The East Coast is easily the best pick for backpackers looking to make the most of their time in Australia – the coast is packed with beautiful beaches, warm weather, great food, friendly communities, and natural wonders to explore.
With so much ground to cover, it can be difficult to determine which places are worth stopping on along the way, and the ones to skip to get the most out of your backpacking trip.
We’ve gathered insights from locals on locations, costs, transport, and things that will make your backpacking experience that much more enjoyable along Australia’s East Coast. If you’re looking for the perfect east coast route, read on.
Backpacking East Coast Route Overview
- Sydney (2 to 3 days)
- Port Macquarie (1 day)
- Byron Bay (2 to 3 days)
- Surfers Paradise (1 night – optional)
- Noosa (1 to 2 days)
- K’Gari / Fraser Island (3 to 4 days)
- Agnes Water / 1770 (1 to 2 days)
- Airlie Beach / Whitsundays (3 to 4 days)
- Cairns (2 to 3 days)
Transport Recommendations
One-way flights to Sydney are generally cheaper than to Cairns, plus, Cairns is an ideal endpoint if you are planning to continue travelling in Southeast Asia.
Coach services will be the primary mode of transport for this route – providers like Greyhound and Premier Motor Service typically have packages that include unlimited repeated trips along the corridor, meaning you can hop on and off at each stop without booking individual legs.
There’s also the option to rent a car if you are travelling in a group, which can be a great way to be more flexible and linger in areas for longer. You’ll have to consider costs, licence validity, and insurance.
1. Sydney (2 to 3 days)
Sydney is the best place to start your trip. Most guides suggest starting in Melbourne – but just between us – there are better places to explore up North, and having to travel from Melbourne just takes up precious time (sorry Melburnians!).
Sydney offers a lot to do, from the iconic Bondi to Coogee coastal walk, to the Blue Mountains. Both destinations fit in a nice 2-3 day schedule, giving you ample time to plan around accommodation and transport, and leave some time for you to tick off iconic landmarks like the Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Barangaroo, Bondi Beach, Manly, and if you’ve got time – Taronga Zoo.
Things to do:
- Walk the Bondi to Coogee coastal trail
- Day trip to the Blue Mountains (Three Sisters, Scenic World)
- Take the ferry to Manly for a swim
2. Port Macquarie (1 day)
Time from Sydney: ~4 hours 15 minutes drive, ~6 hours by coach
Distance from Sydney: ~390 km
Distance to Cairns: ~2,450 km
Driving from Sydney to Port Macquarie, you’ll pass through the Central Coast, Newcastle, and the lakes and forests around Port Stephens and Taree before reaching the mid-north coast.
Port Macquarie is an easy pitstop to make along the route to Byron Bay. The Town Beach is the main centre of activity in Port Macquarie, but if you’re looking for a quick dip (and maybe some snorkelling), the quieter Shelly Beach is where you need to go.
Port Macquarie is also home to a Koala Hospital that is free to visit. As of the time of writing, the facility is closed for redevelopment, but it is expected to reopen in 2026.
Things to do:
- Visit the Koala Hospital (free, walk-ins welcome)
- Walk the Town Beach to Lighthouse Beach coastal trail
- Swim at Shelly Beach, quieter than the main beaches
3. Byron Bay (2 to 3 days)
Time from Port Macquarie: ~4 hours 15 minutes drive, ~7 hours by coach
Distance from Port Macquarie: ~390 km
Distance to Cairns: ~2,069 km
Driving from Port Macquarie to Byron Bay, you’ll pass through Kempsey, Nambucca Heads, Coffs Harbour, Grafton, and the seaside town of Ballina.
Byron Bay is Surfer’s Paradise, without the boozy party vibe. It’s a more laid-back community with great surfing and coastal views. Apart from surfing, we recommend a day trip to Nimbin to experience Australia’s 1970s hippie heritage and World Heritage-listed rainforests.
Things to do:
- Sunrise hike to Cape Byron Lighthouse
- Catch waves at Belongil Beach
- Day trip to Nimbin for the rainforest and hippie market
4. Surfer’s Paradise (1 night - optional)
Time from Byron Bay: ~1 hour 15 minutes drive, ~1.5 hours by coach
Distance from Byron Bay: ~90 km
Distance to Cairns: ~1,970 km
Driving from Byron Bay to the Gold Coast, you’ll pass through Brunswick Heads, the NSW–Queensland border at Tweed Heads, and the southern Gold Coast beaches of Coolangatta and Burleigh Heads.
Surfer’s Paradise is on this list as an optional destination. If you’re not about the party life, you can skip this one. Despite its less-than-glowing reputation, Surfer’s Paradise is still a popular spot for backpackers to meet new people and let their hair down. The buzzing nightlife scene is good for a one-night romp before moving on.
