3 Week Basic Cairns to Sydney East Coast Tour (Or Reverse)

Day 1: Arrive Cairns

Begin your East Coast adventure! Cairns is the gateway to both the Great Barrier Reef as well as the Daintree Rainforest and offers heaps of awesome activities for travellers from nature to extreme sports! Check into your Cairns accommodation for 2 nights and then head out to explore the city. 

Meals Included: None

Day 2: Great Barrier Reef / Cairns

This morning you can tick off one of Australia's must-do activities - a full day Great Barrier Reef tour. You'll board at 7:30 am for a day packed with fun and excitement as you explore the outer reef. With options to try snorkelling or even scuba diving, you'll spend up to 6 hours discovering 2 spectacular reef locations. Swim alongside schools of tropical reef fish and admire amazing coral formations. Learn about the underwater ecosystem during a glass-bottom boat cruise and Marine Biology presentation. It's a true bucket-list experience that you won't want to miss! 

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3: Cairns to Mission Beach

Today, you’ll head south to Mission Beach, Known for its long stretches of pristine, palm-fringed beaches with soft white sand. The scenery is picturesque, making it an ideal place for relaxation, sunbathing, beach walks, and water activities!

Meals Included: None

Day 4: Mission Beach

This is one of the best places in the world to skydive, landing on the beach itself! Contact our team to add this exhilarating experience to your itinerary. Mission Beach also has a laid-back and tranquil atmosphere, making it an excellent destination to unwind in a peaceful setting.

Meals Included: None

Day 5: Mission Beach to Magnetic Island via Townsville

Today you'll make your way to Townsville where a ferry will take you to the stunning Magnetic Island. Check in for 2 nights and then kick back and relax on one of the island's many iconic beaches. 

Meals Included: None

Day 6: Magnetic Island

Today is yours free to soak in the sunshine of Magnetic Island for your final day here. A beautiful place for hiking, kayaking, and full relaxation! Explore Horseshoe Bay and Picnic Bay for a pristine beach day. The island is home to a variety of wildlife, including koalas, rock wallabies, and over 180 species of birds.

Meals Included: None

Day 7: Magnetic Island to Airlie Beach

Today you'll leave stunning Magnetic Island behind and explore the tropical paradise that is Airlie Beach - gateway to the Whitsundays! The scenery here is picturesque, making it an ideal place for relaxation, sunbathing, beach walks, and water activities! The town itself offers a relaxed vibe with vibrant bars, restaurants, and a famous lagoon perfect for swimming.

Meals Included: None

Day 8: Whitsundays Trip from Airlie Beach

This unique full day Whitsundays tour visits both the northern and southern ends of Whitehaven Beach. Enjoy approximately two hours relaxing on the world famous white silica sand and enjoy a guided bushwalk to spectacular Hill Inlet Lookout to view and capture photographs of the stunning swirling silica sands and aqua water. Snorkel for over an hour at Border Island, Dumbell Island or one of our “secret” snorkel spots, enjoying the amazing hard and soft corals of the fringing reefs. You'll head back to Airlie Beach where you will stay for the night.

Meals Included: Lunch

Day 9: Airlie Beach to 1770/Agnes Water

Today is your last day in Airlie Beach and it is time to explore! Kick back and relax on the beach or test your limits and opt for something a bit higher off the ground..how about how you can add on a scenic flight to see the iconic Heart Reef or why not try skydiving in one of Australia's most stunning coastal locations? Tonight you will board the bus to 1770/Agnes Water.

Meals Included: None

Day 10: 1770/Agnes Water

Arrive bright and early into the beautiful seaside town of Agnes Water! Drop you bags at the hostel and enjoy surfing or swimming at Agnes Water Beach, known as the northernmost surf beach on Australia's east coast, is perfect for both beginners and experienced surfers. Then catch the beautiful sunset at the 1770 Marina.

Meals Included: None

Day 11: 1770 to Rainbow Beach

Wake up early, and jump on the bus heading south to Rainbow Beach. Arriving for lunch time, check into your beachfront accommodation and then head out to explore! You'll be staying at this Rainbow Beach hostel for a total of 3 nights so get comfortable - with daily free guided walks to the Carlo Sandblow and free pancake breakfasts, that's not hard to do!

Meals Included: None

Day 12: Fraser Island Tag Along Safari (Day 1)

The morning starts bright & early with our compulsory tour briefing at 7 am sharp at Freedom Hostel, to receive comprehensive information to prepare you for this exciting journey. Here you will be placed into groups and have the opportunity to organise luggage storage. You will also be taught how to drive safely on Fraser Island ahead of your big adventure! We aim to depart Freedom Hostel for K'gari (Fraser Island) by 9:30 am, which can take approximately 10 minutes to drive to the barge (ferry). The barge crossing is approximately 15 minutes, and during that time, you may be lucky enough to spot Dolphins or other marine life before arriving on the world’s largest sand island. ​Once you arrive, you’ll be traversing the eastern beach - K'gari's (Fraser Islands) own highway with speed limits! Settle in for the journey and enjoy the views as we head north along the beach before stopping for morning tea at one of the many freshwater creeks found on the island. Following morning tea, we will continue north towards the Maheno Shipwreck, where we’ll stop to share the story of this important landmark, especially it’s use as a hospital ship during wartime. We have lunch included for you today. The lunch destination will be up to your guide as they’ll find the best spot depending on where you are around that time of the day. We’ll finish up our afternoon at Eli Creek, a beautifully clear creek perfect for a refreshing swim/splash and relaxing sunbathing before heading to our camp.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13: Fraser Island Tag Along Safari (Day 2) and Return to Rainbow Beach

