WHERE DOES THE TOUR START AND FINISH?
WHO WILL I BE TRAVELLING WITH?
WHERE WILL I BE STAYING?
CAN I BOOK ANY EXTRAS WITH MY TRIP?
CAN I BOOK EXTRA NIGHTS?
WHAT IS AN ORIENTATION WALK?
CAN YOU HELP ME ORGANISE FLIGHTS & INSURANCE?
ARE THERE ANY EXTRA FEES?
ARE MEALS INCLUDED?
IS AN AIRPORT TRANSFER INCLUDED?
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO EXPLORE AUSTRALIA?
IS THERE FREE TIME ON THIS TOUR?
CAN I TRAVEL WITH SPECIAL DIETARY REQUIREMENTS?
CAN I TRAVEL WITH A MEDICAL CONDITION?
HOW MUCH SPENDING MONEY DO I NEED?
WHO IS THIS TRIP DESIGNED FOR?
WHAT WILL HAPPEN AFTER A TOUR?
WHAT TYPE OF TRANSPORT WILL WE BE TAKING?
IS TRAVEL INSURANCE REQUIRED?
HOW DO I BOOK?
JOINING A TOUR WAITLIST
WHERE DOES THE TOUR START AND FINISH?
The Ultimate East Coast Australia Explorer (5 Week) and Explorer + Sydney (6 Week) start in Sydney on Mondays (Thursdays or Saturdays) at 11.30am and ends in Cairns on Mondays (Thursdays or Saturdays) at 10am. At the end of your adventure your Group Leader can help you to arrange onward travel.
Main Tour Meeting Point: WakeUp Hostel Sydney Central at 11.30am.
Tour End Point: Gilligan's Hostel and Resort Cairns at 10am on checkout.
WHO WILL I BE TRAVELLING WITH?
You’ll be travelling with a group of 18-30-somethings from all over the world, and an ULTIMATE Group Leader. Group sizes vary but you can generally expect to travel with a group of approximately 10-20 people.
WHERE WILL I BE STAYING?
We stay at some of the most popular hostels along the Australian East Coast. All prices are based on shared accommodation in 4 - 12 share dorm style rooms.
Twin and private room upgrades are available to book but are subject to availability and single supplement charges. Note: Twin and Private room upgrades are not available on the Whitsundays, Fraser Island or overnight buses. Twin and Single room upgrades may still have shared bathroom facilities.
CAN I BOOK ANY EXTRAS WITH MY TRIP?
Various activity add-ons on your way up the East Coast coast including: Skydive, Bungy Jump, white Water Rafting, Waterfall tours and More! You are able to add your extras to your experience when making your booking or you can book with your Group Leader once the tour commences. A full list of optional activities is made available to you prior to your tour starting. Please note that optional activities are subject to availability and additional booking terms and conditions.
CAN I BOOK EXTRA NIGHTS?
If you need additional nights before or after your Ultimate East Coast Australia Explorer tour, just add them to your booking when you checkout. Not sure if you need extra nights? Get in touch to chat with a member of the crew before or after you book. If you are arriving early into Sydney or want to explore more of the harbour city before starting your trip, book our 6 Week East Coast Explorer tour which includes an entire week in Sydney prior to connecting with the 5 Week East Coast Explorer tour.
WHAT IS AN ORIENTATION 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.
CAN YOU HELP ME ORGANISE FLIGHTS & INSURANCE?
We are unable to book flights, but we always recommend using online search engines to research the best available flight routes, prices and times. To ease your experience, we suggest booking via a Travel Agent or directly with your preferred airline.
Travel insurance is required to participate in this tour. We recommend that you find and compare various policies to ensure you have an appropriate level of coverage for you adventure. Not sure where to start? You can find some trusted Travel Insurers here.
ARE THERE ANY EXTRA FEES?
We have done our best to include all fees and charges but there are some key touring components 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
Optional Activity Levies - Whilst on tour, various local activity operators may charge a levy that is to be paid direct on the day your activity takes place. These will be communicated to you when booking any optional activities. A local 'levy' is generally a tax or administration fee.
ARE MEALS INCLUDED?
