A backpacking tour of Australia’s east coast is an unforgettable, mind-blowing expertise, however how have you learnt what to see and do in such an enormous space? Well, listed here are 10 superb issues it’s essential to do in your east coast tour.
When you are taking a tour of the east coast of Australia, you’re going to see a number of seashores. It’s round 3,000km from Sydney to Cairns, and you should have lovely white sandy seashores and clear blue water all alongside the Pacific Highway. But there’s waaay extra to the east coast than simply implausible seashores. We’ve picked out 10 superb issues it’s essential to do in your east coast tour.
1. Try a brand new exercise
Aussies love the outside way of life and spending their free time having enjoyable. A Stray east coast tour is the right strategy to strive a brand new sport or exercise.
You can’t go to Australia with out browsing. We hit nice surf locations like Sydney, Byron Bay (the place we keep in The Surf home, with free surf board rent) and the long-lasting Surfer’s Paradise. There are seashores with huge waves for skilled surfers, and seashores like Bargara Beach which have excellent circumstances for inexperienced persons.
Bet you’ve by no means tried sand boarding? You can in your east coast tour. Visit Stockton Sand Dunes close to Port Macquarie, the most important sand dunes within the southern hemisphere. Before you understand it, you’ll be hurtling down the dunes on a bit of wooden! Back on the water, strive snorkelling – the Lady Musgrave Island tour is superb – or kayaking. Our excursions provide the likelihood of kayaking within the everglades close to Noosa, and on lakes in Atherton Tablelands simply south of Cairns. And with all that ocean up the east coast, there’s the chance to have a go at crusing – however extra of that later.
For thrill seekers, there’s the possibility to go skydiving at over Noosa, or throw your self off a 50m tower tied to a rubber band! The bungee bounce and big swing at Skypark Cairns by AJ Hackett is the place for adrenaline junkies.
For those that favor to maintain their ft firmly on the bottom, there are heaps of superior mountain climbing and strolling trails alongside the east coast. The lookouts at Tomaree Head, Noosa Heads and Niigi Niigi (Sealy Point) are highlights.
2. Get a style of the east coast in your tour
The east coast of Australia is a foodie’s heaven. With a various vary of bars and eating places, there are a great deal of al fresco eateries alongside the coast, recent seafood and a variety of veggie and vegan choices too. Check out our information to vegan eating places in Byron Bay.
You must also attempt to style some wine and cheese on the planet famend Hunter Valley. If you solely strive one wine, make it a dry, refreshing Semillon. Don’t miss the well-known Bundaberg rum and ginger beer, and take a look at Brisbane’s vibrant espresso tradition. Finally, the Queensland craft beer scene is value a style (or two) in your east coast tour too.
3. City dwelling
As nicely as travelling up the coast, you’ll have the possibility to discover three of Australia’s main cities. No go to to Australia can be full with no go to to Sydney, one of many world’s nice cities. Two of our east coast excursions begin in Sydney, so don’t miss the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and Darling Harbour, in addition to the long-lasting Bondi Beach. Check out 30 free issues to do in Sydney.
Brisbane is a metropolis of arts and tradition with a vibrant foodie scene. The Brisbane River winds by way of town, however it’s accessible on foot or by boat or ferry. Don’t miss the museums and botanic gardens in your go to.
Cairns, with its tropical local weather is dwelling to an enormous salt water lagoon and with its buzzing nightlife, is the gateway to discover the Great Barrier Reef.
4. Party, get together!
If you’re searching for nice nightlife, it’s not solely discovered within the cities. There are numerous bars and golf equipment in your east coast tour, particularly in Noosa and Airlie Beach. We have our personal events too: pizza nights and barbies at Port Stephens, Bundaberg and Yungaburra. Some of the locations we keep are excellent for a celebration: there’s a pool bar at Bounce Noosa and stay music and a nightclub at Gilligan’s Cairns. So let’s get this get together began!
5. Chill out with a small city vibe
As nicely because the three main cities above, there are some fascinating smaller cities you need to try to absorb in your east coast tour. The previous arty, hippy city of Bellingen is value a go to. Did you understand its church was the inspiration for a Booker Prize successful novel? Mullumbingy promotes itself as “The Biggest Little Town in Australia,” and has a way of cool calm in its sub-tropical setting within the Northern Rivers area of New South Wales. It’s additionally dwelling to the Mullumbingy Chocolate Shop – one other nice purpose to go to.
Close by is Surfer’s Paradise, well-known for its high-rise skyline and pristine 3km seashore. There are at all times surfers, swimmers and joggers round, so take part. After a go to to Ok’gari (Fraser Island), it’s value a fast cease at Rainbow Beach. The southern finish of this lovely 23km seashore has completely different colored sands, giving it its title.
