East Coast Tour

12 Day • Guided Tour along the coastline of the east coast of Australia between Sydney, Brisbane and Cairns

Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Sydney, Australia

airline beach whitsundays australia
 
airline beach whitsundays australia

Fraser Island, Australia

kuranda skyrail rainforest australia
 
kuranda skyrail rainforest australia

Cairns, Australia

East Coast Tour

12 Day Tour - Guided Tour along the coastline of the east coast of Australia between Sydney, Brisbane and Cairns

Coastal towns, Islands and Rainforests

Explore the epic Australian eastern coastline including on a guided journey from spectacular Sydney, Byron Bay to the glamorous Gold Coast, pristine Fraser Island and the Whitsundays before tropical Cairns to discover the world-renowned Great Barrier Reef. Life along eastern Australia revolves around water and sand, with Australia’s most fabled islands and beaches strung along the coast.

12 Day East Coast Tour Sydney to Cairns
$7740CAD
per person, based on twin room
  • Tour includes:
  • 11 nights accommodation, Travel Director & Driver Guide, 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
  • Departure Dates:
  • 2024: 3 Jun, 8 Jul, 9 Sep, 7 Oct, 4 Nov, 2 Dec
    2025:  6 Jan, 3 Feb, 3 Mar, 25 Aug, 3 Nov
    2026:  2 Feb, 2 Mar
  • Meals: 11 Breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 Dinners
  • Price is based on highest season rate per person, based on double occupancy. Contact us for Single Traveller Rates, special offers and best available tour prices based on your preferred departure date.
9 Day East Coast Tour Brisbane to Cairns
$6260CAD
per person, based on twin room
  • Tour includes:
  • 8 nights accommodation, Travel Director & Driver Guide, 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
  • Departure Dates:
  • 2024: 4 Apr, 12 Sep, 10 Oct, 7 Nov, 5 Dec
    2025:  9 Jan, 6 Feb, 6 Mar, 28 Aug, 6 Nov
    2026:  5 Feb, 5 Mar
  • Meals: 8 Breakfasts, 3 lunches, 1 Dinner
  • Price is based on highest season rate per person, based on double occupancy. Contact us for Single Traveller Rates, special offers and best available tour prices based on your preferred departure date.

Trip Details

Included in your trip

Tour Guide
Hotel Accommodations
Cultural Experience
Some Meals
Itinerary

EXCLUDED FROM YOUR TRIP

International Flights/Airfare
Travel Insurance
Tips/Gratuities
Items of a Personal Nature

WHERE WILL YOU VISIT?

  • Sydney
  • Coffs Harbour
  • Byron Bay
  • Cape Byron Lighthouse
  • Gold Coast
  • Surfers Paradise
  • K’gari (Fraser Island)
  • Kingfisher Bay
  • Rockhampton
  • Airlie Beach
  • Townsville
  • Cairns
  • Atherton Tablelands
  • Kuranda
  • Great Barrier Reef

TRIP ITINERARY

Australia East Coast Guided Tour from Sydney to Cairns

12 Day Adventure

Sample itinerary and inclusions based on 12-day version of tour:

Map Australia East Coast Tour 12 Days QSC


Touring Highlights in Australia:

  • Full day tour of K’gari (Fraser Island)
  • Exclusive tour and afternoon tea at a working cattle station with the Creed Family
  • Guided Tour of Sarina Sugar Shed
  • Take in the Millaa Millaa Falls lookout & Curtain Fig Tree
  • Free time to soak up the rainforest village of Kuranda
  • Journey over the UNESCO World Heritage listed rainforest with Skyrail
  • Dive into the ocean of the Great Barrier Reef

Day 1: Sydney to Coffs Harbour

Welcome to Sydney! Start discovering the landscapes of Australia’s east coast as you travel northward to the coastal town of Coffs Harbour. From your accommodation nestled amongst sprawling tropical gardens, you’ll have the opportunity to wander down to Little Diggers Beach and Diggers Head. Tonight enjoy a welcome dinner.

Day 2: Coffs Harbour to Gold Coast

Journey to Cape Byron Lighthouse and enjoy superb views from Australia’s eastern-most point over the Pacific Ocean. At the right time of year, you may be lucky enough to spot migrating whales frolicking off the coast. For lunch we recommend fresh fish and chips on the beach at Byron Bay, there’.

