39 days or longer
Melbourne Intro & East Coast Explorer
Explore Australia in depth: Melbourne and East Coast combo
Trip Highlights
- Get to know Melbourne’s creative side better on a street art and foodie tour
- See breathtaking wildlife, from penguins to koalas and kangaroos
- Discover Australia’s “happy place” aka stunning Noosa!
- Admire the awe-inspiring Whitsundays from the air and ocean
- Go snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef: the world’s biggest coral reef system!
Trip Overview
Extend your adventure along the East Coast with a week in Melbourne first. Not only is Melbourne the best place in the country for brunches and coffee, but there are so many sightseeing activities that you can get up to here - it’s called Australia’s culture capital for a reason! When your week in Melbourne is over, your next trip starts in iconic Sydney and goes all the way up to the Great Barrier Reef gateway, Cairns. Discover all the incredible highlights that make the Aussie East Coast such a bucket list destination, from the Gold Coast to the Whitsundays and K’gari Island. And there’s a twist! After a few days in Byron Bay, say goodbye to your trip leader and carry on the journey with your group. The team spirit is higher than ever on this trip, but with comprehensive support every step of the way and activity guides provided, you’ll never feel alone!
Trip Gallery
Melbourne Intro
- 7 nights of accommodation
- 2 lunches and 3 dinners
- Airport pickup
- Meet and greet session
- Melbourne city tour
- Food, drink and street art tour
- Aboriginal Heritage Walk
- Phillip Island visit
- Surf lesson
- Vineyard trip
- St Kilda visit
- Melbourne bar crawl
- Farewell BBQ on the hostel rooftop
- 24-hour emergency support
East Coast Explorer
- 29 nights of accommodation
- 2 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 5 dinners
- Food and drink discounts and specials
- Meet and greet session
- Secret Sydney activity
- Yoga and kayaking in Byron Bay
- Noosa National Park visit
- Cruise in Everglades National Park
- Scenic flight over Whitsundays
- Boat trip to Whitehaven Beach
- Snorkelling in Whitsundays
- Magnetic Island visit
- Snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef
- 24-hour emergency support
What's Not Included
- International flights
- Visas
- Travel Insurance
- Flight from Melbourne to Sydney
- Some meals, snacks and drinks
- Optional activities
Melbourne Intro
7 nights of accommodation is included in this trip. You will spend 6 nights in a centrally located and well-facilitated hotel with cool amenities like a gym, games space, cinema and a lounge. The rooms are dorm-style with 4, 6 and 8 beds with private communal bathrooms. 1 night will be spent on Phillip Island in a comfortable hostel next door to a cafe and surfing or cycling equipment hire. These rooms will also be dorm-style.
2 lunches and 3 dinners are included on this trip. Don’t forget about all the small bites on the Melbourne street art and food tour!
East Coast Explorer
29 nights of accommodation is included in this trip. 24 nights will be spent in dorm-style accommodation all with great locations and facilities. Your accommodation goes the extra mile on this trip in terms of adventure and fun, as there are 2 nights at a lakeside wildlife retreat and 2 nights camping in K’Gari included. Finally there are 2 overnight buses included in this trip so that you can see the best of each destination on a budget!
If you would like any pre or post-trip accommodation arranged, speak to one of our travel advisors.
2 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 5 dinners are included in this trip. This gives you the chance to bond with your group while also exploring Australia’s amazing food variety, from brunches to barbecue spots!
Day 1: Touchdown in Melbourne. Welcome to Melbourne! Enjoy a transfer from the airport that takes you straight to the hostel, check in and unwind for the rest of today, as tomorrow you will be meeting your group for an exciting adventure around Melbourne. Who knew there was so much to do in just one city?
Day 2: Meet the group. Enjoy a free morning to explore Melbourne at your own pace and check out the city’s incredible brunch spots. If you are on a working holiday visa, there are job support services available. Afterwards, it’s time for a guided walking tour around this beautiful city packed with cultural gems before we sit down for an included welcome dinner in the heart of Melbourne.
Day 3: Melbourne food guide and heritage tour. Melbourne’s ridiculously good food makes it the gourmet capital of Australia - which is why we’ve dedicated today to exploring the city’s culinary treasures. Discover Queen Victoria Market before taking a street art tour with food and drink stops included. After taking in Melbourne’s vibrant urban murals with food and drink in hand, we also have an insightful tour planned centred around Aboriginal Heritage.
Day 4: Road trip! Are you ready to catch waves, see the world’s smallest penguins and indulge in an island getaway? Today we head to the Mornington Peninsula and Phillip Island for an unforgettable time; learn how to surf like an Aussie in a beginner's class, explore the secret scenery and marvel at the sunset view with a colony of tiny penguins waddling across the beach.
Day 5: Phillip Island to Melbourne. Today is an epic adventure that combines everything we know you love about Australia: its famous wildlife with up-close encounters with kangaroos and koalas, the beautiful beaches made for lazy afternoons and a trip to a vineyard to sample the wine varieties. Then we’ll head back to Melbourne, a city that none of us can get enough of!
Day 6: St Kilda. Enjoy a lazy morning in Melbourne, or attend an optional employment presentation if you’re looking to get settled in Australia. This afternoon, we’ll head to the lively St Kilda neighbourhood. Check out the vibrant landmarks and cool cafes, or even try paddle boarding in the sea!
Day 7: Free day in Melbourne. Explore Melbourne at your own pace today, whether you’re interested in visiting a museum, wandering around the lush Royal Botanical Gardens or revisit Queen Victoria market. There are more career support services available today if you want to discuss next steps with a local expert in an 1:1 meeting. Regardless of what you get up to, you don’t want to miss out on the bar crawl tonight to celebrate this incredible introduction to Melbourne!
