14 day Sydney to Cairns tour
Australia East Coast Tours: Is our Sydney to Cairns tours the right match for you?
Boutique East Coast Australia Tour: Small groups, locally owned & operated.
Food, wine, beaches, walks, wildlife and amazing nature experiences daily. Sleep well in hand picked hotel accommodation.
Please note: This tour is operated in partnership with Intrepid Travel. Via Travel Australia is the ground operator, or ‘DMC’ (Destination Management Company) for this tour.
Focus and unique selling points of Via Travel Australia East Coast Tours
- Small groups allow for an intimate touring experience (Min 1, max 16)
- We include ‘must-sees’ like Sydney, Byron Bay, Fraser Island and the Great Barrier Reef, but we also expose our guests to family-run hospitality, locally-produced food and wine, and a variety of down-to-earth experiences that can only be enjoyed in small groups.
- We understand the importance of utilising the local community and businesses to create sustainable and long lasting relationships. We visit best local cafes, restaurants & food producers everyday.
- We use a mix of 4 star, boutique & family run accommodation so guests sleep well at night.
- Soft active tour style provides opportunities for nature walks, snorkeling, swimming, spotting animals in the wild
- Great music playlist, informative, enthusiastic guides & no boring commentary
Full itinerary – 14 Day Sydney to Cairns Australia East Coast Tours
Key: B = Breakfast, L = lunch, D = Dinner
Day 1: Sydney (Saturday)
We start in Australia’s Harbour City, the glittering jewel in the east coast’s crown. Make your own way to our joining hotel. At 2pm meet your guide in hotel reception for a welcome meeting. This afternoon enjoy walking tour of the local area and a multicultural welcome dinner. (D)
Accommodation: Sydney, Macleay Hotel https://www.themacleay.com/
Day 2: Hunter Valley and Newcastle (Sunday)
We leave behind Sydney’s skyscrapers and sidewalks for a wildlife park boasting an all-star cast of koalas, kangaroos, and more guided by our own personal wildlife ranger. We’re in the heart of the Hunter Valley, so there’s nothing better than to take a wine, cheese, chocolate and organic vodka tasting tour. We’ll also visit the sunny port city Newcastle, rounding an eclectic day off with local live music (When available). (B)
Accommodation: Newcastle: The Lucky Hotel. https://theluckyhotel.com.au
Day 3: Port Macquarie via Forster (Monday)
It’s all about water today. After an amazing local breakfast, we hit the scenic Lakes Way for a coastal walk and lookout climb. Afterwards, we’re off to Port Macquarie in time for a sunset cruise, with complimentary drinks and snacks to enjoy – if you’re not distracted by the dolphins that frequently swim past. (B)
Accommodation: Port Macquarie: El Paso Motor Inn. https://elpasomotorinn.com.au/
Day 4: Dorrigo National Park (Tuesday)
We start by meeting the volunteers at a local koala hospital. If you’re able to tear yourself away from the cuddly critters, you’ll be rewarded with a stop in Nambucca Heads to share in a unique and immersive Gumbaynggirr Aboriginal experience that will get you in touch with the traditional custodians of this land, lore and ancient cultural knowledge. We finish the day in true Aussie style in the Dorrigo National Park: at a traditional pub where you can relax, order some grub, have a few drinks and even play some pool (B)
Accommodation: Dorrigo Heritage Motel (Traditional Australian Pub) or Bellingen Valley Lodge. http://www.heritagehoteldorrigo.com.au/
Day 5: Dorrigo National Park – Byron Bay (Wednesday)
It’s off to Dangar Falls for a refreshing dip in its cascading waters. We visit Dorrigo National Park, known for its lush, sub-tropical rainforest and waterfalls. Next, we’re headed to Byron Bay, a laid-back surf paradise with boundless coastline, sand and friendly locals. We will be paying a visit to the local lighthouse for a unique photo opportunity and the chance for the eagle-eyed to spot dolphins, whales, and other marine life. We’ll finish the afternoon by popping to an organic farm where we’ll pick and prepare a healthy dinner (B, D)
Accommodation: Byron Bay hotel & Apartments. http://www.byronbayhotelapartments.com.au/
Day 6: Byron Bay (Thursday)
Today we’re talking relaxation, relaxation, and relaxation. This day is all yours. Spend the morning on the warm sand, shopping for bargains, or indulge in one of our optional activities: yoga, surfing, kayaking or get a relaxing massage. In the afternoon, put your feet up, head to a cozy bar, or watch the world go by from one of the local cafes.
