Itinerary
- Day 1
Sydney to Coffs Harbour
Your east coast adventure kicks off in Sydney and heads north to Coffs Harbour on the mid-North Coast of New South Wales. This area is known for its impressive beaches and beautiful national parkland. As the day winds down, you'll get to the beach, then meet your fellow travelers and Travel Director for dinner.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner with Travel Director and fellow travelers)
Optional Activities
- Beach exploration at Coffs Harbour
- Explore national parkland
Landmarks Coffs Harbour 
- Day 2
Coffs Harbour to Byron Bay
Head out to Australia's most easterly point and Cape Byron Lighthouse, which sits right above the Pacific Ocean. Dolphins show up year-round in these waters, and whales join them during migration season. You'll stop for lunch at a local Byron Bay fish-and-chip shop and eat it with your feet in the sand before moving on.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Cape Byron Lighthouse
- Dolphin and whale watching (seasonal)
Optional Activities
- Fish and chips lunch at Byron Bay
Landmarks Cape Byron Lighthouse Byron Bay 
- Day 3
Surfers Paradise
You're based in Surfers Paradise, the sparkling heart of the Gold Coast, with time to do as you like. Walk through the beaches or relax in light-filled cafes and restaurants. There's an optional Gold Coast tour to the Mt. Tamborine hinterland if you want to see the creative and foodie hub, or you can take a leisurely cruise through the city's canal network instead.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Beach exploration
- Visit cafés and restaurants
- Mt. Tamborine hinterland tour
- Canal cruise
Landmarks Surfers Paradise Mt. Tamborine - Day 4
Surfers Paradise to K'gari (Fraser Island)
Travel north to Hervey Bay, which serves as the gateway to the World Heritage-Listed K'gari (Fraser Island). The ferry ride across the strait is particularly special during whale migration when these gentle giants visit the calm, protected waters to calve. You'll arrive at K'gari, the world's largest sand island and the only place where rainforest grows directly from sand.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Ferry crossing to K'gari (Fraser Island)
Optional Activities
- Whale watching during migration season
Landmarks K'gari (Fraser Island) Hervey Bay 
- Day 5
K'gari (Fraser Island)
Take a 4WD tour across 75 Mile Beach along the east coast to see the Pinnacles Coloured Sands, calm Eli Creek, and the historic Maheno shipwreck. Lake McKenzie is a dazzling patch of blue formed only from rainwater. Later, explore the ancient rainforest at Central Station and Wanggoolba Creek where massive satiny scribbly gum and kauri trees grow.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- 4WD Fraser Island tour across 75 Mile Beach
- Visit Pinnacles Coloured Sands
- Visit Eli Creek
- Visit Maheno shipwreck
- Visit Lake McKenzie
- Explore ancient rainforest at Central Station
- Explore Wanggoolba Creek
Landmarks 75 Mile Beach Pinnacles Coloured Sands Eli Creek Maheno shipwreck Lake McKenzie Central Station Wanggoolba Creek - Day 6
K'gari to Rockhampton
Return to the mainland and travel through Queensland's cattle country. At Langmorn Station, the Creed family welcomes you with afternoon tea and a tour of their historic cattle property, originally built in 1873. Learn stories about life on the land, then head across the Tropic of Capricorn to Rockhampton, the beef capital of Australia, where you'll sample local restaurants.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Afternoon tea at Langmorn Station
- Tour of Langmorn Station cattle property
Optional Activities
- Dine at Rockhampton restaurants
Landmarks Langmorn Station Tropic of Capricorn Rockhampton - Day 7
Rockhampton to Airlie Beach
Travel to Sarina, Australia's sugar capital, and visit the Sarina Sugar Shed for a guided tour showing how sugar cane is processed and distilled, with the chance to sample the products. From there, continue along the east coast to Airlie Beach, gateway to the Whitsundays, where things move at a more relaxed pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Sarina Sugar Shed
- Sugar cane product sampling
Landmarks Sarina Sugar Shed Airlie Beach - Day 8
Whitsunday Islands
The 74 tropical Whitsunday Islands offer powdery beaches, rainforest, and access to the Coral Sea. You pick how to explore this part of the Great Barrier Reef. Rise early for an optional helicopter ride over Heart Reef or catch a catamaran to Whitehaven Beach, where the sand has such high silica content it squeaks underfoot. There are plenty of options available.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Helicopter ride over Heart Reef
- Catamaran to Whitehaven Beach
Landmarks Whitsunday Islands Heart Reef Whitehaven Beach - Day 9
Airlie Beach to Cairns
After the excitement of the Whitsundays, today is about relaxing and taking in the scenery. You'll pass through more sugar cane fields and rolling green paddocks, with the ocean and rainforest-clad mountains framing your route as you head to Cairns. There will be time to stretch your legs along the way.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Cairns - Day 10
Cairns
Start early at the busy Cairns Esplanade while active locals are out before the heat kicks in. Head inland to the Atherton Tablelands, a high tropical plateau of rainforest including the heritage-listed Curtain Tree. Visit Millaa Millaa Falls where iridescent Ulysses butterflies dance around. Explore the village of Kuranda, then take the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway high above the canopy of Barron Gorge National Park.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Cairns Esplanade
- Explore Atherton Tablelands
- Visit Curtain Tree
- Visit Millaa Millaa Falls
- Explore Kuranda
- Skyrail Rainforest Cableway over Barron Gorge National Park
Landmarks Cairns Esplanade Atherton Tablelands Curtain Tree Millaa Millaa Falls Kuranda Skyrail Rainforest Cableway Barron Gorge National Park - Day 11
Great Barrier Reef
Board a high-speed catamaran to explore the Great Barrier Reef. Snorkel with six of the world's sea turtles swimming over coral fans, alongside countless fish. If staying dry suits you better, view the marine world from an underwater observatory or glass-bottom boat instead.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- High-speed catamaran to Great Barrier Reef
- Snorkeling with sea turtles and coral
- Underwater observatory viewing
- Glass-bottom boat viewing
Landmarks Great Barrier Reef 
- Day 12
Departure
Your east coast Australia tour comes to an end today. It's time to say goodbye to the beaches, rainforests, islands, and fellow travelers you've discovered together on this journey.
- Meals
- Breakfast
