Epic East Coast
Non-stop bucket list moments on Australia's stunning East Coast
Book now for £49
Prices from
£2,399
2399
Group Size: Max 22
Trip code: AUEE
Duration: 28 days
If you’re looking for the adventure of a lifetime, you just found it! This unforgettable group tour is wall-to-wall sunshine, surf, and bucket-list moments. Kick off in vibrant Sydney with some big nights out and iconic sights, learn to surf like a real Aussie in Byron Bay, carve up the sand dunes on Fraser Island in your 4x4, cruise through paradise in the Whitsundays, see cute koalas in their natural habitat on Magnetic Island, and work as a marine biologist for the day with a very special snorkelling experience on the one-and-only Great Barrier Reef. With a ready-made group of mates, and an experienced tour leader as well, there’s no better way to do Australia’s epic East Coast.
Trip highlights
- Become a marine biologist for the day with a conservation and snorkelling experience on the Great Barrier Reef
- Explore mammoth sand dunes by day and camp under the stars by night on Fraser Island
- Learn to surf like a real Aussie in beautiful Byron Bay
- Discover some of the most beautiful places on Earth on a 2-day Whitsundays sailing trip
- Visit Sydney’s Opera House and Harbour Bridge and sample its lively nightlife after dark
- Spot koalas and wallabies on magical Magnetic Island
Want to read it later?
Download more trip information and detailed itinerary
- 100% Financially Secure
- We have provided financial bonds which guarantee that your money is totally safe with Gap 360 Ltd.
- 27 nights’ accommodation
- 9 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 8 dinners
- Tour guide
- Airport transfer on arrival
- All on-trip transport
- Surf lesson
- Byron surfboard hire
- Yoga class
- Cape Byron lighthouse walk
- Surfers Paradise city tour
- Brisbane city tour
- Hike Mount Coot-tha
- 3-day 4WD tour of Fraser Island
- 2-Day 2-Night Whitsundays sailing tour
- 2 Nights Magnetic Island with ferry transfers
- Forts Walk
- Atherton Tablelands
- Full day snorkelling Great Barrier Reef
- Marine biologist experience
- Help with onward travel
- 24-hour support
- Return airport transfer
- Flights
- Visas
- Insurance
- Optional activities
Days 1 – 3: Sydney. G’day mate and welcome to Sydney! Spend the next two days exploring the highlights of this stunning harbour city, from Bondi and the iconic Opera House to the Harbour Bridge and Manly - there is lots to explore. Get ready to go wild after dark – Sydney knows how to party!
Days 4 – 6: Byron Bay. Head up the coast to the laid-back surf town of Byron Bay for stunning sandy beaches, a bohemian vibe, and a buzzing café scene. Spend the next three days enjoying morning yoga lessons, a sunrise walk to Cape Byron Lighthouse and a surf session with some local pros – gnarly!
Days 7 – 8: Surfers Paradise. Our journey up the coast continues to the iconic Gold Coast town of Surfers Paradise. Take a tour of the city’s highlights (we’re talking beautiful beaches, big rollers, and a high-rise skyline), hire a board and hit the waves like a local, and party like it's 1999 once the sun goes down.
Days 9 – 10: Brisbane. We’re headed to the capital of the Sunshine State next. Pay a visit to ‘The Lagoon’, enjoy some urban thrills with some inner-city rock-climbing, and enjoy an awesome evening up Mount Coot-tha with a sunset BBQ and views to die for.
Days 11 – 15: Noosa and Fraser Island. Our next stop is one of Australia’s fave resort towns where we’ll jump off to the stunning Fraser Island! Spend 3 days and 2 nights driving 4x4s over sand dunes, swimming in sparkly lakes, snapping scenic shipwrecks and chilling under the stars.
Days 16 – 20: Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays. Head to lively Airlie Beach before boarding our live-aboard boat to the incomparable Whitsunday Islands where you’ll snorkel over pristine reefs, try stand-up paddleboarding and explore the famous Whitehaven Beach – this is living!
Days 21 – 22: Magnetic Island. Another day, another paradise island as we hop on the ferry to Magnetic Island. We’ll stay in beachfront huts, where we’ll bliss out on hidden beaches, go koala spotting, and do the historic Forts Walk.
Days 23 – 24: Mission Beach. Travel to the laidback coastal town of Mission Beach for abundant marine life, white sand beaches and tons of adrenaline sports. If you’re an adrenaline junky, skydive over the Barrier Reef or take on the white-water rapids of the Tully River – awesome!
Days 25 – 27: Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef. Our final destination on this incredible tour of the East Coast is Cairns. Visit the unspoilt landscape of the Atherton Tablelands, spend an unforgettable day on the Great Barrier Reef and round off your trip with a farewell dinner and drinks.
Day 28: Trip end. Pack your bags and say your goodbyes – it’s time to head home or to continue your travels in Australia. See you soon!
The prices will load here automatically, if this does not happen for you: Click here to view Prices
Online booking is unavailable for this trip
If you'd like to discuss availability or would like us to help you find a similar trip please contact us...Cheapest flights between London and Sydney for the next 6 months
Most expensive: £2,284 March, 2023
Arrive in Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) on day 1 of your trip. There are no activities planned on day 1 so arrive at a time that suits you. You will receive an airport shuttle transfer to the starting accommodation. If you arrive in Sydney before your start date, we can still organise your airport transfer and book you into the hostel from the day you arrive at an extra cost.
