Australia EastCoast: welcome to the time of your life(E)

Hey,

I'm finally getting around to writing again. By now, I can say I've left Australia behind and am sitting by a nice river in the Japanese city of Kyoto. Cherry Blossom Season, let's go! But now onto today's topic: the Australian East Coast.

Planning:
Initially, my approach was similar to New Zealand: booking my hostels from place to place. After talking to others who had done this route, I was advised to book everything in advance, and rightly so. It was tough to find a good hostel in places like Noosa or Airlie Beach about 3 weeks beforehand. But I managed it. So, I put together the standard East Coast route. Four days later, I boarded a flight from Christchurch to Sydney!

Generally, Australia, which is often hard for Europeans to imagine, isn't traversed by using public transport. There are several bus companies offering routes, but the most well-known is Greyhound. Greyhound operates similarly to the Intercity bus in New Zealand but with different passes. I bought the 30-day pass for about €180, which was a real bargain compared to Kiwi Experience. But then again, Kiwi offered a completely different service. With Greyhound, you get a number and password to log in to their website and book your buses. There are often multiple buses per day, sometimes only one, and especially night buses fill up quickly, so book early.

I'd say the majority of East Coast tourists travel up the coast, but there are some who start in Cairns and end in Sydney or even Melbourne. Both have their pros and cons. For those traveling down, buses are often emptier, providing more space with the same experience. For those going up, you often meet people at your first stop, and since almost everyone is traveling the same or a similar route, you'll see these people again throughout your journey. My personal route was: starting in Sydney, heading up to Cairns, then flying to Melbourne. It was certainly more comfortable but suited me perfectly.

The Route:
As mentioned, there's a route along the East Coast that 90% of backpackers follow. Some wander into more remote places, but essentially, there are the main spots: Sydney - Byron Bay - Surfers Paradise - Brisbane - Noosa - Rainbow Beach (Fraser Island) - Airlie Beach (Whitsundays) - Magnetic Island - Cairns. You can debate a few spots, but that's essentially the East Coast route. How long you should stay at each place depends on personal interests. Personally, I'm quite restless when traveling; I get bored quickly in one place, so I often move on faster than others. But when I do stay longer, it's usually alone in a room to recharge myself and my social batteries. My recommendations are based on my experiences:

Sydney (I stayed 4 nights): 4-5 nights
Byron Bay (4 nights at a surf camp): 3-4 nights
Surfers Paradise (1 night): 1 night
Brisbane (2 nights): 2-3 nights
Noosa (4 nights in a hotel room): 3-4 nights
Rainbow Beach (one night before and after my Fraser tour): 1 night
Fraser Island: see below
Airlie Beach (2 nights): 3-4 nights
Whitsundays: see below
Magnetic Island (2 nights): 2 nights
Cairns (3 nights): 4 nights
Melbourne (3 nights): 3-4 nights

What you have to know about all the places in Australia: every place is a bit different to the others, they all have their own character. So here a short summary what one can expect from each place:

Sydney:
When I arrived, it was midsummer - meaning 38 degrees heat. Yes, on the hottest day, I escaped to the Blue Mountains and returned in the afternoon. Otherwise, I really liked the city. The skyline gave me a bit of NYC vibes, and the Opera House and Harbour Bridge were impressive. Sydney also gets a big thumbs up from me because public transport is so easy. Just use your credit card and off you go. No need for an extra card to top up, etc. Also, what makes Sydney great are the surrounding beaches, especially Manly and Bondi Beach. It has everything for the city's charm.

Byron Bay:
Definitely one of the surf hotspots on the East Coast, and consequently, the vibe in the town is relaxed and laid-back. My hostel was a bit quirky, but still great for meeting people, and the area around Byron is absolutely stunning. Absolute recommendation: lighthouse for sunrise, just don't park on the yellow line. I met many great people there, and the party never really ended. An absolute summer paradise.

Surfers Paradise/Gold Coast:
The skyline right on the beach is super impressive, but otherwise, apart from a few rooftops, there's not much else to do.

Brisbane:
Brisbane often receives criticism from backpackers because it doesn't offer much for tourists. Still, I thought the city had its charm, and I believe it's definitely fantastic to live there! Plus, the man-made beach with the skyline in the background is impressive.