Arise for a quick breakfast before we begin our second day on K'gari (Fraser Island)! The adventure begins as we drive south to Eurong before heading inland through ever-changing vegetation to the rainforest at Central Station. Here you’ll depart your vehicle and follow your guide for a walk alongside beautiful Wanggoolba Creek. Your guide will share the logging history of Central Station along with the indigenous significance of Wanggoolba Creek before sending you on a 1.8 km self-guided walk through the rainforest. You’ll reunite with your guide at the other end of the walk at Pile Valley where you’ll have morning tea surrounded by towering Satinay trees. From Pile Valley it’s a short drive to the famous Boorangoora (Lake McKenzie), arguably the most popular and picturesque highlight of K'gari (Fraser Island). Here, you can enjoy quality time lazing on the pristine sand beaches, swimming, and relaxing in the lake's stunning clear waters. We’ll then have lunch before packing up and returning to Eastern Beach. Once back on Eastern Beach we’ll head south to the barge (ferry). From Inskip Point, it’s only a short drive back into Rainbow Beach, where your adventure ends. We return to Freedom Rainbow Beach between 3:30 pm and 4:30 pm where you will stay for the night.

Meals Included: Lunch

Day 14: Rainbow Beach

Take another day in this chilled coastal village. There are several scenic walking tracks in and around Rainbow Beach, including the Cooloola Great Walk, which takes you through rainforest and along stunning coastal views. Shorter walks include exploring Double Island Point or Carlo Sand Blow. For thrill-seekers, Rainbow Beach offers tandem skydiving, where you can experience breathtaking views of Fraser Island, the coastline, and the Pacific Ocean from above. Horse riding along the beach at sunset is another popular activity. It’s a relaxing way to take in the beautiful surroundings of Rainbow Beach.

Meals Included: None

Day 15: Rainbow Beach to Brisbane

Jump on board a bus to Brisbane in the Queensland Region where you will check-in for 1 night. Spend your first day exploring the area! Brisbane is known for its thriving arts and cultural scene. You can explore the Queensland Cultural Centre, which houses several world-class museums and galleries.

Meals Included: None

Day 16: Brisbane to Surfers Paradise

Jump on board a bus to Surfers Paradise. Check into your accommodation and then head out to explore! You'll be staying at this hostel for a total of 2 nights. Surfers Paradise has an epic mix of golden beaches and lively nightlife, so take a surf and then a cocktail?

Meals Included: None

Day 17: Surfers Paradise

Another day in paradise! Enjoy breathtaking views from the SkyPoint Observation Deck, visit attractions like Infinity and Ripley's Believe It or Not!, or experience water sports and jet boating. There are also, nearby theme parks, whale watching (seasonal), and Sea World. Whether you're after adventure or relaxation, Surfers Paradise has something for everyone.

Meals Included: None

Day 18: Surfers Paradise to Byron Bay

Hop on the bus and kick it down to chilled out Byron Bay! Today is yours free to relax and soak up the vibes. With stunning coastal walks as well as plenty of hinterlands, and awesome nightlife - there's plenty to keep you busy. If you want to make the most of this free day head to the iconic lighthouse to do the famous Lighthouse Walk.

Meals Included: None

Day 19: Byron Bay

Today you can soak up Byron Bays' charm and relaxed atmosphere. It is also a hub for artists, musicians, and creatives, plus you'll find a vibrant arts scene, live music performances, street markets, and an array of unique and eclectic shops.

Meals Included: None

Day 20: Byron Bay

Another free day to explore Byron and it's surrounding areas - maybe find your inner hippy with a day tour to Nimbin!

Meals Included: None

Day 21: Byron Bay to Sydney

Tonight you'll leave the iconic coastal town of Byron Bay and head overnight to SYDNEY! Feel free to explore all the highlights including the Sydney Opera House, Bondi Beach and Darling Harbour. Chat with our travel experts today to find the best prices on day trips and Sydney accommodation.

Say goodbye to like-minded friends and set off on the rest of your travels. We hope you have made memories to last a lifetime and hope to help you on your next adventure! Fiji or New Zealand anyone….?

Meals Included: None

This package has select departure dates.

Please contact our travel specialists to discuss your preferred date of travel.

Departs: Cairns or Sydney

Returns: Sydney or Cairns

Contact Us today if you wish to explore alternative trip lengths or transport options.

Please note: If you are travelling in Peak Season, there may be a slight rate increase.

Please contact us for any questions.