23 day - Sydney to Cairns Explorer

Day 1 : Overnight bus from Sydney to Byron Bay

Your adventure kicks off in stunning Sydney city where you'll have time to explore all the highlights including the Sydney Opera House and Darling Harbour. Looking at arriving a few days earlier to explore the best of Sydney tours? Chat with our travel experts today to find the best prices on day trips and Sydney accommodation. Tonight, you'll hop on board the overnight bus that will take you to the iconic coastal town of Byron Bay.

Day 2 : Byron Bay

Arrive in the vibrant coastal town, where the scent of saltwater fills the air. Settle into a cozy hostel and hit the beach for some sun and surf. Unwind with a sunset walk along the sandy shores.

Day 3 : Byron Bay

Today you can soak up Byron Bays' charm and relaxed atmosphere. It is also a hub for artists, musicians, and creatives, plus you'll find a vibrant arts scene, live music performances, street markets, and an array of unique and eclectic shops. With stunning coastal walks as well as plenty of hinterlands, and awesome nightlife - there's plenty to keep you busy. If you want to make the most of this free day, head to the iconic lighthouse to do the famous Lighthouse Walk.

OPTIONAL: Surf Lesson or Kayak with Dolphins

Day 4 : Bus Byron Bay to Brisbane

Head up the East Coast to your next big and lively city. Today, you can explore the vibrant city of Brisbane! Start your day with a visit to South Bank Parklands, where you can enjoy the beautiful gardens and art installations. Take a dip in the public pool or savour brunch at one of the trendy cafes. End your day with a relaxing dinner at one of the many restaurants in the city!


Day 5 : Brisbane

On your second free day in Brisbane, you can discover the city's cultural highlights. Visit the Queensland Art Gallery and the Gallery of Modern Art for a dose of inspiration and creativity. Stroll through the historic city centre to admire the stunning architecture, or go shopping in the unique boutiques of Fortitude Valley. If you're looking for an activity to do here in Brisbane, we can help you get on a Koala river cruise. A Koala & River Cruise is the perfect way to get up close and personal with Australia’s cuddliest creatures while enjoying the sights and sounds of Brisbane’s most attractive waterfront suburbs.

OPTIONAL: Koala and River Cruise

Day 6 : Bus Brisbane to Noosa

Escape to Noosa, where the sun-kissed beaches meet lush hinterlands, creating the perfect backdrop for your next getaway. With its stunning landscapes and vibrant coastal culture, Noosa invites you to indulge in a luxurious yet relaxed lifestyle.

Day 7 : Noosa

Enjoy another free day in Noosa. Visit the amazing national park and see the amazing fairy pools. Why not go and visit the world famous Noosa Everglades, with only two everglades in the world this one is not to be missed.

OPTIONAL: Noosa Everglades

Day 8 : Bus from Noosa to Rainbow Beach

Today, you’ll head up to Rainbow Beach. Check into the Freedom hostel and then head out to explore! You'll be staying at this Rainbow Beach hostel for a total of 3 nights so get comfortable! Make sure to check out the amazing sunset at the Carlo Sand Blow.

Day 9 : Rainbow Beach

Today, immerse yourself in the stunning beauty of Rainbow Beach! Start your day with a walk along the pristine shoreline, where you can feel the soft sand between your toes and enjoy the breathtaking views of the ocean. If you're looking for a day with some adrenaline, this is your last chance to catch some waves. We could help you get on a cool surf lesson here with our professional instructors on the longest wave in Australia.

OPTIONAL: Surf Lesson or Kayak with Dolphins

Day 10 : 3 Day / 2 Night K'gari Fraser Island Tag Along Safari

Your Fraser Island adventure begins with a quick morning brief at Freedom Hostel. At 9:30 am, depart for Fraser Island and drive approximately 10 minutes to the barge (ferry) and board for your 10-minute barge crossing. Once you have arrived on the world's largest sand island, drive for 1 hour to the Eurong Beach Resort along 75 Mile beach - Fraser Island's own sand highway with speed limits! There you can grab a coffee and chocolate croissant (own cost) for morning tea. From here, the adventure really begins, as we drive to the famous Lake McKenzie, one of the most popular and picturesque highlights of Fraser. We stop for lunch and time to swim and relax in the amazingly clear waters of the lake before driving up the beach to your campsite. Settle in for an early dinner, some well-deserved drinks and plenty of fun!