Noosa:
Definitely lives up to its other nickname "Little Byron". A really cute place with great shops, food, and shopping opportunities. Don't miss the coastal walk to the rock pools, and you can also surf there. Unfortunately, I didn't try the nightlife there; I took the evenings to myself.

Rainbow Beach:
I think Rainbow Beach is mainly a tourist destination because of its proximity to Fraser Island. Otherwise, the place doesn't offer much, but it does have beautiful beaches.

Fraser Island (Dingos 3 days 2 nights tour):
Fraser Island is known as the largest sand island in the world and is one of Australia's tourist attractions. And rightfully so, the island offers incredible experiences. There are different tour operators, day tours by tour bus or overnight tours with their own 4x4 vehicles. I did the latter and got to experience the island's beauty in all its facets. Plus, you spend a lot of time with the same people, and I got to meet incredible people there. It's a bit more expensive, but worth every cent.

Airlie Beach:
Airlie Beach offers the absolute summer paradise. Great nightlife and party options and a really nice city center. There's no beach because it's too dangerous to swim there, but there's a huge lagoon. There are also options to fly over the Great Barrier Reef or do a skydive. However, I just enjoyed my time there and relaxed a bit.

Whitsunday Sailing:
Another highlight of Australia. The Whitsunday Islands, home to Whitehaven Beach, which is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, are off the coast of Airlie Beach. There are many different tours offered, day tours and overnight tours. And if you catch the right time, the beach/viewing platform is absolutely breathtaking and worth every hype or cent.

Magnetic Island:
The island is a bit more untouched than the rest of the East Coast. There are hostels, but capacity is limited for fewer backpackers, so be quick to book. Magnetic offers the unique opportunity to experience Australia's wildlife up close. You can discover wallabies at selected spots or walk through a forest with koalas. Plus, at the Selinas Hostel, you can feed birds and much more. Absolutely worth seeing. Maybe even renting a car!

Cairns/Gilligans:
In Cairns, there's the party hostel Gilligans, where the club is in the hostel. I was lucky with my room and was on the quiet side, so I have very positive memories of the hostel. Others weren't so lucky. The hostel offers different themed parties every evening, but women were often sexualized, so it left a bit of a bitter taste. Still, my three nights there were absolutely fun. Also, I went scuba diving in Cairns, which was on my bucket list, and it was an absolutely great experience.

Things to know beforehand:

1. Australia is expensive:
   Shopping, partying, etc. Everything is just a bit more expensive. You get used to it, but your bank account might not.
2. Paradise for Solo Travelers:
   It's not difficult at all to meet people; you'll find every nationality there, and everyone likes to chat. Since everyone is doing the same route, you often travel with the same people, which makes socializing easier, as you often have the same conversations when meeting new people.
3. You can't swim everywhere:
   This surprised me the most, but it's logical. From Airlie Beach onwards, you can't just go into the water carelessly because there are dangerous jellyfish. When snorkeling/diving, you always get a suit to wear, but there are often nets that don't keep all jellyfish away.
4. "All animals want to kill me":
   Yes, there are many poisonous, dangerous, and deadly animals in Australia. I've talked to people who've seen a brown snake or a blue ring octopus. I didn't even see a really big spider. Especially if you stay mostly in tourist areas, these animals don't venture there anyway. For me, the wildlife had a lot of positives because the country is just so lively.
5. Public transport system:
   The public transport system is very good in the big cities. Brisbane is working on it. However, when you leave the cities, it can be difficult to get from A to B without bus organization. I missed my Greyhound bus in Brisbane but luckily could get to Noosa using public transport. If that had happened in Airlie Beach, I wouldn't have been able to continue.
6. Don't plan too much:
   Especially if you're traveling for a month, don't do every activity they try to sell you. Give yourself some rest days so you can really enjoy the country. If you're running from activity to activity, you won't have time to process what you've experienced, and eventually, it loses its uniqueness.

Thanks for making it this far. In general, I would describe the East Coast as one of the top tourist destinations for young adults because traveling there is incredibly fun, you meet so many great people, and through the organization, etc., you also develop yourself a lot. 10/10 from me!

Until next time,
Bye,
Valentina