Opens in a new tab
The best month of your life!

Sydney to Cairns

28 Days from Sydney to Cairns. The East Coast trip you’ve always dreamed about.

Australia

28 days

Ages 18-30

4.9

From $4,499 AUD

About the trip

On this Sydney to Cairns tour, you’ll travel over 28 days with a small group of up to 12, hitting the icons and the hidden gems along the way, from Byron Bay and K’gari to the Whitsundays, the Great Barrier Reef and the tropical rainforest.

We handle the accommodation, transport and the big-ticket activities, and there’s loads of free time built in to explore, book an add-on or just do your own thing. You handle showing up and having the time of your life. Somewhere between the road trips and the sunsets, the people you started the trip with stop being people you just met.
Download brochure
Find us on Instagram

Worry-free booking

Secure your spot with a 10% deposit. Change your travel date for free up to 30 days before departure, and pay the remaining balance 30 days before your trip starts. If your plans change, moving to an open date is also possible up to 30 days before departure.

Trip Highlights

Sail to Paradise

Sail turquoise waters, explore white sandy beaches and soak up two unforgettable nights in Whitsundays paradise.

Off-Road Adventures

Discover wild beaches, rainforest trails and crystal-clear swimming holes as you explore K’gari by 4WD and camp beneath the stars.

east coast australia package

Explore the Reef

Explore the Great Barrier Reef, discovering colourful coral gardens, tropical fish and an incredible underwater world.

Picture-Perfect Places

From Sydney Harbour to tropical Cairns, with Byron Bay, Noosa and Magnetic Island’s wild koalas in between.

Cairns, Queensland

Freedom to Explore

Enjoy plenty of free time to explore at your own pace, discover hidden gems or jump into an optional adventure.

Traveller taking a selfie in an orange kayak on a calm river

Find Your Travel Crew

Small groups, big adventures! Travel with up to 12 like-minded backpackers and make memories and friendships along the way.

Itinerary

Sydney to Cairns tour route map along the East Coast of Australia
  • Day 1
    Meet your fellow Travel Buddies and spend the day exploring Sydney, from the Opera House and harbour views to the Botanic Gardens. Then it’s a welcome dinner in the evening, on us.
  • Day 2
    A free day to do Sydney your way. Walk the Bondi to Coogee coastal trail and catch some sun before hopping on the overnight bus north.
Available activities
Whale Watching
Blue Mountains Tour
  • Day 3
    Arrive in Byron Bay for a three-night stay. That afternoon, join a Travel Buddies rep for the Lighthouse Walk out to Cape Byron, Australia’s most easterly point.
  • Day 4
    A free day to fill however you like. Snorkel Julian Rocks, kayak with dolphins, join the glowworm rainforest experience or try a surf lesson.
  • Day 5
    Another free day in Byron before heading north tomorrow. Do the same optional activities if you didn’t get to them yesterday, or just relax.
Available activities
Glowworm Experience
Dolphin Kayaking
Julian Rocks Snorkelling
Surf Lesson
  • Day 6
    Say goodbye to Byron and head north to Surfers Paradise for cafes, craft breweries and some of the best shopping on the coast.
  • Day 7
    A free day on the Gold Coast. Catch a tan, try your hand at surfing or head out for the day.
Available activities
Moreton Island
  • Day 8
    Arrive in Brisbane. Explore the parks, the galleries and the buzzing food scene, then enjoy a night out in the city.
  • Day 9
    A free day to shop, explore the West End or take a day trip out of the city.
Available activities
Australia Zoo
Moreton Island
  • Day 10
    Bus from Brisbane to Noosa, arriving with a free afternoon, followed by your K’gari safety briefing ahead of tomorrow’s adventure.
  • Day 11 – Off to K’gari!
    Head out to K’gari in your 4WD. Drive the 75 Mile Beach, visit the SS Maheno wreck, float the Eli Creek lazy river, then settle into your dingo-safe campsite for an evening under the stars.
  • Day 12 – K’gari Day 2
    Explore Central Station’s rainforest trails, swim at Lake McKenzie and cool off in the Champagne Pools.
  • Day 13 – Final day on K’gari
    Pack up camp and visit Lake Wabby before making your way back to Noosa.
  • Day 14
    A free day to unwind, shop Hastings Street or explore the local surf scene.
  • Day 15
    Track down Noosa’s hidden Fairy Pools before boarding your overnight bus to Airlie Beach.
Available activities
Noosa Everglades
  • Day 16
    Arrive in Airlie Beach after the overnight bus, check in and cool off at the central lagoon.
  • Day 17 – Start of your Whitsundays sailing trip!
    Set sail from Airlie Beach to Hook Island and snorkel hidden reefs like Stonehaven Bay and Langford Reef. Dinner and drinks at anchor under the stars.
  • Day 18 – Second day in the Whitsundays
    Hike to Hill Inlet for the swirling sands of Whitehaven Beach, then swim and walk at the beach’s southern end.
  • Day 19 – Last day onboard
    Snorkel one more reef, with turtles and manta rays possible, then return to Airlie Beach for an afterparty with the group.
  • Day 20
    Recover at the lagoon or revisit your favourite spots. Add a 15,000ft skydive or a jet ski across the Whitsundays if you want more adrenaline.
Available activities
Whitsundays Scenic Flight
Skydiving
Jet Ski
  • Day 21
    Bus to Townsville, then ferry across to Magnetic Island for a free afternoon at your beachside stay.
  • Day 22
    A full free day to explore. The Magnetic Island Wildlife Park is available as an optional add-on.
Available activities
Magnetic Island Wildlife Park
  • Day 23
    Ferry back to Townsville and bus up to Cairns, arriving in the afternoon. Settle in with an evening at the Cairns Night Markets.
  • Day 24 – Exploring the waterfalls
    Explore the Atherton Tablelands on a full-day waterfall tour, taking in Babinda Boulders, Josephine Falls, Millaa Millaa Falls and Lake Eacham.
  • Day 25
    A free day in the city, with plenty of backpacker energy to soak up.
  • Day 26 – Great Barrier Reef day trip
    Sail out to the Great Barrier Reef for a day of snorkelling at Michaelmas Cay.
  • Day 27
    A free day to fit in any last bucket-list items, or head into the Daintree Rainforest.
Available activities
Bungy Jump
White Water Rafting
Cape Tribulation & the Daintree Rainforest
  • Day 28
    Your East Coast adventure wraps up in Cairns. Head off with 28 days of memories and stories. Let us know if you need help with whatever you’re doing next.

