Katie's Ultimate Guide to Backpacking The East Coast of Australia
- Katie Mather
- Nov 16, 2018
- 19 min read
Updated: Nov 24, 2022
Backpacking the East Coast is the most popular route for travelling Australia for the 18-30 year old's who venture out to this enormous country.
It has so many iconic sights to see, incredible natural beauty, some of the best beaches in the world, plenty of adrenaline fuelled activities, vibrant, cosmopolitan cities, stunning reefs and ancient rainforests, overall amazing experiences and to top it off it is so easy to meet other backpackers along the way to create fun and lifelong memories.
I have travelled the East Coast twice now in the space of a year. First I took it at a slower pace, making sure I ticked off every major sight, location and bunch of awesome activities across 8 weeks. And then I went back to my favourite places for a second time later on in the year, some for work purposes and others purely to spend time revisiting my best spots.
So I thought I would put together my ultimate backpacking guide for the East Coast, giving you guys some tips on all you need to know. From some of the best hostels, to getting around, and some definite unmissable places and experiences. (Oh, and me using the term 'backpacking' may not be quite true in my case as I used the biggest suitcase to ever exist..)
When to go..
Most backpackers decide to start their Aussie East Coast adventure in either Melbourne, Sydney or Cairns, allowing them to work their way up or down the coast without missing anywhere out or going back on themselves too much.
Anytime of the year is good to go, you just have to be wise in choosing your starting point depending on whether you come in Aussie Winter or Summer. If you choose to come around June - August (Oz Winter) it is going to be much cooler in South Australia so I would recommend starting your trip up in Cairns which is in North Queensland and working your way down.
If you choose to come in the Summer time (Dec - Feb) then it is generally hot everywhere but I would recommend starting in either Sydney or Melbourne in the south, as up in North Queensland they have wet and dry seasons and Summer is their wet season so that wouldn't be the best start as when it rains, it really rains! You also don't want the risk of coming into contact with any marine stingers up north, which are more likely from Nov - April.
Where to stay..
There are so many great, fun and sociable backpacker hostels along the East Coast, all at an affordable price. They are usually priced anywhere between $16 - $42 per person per night for a bed in a dorm room, which normally ranges from 4 - 12 beds, and you can choose to be in a mixed room or female only. There is the option to book into private or double rooms, however at an extra cost of course!
These hostels make a great place to meet other backpackers doing the same thing and many of them have awesome facilities such as swimming pools, TV/games rooms, bars, cafes, plenty of social activities going on, discounts and freebies and some have on site nightclubs.
Another option for accommodation is to use Air BnB. You can choose if you'd prefer a place that you share with the host or the entire place to yourself. I have used Air BnB a few times, mainly during my second time on the East Coast, and in some cases it has worked out cheaper than a hostel. It can make a lovely change to have somewhere more homely and private after hopping between many hostels for weeks or months, but personally I prefer staying in hostels on the East Coast for the social side of it.
Here are some of the hostels that I stayed in up the East Coast which I would recommend to you:
Sydney
For my first two weeks in Sydney I stayed in Wake Up hostel, and I would highly recommend this one.
It was at the higher end of pricing at $42 per night for a six bed mixed dorm, but I would say it was worth it as the facilities and cleanliness were amazing.
It had an on site nightclub, a cafe out the front, we got given lots of free drinks vouchers and I joined some free walking tours with the hostel around the city and for the Coogee to Bondi beach coastal walk.
This made a great starting point for meeting other travellers doing the East Coast.
Byron Bay
Here I stayed in Holiday Village Backpackers and I loved it!
This hostel has such a social atmosphere and a unique outdoorsy layout with long tables for dining outside or just chilling and chatting to other backpackers. There's a swimming pool outside and all the dorm rooms are situated around this.
It is in a perfect location just a few minutes walk to all the shops, bars, restaurants and Main Beach and there is a nightclub opposite, which we got free meal and drinks vouchers for regularly from staying at the hostel.
