A backpacking tour of Australia’s east coast is an unforgettable, mind-blowing expertise, however how have you learnt what to see and do in such an enormous space? Properly, listed here are 10 superb issues you will need to do in your east coast tour.
Once you take a tour of the east coast of Australia, you’re going to see a variety of seashores. It’s round 3,000km from Sydney to Cairns, and you’ll have stunning white sandy seashores and clear blue water all alongside the Pacific Freeway. However there’s waaay extra to the east coast than simply incredible seashores. We’ve picked out 10 superb issues you will need to do in your east coast tour.
1. Strive a brand new exercise
Aussies love the out of doors life-style and spending their free time having enjoyable. A Stray east coast tour is the right strategy to strive a brand new sport or exercise.
You’ll be able to’t go to Australia with out browsing. We hit nice surf locations like Sydney, Byron Bay (the place we keep in The Surf home, with free surf board rent) and the long-lasting Surfer’s Paradise. There are seashores with large waves for skilled surfers, and seashores like Bargara Seashore which have excellent situations for novices.
Wager you’ve by no means tried sand boarding? You’ll be able to in your east coast tour. Go to Stockton Sand Dunes close to Port Macquarie, the biggest sand dunes within the southern hemisphere. Earlier than you realize it, you’ll be hurtling down the dunes on a bit of wooden! Again on the water, strive snorkelling – the Woman Musgrave Island tour is superb – or kayaking. Our excursions provide the probability of kayaking within the everglades close to Noosa, and on lakes in Atherton Tablelands simply south of Cairns. And with all that ocean up the east coast, there’s the chance to have a go at crusing – however extra of that later.
For thrill seekers, there’s the prospect to go skydiving at over Noosa, or throw your self off a 50m tower tied to a rubber band! The bungee soar and big swing at Skypark Cairns by AJ Hackett is the place for adrenaline junkies.
For individuals who desire to maintain their toes firmly on the bottom, there are heaps of superior mountain climbing and strolling trails alongside the east coast. The lookouts at Tomaree Head, Noosa Heads and Niigi Niigi (Sealy Level) are highlights.
2. Get a style of the east coast in your tour
The east coast of Australia is a foodie’s heaven. With a various vary of bars and eating places, there are a great deal of al fresco eateries alongside the coast, recent seafood and a variety of veggie and vegan choices too. Take a look at our information to vegan eating places in Byron Bay.
You must also attempt to style some wine and cheese on the earth famend Hunter Valley. For those who solely strive one wine, make it a dry, refreshing Semillon. Don’t miss the well-known Bundaberg rum and ginger beer, and take a look at Brisbane’s vibrant espresso tradition. Lastly, the Queensland craft beer scene is price a style (or two) in your east coast tour too.
3. Metropolis residing
In addition to travelling up the coast, you’ll have the prospect to discover three of Australia’s main cities. No go to to Australia can be full and not using a go to to Sydney, one of many world’s nice cities. Two of our east coast excursions begin in Sydney, so don’t miss the Opera Home, Harbour Bridge and Darling Harbour, in addition to the long-lasting Bondi Seashore. Take a look at 30 free issues to do in Sydney.
Brisbane is a metropolis of arts and tradition with a vibrant foodie scene. The Brisbane River winds by town, however it’s accessible on foot or by boat or ferry. Don’t miss the museums and botanic gardens in your go to.
Cairns, with its tropical local weather is residence to an enormous salt water lagoon and with its buzzing nightlife, is the gateway to discover the Nice Barrier Reef.
4. Get together, celebration!
For those who’re on the lookout for nice nightlife, it’s not solely discovered within the cities. There are numerous bars and golf equipment in your east coast tour, particularly in Noosa and Airlie Seashore. We’ve our personal events too: pizza nights and barbies at Port Stephens, Bundaberg and Yungaburra. A number of the locations we keep are excellent for a celebration: there’s a pool bar at Bounce Noosa and dwell music and a nightclub at Gilligan’s Cairns. So let’s get this celebration began!
5. Sit back with a small city vibe
In addition to the three main cities above, there are some fascinating smaller cities you need to try to soak up in your east coast tour. The outdated arty, hippy city of Bellingen is price a go to. Do you know its church was the inspiration for a Booker Prize successful novel? Mullumbingy promotes itself as “The Largest Little City in Australia,” and has a way of cool calm in its sub-tropical setting within the Northern Rivers area of New South Wales. It’s additionally residence to the Mullumbingy Chocolate Store – one other nice cause to go to.
Shut by is Surfer’s Paradise, well-known for its high-rise skyline and pristine 3km seaside. There are at all times surfers, swimmers and joggers round, so take part. After a go to to Ok’gari (Fraser Island), it’s price a fast cease at Rainbow Seashore. The southern finish of this stunning 23km seaside has completely different colored sands, giving it its title.
