Christmas and New Year departures now open
Australia

Christmas Tours

Deals And Offers For Backpackers

East Coast group tours through December, Sydney events over the holidays and the New Year Week. Christmas departures fill first, so book the date you want early.

East Coast Tours Sydney Events New Years In Sydney
NYE on K'gari

East Coast Explorer · 5 Weeks

Departs Sydney 7 Dec · Christmas in Airlie Beach · NYE on Magnetic Island
From $5,799
Book Now
Christmas in the Whitsundays

East Coast Highlights · 3 Weeks

Departs Sydney 9 Dec · K'gari 17 Dec · Christmas Day in Airlie Beach
From $4,599
Book Now
Limited spaces

Sydney New Year Week

29 Dec to 5 Jan · harbour cruise, Bondi on New Year's Day, Port Stephens
From $1,999
Book Now
Sat 19 Dec

Christmas Harbour Cruise

4 hours on Sydney Harbour · Aussie BBQ · BYO drinks · King Street Wharf 9
$99
East Coast group tours

Where You Spend Christmas Day And NYE

Pick a tour, then pick the departure. Every departure shows the date it leaves, where you are on Christmas Day, where you are at midnight on NYE, and the date it ends in Cairns. Dates and spaces come straight from Rezdy.

East Coast Explorer · 5 Weeks

Sydney to Cairns 36 days 10 to 20 people

The classic. Byron, Surfers, Brisbane, Noosa, K'gari, the Whitsundays, Magnetic Island, Mission Beach, Cairns. Seven departures from late November, all of them on the road for Christmas or New Year.

From, per person$5,799
View tour page

East Coast Highlights · 3 Weeks

Sydney to Cairns 21 days 10 to 24 people

Sydney, Byron Bay, Surfers Paradise, Brisbane, K'gari, five nights in Airlie Beach with the Whitsundays sail, Cairns. The 9 December departure spends Christmas Day in Airlie Beach.

From, per person$4,599
View tour page

East Coast Explorer · 6 Weeks

Sydney to Cairns 43 days 10 to 20 people

The 5 week route with an extra week on the road. Every December departure has both Christmas Day and New Year on tour. Ask us where you will be on the day for the date you want.

From, per person$6,799
View tour page

East Coast Explorer · 4 Weeks

Brisbane to Cairns 28 days Skip the Sydney leg

Already done Sydney and Byron? Start in Brisbane and go straight for Noosa, K'gari, the Whitsundays, Magnetic Island and Cairns. Departures twice a week through December.

From, per person$4,699
View tour page

East Coast Explorer · 7 Weeks

Sydney to Cairns 50 days 10 to 20 people

Everything on the East Coast at a pace where nothing is rushed. One departure over the holidays, 26 November, ending in Cairns mid-January.

From, per person$7,999
Book Now View tour page
Limited spaces · 8 days

Sydney New Year Week

29 December to 5 January. Seven nights at Wake Up Sydney with a group of 10 to 20 travellers, a private harbour catamaran cruise, Bondi on New Year's Day, then two nights at Port Stephens: sandboarding, the Tomaree hike and a dolphin cruise. Group leader the whole way.

29 DecMeet 11:30am, Wake Up Sydney
10 to 20people, one group leader
$300deposit, balance 45 days out
  • Airport arrival transfer
  • 7 nights at Wake Up Sydney
  • Welcome dinner and city walk
  • Private harbour catamaran, BBQ and swim
  • Bondi Beach on New Year's Day
  • Port Stephens, 2 nights basecamp
  • Sandboarding on Stockton dunes
  • Tomaree National Park hike
  • Dolphin cruise
  • 3 dinners, 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches
Books out every year

New Year Week 2026 - 27

DepartsTue 29 Dec 2026
EndsTue 5 Jan 2027
NYE itselfFree day. Cruise, festival or harbour ticket, $0 to $399
PriceFrom $1,999 per person
Limited spaces
72% booked
Book Now View the New Year Week page
Sydney events · Short trips · City packages

December Downunder

Staying in Australia for the holidays? Christmas cruise and pub crawl in Sydney, surf camps, or a short trip up the coast: K'gari for Christmas, the Whitsundays for NYE, the reef for nine days. Meet other solo travellers or bring your mates.

Working Holiday Traveller Christmas Cruise

Sat 19 Dec, 1pm to 5pm 4 hour cruise King Street Wharf 9

Sydney Harbour backpacker cruise. Aussie BBQ included, BYO drinks (RSA rules apply), swimming stop, Christmas hats. Meet other solo travellers or bring your mates.

Per ticket$99
Buy Tickets

Christmas Pub Crawl

Sat 19 Dec, 7:30pm til late 4 party bars

Four party bars, free entry, 4 drinks, Santa hats and a Christmas scavenger hunt. Do the cruise in the afternoon and roll straight into this.

First release$25
Buy Tickets

Ultimate Surf Camp · Christmas

22 to 26 Dec 5 days, 4 nights Seven Mile Beach

Coach from Sydney, up to 8 surf lessons, all meals, Rip Curl wetsuits and boards, free surf photos. Christmas lunch on the beach.

From, per person$895
Book Now View tour page

Ultimate Surf Camp · New Year

29 Dec to 2 Jan 5 days, 4 nights Seven Mile Beach

Same camp, same inclusions. Surf on the 31st, beach party for midnight, first surf of the year on the 1st if you are up for it.

From, per person$895
Book Now View tour page

Ultimate Sydney And Beaches

Sydney 7 days Departs 3, 7, 10, 14, 17 Dec

Landing in Sydney before Christmas? A week of the city done properly: harbour cruise, Bondi to Coogee, Blue Mountains, and a crew of people to spend December with.