They also allow you to hire bikes for free, so myself and some friends took advantage of this one day and cycled to the tea tree lake. I stayed in a six bed mixed dorm room and I payed $28 per night.
As Byron was a top favourite place of mine I revisited here a few months later and stayed in Aquarius which again I would recommend as a great hostel! Super friendly, easy to meet people and laid back!
Surfers Paradise
This was my favourite hostel that I stayed in up the East Coast and it was Bunk Surfers Paradise. It is only 5 minutes walk from Surfers Paradise Beach, and right by the main shopping centre. It has a swimming pool and really nice outside area with BBQs, free WiFi and air con in rooms. The hostel is huge and very modern, and the dorm rooms have bunk 'pods' making them very private and all rooms have en suite bathrooms.
The staff here always put on bar crawls and other social activities to get involved in like 'all you can eat' BBQs for $5. I stayed in a six bed mixed dorm here and it was $39 per night.
Brisbane
I stayed in Nomads here and actually I wouldn't recommend this hostel as it was very old, outdated and dirty all over, but I have heard that Bunk in Brisbane is the best. I stayed in a 10 bed mixed dorm in Nomads which was $24 per night.
Bunk Brisbane is a modern, award-winning party hostel in Fortitude Valley, right next to Brisbane's best night life. It has an on site bar as well as a swimming pool and they provide a free shuttle service to the transit centre. For a standard 10 bed mixed dorm here it is $26 per night.
Noosa
Here I stayed at Nomads and this was a great hostel. It is only a short walk down to Noosa Main Beach and situated opposite shops, bars and restaurants. It is a resort style hostel with a swimming pool, on site bar and loads of chill out areas outside. You get given a free welcome drink and there's always different themed nights going on in the bar to get involved in. I stayed in a 10 bed mixed dorm room and it cost $40 per night.
Rainbow Beach
Rainbow Beach was my gateway to Fraser Island and I booked the Pippies Tour, so for 3 nights I stayed in Pippies Beachhouse in Rainbow Beach. This was a really cool outdoorsy hostel with a swimming pool, free WiFi, free breakfast and some dorm rooms are in separate apartment style buildings. It is literally a two minute walk to Rainbow Beach, and there are two other hostels right next door so it is very sociable. I stayed in a 4 bed mixed dorm here and it was $25 per night.
Hervey Bay
I only stayed in Hervey Bay for one night but stayed in The Woolshed hostel, and in my opinion this is such a cool hostel. It was clean, quiet and friendly, and built along the theme of an Aussie Woolshed. The rooms are all spread out over four buildings among tropical gardens and a big lawn area with hammocks. They have free WiFi and the hostel is located within a short walking distance to the beach, shops and restaurants.
They run a free shuttle bus where they picked me up and dropped me off at the coach stop which was great. I stayed in a six bed mixed dorm (although there was only three of us in the room at the time!) which cost $25 for the night.
1770 / Agnes Water
Probably the friendliest hostel that I stayed in was this one, Cool Bananas! A really chilled hostel, such friendly staff, and located only a short walk to the beach and shops. They have free WiFi in common areas and a really nice outside area to sit, relax and socialise. The 'dancing bananas' will come and greet you from the Greyhound bus stop and drive you to the hostel for free, and the staff can help you out with booking tours or surf lessons in Agnes Water and 1770. I stayed in a mixed 8 bed dorm here and it was $29 per night.
Airlie Beach
In Airlie Beach I stayed at Nomads, but I could recommend any of the hostels here. Nomads and Base are pretty much joined as a huge resort style hostel and Magnums is right next door.
Nomads has a lovely swimming pool and cool chalet style dorm rooms spread out all over the 7 acres of tropical gardens with a lively bar and plenty of activities going on. It is located right in the heart of Airlie Beach, literally opposite the lagoon.
Every room has an en suite and air con here.
I stayed in an 8 bed mixed dorm room which was $32 per night.
Magnetic Island
Easily one of my favourite hostels along the East Coast was Base on Magnetic Island.
