50-DAY / 49-NIGHT GROUP TOUR

EAST COAST EXPLORER 7 WEEK

7-WEEK GROUP TOUR | MELBOURNE TO CAIRNS

Prices start from

$7,199

Save 10% - Ends Soon

$7,999

Tour charges are in AUD. Secure your date with a deposit today. See our booking policy for full terms.

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50 DAY / 49-NIGHT GROUP TOUR

EAST COAST EXPLORER

7-WEEK GROUP TOUR | MELBOURNE TO CAIRNS

4.9 Rating - 1144 Traveller Reviews

Prices start from

$7,199

Save 10% - Ends Soon

$7,999

Tour charges are in AUD. Secure your date with a deposit today. See our booking policy for full terms.

Check Dates & BookCHECK DATES Get Trip NotesTrip Notes Request More InfoMore Info

TRIP OVERVIEW

Get ready for the ULTIMTE Adventure! Discover amazing Aussie locations, have heaps of fun, create unforgettable memories and make friends for life! From Melbourne to Cairns, we’ll explore the best of Australia’s East Coast plus an ULTIMATE week in Australia’s culture hub – Melbourne. This epic adventure combines our long running East Coast Explorer plus Sydney tour with an additional week in Melbourne. This trip is led by an ULTIMATE Group Leader and fully guided from Melbourne to Cairns

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Experience the complete East Coast Australia on our longest and best value 7 Week adventure from Melbourne to Cairns
Travel at an easy pace with extra time in every destination to explore, relax and customise your experience
Visit Australia’s most iconic destinations including Melbourne, Sydney, Byron Bay, K’gari, Whitsundays and Cairns
Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef, sail the Whitsundays and camp on K’gari (Fraser Island)
Fully guided from start to finish by an experienced ULTIMATE Group Leader
Our award-winning itinerary covers the entire East Coast with unforgettable experiences included throughout
See it all on the ultimate Australian adventure, designed for travellers who want the most complete East Coast experience

TOUR INCLUSIONS

ULTIMATE Group Leader – This trip is fully led by a Group Leader. We travel from Sydney to Cairns in the same group!
Accommodation – 47 nights accommodation in 8-12 Bed Shared Dorms plus 2 Overnight Buses
All Transport – All transport included to get us from Sydney to Cairns via Public Scania Coaches and a train from Melbourne to Sydney
Melbourne City and Laneway Tour – Explore Melbourne City and the famous Graffiti Laneways
Day Trip to the Great Ocean Road – Visit Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge & London Bridge.
Sydney City Tour & Welcome Dinner – Explore Sydney on Day 1 visiting the Opera House and Harbour Bridge!
Sydney Harbour Cruise – See the sites from the most famous Harbour in the world on the ULTIMATE 3.5 hour catamaran
Coogee to Bondi Coastal Walk – Visit the world renowned ‘Bondi Beach’ and do the famous Coogee to Bondi Coastal Walk
Base Camp Port Stephens – Experience sandboarding, a dolphin cruise and hiking Mt. Tomaree when you spend 2 nights at our ULTIMATE Base Camp
Sydney Party Night – Experience Sydney’s Social scene with a night out on the town with arrival drinks!
Visit Byron Bay Lighthouse – Visit Cape Byron Lighthouse on Australia’s most easterly point.
Byron Bay Surf Lesson – Learn to surf like a local with a beginner Surf Lesson included!
Surfers Paradise Beach & City Orientation Walk – Visit Australia’s famous Surfers Paradise Beach and popular party strip
Brisbane Southbank Orientation Walk – Visit the man made lagoon in the centre of Brisbane City!
Noosa Headland Walk – Walk along the headlands and discover sweeping ocean vistas, rocky bays, enclosed beaches.
Rainbow Beach Sand Blow Walk – Be wonderstruck at one of the coasts most unique ‘moonscape’ landscapes.
3day / 2 night All inclusive K’gari Camping Adventure – Experience the ULTIMATE adventure camping on Fraser Island! Visit Lake McKenzie, Eli Creek, Maheno Shipwreck plus more!
2 day / 2 night Whitsunday Island Sailing. – Sail the iconic Whitsunday Islands on a boat. Visit Whitehaven Beach, Snorkel and party in paradise!
Magnetic Island Fort’s Walk – Experience a National Park and keep an eye out for koalas, stunning views and World War II relics all set in the island’s dry tropical landscape.
Visit Cairns Lagoon – 5 nights in the Adventure Capital of Australia to get your adrenaline pumping with customised experiences!
1 day Great Barrier Reef Snorkel Trip – Experience this wonder of the world and snorkel the reef!
1 day Atherton Tablelands Waterfalls tour – We visit this World Heritage listed Rainforest, home to stunning waterfalls plus more!