What’s included

  • 3-day K’gari 4WD camping tag-along tour
  • 3-day Whitsundays sailing trip
  • Great Barrier Reef snorkel
  • Atherton Tablelands waterfall tour
  • Cape Byron Lighthouse walk
  • 27 nights total
  • 21 in hostels
  • 2 on a sailing yacht
  • 2 camping
  • 2 on overnight buses
  • A bus pass covering all travel from Sydney to Cairns, plus the ferry to and from Magnetic Island.
  • 19 meals included across the trip

What’s not included

Travel insurance (compulsory)
Personal expenses
Any other meals
Deposits required for equipment hire
Public transport
Shuttle buses not included by providers

Where You'll Stay

Nomads Sydney

Kick off your adventure in the heart of Sydney, with a social common room and plenty of fellow travellers.
Nomads hostel in Sydney

Drifter Byron Bay

Relax in a stylish, newly renovated hostel with a heated pool, rooftop courtyard and comfy modern rooms.
Drifter hostel in Byron Bay

Bounce Surfers Paradise

A brand-new take on backpacker stays, with boutique-style rooms, big social spaces and a rooftop infinity pool.
Bounce hostel on Magnetic Island

Roamer Brisbane

Stay in the heart of Brisbane with ensuite rooms, a buzzing restaurant and bar, and seriously friendly staff.
Roamer hostel in Brisbane

Nomads Noosa

Make yourself at home by the beach, with the perfect base to unwind before and after your island adventure.
Nomads hostel in Noosa

K’gari Camping

Fall asleep beneath the stars at a secure, dingo-safe island campsite, surrounded by nature and adventure.
Camping on K’gari

Nomads Airlie Beach

Your tropical base in Airlie Beach, perfectly placed to soak up the sunshine before and after your sailing adventure.

Whitsundays Sailing Yacht

Spend two nights aboard your sailing yacht, waking up to turquoise waters, island views and a whole new adventure.
British Defender sailing boat in the Whitsundays

Nomads Magnetic Island

Wake up just moments from the beach on a tropical island famous for its wild koalas and laid-back island life.
Nomads hostel on Magnetic Island

Gilligan’s Cairns

Finish on a high at Cairns' famous party hostel, with a resort-style pool, nightclub and legendary Sunday pool parties.

Add-on Activities

Want to do more? Add extra experiences to your trip.

Whale Watching

Sydney
Catch Sydney’s migrating whales in action, exclusively from May to October.

Surf Lesson

Byron Bay
A 3-4 hour lesson with Byron’s own surf school, at the best beach for the day’s conditions.

Dolphin Kayaking

Byron Bay
Paddle out from Clarks Beach with Byron’s original dolphin kayaking crew, spotting dolphins, turtles and migrating whales in season.

Glowworm Experience

Byron Bay
Hike Byron’s UNESCO-listed Gondwana Rainforest to a waterfall swim, then see the glowworms light up after dark.

Julian Rocks Snorkelling

Byron Bay
60 minutes in the water at Julian Rocks Marine Park, home to over 1,000 marine species including sharks, rays and turtles.

Australia Zoo

Brisbane
A full day at the home of Steve Irwin.

Moreton Island

Brisbane
A full day on Moreton Island, snorkelling famous shipwrecks and joining the wild dolphin feeding program.

