Travelling East Coast Australia: A Beginners Guide

Travelling East Coast Australia is one of the best ways to see the country, especially if you’re a solo traveller or backpacker. So how do you know where to go, what to see and how to do it? I’ve got your ideal East Coast Australia itinerary all ready for you, just grab a cuppa, and let’s begin!

Travelling the East Coast of Australia is an ideal trip for first-time backpackers.

Not only is the route well-known and easy to travel, but it’s full of like-minded people and backpackers wanting the same epic experiences.

This East Coast Australia backpacking route spans the length of Queensland, through to New South Wales and into Victoria.

All states have incredible bucket list experiences, tons of amazing activities and backpacker hostels for you to check in to and meet your new pals.

For first-timers in the country, or those who are just looking to do an epic Australia road trip, this itinerary and route planner will help you every step of the way.

From hostels to activities to how long to stay in each destination, I’ve got you covered!

🤑 NOTE: This is an East Coast Australia itinerary for budget backpackers and travellers. There will be no luxury travel here!

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Travelling East Coast Australia

Travelling East Coast Australia: The Route

An East Coast Australia route needs a minimum of 2 weeks, ideally longer.

Most backpackers budget around 4 weeks to travel the length of the coast.

Some stay longer in places like Cairns, Sydney and Byron Bay.

This route is based on a 4-week plan.

I’ve travelled the East Coast twice, and both times were 4-6 weeks.

I could have spent MONTHS longer! But travelling the East Coast on a budget is hard (although it can be done).

There are so many once-in-a-lifetime experiences that you’ll want to book along the way, your money is likely to run out quickly (I’ll throw in a few money-saving tips along the way).

⚠️ Everything I speak about in this itinerary is from first-hand experience. Of course, I have not travelled every corner of East Coast Australia! If you think something else should be added in, let me know! ⚠️

How much to budget for travelling East Coast Australia trip

Australia is one of the most expensive places to backpack in the world. If someone tells you you can travel the East Coast on under $10 a day, they’re lying.

It’s expensive, and even on a budget, you’ll end up spending quite a bit of money.

This isn’t just down to hostel and food prices being higher, but the number of experiences.

Whether you’re scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef or sleeping on a boat in the Whitsunday’s, it adds up!

These are unmissable experiences, and if you’re doing this once-in-a-lifetime trip, they aren’t things you’ll want to miss out on.

Most larger activities will set you back $100-200 (£50-100).

And there are a good few you’re going to want to budget for!

When to travel East Coast of Australia

If you’re looking for long sunny days and pretty sunsets, head to the East Coast during Australia’s summer months (December-February).

As Australia is in the southern hemisphere, its seasons are the total opposite of the UK’s. August is their coldest month, and December-January is the hottest.

Prices during the summer months can be higher, and there will be a lot more backpackers and travellers in hostels. If you’re planning to visit during this time, I’d recommend pre-booking your hostels as much as possible.

Plus, prices can increase!

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How to travel the East Coast of Australia

There are a few options when looking at how to travel the East Coast.

Your desired way all depends on who you’re travelling with, your budget and if you want to meet people along the way.

Let’s break down a few of the most popular options.

Car/Campervan 🚗

Road tripping the East Coast is one of the most popular and cheapest ways to experience the route. Some people even buy a car at the start and sell it in the end.

Used cars in Australia are relatively easy to find. If you end up sleeping in your car or campervan, you can end up saving hundreds on accommodation!

Although if you’re a solo traveller, sleeping alone in your car can be isolating. I wouldn’t recommend it for a long period of time!

Check yourself into a hostel and mingle with some fellow backpackers to get your social fix!

Want to know how to make friends whilst in hostels (even if you’re an introvert?) check out my Making Friends in Hostels: A Complete Guide!

I recommend this car rental company for being the most reliable with the cheapest deals!

Bus 🚌

Both times I travelled the East Coast, I did it by bus. Not only is this a budget option, but it’s an easy way to make friends. A one-way bus pass costs around $300-400, and can be used over 90 days from the first journey.

The bus passes can ONLY be used in one direction, and you can only do each journey once.

For example, if you travel back to Cairns by car from Magnetic Island, you cannot redo the bus journey back down again.

Premier and Greyhound are the most popular options, and we found them to be clean and reliable.