From, per person$1,199
Book Now View tour page

K'gari Tag-Along · Christmas

Rainbow Beach return 23 to 25 Dec 3 days, 2 nights

Guided 4WD, two nights camping on the beach, all meals, Lake McKenzie, Eli Creek, the Maheno wreck and Champagne Pools. Christmas lunch on the island.

From, per person$619
Book Now View tour page

New Horizon Whitsundays · NYE

Airlie Beach return 30 Dec to 1 Jan 3 days, 2 nights

21 metre schooner, up to 32 on board, all meals. Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet, snorkelling on the reef, midnight on deck. Check in 1:45pm at Coral Sea Marina.

From, per person$705
Book Now View tour page

K'gari Plus Whitsundays · 10 Days

Rainbow Beach to Airlie Beach 23 Dec to 1 Jan Bus between included

Both trips above with the Greyhound between them and a few free days in Airlie. Cheaper than the two sold separately.

From, per person$1,249
Book Now

Great Barrier Reef · 9 Day Cruise

Cairns return 9 days Cabin, meals, reef days

Nine days on the water. Cheaper than nine nights in a Sydney hostel over Christmas, and you wake up on the reef.

From, per person$999
Book Now View tour page
Gift cards

Give The Gift Of Travel

They have already booked the tour. What they have not booked is the skydive, the scenic flight, or the Whitsundays sail. A gift card is valid on any group tour or travel package.

  • Any amount from $50. Sent by email in minutes, or scheduled for Christmas morning.
  • Valid on any group tour or travel package, and on optional activities for a tour that is already booked.
  • Redeemed at checkout or with our sales team over the phone.
Buy A Gift Card
UltimateGift Card
$250
Valid on any group tour or travel package
Christmas Tours

  • DECEMBER TRAVEL

    CHRISTMAS IN AUSTRALIA

    December-Christmas

DECEMBER TRAVEL

See out the year in style by touring the Australian East Coast! Australia is the Land Down Under where seasons are opposite to the Northern Hemisphere. When Aussies celebrate Christmas on December 25, it is the beginning of the Summer Holiday Season. The warm weather and Sunny Days means there is plenty to see and do around the country. Sydney is an incredible place to see in the New Year, but it can be quite expensive. Our advice is make plans early and set yourself up for an Ultimate Holiday season. Check out our tailored Christmas tour offers and specials below.

things-to-do-in-syd-christmas

EAST COAST AUSTRALIA TOURS

SAVE 10%

DECEMBER START

East Coast 5 Week Explorer

Sydney to Cairns Fuly Guided Group Tour
Sydney
Cairns
5.0 Rating - 1078 Traveller Reviews
📆 35 Days
👥 Ages: 18-35
🗺️ 12 Stops

Get ready for an epic guided group adventure on the Ultimate East Coast Australia Explorer tour from Sydney to Cairns.

Standard Price$5799
From $5219
View Tour
SAVE 10%

DECEMBER START

East Coast 6 Week Explorer

Sydney to Cairns Group Tour. Easy Pace
Sydney
Cairns
5.0 Rating - 1078 Traveller Reviews
📆 43 days
👥 Ages: 18-35
🗺️ 12 Stops

From Sydney to Cairns, we’ll explore the best of Australia’s East Coast on this Ultimate 6 Week East Coast Australia tour.

Standard Price$6799
From $6119
View Tour
SAVE 10%

DECEMBER START

East Coast 7 Week Explorer

50 Days Melbourne to Cairns Tour
Melbourne
Cairns
4.9 Rating - 1144 Traveller Reviews
📆 50 Days
👥 Ages: 18-35
🗺️ 12 Stops

From Melbourne to Cairns, we’ll explore the best of Australia’s East Coast. You will get to experience Melbourne before heading to Sydney and continuing the adventure through to Cairns!

Standard Price$7999
From $7199
View Tour

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN SYDNEY

SYDNEY

Sydney New Year’s Eve Tour

New Years Eve in Sydney for 18-35s
4.9 Rating - 1627 Traveller Reviews
📆 8 Days
👥 18-35
🗺️ 2
Sydney
Sydney

The Ultimate Sydney New Year package is the best way to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Australia!

VIEW TOUR
chrismtas-sydney-harbour-cruise-ultimate-travel
chrismtas-sydney-pub-crawl-ultimate-travel

MORE TRAVEL OPTIONS

2026/2027 TRAVEL

Ultimate 5-Day Surf Camp

Learn to Surf in Australia
Sydney
Sydney
4.7 Rating - 51 Traveller Reviews
📆 5 days
👥 Ages: 18-35
🗺️ 1 Stop

Learn to surf at the Ultimate Surf Camp. 5 days of surf lessons, accommodation and transport from Sydney. Great for beginners.

Standard Price$895
From $855
View Tour
SAVE 10%

2026/2027 TRAVEL

New Zealand Highlights Tour

Fully Guided North & South Island Tour
Auckland
Queenstown
4.9 Rating - 336 Traveller Reviews
📆 21 Days
👥 Age: 18-35
🗺️ 10 Stops

Explore New Zealand on our 21 day ULTIMATE New Zealand Highlights Tour. Auckland to Queenstown in 3 Weeks on this Guided Backpacker Tour.

Standard Price$4999
From $4499
View Tour

2026/2027 TRAVEL

South East Asia Highlights

Spend 31 days travelling through South East Asia
Thailand
Cambodia
5.0 Rating - 9 Traveller Reviews
📆 31 days
👥 Ages: 18-35
🗺️ 12 Stops

South East Asia Highlights Group Tour! Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. Accommodation, All Transport, Local Culture, Advenutre and more

From $5499
View Tour

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