It is located right on the beach at Nelly Bay and is the perfect choice if you want to party and socialise.
They have really cool cabin style dorm rooms, the on site Island Bar where you get given a free welcome drink, and this also does very cheap dinners, and loads of outdoor space to chill overlooking the beach and water.
This hostel truly feels like a paradise!
The bar has different themed nights and lots of activities to get involved in for us backpackers.
I stayed in a mixed 8 bed dorm which was $34 per night.
Cairns
I stayed in a few hostels in Cairns but the one I would recommend is Gilligan's. If you go to Cairns you have to stay here! This is a resort in itself, which offers a blend of backpacker dorm rooms and hotel rooms, all with air con and en suites. Each level of the hostel has it's own kitchen and chill out area with a TV and there is a swimming pool, bar, massive TV screen and night club downstairs that gets very lively! This is the ultimate party hostel in Cairns. They give you free WiFi and now even have a fitness centre which is free for all guests. I stayed here in an 8 bed mixed dorm and it cost $28 per night.
Budget..
So there's no avoiding the fact that Australia is one of the most expensive countries to travel around. Fortunately the country is well set up to cater for backpackers. By staying in backpacker hostels, using discounts and cooking your own food rather than eating out are some ways to keep costs low.
It can be a good idea to book a backpacker package deal for your East Coast trip, as this includes accommodation, transport and all activities and day tours. This can help to save some money and still allows for some flexibility as hostel or bus dates can be changed, and this is what I did when I arrived in Sydney.
So with everything included in my East Coast package this came to $3500, or £2000. This was across 6 weeks of travel after leaving Sydney, all the way up to Cairns and included all my transport, hostels, activities and day tours. And I really did do everything possible. There are activities or places that others skipped and this would help to save money, but I wanted to see and experience all that was there!
Day to day I would suggest budgeting around $30 for accommodation and $10-$20 for food depending on whether you cook yourself or eat out. And then any drinks out or activities you do will be on top of this. A pint of beer is usually around $7-$10 or a single spirit and mixer will usually be around $6-9. (A good tip is to check out when bars are having happy hours and go during these times as it can save a decent amount of money on drinks.)
You can expect to spend about $100 for a day trip to the Noosa Everglades or Cairns Waterfalls for example. And for activities like a bungee jump this will cost around $150 for one jump or for a skydive you can expect to pay anywhere between $200-$500 depending on location and whether you purchase photos/video.
Of course, if you wanted to keep costs much lower then opt to buy food from the supermarket, choose to stay in the cheapest hostels, don't go out partying every night (this is what really eats up your money over in Oz!) and just choose a few awesome activities to have a go at.
How long to spend doing the East Coast..
This part is definitely personal preference. I spent 8 weeks altogether, which included 2 weeks in Sydney at the beginning and then 6 weeks climbing the coast.
Some people that I met spent a shorter length of time on the East Coast, between 3 and 6 weeks altogether.
I would personally recommend spending between 6 - 8 weeks, as this way you don't feel too rushed and get to see and experience a lot of places for a decent amount of time. However, if you would prefer to save some money then travelling it in a shorter space of time is a good option as this way you are booking less nights of accommodation.
Getting around..
It goes without saying that Australia is one massive country, so this can make it difficult at times to get around as it does take a lot of time and costs can start mounting up, but there are definitely affordable ways to do it for us backpackers.
The most popular option for transport, and the one that I opted for, is the Greyhound bus. This is Australia's most extensive coach network and can work out pretty cheap if you use it all the way up the East Coast, as myself and so many fellow travellers I met did. Plus it's super easy to use.. perfectly made for us backpackers!
It works out better value if you buy a travel pass, for example I bought a Hop On, Hop Off pass from Sydney to Cairns (there is 2416 km, or 1500 miles between these two cities..!) rather than buying single point to point tickets. This pass gets you between two destinations, so you simply choose your journey from a selection of start and end points, all of which cover the East Coast. I pre booked all my travel dates, but if plans change along the way it is no hassle as these can always be altered, making it very flexible.
