East Coast Australia tours & holidays

Absolutely. All passengers travelling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. It's important to understand that each country you visit may have its own specific entry requirements, and some destinations mandate travel health insurance for all foreign travellers, regardless of their nationality.

We require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation, but minimum coverage may differ from trip to trip, so make sure you check the Travel Insurance section in your Essential Trip Information. You will not be permitted to join the group until your leader has sighted your insurance policy number and the insurance company's 24-hour emergency contact number, and these details will be recorded on the first day of your trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is an essential part of every journey.

For travellers who reside within the European Union, Switzerland or the USA, the requirement to purchase travel insurance cannot be compulsory. However, the purchase of travel insurance is still highly recommended, and travellers from these regions who decline travel insurance when travelling outside their home region must sign a Travel Insurance Waiver Form, recognising personal responsibility for emergency medical and repatriation costs should they arise.

Read more about travel insurance

There is no 'best time' to visit the East Coast as each season offers something different. That said, the most popular time to visit coastal destinations like Byron Bay and the Gold Coast is during the summer when temperatures are warm.

That's not to say you can't have a fantastic time on the East Coast when the weather's a bit colder because you definitely can. Major cities like Melbourne and Sydney still thrive during winter and offer plenty of activities such as hiking in national parks and exploring local markets.

When planning your holiday, ensure you research what activities are available as some activities and national park trails close in certain weather conditions.

The weather on the East Coast varies across each state, but generally, most regions on the East Coast enjoy hot summers and cool winters with clear distinctions between summer, autumn, winter and spring.

There are exceptions to this, though, with destinations in tropical Far North Queensland such as Cairns and Port Douglas experiencing hot, humid and wet summers and dry winters.

Australia's east coast is massive, and the landscapes are diverse, so you'll probably need more than a pair of flip flops, a swimsuit and sunscreen for your trip.

But whether you go to the metropolitan city of Melbourne or snorkel your way over the Great Barrier Reef, there are a few items we think are essential:

• Reusable water bottle 
• Daysack 

• Sunscreen

• Sunglasses (with UV protection)
• Warm layers 
• Insect repellent 
• Portable power bank
• Camera
• Torch
• A swimsuit  
• Comfortable, sturdy footwear 
• Flip flops or sandals
• Lightweight towel

We take the health and safety of our travellers seriously and take every measure to ensure that trips are safe, fun and inclusive for everyone. When you travel with us, you have access to our global support network and local on‑ground leadership, and you can rest easy knowing we have a zero-tolerance policy on discrimination.

We recommend that all travellers check with their government or national travel advisory organisation for the latest information before departure. The World Health Organisation also provides useful health information.

Travelling from Australia?

Go to: Smart Traveller

From Canada?

Go to: Canada Travel Information

From the UK?

Go to: UK Foreign Travel Advice

From New Zealand?

Go to: Safe Travel

From the US?

Go to: US Department of State

Learn more about safe travels with Intrepid

Yes, all Intrepid trips support the Intrepid Foundation. In fact, we make a donation on behalf of every traveller. Trips to Australia directly support our foundation partners, Blue Carbon Lab, Greening Australia and WWF-Australia. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.

Centre for Nature Positive Solutions

By integrating innovative restoration techniques with science-based solutions, the Centre for Nature Positive Solutions rehabilitates vital ecosystems, enhancing biodiversity, strengthening coastal resilience, and increasing their capacity to capture and store carbon, contributing to climate change mitigation. Donations from our trips help the Centre for Nature Positive Solutions to restore the natural coastal wetland areas across Australia. 

Find out more or make a donation  

Greening Australia

Greening Australia is taking action to rebuild resilient ecosystems across Australia, from the warm waters of the Great Barrier Reef to the cool island ark of Tasmania. Donations from our trips help them tackle Australia's complex environmental challenges through large on-ground restoration projects and innovative research initiatives that help scale their impact.  

Find out more or make a donation

Country Needs People

Country Needs People support Indigenous land and sea management in Australia. Donations help them empower Indigenous communities to rehabilitate and protect places of significance on land and sea using traditional knowledge paired with modern technology.

Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.

Find out more or make a donation

We believe travel should be accessible to everyone. Although some destinations and itineraries may be more accessible than others, we'll do our best to accommodate your needs, make reasonable adjustments where possible or guide you toward the most suitable trips. Get in touch with our friendly adventure consultants to chat about your options.

Our Tailor-Made team can also help you plan a customised trip just for you.