• East-Coast-Explorer-6-Week-Sydney-to-Cairns-Group-Tour
42-DAY / 42-NIGHT GROUP TOUR
EAST COAST EXPLORER + SYDNEY
6-WEEK GROUP TOUR | EAST COAST AUSTRALIA TOUR
Prices start from
$6,119
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$6,799
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42 DAY / 42-NIGHT GROUP TOUR

EAST COAST EXPLORER +

6-WEEK GROUP TOUR | SYDNEY TO CAIRNS

5.0 Rating - 1078 Traveller Reviews
Prices start from
$6,119
Save 10%
$6,799
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

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TRIP OVERVIEW

From Sydney to Cairns, we’ll explore the best of Australia’s East Coast on this Ultimate 6 Week East Coast Australia tour. From Sydney’s city vibes to the surf culture of Bondi Beach, we’ll experience everything this amazing city has to offer before starting our Ultimate East Coast Explorer tour! Chill in Byron Bay, explore Fraser Island by 4×4, sail the Whitsundays, snorkel the Great Barrier Reef and everything in between – we’ll check everything off your Aussie bucket list!

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

  • Spend 6 unforgettable weeks exploring Australia’s iconic East Coast from Sydney to Cairns
  • Experience a 3 Day / 2 Night K’gari (Fraser Island) camping adventure and a 2 Night Whitsundays sailing trip
  • Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef and explore the stunning Atherton Tablelands waterfalls
  • Enjoy 5 nights in Cairns with plenty of free time and optional adrenaline activities
  • Discover Australia’s highlights including Sydney, Byron Bay, Surfers Paradise, Brisbane, Noosa and Magnetic Island
  • Free time in every destination to customise your adventure with optional experiences
  • Fully guided from Sydney to Cairns by an experienced ULTIMATE Group Leader
  • Our most popular, award-winning East Coast Australia tour
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  • ULTIMATE Group Leader – This trip is fully led by a Group Leader. We travel from Sydney to Cairns in the same group!
  • 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
  • Bondi Beach Day – Visit the world renowned ‘Bondi Beach’ and do the Coogee to Bondi Coastal Walk
  • Port Stephens 3 Day Experience – Go sandboarding, dolphin watching and hike Mt. Tomaree whilst staying 2 nights in eco-cabins a 5 minute walk from the beach
  • 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.
  • 3 day / 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 TOUR ITINERARY

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DAY 1 WELCOME TO SYDNEY

Your Ultimate East Coast Explorer + Sydney adventure kicks off today after you arrive in Sydney! When you land, our driver will take you directly to your accommodation – one of Sydney’s best backpacker hostels. Settle in and get ready for your epic adventure in the land down under! Today, join us at Ultimate HQ where you’ll meet the rest of your group. We’ll talk you through the plans for the next few weeks, answer any questions you have and introduce you to the crew. Next, we’ll take you on a guided city walk; think selfies in front of Sydney Opera House, lunch in Darling Harbour, lush Botanical Gardens and China Town. This evening we’ll take you to our favourite backpacker bar for our Welcome dinner.

DAY 2 EXPLORE SYDNEY HARBOUR

Today, we explore Sydney Harbour on our private catamaran! We’ll cruise under The Harbour Bridge and past the Opera House stopping off at one of Sydney’s hidden bays for a swim. Enjoy your first Aussie BBQ, jump into the warm harbour waters and sip on a few chilled beers in the sunshine! What better way to spend your first two days in Sydney?

DAY 3 – 5 PORT STEPHENS

Today we head to  Port Stephens. Stay in our eco-friendly cabins that are only a 5 minute walk away from the beach! At Base Camp we will go sandboarding, hike to the most picturesque viewpoint in NSW – Mt. Tomaree, and jump on a dolphin cruise before heading back to Sydney.

DAY 6 – 8 SYDNEY

This weekend we are back in Sydney! We will head to the beach for the famous Coogee to Bondi Coastal walk before jumping on the ULTIMATE pub crawl to see what Sydney nightlife is all about. Your group leader will be available to help you book any Bucket List activities you may want to do like visit The Blue Mountains or climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge. On Monday, we meet the rest of our travel group and board the overnight bus to Byron Bay! Sit back, relax and get ready for our epic East Coast adventure!

DAY 9 – 12 BYRON BAY

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Byron Bay is famous for it’s amazing beaches, laid-back-surfer attitude and boho vibes. Here we’ll explore the relaxed town and some of the many beautiful beaches in the area as well as the famous Byron Lighthouse, standing at the most easterly point of the Australian mainland. Embrace the surfer vibes of Byron with a professional surf lesson. Keen for more? Get up close with friendly wild dolphins on a dolphin kayaking tour or check out many other beaches and waterfalls surrounding Byron (add-ons).

DAY 13-15 SURFERS PARADISE

This morning, we’ll hop on the bus to Surfers Paradise: where long stretches of stunning sandy beaches meet high rise buildings and never-ending nightlife! By day we’ll explore the town and beaches and at night, we’ll make the most of the nightlife! Get dressed up and join our optional party night (add-on) for the real Surfers experience! Join a stand up paddleboarding session (add-on) or if you love theme parks, your group leader can also help you organise a visit Dreamworld, The Gold Coast’s most famous theme park (optional add-on).

