5 Week Cairns To Sydney Ultimate

Day 1 

Welcome to Sunny Cairns!

This sun-soaked land will be your base for the first 5 days of your 34-day adventure! Shed your baggage at the luxey backpackers’ hostel and explore Cairns. Hit the pool with your new mates, or rub shoulders and trade travel stories with the locals in the bustling food and nightlife scene.

Trip Extension 

• Pre-itinerary accommodation, activities and packages 

Day 2

Dive into the Great Barrier Reef

Set sail for a day on Far North Queensland’s vibrant and lively Great Barrier Reef teeming with treasures waiting to be discovered! Snorkel alongside some of the world’s most beautiful and colourful marine life and take an introductory dive course. The coral gardens are calling your name!

Day 3

Waterfall Wonderland in the Atherton Tablelands

Far North Queensland has some of the most beautiful waterfalls in Australia coursing through its rainforests, and luckily for you, many are within a day’s travel from Cairns. Feel closer to nature as you hike through lush foliage and beneath ancient giants. Beat the heat and spend the day dipping your toes in the fresh flowing waters of the best waterfalls and watering holes near Cairns.

Day 4

Cape Tribulation Safari

Head north for a day at Cape Tribulation. Cape Trib is smack bang where the reef meets the Daintree Rainforest and is home to thousands of Australian wildlife species, including 30% of our frog population, 65% of our butterfly population, and 70 adult crocodiles. Buckle up for a day of croc spotting amid the world’s oldest rainforest (seriously, it's over 135 million years old!).

Day 5

Last Day in Cairns

As your time in Cairns draws to a close, spend today ticking off anything you haven’t done yet or simply bliss out and relax by the pool. Gather your friends and fall in a sunkissed slump by the pool as you gear up for the next leg of your journey, or maximise your time in Cairns by ticking off anything you might have missed … Cairns Night Markets, Kuranda or more snorkelling. The world is your oyster!

Day 6

Mission Beach

Arrive at Mission Beach on the morning of your sixth day. Mission Beach is one of the few tropical paradises left mostly undeveloped by the tourism industry. So embrace the natural beauty of the world around you, and experience Australia like a local! Take a long sunset stroll along the 14-kilometre beach, go hiking through the lush rainforests, or sink into the Cardwell Spa Pool.

Day 7

Mission (Beach) Impossible: Freefall and Glide

Feel the thrills as you free fall for a full sixty seconds on this scenic skydive over Mission Beach, and then feast your eyes on the sights of the glorious untouched nature spread out beneath you when the parachute kicks in. After 15,000 feet of falling and gliding, reconnect with the pure white sands.

Day 8

Ride the Ravines at White Water Rafting

The Mission Beach thrills continue today with a whitewater rafting excursion. Own the 45 rapids of Tully River as you hurtle through rushing creeks and ravines at daredevil speeds! Park your rivercraft at a gorgeous picnic location for lunch and take a moment to enjoy the beauty of the World Heritage-listed rainforests around you.

Day 9 & 10

Make Memories on Maggie Island

Magnetic Island is a little slice of paradise just a short boat ride from Townsville. After your adrenaline-packed few days in Mission Beach, Maggie (that’s what the locals call her) will provide a perfect opportunity for some rest and relaxation. Covered in swaying palm trees, sandy bays and sunny ocean-front bars, Magnetic Island is practically screaming at you to take it easy and embrace the true meaning of island time.

Day 11 & 12

Airlie Beach vibing! 

Airlie Beach is an oasis for backpackers rife with cheap thrills for shallow pockets. Bathe in the Airlie Beach Lagoon or get out of town for a splash in Cedar Creek Falls, stock up on souvenirs for loved ones at the Saturday markets, and hit the Airlie nightlife for unforgettable fun with your newfound travel buddies.

Day 13, 14 & 15

Whitsunday Island Hopping On An Overnight Sail!

Depart the mainland for three days and two nights aboard a state-of-the-art sailing vessel, complete with a rope swing and onboard bar, of course! Spend the days snorkelling underwater wonderlands, combing the golden sands of island beaches like Whitehaven Beach, and chowing down on some seriously supreme catered lunches. 

Day 16

Travel to Rainbow Beach

Settle in for another overnight Greyhound adventure, destination: Rainbow Beach. Catch up on your reading or sleeping, or connect with your loved ones back home.

Day 17 & 18

R&R at Rainbow Beach

Wake up in the sleepy coastal town of Rainbow Beach. Relaxation is a vital obligation to every vacationer, and Rainbow Beach is the perfect place to do it. Retreat to the beach, frolic in the waves, bask in the sun’s warmth on the rainbow sands and crack open a coldie as the sun sinks behind the hills.

