Coastal Hostels, Island Escapes & Overnight Adventures 🏖️🚌

Your 5-week journey includes 33 nights of accommodation across Australia’s East Coast, carefully selected for comfort, location, and atmosphere. You’ll stay in a mix of stylish city hostels, tropical island lodges, beachfront retreats, and even a sailing yacht — with every stay offering something unique and unforgettable.

To help you cover more ground without losing precious daytime, a few long-distance journeys are done by 2 comfortable overnight buses. It’s all part of the experience — fall asleep in one destination and wake up in another, ready for a new day of exploring.

🌏 Tour Itinerary : 

🚌 Day 1 | Sydney → Byron Bay

• Kick off in Sydney with a guided city tour and group orientation (5:30 pm).

• Travel overnight in a luxury sleeper coach with Wi-Fi & reclining seats.

• Accommodation: Overnight Sleeper Bus

🌴 Day 2 | Welcome to Byron Bay

• Check into your beachfront hostel and explore this boho coastal hub.

• Guided walk of Byron Bay, then hit the beach for a chill afternoon.

• Evening welcome group dinner with your new travel mates.

• Accommodation: WakeUp Hostel Byron Bay (or similar)

🏄 Day 3 – 5 | Surf, Yoga & Lighthouse Views

• Surf lesson with a pro instructor – ride the waves like a local.

• Yoga class to unwind Aussie-style.

• Byron Lighthouse hike to the most easterly point of Australia – epic ocean views!

• Free time: explore markets, enjoy nightlife, or add-ons like:

  • Kayaking with dolphins 🐬

  • Byron Beach & Waterfalls tour 🌊

• Accommodation: WakeUp Hostel Byron Bay (or similar)

🌊 Day 6 | Surfers Paradise Arrival

• Morning free before heading to Surfers Paradise, famous for:

  • Long sandy beaches 🏖️

  • Endless nightlife 🌃

• Evening out at the best local bars.

• Accommodation: BUNK Hostel (or similar)

🌅 Day 7 – 8 | Exploring Surfers Paradise

• Chill by the pool or beachfront markets.

• Optional extras:

  • Skypoint Tower panoramic views 🌇

  • Stand-up paddle boarding or jet boating 🚤

• Accommodation: BUNK Hostel (or similar)

🏙️ Day 9 – 11 | Brisbane Adventures

• Discover Brisbane’s highlights:

  • Streets Beach lagoon 🏝️

  • Southbank cultural hub 🎭

  • Queen Street Mall 🛍️

• Optional extras:

  • Visit Australia Zoo 🐊

  • Snorkelling around shipwrecks 🤿

• Accommodation: BUNK Hostel Brisbane (or similar)

🌳 Day 12 – 13 | Noosa Escape

• Arrive in laid-back Noosa – tropical vibes and stunning beaches.

• National Park hike with cliffside sea views & swim in Fairy Pools.

• Free time for:

  • Surfboards or boogie boards (free rental) 🏄

  • Sunset at Laguna Lookout 🌅

  • Noosa Everglades kayak tour (optional).

• Accommodation: Flashpackers Noosa (or similar)

🌈 Day 14 – 17 | Rainbow Beach & K’gari (Fraser Island) Camping

• Prep in Rainbow Beach before heading to K’gari, the world’s largest sand island.

• 4×4 adventure exploring:

  • Lake McKenzie 💧

  • Champagne Pools 🍾

  • Beach highway drive 🚙

• Camping under the stars just metres from the ocean.

• Meals included during island trip.

• Return to Rainbow Beach for a chilled night.

• Accommodation: Camping on K’gari (2 nights), Freedom Hostel (1 night)

🚍 Day 18 – 21 | Airlie Beach Gateway

• Overnight bus to tropical Airlie Beach.

• Swim in the famous lagoon and enjoy lively bars & markets.

• Optional extras:

  • Scenic flight over the Great Barrier Reef 🛩️

  • Jet ski adventures with turtle spotting 🐢

• Accommodation: Nomads Hostel Airlie Beach (or similar)

⛵ Day 22 – 24 | Whitsundays Sailing Adventure

• Sail through turquoise waters, sleep on board a yacht.

• Visit Whitehaven Beach, one of the whitest sands on Earth.

• Snorkel with vibrant marine life 🐠.

• End with an epic After Boat Party back on Airlie Beach.

• Meals included on boat.