Some journeys like Byron Bay to Sydney will be overnight, so be sure to pack your neck pillow and eye mask!

Check out the best bus prices on this comparison site.

Fly ✈️

Clearly the most expensive option, but great if you’re on a short time scale. Australia has some great budget airlines like Tiger and JetStar, so be sure to shop around.

Major airports include Cairns, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. Byron Bay does have an airport but it’s usually crazy expensive to fly into.

Still need to book your flights? I recommend this comparison site to find the best flight deals!

Travelling East Coast Australia: The Destinations

Cairns

6-7 nights

Cairns is one of the most popular destinations on the East Coast Australia itinerary. Home to the Great Barrier Reef and the ancient Daintree rainforest, it has everything from white water rafting to croc-spotting.

Due to the sheer number of saltwater crocodiles lurking in the waters, there’s no access to the ocean in Cairns. But there is the man-made lagoon, which has a fully functioning ‘beach’.

From sand, sunbathing areas, outdoor BBQs and a saltwater swimming pool, you won’t be able to tell the difference!

🛏️ Where to stay in Cairns

Gilligan’s Hostel.

Gilligan’s is also one of the biggest backpacker bars/clubs in the area so even if you don’t stay there, you’ll be drinking there! It has an onsite pool, $5 daily meals and an indoor and outdoor dancefloor.

Book your stay at Gilligan’s here!

🥙 Where to eat in Cairns

Cairns Night Market or The Rattle and Hum Aussie pub.

The night market is great for budget food and the Rattle and Hum serves up hearty meals for a hangover!

🍻 Where to party in Cairns

Salt House, Gilligan’s or The Woolshed. Salt House attracts an older (well, late twenties) crowd which we loved (being 25+!) and plays house music.

Gilligan’s is a typical sticky floor, cheesy DJ club (you’ve got to give it a go!) with party games and backpacker activities.

The Woolshed is a 3AM decision that leads to you dancing on tables and downing tequila shots. All perfect for first-time backpackers!

☀️ Activities to do in Cairns

There are so.many.things to do in Cairns, that’s why I’ve suggested planning at least 6-7 days here! As well as all the bar crawls and party games you’ll be playing, you’ll have the chance to tick off so many bucket list experiences here. Some highlights include:

• Scuba diving or snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef
• Jungle trekking and crocodile spotting in the Daintree Rainforest
• Sky diving on Mission Beach
• Swimming at the Blue Lagoon
• White Water Rafting in Tully
• Bungee jumping
• Waterfall spotting in the Daintree Rainforest
• A boat trip to Fitzroy Island
• Shopping in the Cairns Mall
• Skyrail Rainforest Cablecar in the Daintree Rainforest
• Karunda Scenic Railway
• Helicopter rides over the Great Barrier Reef
• Nightlife in the town of Cairns

If you’re staying in Cairns town for the evening, you can use a public BBQ on the lagoon or sit with a few drinks on the green.

Oh, and look out for all the bats! The trees around dusk will be full of them waiting to head back out to the Daintree. It’s quite a sight (and sound!)

Townsville

1 night

Your next stop on this East Coast Australia itinerary is Townsville. If you’re taking the Premier or Greyhound bus, your journey will take around 5 hours 45 minutes, so be sure to stock up on some snacks to get you through!

By car, the journey is just over 4 hours, and there are flights but they’re expensive! Plus with all the waiting time, it’s probably going to take you just as long as driving.

Townsville itself isn’t much of an attraction and is just a small Australian town with a few shops, restaurants and a port. But it’s the only way to get to Magnetic Island, so you’ll need to make the journey and even stay overnight depending on your arrival/boat times to the island.

More on that later!

If you are staying in Townsville, here are my recommendations.

🛏️ Where to stay in Townsville

Civic Guest House.

Standard dorm rooms with a big garden area and kitchen where you can eat, chill and listen to music. We stayed here with a group of 15 of us and it was perfect to host our own hostel party (we didn’t fancy a night out in Townsville).

Book your stay at Civic Guest House here!

🥙 Where to eat in Townsville

The Courtyard, Subway, Mcdonalds or Woolworths. If you’re not looking for fast food, head to the Courtyard for freshly made tacos, street food and an outdoor market setting.

🍻 Where to party in Townsville

Flynn’s Irish Bar or Hooch and Fellow. Head to Flynn’s for a pint of beer and a pub scene, or Hooch for classy cocktails before your trip to Magnetic Island.