Meals : Lunch, Dinner

Day 11 : 3 Day / 2 Night K'gari Fraser Island Tag Along Safari

The day begins with a quick breakfast to fuel your busiest day on Fraser Island! First stop is Eli Creek, a beautifully clear creek perfect for a relaxing swim. Travelling north, stop at Maheno Shipwreck for a photo opportunity and a short history lesson about this famous Fraser Island icon before continuing on to Indian Head. Fraser Island's highest point, from here you may be lucky enough to see whales and sharks in the ocean before travelling to Champagne Pools for a drop. Lunch is served at either Maheno Shipwreck or Champagne Pools on Day 2 depending on time constraints, safety and beauty. In the afternoon, travel back to camp for dinner and drinks.

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12 : 3 Day / 2 Night K'gari Fraser Island Tag Along Safari

Start with breakfast before cleaning and disassembling your campsite. Once packed up, you'll drive to the beginning of the Lake Wabby walk where you'll stride through the dunes to find a tropical paradise! Lunch follows your trip to Lake Wabby before you begin the drive down the beach and back to the barge. Once you’ve arrived on the mainland, head to the 4WD shed where you can unpack and quickly clean the cars. You will return to Freedom Hostel between 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm, depending on the tides.

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch

Day 13 : Rainbow Beach and Overnight bus to Airlie Beach

Enjoy a free day in Rainbow Beach. Watch the sunset right before you hop on your overnight bus to Airlie Beach!

Day 14 : Airlie Beach

You'll arrive in the tropical paradise of Airlie Beach bright and early. This morning you'll check into your central Airlie Beach accommodation. No time to waste! Drop your bags and head out to explore this beachside town before preparing for your Whitsundays tour tomorrow!

OPTIONAL: 60 minute scenic flight over the Whitsunday Islands and Great Barrier Reef, including Heart Reef, Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet

Day 15 : Whitsundays Sailing Trip - Airlie Beach to Whitsundays

This 2 night Whitsundays tour offers the opportunity to explore the islands, including time to relax at the magnificent Whitehaven Beach, walk to the famous Hill Inlet Lookout. Experience up to 4 snorkelling locations to check out the magnificent fringing reef around the Islands (all part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park).

Meals : Dinner

Day 16 : Whitsundays Sailing Trip

Today you can enjoy multiple bush-walks and hikes (with lookouts and stunning views) - don't forget to charge up your phone/ camera! Enjoy Standout delicious meals made by the crew who are fun, and experienced and welcome you into the family. With 2 slides and an onboard jacuzzi you're bound to have a good time.

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 17 : Whitsundays Sailing Trip - Whitsundays to Airlie Beach

Wake up on your final morning to that clear sea air before it's time for more thrilling sailing back to Airlie Beach. After your tour, keep the adventure alive and meet your crew and fellow passengers for a catch-up at the after-party in Airlie Beach – you will have a reserved table, drink discounts and meal deals!

Meals : Breakfast 

Day 18 : Bus from Airlie Beach to Townsville - Magnetic Island

Today you'll make your way to Townsville where a ferry will take you to the stunning Magnetic Island (included!). Check-in for 2 nights and then kick back and relax on one of the island's many iconic beaches.

Day 19 : Magnetic Island

Today is yours free to soak in the sunshine of Magnetic Island for your final day here. A beautiful place for hiking, kayaking, and full relaxation! Explore Horseshoe Bay and Picnic Bay for a pristine beach day. The island is home to a variety of wildlife, including koalas, rock wallabies, and over 180 species of birds.

Day 20 : Bus from Townsville to Cairns

Today you'll wave goodbye to Magnetic Island and hello to Cairns as you catch the ferry back to Townsville and then head further north. Cairns is the gateway to both the Great Barrier Reef as well as the Daintree Rainforest and offers heaps of awesome activities for travellers from nature to extreme sports! Check into your Cairns accommodation for 2 nights and then head out to explore the city.

Day 21 : Great Barrier Reef / Cairns

This morning you can tick off one of Australia's must-do activities - a full day Great Barrier Reef tour. You'll board at 7:30 am for a day packed with fun and excitement as you explore the outer reef. With options to try snorkeling or even upgrade to scuba diving, you'll spend up to 6 hours discovering 2 spectacular reef locations. Swim alongside schools of tropical reef fish and admire amazing coral formations. Learn about the underwater ecosystem during a glass-bottom boat cruise and Marine Biology presentation. It's a true bucket-list experience that you won't want to miss!

Meals : Lunch

OPTIONAL: Scuba dive

Day 22 : Waterfall Wanderers / Cairns

Today prepare to be mesmerised by nature and wildlife within the ancient tropical rainforest. You'll explore Babinda Boulders, Josephine Falls (Natural rock slide), Crawfords Lookout (Beautiful lookout) and the stunning Millaa Millaa Falls (World famous hair flick waterfall). You will also have the opportunity to visit the dormant Volcanic Crater Lake filled with turtles and surrounded by wildlife. You will watch the sunset next to your last swim (don’t worry about getting cold the water in here never changes temperature, it's 23 degrees all day and all night)! 

