Itinerary for 4 weeks on the east coast of Australia

General Information

The Opera House, the Harbor Bridge or Bondi Beach - everyone knows these highlights of Sydney. In Sydney you can expect the typical big city feeling, but also beautiful beaches and nature. The city center can be explored on foot. However, if you want to see something outside, you can also use the subway or the bus.

Accommodation

Wake Up! Sydney, Pitt Street, Sydney, NSW

Good hostel near the city center.

Activities and Sights

• 1
• 2
• 3

Blue Mountains National Park, New South Wales, Australia

The Blue Moutains are a breathtaking national park with great views. The best thing to do is book a day tour to the Blue Mountains. Alternatively, you can of course form a car pool and explore the Blue Mountains on your own.

---



Bondy Beach

Bondy Beach is one of the most famous beaches in Australia, so you should definitely stop by here. Not the best place to learn to surf for beginners as the beach is very crowded. Several buses run from the center from Circular Quay to Bondy Beach (bus number 380 or 333). The journey takes about 45 minutes.

---



Sydney Opera House, Sydney, NSW, Australia

---



Darling Harbor, Sydney, NSW, Australia

It's best to come here in the evening and enjoy the lighting along the promenade.

---



Syndey Botanical Garden

Great garden where you can just lie down on the lawn after exploring the city. The numerous fruit bats (type of bat) that sit in the trees are special here.

---



Harbor Bridge, Sydney Harbor Bridge, Sydney, NSW

---



Queen Victoria Building, George Street, Sydney, NSW

The Queen Victoria Building is a grand Victorian building in central Sydney.

---

General Information

Byron Bay is a coastal city in Australia. The city is ideal for gaining some distance from the major cities you have previously visited. Now it's time to enjoy the beaches of Australia! Especially surfers get their money's worth here. This city has its very own charm - casual and timeless. In my opinion, a stop in this small town should not be missing on any Australia tour.

Accommodation

Byron Bay YHA, Carlyle Street, Byron Bay, NSW

Cool hip hostel right in the center of Byron Bay.

Activities and Sights

Cape Byron Lighthouse, Cape Byron Walking Track, Byron Bay, NSW

You can walk to the lighthouse after a 35-minute hike. However, you can also simply drive up there (parking is only possible for a fee). The view is definitely worth it.

---



Enjoy the beaches of Byron Bay

---



surfing

I borrowed a surfboard on the beach and tried surfing on my own. You can also book a day course or even a real surf camp for a whole week here.

---

General Information

As the city name suggests, this is the paradise for surfers. Unlike Byron Bay, you will find a real city with high-rise buildings here. Nevertheless, the sandy beach with the sea is perfect. This city should not be missed on any trip to Australia.

Accommodation

Budds In Surfers, Pine Avenue, Surfers Paradise, QLD

Cool hip hostel. Only 250 meters from the beach.

Activities and Sights

Enjoy the beach at Surfers Paradise

Of course, you can also rent a surfboard here or take a surf course.

---

General Information

Noosa is known for its posh residential area. The city is a typical seaside resort, which is characterized by holiday homes. The city's main shopping street is Hastings Street, here you will find posh sidewalk cafes and excellent restaurants. Nevertheless, as a backpacker with a relatively small budget you can plan a stop here. Especially the beaches and the Noosa National Park are worth a visit.

Accommodation

Nomads Noosa Hostel, Noosa Drive, Noosa Heads, QLD

Nice backpacker hostel. Relatively close to the beach and city center.

Activities and Sights

Noosa National Park, Palm Grove Circuit, Noosa Heads, QLD

From the city center, the National Park can be reached within 25 minutes on foot. In the park itself you can go on various short hikes and if you are lucky you can experience a koala in nature.

---



Noosa Head Main Beach, Noosa Heads, QLD, Australia

---



Sunshine Beach, QLD, Australia

If you choose the Coastal Track in Noosa NP, you will automatically pass Sunshine Beach. A perfect beach like out of a picture book awaits you.

---

General Information

I booked a 3 day tour for Fraser Island. I also strongly recommend booking the tour in advance, otherwise you may not get a seat. (there are different tours, we stayed in a hotel on the island). Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world. Accordingly, you can only get around there with all-wheel drive cars. Exploring on your own is also possible, either through a tour operator or you drive your own car, which should be equipped accordingly.