6. Find out about aboriginal tradition
In addition to having a good time, travelling is all about studying, broadening your horizons and experiences. Your east coast tour provides you the chance to be taught extra about aboriginal tradition. Uncover historical customs of “oral custom”, the place historical past, tradition and folklore is handed down by generations by story telling. Share the aboriginal respect for land and nature, perceive “Dreamtime”, an expression of creativity, and using native vegetation.
A few of our Stray Excursions embrace an aboriginal cultural expertise at an essential website of the Gumbaynggirr folks, the place not solely will you be taught extra about their tradition and historical past, however you’ll play an element in retaining their heritage alive.
7. Camp beneath the celebrities
One of many traditions of again packing is tenting, undoubtedly one thing you need to combine in along with your hostels, inns and lodges. Three of our Stray Excursions embrace a go to to Ok’gari or Fraser Island, which is the biggest sand island within the southern hemisphere. We keep 2 nights at a seaside camp, sleeping beneath starry skies near the seaside and ocean. The camp additionally has its personal kitchen and deck with views over the coast. Within the night, it’s tucker across the camp fireplace for an actual tenting expertise.
8. Set sail for an island
With some a lot shoreline to discover, it’s the right time to strive some crusing. We’ve an unimaginable crusing expertise on a few of our east coast Stray Excursions. You’ll be able to cast-off on a 76 foot ocean crusing yacht to the attractive Whitsunday islands.
Not solely will you be a deck hand for a few days, hoisting sail and taking a flip on the wheel, you’ll really dwell on board, swimming, snorkelling and crusing your manner by the 74 islands. And when the solar goes over the yard arm, it’s time to observe the sundown with a sundowner in hand…
9. Get again to nature
Australia is a big nation with various micro climates and pure landscapes. Your east coast tour means you will notice extra than simply the seashores. Don’t miss the Nationwide Park at Noosa, taking in rain forest and coast, and simply accessible from the city. Simply north is your probability to go to considered one of solely two everglades on the earth – nice to discover in a kayak.
Enterprise inland from the east coast to soak up the Atherton Tableland area. See spectacular falls with pure swimming pools to swim in, and extinct volcanic crater lakes. A number of the Stray Excursions even embrace a moonlit canoe journey on Lake Tinaroo to see essentially the most unimaginable darkish skies and stargaze throughout the evening sky with no mild air pollution.
Lastly, it goes with out saying, however you additionally should expertise The Nice Barrier Reef. With over 3,000 particular person reef methods masking an space of practically 345,000 sq. kilometres. It’s larger than the Nice Wall of China and the one residing factor on earth that’s seen from house. On a Stray Tour, we keep at Bundaberg on the southern Nice Barrier Reef, and Cairns with its snorkelling and crusing excursions to the Reef.
10. Get to know the locals
Aussies are pleasant and enjoyable, and also you’ll make a great deal of new mates in your east coast Stray Tour. However it’s not simply in regards to the folks… one other factor you will need to do is get to know the native animals too!
At Port Stephens, we keep at a hostel set in 6 acres of bush land with kangaroos and wallabies roaming free. From Tomaree Head and Noosa Heads, it’s possible you’ll be fortunate sufficient to see Bottlenose Dolphins, and even migrating Humpback Whales between Could and September.
You need to see the koalas on the Koala Hospital at Port Macquarie, and find out how they protect and rehabilitate Australia’s best-loved creature. At Bundaberg, you’ll not solely get the prospect to fulfill Bundy R. Bear (you’ll “bearly” consider it!), however you’ll additionally meet the turtles at Mon Repos and should get to see these unimaginable creatures hatch.
A 4-wheel drive safari on Ok’gari or Fraser Island means you may spot a wide range of wildlife, together with wild dingoes on the seaside. Take care although. Keep in mind these are wild animals, not cute canine that like their ears tickled.
Lastly, while you’re snorkelling or scuba diving off the east coast of Australia, you’ll realise that the outdated saying is true. There actually are so many fish within the sea!
Wherever you go in your tour of Australia, you’ll go to some incredible locations and luxuriate in unforgettable actions. You’ll additionally make lifelong buddies on a Stray Tour, and we hope that collectively you’ll expertise a few of our ten must-do issues in your east coast tour. You’ll undoubtedly see extra & do extra on a Stray Tour than when happening a self-drive journey by hiring a automotive or campervan. Take a look at this comparability of a bus tour vs a self-drive street journey.
For extra inspiration, see our Finest Locations to Go to and Vacation spot Guides.
Once you’ve determined what you actually should do, take a look at our alternative of east coast Stray Excursions. We’re certain there shall be a pair that tick all of your bins and we hope we’ll be sharing these experiences with you quickly.