Australia East Coast Itinerary – The Best Road Trip Australia!
In November 2023 we headed out on our first-ever adventure in a (tiny) camper! And it was quite a big trip: cruising along the stunning beaches of Australia’s East Coast, from Cairns all the way to the Great Ocean Road. With iconic cities like Sydney and Melbourne along the way, this journey was unforgettable. Now, we’re sharing our ultimate East Coast itinerary Australia with you!
Download our Google Maps travel guide Australia for an overview of all the stops and campsites.
Our East Coast Itinerary Australia
Our journey took us from Cairns to Melbourne, with a bonus detour along the legendary Great Ocean Road. We spent just over a month exploring, but if you have less time or prefer a slower pace, traveling from Cairns to Sydney is already well worth it.
Note: Our itinerary does not include travel days, as we flew from the cultural Bali to Australia. If you want to follow this route with travel days included, be sure to add at least two days before and two days after the road trip. Keep in mind that there is at least a 10-hour time difference!
Day 1-2: Cairns – Babinda Boulders
Distance: 100 km (Day 2)
Accommodation: NRMA Cairns Holiday Park, Babinda Boulders Campground
Activities: Cairns city center, Cairns Esplanade Lagoon, Palm Cove Beach, Babinda Boulders
Your 4-week Australia road trip starts in Cairns! From here, the possibilities are endless. You can take a tour to the Great Barrier Reef or explore the city itself. We opted for the latter. Don’t forget to visit Cairns’ free outdoor swimming pool: Esplanade Lagoon. It’s a great place to relax after a long journey. We were eager to hit the road with our camper! We rented ours through Spaceships Rentals and, with a pre-sent code, we had no trouble finding everything. On the second day, we took our time organizing the camper and drove a short distance to Babinda Boulders.
Day 3-4: Babinda Boulders – Saunders Beach
Distance: 300 km
Accommodation: Saunders Beach Park Rest Area
Activities: Mission Beach
Traveling with a van gives you a great sense of freedom, allowing you to stop whenever you want. Don’t skip Mission Beach! This was our first long straight road, and we quickly discovered that free coffee is often offered to drivers along the way. There are also frequent quiz signs along the road to help keep drivers alert.
Tip: We took a day trip to Magnetic Island. From Townsville, you can take a ferry to the island, where you can go on a long hike and spot wild koalas!
Day 5-6: Saunders Beach – Airlie Beach – Whitsundays
Distance: 300 km
Accommodation: Elliot River Park or Bloomsbury
Activities: Day tour to the Whitsunday Islands
One of the highlights of the itinerary east coast Australia the Whitsunday Islands. We opted for a day tour, and it was absolutely stunning: crystal-clear waters, white sandy beaches, and breathtaking views. No more words needed if you look at the pictures, right?
Day 7: Airlie Beach – Benaraby
Distance: 600 km
Accommodation: Benaraby Public Campgrounds
Activities: Blue Water Lagoon
After a day full of action, it was time to head further south. There are plenty of great stops along the way, but with only a month available, choices must be made. We decided to cover 600 km in one day to allow more time for later destinations.
Day 8-11: Benaraby – Sunshine Coast
Distance: 400 km
Accommodation: Six Mile Creek Rest Area, Coochin Creek Camping Area, Rest and Overnight Stay Area (Glenview)
Activities: Fraser Coast Wildlife Sanctuary, beaches, hiking in the Glass House Mountains
There is so much to do in and around the Sunshine Coast: from beautiful beaches to the Glass House Mountains. You could easily spend four days here. Rent a surfboard and try catching some waves! One of the best stops of this 4-week Australia road trip is the Fraser Coast Wildlife Sanctuary, where we spent a lot of time feeding and observing kangaroos. The volunteers eagerly shared stories and information about the animals.
Day 12-13: Sunshine Coast – Gold Coast
Distance: 200 km
Accommodation: Nobby Beach Holiday Village
Activities: Brisbane, Gold Coast beaches
Another highlight of this 4-week Australia road trip is the Gold Coast. You’ll also pass through Brisbane. We skipped it due to difficulty finding affordable parking. If you’re not a city person, this choice is easy. We continued driving to have more time at the Gold Coast beaches. Our Google Maps travel guide Australia will show you exactly where to go!
