East Coast Australia Travel Guide

A travel guide to the East Coast Australia, specifically for backpacking and traveling Australia as a traveler, or a gap year. The video includes a daily budget, the perfect route, transportation, and when to go. Including tours on Whitsunday islands, Fraser Island, Cairns, Byron Bay, Sydney.
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Intro - 0:00
When to go? - 0:49
Trip Length? - 1:30
Transport - 2:14
East Coast Route & Itinerary - 3:25
Budget & Pricing - 9:08
Daily Budget & Trip Cost - 12:05
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[@BonanzaRoad]

I was all over Australia a few years ago and loved every moment of my trip. Great country, great people. Enjoyed your informative video. Thanks Joel.

[@lainelittle2954]

I live on the East Coast and I loved the way you talked about Australia. It made me so happy to hear how you kept saying how amazing Australia is because it is!! Great video 🤩🇦🇺

[@neewallahs_375]

This was really helpful!! I’ve added many of your recommendations to my first trip! Thank you~

[@utingabernardo8205]

Great video ! Thank you for posting it.

[@aaronmiller2020]

There are lots of nice coastal towns that are south of Sydney such as Wollongong, Minnamurra and Kiama that are definitely worth checking out.

[@londondonner]

I love your video! I'm planning to go to Australia for at least 3 months and your video helps a lot !

[@JustJannik03]

Great work and awesome tips man! Really hope you can make a living of your online presence and live the travelers dream 🎉

[@edstravel]

Another great video Bro 📹 keep up the great work 👍

[@themoopoint]

Very informative! 😊😊 Keep doing what you are doing, girl! 😁😁

[@citytocitytravel.3814]

My brother thank you for everything

[@brandondavies6961]

So helpful dude! Hopefully jetting off in jan to Thailand then to Aus all your vids are helping!

[@MOAMA82]

This guide is really good.

[@roxanne9983]

Thank you for this!! Super helpful!

[@islabloor3841]

This is so so helpful thank you:)

[@boy7next0door2]

Thanks for this video mate! Gave some great ideas/tips for my upcoming trip down undaaa. 'Precieate it!

[@lowrider075]

G'day Joel, Just came across your vid for the first time. love your passion for Australia and ALL it's state. (Tasmanian) I've lived and travelled here for 40 years and still have not seen everything this country has to offer. Just when you think you have...you find something else. I've just started travelling your old stomping grounds now though (UK) and love it just as much (probably because it is so much like my home state of Tasmania) We have now decided to spend summer touring Australia in our motorhome.....and summer touring the UK (and maybe Europe) in a second motorhome ..... so stoked. will be looking for more of your vlogs to help us find what we missed...Happy travels mate 👍👌👍

[@fredcommandeur8809]

When I was emigrated to Australia, I came back after 3 months to the netherlands, get homesick over there and now I am 62 years almost, When I was there for the first time, we stayed at a hostel in Sydney at the moverly road, and I took a walk to the Bondi bach and like the wheather and people over there, but I have no regrets from beiing back to the netherlands, not a day, but mayby I go for travel who knows, anyway have a great day, thanks for the video, regards..

[@danielbills4555]

I'm going to travel Australia soon thanks for the motivation Joel Daniel - Kalgoorlie western Australia

[@amyoreilly645]

This really helped thank u

[@Knordsman]

Great video!

[@Joelfriend]

Thanks a lot appreciate it! 😊

[@michaeljohndennis2231]

If I was visiting Australia from the U.K., I’d have to make the pilgrimage to Melbourne, as I’m a massive Kylie Minogue fan and I’d want to see where Kylie grew up, where she got her start in Neighbours, where she went to school, where her family used to live and the hospital that she was cared for in during her cancer treatment, basically anything Kylie related ❤

[@jakemarsee7864]

nice bro !

[@tillyyyy5181]

Thank you !!!!

[@Joelfriend]

Thanks for watching!!

[@Tastewithnewdrinks]

It's very nice video.

[@Joelfriend]

Thank you very much!! 😌

[@tyg5748]

Great video! Did the budget include accommodation or is that Just spending money 😃😃

[@chriscrutchfield3513]

Good video. Thanks! What’s the consensus thought in Australia regarding when borders will open back up for Americans?

[@djspiano328]

I’d pay for Joel to plan my whole Gap year for real 😂

[@dymphnaspinedi3697]

Thanks.

[@petefluffy7420]

If you have the map the right way up, with the pointy bit at the top, the east coast is on the right, next to the blue bit.

[@MrKevinspiller]

Great video. We are in Australia for 2 months from September. Spending 3 of those weeks travelling from Cairns to Brisbane in a motorhome. How easy is it to find campgrounds where you can hook up. Also, any campgrounds on homesteads?