• Accommodation: Sailing Boat (2 nights), Nomads Hostel (1 night)

🐨 Day 25 – 27 | Magnetic Island (Maggie)

• Short ferry to paradise island with wild koalas and wallabies.

• Guided Forts Walk with stunning ocean views.

• Optional extras:

  • Rent a Topless Jeep to explore beaches 🚗

  • Hand-feed wallabies 🦘 or Rainbow Lorikeets 🦜

  • Wildlife park visit or breakfast with koalas 🐨

• Accommodation: Nomads Magnetic Island (or similar)

🌴 Day 28 – 29 | Mission Beach

• Relax where rainforest meets reef.

• Optional adrenaline rush:

  • White water rafting in Tully 🚣

• Chill time at the resort pool or explore National Park trails.

• Accommodation: Mission Beach Resort (or similar)

🪂 Day 30 | Skydive & Cairns Arrival

• Optional 15,000 ft skydive, land on the beach!

• Arrive in Cairns – backpacker paradise and gateway to the Great Barrier Reef.

• Accommodation: Gilligans Resort (or similar)

🌺 Day 31 – 35 | Cairns Adventures

• Chill in the city lagoon or join buzzing nightlife.

• Full-day trip to the Great Barrier Reef:

  • Snorkel vibrant coral gardens 🐢

  • Buffet lunch included.

• Explore rainforests and waterfalls in the Atherton Tablelands, swim at Millaa Millaa Falls.

• Optional activities:

  • Daintree Rainforest trip 🌿

  • Bungy jumping or canyoning 🤸

• Farewell dinner on the last night to celebrate 5 epic weeks together! 🎉

• Accommodation: Gilligans Resort (or similar)

👋 Day 36 | Tour Ends – 10:00am

• Stay in the tropics, travel further, or plan your next Aussie adventure with the crew’s help.

🧳 What’s Included:

• 🏨 33 nights accommodation in hostels, resorts & camping + 2 nights overnight bus journeys

• 👩‍🏫 Expert Group Leader guiding you every step of the way

• 🚍 All tour transport included throughout the trip

• 🏙️ Sydney City Tour – kickstart your Aussie adventure

• 🌅 Byron Bay Lighthouse Walk with incredible coastal views

• 🏄 Learn to surf in Byron with a professional 2-hour lesson

• 🌊 Surfers Paradise Beach & City Tour – sand, surf & nightlife

• 🎭 Explore Brisbane’s Southbank cultural hub and Streets Beach lagoon

• 🌿 Noosa National Park and Headland Walk (optional) with stunning lookouts

• 🌈 Rainbow Beach Sand Blow Walk for breathtaking dune views

• 🚙 4×4 K’gari (Fraser Island) adventure, covering:

  • Lake McKenzie 💧

  • Eli Creek 🌴

  • Champagne Pools 🍾

• ⛵ 2-day / 2-night Whitsundays sailing trip

• 🏝️ Visit Whitehaven Beach & iconic Hill Inlet lookout

• 🎉 Airlie Beach post-cruise party with your crew

• 🐨 Magnetic Island escape, return ferry transfers & guided Fort’s Walk

• 🌴 Mission Beach visit, where reef meets rainforest

• 🏊 Swim in the Cairns Lagoon under tropical skies

• 🐠 Full-day Great Barrier Reef snorkel trip

  • ($20 reef conservation levy payable locally)

• 💦 Atherton Tablelands waterfalls tour – natural rock slides & rainforest pools

• 🍽️ 15 meals included throughout the itinerary

• ➕ Optional activities to customize your adventure (skydiving, kayaking with dolphins, rafting & more!)

Whether you’re relaxing in a hammock on Magnetic Island or enjoying rooftop views in Surfers Paradise, your accommodation is more than just a bed — it’s part of the experience. All spots are backpacker-friendly, social, and ideal for young travellers on the move.

Tour finishes in Cairns. Ask about a premium room upgrade or to extend your stay before or after the tour! Pre-night available from £30.

Need to Know:

🌍 Open to 18–35-year-olds — perfect for gap year travellers, students and working holidaymakers

🧳 Bring a backpack, not a briefcase — this is laid-back travel, Aussie style

📅 Tour runs year-round with regular start dates in Sydney

✈️ Flights not included — but we’ll give tips on what to book

💵 Budget extra for meals, drinks, and optional activities — some are once-in-a-lifetime!