Australia has no shortage of incredible food and when travelling on our East Coast tours, we make sure we include some iconic Australian BBQs. Please refer to the tour itinerary and inclusions for a list of included meals, but please note that meals are generally not included and we recommend you account for meals and drinks in your budgeting
IS AN AIRPORT TRANSFER INCLUDED?
An airport shuttle on arrival is included. During the booking process, or once you have booked your flights, supply us with your full flight details and we'll arrange the shuttle to take you to the tour meeting point. You can arrive up to three days before your tour starts and we'll ensure a transfer is available to you. Closer to the start of your tour we'll supply you with details on where to go at the airport to meet your transfer. If you do not receive this email at least one week before your tour then please contact us.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO EXPLORE 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?
Yes! Our East Coast Explorer tour range is suited to travellers who want to travel at a reasonable pace and tailor their experience to their preferences. Each stop along our journey to Cairns will have some free time for you to explore with our group and on your own.
CAN I TRAVEL WITH SPECIAL DIETARY REQUIREMENTS?
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 can 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.
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.
HOW MUCH SPENDING MONEY DO I NEED?
On our Group Tours, your transport and accommodation along with the meals and activities listed on the itinerary are all included in your tour price. While you are travelling you may wish to participate in additional activities which you will need to budget for. While travelling you may wish to eat and drink out or you may plan to cook and prepare some of your own meals.
As a guide, we recommend you budget an additional $80 - $100 AUD per day for spending money. Please note that all travellers are different and you may wish to travel with additional spending money. There are amazing optional activities and food options on offer on the East Coast and if you desire to experience most of them, you may wish to budget for additional spending money.
WHO IS THIS TRIP DESIGNED FOR?
Our East Coast Explorer tours are designed for travellers 18-35 that wish to experience the best of the East Coast. Some travellers will be on Gap Years and others will be on short holiday breaks looking to have fun, meet new people and experience Australia. Our tours are Social and Fun and our itineraries are designed for those who are eager to travel and experience their ULTIMATE Travel Moment. You should join us if you are looking to meet other travellers, make the most of every moment and experience the best of the East Coast.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN AFTER A TOUR?
At the end of your tour you'll be full of emotions and some amazing memories, but the adventure doesn't have to stop there! If you’re unsure of what to do after your package ends, talk to your leader or drop us an email or give us a call – we’re happy to give you recommendations on what to do next!
If you’ve got the travel bug our friendly travel experts can talk you through some options – and even set you up with some sweet deals on discounted travel!
On a working holiday and looking for a job? Our jobs expert can help you write the perfect CV and apply for jobs.
We love hearing from you and we’re here to assist you any way we can!
WHAT TYPE OF TRANSPORT WILL WE BE TAKING?
We travel from Sydney to Great Barrier Reef via public transport, train and coaches. Our point to point transport feature air-conditioning, leather reclining seats, Wifi, in-seat USB chargers, and onboard toilets. We travel a whopping 2,420.2 km between Sydney and Cairns and to make the most of our time in each location, we use two overnight coach services to travel, so we arrive rested, refreshed and ready for our next adventure!
IS TRAVEL INSURANCE REQUIRED?
Yes. It is mandatory that you travel with a comprehensive travel insurance policy to cover the likes of cancellation, personal injury and medical expenses. By joining us on tour, you acknowledge that you have obtained a policy and are covered. You are responsible for reading and understanding the details of the policy that you are taking out. You should book your travel insurance at the time of booking your trip.
HOW DO I BOOK?
To book this East Coast Australia tour, select your chosen departure date, enter your details and we’ll send you a booking confirmation as well as useful information about your tour and where you can meet others booked onto your start date! Got a travel date in mind but not ready to pay in full? Choose to pay a non-refundable $300 deposit to secure a spot on your chosen departure date. Need someone to talk through your travel plans with? Get in touch!
JOINING A TOUR WAITLIST
Looking to book a departure date that is already fully booked? You can join our waiting list for a specific tour date via the tour page. When you join our waitlist, you are required to provide a credit card to verify your waitlist request. We will not charge your card at the time of the waitlist. If a tour space becomes available, we will notify you via email and charge your card once you reconfirm your participation. If you wish to join the waitlist for multiple dates, please join the waitlist for your first preferred date and enter your travel period in the booking notes.
