminisce on the past 5 week of adventure with your new mates!

Whether you plan to stay in the tropics, travel elsewhere in Australia or onto a different destination, your tour guide and the crew at Sydney’s head office will be here to support you and help you plan your adventure!

10:00am | End point: Cairns, Gilligan’s Backpackers Hotel & Resort, 57 Grafton St., Cairns, Queensland 4870, Australia.

We’ll pre-arrange your Airport Shuttle and email you a voucher with details instructions and contact number in case you get stuck. Your driver will be waiting at the ‘Meeting Point’ in the Sydney Airport arrivals area, just outside the customs area. You’ll be dropped-off at your hostel in no time.

Welcome dinner, daily breakfast & 1 ice cold Bintang
Denpasar airport transfer
2-nights accommodation in Kuta
Welcome Dinner in Kuta
Professional Surf Lesson
Taman Ayun & Tanah Lot Temple
Kuta party night
1-night accommodations in Canggu
Poolside Rooftop Sunset in Canggu
Tengenungan Waterfall
3-nights accommodation in Ubud
Monkey Forest Guided visit to local market in Ubud
Balinese Cooking Class
Visit and tasting at local family run coffee plantation
Mt Batur Sunrise Trek OR Yoga + Massage
Transfer over to Gili Trawangan
3-nights stay on Gili Trawangan
Island Hopping Boat Trip through the Gili Islands
BBQ dinner on pontoon.
Bicycle tour of Gili T
Farewell Beach Party.

Total 9-nights accommodation (twin/triple shares).

Welcome dinner, daily breakfast & 1 ice cold Bintang.
Welcome Dinner in Kuta.
Balinese Cooking Class.
BBQ dinner on pontoon.
Farewell party.

Your Australia East Coast guide will be travelling with you from start to finish and available 24/7. Our guides are experienced, first-aid trained, professional, fun and have expert local knowledge – they will show you the best time!

All transfers included.
Travel Pass from Sydney to Cairns.
Return transfers to Fraser Island.
Return ferry to Magnetic Island.

International flights not included.
We recommend searching and comparing flight prices using SkyScanner.com or contact us for a great flight deal.

Travel Insurance is NOT included, however it is mandatory for you to have travel insurance for the duration of your tour. You can get this in the Travel Insurance section of our website.

The following options are available with this tour. Simply select the corresponding add-on during booking at the Check-out page!

Whilst our tours are jam-packed with awesome activities, you may choose to add our optional activities to your booking.

You can pre-book optional activities guaranteeing availability on your chosen departure date or organise any additional activities with your tour guide as you travel, for the same price (subject to tour availability.) Check out some of our popular optional extras and simply add them to your booking at checkout. These are bookable before you go or through your tour guide on the road.

Dolphin Sea Kayak Tour
Nimbin Tour
One Day Ticket Dream World
Australia Zoo
1 Day Self-Guided Noosa Everglades Kayak Adventure
Scooteroo 1770 Mini Chopper Motorbike Tour
Whitsundays Helicopter Experience
Tully Full Day White Water Rafting
Skydive Mission Beach
Day Tour to Cape Tribulation

Of course you are – anyone would be – and of course we will! We completely understand you because we’ve been you.

One thing about our tours that amazes us the most is how close our travellers get on tour, and how they become one big, tight-knit family at the end.

We have people who were in the same tour group with us a year ago, who are still travelling the world together now! Everyone’s in the same boat, and you will make friends for life.