One More Day · Australia
The East Coast, Australia
Four ready-made routes from Sydney to Cairns — pick the one that fits your time and your budget and we’ll send it to you day by day, free. Sydney’s clubs, rooftops and the harbour party boat are bookable through our concierge.
One More Day
Get a free East Coast route
Pick one of four ready-made routes from Sydney to Cairns and we’ll send it to you day by day. Free, yours to keep, and nothing to buy.
See the routes →One More Night
Rather a night out in Sydney? Book direct
Noir, Pelicano, Sussudio, Sora Rooftop and the Seadeck party boat on the harbour — guestlist, tickets and VIP tables.
See the venues →Choose your route
Most people want the route, not a list
So here are four, from a month on the Greyhound to two weeks of flights and resorts — plus Melbourne if you want to start with a few big nights.
Route 1 · 4 weeksThe Classic BackpackerGreyhound hop-on hop-off pass
Route 2 · 2 weeksThe Fast TrackFlights and short buses
Route 3 · 3 weeksThe FlashpackerMostly Greyhound, one or two flights
Route 4 · 2–3 weeksThe Premium East CoastFlights and a hire car
Optional startMelbourne first2–3 nights of bars and clubsThe Classic Backpacker
The full coast at backpacker pace: every stop people talk about, overnight buses on the long legs, and two nights sleeping on a boat in the Whitsundays.
Days 1–5Sydney
Bondi to Coogee coastal walk, the Opera House and harbour, Manly ferry — and your big nights out before you head north.
Sydney nightlife through One More Night →- Overnight bus to Byron Bay
- Days 6–9
Byron Bay
Cape Byron Lighthouse walk at sunrise, surf lessons, the beach bars in town.
Days 10–12Gold Coast
Surfers Paradise, the theme parks or a day in the hinterland.
Day 13Brisbane
South Bank, the Story Bridge and a night in Fortitude Valley.
Days 14–16Noosa
The national park coastal walk, Noosa Heads and the everglades.
- Days 17–19
K'gari (Fraser Island)
A 4WD tour from Rainbow Beach or Hervey Bay: Lake McKenzie, the shipwreck and the sand highway.
- Overnight bus to Airlie Beach
- Days 20–24
Whitsundays
Two nights on the Atlantic Clipper — the party sail — with Whitehaven Beach and snorkelling.
Days 25–26Magnetic Island
Koalas on the forts walk, the bays and the island’s hostel on the rocks.
Days 27–28Cairns
The Great Barrier Reef by day boat, the lagoon and a last night out.
What we can book on this route
- Sydney clubs, tables and the Seadeck party boat
- Whitsundays sailing (Atlantic Clipper)
- K'gari and reef trips — ask us
The Fast Track
Two weeks and the highlights only: fly the long bits, keep Sydney, Byron, the Whitsundays and the reef. Skips Noosa and K’gari.
- Days 1–4
Sydney
The harbour, Bondi to Coogee and your nights out.
Sydney nightlife through One More Night → - Fly to Ballina for Byron
- Days 5–6
Byron Bay
Lighthouse walk, surf and sunset drinks.
- Day 7
Gold Coast
A beach day at Surfers Paradise.
- Fly to Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast)
- Days 8–10
Whitsundays
A day sail to Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet from Airlie Beach.
- Fly or bus on to Cairns
- Days 11–14
Cairns
The reef by day boat, the rainforest at Kuranda or Daintree.
What we can book on this route
- Sydney clubs, tables and the Seadeck party boat
- Whitsundays day sails — ask us
The Flashpacker
The backpacker route with nicer beds and one flight to save a day: a bit more comfort, the same coast.
- Days 1–4
Sydney
Sundowners at Sora rooftop, dinner and the club at Pelicano, the coastal walk the morning after.
Sydney nightlife through One More Night → - Fly to Ballina for Byron
- Days 5–7
Byron Bay
Lighthouse walk, surf, the hinterland and the beach bars.
- Days 8–9
Gold Coast
Surfers Paradise and Burleigh Heads.
- Days 10–12
Noosa
Noosa National Park and the river.
- Days 13–14
K'gari (Fraser Island)
A small-group 4WD tour.
- Overnight bus to Airlie Beach
- Days 15–17
Whitsundays
A smaller, calmer sail — boats like Tongarra or New Horizon.
- Days 18–19
Magnetic Island
The bays, the forts walk and the koalas.
- Days 20–21
Cairns
The reef by day boat.
What we can book on this route
- Sora rooftop and Pelicano in Sydney
- Whitsundays sailing — ask us
- Accommodation along the route — ask us
The Premium East Coast
The coast done properly: VIP nights in Sydney, a private charter on the Gold Coast, an island resort in the Whitsundays and the reef from Port Douglas.
- Days 1–5
Sydney
VIP tables, the Seadeck boat party and a rooftop or two — plus the harbour by day.
Sydney nightlife through One More Night → - Fly to Ballina, hire a car
- Days 6–8
Byron Bay
A boutique stay, the hinterland and long lunches.
- Days 9–10
Gold Coast
A private boat charter on the Broadwater.
- Fly to the Whitsundays
- Days 11–14
Whitsundays
An island resort, a day on the Avatar trimaran and the scenic flight over Heart Reef.
- Fly on to Cairns
- Days 15–18
Cairns
Port Douglas, the outer reef and the Daintree.
What we can book on this route
- Sydney VIP tables and the Seadeck party boat
- Private charters and the Avatar sail — ask us
- Hotels and resorts — ask us
Optional start · 2–3 nights
Start in Melbourne
If you like your nightlife and don’t mind spending a bit in the bars and clubs, start a few nights south. Chapel Street and Revolver Upstairs, the CBD laneway bars and Sub Club, Xe54 and Brown Alley — and St Kilda by day. Then it is about an hour and a half on the plane to Sydney, and any of the routes from there.
Getting between stops
Rough travel times
Approximate, and they change with the season and the operator — we put the real ones in your route.
| Melbourne → Sydney | About 1½ hours by plane |
| Sydney → Byron Bay | About 1¼ hours flying to Ballina, or an overnight bus |
| Byron Bay → Gold Coast | About 1 hour |
| Gold Coast → Brisbane | About 1¼ hours |
| Brisbane → Noosa | About 2½ hours |
| Noosa → K’gari tours | About 2–3 hours to Rainbow Beach or Hervey Bay |
| Hervey Bay → Airlie Beach | An overnight bus |
| Airlie Beach → Magnetic Island | About 4½ hours to Townsville, then a short ferry |
| Townsville → Cairns | About 6 hours by bus |
Free · no booking needed
Get your route — or a custom one
Pick one of the four routes and we’ll email it to you straight away, day by day. Want something different, or just want to talk it through? Choose a custom itinerary and we’ll build it with you on WhatsApp. Nothing is booked and nothing is charged.
Good to know
East Coast questions
How long do I need for the East Coast?
Two weeks covers the highlights if you fly the long legs (the Fast Track). Three to four weeks lets you do it by bus and stop in Noosa, K’gari and Magnetic Island without rushing.
Which way should I travel?
Most people go Sydney to Cairns, north into the warmer weather. Starting in Melbourne adds a couple of big nights out before Sydney.
Is it really free?
Yes. We send you the route day by day for free. If you want us to book anything — Sydney nights, tables, boats — our concierge quotes first and nothing is booked or charged until you say yes.
Can you book the Sydney nightlife?
Yes — guestlist, tickets and VIP tables at Noir, Pelicano, Sussudio, Sora Rooftop and the Seadeck party boat, through One More Night.