For those of you that don’t know I’m taking a month to head up the east coast of Australia.. and I thought id share with you my plan!

Due to my budget, I can only take a month.. although I would suggest taking 2 if your wallet can accommodate. I am barley going to scratch the surface of this beautiful coast. But I packed in as many adventures as possible and here is what’s in store..

I had the help of an awesome team at Backpackers World Travel. They took the time to sit me down, find out exactly what I wanted to do up the coast, made a plan, booked excursions, booked my hostels and got me some great discounts.

I elected to take a bus up the coast although, I was originally thinking of going the camper van route. You can rent a camper van, drive up the east coast, camp for essentially no cost at all, pack food and really just travel on a budget. The idea sounded perfect. I would unleash my inner Eliza Thornberry, become one with nature and ball out on a budget. But as the time came closer to actually book my camper van I panicked and realized that I, Morgan Steele, am a bit boujee. My decision was based off my slight fear of driving on the left (although I hear its no big deal), my love for showers and real beds, and my innate desire for social interaction, ie. free wine and cheese nights at hostels.

Once I decided the camper van was not the way to go for me, I booked a bus pass. Greyhound buses are huge over here but a more expensive option. They do have wifi and plugs onboard which would’ve been nice for the overnight bus from Sydney to Byron Bay but I saved over $150 AUD by getting a pass on Premier Motor Service. I got a one month pass from Sydney to Cairns for $230 AUD. You can stop at as many places as you’d like along the way. The bus pass is unlimited however, you can only go in one direction – north. There are other passes if you are looking to jump around a bit and go from lets say Rainbow Beach, Noosa and then Airlie Beach. However, with the pass I purchased you have to make your way up the coast.

The route in headed in is as followed..

SYDNEY – 18 DAYS

 BYRON BAY – 4 NIGHTS

SURFERS PARADISE – 1 NIGHT

BRISBANE – 2 NIGHTS

NOOSA – 4 NIGHTS

RAINBOW BEACH – NIGHT BEFORE AND NIGHT AFTER FRASER ISLAND

FRASER ISLAND – 3 DAYS / 2 NIGHTS

AIRLIE BEACH – 3 NIGHTS TOTAL – 2 BEOFRE WHITSUNDAYS AND 1 AFTER

WHITSUNDAYS – 3 DAYS / 2 NIGHTS

MAGNETIC ISLAND – 2 NIGHTS

CAIRNS – 6 NIGHTS