Australia East Coast in 14 Days
The east coast is 2,500km long, so the real decision is what you skip. This version uses three internal flights to buy back a week of bus time and still hits reef, rainforest and city.
14
Days
£110–£180 / $140–$225 per person per day
Per day
September–November and March–May; the far north is best May–October
Best time
15
Nights
Your day-by-day plan
Arrive Sydney
Morning · Land, train into the city, drop bags
Afternoon · Circular Quay, Opera House, Botanic Gardens
Evening · Early dinner, fight the jet lag
Beaches
Morning · Bondi to Coogee coastal walk
Afternoon · Manly ferry and the North Head lookout
Evening · Surry Hills
Blue Mountains
Morning · Train to Katoomba, Three Sisters
Afternoon · Scenic World and the Grand Canyon track
Evening · Back to Sydney
Sydney to Byron
Morning · Flight to Ballina, collect a car
Afternoon · Byron main beach, Wategos
Evening · Town dinner
Byron Bay
Morning · Cape Byron lighthouse walk at sunrise
Afternoon · Hinterland: Minyon Falls or Nimbin
Evening · Live music
Gold Coast to Brisbane
Morning · Drive north, Burleigh Heads
Afternoon · Brisbane South Bank
Evening · Riverside dinner
Noosa or fly north
Morning · Noosa National Park coastal track
Afternoon · Eumundi market if it's Wed/Sat
Evening · Back to Brisbane
Whitsundays
Morning · Flight to Hamilton Island or Proserpine
Afternoon · Airlie Beach lagoon
Evening · Marina sunset
Whitehaven Beach
Morning · Boat to Hill Inlet lookout
Afternoon · Whitehaven's silica sand
Evening · Airlie
Sail or snorkel
Morning · Day sail around the islands
Afternoon · Snorkel stop at a fringing reef
Evening · Pack for the north
Cairns
Morning · Flight north
Afternoon · Esplanade lagoon, Rusty's market
Evening · Night market dinner
Great Barrier Reef
Morning · Outer reef pontoon or a small-boat trip to Michaelmas Cay
Afternoon · Second and third snorkel sites
Evening · Recover
Daintree and Cape Tribulation
Morning · Mossman Gorge and the ferry crossing
Afternoon · Rainforest boardwalks, crocodile cruise
Evening · Port Douglas
Home
Morning · Kuranda Skyrail if your flight is late
Afternoon · Cairns airport
Evening · —
Local tips that save you money
- Reef trips get cancelled for wind; book yours for the first of your Cairns days so you have a spare.
- Australian sun is a different animal — SPF50, a hat, and a rash vest for snorkelling.
- Internal flights are cheap if booked early and brutal if booked late. Lock them the day you book the international leg.
Australia: common questions
How many days do you need in Australia?+
This plan covers 14 days, which is the sweet spot for Australia East Coast without doubling back. You can trim the last two days or add a beach stop if you have longer.
What is the best time to visit Australia?+
September–November and March–May; the far north is best May–October. Shoulder months give you the same sights with lower prices and shorter queues.
How much does a trip to Australia cost?+
Budget roughly £110–£180 / $140–$225 per person per day, excluding international flights. That covers accommodation, food, local transport and entry tickets at a mid-range pace.
How do you get around in Australia?+
Domestic flights Sydney–Brisbane–Hamilton Island–Cairns, hire car for Byron and the Daintree.