Optional: Surf lesson, kayak experience
Accommodation: Byron Bay hotel & Apartments. http://www.byronbayhotelapartments.com.au/
Day 7: Noosa & Fraser Island
We’re a week into our adventure and today sees a visit to sun-kissed Noosa (via one of Australia’s top surf spots and home to some of our champion surfers). We’re crossing into Queensland – the Sunshine State – which means koala-spotting in a national park followed by a magnificent drive & short ferry to our two night destination, Fraser Island – the local Butchulla people call it K’gari (paradise), and you’ll find out why soon enough. This incredible slice of land is the largest sand island in the world, stretching some 123 kilometres down Queensland’s southern coast and tomorrow you’ll have the chance to explore it, so get a good night’s rest ready for a day of adventure – oh, and look out for dingoes! (B)
Accommodation: King Fisher Bay Resort https://www.kingfisherbay.com/
Day 8: Fraser Island
Today we are talking adventure, adventure, adventure! An exciting 4WD ride through the breathtaking landscape of Fraser Island. Visit some of the renowned lookout points – perhaps Indian Head or the Cathedrals – for incredible views of the coast, then take a refreshing dive into the crystal-clear water of Lake McKenzie – an island icon. Visit the Maheno shipwreck and the coloured sands of the pinnacles, Pile Valley’s awe-inspiring Satinay and Brush Box forests as well as Central Station and Wanggoolba, before adventuring along 75 Mile Beach Road – one of the best coastal drives in the country – and taking a dip in the fresh waters of Eli Creek. From tropical dense rainforest to wild offshore waters – witness the contrasting fauna and terrain of this truly unique island as you venture across undulating sand dunes and vast golden beach, in search of that iconic outback creature, the dingo. This evening, relax at your accommodation and perhaps join the rest of your group for dinner at one of the resort’s restaurants.
Accommodation: King Fisher Bay Resort https://www.kingfisherbay.com/
Day 9: Airlie Beach – Gateway to the Whitsunday Islands
It’s up, up, and away, as we take the plane to Airlie beach, hub of the magnificent Whitsundays. You get the chance to take the reins today; whether you want to stroll through the town, find a cool bar, or explore the local swimming hole, the choice is all yours! (B) Accommodation: Airlie Beach: Mantra Croc Club. https://www.clubcroc.com.au
Day 10: Whitsunday Islands Cruise and Airlie Beach
After breakfast, we’re taking a leisurely day cruise through the postcard-perfect islands of the Whitsundays, including a stop at famed Whitehaven beach. Words can’t do justice to the dazzling white sands, azure waters, and densely verdant vegetation of this incredible corner of the world. Get a closer look by snorkeling with colourful coral, and an array of playful fish and turtles. Afterwards, it’s your chance to relax or seek out the town’s best food and drink options. (B, L)
Accommodation: Airlie Beach: Mantra Croc Club. https://www.clubcroc.com.au
Day 11: Mission Beach
A change of scenery today as we head through undulating cane fields to picturesque Mission Beach in a private vehicle. We’ll have the perfect day to enjoy paradise this afternoon with free time as we arrive onto crystal clear waters and stunning views. Grab a book, have a swim in the pool, or just sit and enjoy the tropical bliss. (B)
Accommodation: Mission Beach Castaways Resort. https://www.clubcroc.com.au/
Day 12: Cairns via the Atherton Tablelands
Enjoy breakfast before we travel into the wet tropics of Far North Queensland. We’ll discover a magnificent plunge waterfall nestled in dense tropical rainforest en-route to the Atherton Tablelands. Take a dip in the cool water before we head to Lake Eacham, a crater lake with crystal-clear water, and visit the massive ‘Curtain Fig Tree’. We’ll finish the day in Cairns, one of Australia’s most vibrant, tropical and energetic cities. (B)
Accommodation: Cairns: The Riley Hotel will be used until the 1st Jan 2020
From then on we will stay in The Bailey Hotel. See hotels here – crystalbrookcollection.com
Day 13: Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef
It’s one of the highlights of any trip to Australia: The Great Barrier Reef. Today, we take a cruise to the famed reef, where we’ll go snorkeling and hear marine conservation commentary. After an extraordinary day, we’ll freshen up at the hotel before having our farewell dinner (B, L, D)
Optional: Scuba dive on the Great Barrier Reef
Accommodation: Cairns: The Riley Hotel will be used until the 1st Jan 2020
From then on we will stay in The Bailey Hotel. See hotels here – https://www.crystalbrookcollection.com
Day 14: Cairns
You tour ends after breakfast (B).
