Welcome to Australia! Your East Coast adventure kicks off in Sydney with a city orientation walk past the icons: Harbour Bridge, Opera House and everything in between.

Tonight, jump on the overnight bus and head north towards Byron Bay.

Accommodation: Overnight sleeper bus

Arrive in Byron Bay for a guided town walk, then hit the beach with a free hostel surfboard. Over the next few days, ride the waves with a 2 hour surf lesson, hike out to Byron Lighthouse at Australia’s most easterly point, unwind with a private yoga session and browse the local markets.

Optional add-ons include dolphin kayaking and a waterfalls tour.

Accommodation: WakeUp Hostel Byron Bay (or similar), 4 nights

Guided city walk past the golden beaches, then dress up for a big night out. Spend your free days poolside or at the beachfront markets, with the option to take in Gold Coast views from SkyPoint Tower, try stand-up paddle boarding or go jet boating.

Accommodation: BUNK Hostel (or similar), 3 nights

Guided city walk taking in Streets Beach, the city lagoon, Southbank and Queen Street Mall. Spend your free days with the option to visit Australia Zoo or snorkel the Moreton Island shipwrecks.

Accommodation: BUNK Hostel Brisbane (or similar), 3 nights

Two nights of pure relaxation in tropical Noosa. Hike the coastal headlands for spectacular sea views and swim in the Fairy Pools, then spend your afternoon however you like: grab a free surfboard, catch sunset at Laguna Lookout, or add on a Noosa Everglades adventure.

Accommodation: Flashpackers Noosa (or similar), 2 nights

Arrive in Rainbow Beach, gateway to K’gari (Fraser Island), and settle in ahead of tomorrow’s big island adventure.

Accommodation: Freedom Hostel Rainbow Beach (or similar), 1 night

Board the 4WD and explore the world’s largest sand island over two nights camping just metres from the beach. Swim in crystal-clear Lake McKenzie, soak in the Champagne Pools and cruise the island’s beach highway, with evenings around the campfire. Pack down camp on your final morning, stop for one last lake swim, then head back to the mainland via barge.

Accommodation: Camping on K’gari, 2 nights + Freedom Hostel Rainbow Beach (or similar), 1 night

Enjoy your last morning in Rainbow Beach with a chance to check out the Rainbow Steps or grab one final surf. Guided walk to the Carlo Sand Blow this evening before boarding the overnight bus to Airlie Beach.

Accommodation: Overnight bus

Explore tropical Airlie Beach, taking a dip in the harbourfront lagoon and browsing the local markets. Spend your next two free days relaxing in the sun, or add on a scenic flight over the Great Barrier Reef and Whitehaven Beach, or a jet ski tour around the islands.

Accommodation: Nomads Hostel Airlie Beach (or similar), 3 nights

Set sail into the Whitsundays for two nights sleeping aboard, snorkelling pristine blue waters and stepping onto the famously white sand of Whitehaven Beach. Slide down the inflatable slide and try stand-up paddle boarding before sailing back to Airlie Beach for the After Boat Party with your crew and the sailing crew.

Accommodation: Sailing boat (open cabins), 2 nights + Nomads Hostel Airlie Beach (or similar), 1 night

Ferry across to Magnetic Island, home to wild koalas, wallabies and golden beaches. Snorkel the island’s pristine waters and take the guided Forts Walk for sweeping views and wildlife spotting, or hire a topless 4×4 jeep to explore further, hand-feeding wallabies and rainbow lorikeets along the way. Optional add-ons include Breakfast with the Koalas and wildlife park entry.

Accommodation: Nomads Magnetic Island (or similar), 3 nights

Arrive at Mission Beach, where rainforest meets reef, and settle into the jungle vibes. Spend your free morning exploring the neighbouring national park (traditional country of the Djiru Aboriginal people), with the option to add on white water rafting in Tully or Australia’s highest skydive (15,000ft, landing on the beach).