Your trip ends on day 28 in Cairns. You’ll need to arrange any onward travel or return airport transfers yourself although your tour guide can help you book this. Cairns International Airport (CNS) is the nearest airport and taxi is by far the easiest way to get there, taking around 15 minutes, depending on traffic.
Accommodation
27 nights' accommodation are included on this trip. You'll stay in multi-share rooms in a mix of hostels, resorts, campsites, and boats. Please note the list of accomodation below is subject to change.
- Nomads Hostel Sydney (2 nights): Popular hostel in the centre of Sydney with a vibrant bar, multi-share rooms, ensuite, Wi-Fi, shared kitchen, dining area & laundry
- Overnight bus (2 nights): Comfy bus with air con and toilet on board
- Wake Up Hostel Byron Bay (3 nights): On-trend hostel close to the beach with multi-share rooms, shared bathrooms, Wi-Fi, air con, laundry, and free bike hire
- Bunk Hostel Surfers Paradise (2 nights): Lively hostel in the heart of the Gold Coast with swimming pool, shared bathrooms Wi-Fi, air con and laundry
- Bunk Hostel Brisbane (2 nights): Centrally located hostel close to all the nightlife with ensuite, Wi-Fi, air con, laundry, shared kitchen and dining area
- Nomads Hostel Noosa (2 nights): Friendly hostel in the centre of Noosa with buzzing bar, shared bathrooms, Wi-Fi, air con and laundry
- Camping Fraser Island (2 nights): Unforgettable stay under the stars on the largest sand island in the world in shared tents with shared bathrooms
- Base Hostel Airlie Beach (2 nights): Tropical feel hostel with swimming pool, bar and restaurant, ensuite, Wi-Fi, air con and laundry
- Whitsundays live-aboard boat (2 nights): Premium boat with waterslides on board, shared bathrooms, and air con
- Base Hostel Magnetic Island (2 nights): Beachside hostel with island bar, shared bathrooms, WiFi, air con and laundry
- Mission Beach Resort (2 nights): Stunning resort in a tropical rainforest with swimming pool, bar, shared bathrooms, Wi-Fi, air con and laundry
- Gilligan’s Hostel Cairns (4 nights): The most popular hostel in Cairns with swimming pool, ensuite, Wi-Fi, air con and laundry
Meals
9 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 8 dinners are included on this trip. You’ll have to buy the rest of your meals yourself.
You’ll need to be a minimum of 18 years old to participate in this trip.
British citizens need a visa to enter Australia. Most people who do East Coast Adventure are on either a Working Holiday Visa (WHV) or Tourist Visa.
A WHV is only available to those aged 18 - 30 from the UK and is valid for up to 12 months. If you plan to work during your stay in Australia, you will need to apply for a WHV before your trip. If you’re planning to travel to Australia for leisure purposes only, you can usually get an eVisitor visa (no application charge or service fee), or an Electronic Travel Authority (no application charge but a service fee may apply). Generally, a period of up to 3 months is granted.
Your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay.
Please note: Visa rules are subject to change. Please check for the most up to date information before you travel.
This trip is designed with your safety and wellbeing in mind. As a result of Covid-19, many of our suppliers and partners around the world are introducing new policies and procedures surrounding health and safety in response to the Coronavirus outbreak. As the state of travel is evolving these new safety measures will adapt over time, and will be different for each trip. Here are some of the changes you may see on your trip:
Arrival safety meetings
Most trips have an arrival meeting on the first day where the guide or local team will run through the trip, the safety protocols, and to answer any questions you may have. Now more than ever it is important you arrive in time for these meetings.
Proof of vaccination or negative covid test
For the safety of all travellers, at the start of some trips you may be required to show evidence that you are fully vaccinated (14 days after your second dose) and/or show evidence of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of the tour start date in order to join the programme.
Updated hygiene and safety procedures
Our suppliers and partners have health and safety procedures in place on all of our trips. These protocols will be updated and adapted as a response to the Coronavirus outbreak, dependent on local restrictions and laws.
Transport and accommodation choices
Our suppliers and partners choose the accommodation and transport on our trips very carefully, and you may see a change to what would normally be used as a response to the outbreak. This may involve such changes as enhanced use of private transport or quieter accommodation.
Trained and knowledgeable staff
Our staff in the UK are trained to help you with your trip before you depart and answer any questions you may have. In addition, the local team and guides on our trips are there to help with any health and safety concerns and to ensure our trips run safely and smoothly.
Reduced group sizes
Some trips will run with reduced group sizes to start with. You may find that trips are more intimate and chilled, whilst still being packed with fun and adventure.
Healthcare
Your guide or the local team will be on hand to help you seek medical attention should you require it during your trip. As medical facilities and standards can vary around the world, you should ensure you have adequate travel insurance in place before you depart to cover you for any medical emergencies.
24/7 emergency support
We operate an emergency phone line for our travellers abroad. This is operated by a UK based member of staff 24/7 if you have a genuine emergency or urgent matter that you need attending.
It is important that you take measures to make travelling safer for yourself and others around you. Ensure you frequently wash your hands, cover your face when you sneeze and cough, bring and use your own hand sanitiser and facial coverings/masks, and enable social distancing where necessary. You should also ensure you listen to the instructions and guidance of the local team at all times, and follow all local laws and restrictions.