Post Tour accommodation is available through us at Via Travel. Ask for a quote.
Extending your stay in Cairns? Ask us about short trips/activities to enjoy after the tour ends.
Moving on immediately? You can leave your luggage in storage at the hotel & collect it at the end of the day.
- Twin Share room with bathroom
- AUD$5995
- Twin Share room with bathroom
- Ideal option for a single traveller who wants to share a room (No forced single supplements - If we can't match you with a same gender traveller, we will upgrade you for free).
- Adult Double Room with bathroom
- AUD$5995
- Adult Double Room with bathroom
- Ideal for a couple or friends/family travelling together (Tell us if you want to share a bed together, or you want 2 single beds).
- Single Room with bathroom
- AUD$7990
- Single Room with bathroom
- Private rooms with own facilities. Ideal for solo travellers enjoying the company of others by day & a private room at night.
Age Requirements & Tour Style:
Must be 18+ to travel on the tour unless an approved minor (8-17 years old) is accompanied by an adult. All guest must be young in spirit & active enough to participate daily in light to medium walks, some lasting up to 2 hours
Booking Terms & Conditions
- A minimum number of 1 passenger is required to operate each tour
- To place a booking email us, or call to confirm availability first
- Please discuss the best payment terms for your business with us
- Travel insurance is highly recommended for all guest. Via Travel will do everything in our power to run according to schedule but can’t guarantee pick up or drop off times (E.g in case of traffic, incidents out of our control) and are not liable for passengers’ failure to connect with other services.
- Some activities included on the Via Travel network may require a reasonable level of fitness
- Via Travel reserves the right to cancel or postpone any trip, in which case a full refund will be made
- Any special requirements will be considered upon request. All requests must be communicated at the time of booking. We will endeavour to cater to all requests although these cannot be guaranteed
- Payment: Payment terms to be discussed individually.
Check all of our east coast Australia tour itineraries by clicking Via Travel Australia Tours
Departure Dates:
*Day 1 is always in on a Saturday in Sydney & Day 14 is always a Friday in Cairns
2020
April: 4th, 11th, 18th
May: 2nd, 16th
June: 13th, 27th
July: 11th, 25th
August: 8th, 22nd
September: 5th, 19th
October: 3rd, 17th, 31
November: 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th
December: 5th, 12th, 19th
2021
January: 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23th, 30th
February: 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th
March: 6th, 13th, 20th
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DepartureSydney
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IncludedSmall Group Tour (Min 1, Max 16 Guests)All transport (Private buses, domestic flight & boat trips)Included free activities most days (Walks, waterfalls, beaches, local experiences)12 breakfasts, 3 lunch experiences, 3 dinner experiences2 night Fraser Island 4WD adventureWhitsundays Island Explorer day cruise with a visit to Whitehaven beach, snorkeling opportunities & lunch on boardGreat Barrier Reef day cruise including 2 reef sites, bird sanctuary, snorkeling, lunch on board and optional scuba divingAustralian animal conservation park - Get up close to kangaroos, emus & more with our own ranger to guide usPort Macquarie sunset cruise with drinksPort Macquarie koala hospital visitIncluded free activities (Walks, waterfalls, beaches, local experiences daily)Unique & immersive aboriginal experience
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Not Included
Meine erste und definitiv nicht letzte ViaTravel East Coast Australia Tour im Oktober war einfach atemberaubend!