Other options for this pass include travel between Melbourne and Cairns, or in the other direction starting in Cairns to either Sydney or Melbourne, or shorter journeys from Brisbane to Sydney for example. So Greyhound is great as they have lots of options to suit everyone's needs.
They now have the Whimit Pass which allows unlimited travel on any route and in any direction, for your chosen amount of time. This ranges from 7 days to 365 days, allowing for maximum flexibility and freedom.
They're also very comfortable coaches with on board WiFi (the most important thing for us all of course), USB charging points, air con and reclining seats. And some of the journeys will be very long so this is important... my longest journey on here was 16 hours! Check out their website for all the info you need - www.greyhound.com.au.
Another option some people decide is to buy or rent a car or camper-van and drive themselves up or down the coast. This can work out quite cheap if you go in a group and split fuel costs (pre-warning - fuel can be very pricey in Oz), and you have the added bonus of not being tied down to specific dates to catch the bus so can go at your own pace.
Some good vehicle rental places I've come across are Jucy, Wicked Campers and Hertz.
Another amazing way to get a car for a shorter space of time and to save heaps of money is to do a car relocation. Quite often relocation cars are free to hire, or from as little as $1 a day. This is because rental car companies usually have to spend large amounts of money using expensive trucks or trains to transfer their cars between branches across the country, or they can let us drive them for free to the drop off location, so this is a very popular choice for backpackers. Some good websites to go through are www.transfercar.com.au or www.imoova.com.
Public transport tends to be pretty good and reliable within the cities and towns over in Australia. In Melbourne they have a great tram network, even with a free tram zone in the city centre and use a tap on, tap off Myki card making it super easy.
It's similar in Sydney where they use a tap on, tap off Opal card and the train network here is amazing in my opinion. Incredibly reliable and by far the easiest way of getting around the gigantic city and it's suburbs!
Up in the Gold Coast, Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast in Queensland they use the tap on, tap off Go card, and in the Gold Coast again the tram system is great. This is how I got around whilst visiting here and it was always very fast, reliable and easy to navigate.
Visas..
Probably the most important thing to sort out if you're coming over to Australia! I found it very quick and easy to arrange my visa online. I applied for a working holiday visa (subclass 417). You are eligible for this visa if you are aged between 18-31, have a passport from one of the countries listed on the Australian government website and have sufficient funds in your bank account to support yourself whilst you are in Australia or to buy a return plane ticket home if you purchased a one way flight ticket.
These are usually e visas which means they are electronically attached to your passport... perfect if you are someone who is always losing things!
I was very lucky to have my visa granted within 48 hours of sending off the application, but they can take up to a month to get granted, so it is always better to be prepared. You have 12 months from the date which your visa is granted to enter Australia, and then from the date that you land in Australia you have up to one year for your working holiday.
Another option is to purchase a tourist visa. These work in the same way in that you apply online and they are e visas. You have 90 days from the date that you land in Australia, however this visa does not permit you to work or study over in Oz, but is perfect if you just want to travel, particularly for the East Coast.
My Top 10 Unmissable Destinations On the East Coast..
1. Okay, so my number one destination to definitely not miss on the East Coast is the Whitsunday Islands. These consist of 74 tropical, magical islands located in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef on the Queensland coast. The majority of these islands are uninhabited.
I booked a 3 day/2 night sailing trip for the Whitsundays and went on the Apollo, would highly recommend this boat!
You can choose to be adventurous and go snorkelling or scuba diving or just sit back, relax and experience views of the spectacular landscape dotted with islands whilst sailing the clear, turquoise waters teeming with marine life. This is a true paradise.
Seven of the islands are developed and the rest are undeveloped and just waiting to be explored by us! The biggest island, Whitsunday Island, is home to the famous and stunning Whitehaven Beach and this is an absolute must see! This pristine beach boasts soft, white silica sand that is among the purest in the world and is hugged by sparkling turquoise waters. I spent a morning here whilst on my trip, and I would 100% recommend!