Noosa Everglades

Noosa Heads
Cruise or canoe through one of only two Everglades systems on Earth to the historic Harry’s Hut.

Whitsundays Scenic Flight

Airlie Beach
A 60-minute flight over the Whitsundays and the Great Barrier Reef, taking in Heart Reef, Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet from above.

Skydiving

Airlie Beach
Freefall from 15,000ft and land on the beach, the only beach skydive in the Whitsundays region.

Jet Ski

Airlie Beach
Ride an award-winning Two Island Safari on your own jet ski past Daydream and South Molle Islands, no licence needed.

Magnetic Island Wildlife Park

Magnetic Island
Get hands-on with native wildlife, python included, on a ranger-led tour of the island’s koalas, wombats and crocodiles.

Bungy Jump

Cairns
Take the leap at Australia’s only Bungy tower, a 50-metre jump with 16 different styles to choose from.

White Water Rafting

Tully River
A full day tackling Grade 3-4 rapids on the Tully River through World Heritage rainforest.

Cape Tribulation & the Daintree Rainforest

Cairns
Cross the Daintree River by ferry, spotting wild crocodiles, walking Cape Tribulation Beach and swimming in a freshwater rainforest stream.

Why choose us

Low deposit to book

Lock in your spot for a 10% deposit, then pay the rest 30 days before you travel.

Flexible if plans change

Up to 30 days before departure, you can change your travel date for free, or move to an open date and pick a new one when you’re ready.

Mates from day one

You don’t need to know anyone when you arrive. With a small group of up to 12 people your age, it feels like travelling with a group of mates, and there’s always someone up for anything.

Semi-guided & flexible

No tour leader hovering over your shoulder. We handle the accommodation, transport and key activities, and everything marked as included is covered in your price. The rest is up to you. Keep your free days free, or let us know what you want to do and we’ll book it for you.

Handpicked places to stay

Our hostels are handpicked for good vibes and good company, with dorms just for your group.

WhatsApp support, seven days a week

You’ll be added to your trip’s WhatsApp community before you even land, with daily updates, direct access to the team seven days a week, and a space to get to know your group before day one.

FAQs

Travel Buddies trips are semi-guided, giving you the best mix of independent and group travel. We organise your accommodation, transport and included activities, so the main planning is taken care of for you.

It’s your responsibility to arrive at meeting points and departures on time, as missed activities or transport are non-refundable.

There’s no full-time guide glued to your side. We handle the accommodation, transport and key activities, and you get the freedom to explore each stop your own way, solo or with the group.

You’re never on your own though: our team is on hand throughout your trip via the Travel Buddies WhatsApp community, so help or advice is always a message away.

Yes, just ask when you book. We’ll try to keep you in the same hostel as the rest of your group so you’re not switching around, subject to availability.

Travel Buddies is built for 18 to 30 year olds. Just outside that range? Get in touch, as we’re often able to make it work.

Groups cap at 12 travellers, small enough to actually get to know everyone, with a minimum of 2 to run.

You’ll follow a set route and timeline, but every free day is yours to fill: book an add-on, explore solo or just hang back with the group.

K’gari’s 75 Mile Beach, sailing the Whitsundays, snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef, a rainforest waterfall tour in the Tropical North, and more! See the Highlights section above for the full list.

In the week before departure, you’ll be added to a WhatsApp community with a social channel just for chatting to your group before you even land in Sydney.

Total (AUD) $4,499
Book now

Discover other trips

From Australia and New Zealand’s iconic highlights to hidden local gems, our group trips are designed to help you experience it all, alongside strangers who won’t stay strangers for long
Three travellers standing in the back of a small pink convertible by the sea

Cairns to Sydney

The classic route in reverse, with more time, more stops and a beachfront surf camp.
Australia

32 days

From $5,199 AUD

View tripStart planning
Group of travellers posing on a mountain lookout above a lake

Auckland to Queenstown

Both islands, one crew. New Zealand is as stunning as everyone says, and every included activity is unreal.
New Zealand

24 days

From $4,699 AUD

View tripStart planning

Cairns to Brisbane

Big bucket list days, plenty of free ones, and all the East Coast action in between.
Australia

23 days

From $4,499 AUD

View tripStart planning

Brisbane to Cairns

The East Coast’s major bucket list activities, all in one trip. This is where all the action is.
Australia

21 days

From $3,999 AUD

View tripStart planning

Build your dream trip!

Got your own dates, destinations or ideas? Tell us what you’re into and we’ll help create an adventure that fits your plans, budget and travel style.
Group of travellers sitting on a fence at a lookout in Byron Bay
Group of travellers jumping on a lakeshore with snowy mountains behind
Travellers paddling yellow kayaks along a calm tree-lined river
Two travellers freefalling during a tandem skydive
Two colourful jeeps parked among trees with a traveller between them
Travellers relaxing on the deck of a sailing boat
Travellers paddling yellow kayaks along a calm tree-lined river