Day 19, 20 & 21

Make Tracks on Your K'gari 4WD Camping Safari

The best way to experience K'gari (Fraser Island) is via a 4WD adventure through the island’s treasures. Spend the next three days discovering the pristine waters and pure white sands of Lake Mackenzie, ride the natural currents of Eli Creek, or boogieboard down the huge dunes into Lake Wabby. You’re sure to score an intimate encounter with a dingo, too! Keep your distance though, dingoes rule the dunes and we are but visitors in their sandy paradise. Wind down at your starlit campsite, on this social tour through the world's largest sand island, named after "paradise"!

Day 22

Next Stop: Noosa

Easily one of the hottest and most sought-after beach destinations on the East Coast, Noosa is chock full of fun to be had. Hit up the bustling food scene and nightlife of Hastings Street and Noosaville, hire a board and put your surfing lessons to the test, and don’t leave without doing the Noosa National Park walk!

Day 23

Glide Through the Everglades

There are only two Everglade ecosystems in the world, and on Day 23 you’ll be lucky enough to kayak through the tranquil waters of Noosa Everglades! A network of delicate waterways hedged by leafy mangroves, the Everglades are home to a wide variety of big, beautiful waterbirds, so keep your eyes peeled and see how many you can spot.

Day 24

Go Wild at Australia Zoo

Take a walk on the wild side at the internationally iconic Australia Zoo. Learn the true meaning of ‘crikey!’ as you witness live croc feeding sessions, meet the world’s largest tortoise, and experience kangaroos and wallabies eating out of the palm of your hand. Return to your hostel afterwards and hit Hastings Street for the last hurrah in Noosa.

Day 25

Relax with a Noosa Free Day!

Hit Noosa Main Beach, wander hastings street, go for a coastal hike in Noosa National Park and chill out like a Sunny Coast local! Unwind and enjoy the marvels that Noosa has to offer, ending the day with a beer at KB's - the infamous backpacker bar!

Day 26 & 27

Two Days in BrisVegas

All aboard for Brisbane! Get ready for two days in the stunning river city renowned for its big-country-town charm. Lose yourself in the Japanese gardens, bonsai houses, lagoons, rainforests and the tropical greenhouse at Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens, or kick it poolside at Southbank’s manmade beach with panoramic views of the CBD. And please don’t leave without raising a beer to the beautiful riverside sights down at Howard Smith Wharves — the hottest nightlife destination at the moment.

Day 28 & 29

Gold Coast Exploring in Surfers Paradise

Depart the river city for its glistening seaside competitor, Surfers Paradise. Surfers is renowned for being a playground for big kids on the Gold Coast. Hit the bars, hit the clubs, hit the beaches... honestly, it’s impossible to not have a blast here.

Day 30

All Aboard for Byron Bay

Welcome to Byron Bay, beach lovers! Byron is a bohemian paradise oozing with hot surfers, white linens, budding musicians, and even the occasional celebrity. Align your chakras, take up surfing, or simply bliss out — this is where beachy dreams come true.

Day 31

Catch a Wave in Byron

Surf’s up, my dudes. Hit the beach and let the surf pros show you how to connect with the totally tubular way of life. Keep your eyes peeled for dolphin friends who might try to cut you off and steal your waves.

Day 32

Kayak Through Byron

Another day, another current to ride! Today you’ll be swapping the surfboard for a kayak and paddling your way through paradise. Feel reality wash away and the world slow down while you’re out on the water. 

Day 33

Peace Out in Nimbin!

Board your funky bus and make the short journey out to Nimbin. Your day trip guide will teach you everything you need to know about the history, geology and modern culture of this psychedelic little town! Enjoy some music, healthy food and explore the quirky corners of Nimbin. Return to Byron for your last night in town; go out with a bang and treat yourselves to a Mediterranean feast at Orgasmic then hit the Byron bars to enjoy the live music scene before you shoot off on your next adventure.

Trip Extension

• Surf more with 2 - 7 day surf camps in Byron Bay

Day 34

Sleep Your Way to Sydney

To the bus for one last overnight journey. Curate your Insta feeds, plan your next few days in Sydney, or simply sleep off your month of East Coast adventuring.

Day 35

Welcome to Sydney!

If Cairns is where the reef meets the rainforest then Sydney is where the CBD meets the sea! Rich in stunning seaside walks, sweeping beaches, shopping, and a state-of-the-art food and entertainment scene, set yourself free in Sydney and celebrate the past month with your new travel buddies!

Trip Extension

• Post-trip packages, accommodation and tours!