2. My number two is Magnetic Island. This is just 8 km offshore from Townsville, where you catch a short ferry ride over from, up in northern Queensland. This beautiful little island is so much fun to explore and the best way to do that is to hire a topless car which is what myself and a group of friends did! From the 23 beaches and bays, the natural rugged landscape, plenty of pretty walking trails and the gorgeous hidden waterfalls, this island is a must see. But for me it was the adorable, furry locals that completely made my trip! Magnetic Island is home to Northern Australia's largest colony of wild koalas, thanks to the abundance of eucalyptus forests here, and if you're lucky like I was you can spot heaps of them along the walking trails. I also got to hand feed wild wallabies here at sunset, amazing!
3. Fraser Island is next on the list. This is the largest sand island in the world and home to the purest strain of dingoes remaining in Eastern Australia.
(Of which I managed to see quite a few!)
This island has some of the most beautiful scenery such as breathtaking swimming spots, enormous sand dunes, rainforests and amazing 4WD tracks which is definitely a must, particularly along the beach!
Some top places not to miss include Lake McKenzie, the spectacular blue lake only fed by rainwater and encircled by pure white sand, and Lake Wabby which is the deepest lake on Fraser making a great swimming spot, and is at the edge of the Hammerstone Sand Blow.
You can float with the current along Eli Creek, which is a clear, freshwater creek or head to Champagne Pools where the waves crash over a series of rocks into a bubbly rock pool.
There are a number of group tours for Fraser Island which depart from a few different locations. I did the Pippies tour from Rainbow Beach, which was a 3 day/2 night camping trip and I would recommend this one!
4. Next comes one of my favourite city destinations, the Gold Coast, known for being the city on the beach.
Famous for it's glitzy skyscrapers towering against the miles of golden sandy beaches, and the place to visit for the epic theme parks.
Each suburb here has a different feel. From party central Surfers Paradise to the chilled vibes of Burleigh Heads to the more sophisticated Southport.
Backpackers tend to stay in Surfers Paradise as there's great night life here, loads of hostels and is right next to the famous Surfers Paradise Beach which is a must see of course.
One thing I would recommend is to visit the beautiful Burleigh Heads.
I strolled for hours along the beaches here, and the sights you get in the National Park are sensational. Lots of hidden away beaches and amazing views of the Gold Coast skyscrapers left behind in the distance.
5. The Sunshine Coast is at number five. It stretches along 65 km's of pristine, sandy beaches and headlands, but the most popular spot for backpackers to stay is Noosa which is right at the top. This laid back but stylish coastal town is surrounded by many stunning beaches, breathtaking natural attractions and is full of chic boutiques. One experience not to miss is a coastal walk through Noosa's National Park.
This is conveniently only a short ten minute walk from Noosa's main shopping street and contains such beautiful scenery and so many hidden, unspoilt beaches. It is home to many native animals including koalas and marine life such as dolphins, whales and turtles which can be spotted from various stops along the way.
Another top day out I had here was kayaking the Noosa Everglades. This is a tropical wetland and one of Australia's most diverse ecosystems. With the overhanging tea trees and perfect reflections it is easy to appreciate why this place is called the 'River of Mirrors'.
6. Next on my list is the wonderful, iconic Sydney. This was my starting point for my East Coast travels where I spent my first two weeks. It goes without saying that this city's famous highlights, the Opera House and Harbour Bridge are a must see, as well as the beautiful Royal Botanic Gardens and Darling Harbour.
I truly love this city as I feel it has everything to offer, from the bustling city centre to the many gorgeous beaches in the surrounding suburbs, to more delicious eateries than you could wish for and some picturesque national parks such as the Blue Mountains only a stone's throw away.
I would highly recommend visiting the Royal National Park whilst here and jumping into the famous figure 8 pool, (but bear in mind, it is freeeezing!) as well as taking a day trip to Palm Beach (where Home and Away is filmed) up in the Northern Beaches suburb where you can climb up to the lighthouse and get an awesome photo of the beach.
