Should I Travel The East Coast Or West Coast Of Australia?

The Verdict: West vs. East Coast

If you’re travelling to Australia for the first time, you should do the East Coast, as it’s more connected, as well as populated with must-see destinations (from Byron Bay to Noosa to Cairns). However, if you’re a returning traveller and have seen the wonders of the East Coast already, the West Coast is an excellent and unique trip that will show you a whole new side of Australia (quite literally!). 

This handy comparison and itinerary guide will help you choose between the East or West Coast of Down Under, so you can figure out if you’re inbound for Perth or Sydney as your initial stop!

East Coast vs. West Coast in Australia

When compared to a West Coast road trip (usually Perth to Exmouth), the East Coast is way more connected for backpackers. You can do the whole East Coast with a bus pass, not needing to rent a car which can be a bit more expensive. There are more stops and more bars, restaurants, clubs, and tours. To discover the West Coast, you will need to rent a car (likely a 4WD) as it is far more rugged. With bright, avid landscapes characterised by less crowds, sprawling national parks and further distances between towns, Western Australia is a great option if you have already travelled the East Coast.

Pros of the East Coast

Popular destinations: Melbourne, Sydney, Byron Bay, Gold Coast, Noosa, K’gari (Fraser Island), Airlie Beach, Whitsunday Islands, Mission Beach, Magnetic Island & Cairns.

• Less distance between cities 

Melbourne, Sydney, Gold Coast, Brisbane and Cairns are all major cities and connected by buses, trains, and airports for seamless travel. You will also find more restaurants, bars, clubs, tourism info points and facilities on the EC. 

• Easier to find transport

You can travel the whole East Coast by bus (you don’t need a car like in WA), with a Greyhound Whimit Pass. There’s also better public transport within towns and cities, along with more places to rent cars & campervans.

• Join tours easily 

Countless tours like Whitsunday sails, K’gari 4WD trips, Byron Bay kayaks, Cairns rainforest walks, surf lessons, and beach skydives are easy to book into at the drop of a hat! Due to this, it’s way easier to do the EC without a pre-organised itinerary, if that’s your style.

• Nightlife & backpacker vibes  

Backpacker friends to meet are abundant in the cities and beach towns of the East Coast. Whether you want to bar crawl the streets of Sydney, drink a beer by the beach in Byron or want to dance the night away in Airlie, check out why the East Coast has the best, most diverse nightlife in Australia!

• More accommodation

Hotels, campsites and hostels are abundant along the East Coast, so you might find it easier to make friends along the way with so many young people doing the East Coast route. And the most crucial part: it can be easier to find availability and competitive rates!

Check out our guide to finding the best accommodation on the East Coast of Australia.

• Beachy towns and famous surf spots 

The famous surf spots like Noosa, Bondi Beach and Byron Bay are all dotted along the East Coast of Australia, making it perfect for a surfing road trip!

Pros of West Coast Australia 

Popular destinations: Perth, Rottnest Island, Coral Coast, Exmouth, Ningaloo, Carnarvon, Perth, Fremantle  & Shark Bay.

• More “hidden gems”

Despite a lack of public transport, if you have a car you can get off the beaten path really easily. You will also find quieter beaches more easily and healthier reefs in parts. 

• Wildlife

If you’re coming to Australia to glimpse a look into the world of native wildlife, you will wake up to emus and kangaroos on the dirt roads of WA!

• 4WD rental cars

Both a pro and con, a road trip from Perth to Exmouth demands a 4WD due to the dusty red dirt roads. This can be a fantastic, classic Aussie way to explore, but renting the vehicle can be a bit expensive and demand a bit of driver confidence and know-how.

• Desert landscape & lakes

One of the biggest draws to Western Australia is the unbelievable pink lakes! With Hutt Lagoon and Lake Hillier featuring incredible bright pink waters, it’s an absolute treat to the eyes!

What’s cheaper: the East or West Coast?

The verdict: the East Coast is cheaper than the West Coast due to car rental costs.

Your budget for East Coast Australia

While the East Coast is home to more expensive cities such as Sydney and Melbourne, and beach towns that face hiked prices in the summer like Noosa, Byron Bay and the Gold Coast, it is easier to do things on a backpacker budget. Due to the ease of budget-friendly transport like an East Coast bus pass, along with the abundance of hostels to choose from, you can get away with spending about $400 per week.

Your budget for West Coast Australia

While food, accommodation and tours aren’t necessarily expensive in WA, you will spend a lot more on your car rental and fuel, as a coach pass isn’t really a possibility. Similarly, guided tours are pretty expensive. Be prepared to spend about $1000 a week when travelling West Coast Australia.

Must-see sights compared

Ningaloo Reef vs. Great Barrier Reef

Both of these reefs are home to colourful corals, clear waters, huge fish, manta rays, and dolphins. However, WA’s Ningaloo Reef is known for its whale sharks, manta rays and excellent offshore snorkelling and diving (you don’t need a boat to access the sites, you can swim from the beach!). However, the Great Barrier Reef in QLD is over 70 times bigger than Ningaloo, and is home to the largest ecosystem of coral in the world! As such, the Great Barrier Reef does have a larger variety of marine life, including dugongs, giant clams, over 1500 species of fish and green sea turtles.

Long, dirt-road drives vs. beach towns 

Endless, long and quiet drives are common when you do your WA road trip. The destinations are pretty far apart, so be prepared to rent your vehicle and spend a lot of time on the roads. The towns are a lot more regional and smaller than the beachy towns on the East Coast, with pitstops in WA often featuring two or three pubs and a fuel station.

Perth vs. Sydney & Melbourne

The East Coast definitely takes the prize when it comes to cities to visit. Perth is the major city in WA, and while small, visitors can find ample museums, galleries and cultural experiences. However, the big cities like Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane boast more life: music, eateries, river life and connectivity making for a bigger visitor experience.

Coral Coast offshore snorkelling vs. Great Barrier Reef sailing trips

The Coral Coast in WA features plenty of rich, accessible off-shore snorkelling spots, so long as you have a car. That means it’s pretty easy and free to immerse yourself if you bring your own snorkelling equipment. However, if you want to discover the World-Heritage Great Barrier Reef on the East Coast, you will have to take a boat out to dive into the deep blue depths.

Can I do the East Coast and West Coast of Australia in one trip? 

If you’re the kind of backpacker who wants to do the whole sunburnt country in one go, let me tell you that you should give yourself at least 1.5 to 2 months to do both the East Coast and West Coast… well. You may have heard already, but Australia is a HUGE country, making it a hefty beast to plan an itinerary for. There are a million and one ways you can travel Aus, and to fly from Sydney to Perth alone takes 3300 km and 5 hours (yep… you’re still in the same country). 

So, while you could do both beautiful coasts in less time, there is so much to explore that it’s worth taking your time. Otherwise, you will just spend your precious hours Down Under in transit, rather than swimming in the Great Barrier Reef. We recommend at least 3 weeks to backpack the East Coast alone, so if you don’t have at least 1.5 months in Australia, we recommend picking one coast.

The wonders of Australia are just waiting for you to experience them!

Don't hesitate to live chat with our local Aussie travel agents for help with planning your next Down Under adventure!