Day 14: Gold Coast – Byron Bay
Distance: 100 km
Accommodation: Mullumbimby Showgrounds
Activities: Norries Beach, Byron Bay
For the first time, we stayed at a showground, which offers a more comfortable camping experience at an affordable price. These locations host events (horse shows, festivals, etc.) and allow camping when no events are scheduled. They always provide good toilet and shower facilities. Byron Bay is a favorite stop for road-trippers in Australia. We see why, but there are similar spots along the east coast. So, we moved on after a day.
Day 15-16: Byron Bay – Coopernook
Distance: 450 km
Accommodation: New Italy Rest Area, Coopernook Hotel (parking lot)
Activities: Koala Hospital Port Macquarie
The Koala Hospital in Port Macquarie rescues and rehabilitates injured koalas. It was fascinating! We arrived just as a new koala was brought in, and we got to watch as it was introduced to its temporary home.
Day 17-19: Sydney
Distance: 350 km
Accommodation: Sheralee Tourist Caravan Park
Activities: Exploring Sydney
City lovers or not, Sydney is a must-see! It’s incredible to witness the iconic landmarks you’ve seen in movies in real life. Our Google Maps guide shows you where to find affordable parking, though you’ll need to walk a bit to the city center.
Day 20: Sydney – Blue Mountains National Park
Distance: 60 km
Accommodation: The Reef Reserve
Activities: Hiking in Blue Mountains National Park
The Blue Mountains have several hiking trails. Climb to a peak and enjoy the view! Did you know this area is a UNESCO World Heritage site?
Day 21-22: Blue Mountains – Canberra
Distance: 300 km
Accommodation: Hughie Edwards VC Rest Area
Activities: Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary, Mount Ainslie Lookout, exploring Canberra
Canberra is a small but charming city. We visited a museum and some scenic viewpoints. Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary was another great place to spot kangaroos. Up to this point, we hadn’t seen too many.
Day 23-24: Canberra – Kosciuszko National Park
Distance: 150 km
Accommodation: Ngarigo Campground, Geehi Flats Campground
Activities: Hiking in Kosciuszko National Park
The highest peak on mainland Australia, Mount Kosciuszko, is located in Kosciuszko National Park. At 2,228 meters, the hike isn’t too difficult but still takes a full day.
Day 25: Kosciuszko National Park – Melbourne
Distance: 550 km
Accommodation: Geelong Showgrounds (highly recommended!)
Kangaroos roam freely at this campground, making it one of the most memorable spots on our trip. We passed through Melbourne but planned a longer stay later.
Day 26-28: Melbourne – Great Ocean Road
Distance: 400 km
Accommodation: Meredith Park Camping Grounds, Princetown Recreation Reserve
Activities: Twelve Apostles Viewpoint, Loch Ard Gorge (check out the Google Maps Australia)
The Great Ocean Road is a major highlight, offering stunning coastal scenery. We drove to Warrnambool before turning back towards Geelong.
Day 29-30: Exploring Melbourne
Distance: 0 km
Accommodation: Melbourne Hostel The Village
Activities: Exploring Melbourne
After four weeks in the camper, it was time to clean and return it in Melbourne. We spent our last few days exploring the city. And just like that, our itinerary along the east coast of Australia came to an end!
Overnight Stays Australia East Coast Itinerary
Throughout our journey, we aimed to find free overnight spots as much as possible, as this is quite common among camper travelers in the country. Australia makes it surprisingly easy to camp by the roadside. With the long drives, even locals are allowed to pull over and rest safely for a night or two. So, don’t be surprised to see many different types of travelers along the main road at those rest areas!
Highlights Along the East Coast
Looking for the must-see stops along the East Coast? Check out our guide to the best stops on Australia’s east coast for some inspiration! Ready to hit the road? Whether you’re traveling the full route or focusing on a shorter stretch, this ultimate itinerary will help you make the most of your East Coast adventure.