[@susie9893]

Thought I'd watch this to get a foreigner's perspective. Agreed with you about Sydney, for the most part, but (and this is even tho I agree Palm Beach is gorgeous) I wouldn't suggest Palm Beach/Avoca - too much trouble with access (public transport options are rubbish and traffic is a pain!) I agree about Manly and I'd add Coogee + Cronulla. You should also get out on the harbour on the public ferries (or private tour boats if you can afford it). Best way to see the harbour. AND you didn't mention the zoo. We have an AMAZING zoo! But you totally fell into a tourist trap with Byron. I know this cos I grew up in that area. It used to be a hippie centre but then the yuppies invaded. And the tourists are year round 😖 My folks still live in the area but I haven't bothered to go there in years - too much traffic in a place never designed for that. Ballina is a slightly better option (and better surfing) but even that we avoid in summer. And you totally skipped some great beach towns from Sydney to Byron that would be a lot more reasonable $ to visit (I know, because I do) eg. Yamba/Iluka region is great + Dorrigo inland. But overall, if just for a holiday, I'd recommend visiting Oz in our winter - you can swim etc at the top end and hike + sightsee in the south AND avoid the crowds (well in the south at least), or maybe August going into September

[@shervinnasrin]

Love that you hooked us up with how to get drunk the cheapest way possible hahaha

[@Joelfriend]

I've got you! 😂

[@reddog5378]

If you want to see the true Australian coast and beachside villages forget going north for the tourist towns, go south from Sydney through the Illawarra coastal suburbs then down the south coast into Victoria.

[@susie9893]

Except this is best in the summer months which are also the busiest months

[@reddog5378]

@@susie9893 We've had a house on the river down Batemans Bay in the family since I was born and I remember the Bay as just a small fishing fleet town when I was a kid. No one went that far south for Christmas back then, only the brave few from Canberra game enough to risk the old Braidwood goat track/road were the few tourists in the caravan park. Went down there to do a job just before christmas and it took me 15 minutes to get over the bridge!! Best time actually is late winter when it's mostly clear sunny days with offshore westerly winds. Most of the coast is back to the laid back take your time place I always remember.

[@dennispicone6801]

Absolutely. The north coast is good, but the south coast is fun also. 😊

[@aaronmiller2020]

Me who has lived in Sydney, Australia for my entire life: Why am I watching this

[@niteshbhuwania750]

Just to check whether you also resonate with the same thoughts..

[@RD-xv5fn]

Sorry , I didn’t realise that the east coast of Australia started with Sydney and went north. First stop Byron Bay ?You missed alot . I was under the illusion that it started in Melbourne and went north . No offence intended Tassy

[@carlosleon7170]

I do the same with being from Las Vegas, USA 😂

[@sopheakduong2933]

Same bro same

[@isak_strand]

Awesome vid bro! what tour companies did you choose for Fraser and Whitsundays? Would you recommend them?

[@Joelfriend]

New Horizon for the Whitsunday islands and Dingos Fraser tour for Fraser Island

[@isak_strand]

@@Joelfriend New Horizon looks fantastic!

[@isaacscattergood4107]

Not gonna lie I’m disappointed that you only included north of Sydney 😭. I’ve traveled 1000’s of km’s around the country and personally I think that the NSW south coast and VIC far east coast is the most beautiful part of the country. Especially between Batemans bay NSW and lakes entrance VIC. Including Narooma, bermagui, Merimbula and Mallacoota

[@user-si8mr1zt8v]

Do you have a link to whitesundays trip? Thank you

[@luisasophie6047]

20-40 dollars I wish 😭 hostel prices have gone up sooo much its like 60 dollars a night now

[@Joelfriend]

I’m actually back in Australia right now, and your right it’s gone up so much since I was here last, it’s crazy!

[@bellabana]

It’s because everything is more expensive around the world due to inflation, a knock on effect from Putin’s war with The Ukraine, from petrol, gas, transport, food, accommodation etc etc etc….

[@thekingoguy14]

Idk why but I’m Australian and I’m just watching this to feel patriotic

[@swissgamer2816]

Great vid! I plan to travel Australia's east coast from Cairns to Adelaide this year. I plan to rent a car and travel on the coast, so no shortcut through the inner land. Also want to visit K'gari and Kangoroo Island. How long would you advise me to spend in total for this whole route? I don't want to be in a rush but not relaxing a week or so at a place either, so 'normal' travel speed if that makes sense. Need to know it before I go cause of the car rental. Any help is greatly appreciated!

[@youarewrongdevil1296]

I went from Sydney to Cairns in 3 weeks, which was just enough time. So, I'd recommend min. 6 weeks for your tour.