☀️ Activities to do in Townsville

You can access the Great Barrier Reef from here if you haven’t already in Cairns. Or, take a walk up to Castle Hill. Apart from this, there isn’t much to do in Townsville, and I’d really recommend only visiting if you’re planning a trip to Magnetic Island.

Magnetic Island

2 nights

Magnetic Island is a short boat ride away from Townsville port.

Most backpackers head to this tiny 52 km² for a few days of secluded paradise, drive a Barbie car, and spot wild koalas (FYI, they are SO hard to find in the wild!)

“Magnetic Island is a nature lovers paradise. Discover secluded beaches, kilometres of bushland hikes and an abundance of wildlife. Just a short 20-minute ferry ride from Townsville and with easy access to the Great Barrier Reef, Maggie is magnificent.” – This Is Magnetic Island website

Magnetic Island is small, and once you’ve spent a few days here, you’ll find there isn’t much left to do.

I’d recommend budgeting around 2 days to explore the island, which gives you the chance to hire the Aussie-famous Barbie cars, hike through some of the forests and experience everything Maggie Island has to offer.

🛏️ Where to stay in Magnetic Island

Base Backpackers. The Base on Magnetic Island is one of the best hostels I’ve stayed in. If you can opt for an ocean view shared dorm.

The cabins are located along a cliff edge and the view from your bunk looks straight onto the ocean! They also have camping options if you’re on a lower budget.

Base organise social events at the hostel bar during the day and evening, so you’ll quickly meet other travellers and have some buddies to tour the island with!

They also have a hostel restaurant and bar onsite. Prices are around $30 per night per person.

Book your stay at Base here!

🥙 Where to eat in Magnetic Island

Depending on your budget, it can be useful to just eat in the hostel bar. They serve up cheap meals that are served until late (but be sure to check, as one day we missed the cut-off and there was nowhere else open on the island to eat at!) If you do want to venture out, head to The Reef for tapas or Mamma Roma for Italian!

🍻 Where to party in Magnetic Island

Yep you guessed it, the hostel! Base is the best place to party on the island and has backpacker events every night. From a pub quiz to live music, it’s all you’ll need for a night of drinking with your new travel pals!

☀️ Activities to do in Magnetic Island

There are a few must-do activities in Magnetic Island, and some of your time can be spent just taking in the scenery and going for coastal or jungle walks. Here are my top recommendations for when you visit Magnetic Island:

• Hire a Barbie car and drive the island
• Spot koalas and wallabies in the wild
• Hike the Magnetic Island Forts walk
• Go snorkelling or scuba diving off the coast

Airlie Beach and the Whitsunday Islands

2 nights Airlie Beach, 2 night Whitsunday tour

One of the highlights doing the East Coast Australia route is visiting the Whitsunday Islands.

Whitehaven beach is consistently named as one of the best beaches in the world, and stealing some of the soft, white sand from there will land you more jail time than if you were smuggling cocaine.

You’ll arrive in Airlie Beach, a small coastal town with backpacker hostels, bars and restaurants.

You can either book your boat trip to the islands from here, or have a tour pre-booked online or from a previous destination.

I’d recommend spending at least a night in Airlie Beach.

This gives you time to top up on supplies for your boat trip (the majority are bring your own alcohol) and have some down time before you leave.

Airlie Beach is also a great place to meet other backpackers as it’s full of people wanting to do the tour or spending time in the area.

It’s also good to book another night at Airlie Beach upon your return from the Whitsunday Islands, as you will be exhausted! And not only that, most tours will organise a ‘goodbye’ night out at the Nomads/Base hostel bar, where you and your new friends can drink, dance and toast your new friendship from the amazing few days you’ve just shared.

☀️ In short, I recommend booking 1 night in Base Backpackers on arrival, then taking a 3 day, 2 night Whitsunday boat tour, finishing with another 1 night stay in Base Backpackers upon your return.

🛏️ Where to stay in Airlie Beach

Base Backpackers or Nomads.

Both hostels are next door to each other and are on the centre of the high street.

You’ll find an onsite bar which turns into a late night dancefloor, and cheap food in the restaurant next door. It’s perfect for solo travellers or first-time backpackers.

Book your stay at Base or Nomads here!