Why This Tour?

This tour is made for travellers who want more than just ticking off tourist stops. With expert planning, top-rated experiences, and plenty of time to chill, it’s the best way to discover the real East Coast. No need to plan buses or hostels — just turn up and enjoy the ride.

Get ready to explore paradise, meet your crew, and experience everything that makes Australia iconic — from surf culture to island sunsets.

Why stop at the East Coast? After completing your 5-week tour, you can easily add one of Oyster’s exciting paid work programmes to extend your time in Australia, gain valuable experience, and earn money while you travel.

🏙️ City Work Programme – Live and Work in Sydney

Fly back to Sydney after your tour and begin the City Work Programme, where you’ll get help with job applications, CV building, and ongoing support to find paid work in hospitality, retail, construction, or admin.
✔️ 7-night welcome package with accommodation, job support and social activities
✔️ 12 months of access to our exclusive job database
✔️ Ideal for working holidaymakers aged 18–35

🔗 Learn more about the City Work Programme

🐴 Equine Work Programme – Horse Care and Paid Work

If you’re a horse lover, you can transition into the Equine Work Programme, where you’ll receive professional training before starting a paid placement on a horse stud or equestrian centre.
✔️ 8-night Sydney orientation with admin setup
✔️ Guaranteed paid work in rural Australia (at least 3 months)
✔️ Accommodation included during your placement
✔️ Great for those with some horse-handling experience

🔗 Learn more about the Equine Work Programme

Why Add One of These Programmes?

• ✅ Seamless transition from travel to work

• 💰 Earn money to fund the rest of your gap year

• ✍️ Build your CV with international work experience

• 🤝 Ongoing support from the Oyster team in Australia and the UK

Whether you want city life or country life, combining your East Coast tour with one of these paid work programmes is the perfect way to make the most of your time in Australia.

Bolt on the  5-Day Surf Camp Experience — and ride the waves with new friends while living the laid-back surfer lifestyle. Perfect for beginners and intermediates alike!

Why You’ll Love It:

• 🏄‍♀️ 8 x 2-hour surf lessons with fully qualified instructors

• 🛌 4 nights at a purpose-built surf camp just meters from the beach

• 🍽️ All meals included — healthy, hearty, with veggie/vegan options

• 🌊 Australia’s best learn-to-surf beach

• 📸 FREE highlight video & photos to capture your surf moments

• 🧼 Facilities include hot showers, hammocks, pool, internet & café

• 🍻 Local nightlife or chill sunset vibes

• 🚌 Return transport from central Sydney

Cost £499

Across your 5-week East Coast adventure, you’ll stay in a mix of top-rated hostels, resorts, and beachfront stays, carefully chosen for their comfort, great vibes, and prime locations close to the action. From Sydney city hostels to beachfront bunks in Byron Bay, you’ll enjoy shared social spaces, pools, and on-site bars perfect for making new friends. Spend a few unforgettable nights camping under the stars on K’gari (Fraser Island), sleep onboard a sailing yacht in the Whitsundays, and relax in tropical resorts at Mission Beach and Cairns. Your package also includes two overnight bus journeys, making travel seamless while saving you a night’s accommodation – more time to explore, less time worrying about logistics.

While most meals during the tour are not included, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to enjoy great food — from hostel kitchens and beach BBQs to tropical island dinners and local cafés. A few group meals are covered along the way, and your tour leader will always point you toward the best food spots in each location.

🥐 Daily Meals:

Most breakfasts, lunches, and dinners are not included, giving you the flexibility to eat where and when you like — whether that’s a beachfront café, hostel kitchen, or hidden local gem.

🍕 Included Meals:

✔️ All meals during the 2-night Fraser Island (K’gari) camping experience
✔️ All meals while sailing the Whitsundays
✔️ Occasional group meals or BBQs during select stops (e.g. Airlie Beach or Magnetic Island)

☕ Food Facilities & Options:

✔️ Most hostels have self-catering kitchens and onsite cafés
✔️ Supermarkets are easily accessible throughout the route
✔️ Local restaurants, bars and street food options in every location

🍻 Drinks:

Alcohol is not included, but most hostels have bars or allow BYO
Drink specials and group pub nights are a regular feature!

Whether you’re cooking up something simple or sampling Aussie classics like meat pies or tropical fruit smoothies, you’ll eat well on the road — and your group leader will help make every meal social.