Cairns
Two booking options: activities only, or the full thing with hostels and bus pass rolled in. Want to start in Sydney or Melbourne instead? You can add that on at the start, just drop us a line and we'll sort it.
Daintree and Cape Tribulation from Cairns, skydive in Airlie, dolphin kayak in Byron, Australia Zoo from Brisbane, Blue Mountains from Sydney. Tell us what's catching your eye and we'll quote it.
Some tours and hostels have an 18-35 age policy, but if that doesn't fit your group, just let us know and we'll tweak the package so it still works for you.
Welcome to Cairns, gateway to the Reef and the Daintree. The one place on earth where two World Heritage marine parks meet, which is a fact you can drop at parties forever. Settle in. If you want to pad out the trip, this is the city to do it in.
Boarding at 7:30am for a full day on the outer reef. Two reef locations, six hours in the water with snorkel gear (and your one included intro scuba dive if you've never tried it before). There's a glass-bottom boat tour and a marine biologist talk too, which sounds nerdy but is genuinely interesting once you're in it.
Meals: breakfast, lunch.
South to Townsville, then a ferry across to Magnetic Island. Check in for two nights and find a beach.
Free day. Horseshoe Bay and Picnic Bay are the standouts. The island has a koala population, rock wallabies, and over 180 bird species, which is a lot of bird species. Hike, kayak, or just don't.
Onward to Airlie Beach, which has a reputation for a reason. Bars, restaurants and clubs that go late, plus skydiving and jet skis if you want to earn your beers. Or just have a quiet day, we won't judge.
The big one. Two hours on Whitehaven Beach (yes, the silica sand one), the walk up to Hill Inlet Lookout for the swirling sand pattern photo, and up to four snorkel stops on the fringing reef around the islands. All inside Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Bushwalks, lookouts, more snorkelling, lots of nothing. The Prosail crew cook for you, which is honestly a relief by this point. Three full days on the boat means the trip never feels rushed.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Final morning on the boat with that clear sea air. The yacht has hot showers, hammocks, USB charging and thicker snorkel suits in cooler months (it's an ex-racing yacht, so genuinely well kitted out). Back to Airlie around 3:30pm. Reserved table at the after-party with drink discounts and meal deals if you've still got it in you.
Meals: breakfast, lunch.
Last day in Airlie. Beach hang, or push it and add on a scenic flight over Heart Reef, or skydive somewhere genuinely beautiful. Tonight you're sleeping on a bus south to Rainbow Beach. Snacks recommended.
Free day in Rainbow Beach. The Carlo Sandblow is the must-do here, a windblown sand moonscape that's properly weird in the best way.
Quick morning briefing at Freedom Hostel, then by 9:30am you're on the barge across to K'gari. From the landing it's an hour up 75 Mile Beach (an actual highway with actual speed limits) to Eurong Beach Resort for a coffee stop.
Then the main event: Lake McKenzie. Lunch, swim, lake hang. After that you drive up to your beach campsite for an early dinner and well-earned drinks.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Big day. Breakfast, then off to Eli Creek for a swim in water so clear it feels fake. Travelling north, you stop at the Maheno Shipwreck for photos and a quick history lesson, then push on to Indian Head, K'gari's highest point.
Whales and sharks are sometimes visible from the cliff (lucky if you cop it). Then Champagne Pools for a dip in the natural rock pools that fizz when the surf rolls in. Lunch lands at either Maheno or Champagne Pools depending on tides. Back to camp for dinner and drinks.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Breakfast, pack down camp, then drive to the start of the Lake Wabby walk. The trek through the dunes is the bit that makes you stop and look around. Lunch follows, then back down the beach to the barge.
Once you're on the mainland, drop off the 4WDs and you're back at Freedom Hostel between 3 and 5pm depending on tides.
Meals: breakfast, lunch.
Check out, head to Brisbane. South Bank is worth a stop for river views, live music and a few bars before you wave the East Coast goodbye. Fiji or New Zealand next? Just saying.
This package has select departure dates. Have a chat with our travel specialists about your preferred dates so we can line everything up.
Departs: Cairns, Brisbane. Returns: Brisbane, Cairns.
The bus + package price uses a specific bus pass picked to fit the trip length. Want a different trip length or transport setup? Contact us and we'll work it out.
Peak season pricing is slightly higher, which you'll see reflected on the booking. Any questions, ask.
Yes, anything in here can be added, removed or swapped. Email us or jump on live chat and we'll send back an updated itinerary, inclusions and price.
Not in the traditional sense. It's a stitched-together combo of tours and hostels, so you won't be with the same group the whole way. But each tour (K'gari, Whitsundays, the Reef) has its own group, and people on the same package usually end up at the same hostels too. So you'll keep bumping into the same faces (which is half the point).
We book everything on your behalf and send vouchers with all the details. Bus tickets come with all your departure and arrival times. If you need a hand at any point on the road, we're a message away.
Some meals are included (check the inclusions and the day-by-day), so you're only budgeting for the rest. Hostels have communal kitchens, so cooking your own meals is the cheapest play. Some travellers spend an extra $5 a day, others spend $50. Depends entirely on you.
Yes, and book as far in advance as you can. Hostels and tours fill up, especially the Whitsundays and K'gari, so the earlier you lock dates the better.
We hand-pick the best ones available for your travel dates. Standard inclusion is a mixed dorm (4-16 beds depending on the hostel), with female-only dorms available on request. Want a double or twin share upgrade? Send us your dates and the package name and we'll quote it.
Most days of the week, subject to availability. To check your preferred date email us. Or book directly on the website with your date and we'll confirm (or offer an alternative) within 48 hours.
Most suppliers can. Some charge a small extra fee depending on the requirement, but our team knows exactly which ones do what, so just ask.