[@bradwaghorn8955]

Don’t go north of Brisbane during the wet season. Brutal. East coast beaches are so over rated, WA beaches are by far the best.

[@fireofgod3308]

You missed Taree and Kempsey bro...

[@andreiiasi]

Could you not buy beer from the supermarket? Like we do in England like going to ASDA? Would that not be cheaper? TA

[@susie9893]

Can buy cheap wine from Aldi but not other supermarkets. Better alcohol but reasonable price is Dan Murphy's here

[@romyjones377]

Did you visit Melbourne? I'm setting off in Jan and I'm not sure whether to go to Sydney or Melbourne as a first stop to earn some money before doing this route!

[@adamm1217]

Local aussie here! I think both cities are great for job opportunities, it just depends on which city suits your vibe more. Melbourne is a lot more metropolitan than Sydney. If nightlife, food, coffee, sports, restaurants, clubbing, pubs, bars, entertainment, plays etc. is more of your scene. I would definitely recommend Melbourne over Sydney. It's the fashion, food and nightlife capital of Australia. Plenty of new places to constantly see and explore within the CBD (The city/downtown area of Melbourne). The coffee/cafe culture is also incredible in Melbourne and a lot better than Sydney. Melbourne's weather is also not as good as Sydney's... tends to have four seasons in a day can go from cold to boiling to raining within a couple of hours. Whereas Sydney is more consistent, and will mostly be hot and sunny all January long with just a bit of rain. Sydney is similar in some aspects, it's the most populated city in Australia, and a big business and corporate scene. However, what Sydney lacks to Melbourne is the city atmosphere in terms of the nightlife and culture. Although, Sydney still has a good nightlife and city culture. It just does not compare to Melbourne.... However... Sydney is a lot more beautiful than Melbourne nature wise. While Melbourne has great nature and beaches, it does not compare to Sydney. Sydney has a countless beautiful beaches, amazing nature and is just overall a very beautiful city. If your looking for something a little more relaxed and a beachy type of vibe. Definitely Sydney If your looking for entertainment, nightlife, food, coffee and events. Definitely Melbourne. However, both cities are amazing, and i think you MUST visit both. But in terms of which city you want to earn some money in and stay for a longer period of time in... go with whatever suits your vibe the most

[@sirdeadless]

Adam's comment is excellent but I will add if you're looking for work and to save money then Melbourne will be a little bit cheaper than Sydney.

[@susie9893]

I'm from Sydney and I'd also recommend Melbourne. Slightly cheaper accommodation, better public transport (according to my relatives - personally I just find it confusing - in Sydney we just have the Opal card which is like a very simplistic version of the Oyster card) and for that time of year, better weather (altho Sydney does have better beaches)

[@damianmcwilliams2371]

​@@susie9893we found Sydney's public transport awesome and Sydney is much more beautiful and exciting than Melbourne, but hey we don't sit in cafes drinking coffee all day.

[@susie9893]

@@damianmcwilliams2371 maybe it's cos I live in Sydney - familiarity breeds contempt and all that. I just find Melbourne so pretty but it is a very different city - higher value on culture etc. And they've preserved their history better. For me, when I'm recommending itineraries to tourists, I suggest a day on the harbour, a day for the zoo (truly a great zoo) then head to the Blue Mountains. But I really hate crowds so I avoid the tourist areas as much as possible

[@rolfrosenberg3632]

whats the name of the oldest rainforest near Cairns ?

[@Joelfriend]

The Daintree rainforest!

[@rolfrosenberg3632]

@@Joelfriend Thanks! i will check it out

[@karolpelc3956]

Nothing to see in Melbourne?

[@Masterstrange56]

In covid time?

[@Joelfriend]

Nope, this was back in 2017, 2018 before Covid

[@robby5151]

I’m confused if the budget a day is £60 roughly how is it 3500 to 4000 for just one week 😵‍💫

[@lreynolds4974]

I thought he said full week trip at first but I think he actually said four week trip so that's 4 weeks which is around £2000

[@joelsinton9796]

bro literally skipped the best parts sydney to byron best surfing in between there

[@susie9893]

Yup. AVOID Byron these days. Far too many tourists (and yuppies)

[@roba11en79]

Its a shame out my inflation has affected this video, hostels can now be $70-90 dollars

[@RD-xv5fn]

Last time I checked the east coast went 1000 km south of Sydney . You are very selective in your choices . First place north of Sydney is Bryron Bay. Very much a back packers tour this one. Don’t mention south coast NSW or east coast Victoria or Melbourne . A lot of travellers will disagree with your assessment. More research required.

[@trevorwilson2966]

sunshine coast is boring mate,

[@roslynbyers5415]

Aussie get drunk before we go out

[@RD-xv5fn]

Sounds like a back packers guide , not a east coast guide