The ultimate Aussie Road Trip, East Coast Australia, connects the Great Ocean Road to the Great Barrier Reef. Along the way, you’ll find picture-perfect beaches and hip cities, as well as charismatic wildlife, rainforests, and picturesque wildlife. East Coast Australia is a place to visit and linger. But there are few things more spectacular than its natural drama.
Australia’s east coastline, which stretches for almost 10,000km, is a land of stunning beaches, lush rainforests, and fascinating wildlife. The Great Barrier Reef, a 2000km long hyper-coloured paradise for tropical marine life, is located offshore. It’s not just about the sights, there are many things to do. You could spend a lifetime exploring the East Coast, or you can do it in 10 days with a few airline tickets. It’s hard to decide what you want to do first. Here are 12 of the most beautiful places you can visit.
Editor’s Note: During COVID-19, there may be restrictions on travel. Also, opening hours can change. Always check the latest travel advice in Australia and follow local health advice.
1. The Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree in Queensland
The best for ecotourism, marine life, and amazing ecotourism
Over 2000km of the Queensland coast is occupied by the Great Barrier Reef and its 900 coral-fringed Islands. Discover this vibrant, undersea world. In Queensland’s far northern region, the Daintree Rainforest is one of the oldest on earth. It reaches down to the coast.
2. Sydney – New South Wales
Best of the iconic sights
Sydney has a lot of big-ticket attractions – the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge are the most popular. Spend a day on the beach to truly experience Sydney. You can choose to stake out your patch of sand on Bondi Beach or slather up with sunscreen and dive into the waves. Or you can take a ferry to Manly to swim, surf, or stroll along the sea-sprayed promenade leading to Shelly Beach.
3. Great Ocean Road – Victoria
The best for scenic coastal drives, quaint towns and charming cities
Victoria and the Twelve Apostles are among the most iconic sights along the Great Ocean Road, but the road trip to get there doubles their impact. You can take it easy along the roads that curve beside Bass Strait beaches and then whizz inland through rainforests rich in wildlife and charming towns. Port Fairy and Cape Bridgewater are hidden in the west. Hike the Great Ocean Walk between Apollo Bay and the Apostles for the ultimate slow travel experience.
4. Byron Bay – New South Wales
The best places to surf, glam, and spot celebrities
Byron Bay, or Byron as it is known to its friends, is Australia’s easterlymost point. It has become an icon of Australian culture. Families, sunseekers, surfers, and school-age children from all over the world, as well as those looking to escape the rat race, are drawn here by the fabulous restaurants, laid-back atmosphere, surf beaches, and wide range of activities. The area also boasts some of the most stunning coastlines in the country.
5. The Whitsundays, Queensland
Best for turquoise seas and sailing
The Whitsundays is a place you could spend your entire life exploring. From party town Airlie Beach, travelers of all financial levels launch yachts to drift slowly between these lush isles. You’ll likely find paradise in multiple places. What more could you ask for? Palm-fringed beaches, turquoise waters, and sheltered coves with palm trees.
6. Melbourne – Victoria
Best of music, art, and cafe culture
Melbourne has a lot going on, whether it is the cafe culture, restaurant scene, or international sporting events. Melbourne’s best restaurants, chefs, cafes, bars, and hidden bars may be the talk of town. But some things will always endure, such as the gritty street art laneways, galleries, and vibrant cultural life, the leafy inner-city parks and gardens, the trams, and the sea breeze beaches.
7. Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Best choice for picturesque villages and glamorous resorts
It’s not called the Sunshine Coast by accident. Few places offer so much in such a small area. The long, rolling surf is what attracts surfers to this area. In the national Park, you can hike along the trails and see dolphins and koalas sleeping in the trees.
8. Fraser Island, Queensland
The best place to view dingoes and dunes, as well as shipwrecks
Fraser Island is a wonderland of drifting sand where dingos roam freely and lush rainforests grow on the sand. The island is a primitive paradise with a variety of wildlife, including the most pure strain of dingos in Australia. Explore the island in a four-wheel drive while cruising down the Seventy-Five Mile Beach. Other natural attractions include pristine freshwater swimming pools, rainforests, and beach camping.
9. South Coast New South Wales
White-sand beaches, whale-spotting, and best for families
The New South Wales South Coast is a beautiful stretch of sand coves and sea pools, often overlooked for the Hume Highway’s direct route. Watch for whales at Eden and other places from June to November. Other iconic wildlife is never far away.
10. Brisbane – Queensland
Best suited for waterfront views and emerging cultural scenes
Brisbane, once considered a provincial counterpart to Sydney and Melbourne, has reinvented itself as Asia Pacific’s hippest hub. Brisbane is no longer content with 261 sunny days a year. It has embraced the arts and culture and boasts a thriving collection of street art, galleries, boutiques, cocktail bars, and award-winning microbreweries.
12. Wilsons Promontory & Gippsland – Victoria
The best beaches, wildlife, and hiking
Wilsons Promontory is the southernmost point of mainland Australia and its finest coastal National Park. It’s a paradise for bushwalkers and wildlife enthusiasts, as well as surfers and photographers. Even a short trip from the Tidal River base of the Park will take you to a swathe of white-sand bays and beaches.
12. Canberra – Australian Capital Territory
Best for museums and galleries
Canberra is a city that has always been interested in the history of the country. The museums and galleries are a major draw. The National Gallery of Australia, National Museum of Australia, National Portrait Gallery, and Australian War Memorial offer visitors an insight into Australia’s culture and history. The small-town feel, the emerging culinary scene, and the beautiful natural surroundings only enhance its appeal.