6. Learn about aboriginal tradition
As nicely as having a good time, travelling is all about studying, broadening your horizons and experiences. Your east coast tour offers you the chance to be taught extra about aboriginal tradition. Discover historic customs of “oral tradition”, the place historical past, tradition and folklore is handed down by way of generations by way of story telling. Share the aboriginal respect for land and nature, perceive “Dreamtime”, an expression of creativity, and using native vegetation.
Some of our Stray Tours embrace an aboriginal cultural expertise at an necessary website of the Gumbaynggirr individuals, the place not solely will you be taught extra about their tradition and historical past, however you’ll play a component in protecting their heritage alive.
7. Camp beneath the celebrities
One of the traditions of again packing is tenting, undoubtedly one thing you need to combine in together with your hostels, inns and lodges. Three of our Stray Tours embrace a go to to Ok’gari or Fraser Island, which is the most important sand island within the southern hemisphere. We keep 2 nights at a seashore camp, sleeping beneath starry skies near the seashore and ocean. The camp additionally has its personal kitchen and deck with views over the coast. In the night, it’s tucker across the camp hearth for an actual tenting expertise.
8. Set sail for an island
With some a lot shoreline to discover, it’s the right time to strive some crusing. We have an unimaginable crusing expertise on a few of our east coast Stray Tours. You can cast-off on a 76 foot ocean crusing yacht to the gorgeous Whitsunday islands.
Not solely will you be a deck hand for a few days, hoisting sail and taking a flip on the wheel, you’ll really stay on board, swimming, snorkelling and crusing your approach by way of the 74 islands. And when the solar goes over the yard arm, it’s time to look at the sundown with a sundowner in hand…
9. Get again to nature
Australia is a large nation with various micro climates and pure landscapes. Your east coast tour means you will note extra than simply the seashores. Don’t miss the National Park at Noosa, taking in rain forest and coast, and simply accessible from the city. Just north is your likelihood to go to certainly one of solely two everglades on the planet – nice to discover in a kayak.
Venture inland from the east coast to soak up the Atherton Tableland area. See spectacular falls with pure swimming pools to swim in, and extinct volcanic crater lakes. Some of the Stray Tours even embrace a moonlit canoe journey on Lake Tinaroo to see probably the most unimaginable darkish skies and stargaze throughout the evening sky with no mild air pollution.
Finally, it goes with out saying, however you additionally need to expertise The Great Barrier Reef. With over 3,000 particular person reef methods overlaying an space of practically 345,000 sq. kilometres. It’s greater than the Great Wall of China and the one dwelling factor on earth that’s seen from house. On a Stray Tour, we keep at Bundaberg on the southern Great Barrier Reef, and Cairns with its snorkelling and crusing excursions to the Reef.
10. Get to know the locals
Aussies are pleasant and enjoyable, and also you’ll make a great deal of new mates in your east coast Stray Tour. But it’s not simply concerning the individuals… one other factor it’s essential to do is get to know the native animals too!
At Port Stephens, we keep at a hostel set in 6 acres of bush land with kangaroos and wallabies roaming free. From Tomaree Head and Noosa Heads, you might be fortunate sufficient to see Bottlenose Dolphins, and even migrating Humpback Whales between May and September.
You should see the koalas on the Koala Hospital at Port Macquarie, and find out how they protect and rehabilitate Australia’s greatest cherished creature. At Bundaberg, you’ll not solely get the possibility to fulfill Bundy R. Bear (you’ll “bearly” consider it!), you’ll additionally meet the turtles at Mon Repos and should get to see these unimaginable creatures hatch.
A 4 wheel drive safari on Ok’gari or Fraser Island means you’ll be able to spot a wide range of wildlife, together with wild dingoes on the seashore. Take care although. Remember these are wild animals, not cute canine that like their ears tickled.
Finally, while you’re snorkelling or scuba diving off the east coast of Australia, you’ll realise that the previous saying is true. There actually are so many fish within the sea!
Wherever you go in your tour of Australia, you’ll go to some implausible locations and revel in unforgettable actions. You’ll additionally make life lengthy associates on a Stray Tour, and we hope that collectively you’ll expertise a few of our ten must-do issues in your east coast tour.
For extra inspiration, see our Best Places to Visit and Destination Guides.
When you’ve determined what you actually must-do, take a look at our alternative of east coast Stray Tours. We’re certain there will likely be a pair that tick all of your containers and we hope we’ll be sharing these experiences with you quickly.