THE EXPERIENCE

ABOUT THE TOUR

Our 7 Week East Coast Australia tour is the ultimate way to travel from Sydney to Cairns, combining iconic destinations, social experiences and unforgettable moments. With even more time built into the journey, you will have a more in depth and relaxed experience while still covering the best highlights of Australia’s East Coast.

Our tours are fully guided by a Group Leader for your entire journey from Sydney to Cairns. The itinerary is easy paced and designed with free time at most stops, giving you the flexibility to personalise your experience while enjoying the structure and social side of a group tour.

ABOUT YOU

This East Coast Australia tour is designed for travellers aged 18 to 35 who want to experience the best of Australia in a fun and social environment. Some travellers are on gap years, while others are on longer holidays looking to explore, meet new people and make the most of their time.

Many travellers join solo, so you do not need to come with friends. If you are looking to travel with like minded people, experience Australia and create lifelong memories, this trip is for you.

ORIENTATION WALKS

We include an Orientation Walk at most stops along the itinerary. These are short guided walks with your Group Leader when you arrive in a new destination, designed to help you get your bearings and understand the layout of the area.

You will be shown key landmarks, main streets, transport points and local hangouts, along with insider tips on food, nightlife and activities. These are not formal history tours, but practical introductions to help you make the most of your time in each location. Most walks take around 10 to 30 minutes depending on the destination.

TRANSPORT

We travel from Sydney to Cairns using a mix of public transport, trains and long distance coaches. To maximise time in each destination, some journeys are completed overnight. This means you can travel while you sleep and arrive ready to explore your next stop. On Day 7 of this itinerary, we will travel from Melbourne to Sydney via train.

TRAVEL STYLE

This is a social East Coast Australia tour with a well paced itinerary and a good balance of included experiences and free time. Accommodation, key transport and major logistics are organised for you, so you can focus on enjoying each destination.

GROUP VIBE

The vibe is friendly, social and fun, and plenty of travellers join solo. Some days are focused on exploring and experiencing highlights together, while others are more relaxed with free time and optional activities.

Nights vary depending on your group, from chilled evenings to bigger nights out. The social experience is shaped by the people you are travelling with, and we aim to create a balanced trip so you can enjoy it in a way that suits your style.

WHAT MAKES THIS TRIP DIFFERENT

This is a fully guided East Coast Australia group tour, not a semi guided package. Your Group Leader travels with you for the entire itinerary, providing consistent support, local knowledge and helping everything run smoothly.

Unlike semi guided trips where support is limited, this tour gives you a complete group experience from start to finish, with someone there to guide and support you throughout your journey.

WHY TRAVEL THIS WAY

Travelling Australia’s East Coast independently can take time and planning across multiple destinations. This tour removes the stress by organising everything for you, while still giving you the freedom to explore each location your way. It is a social, easy and efficient way to experience the East Coast.

TOUR NOTES

This tour stars at the meeting point in Melbourne on Day 1 of the itinerary. You must make your own way to the meeting point and first nights accommodation as an arrival transfer is not included. The tour officially starts at 12pm on Day 1.