Day 3: Gold Coast Free Time

Today you have the freedom to enjoy the Gold Coast in your own style with optional activities to choose from. Nature lovers may head to Mt Tamborine, foodies explore the growing culinary culture or those needing relaxation just stroll down to the sand and salt of Surfers Paradise Beach.

Day 4: Gold Coast to K’gari (Fraser Island)

Take in the landscape of rolling hills, surrounding mountain peaks and the coastline of the Sunshine Coast before arriving for a relaxed coastal vibe at Hervey Bay. This afternoon the ferry will take you across to the World Heritage Listed K’gari, also known as Fraser Island. Ground yourself back in nature on this sand island.

Day 5: K’gari (Fraser Island)

A day of discovery lies ahead as your 4WD tour takes you for a bumpy ride around the island’s must-see sites. Visit Lake McKenzie, ringed with magnificent white sandy beaches. Walk through the ancient rainforest at Central Station and Wanggoolba Creek with its huge satiny, scribbly gum and kauri trees. Across the island to 75 Mile Beach, the sand highway will take you up the eastern coast to the Pinnacles Coloured Sands; cooling, calm waters of Eli Creek and the famous sinking Maheno Shipwreck.

Day 6: K’gari (Fraser Island) to Rockhampton

This morning a ferry will take you back to the mainland to travel through the Australian countryside to visit Langmorn Station. Take a guided tour of this family run cattle station including the original homestead built in 1873. Enjoy afternoon tea in the garden in the company of the pet kangaroo! Cross the Tropic of Capricorn as you arrive in Rockhampton, the beef capital of Australia. Your night is free so why not try some local beef at one of the town’s steakhouses.

Day 7: Rockhampton to Airlie Beach

Travel north to the sugar town of Sarina, Australia’s sugar capital, to Sarina Sugar Shed, a working miniature sugar mill. On your tour you’ll get a peak into sugar cane processing and witness fully functioning sugar processing and distilling equipment in action. Afterwards you can taste some of the products made on site before sitting down for a light lunch. Continue to Airlie Beach, the gateway hub to the Whitsundays. Spend the next two nights in this vibrant coastal town where you will have free time to explore at your own pace.

Day 8: Airlie Beach Free Time

The Whitsunday Islands are a collection of 74 tropical islands with white sandy beaches and dense rainforest surrounded by The Great Barrier Reef. This tropical oasis offers numerous activities for all budgets and interests. With so many bucket list reasons to get up early, why not take an optional helicopter ride over Heart Reef or perhaps the famous Whitehaven Beach beckons. Take an optional cruise aboard a catamaran to this slice of paradise, where you can simply relax on the beach, take a swim, or get involved in some fun beach activities.

Day 9: Airlie Beach to Cairns

Today head north to Cairns along the Bruce Highway. Relax and take in the scenery as you travel past sugarcane fields and farming lands with the ocean to one side and lush rainforests and mountains on the other. you will stop along the way at a town where you can soak up the relaxed lifestyle that tropical North Queensland has to offer.

Day 10: Cairns

Before breakfast feel free to take a walk along the shore and feel the golden sand between your toes before you depart. Today you will travel through the Atherton Tablelands, lush rainforests, waterfalls and lakes. Visit Millaa Millaa Falls and the famous Curtain Fig Tree. Keep an eye out for the spectacular Ulysses Butterfly while you’re there. Continue to Kuranda where you will stop around lunch time. Enjoy some free time to explore this village in the rainforest. From Kuranda you will take the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway high above the canopy of the Barron Gorge National Park before arriving at your hotel in Cairns.

Day 11: The Great Barrier Reef

Board a high-speed catamaran and cruise out to the Great Barrier Reef. The world heritage listed reef is the only living organism you can see from the moon.  Imagine that! You will have the opportunity to go snorkelling and view this natural living wonder up close to see the spectacular coral and tropical fish from the underwater observatory and the glass bottom boat. Enjoy a delicious tropical buffet lunch before you return to Cairns in the late afternoon. Tonight, is your farewell dinner at a restaurant on Cairns Harbour.

Day 12: Farewell from Cairns

Say farewell to your fellow travellers when your tour comes to an end this morning after breakfast.

 


Important flight booking information for your tour:

Note: All flights referred to in the itinerary are not included in the tour price. Please be aware there are specific flights required to be booked to take this tour. Ask your Downunder Travel Destination Specialist to assist with adding flights to your tour (additional cost).


 

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about East Coast Tour

Trip Code: AUS2403

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