🥙 Where to eat in Airlie Beach

As well as the hostel food, there are a few good restaurants on Airlie Beach high street. Head to Lovely India (right next to the hostels) for Indian food, Fat Frog Beach Cafe for great coffee or stroll along the high street to find more cafes and restaurants with an open roof.

🍻 Where to party in Airlie Beach

Airlie Beach is known for its nightlife, and if you don’t fancy the hostel bars, you can dance the night away at Mama Africa’s, Boom or Magnum’s.

There are a ton of other bars and pubs including an Irish pub and beach bar, and as the town is pretty small, they’re all easy to find!

☀️ Activities to do in Airlie Beach

Airlie Beach is the gateway to the Whitsunday Islands, so most people backpacking East Coast Australia stop here for that reason.

If you have got a bit of spare time, I’d recommend spending a day at the Airlie Beach lagoon with a BBQ or picnic.

Whitsunday Islands

You’ve seen the photos, been dreaming of the white sand between your toes, and now the moment is finally here. And I can promise you, the Whitsunday’s will live up to every expectation!

Depending on your tour, you will sail out to the Whitsunday’s and spend some time visiting different islands and beaches.

Most tours will give you the opportunity to snorkel or swim, spot turtles, stingrays and other sea creatures, and provide equipment for other activities.

All boat tours are different, but my favourite was the Tongarra. We booked this through Sailing Whitsunday’s, and our tour lasted 3 days and 2 nights.

The Togarra is aimed at backpackers and travellers between 20-35, and has a mix of downtime and partying.

You’re allowed to take your own alcohol onto the boat (we took two boxes of goon each which was way too much) but all of your food is provided for you.

I’ll go into the ins and outs of the different boat tours in a separate blog post (coming soon!)

Most tours will give you at least 4-5 hours on Whitehaven Beach.

Whitehaven is the highlight of the tour, so be sure to pack your camera and lots of water to keep you dehydrated (there are zero shops, stalls or ways to buy water when you’re on the island).

✨ More info coming about Whitsunday tours soon! ✨

Rainbow Beach

1 night

Rainbow Beach is the gateway to the next best part of travelling East Coast Australia. Although there’s not much to actually do here apart from your Fraser Island induction (more on that later) and meet the people who will be travelling to the sand island with you.

If you’re looking to do the Fraser Island tour, you MUST book at least one night here before leaving.

✨The tour I will be referring to is Dingo’s Fraser Island, the main backpacker Fraser Island tour, which is based and leaves from the Freedom Hostel. ✨

In short, Rainbow Beach is a small town with not much to do, but you MUST book into Freedom Hostel or Pippies Hostel to be checked into a Fraser Island tour.

Travelling Oceania? Check out my New Zealand Kiwi Experience review!

Fraser Island

3 days, 2 nights

The next part of your East Coast Australia route takes you on one of the best adventures yet.

The unmissable Fraser Island is the best part of the entire itinerary, and something every first-time backpacker should do!

We didn’t really know what to expect from touring the world’s biggest sand island, but it blew every expectation out of the water.

You’ll pack up your 4×4 at the hostel on Rainbow Beach early on day 1, drive out to the ferry port and board for a short 10-minute crossing over to the sand island.

From there, you’ll be driving your 4×4 over sand dunes and bumpy terrains, through jungles and along white sandy beaches.

Everything about the tour is sorted for you, from who you’ll be sharing a car with to your camping spot. Food is provided for you to cook each night, but you’ll need to provide your own alcohol.

Throughout your stay at Fraser, you will have little to zero connection to the outside world. For this reason, you become wrapped up in a Fraser bubble, socialising with only those who are around you.

Top tip: Be sure to bring ALL the alcohol you need. On an island with no signal and little wifi, the shops rack up the prices and you’ll be paying nearly triple to what you would on the mainland.

Check out my Fraser Island review: Dingo’s Fraser Island Tour Review: Is It Worth It? for more information!

☀️ Activities on Fraser Island include:

• Hiking to different scenic spots
• Tubing in lazy rivers
• Swimming in the crystal clear waters of Lake Mckenzie
• Taking a dip in the champagne pools
• Spotting wild dingos
• Star gazing (due to little light pollution, the stars here are incredible)
• Jungle trekking
• Daily picnics
• Nightly camp parties, BBQs, drinking games and dancing

⚠️ You CANNOT swim in the ocean at Fraser Island. This is due to the strong currents, riptides and poisonous jellyfish. However you can swim in the lakes you’ll visit, and they’re just as beautiful! ⚠️

Noosa

2-3 nights

After Fraser Island, you’re going to feel a bit deflated. You will have left your new travel pals (like we had to, as everyone was travelling East Coast Australia in the opposite direction to us) and the ‘Fraser blues’ will be sinking in.

