One of the most popular backpacking routes, the east coast of Australia is a well travelled area and this makes it one of the easiest and best places to start out travelling. Whether its your first solo trip or first trip all together its a great stepping stone with the familiarity in culture to the UK, and language but still lots to see and experience that you ‘cant ‘get at home.
So first things first, flying into Australia. On the east coast you can fly straight into Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane or Cairns. A lot of people choose to fly into Sydney, probably the most famous Australian city and a hub for the start of tours as well as a big community of backpackers. It’s a good starting point to travel northwards and is well connected, however be careful to not overlook Melbourne. If you have the time and funds to visit here, it is definitely worth your time, and equally a great starting point to then head onto Sydney. Similarly, Cairns makes a lot of sense geographically if you wanted to head southwards instead but many would prefer travelling northwards and this is what I would recommend as it just get’s more beautiful as you go.
This will also depend on the time of year you are travelling as you will want to work with the seasons. Southern parts of Australia follow the normal season pattern but opposite to the southern hemisphere. Definitely don’t underestimate that these cities can really get cold, particularly Melbourne which is often compared to Manchester and famed for its ‘four seasons in one day’. Moving upwards towards Brisbane, temperatures stay more moderate year round, experiencing the most days of sunlight. Further upwards to Cairns begins to get more tropical, so in the UKs winter months, the far north will experience wet season, and in the summer will be dry. Considering this, if you are arriving in UK Winter time then start in the south, and in Summer, start in the north (depending the length of your trip). Check flight prices for the time you want to go.
how long shall i go for?
I would recommend at least 6 weeks to see all the key parts and go at an enjoyable pace; however if you were tied to only 4 weeks due to holidays it is definitely still achievable, and similarly you could spend months travelling Australia’s vast landscapes and still feel like you’ve barely touched the surface.
When I was travelling the coast in early 2022, hostels were mostly empty after the boarders had just opened again for tourism after the pandemic. We would book our hostels the day we arrived in new places and just see where we ended up. Things aren’t the same now as tourism has peaked again, arguably even more than before so hostels and excursions sell out weeks in advance. It is important to be organised in order to do everything you want to.
how will i get around?
The most popular way to get around is using greyhound buses. These run the full length of the coast stopping as all the major tourist places you could want, and are relatively affordable. You can purchase 1 or 3 month bus passes to save money. It’s also a great way to makes lots of friends as you will start to see familiar faces as you go along and what better way to bond than on a 13 hour overnight bus from Sydney to Byron Bay?
That being said it is not the only way to travel. Another option would be driving yourself. If you can get together a group this is a great option as it gives you the most freedom of all the options. You may choose to buy a car split between you which you can then sell on later down the line so although a big upfront cost, it may be the most economical way to do it depending on how many people you can find to split petrol costs.
Some choose to hire a campervan. This also gives you so much freedom and an amazing unique experience. Its definitely not the most affordable way to travel so many steer away from this as rental costs can be hefty but if you have the budget to do it then why not.
where will i stay
HOSTELS!!
They will be your best friend.
Australia is home to an abundance of amazing hostels and they are full of like minded people to make friends with, you really cant go wrong. Most of them have amazing facilities and aren’t what you might expect them to be. They vary in costs depending in the amenities you are looking for.
Some of my favourites:
Wake Up! Byron Bay
Even more new and improved since I was there but I absolutely loved the atmosphere and the location: out of the town centre right over the road from the beach. A beautiful hostel with all you could want.
Gilligans Cairns
An absolute Australia classic I think everyone should experience this. Prime location, big pool and bar and a club downstairs that everyone goes to. It’s about as hectic as you get but I survived here for three months straight (my liver defo hated me).
Base Hostel Magnetic Island
Maggie island is a must see and this is a classic. It was lots of fun at the time and the dorms are all huts which gives such a fun atmosphere. I think that since I was there, there are more hostel options but at this was the place to be and it still deserves a mention.
Meg Goes Global 