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3 Week Cairns to Melbourne Express

5.0 (5 Reviews)

FROM

$2759

Reversible Itinerary

3 Week Melbourne to Cairns Express

Select Date and Passengers

Selected Date

Adult (18+)

Fraser

3-Day 4WD Tour

Cairns

Sunshine City

Camping

Starlit Fraser Camping

Sailing

The Whitsundays

Snorkelling

Great Barrier Reef

Accommodation

Backpackers' Hostels

Surfing

Byron Bay

Transport

Greyhound Bus Pass

Overview

Discover the hottest beachside destinations along Australia’s East Coast with our 20 Day Express Cairns to Melbourne Tour. Start in the unofficial capital of tropical Far North Queensland, Cairns, where you’ll scuba and snorkel through the iconic natural wonders of the Great Barrier Reef. Follow up with more snorkeling on a sailing adventure around the magnificent Whitsunday Islands, before you head south for a few days at Rainbow Beach.

Also included in this 20 tour is a three day 4WD safari along the sands of Fraser Island, three days in bohemian Byron Bay, three days in the glittering seaside city of Sydney, and safe delivery to the cultural capital of Australia, Melbourne. If you’re feeling bougie, chat to us about adding on a couple of extra nights in Melbourne and throwing in a day tour to the Great Ocean Road to keep the coastal adventure going!

Discover the Great Barrier Reef with unique snorkel and scuba experiences
Go on a three-day 4WD safari through the dunes of Fraser Island
Island hop through the Whitsundays on a two-day, two-night sailing trip!
Get an exclusive lay of the land on Australia’s endlessly stunning east coast

Your Sample Itinerary

What's Included?

2 nights in Sydney
2 nights in Byron Bay
3 nights in Rainbow Beach
3 day/2 night Fraser Island Tag-Along Safari
3 nights in Airlie Beach
2-day, 2-night Whitsundays Trip
Luggage Storage Airlie Beach
VIP boat after party
3 nights in Cairns
1 Day Great Barrier Reef Cruise including 1 introductory dive
Greyhound Bus Pass
4 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 4 dinners

What's Extra?

Optional Trip Extensions

Dolphin kayak Byron Bay
Surf lesson Byron Bay
Skydive Airlie
1 hour reef and island scenic flight
3 nights in Melbourne + 1 day Great Ocean Road tour

Terms and Conditions

Please read our terms, conditions and cancellation policies before booking your East Coast itinerary package.

FAQs

Who will I travel with?

This is not a group tour, so you only travel with whoever you book for. Whether that’s solo, with your partner, friend or group of your own choice, spend your downtime how you like and connect with the gorgeous locations on the way!

Is this itinerary guided?

This is a semi-guided itinerary, meaning that professional skippers and tour guides lead any time spent on individual tours (like sailboats, 4WD camping tours, reef tours, and the likes). However, the in-between bits like travel days, downtime and free days are up to you.

That means nobody will be waking you up for your early bus or checking into hostels with you, however, it makes your time in Australia undeniably more personalised and flexible. Read more about our semi-guided itineraries in our FAQs or chat with a local travel agent to match you with your dream experience.

If you are looking to travel with a group of other backpackers and be guided through every leg of your journey by a local leader, check out our fully guided group itineraries.

Are meals included?

4 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 4 dinners are included in this itinerary package, all of which are provided during your day trips. The rest of the meals are up to you, and you will have plenty of access to bars, restaurants and supermarkets along the East Coast.

Do I need travel insurance?

Yes, we strongly recommend that travellers purchase their own travel insurance before their East Coast trip. Travel insurance is not included in your package price, and East Coast Tours is not responsible for personal injury, operator cancellations or delays.

How much spending money do I need per day?

We recommend about $60 to $100 AUD spending money per day. This will cover you for a meal in a restaurant, a couple of beers and some supermarket supplies daily. For details on your daily spending budget in Australia, check out our budget travel guide!

Where will I stay?

You will stay in a variety of beachfront, poolside and city-centre hostels. On your Whitsundays sailing trip, you will spend two nights in a shared boat cabin. On K'gari (Fraser Island), you will be camping in a beachside campsite with hot showers and all gear included. You also have one overnight bus trip.

Can I upgrade to private rooms rather than shared dorms?

Of course! If you prefer some privacy, you can absolutely upgrade to a private room. You will pay the difference from a shared dorm to a private room, and all accommodation is subject to availability. For detailed costs, chat with our friendly travel agents over live chat to secure your space.

What kind of transport is included?

Our itineraries include bus transport which is primarily a Greyhound Whimit Pass. Greyhound Busses are deluxe coaches with in-seat USB charging, wifi, reclining seats, air conditioning and onboard bathrooms. If you wish to upgrade your package, you can book a rental car or campervan through our friendly travel experts to go your own way!

Can I extend or personalise my itinerary?

Simply chat with our friendly travel agents to personalise your itinerary before you book. We wouldn't blame you for wanting longer in the Byron Bay surf or Airlie Beach sunshine!

Are the dates flexible?

Yes, the dates for this itinerary are flexible. Simply input your preferred arrival and departure dates before booking, or chat with our expert travel agents about your timeframe and we'll make it work for you!

Customer Reviews

Katie Hopkins

Jul, 04 2024

Just finished my East Coast Tour and I loved every part of it!!!! I want to start it all over again!

Sarah Parkes

Jun, 05 2024

BEST TRIP TO AUSTRALIA EVER!!! I saw so much in 3 weeks and really feel like I got to know the country. I loved the Great Barrier Reef and K'gari. So grateful to Maurice for his help organising this trip for me! 10/10!!!

Lauren Bryce

May, 07 2024

Thank you to the east coast tours team for helping with my trip. cant recommend enough

Bryan Lawrence

May, 01 2024

I LOVE AUSTRALIA!!!!! I had the best time ever on this trip. can't thank these guys enough for helping me plan. Definitely book with them!!!!

Fiona Davies

Feb, 18 2024

5 stars for these guys. Such a helpful team. Only had 3 weeks to spare and they helped me fit everything in that I wanted to do and see during my time in Australia!!

East Coast Tours acknowledges all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Traditional Owners of Country and recognises their continuing connection to land, sea, culture and community. We pay our respects to Elders past and present and extend that respect to all First Nations peoples.

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