Three years on from when I last visited Fraser, and I’m sure I’ve still got them!

Noosa is a great place to have a bit of downtime and recuperate for the next leg of your East Coast Australia route.

Known for its high-end holiday homes and luxury restaurants and shops, Noosa is a bit out of a regular backpacker’s budget, but it can still be enjoyed for a cheaper price if you know what to do!

Backpacking for the first time? Check out my MUST-PACK essentials to ensure you have everything ready before you go!

🛏️ Where to stay in Noosa

Nomads backpacker hostel. We loved the Nomads here as it was full of backpackers and had a chilled, funky vibe.

We stayed in a shared dorm room for around $25 a night, and had full access to the kitchen, bar, and swimming pool.

🥙 Where to eat in Noosa

The hostel serves its own food, but we did venture out to check out the local food and area. If you’re on a budget (like we were), there are a few fast food stops like Mcdonald’s, Burger King and Subway, as well as some market stalls.

If you head further into town, there’s a ton of high-end restaurants, bars and cafes, but we found they were just a bit too out of our price bracket!

🍻 Where to party in Noosa: If you want to branch out from the hostel, check out the Village Bicycle for a beer and a boogie, Zacchary’s Bar for cocktails or The Wharf Tavern with over seven lounges and music until the early hours!

☀️ Activities to do in Noosa

Noosa is known for its beaches, so you can spend your days here sunbathing or surfing. I’d recommend heading to the beach at sunset, as the skyline turns to a golden-pink shade which can be seen across the entire horizon.

We sat with a beer on the beach and watched the sunset a few nights in a row!

If you visit Noosa, one of the top activities is to kayak through the Everglades.

There are only 2 Everglades in the world (here and Florida), so it’s not one to be missed! Known as the “River of Mirrors”, the Noosa Everglades is a calm and tranquil body of water, surrounded by wildlife, native flowers and fauna.

You can book your kayaking tour from any travel agents and it usually takes up an entire day (so make sure you’re not hungover like we were!)

Brisbane

3-5 nights

Next on your East Coast Australia trip, you’ll reach Brisbane.

Brisbane is a major city in Australia and the capital of Queensland.

If you’ve been travelling for a while, it’s a great place to stock up on supplies, rest in Bunk hostel, shop in the malls and do a healthy food shop in Woolworths supermarket.

In true Aussie style, Brisbane locals built a man-made, fully functioning beach in the centre of town. Being too far away from a real beach, they did the next best thing by creating their own.

Brisbane’s own beach has everything from salt water swimming pools to sandy shores and deckchairs.

🛏️ Where to stay in Brisbane

Bunk hostel is the perfect spot for first-time backpackers or travellers.

The rooms are modern and clean, and there’s a huge handy kitchen with large industrial fridges to have a few days of healthy meals. Plus, the onsite bar holds backpacker events for you to meet even more friends!

🥙 Where to eat in Brisbane

If you fancy venturing out of the hostel, there are tons of places in Brisbane for backpackers and travellers to get some cheap eats.

One thing I loved about Brisbane was the number of street markets and food halls it has.

On the road directly parallel to Bunk, there’s a whole heap of these food stalls, as well as some cafes and restaurants. Being a major city, you can find all of your regular food favourites.

🍻 Where to party in Brisbane

Birdees Bar is attached to Bunk Hostel, and as I previously mentioned, runs backpacker brunches, trivia and games for travellers to meet.

But there are also lots of places in Brisbane to party if you don’t just want cheap drinks and party games. We ventured out to The Rooftop at the Limes Hotel (for one drink, which cost us around $15), and then drank in some of the other bars in Fortitude Valley. The Guilty Rogue, Botanic Bar and Mick O’Malleys are great for cheap eats and drinks!