Die Reiseziele an der Ostküste waren allesamt genial: Sydney, Byron Bay, die Whitsundays und natürlich das Great Barrier Reef! Unser Reiseführer Stu war einfach spitze, super nett, lustig und wusste alles rund um regionale Spezialitäten und Natur. Besonders die kleine Größe der Gruppe hat mir auch zugesagt. Man hatte viel Zeit sich kennenzulernen und ich habe Freunde fürs Leben gefunden!
Diese ViaTravel Tour in Australien hat wirklich mein Leben verändert und ich kann es kaum erwarten wiederzukommen! Danke Stu und Team für atemberaubende Erinnerungen und neue Freunde in Australien!
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My first and definitely not last via Travel East Coast Australia tour in October was just breathtaking!
The destinations on the east coast were all awesome: Sydney, Byron Bay, the whitsundays and, of course, the great barrier reef! Our Travel Guide Stu was just great, super nice, funny and knew everything about regional specialities and nature. Especially the small size of the group has also promised me. You had a lot of time to meet and I found friends for life!
This via travel tour in Australia has really changed my life and I can’t wait to come back! Thank you stu and team for stunning memories and new friends in Australia!
Un gran paquete para descubrir la costa este de Australia como un local, en grupo pequeño y alojándose en hoteles buenos durante los 14 días. Lo hice con mi marido y lo recomiendo a quien busque un viaje fuera de masas y llevado por buenos guías australianos. Y la comida fue deliciosa!
Best Australia East Coast Tour! My girlfriend and I booked on the 14 day Sydney to Cairns tour because we wanted to explore in a small group, have a nice room at the end of the day to sleep in (not stay in backpacker party style accommodation). This was the trip of our lifetime and we can’t thank our guide Stu enough! Nature and friendly locals everyday, beautiful beaches and incredible food and wine. I will def be recommending all of my friends and family to do this trip! Thanks again
East Coast Australia Tour – Small groups
We spent 14 Days of the best days of our lives on our East Coast Australia Tour from Sydney to Cairns! This tour is the east coast australia must do! We were in a small group and we saw all the major highlights between Sydney and cairns but our guide Stu made sure we went off the beaten track for authentic Australian experiences – incredible nature, waterfalls, snorkelling – I saw my first turtle and nemo fish! Fraser island 4wding was exciting and we spotted 2 dingoes in the wild! The accommodation each night was very good and we always had an ensuite so that was nice too. Even though we were on a organised tour they made sure we had some time to ourselves to relax or explore without the group so we had ‘me time’. Awesome food experiences too – our guide Stu knew a lot about the local specialities, wine, beer and coffee everyday so we were fed well! We met a super nice aboriginal family who looked after us for an afternoon – we learnt a lot about the culture, their past and had a beautiful refreshing swim in a secluded place too. We could not find any other east coast tours of Australia in a small group like this and we are so glad we decided to go with this east coast Australia road trip! Would happily recommend it to anyone. Thanks guys!
I traveled on the first East Coast Australia tour with Via Travel after they had confirmed their partnership with Intrepid Travel. Traveling from Sydney to Cairns on the 14-Day tour was fun filled, informative and filled with lots of wonderful sights from the very first day. Our tour guide was full of interesting facts along the way and knew all the great spots to stop. If you’re wanting to get a taste of the East Coast of Australia from Sydney to Cairns, then this is the trip for you!
Leave A Review
We joined Via Travel’s Australia East Coast Tour and it was fantastic! We covered all the big sights up the East coast but also got off the beaten track. The 14 days were filled with lots of activity, mind blowing sights and delicious food and drink. Our guide Stu was organised but also heaps of fun and helped our whole group have a blast.
Emma Schwartzkoff – 21st Nov, 2016
I couldn’t think of a better way to see the East Coast of Australia.
A perfect blend of seeing the “must see things” while sampling the local food and beverages at a comfortable and relaxed pace, just what we wanted from a holiday. The passion, experience and knowledge of East Coast Australia Tours and its staff is very evident in every detail. Everything has been planned very well to make sure we had an enjoyable time without that “organised tour” feel. We had time to do our own thing and enjoyed the company and flexibility of our small group. I couldn’t recommend this trip more highly for both international visitors and Australian residents. Keep up the fantastic work…!!!!