The east coast of Australia has to be one
of the most famous destinations for backpackers, and for good reason. From its
gorgeous beaches, to the seaside towns, to the beautiful natural wonders, the
east coast is filled with things to do. Plus, the east coast of Oz is also
great for first-time backpackers because of its clear road signs, rampant
hostels and tours, and plenty of like-minded travellers.
On our trip, we flew from Sydney to Alice
Springs to Brisbane, then drove up to Cairns, before flying back to Sydney.
Below, I’ve done a step-by-step guide of all of our main stops, so you can
decide what’s right for your road trip!
1.
Sydney (One Week): It’s a
must-do on any Australian road trip. From the iconic Opera House to the Sydney
Bridge, this major city has something for everyone.
2.
Alice Springs/Uluru (4 days):
Flying to the outback is not usually included in the average Australian road
trip, but if you can fit it in, you definitely should! There is nothing like
seeing the natural wonder of a wild kangaroo hopping against majestic Kata
Tjuta. Plus, Alice Springs is a cute, quirky little town with tons of hidden
gems!
3.
Brisbane (2 days): Like Sydney,
Brisbane is a cosmopolitan town with it’s own wonders. You can spend hours at
the Queensland Museum, relaxing at the beautiful lagoon, exploring the wonders
of the universe at the Brisbane Planetarium, or hitting it off with your fellow
travellers at one of the wild hostels!
4.
Byron Bay (1 day): Byron’s a
quiet little hippy town right on the seaside. Although there’s no major tourist
attractions, Byron has a beautiful beach and many gorgeous lookouts, and tons
of quirky little shops.
5.
Nimbin (1 day): A hidden gem
just outside of Byron, Nimbin is the definition of quirky. Rainbow benches,
graffiti spouting messages of peace, and tons of head shops decorate this
little town. If you’re offended by the “green” way of life, Nimbin is probably
not for you!
6.
Gold Coast (2 days): With a big
amusement park, a huge water park, and tons of nightlife at Surfer’s Paradise,
the Gold Coast has something for all types of the young at heart.
7.
Sunshine Coast/Noosa (2 days):
The Sunshine Coast bleeds into Noosa Heads, a gorgeous area of Australia filled
with sparkling beaches and national parks. Spend a day playing with koalas and
kangaroos at the Australia Zoo or relax in one of the beachside suburbs, like
Coolum Beach!
8.
Rainbow Beach (2 days): One of
the most popular destinations on the east coast, stunning Rainbow Beach is the
jumping off point to Fraser Island. Fraser is home to the only pure-blood
dingoes left in the world, as well as crystal-clear lakes, warm creeks, and
it’s own shipwreck.
9.
Airilie Beach (3 days): Airilie
Beach is most famous as being the connection to the Whitsundays, a collection
of some of the most beautiful islands in the world. But Airilie is fun in it’s
own right, with tons of cute shops and funky bars. Don’t forget to schedule a
day (or two!) to explore the Whitsundays, an unforgettable experience!
10. Townsville (1 day): Compared to the other sights on the road-trip,
Townsville can seem a bit bland, but it’s a good place to rest between the long
road from Airilie to Cairns. Grab some grub at one of your favorite chain
restaurants you’ve been missing or see a movie to relax!
11. The Atherton Tablelands (1 day): Take a western detour from
Innisfail to access the Atherton Tablelands, an area of rolling green pastures
and grazing cows. The must-see is the waterfall route, three incredible
waterfalls that only require short hikes to access. The climax is Millaa Millaa
Waterfall, where you can swim in the pool right below the falls.
12. Daintree Rainforest: Not to be missed is the absolutely unbelievable
Daintree Rainforest, about an hour and a half north of Cairns. If you’re like
us and unable to make it all the way to Cape Tribulation, check out Mossman
Gorge on the southern end of the rainforest. Be prepared to get hot, wet, and
awestruck!
13. Cairns (2 days): With tons of souvenir shops, a huge lagoon, and
restaurants galore, Cairns is a tourist’s dream. The main attraction is the
many tours leaving to see what has to be Australia’s greatest wonder: the Great
Barrier Reef. If you’re only going to do one tour on your trip, make sure this
is it! There is nothing like peering through the turquoise water and seeing the
many tropical fish living among the coral. Cross this one off your bucket list
in Cairns!
14. Palm Cove (2 days): We opted to spend the last two days in a small
suburb outside of Cairns called Palm Cove. A five-minute walk from a beach with
bathtub-warm water, plentiful cafes with great coffee and pastries, and a
selection of tiny shops with beautiful hand-painted souvenirs made this a great
choice!
There you go! That was the route we chose to
explore Oz with! If you’ve backpacked Australia, where did you go? If you’re
planning a trip, do any of these spots appeal to you? Let me know in the
comments!
1. No one’s going to be happy 24/7: I try my best to be positive and upbeat around others, and at the beginning of our travels, I was definitely of the mind-set that, hey, we’re on vacation in a beautiful country, what have we got to be upset about! But when you’re crammed in a van, spending 24/7 with the same people with absolutely no alone time, you’re going to get cranky. By the end of the trip, I was a snappier, foul-mouthed version of myself, and I saw the same in my travel companions. I learned I couldn’t expect myself, or my friends, to be in a good mood all the time, and those expectations weren’t fair to any of us. 