Arriving early? Choose to add additional pre-tour nights when you book online, or chat with our reservations team to organise extra nights.

The Melbourne to Cairns Explorer group tour is a combination of our East Coast Explorer + Sydney (6 Week) tour in addition to a further 7 days in Melbourne. The first week in Melbourne is fully guided. Some group members will officially join the tour on Day 8 of the itinerary in Sydney.

OPTIONAL EXTRAS

Whilst our tours are jam-packed with awesome activities, you may choose to add our optional activities to your booking.

Whether you’d like to brave a Skydive, a Bungy Jump, go White Water Rafting, visit the Daintree Rainforest or extend your stay in Cairns, we’re here to help you plan the trip of a lifetime!

You can pre-book optional activities guaranteeing availability on your chosen departure date or organise any additional activities with your Ultimate guide as you travel, for the same price (subject to tour availability.) Check out some of our popular optional extras and simply add them to your booking at checkout.

OUTBACK ADD-ON

Experience Outback Australia on our 3-day tour of the iconic Red Centre. Visit the sacred sites of Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon, sleep in an Aussie swag under the stars and learn about Aboriginal history and current day Aboriginal culture.

SOUTHEAST ASIA

Looking to do a stopover on the way to Australia? Join our Ultimate guided tours in Thailand or Bali!

Want to explore another part of Australia or keen for an activity we haven’t mentioned? Let us know! We’re the Aussie travel experts and are here to help you plan your dream adventure Down Under!

HOW TO BOOK

To book this Melbourne to Cairns group tour, select your chosen departure date and any optional extras you would like to book. We’ll send you a booking confirmation as well as important information about your tour.

If you have a travel date in mind but you’re not ready to pay in full, you can secure your spot with a deposit.

Book your flights into Melbourne (not included)
Organise your travel insurance which is required to participate in this tour (not included)

TOUR INFORMATION

Tour starts in Melbourne on Day 1 of the itinerary Mondays (Thursday or Saturdays) at 12pm
Tour ends in Cairns Monday (Thursday or Saturday) at 10am

LOCAL CHARGES (Paid direct on arrival)

We have done our best to include the key touring components but have listed the below fee’s that are required to be paid on arrival whilst on tour.

Fraser Island Insurance Fee ($20 AUD) – Paid direct on arrival
Fraser Island Sleeping Bag Hire ($10AUD) – Paid direct if required
Great Barrier Reef Conservation Levy ($20 AUD) Paid direct on arrival
Whitsundays National Park EMC Levy ($30 AUD) Paid direct on arrival

THE TOUR ITINERARY

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WEEK 1 MELBOURNE

Welcome to Melbourne – Australia’s fun, vibrant and lively cultural hub. Our Australian group tour adventure kicks off with a group dinner on Day 1 when we meet our group leader and other travellers. Our week is spent getting lost in city laneways and exploring the iconic sights of the city and state. Explore St. Kilda, see the Great Ocean Road and relax at the hot springs, the week is packed with activities to see Melbourne. Towards the end of the week, we will travel by train from Melbourne to Sydney to continue our epic itinerary up to Cairns.

WEEK 2 SYDNEY

G’day Sydney! We kick off our week by welcoming some new travel buddies to our group and embark on a guided city walk of the city with a lunch stop at Darling Harbour. We spend this week exploring all of the iconic sights of Sydney including the Opera House and Bondi Beach, sandboarding and dolphin cruising in Port Stephen plus so much more!

WEEK 3 BYRON BAY TO SURFERS PARADISE

Week three see’s us on a coach journey from Sydney to Byron Bay. This week is about exploring more beaches and learning to Surf! Our first stop is the bohemian Byron Bay where we will explore the local sights and Byron Bay’s famous lighthouse. We will learn to surf, join a yoga lesson and explore the town by bicycle before we continue the adventure to the popular Gold Coast and Surfers Paradise, where the nightlife is vibrant and the views go on for days!

