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Most of the Coast: Sydney to Cairns

16 days, Sydney to Cairns

Travellers surfing on pristine waters in Sydney, Australia

16 days

Sydney to Cairns

From$2699USD
was $3599
Valid on Sep 28 2025
Trip Code: OASC

Need a flight? We can help.

Call us to book your flights! We'll find you the best option!

Special Offers

Expires on Oct 01, 2025 03:59 UTC
Promo Code G26SDQ025DES03
Expires on Oct 01, 2025 03:59 UTC
Promo Code G26SDQ015AUS02

Is this tour for me?

Travel Style: 18-to-Thirtysomethings

Fast, fresh, and fun adventures that never slow down, made for young, budget-minded travellers.

Service Level: Basic

Simple and clean hotels and hostels; affordable public and private transport; lots of optional activities.

Physical Rating: 3 - Average

Some tours may include light hiking, biking, rafting, or kayaking in addition to walking.

Trip Type: Small Group

Small group experience; Max 20, avg 16

Age requirement: 18-39

Check Your Visa Requirements

Before booking, use our handy entry requirements tool so you know which documents you need to enter and travel through the countries on your trip.

View our Entry Requirements tool

Alternative Trips

16 days

Sydney to Cairns

From$2699USD
was $3599
Valid on Sep 28 2025
Trip Code: OASC

Need a flight? We can help.

Call us to book your flights! We'll find you the best option!

Special Offers

Expires on Oct 01, 2025 03:59 UTC
Promo Code G26SDQ025DES03
Expires on Oct 01, 2025 03:59 UTC
Promo Code G26SDQ015AUS02

See how your trip uplifts communities

In a number of impactful ways, your adventure directly benefits the local people and places we visit.

Trees for Days

Help us spread love around the world with Trees for Days. Together with Planeterra, we'll plant one tree in your name for every travel day.

Trees planted for this trip: 16

Ripple Score

Create ripples that change lives. The higher the Ripple Score percentage, the more money stays in the local communities you visit.

Ripple Score for this trip: 100

Map of the route for Most of the Coast: Sydney to Cairns

Places visited

Itinerary Notes

Please note that most 18-to-Thirtysomethings accommodation in Australia is multi-share. For more info, see our Trip Details.

Itinerary

Day 1Sydney

Arrive at any time.

There's nothing quite like a night out to get people comfortable with one another. Hit up Side Bar, connected to where you will be staying at the Wake Up Hostel in Sydney. This is the liveliest bar around, sporting a huge young and local crowd. There’s always non-stop action with the entertainment so get ready to have a few drinks, let your hair down, and dance until you drop!

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your Welcome Moment Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group| Your First Night Out Moment Connect With New Friends

Day 2Sydney

Immerse yourself in all things Sydney with a free day to explore the oldest and biggest Australian city. Glide along the harbour on a ferry and gaze at the white sails of the Opera House gleaming in the sun. Get lost as you wander the narrow, cobbled laneways and take in Sydney’s fabled history. Catch some rays on the sand at Bondi Beach or duck out of your comfort zone and surf the green-barrel breaks just off shore. The choice is yours so get as adventurous as you like in the "Land Down Under"!

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 3Sydney/Arrawarra

It's all aboard today as you take the train north to Coffs Harbour. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the views. After pulling into Coffs Harbour station, the group will travel to Spot X Surf Camp, our base for the next few days.

Meals included:

Dinner

Day 4Arrawarra

As the sun rises along the ocean hit the beach for an included surf lesson with Spot X. Located in one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in the country they are completely devoted to the surf lifestyle.

Spend some time in the sun and laughing in the waves with your travel tribe before heading out on a kangaroo trek. Then it’s time for a free afternoon to enjoy your surroundings. Soak up views of Solitary Islands Marine Park, embark on a rockpool scramble to look for fish traps and sea creatures, or wander over to Mullawarra beach for a picnic. Your only real job today is to have fun!

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your Hands-On Moment Surfing Lesson

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 5Arrawarra/Byron Bay

Adventure through lush national parks, stunning beaches, rolling green hills, and small but vibrant towns full of charm and authentic Australian culture as the group drives from Arrawarra to Byron Bay. Grab lunch in the surf and arts town of Byron Bay, before walking to Cape Byron Lighthouse to see the easternmost point in the country. If luck is on your side you may glimpse migrating whales and pods of resident dolphins.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 6Byron Bay

Welcome to Byron Bay… the city of surfing and sunbathing! The day is yours to explore; walk along hidden beaches, play in the surf, grab a massage. Want to get your adrenaline pumping? Go skydiving, try sea kayaking, or go on a dolphin watch.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your Discover Moment

Day 7Byron Bay/Brisbane

Venture north with your group to the capital of Queensland; Brisbane. Pass by national parks, mountains, surfy enclaves, and endless stretches of sand bordering brilliant blue water. Then, stretch those legs one final time on an included walk at the Daisy Hill Koala Centre. Nestled amongst eucalyptus trees, the centre features multi-level viewing of the resident rescue koalas and interactive educational displays, making it a unique place to learn about koalas and their conservation. Tonight, experience a night out with the group in Queensland's capital.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 8Brisbane/K'gari (Fraser Island)

An early rise today starts your journey to K'gari (Fraser Island) World Heritage Area. Upon arrival to the largest sand island in the world, you will go through a traditional welcome by the Butchulla people, setting the tone for what's to come. After the welcome ceremony, get straight into the 4WD adventure. Swim in Boorangoora (Lake Mckenzie), hike beneath the amazing rainforest and walk along the beach during sunset. At night, sit around the campfire with your new found friends.

