3 Week Cairns to Melbourne Express

Day 1

Welcome to Cairns!

Kick off your tour down the stunning east coast of Australia in tropical Cairns! Cairns is where the rainforest meets the reef, the locals are friendly, and the sun is always shining. Your hostel accommodation is in the hub of Cairns’ CBD and will be brimming with like-minded travellers eager to make new friends and have a good time. Relax by the pool or get the party started in Cairns’ throbbing nightlife.

Day 2

Dive into the Great Barrier Reef

Discover the underwater wonderland of Australia’s most prized possession: the Great Barrier Reef! Made up of over 3,000 reefs and home to more than 9,000 species of diverse marine life, the Great Barrier Reef is one of the best snorkelling and scuba diving spots in the world! Get up close and personal with kaleidoscopes of vibrant coral gardens, tropical fish and dolphins!

Day 3

Discover Cairns at your own pace

A free day in Cairns, the centre of FNQ, is bound to end in a tan, smile and amazing mems. Take a dip in the Cairns Lagoon, head to Port Douglas for a palm tree picnic and try an Acai Bowl at Rusty's Fruit Market!

Day 4 & 5

Arrive at Airlie Beach Adventure 

Arrive at the tropical paradise of Airlie Beach, or the heart of the reef, as the locals call it. Drop your baggage at your luxe hostel and explore the sights! Chow down on the fresh legendary seafood, or hit the town for golden hour drinks and a night of partying. If it's thrills you’re seeking, consider booking in for an adrenaline-packed skydive over Airlie’s stunning beaches.

Trip Upgrade

• Skydive
• 1 Hour Reef & Island Scenic Flight

Day 6 & 7

Sail the Whitsundays 

Leave the mainland in your rearview and embrace island time as you cruise through the 74 islands that make up the beautiful Whitsundays. Soak up the sun on the sandy white shores, or snorkel alongside rainbows of tropical fish and playful dolphins. Share your island discoveries with new friends over a delicious lunch on board (included in your trip!) as you sail through serenity.

Day 8

Return to Airlie

Return to your Airlie Beach accommodation for some well-deserved rest and relaxation after your big adventure on the high seas. Take today as fast or slow as you please: work on your tan, update your Insta, or go hard amongst the local nightlife.

Day 9

Head South to Rainbow Beach

All aboard for Rainbow Beach! Take this opportunity to sift through photos from your adventure so far, update your loved ones back home, or catch up on sleep. In the morning you’ll wake up to the charming coastal town of Rainbow Beach.

Day 10 & 11

Explore Rainbow Beach

Named for its glistening dunes made up of 72 different colours of sand, Rainbow Beach is a relaxing beach town surrounded by natural beauty. This marks the halfway point for the tour, so now would be a perfect time to unwind, take it easy, and gear up for another ten days of killer fun. Or you could always let loose at the local rooftop bar, The Deck!

Day 12, 13 & 14

4WD Adventure on Fraser

K’gari (Fraser Island) is bountiful in natural beauty. Let your 4WD guide do the work as you spend the next three days taking in the sights. Jump in the fresh flowing waters of Ely Creek and let us take you on a relaxing cruise out to the ocean, float in the placid, crystal clear waters of Lake Mackenzie, and explore the breathtaking burnt orange sands of Red Canyon. After three days of fun under the sun, return to your Rainbow Beach accommodation and get ready to head south to Byron!

Day 15 & 16

Become a Byron Babe

Welcome to backpacker’s paradise! Embrace the laid-back bohemian paradise of Byron Bay: kick back on the main beaches, cool down with a refreshing beer at the Stone & Wood brewery, or make the trek down to Wategos Beach to enjoy secluded bays surrounded by lush surrounding greenery. Don’t leave before heading up to Byron’s iconic lighthouse and Cape Byron Walking Track for unbeatable views and photo ops of the ocean and headland. Line up a surf lesson or idyllic kayak alongside dolphins, too!

Trip Upgrade

• Surf Lesson
• Dolphin Kayak

Day 17

Head South to Sydney

Back to the Greyhound for your next adventure, comrades! Catch up on your beauty sleep so you can step off the bus feeling good, looking great, and ready to cause a ruckus in Sydney.

Day 18 & 19

Explore the Sydney Sights

When it comes to beautiful cities, Sydney is hard to beat. With a big blue harbour, the iconic 20th-century architecture of the Sydney Opera House, and an abundance of the only beaches in competition with Queensland’s.

Day 20

Overnight Bus to Melbourne

As your tour draws to a close it’s time to hit the Greyhound one last time for some well-deserved shut-eye. Before you pull up in Melbourne check out what the city has to offer and plan some activities for your stay — with the seaside and bustling city life in such close proximity the possibilities are endless! Think of Melbourne as Sydney’s cooler, grungier little sister. Now would also be a great time to dump some pics of your fabulous adventures on Instagram.

Day 21

Welcome to Melbourne!

You’ve arrived at your final destination! The tour may conclude here, but don’t let that stop your adventuring. Melbourne is the cultural capital of Australia with a bounty of good times to be had around the clock, seven days a week. Take a day trip out of town to see the Great Ocean Road, or add an extra three nights on to your tour to explore the free exhibitions, see a show, and hit the town for a night of partying with the friends you’ve met along the way!

Trip Upgrade

• 1 Day Great Ocean Road Tour

Trip Extension

• Add 4 nights onto your stay!