WEEK 4 BRISBANE & NOOSA TO RAINBOW BEACH

This week has us visiting Australia’s third largest city – Brisbane! After exploring the sights and the city’s man made lagoon, we continue through to Noosa where we will explore National Parks and Fairy Pools! We end the week with our arrival in Rainbow Beach where we will have a chance to feed dolphins and explore the Carlo sand blow.

WEEK 5 K’GARI (FRASER ISLAND) TO AIRLIE BEACH

Are you ready to get off the beaten track? We spend the start of week 5 on the worlds largest sand island – K’gari. Our two nights off the mainland are spent exploring the must see sights of the island including Lake Mackenzie and Eli Creek, camping next to the beach and driving 4x4s along the sand all day! When we return to the mainland and rest up before heading to Airlie Beach for the next big adventure!

WEEK 6 WHITSUNDAYS TO MAGNETIC ISLAND

The 74 Whitsunday Islands lie between the northeast coast of Queensland, Australia, and the Great Barrier Reef. We will spend two nights and three days exploring this massive stretch of coral teeming with marine life on a sail boat. We will also explore Whitehaven Beach for some life time memories and have the opportunity to snorkel at various spots in the national park. Enjoy activities in Airlie Beach like jet skiing and a scenic flight over The Great Barrier Reef before then heading to Magnetic Island! Home to the largest population of wild koalas, amazing snorkelling and opportunities to see the island via topless jeeps.

WEEK 7 MISSION BEACH TO CAIRNS

After stopping in Mission Beach our last week of the adventure is spent travelling through to the adventure capital of Australia – Cairns. Our final few days will be spent snorkelling The Great Barrier Reef and exploring the rainforest, sliding down natural rock slides and swimming under waterfalls. This weeks is jampacked with optional activities like skydiving, white water rafting, Cape Tribulation and more. Our final weekend will be spent farewelling our travel family with a big night out. Your Ultimate group leader will be able to help you out with any further travel and advice.

> WHERE WE STAY

The Ultimate East Coast Australia Explorer tour includes 47 nights accommodation and 2 overnight buses.

47-nights are spent in dorm share accommodation in the very best hostels on the Aussie East Coast. You’ll be staying in a beachfront hostel, resort-style flashpacker accommodation and centrally located properties close to the best experiences at each stop.
You’ll also spend 2 nights sailing around the Whitsunday Islands and 2-nights camping on K’gari (Fraser Island.)
Accommodation is based on 4-12 bed shared dorm arrangements.
Twin share and Private rooms upgrades are available.

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BOOK TOUREast Coast Explorer 7 Week

Making Your Booking Meeting Travellers Booking With Confidence

Pay Today: $300 AUD per person
Final payment due 45 days before your tour.

To make your booking, select your chosen departure date and any optional extras you would like to book. If you are unsure about optional extras or if you need additional accommodation before or after your tour, you can let us know later via email.

We'll send you a booking confirmation as well as important information about your tour. You can make payments on your tour balance sooner, or regularly, via our website here. A non refundable 5.25% booking processing fee applies to each booking, calculated on the value of your booking.

Travelling solo? Great! Most of the people you meet on tour will also be on a solo adventure! If you are curious as to who you could be travelling with, or want to make some friends before arriving, join our Travel Community and reach out to your potential new travel mates!

Booking with ULTIMATE is easy! We take payments securely via Mastercard or Visa Credit and Debit Card and we will charge you in Australian Currency (AUD). Your deposit is flexible and if you can no longer travel, you can save your deposit for a later trip or destination if you notify us 30 days before your scheduled tour date.

Making your booking is easy. Choose a date below, and if you have any questions about extras, deposits, or meeting other travellers, just get in touch — we're happy to help.

Good to Know | FAQs

Where does this East Coast Explorer tour start and finish?