Accommodation

My accommodation was included in the tour.

Activities and Sights

Lake McKenzie, Fraser Island, QLD, Australia

McKenzie Lake is a groundwater lake with crystal clear water.

---



Lake Wabby, Fraser Island, QLD, Australia

The Wabby Lake is surrounded by high sand dunes and a greenish freshwater lake, in which you can still go swimming. The way to the lake on foot over the dunes is a bit strenuous.

---



S.S. Maheno, Fraser Island, QLD, Australia

Another well-known attraction on Fraser Island is the shipwreck that you automatically pass when you are on 90 Mile Beach.

---



Champagne Pools, Waddy Point Bypass, Fraser Island, QLD

The rock formation in the sea creates a basin that is repeatedly filled with new water when waves break. You can of course also bathe in this "pool".

---



Eli Creek, Fraser Island, QLD, Australia

If you walk a little along the stream you can let yourself drift backwards with the current. Some tour operators even have swimming tires with them, which of course makes it even more fun.

---

General Information

Airlie Beach is a small tourist town right on the ocean. All tours to the famous Whitsunday Islands start from here. Here, too, I did a 2-day tour. Booking in advance is also worthwhile here so that you are sure to get a place at the chosen time.

Accommodation

Nomads Airlie Beach Hostel, Shute Harbour Road, Airlie Beach, QLD

I stayed here for my overnight stays before and after the tour.

Activities and Sights

• 1
• 2

Whitsunday Islands, Queensland, Australia

---



Airlie Beach Lagoon, Shute Harbor Road, Airlie Beach, QLD

In Airlie Beach there is a free beautiful pool area. Here you can spend the hours after your arrival and before your departure.

---

General Information

Cairns is the last major city on the east coast. It is located in the tropical north and is the perfect starting point for a tour to the famous Great Barrier Reef. But there are also tropical rainforests and wonderful hill landscapes.

Accommodation

Why Not Backpackers, Digger Street, Cairns North, QLD

Simple and good hostel.

Activities and Sights

• 1
• 2
• 3

Great Barrier Reef, QLD, Australia

The famous Great Barrier Reef is the largest living creature reef in the world. For this I have booked a day tour. This tour included a proper dive with an oxygen tank. The whole thing is done with a guide so that there are always two people underwater. We also went to various snorkeling spots. All in all a very nice trip.

---



• 1
• 2

Cape Tribulation, QLD, Australia

The rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef collide directly at Cape Tribulation. For me an absolute highlight in Australia. You have a perfect beach and in the background the impressive rainforest. Unfortunately it is difficult to swim here because there are crocodiles. I walked along Myall Beach and just enjoyed the peace and quiet and the view. Since the Cape Tribulation is directly connected to the Daintree NP, both sights can be easily combined.

---



• 1
• 2
• 3

Tablelands, QLD, Australia

The Atherton Tablelands are a highlands southwest of Cairns. I went on a day trip with friends from the hostle. But of course you can also just book a tour. The tableands themselves are just super beautiful, because everything is green. Highlights for stops include the Millaa Millaa Falls and the Curtain Fig Tree.

---



• 1
• 2

Mossman Gorge Center, Mossman Gorge Road, Mossman Gorge, QLD

Very beautiful forest with a very special river (shimmers green). You can do a little circular hike around the river and then cool off and go swimming in the river. I combined Mossman Gorge with my tour to Daintree NP.

---



• 1
• 2

Daintree National Park, Queensland, Australia

Daintree National Park is north of Cairns and is a real rainforest. Among other things, you can go on short hikes, visit the Discovery Center and take a boat down the Daintree River (there are also crocodiles here). I did this tour again with friends from the hostel. Overall, we did a 2 day tour and stayed at a campsite at Cape Tribulation. The tour can be perfectly combined with the Cape Tribulation above and the Mossman Gorge below. You can also just book a tour.

---



Cairns Esplanade Lagoon, Esplanade, Cairns, QLD

Like Airlie Beach, Cairns also has a beautiful pool area free of charge. Since it is difficult to swim in Cairns (because of jellyfish), you can cool off very well here.

---