Another recommendation of mine is strolling the Coogee to Bondi coastal walk for incredible scenic views and plenty of beach hopping.
7. Byron Bay was my next stop up the coast after Sydney and you cannot miss this one out! I can describe it as such a laid back, chilled, hippy little coastal town and is just below the Queensland border. Anything goes here, it is so relaxed and Byron is well known for it's awesome beaches and surfing. Main Beach is just at the end of the main shopping street, which is full of cafes, bars and restaurants, and this makes for a great swimming or surf spot.
An unforgettable experience is sea kayaking up close to dolphins which I did here, and it was honestly the best thing ever! I did it with Cape Byron Kayaks so if you want to check them out head to www.capebyronkayaks.com. You can also take a walk up to Cape Byron Lighthouse where the most easterly point of mainland Australia is, or cycle to the Tea Tree Lake (Lake Ainsworth) which is an amazing freshwater lake coloured by the tea tree plants that grow besides it, making it the colour of a cup of tea. This tea tree oil works wonders on your skin and hair, and the lake is such a great swimming spot as it is warm too!
8. My number eight destination is Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef. Cairns is a city up in tropical north Queensland and is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. This is where most backpackers start or finish their trip, and is a great party place. No trip here is complete without visiting the Great Barrier Reef, which is the world's largest coral reef system.
You can book a day cruise to snorkel or scuba dive among the marine wonders that lie beneath. I was fortunate enough to have won a free snorkelling and diving day trip, so I got to swim with colourful clown fish and even saw a turtle!
Back to Cairns itself, there is a gorgeous lagoon to relax by, swim and BBQ and the esplanade to wander along. The night markets here are worth checking out, and here you can get delicious cheap food! Cairns is just a few hours drive from the scenic Atherton Tablelands where you can go chasing waterfalls.
The Uncle Brian's Tour is the one I went with (unclebrians.com.au) and a popular one amongst backpackers, to explore this region and swim in some of the most beautiful waterfalls, such as Milla Milla Falls. (Famous for being where Peter Andre filmed 'Mysterious Girl' and where they filmed the Herbal Essense shampoo ads.)
Cairns is also an adrenaline fuelled city as here you can do your bungee jump or even a skydive.
9. Cape Tribulation is where two world heritage sites meet, the world's oldest rainforest Daintree Rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef so this is one of my unmissable destinations. I did a 4 day road trip up here from Cairns where we camped for 3 nights and spent our last night in a hostel in the quiet, upmarket town of Port Douglas.
This area is full of history and unique flora and fauna. We were lucky enough to see cassowaries in the wild, which are huge, flightless birds only found in the Daintree Rainforest and Mission Beach area in Australia, but they can be aggressive and dangerous. I'd recommend walks through the rainforest, seeing the ancient and unique plants and nature, as well as chilling on and exploring Coconut Beach in Cape Tribulation where we ate and drank from freshly picked coconuts!
10. And my final destination on the list is Melbourne. This city is best known for it's culture, art, sport and dining and is the second most populated city in Australia to Sydney.
Things to check out are the hidden cobbled lane-ways, some filled with amazing graffiti and street art (Hosier Lane is a good one) and others bustling with hip cafes, coffee shops and bars, (try Degraves Street and Centre Place) and the beach side suburb that is St Kilda is worth a visit.
It has a more chilled vibe, offers so many hip cafes to try out and you can even go and see penguins on the pier after sunset!
In Melbourne the enormous and beautiful botanical gardens are a must see and I would 100% recommend doing a road trip along the stunning Great Ocean Road, one of the world's most scenic coastal drives. Here you can witness the famous 12 Apostles as you wind your way along the coast, a truly amazing sight to see.
So there you have my ultimate guide on backpacking Australia's beautiful and diverse East Coast. I hope you enjoyed this read and got some useful tips from it!
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