Day 8: End of Melbourne Intro. As this trip around Melbourne comes to an end, enjoy a leisurely Sunday afternoon with your group of friends. Lounge on the rooftop, take in Melbourne’s memorable skyline and we will turn on the BBQ as this first half of your trip finishes on an absolute high. If you thought this week was one of the best of your life, trust us, the adventure is only getting started!
Please note: Flights from Melbourne to Sydney are not included. Travellers can book extra nights of accommodation with us in between Melbourne Intro and East Coast Explorer depending on the trip dates.
Day 1: Start East Coast Explorer in Sydney. Meet up with the group and trip leader this afternoon for a welcome session, where we will break down the itinerary and answer any questions. Up next is a secret Sydney activity which will have the group bonded in no time, followed by a Welcome Dinner. Tonight, we’ll grab an overnight bus to the beautiful coastal town of Byron Bay.
Days 2-4: Byron Bay. World-famous for its beaches and surfing, Byron Bay is an Aussie essential. Tour the bay’s peaceful scenery with your guide on your first night in Byron Bay, before enjoying a meal with your group and exploring the nightlife! There are activity options for everyone - from surfing to yoga and unwinding on the sand. Enjoy kayaking at sunset and exploring Byron Bay’s evening activities late into the night if you wish to.
Days 5-6: Surfers Paradise. Before you start exploring Australia without a guide, we have included a special session to help you plan out the rest of your time in Australia. Between assistance from the app and support from your group, you guys will have no trouble travelling to Surfers Paradise! Whether you want to escape straight to the Gold Coast or visit one of the many theme parks nearby, you can do it all.
Days 7-9: Brisbane. Get to know Brisbane beyond its scenic cityscape and cultural activities, as your city break also includes a day trip to the breathtaking Tamborine National Park. This woodland retreat features all kinds of magic, from the cascading waterfalls to secret vistas and the rich botanic gardens. And if you thought the wine tasting was impressive, wait until you step inside the spectacular glow worm caves!
Days 10-12: Noosa. A “happy place” for Aussies and internationals alike, once you step foot into Noosa, you won’t ever want to leave. Take your time soaking up Noosa’s awe-inspiring beaches and nature, chasing after the best sunset spots and indulging in all the food that makes it a culinary paradise. As hard as it is to leave the white sand in Noosa behind, it’s worth planning a trip to the National Park for the chance to climb and swim in the famous Fairy Pools.
Days 13-14: Everglades wilderness. Escape into one of the world’s rarest forests as you swap out beaches for the lakeside for the next two days. Leave your worries behind as you wade through the water, with the chance to board a river cruise, go kayaking and more. There are only two Everglades in the world, so this opportunity is a pretty rare one!
Days 15-20: Kick back in K’Gari! There’s no rush over the next few days, so take all the time in the world to explore K’Gari’s jaw-dropping, one-of-a-kind nature. As the world’s largest sand island with nothing but golden scenery for miles and miles… it’s needless to say K’Gari is the dream location for beach days. Discover unique sand blows and dunes, dip your toes into bright blue lakes and step inside the rainforest.
Days 21-23: Whitsundays. We’re not exaggerating the Whitsundays’ beauty; if you were to imagine a tropical island paradise, it would look like this. Take in the swirling white sand, emerald palm trees and turquoise ocean from a helicopter ride. Then put on your snorkelling gear and admire the coral reef, before refreshing for epic evenings out!
Days 24-26: Magnetic Island. After such an action-packed trip around Australia, take the time over the next few days to recharge and rest up before we reach the final destination. Nicknamed “Maggy” by the locals, you will soon fall in love with this beautiful hidden gem of an island. Discover koalas and wallabies out in the forests that are just steps away from the beaches.
Days 27-29: Cairns and Great Barrier Reef. To celebrate your trip of a lifetime Down Under, go snorkelling out in the Great Barrier Reef: the world’s greatest coral reef system. And the activities don’t end there. Trips to the rainforest, bungee jumping, white water rafting and skydiving are all options that you can take here. In Cairns, there is no limit put on adventure!
Day 30: End trip. Check out of your accommodation and make your way to the airport, or continue your adventure in Australia.
Working in Australia
If you are looking to work in Australia, you can swap the Melbourne Intro portion of this programme for the Absolute Melbourne Jobs. Please contact a travel advisor if you wish to do this.
Booking Options Payment plans available
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Online booking is unavailable for this trip
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Arrival Information:
Please note that the flight in between Melbourne and Sydney is not included. If you would like help to book this, please contact our flights team.
Melbourne Intro
Fly into Melbourne Airport (MEL) on or before Day 1 and enjoy a transfer to your starting accommodation. We recommend arriving in Melbourne no later than the early evening for Day 1; no activities are planned that day, but the sooner you arrive, the more time you have to rest!
An extra night of accommodation is included in this trip, so you can attend the farwell BBQ. When booking your flight to Sydney, make sure that you arrive in before 12pm in order to join the group for the welcome meeting.
East Coast Explorer
Fly into Sydney Airport (SYD) on Day 1 or before the trip starts. Trip activities will begin on Day 1 in the late afternoon.
This trip finishes on Day 30 in Cairns. Travellers are expected to make their own way to the airport, but we can help you arrange transfers, flights and any extra nights of accommodation.
Age & Eligibility:
This tour combination is designed for 18 to 39-year-old travellers.
British passport holders will need to apply for a visa before visiting Australia, which can be done online or in person through the Australian embassy in the UK. Ensure your passport is valid for the length of your stay.
For up-to-date information, always check the relevant embassy websites before travelling.