Things to do:
- Happy hour and nightlife
- Visit the Skypoint Observation Deck for sunset views
Time from Surfers: ~2 hours 30 minutes drive, ~4 hours by coach
Distance from Surfers: ~220 km
Distance to Cairns: ~ 1,750 km
Driving from the Gold Coast to Noosa, you’ll pass through Brisbane, the Glass House Mountains, and the Sunshine Coast hubs of Caloundra and Maroochydore.
Noosa is worth a stop for its National Park alone. Noosa National Park sits along the coast and is home to an abundant variety of wildlife, from koalas to wallabies. Dolphins have been known to play close to the Fairy Pools, where the calm waters make it one of the few places on the coast where you can reliably spot them from shore.
Things to do:
- Coastal walk through Noosa National Park to Hells Gates
- Kayak or paddleboard on the Noosa River
- Watch the surf at Tea Tree Bay inside the national park
5. Noosa (1 to 2 days)
6. K'Gari / Fraser Island (3 to 4 days)
Time from Noosa: ~1 hour 30 minutes drive to Rainbow Beach (or ~2 hours 30 minutes by coach), followed by a 10-minute ferry from Inskip Point
Distance from Noosa: ~85 km
Distance to Cairns: ~1,660 km
Driving from Noosa to K’Gari, you’ll pass through Tewantin, the Great Sandy National Park, and the seaside town of Rainbow Beach, where the barge departs from Inskip Point.
K’Gari (formerly Fraser Island) is the world’s largest sand island. The whole of K’Gari is an attraction, with some of the highlighted activities being Lake McKenzie, camping on the beach, exploring the coloured sand cliffs, and 4WD beach driving.
Cater at least 3 days to explore K’Gari – 4 days if you are keen on experiencing all that it has to offer. Keep in mind that some activities like 4WD tours need to be booked in advance.
Things to do:
- Swim in Lake McKenzie (clear freshwater lake)
- Drive 75 Mile Beach on the eastern shore
- See the coloured sand cliffs at The Pinnacles
7. Agnes Water / Town of 1770 (1 to 2 days)
Time from Fraser Island: ~4 hours 30 minutes drive, up to 9 hours by coach due to inland routes via Bundaberg
Distance from Fraser Island: ~335 km
Distance to Cairns: ~1,330 km
Driving from K’Gari to Agnes Water, you’ll pass through Maryborough, the rum town of Bundaberg, and Miriam Vale before turning off toward the coast.
A highly underrated stop on the east coast backpacking route – this pair of coastal towns are renowned for having the northernmost surf beach on the east coast. Agnes Water has a beautiful bushland boardwalk though paperbark forests, and 1770 has day boat tours to Lady Musgrave island for amazing snorkelling in a coral cay within the Southern Great Barrier Reef.
Things to do:
- Surf on the northernmost surf beach on the east coast
- Walk the Paperbark Forest boardwalk
- Day tour to Lady Musgrave island for snorkelling
8. Airlie Beach / Whitsundays (3 to 4 days)
Time from Agnes Water: ~8 hours drive, ~9 hours and 30 minutes by coach
Distance from Agnes Water: ~705 km
Distance to Cairns: ~620 km
Driving from Agnes Water to Airlie Beach, you’ll pass through Gladstone, Rockhampton, the sugar-cane country around Mackay, and Proserpine.
Airlie Beach is the gateway to the famed Whitsunday Islands. Airlie Beach has plenty of accommodation options for backpackers, alongside a trove of tours and activities both on land and over the water.
An overnight sailing tour is the quintessential Whitsunday experience – choose tours like the 2D2N Atlantic Clipper or the 2D2N New Horizon which cover the must-see locations like Whitehaven Beach, Landford Island, and lots of snorkelling and diving opportunities along the way. These sailing tours have a social atmosphere great for meeting new mates and include everything from meals to hot showers and air conditioned cabins.
Things to do:
- Overnight sailing tour including a stop at Whitehaven Beach
- Snorkel the outer reef on a day tour
- Watch the sunset from Airlie Beach lagoon
9. Cairns (2 to 3 days)
Time from Airlie Beach: ~7 hours 30 minutes drive, ~9 hours by coach
Distance from Airlie Beach: ~620 km
Total Distance Travelled: ~2,840 km
Driving from Airlie Beach to Cairns, you’ll pass through Bowen, Townsville, Ingham, and the rainforest stretch around Mission Beach and Tully.
Cairns is the final stop on the east coast backpacking route. You won’t be spending much time in the city – the majority of the activities are located inland or further out at sea. 3 days in Cairns should be just enough to cap off your trip with options to explore the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef.
Things to do:
- Snorkel or dive the Great Barrier Reef
- Explore the Daintree Rainforest
- Swim at the Esplanade Lagoon
- Waterfall/swimming holes tours (Millaa Millaa Falls, Josephine Falls, Babinda Boulders)
This route will take roughly 4 weeks to complete – be sure to make bookings where necessary and secure tentative dates for your trip as soon as possible.