DAY 16-18 BRISBANE CITY

After a short journey North of the Gold Coast, we’ll arrive at our Brisbane accommodation, right in the city centre. We’ll spend the next two days checking out some of Brisbane’s hotspots including Street’s Beach (Brisbane’s man-made city lagoon), Brisbane River and the cultural hub of the South bank. You’ll also have the option to head to the famous Australia Zoo to see some amazing wildlife! (add-on).

DAY 19 – 20 NOOSA

 

If being surrounded by tropical greenery and beautiful beaches is your cup of tea, you’ll love Noosa! We’ll hike through National Parks to lookouts boasting incredible views over Noosa’s spectacular coastline, stopping off to spot amazing Australian wildlife along the way. Chill out at the hostel pool, take a free surfboard down to the beach and experience a local backpacker bar in town!

DAY 21-25 RAINBOW BEACH

Our next stop is Rainbow beach, the gateway to our K’gari adventure! Check into our hostel prepare for the adventure of a lifetime. Upon return to Rainbow Beach you will have a guided walk to the Carlo Sand Blow, a unique sand mass where you can watch the sunset over the southern tip of K’gari! The rest your time is free for you to chill on the beach, explore Rainbow or relax at the hostel.

DAY 22-24 K’GARI (FRASER ISLAND)

Welcome to World Heritage listed K’gari (Fraser Island), the world’s largest sand island! You’ll be spending the next few days on this island paradise, exploring sand dunes by 4×4, driving through lush rainforest, swimming in crystal clear lakes, spotting rare Aussie wildlife and seeing other unique aspects of the island. At night, we’ll set up camp at our own private campsite just metres from the beach. After an epic few days on Fraser Island we return to Rainbow beach to rest and recharge before heading to the Whitsundays. But the adventure doesn’t stop here!

DAY 26-31 AIRLIE BEACH

Check into your hostel before heading out to explore tropical Airlie Beach, taking a dip in the famous harbourfront lagoon. We’ll be spending the next few days cruising around the stunning Whitsunday islands on a Maxi sailing yacht. After two amazing days on the boat, we’ll head back to our hostel in Airlie Beach for the next two nights for the After Boat Party and where you can add on activities like jet skiing or a scenic flight over The Great Barrier Reef!

DAY 29 – 31 WHITSUNDAYS SAILING

Let’s sail the Whitsundays, we’ll be sleeping onboard so get comfy, have a drink, enjoy some delicious food, and settle into the gorgeous surroundings. Snorkel in pristine blue waters, visit some of the whitest sandy beaches in the world, chill with your mates and witness some incredible sun sets. The Whitsundays are breathtaking! – it doesn’t get any better than this!

DAY 32 – 34 MAGNETIC ISLAND

You’re in for a treat as we spend the next few days exploring Magnetic Island – home to wild koalas, wallabies, and golden sandy beaches. Snorkel in the pristine island waters, take the guided Fort’s walk offering incredible views of the island and chill at the beach front hostel. Want to explore the rest of the island? Rent a 4×4 ‘Topless jeep’ and drive around the island with your mates (available for hire)!

DAY 35 – 36 MISSION BEACH

Mission Beach East Coast Australia Group Tour

This afternoon we leave Magnetic Island and travel to the beautiful beachside town of Mission beach where the reef and rainforest meet. The sunrise here in Tropical North Queensland is magical! This morning we recommend hiking into the neighbouring National Park, part of the traditional country of The Djiru Aboriginal people. Feeling adventurous? You have the option of joining our awesome white water rafting adventure in Tully, just a short distance from Mission Beach! (add-on). Mission beach is also home to Australia’s highest (15,000ft!) and most popular skydiving spot – an experience not to be missed for the adrenaline junkies out there! You’ll get the chance to do a skydive the following morning, before we travel on to Cairns. Pre-book your skydive (add-on) or arrange with the help of your guide as you travel, no worries!

DAY 37 – 42 CAIRNS

This evening we arrive in Cairns, our final stop along the East Coast and the Ultimate backpacker destination – you are in for a treat! Our resort style accommodation is one of the best in Cairns, with luxury air conditioned en-suite dorm rooms, a huge pool and daily entertainment. Sit back, relax, and prepare for the next few exciting days! Keen to see more? Explore the rainforest on our Cape Tribulation add-ons!

DAY 39 GREAT BARRIER REEF

We will explore the famous Great Barrier Reef. We’ll cruise to the outer reef to snorkel with inquisitive Nemos, stingrays, turtles and friendly Maori Wrasse and learn all about the diverse marinelife of the reef. When we’re not exploring the rainforest and reef, we’ll hang out at Cairn’s famous harbourfront lagoon, hit the local bars and party the night away at our hostel’s very own club! On our last evening we’ll take you to our favourite spot to reflect on an epic 6 weeks of Aussie East Coast fun!

WHERE WE STAY

The Ultimate East Coast Australia Explorer 6 week tour includes 40 nights accommodation and 2 overnight buses.

  • 36-nights are spent in dorm share accommodation in some of 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 6 Week
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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

Our East Coast Explorer tours are designed for travellers 18-35 that wish to experience the best of the East Coast in a relaxed period of time. The tour is packed full of inclusions, visiting all the hot spots on the coast in 6 weeks. The tour requires a moderate level of fitness. We spend 2-5 nights in location so that you have time to customise your experience with your own activities and free time in addition to the tour inclusions.

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.

We travel from Sydney to Cairns 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!

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