☀️ Activities to do in Brisbane

As well as activities in the centre of town, Brisbane is a great place for some day trips out. Here’s a few recommendations of what to do when you’re in Brisbane:

• Have a day out at Steve Irwin’s Brisbane Zoo (you can book tickets through your hostel)
• Take a dip at the man made beach
• Visit the Lone Pine Koala Centre
• Check out the view from Story Bridge
• Hike Mount Coot-tha
• Rock climb Kangeroo Point Cliffs
• Stroll around the botanic gardens
• Go shopping in Brisbane’s CBD

Byron Bay

2-4 nights

You’re on the final leg of your journey and have finally entered your next state; New South Wales!

Byron Bay is the next coastal town on your East Coast Australia route, and it’s one of my favourites.

Home to the barefoot way of life, a thriving art scene and an overall laid-back attitude. Along with Surfer’s Paradise, it’s another place in Australia I’d be happy to set up camp and stay a while.

The beaches and coastlines are some of the best in the country, with regular sightings of whales and dolphins in the horizon.

And if you want to get a bit closer, you can hire a kayak and be just metres away!

Along the beach and coastal area is a ton of bars, restaurants and local musicians playing and entertaining.

Even if you don’t want a big night out or to spend money in a bar, you can pop along to the beach to catch some live music or join a street party.

The local area at the weekend is full of pop-up markets selling unique clothes, vintage items and street food, and there’s often a festival or event happening in the centre of town.

Check out my Byron Bay Guide: 11 Things To Do In Byron Bay (First-Timer Guide!)

Backpacking for the first time? Check out my MUST-PACK essentials to ensure you have everything ready before you go!

🛏️ Where to stay in Byron Bay

Nomads or Arts Factory. Both are backpacker hubs and run drinking events and backpacking evenings. We stayed at the Nomads, and booked a lot of activities through them as well as enjoying their free BBQ and jacuzzi!

🥙 Where to eat in Byron Bay

The Beach Hotel is situated just steps away from the ocean and is where we spent most of our time. Not only do they serve up great food, but their bar opens up to a dancefloor in the evening! There will usually be live music or a DJ.

🍻 Where to party in Byron Bay

If you’ve had enough of The Beach Hotel, The Railway is a cosy pub again with live music and a real buzz. Cheeky Monkey’s and Locura are great for a 3AM dance and a late-night drink.

☀️ Activities to do in Byron Bay

Even if you plan on spending $0 in Byron Bay on activities, you can still have an amazing time. Spend time on the beach, wander the markets or have a stroll along the promenade. At dusk you can catch live entertainment! If you do have some spare $$$, my recommendations are:

• Go kayaking to spot whales and dolphins
• Hike up to the Byron Bay Lighthouse. This gives some of the best views of the oceans and is the most easterly point of Australia. Oh, and bring your binoculars, as you will see whales if you’re lucky!
• Hire a bike to see more of the town and surrounding areas
• Book a day trip to Nimbin – a ‘hippy’ street where everything from marijuana to space cakes is normal
• Do some shopping in the vintage boutiques along the high street

✨ Check out my detailed Byron Bay post here! ✨

Sydney

4-6 nights

Sydney is one of the most popular destinations when visiting Australia.

Even if you don’t include it whilst you’re travelling East Coast Australia, you’ll probably spend a bit of time there whilst you’re down under.

Most expats either live in Sydney or Melbourne, so you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to finding new friends and enjoying yourself.

If you’re just in Sydney for a few days, I’d recommend at least 4 nights to see the sights and enjoy the city for what it is.

🛏️ Where to stay in Sydney

Base is (again) the best for budget backpackers.

The hostel is located in the centre of the city and has a huge backpacker kitchen, communal area and downstairs area where events and games are held.

Right next door is Scary Canary’s, where most of your big nights out will start with cheap backpacker prices and events run by the hostel.

🥙 Where to eat in Sydney

Being a large city, Sydney again has every chain and food venue you could dream of. They’re huge on healthy eating, so you’ll find a lot of salad bars and pitta stops, as well as your traditional fast-food chains.

Head to the Sydney Tower for a rotating buffet (it’s quite the experience), or Nour for some of the best Lebanese food in the city!

🍻 Where to party in Sydney

If you want to venture away from Scary Canary’s, there are hundreds of places to go out in Sydney. I could list so many, from beach bars to cocktail bars at every end of every budget.

But, for budget backpackers, I’d recommend 3 Wise Monkey’s, Scubar, Scruffy Murphys, Cargo and World Bar.