The Melbourne to Cairns Explorer (7 Week) starts in Melbourne on Mondays or Thursdays at 12pm and ends in Cairns on Mondays or Thursdays at 10am.

Who will I be travelling with?

You’ll be travelling with a group of 18-30-somethings from all over the world, and a Group Leader. Group sizes vary but you can generally expect to travel with a group of approximately 10-24 people.

How and when can I book optional activities?

There is many optional activities you can add onto your tour. You can prebook optional activities during the booking process by selecting the ‘extras’. If you wish to add them after you book, just get in touch with our team via email. Most travellers choose to book their optional activities once the tour begins. Our tour leader will explain to you what is available and you are able to pay digitally via email payment links. We automatically save spaces for you on the most popular activities. The following are the recommended adds-ons created by Ultimate:

Skydive
Cape Tribulation
Great Barrier Reef and Whitsundays scenic flight
White water rafting
Whitsundays jet ski tour

What is an orietnation walk?

We include an Orientation Walk at most stops of our itinerary. It is a short and guided walk with your group leader when you arrive at a new destination. It’s designed to help you get your bearings, understand the layout of the area, and learn where everything is. We’ll show you key landmarks, main streets, transport points, and local hangouts. You’ll also get insider tips on food, nightlife, activities, and the best ways to spend your free time. Our Orientation Walks are not formal, history heavy tours. While we’ll share some fun facts and local insights, the focus is on helping you experience the destination rather than providing an in depth historical guide. Most Orientation Walks take around 10 to 30 minutes depending on the destination. Orientation Walks are included in most itinerary stops where it adds value and helps you get familiar with the destination.

Are meals included?

Australia has no shortage of incredible food and when travelling on our East Coast tour, we make sure we include some iconic Australian BBQ’s. For this tour there will be 4 x Breakfasts, 5 x Lunches, and 6 x Dinners included.

What is the best time to travel to Australia?

The great thing is, there is no bad time to travel to Australia! The country is so vast that depending when and where you plan on travelling you’re always likely to hit some sun! At certain times of the year there can be tropical storms in some locations across Australia, there can be hot, humid weather and there can be beautiful sunny skies with a cooler breeze. As you’ll be travelling such a wide area from South to North you are likely to experience a bit of everything. Please Note – We cannot predict the weather and cannot guarantee perfect days, but we will do our best to make the most of days when Mother Nature isn’t in our favour!

Is there free time on this tour?

Our East Coast Highlights tour is our most fast paced tour style. There is a key activity included at every stop and your Group Leader will be sure to tell you when you have free time throughout the itinerary.

Can I travel with a medical condition?

If you have an existing medical condition or disability that may affect your trip or how we deliver our experience, we ask that you inform us in writing at the time of your booking. You may be asked to obtain a medical certificate and if we reasonably feel we are unable to accommodate your particular needs, we reserve the right to decline your booking.

Can I travel with special dietary requirments?

In most cases, we can cater to Vegetarian and Gluten Free diets. We will make every effort to cater to all other diets and needs, but we are unable to guarantee this will be possible in every location we visit. Unfortunately we will not cater for tastes or dislikes. We will ask you to re-confirm any dietary requirements with your Group Leader at the start of your trip.

Is this trip fully guided?

Yes, fully guided by ULTIMATE. On Day 8 in Sydney, you connect with the East Coast Explorer 6 week tour.

Who is this trip designed for?

Our East Coast Highlights tour is designed for travellers 18-35 that wish to experience the best of the East Coast in a short period of time. The Ultimate East Coast Highlights tour is a fast-tracked tour packed full of inclusions, visiting all the hot spots on the coast in 3 weeks. The tour requires a moderate level of fitness. We spend 2-4 nights in each location and activities are included at each stop.

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50-DAY / 49-NIGHT GROUP TOUR

EAST COAST EXPLORER 7 WEEK

7-WEEK GROUP TOUR | MELBOURNE TO CAIRNS

50 DAY / 49-NIGHT GROUP TOUR