Are you planning to travel the East Coast of Australia? What a great choice for your next Australian vacation. Australia has so much to offer the visitor whether you are travelling the East Coast or the West Coast.
Australia’s beaches are some of the best in the world. There are over 10,000 beaches along Australia’s coastline but the award for Australia’s best beach for silky squeaky white sand must go to Whitehaven Beach which is accessible from Airlie Beach which we have included in the itinerary.
The East Coast of Australia covers a vast distance. For this East Coast Australia itinerary we are beginning our journey in Sydney and travelling to Cairns. You can do it in 2 weeks visiting the major tourist spots but if you have more time you can slow down your travel and add more destinations along the way.
Come with us as we enjoy the best of the East Coast of Australia.
Your 2 Week East Coast Australia Itinerary – Self Drive
By Jane Dempster-Smith
Day 1 – Sydney to Port Macquarie (travelling time 4 hours 10 minutes; 393 km)
Day 2 – Port Macquarie
Day 3 – Port Macquarie to Byron Bay (travelling time 4 hours 10 minutes; 387 km)
Day 4 – Byron Bay
Day 5 – Byron Bay to the Gold Coast (travelling time 1 hour 18 minutes; 94 km)
Day 6 – Gold Coast
Day 7 – Gold Coast to Brisbane (travelling time 1 hour; 78 km)
Day 8 – Brisbane
Day 9 – Brisbane to Bundaberg (travelling time 4 hours 20 minutes; 360 km)
Day 10 – Bundaberg
Day 11 – Bundaberg to Airlie Beach (travelling time 8 hours 48 minutes; 769 km)
Day 12 – Airlie Beach
Day 13 – Airlie Beach
Day 14 – Airlie Beach to Cairns (travelling time 7 hours 20 minutes; 619 km)
Total Distance: 2,700 km
Tip:
If you were considering travelling from Melbourne to Cairns we would recommend allowing at least 4 weeks. The distance from Melbourne to Sydney travelling via the coastal route is a further 1,032 km – 3,732 km in total.
How to Travel from Sydney to Cairns
Car Rental:
All the major car rental companies will offer one way car rentals from Sydney to Cairns. It is worth getting at least 3 quotes on the size car that you will require.
When you are analysing the quotes check the following carefully:
- Is the car rental hire fee unlimited kms or a daily rate (time and mileage)
- Taxes and fees
- One way drop off fare
- You do not need a GPS if you have Google Maps
Bus Travel:
Greyhound Australia offers a Hop on Hop off Bus ticket from Sydney to Cairns which is valid for 90 days. The buses are comfortable and offer free Wi-fi, USB charging points, leather reclining seats, toilets and water.
Things to Do in Port Macquarie
Port Macquarie lies in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales at the mouth of the Hastings River. The region is well known for its beaches and wineries.
One of the best things to do in Port Macquarie is to visit the Koala Hospital. Port Macquarie has the highest population of Koalas on the East Coast of Australia. The Koala Hospital runs a daily tour each day. On average they care for 200 – 250 koalas each year.
There are two walks you can do:
- The 1.3 km board walk through the Sea Acres National Park. Don’t forget to look up you may even get to see a Koala in the wild.
- The Port Macquarie Hastings Heritage Walks – a great way to learn about the history of the town through their two walks – Uncovering our Past Walk and the Graves Tales Tour
Things to Do in Byron Bay
Byron Bay is located in the Far North Coastal Region of New South Wales. Byron Bay is also the most easterly point of Australia. The region is well known for its gastronomic delights, beaches, surfing and the Cape Byron Lighthouse, making it a popular tourist destination for all ages.
When visiting Byron Bay, we can recommend heading out into the hinterland and visiting the small country towns of the region such as Bangalow and Mullumbimby.
Things to Do in The Gold Coast
The Gold Coast is located to the South of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. The Gold Coast (Surfers Paradise) is one of the state’s most popular tourist destinations.
The Gold Coast is famous for its 70 km of beaches and it is the theme park capital of Australia. If you’re looking for things to do on the Gold Coast with kids, take the family to visit Warner Bros. Movie World, Dreamworld, or Sea World.
Things to Do in Brisbane
Brisbane is located on the Brisbane River. There is so much to see and do in this vibrant cosmopolitan city. Take the City Hopper Ferry and cruise the Brisbane River, and head to Streets Beach in the heart of the city at Southbank. Dine at one of the many establishments along the Brisbane River, or have a lunch or evening dinner cruise.
At sunset enjoy the breathtaking views from Mt Coo-tha over the city skyline. There are picnic facilities available or you can dine in the Summit Restaurant and Bar.
Things to Do in Bundaberg
Bundaberg is located on the Capricorn Coast and is known as the Southern Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. Bundaberg is famous for its ‘Bundy Rum’ – Bundaberg Rum. You can enjoy daily tours from their Rum Distillery.
There are dive and boat tours available from Bundaberg to Lady Elliot Island and Lady Musgrave Island.
Lady Elliot Island is a ‘coral cay’ and is regarded as one of the best snorkelling areas on the Great Barrier Reef. Lady Musgrave Island is an uninhabited island and a World Heritage Listed Marine Park. There are several tour operators that offer swimming, snorkelling and diving experiences. There is no accommodation on the island but camping is allowed.
Things to Do in Airlie Beach
Airlie Beach is known as the Gateway to the Whitsunday Islands. The Whitsundays are a group of 74 islands in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. There are several cruises daily to Whitehaven Beach and to the islands of Daydream and Hamilton.
From Airlie Beach you can organise a 2 hour sunset cruise with canapes and a glass of sparkling wine included. If you are not into scuba diving or snorkelling there are glass bottom boat tours available viewing the coral reef and the colourful tropical fish around Airlie Beach and the islands.
The town of Airlie Beach has a bustling nightlife and some of the best seafood restaurants in the region.
Things to Do in Cairns
You have made it to Cairns where we hope that you have allowed a few days to explore this area. The laid back city of Cairns is the gateway to the Far North. Cairns has several tour operators that operate daily cruises to the Great Barrier Reef, you can even enjoy cruises from 2 days to 7 days depending on how much time you have.
The Daintree Forest and Cape Tribulation are popular tourist attractions and offer 1 or 2 day tours. The Daintree Forest is the largest rainforest in Australia. Cape Tribulation is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it is where the rain forest meets the Great Barrier Reef.
If you have time available visit Kuranda and the Atherton Tablelands, and the 125m Barron Falls. There are several ways to visit this region e.g. half day 4WD tour, full day tours and a full day Eco tour.
Accommodation On the East Coast of Australia
There is a range of accommodation along the East Coast of Australia from hostels, to mid-range motels and luxury 5 star accommodation.
Australia’s Weather
Australia’s climate varies from the North to South. The North experiences tropical weather conditions with hot wet summers and mild dry winters. The cyclone season runs from November to April. The best time to travel from Sydney to Cairns is during the spring and autumn months.
We hope you enjoy your adventure along the East Coast of Australia. Not only will you experience stunning landscapes, beautiful beaches, gastronomic delights and the best of Australian wine all of which will make one of the most memorable journeys ever.
Jane Dempster-Smith is co-founder of To Travel Too a travel lifestyle blog. To Travel Too creates inspirational content for all travellers and their motto is – “age is no barrier when it comes to travel.”
Jane has worked in the travel industry since the age of 18 and brings a wealth of knowledge and travel planning to To Travel Too.
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