☀️ Activities to do in Sydney

There are so many amazing things to do in Sydney, but here are some of my favourites!

• Visit the Sydney Opera House
• Take a trip to Sydney Zoo
• Catch the ferry to Manley and spend the day on the beach
• Climb the Harbour Bridge
• Go shopping in the CBD
• Catch a wave at Bondi Beach
• Have a beach BBQ on any of Sydney’s beautiful beaches
• Do a coastal walk (Bondi to Bronte is my favourite)
• Walk around the botanical gardens
• Take a day trip to the Blue Mountains
• Dine at the Sydney Tower with 360 views of the city

Melbourne

4-6 nights

You’ve made it! You have travelled the whole of the East Coast of Australia and found yourself in one of the best cities in the country, Melbourne.

Melbourne is a hub full of artists, musicians, creators and creativity.

You’ll find quirky coffee shops and independent bars, boutiques and restaurants, as well as beaches and beach bars to get your ocean fix.

The city is connected via tram, which are cheap and easy to use, as well as some major train stations taking you out of the area.

Melbourne was my home for 12 months and I couldn’t have loved it any more than I did. It really is just a magical place, with friendly people, an insane nightlife scene, fun activities, and lots of backpackers!

OTHER MELBOURNE POSTS:

• 10 Fun Things To Do in Melbourne Solo (+ 20 Extras!)
• Best Places to Live in Melbourne as a Young Adult or Expat

🛏️ Where to stay in Melbourne

Base Backpackers or Habitat (both in St Kilda). Base is for backpackers wanting a crazy party scene and to meet like-minded short stay travellers, and Habitat is a great base if you want to stay a bit longer (and want a bit of peace and quiet).

🥙 Where to eat in Melbourne

$10 pasta at Rozzi’s in the CBD was my go-to when I lived in Melbourne! So cheap yet so filling and they had tons of healthy options!

🍻 Where to party in Melbourne

Where to begin! Melbourne is the best place in Australia for nightlife, hands down. My favourites include; Base Backpackers hostel bar, Revolver (open 24hours from Thursday-Sunday), Lucky Coq, Lona and Poof Doof.

The majority of the time we went out in either St Kilda or Chapel Street, but there are some great places in the CBD and north of the river too. The Arbory on the river in the CBD is a great idea for sunny days as they put on a DJ and it’s open roofed!

☀️ Activities to do in Melbourne

Like Sydney, there is just so much to do in Melbourne. Here are some of my favourites, but honestly, you could live in Melbourne for years and still have fun!

• Watch the sunset with the penguins on St Kilda beach
• Have a BBQ and photo op with the colourful huts on Brighton Beach
• Take a trip to Mornington Peninsula
• Drive the Great Ocean Road!
• Swim, surf or paddleboard at St Kilda beach
• Shop, dine and drink on Chapel Street
• Watch a comedy show in the CBD
• Drink coffee and grab brunch in a cute cafe
• See the graffiti and street art on Hosier Lane
• Visit Melbourne Zoo
• Take a trip to Phillip Island to meet even more penguins
• Drink wine in the Yarra Valley
• Cycle the coastal roads

✨ Looking to live in Melbourne? Check out the 5 best areas to live in Melbourne as a backpacker here! ✨

Travelling East Coast Australia: In a Nutshell

Wow, 6500 words later and we’ve made it!

As you can see, travelling East Coast Australia is an EPIC experience and something you will never forget.

From driving the Great Ocean road to surfing some of Australia’s best waves, to the depths of the Daintree Rainforest and the busy streets of Sydney’s CBD. You could stay in each location for an extended period of time, as they’re all just so unique and wonderful in their own way.

Travelling East Coast Australia? I’d love to hear about it! Connect with me on Instagram or leave a comment!

Trust me, you’re going to LOVE it!

Happy travelling!

Jennie 🙂 x

Other Australia posts:

• Living in Melbourne as an Expat or Backpacker Guide (2022)
• 10 Fun Things To Do in Melbourne Solo (+ 20 Extras!)
• Best Places to Live in Melbourne as a Young Adult or Expat
• Dingo’s Fraser Island Tour Review: Is It Worth It?

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Hey you! 🙋‍♀️ I quit my job in 2021 to become a full-time travel blogger + visit as much of the globe as possible. Come and join me on my chaotic and hilarious travel journeys!

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