Meals : Lunch

Day 23 : Departure Cairns

This morning you will check out of your hostel and wave goodbye to your East Coast adventure! If you want to add some time to this trip but don’t want to add on destinations, Cairns is a great place to add on a few nights and explore! Say goodbye to like-minded friends and set off on the rest of your travels. We hope you have made memories to last a lifetime and hope to help you on your next adventure! Fiji or New Zealand anyone….?

This package has select departure dates.

Please contact our travel specialists to discuss your preferred date of travel.

Departs: Sydney or Cairns 

Returns: Cairns or Sydney

Love this package but have some questions? No worries!

Here is a list of some of the most frequently asked questions about our packages.

Don't see yours here? Contact Us to find out more.

•  Can I make changes to the package?

It is no problem to customize your package to suit your travel plans by adding/removing anything that you wish. If you wish to make changes, please contact us via email hello@peterpans.com, phone +61 3 9125 3620 or live chat and we will be more than happy to assist you by providing you with an updated itinerary/package inclusions/price.

• Is this a guided trip?

This trip consists of a combination of tours and hostels, selected to fit in with your chosen style of travel (budget or flexi flashpacker). Whilst this means that you will not be with the same group of people for the entire duration of your tour, you will be with a group for each tour that you do, and it is very likely that the people that you do the tours with will be booked in the same accommodation in the area. As travellers often travel to similar destinations, it is likely that you will see some of these people, again and again, throughout your tour!

We book all of your tours/accommodation on your behalf and you will be given a voucher for each with all of the information needed ie travel date and pick up location/time. For your buses, we provide you with a bus ticket which has all of the individual departure and arrival times/details.

As Peterpans is one of the largest travel agencies in Australia, these packages are heavily discounted. Should you need any extra guidance, we are always on hand to help!

This is the most popular way of travel for backpackers along the East Coast, whether you are a solo traveller or travelling in a group of friends - it is the perfect way to meet other travellers and get the most out of your East Coast trip!

If you prefer a full guided East Coast tour click here to view the options.

• How much should I budget for spending money?

All of our packages include some meals (you can find the included meals in the inclusions and in the day-to-day itinerary) which means that you will only have to budget for the meals that are not included. The amount that these meals will cost vary however all of the hostels have communal kitchens so you can cook your own meals instead of eating out. Some travellers will only spend an extra $5 a day whereas some will spend an extra $50!

• Do I have to choose the exact dates?

Due to limited availability in hostels and on tours we recommend that you book your package as far in advance as possible to guarantee availability on your chosen dates.

• What hostels are included in the package?

We hand-pick the best selection of hostels on the East Coast that are available for your travel dates. We include 6-8 bed dorms in the package price however double/twin share room upgrades are available at an additional cost. Please contact us with your preferred travel date and package name if you would like a price to upgrade to double/twin share rooms.

• Does this package depart daily?

This package is available to depart most days of the week (subject to availability). To check availability for your preferred departure date please ask us on live chat, give us a call on +61 3 9125 3620 or send us an email at hello@peterpans.com. Alternatively you can book directly on the website by selecting your preferred date and we will reply within 48 hours with a booking confirmation or a secondary option that suits your dates.

• Do I have to pay upfront for this tour or can I pay a deposit/in instalments?

The majority of our customers book and pay for their package in full, meaning that we will book everything in advance to guarantee availability. However, as the prices of our packages can change due to price increases, you are able to secure this amazing package price with a small deposit of just $100pp. You are then able to pay off the package in instalments as and when you wish. As we are unable to make the bookings for the hostels and tours until we have received full payment, due to availability, we do recommend completing payment for your package as far in advance as possible to avoid disappointment. Because of this, it is no problem to tweak the itinerary until full payment has been received - the deposit just locks in the discounted price of this package. If you are worried about availability, let us know as so we can go ahead and look into options for you, for example locking in certain parts of your trip that are likely to fill up in advance such as the Whitsundays/Fraser Island. Have a query about the payment that isn't answered above? Feel free to ask us on live chat, give us a call on +61 3 9125 3620 or send us an email at hello@peterpans.com

• Is it possible to cater for specific dietary requirements?

Most if not all suppliers are able to cater for specific dietary requirements, however for some suppliers this can be an additional cost. Our online team are fully knowledgeable on what suppliers/tours charge extra for which dietary requirements so feel free to contact us for more information.