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 9K'gari (Fraser Island)/Noosa

Today you'll climb sand dunes, see the Maheno shipwreck and swim in the crystal clear Eli Creek that pumps millions of litres of spring-fed fresh water into the ocean every hour. In the afternoon, say goodbye to K'gari and head to your next beachy destination, Noosa.

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 10Noosa

Picture rocky coast against perfect turquoise water. Now head out with your CEO and see it first hand. Catch the ferry and start your easy hike in Noosa National Park along the waterways to end up at the secluded beach, Hell's Gate. While it sounds intimidating, it is well worth it, and really quite spectacular. Keep your eye out for koalas along the hike too. Enjoy the afternoon free in Noosa. Opt to get lunch on Hastings Street and enjoy some relaxing beach time or rent a surfboard. Then take the ferry back before dinner.

Day 11Noosa/Airlie Beach

Enjoy a free day in cute beachfront town of Noosa! Do some shopping along Hasting Street in search of souvenirs, have a coffee on the beach, or go for a surf. Many consider Noosa to be the best place for surfing in all of Australia. You can also choose to spend time back at the hostel or participate in some of the optional activities offered in the area. In the afternoon, we'll pack our bags and head to the train station. Tonight we sleep on an overnight train as we head north to some of the most beautiful parts of the country. Fall asleep in Noosa and wake up by the Whitsundays!

Day 12Airlie Beach

Hop off the train and board a bus for a short ride to Airlie Beach, the gateway to the Whitsunday Islands and the Great Barrier reef. After dropping your bags, do your thing in Airlie Beach. Relax on a gorgeous beach, take a day trip to the Great Barrier Reef or get some shopping in on the town. Airlie Beach is your oyster.

Day 13Whitsunday Islands/Airlie Beach

Get ready for an amazing day at sea! Today, we'll climb aboard an ocean raft and zoom around the wispy turquoise waters. With time to snorkel, go on bushwalks, and chill on the beach, today will be as close to perfect as one can get.

Meals included:

Lunch

Day 14Airlie Beach/Cairns

With an early morning departure, admire the scenery on the bus ride north to Cairns. We'll make a few pit stops along the way to stretch your legs, see some sights and check out some of Australia big things!

Day 15Cairns

Cairns is quite the place to visit if you love warm weather (it would be headline news for the city’s temperature to drop much below 20°C (68°F)) and want to visit the Great Barrier Reef. Take advantage of a free day to book one of the many optional activities that will get you out in nature’s playground. Snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef, get that adrenaline pumping by whitewater rafting or skydiving and cap it all off on a Big Night Out in Cairns with your fellow travellers. Drinks all around are well deserved after spending the day escaping your comfort zones.

Day 16Cairns

Depart at any time.

View full itinerary

What's Included

  • Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
  • Your First Night Out Moment: Connect With New Friends
  • Your Hands-On Moment: Surfing Lesson, Spot X
  • Your Discover Moment: Byron Bay
  • Your Discover Moment: Cairns
  • Your Big Night Out Moment: Cairns
  • Sydney orientation walk
  • Kangaroo trek
  • Cape Byron Lighthouse Visit
  • Daisy Hill Koala Centre
  • K'gari Welcome Ceremony
  • K'gari overnight experience (incl Twilight Beach Walk & Stories around the campfire)
  • 4x4 Adventure on K'gari
  • Noosa Coastal Walk
  • Whitsunday full day sailing excursion, including snorkelling
  • Whitehaven Beach visit
  • All transport between destinations and to/from included activities

Accommodations

Hostels (13 nts, multi-share with 4-8 people), overnight train (1 nt), remote beach accommodation (1nt) **All nights are multi-share on this trip.

Meals

6 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners
Allow USD390-510 for meals not included.

Transportation

Private vehicle, bus, train, overnight train, boat, 4x4 vehicle, ferry, walking.

Staff & experts

CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides.

Available extras (Add these to your tour when you book)

Byron Bay Ocean Kayaking - From $60.00

Slice through the waters of the iconic Byron Bay in the morning on this half-day kayaking adventure. Paddle past the most easterly point of the Australian mainland, see the Julian Rocks Marine Reserve, and ride the waves into shore. On top of it all, keep a close eye for dolphins and whales (in season) who call these waters home. Epic? Definitely. This activity is in the ocean and conditions can sometimes be rough due to weather. This is a very fun activity but first time kayakers may find this challenging.

Great Barrier Reef Snorkelling - From $176.00

You haven't truly visited Australia until you've experienced the Great Barrier Reef. Climb aboard a 25m (82 ft) catamaran and take the journey out to the largest coral reef system in the world, spending time snorkelling in search of colourful fish, majestic coral, and Nemo (of course).

Make it a private tour

Book this tour as a private departure, with your own CEO and all the benefits of a G Adventures group tour.

Most of the Coast: Sydney to Cairns

| 16 days - Sydney to Cairns - from $2699 USD