Tonight you arrive in Cairns, your base for the next 5 days.

Accommodation: Jackaroo Hostel (or similar), 2 nights

Arrive in Cairns, the adventure capital of Australia and gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, your base for the next week. Relax at the popular Cairns Lagoon by day and make the most of the city’s famous backpacker nightlife, then board your boat out to the outer reef for a full day snorkelling vibrant coral, with turtles, stingrays and maybe even Nemo for company. Head inland to the Atherton Tablelands for a day of waterfalls, rainforest walks and natural rock slides at Babinda Boulders, Millaa Millaa Falls and Josephine Falls, keeping an eye out for wild platypus.

With two free days to make your own, explore the Daintree Rainforest or nearby islands, or add on a bungy jump or canyoning. On your final night, your group leader takes you to a favourite local spot for a farewell dinner to toast five weeks of adventure, before your East Coast Explorer adventure comes to an end.

Accommodation: Gilligans Resort (or similar), 6 nights

Yes, travel insurance is mandatory for all group tours and packages.

Yes, this is a fully guided trip. Your group leader is with you 24/7 for all 5 weeks, from Sydney right through to Cairns, helping organise activities, answer questions and keep the good times rolling.

Yes, there’s a $20 port fuel and reef levy for the Great Barrier Reef trip, and a $30 insurance fee for the K’gari (Fraser Island) adventure, both payable locally.

A minimum of 15 meals are included across the 5 weeks. The rest of the time, you’re free to explore local cafes and restaurants, with recommendations from your group leader along the way. We recommend budgeting approx $60-80 per day for meals not included in the itinerary.

Yes, introductory scuba dives can be booked on the day as an optional upgrade. If you dive, it’s recommended you don’t fly for at least 24 hours afterwards due to the risk of decompression sickness.

You can, if you’re 21 or over with a manual driving licence. A $30 insurance fee applies per person, payable on arrival, and driving is at the operator’s discretion.

You must arrive in Sydney before midday on Day 1 to avoid missing the tour, so we recommend arriving the night before. Get in touch if you need help booking extra accommodation.

You’ll get access to the Ultimate Adventure Travel app for itineraries, packing lists and to connect with fellow travellers, plus an online community group to meet others before you even land.

Starts in Sydney at 11:30am on Day 1, and finishes in Cairns on Day 35 at 10am.

Product title:  East Coast Explorer (5 Weeks)

Booking & Payment

Once you’ve paid your non-refundable deposit, no further payment is required until your final balance is due 45 days before departure (no later than 6 weeks before your start date). An automated reminder will be sent when payment is due.

A non-refundable 1.8% booking processing fee applies to each payment. Receipts are issued within 72 hours.

Open Dated Bookings

If booking open dated, 15 days’ notice is required.

Refund Policy

• Cancellations within 28 days of the start date: 100% fee applies
• Cancellations between 28 and 365 days: $300 fee applies

Price Validity

Prices should be reconfirmed immediately after being added to a quote.

General Terms

Travelling with Ultimate Travel requires flexibility, good humour and a positive attitude. Participation in tours is voluntary and guests agree to follow directions given on tour. Guests must comply with all laws and treat other participants, suppliers, staff and the environment with respect.

Tours include activities with inherent risks. While care is taken to ensure safety, guests are responsible for their own actions, and Ultimate Travel accepts no liability for injury, damage or loss.

At the start of the tour, all guests must accept the Safety Guidelines and Booking Terms & Conditions and sign a Client Declaration.

Ultimate Travel may, at times, be forced to cancel a trip start date (for reasons including weather and safety conditions), in which case a revised start date will be offered. Ultimate Travel is not responsible for incidental expenses incurred as a result of a booking, including visas, vaccinations, travel insurance excess or non-refundable flights. If a revised date isn’t workable for the guest, a full refund will be offered, with no further claim for loss arising from the cancellation.

Travel insurance is mandatory for all group tours and packages.