Sparkling beaches, culturally vibrant cities, and famous national landmarks - welcome to the east coast of Australia.
Travelled by bucket-listers for decades, Australia’s east coast encompasses the very best this country has to offer whether that’s idyllic islands in tropical far north Queensland, Sydney’s cosmopolitan streets or incredible hiking trails across Victoria’s varied landscapes. From the towering cliffs along the Great Ocean Road to the sky-high trees in the Daintree Rainforest (and the 3,000km of extraordinary coastline in between), our East Coast Australia tours and holidays promise an action-packed road trip full of fascinating things to discover, soon-to-be lifelong friends, and memories you’ll remember forever.
It doesn’t get more iconic than Sydney with its distinctive Opera House, architecturally designed Harbour Bridge, shopping precincts, and internationally famed Bondi Beach, so spending a few days in this pulsating place is a must-do on any east coast Australia tour. Bursting with thrilling things to do, from dining at world-class restaurants to wandering through gardens full of native flora and fauna, Sydney promises endless excitement for the whole family.
It’s no secret that Victoria is well known for its natural beauty, and one of the best ways to immerse yourself in all that Mother Nature has to offer is to get off two feet and onto two wheels. From cycling along the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail to pedalling through the gold-mining towns of Myrtleford and Beechworth, the Victorian High Country boasts one of the best Aussie wine regions and the most breathtaking landscapes you’re ever likely to see.
Swim the Great Barrier Reef
You can’t travel to the east coast of Australia and not take some time to explore the marine landscape of the Great Barrier Reef properlyGreat Barrier Reef. Globally recognised as a national wonder, this living organism is almost 2,000km long and 80km wide, running from the tip of northern Queensland to Bundaberg in the state’s southeast. Choose from snorkelling or diving adventures to get up close and personal with colourful coral gardens and bright tropical fish.
Boasting the title of one of Australia’s most stunning mountain ranges, New South Wales Blue Mountains promise outstanding mountaintop views and unique rock formations you won’t want to stop taking photos of (and rightly so). From discovering the magic of Wentworth Falls and enjoying a ride on the scenic railway to hiking past iconic sights such as the Three Sisters, Jamison Valley, and Echo Point, one visit to this epic landscape simply isn’t enough.
Discover the Daintree Rainforest
The Daintree Rainforest is a nature lover’s paradise. If you don’t believe us, all you have to do is read Sir David Attenborough's words describing the UNESCO World Heritage-listed site as “the most extraordinary place on Earth.” Whether you feel like traversing through the lush greenery and stumbling upon hidden gorges and cascading waterfalls or learning about the landscape from its First Nations inhabitants, the Kuku Yalanji people, the Daintree Rainforest can’t be missed.
It’s not often that a destination is just as good as the hype surrounding it, but the Great Ocean Road is one of those rare places. Characterised by its winding, coastal route along sandstone cliffs and concentrated rainforest hinterland, this stretch of road features many iconic stops along the way, including the famous Twelve Apostles, the lighthouse at Airey’s Inlet, and Apollo Bay with its captivating ocean views and trendy restaurants full of freshly caught seafood.
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Walk Queensland's Scenic Rim
Melissa · Traveled September 2024
Our Scenic Rim Walking Tour was amazing! Our tour leader Alison, was so friendly, knowledgeable and helpful and looked after all our needs from day 1. The walking was very manageable and we learnt a lot about the birds and wildflife. It was so much fun sharing the experience with like minded people and relaxing at night time with each other. I highly recommend this trip. It has changed my outlook on being with nature, and I am ready to keep exploring our beautiful world.
Review submitted 16 Sep 2024
North Queensland Adventure
Alexis · Traveled September 2024
Can Not recommend this trip. For most of the trip we had a very poor tour guide that didn’t know much about the tour, didn’t communicate well with his clients and was not good at driving a small bus around.
Review submitted 19 Sep 2024
Sydney to Cairns Adventure
Liberty · Traveled August 2024
A brilliant trip that shows you lots of places on the East coast.
Taimi was an excellent tour guide and shared her knowledge of the country throughout the trip.
Activities are suited to all abilities - a good mix of sightseeing, walking and sporting.
There are long drives to get to each location and not many meals included.
Would definitely recommend this trip.
Review submitted 16 Sep 2024
Sydney to Cairns Adventure
Laura · Traveled August 2024
I would highly recommended the Sydney to Cairns Adventure that Intrepid Tours offers especially if you are a person who likes to learn about history and nature. We visited several coastal beaches. For example, they coordinated kayaking in Byron Bay, whale watching in Hervey Bay, snorkeling via Ocean Rafting in the Great Barrier Reef. On three different occasions we learned about Aboriginal history from the Eora Nation in Sydney, the Gumbaynggirr at Red Rock in Coffs Harbour, and lastly Mungalla Station about the Nywaigi people. On top of all this, there were several hiking opportunities to see firsthand the beauty and diversity of Australia. Lastly a great opportunity to meet people from all over the world as well as having a great tour guide named, Taimi.
Review submitted 19 Sep 2024
Best of Cairns, Great Barrier Reef & Daintree
Maureen · Traveled August 2024
My Intrepid journey was awesome. From the beginning to the end. Experienced and saw heaps on my 5 day journey with new friend's and Brendan our awesome tour guide from Cairns to Cape Tribulation and everywhere in between 🩷
Review submitted 09 Sep 2024
East Coast Australia travel FAQs
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.
It's extremely easy to get around the east coast of Australia; however, as the region spans 3,000km of coastline, travelling between destinations is not always quick and efficient.
There are several airports located in different cities along the coast - namely Melbourne International Airport (MEL), Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD), and Brisbane International Airport (BNE) - that allows for relatively fast transportation between the major cities.
There's also an extensive public transportation system in the form of a train and bus network that can transport you from one destination along the coast to another.
It's also straightforward to drive between destinations, with all major freeways connecting the states to one another regularly maintained and easily navigable.
Australia's east coast is massive, and the landscapes are diverse, so you'll probably need more than a pair of thongs, bathers, 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
Suncream
Sunglasses (with UV protection)
Warm layers
Insect repellent
Portable power bank
Camera
Torch
Bathers
Comfortable, sturdy footwear
Thongs
Lightweight towel
We are committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. We do our best to help you see the world, regardless of physical or mental limitations.
We are always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them toward the most suitable itinerary for their needs and, where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.