People call it “Australia’s East Coast road trip”, I call it the road trip of a lifetime! During my 9-month trip, I was dedicated to make time & budget free to visit Australia. Cairns was the first stop on my Australia adventure. Along with my husband, I rented a van and drove down to Byron Bay, hopping from one highlight to another. Get ready for an epic itinerary to the East Coast of Australia.
Itinerary overview:
- Cairns
- Townsville > Magnetic Island
- The Whitsundays
- Cape Hillsborough
- Hervey Bay
- Noosa
- Brisbane
- Gold Coast
- Coolangatta
- Byron Bay
- Look At Me Now Headland
*I made this road trip by campervan*
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CAIRNS – 5 DAYS
Cairns is a perfect spot to start your road trip! Together with Port Douglas, it offers easy access to explore the Great Barrier Reef. With more options and being a bit more affordable, Cairns is my top recommendation.
Go for a dive or snorkel trip to the Outer Reef or stay closer to Cairns and explore Fitzroy island & Green island on the Inner Reef, which are only a 45 minutes boat journey away.
Also read: The best day trips from Cairns
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TOWNSVILLE > MAGNETIC ISLAND – 1 DAY
The drive from Cairns to Townsville takes around 4 hours. Townsville is a great base to explore Magnetic Island. I did a day trip and found it to be the perfect amount of time to explore this beautiful island. Although you could easily spend multiple days on the island as well. Snorkel at Arthur Bay, find Rock Wallabies at Geoffrey Bay and spot Koalas on The Forts Walk.
Free camp in Townsville: BP Service Center Station Idalia // Ideal if you want to visit Magnetic Island, 15 min drive from the port, no cooking on gas allowed, toilets closed from 10PM until 5AM
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THE WHITSUNDAYS – 3 DAYS
The Whitsundays are known worldwide and there is good reason for it: this place is absolutely stunning. With so much things to do here, you can easily spend 3 days around this area.
A scenic flight over the Great Barrier Reef & Hill Inlet is a bucket list activity for many people. If it’s not yet on your bucket list: add it now. You’ll find good deals on Bookme.
Whitehaven beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The sand is so white & soft, almost like power sugar. When you book a boat trip for the day, you’ll very likely stop at a viewpoint of Hill Inlet. I bet your jaw will hit the floor when you see it!
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Caravan park: Airlie Beach >BIG4 Whitsundays Tropical Eco Resort // Very clean, very spacious, beautiful environment, a bit out of town but great if you’re planning to do tours
CAPE HILLSBOROUGH – 1 DAY
Cape Hillsborough is known for its magical mornings as you can spot Kangaroos on the beach during sunrise. It’s a beautiful scenery, but keep in mind that the animals are fed on the beach. Also be prepared for a crowd on the beach as this place has become quite popular.
Caravan park: Cape Hillsborough Nature Tourist Park is located next to the beach. It’s a bit expensive knowing that the amenities aren’t too clean, you pay for the location.
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HERVEY BAY – 1 DAY
Hervey Bay is the place on the East Coast to do Whale Watching as the Humpback Whales swim up from Antartica during migration season. The season runs from late June until early November. Doing a Whale Watching tour is highly entertaining and very ethically organised. I recommend to book a boat with a small capacity. You’ll pay more, but the experience will be 10 times better.
From here you can also visit K’gari. I didn’t visit unfortunately, but I’d recommend to add it to your itinerary.
Caravan park: Tasman Holiday Parks Hervey Bay // Very clean park
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NOOSA – 3 DAYS
Noosa can’t be missed on any East Coast road trip! This lovely beach town has so much to offer: cool restaurants & bars, amazing beaches, a stunning National Park and the perfect sunset spot at Laguna Lookout.
Another fun thing to add to the list: do Sea Kayak tour at Double Island Point, if you’re lucky you’ll spot some dolphins as well. I booked this trip with Epic Adventures and totally recommend it!
Campground: Noosa Sea Scouts // Favourite campground on the East Coast, very affordable, clean amenities, beautiful surroundings, only open on Friday-Monday nights, need to book in advance!
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BRISBANE – 3 DAYS
Next up is Brisbane City. This is a fun and relaxed place where you can easily spend a few days. Go shopping, explore the South Bank Parklands & enjoy the chill city life.
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GOLD COAST – 2 DAYS
A short drive from Brisbane, you’ll find the iconic Gold Coast. Enjoy a couple of days on the Gold Coast, stroll in Surfers Paradise, do some shopping and go out for dinner at one of the many restaurants.
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Looking for a golden stay at Gold Coast? Check out Sofitel Gold Coast, with its stunning views this hotel is an absolute winner.
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COOLANGATTA – 1 DAY
A bit more unknown is Coolangatta, but I actually liked it better than the Gold Coast. This place has beautiful beaches with a lookout on the Gold Coast. Head over to Snappers Rock for a cool view & crystal clear water.
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BYRON BAY – 3 DAYS
Bye Queensland, Hello New South Wales! Welcome to the famous Byron Bay. If you’re a surfer, you’ll love this place as its a surfers paradise. If you don’t surf, you’ll be very entertained by watching the pros surf here. Or visit the Cape Byron Lighthouse and the stunning beaches.
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LOOK AT ME NOW HEADLAND – 1 DAY
The final stop is a two hours drive from Byron Bay and is called Look at Me Now Headland. This place is famous for its stunning views with lovely habitants: cute kangaroos. Enjoy a lovely walk along the coastline and spot dozens of kangaroos. I visited twice: once around 4PM and a second time around 9AM. I recommend the late afternoon session as I got to spot way more kangaroos during that timeframe.
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Also read: The best day trips from Cairns
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