1 / 6
Coastal Vibes & Tropical Highs
This is the ultimate East Coast odyssey. Since you're 19 and on a budget, I've picked spots with great hostels, cheap eats, and epic free nature. 14 days is a solid window to see the transition from the rugged Victorian coast to the tropical north.
14days
40stops
3297km
Day 1: Melbourne → St Kilda Beach → Fitzroy
44min · 17km3 stops
Melbourne
10:00
20min · 7.2km
St Kilda Beach
14:00
24min · 9.3km
Fitzroy
17:00
Day 2: Wilsons Promontory National P… → Lakes
2h 30min · 196km2 stops
Wilsons Promontory National Park
12:00
2h 30min · 196km
Lakes
17:30
Day 3: Eden → Pambula Beach → Merimbula
3h 7min · 264km3 stops
Eden
11:00
2h 47min · 241km
Pambula Beach
15:00
20min · 22km
Merimbula
17:30
Day 4: Narooma → Pebbly Beach → Jervis Bay
2h 35min · 197km3 stops
Narooma
11:00
1h 18min · 108km
Pebbly Beach
14:00
1h 17min · 90km
Jervis Bay
17:30
Day 5: Sea Cliff Bridge → Royal National Park → Central Coast
2h 20min · 150km3 stops
Sea Cliff Bridge
11:00
2h 2min · 131km
Royal National Park
15:00
18min · 19km
Central Coast
17:30
Day 6: Port Stephens → Port Macquarie Koala Hospital → Port Macquarie
3h 41min · 341km3 stops
Port Stephens
12:00
1h 21min · 121km
Port Macquarie Koala Hospital
15:30
2h 20min · 220km
Port Macquarie
17:30
Day 7: Coffs Harbour → Cape Byron Lighthouse → Byron Bay
4h 11min · 388km3 stops
Coffs Harbour
12:00
1h 38min · 153km
Cape Byron Lighthouse
16:00
2h 33min · 235km
Byron Bay
18:00
Day 8: Burleigh Heads → Surfers Paradise → SkyPoint Observation Deck
1h 14min · 93km3 stops
Burleigh Heads
12:00
54min · 80km
Surfers Paradise
15:00
20min · 14km
SkyPoint Observation Deck
17:30
Day 9: Brisbane → Glass House Mountains → Noosa Heads
2h 6min · 155km3 stops
Brisbane
11:00
1h 3min · 79km
Glass House Mountains
14:30
1h 3min · 76km
Noosa Heads
17:00
Day 10: Rainbow Beach → Hervey Bay → Urangan Pier
3h 4min · 240km3 stops
Rainbow Beach
12:00
1h 36min · 117km
Hervey Bay
15:00
1h 28min · 123km
Urangan Pier
17:30
Day 11: Bundaberg → Agnes Water → Rockhampton
2h 57min · 250km3 stops
Bundaberg
12:00
1h 35min · 128km
Agnes Water
15:00
1h 22min · 122km
Rockhampton
18:00
Day 12: Mackay → Airlie Beach
3h 46min · 336km2 stops
Mackay
13:00
3h 46min · 336km
Airlie Beach
17:00
Day 13: Bowen → Castle Hill → Townsville
3h 21min · 281km3 stops
Bowen
11:00
58min · 79km
Castle Hill
14:30
2h 23min · 203km
Townsville
17:30
Day 14: Wallaman Falls → Josephine Falls → Cairns
5h · 389km3 stops
Wallaman Falls
11:00
2h 8min · 162km
Josephine Falls
15:00
2h 52min · 227km
Cairns
18:00
Heads Up
- 1. Day 2: 5h 38m driving — plan rest stops
- 2. Day 11: 5h 25m driving — plan rest stops
- 3. Day 12: 5h 34m driving — plan rest stops
- 4. Day 14: 6h 1m driving — plan rest stops