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? Properly, listed here are 10 wonderful issues it’s essential to do in your east coast tour.
Whenever you take 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’ll have lovely white sandy seashores and clear blue water all alongside the Pacific Freeway. However there’s waaay extra to the east coast than simply incredible seashores. We’ve picked out 10 wonderful issues it’s essential to do in your east coast tour.
1. Attempt a brand new exercise
Aussies love the outside life-style and spending their free time having enjoyable. A Stray east coast tour is the proper solution to attempt a brand new sport or exercise.
You’ll be able to’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 massive waves for skilled surfers, and seashores like Bargara Seashore which have good circumstances for newbies.
Guess you’ve by no means tried sand boarding? You’ll be able to in your east coast tour. Go to Stockton Sand Dunes close to Port Macquarie, the biggest sand dunes within the southern hemisphere. Earlier than you recognize it, you’ll be hurtling down the dunes on a chunk of wooden! Again on the water, attempt snorkelling – the Woman Musgrave Island tour is wonderful – 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 prospect to go skydiving at over Noosa, or throw your self off a 50m tower tied to a rubber band! The bungee leap and large swing at Skypark Cairns by AJ Hackett is the place for adrenaline junkies.
For many who favor to maintain their toes firmly on the bottom, there are heaps of superior mountaineering and strolling trails alongside the east coast. The lookouts at Tomaree Head, Noosa Heads and Niigi Niigi (Sealy Level) 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. Try 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. In case you solely attempt 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. Lastly, the Queensland craft beer scene is price a style (or two) in your east coast tour too.
3. Metropolis dwelling
In addition to travelling up the coast, you’ll have the prospect to discover three of Australia’s main cities. No go to to Australia could be full with out a 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 Home, Harbour Bridge and Darling Harbour, in addition to the long-lasting Bondi Seashore. Try 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 residence to an enormous salt water lagoon and with its buzzing nightlife, is the gateway to discover the Nice Barrier Reef.
4. Get together, social gathering!
In case you’re on the lookout 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 Seashore. We’ve got our personal events too: pizza nights and barbies at Port Stephens, Bundaberg and Yungaburra. A few of the locations we keep are good 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 social gathering began!
5. Sit back with a small city vibe
In addition to the three main cities above, there are some fascinating smaller cities you must try to soak up in your east coast tour. The outdated arty, hippy city of Bellingen is price a go to. Do you know its church was the inspiration for a Booker Prize profitable novel? Mullumbingy promotes itself as “The Greatest Little City 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 residence to the Mullumbingy Chocolate Store – one other nice purpose to go to.
Shut by is Surfer’s Paradise, well-known for its high-rise skyline and pristine 3km seaside. There are at all times surfers, swimmers and joggers round, so take part. After a go to to Ok’gari (Fraser Island), it’s price a fast cease at Rainbow Seashore. The southern finish of this lovely 23km seaside has completely different colored sands, giving it its identify.
6. Study aboriginal tradition
In addition to having a good time, travelling is all about studying, broadening your horizons and experiences. Your east coast tour provides you the chance to study extra about aboriginal tradition. Uncover historical customs of “oral custom”, 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 the usage of native vegetation.
A few of our Stray Excursions embrace an aboriginal cultural expertise at an necessary website of the Gumbaynggirr individuals, the place not solely will you study extra about their tradition and historical past, however you’ll play a component in protecting their heritage alive.
7. Camp beneath the celebs
One of many traditions of again packing is tenting, undoubtedly one thing you must combine in together with your hostels, accommodations and lodges. Three of our Stray Excursions embrace a go to to Ok’gari or Fraser Island, which is the biggest sand island within the southern hemisphere. We keep 2 nights at a seaside camp, sleeping beneath starry skies near the seaside and ocean. The camp additionally has its personal kitchen and deck with views over the coast. Within 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 proper time to attempt some crusing. We’ve got an unimaginable crusing expertise on a few of our east coast Stray Excursions. You’ll be able to cast-off on a 76 foot ocean crusing yacht to the attractive 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 truly stay on board, swimming, snorkelling and crusing your method by way of the 74 islands. And when the solar goes over the yard arm, it’s time to observe 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 notice extra than simply the seashores. Don’t miss the Nationwide Park at Noosa, taking in rain forest and coast, and simply accessible from the city. Simply north is your likelihood to go to one among solely two everglades on the planet – nice to discover in a kayak.
Enterprise 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. A few of the Stray Excursions 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 gentle air pollution.
Lastly, it goes with out saying, however you additionally must expertise The Nice Barrier Reef. With over 3,000 particular person reef methods masking an space of almost 345,000 sq. kilometres. It’s greater than the Nice Wall of China and the one dwelling factor on earth that’s seen from area. On a Stray Tour, we keep at Bundaberg on the southern Nice 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. Nevertheless 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, it’s possible you’ll be fortunate sufficient to see Bottlenose Dolphins, and even migrating Humpback Whales between Could and September.
You should see the koalas on the Koala Hospital at Port Macquarie, and learn the way they protect and rehabilitate Australia’s greatest beloved creature. At Bundaberg, you’ll not solely get the prospect to fulfill Bundy R. Bear (you’ll “bearly” imagine it!), you’ll additionally meet the turtles at Mon Repos and will get to see these unimaginable creatures hatch.
A 4 wheel drive safari on Ok’gari or Fraser Island means you may spot a wide range of wildlife, together with wild dingoes on the seaside. Take care although. Bear in mind these are wild animals, not cute canine that like their ears tickled.
Lastly, once you’re snorkelling or scuba diving off the east coast of Australia, you’ll realise that the outdated 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 incredible locations and luxuriate in unforgettable actions. You’ll additionally make life lengthy mates 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 Finest Locations to Go to and Vacation spot Guides.
Whenever you’ve determined what you actually must-do, take a look at our selection of east coast Stray Excursions. We’re positive there will probably be a pair that tick all of your bins and we hope we’ll be sharing these experiences with you quickly.