East Coast Australia: Sydney, Byron & Beyond

G’day and welcome to Sydney, one of the world’s most photogenic cities and the starting point for your adventure. Touching down at the airport, a private Flash Pack transfer will be waiting to whisk you to your boutique hotel – right in the heart of the action. Your first evening will be spent getting to know your fellow Flashpackers over food and drinks at a typical Aussie pub. Depending on your jet lag, feel free to explore some local bars before bedding down and getting set for some serious exploration over the next 14 days.

Awake to magnificent vistas of the gleaming CBD and enjoy breakfast in your hotel before an urban sightseeing tour. Starting at the glossy waterfront, with its iconic Opera House and Harbour Bridge, you’ll take in Circular Quay and The Rocks, birthplace of the city: a warren of 18th-century cobbled streets dotted with vibrant cafes, art galleries and convict-era pubs. For lunch, you’ll have the chance to sample some traditional fish and chips, before heading to the crashing waves of beautiful Bondi Beach. Here, you’ll don a wetsuit and join the surfer dudes for a lesson with your group. Cheering each other on, you’ll soon have the basics mastered.

Leave the bright lights of Sydney behind for a day trip to the verdant Hunter Valley. You’ll visit boutique, family-run wine estates to learn how they produce their famous vintages, while sampling (of course) some of the best they have to offer. You’ll also be treated to tastings of gourmet chocolate, handmade cheese and small batch local spirits. After a leisurely lunch, there’ll be time to relax on the grass, walk amongst the grapevines or discover some tastings of your own. Suitably satiated, it’s back in your air-conditioned vehicle to travel back to Sydney.

Today, you’ll be catching a flight north to the top of New South Wales, an area known for its irresistible blend of sun, serenity and miles of golden sand. Your first destination is legendary Byron Bay: a funky surf town and meeting place for alternative cultures since the 1960s – think reiki healers, drumming circles and laidback boho vibes. After checking in at your coastal retreat, you’ll take a walk along the grassy headland to the easternmost point of Australia where the 1901 Cape Byron lighthouse looks out across the rolling waves. After that, you’re free to explore the town, perhaps checking out the New Age boutiques, farmer’s market and grassroots music scene.  

Byron lies within the basin of an ancient volcano, believed by Aboriginal peoples to be a powerful energy centre. Once the site of indigenous rituals, today the town boasts all manner of naturopaths, psychics, therapists and healers. In homage to its sacred setting, your group will start the day with a yoga and breathwork session on the beach. Then, you’ll have a free day to spend exactly as you please. Feeling adventurous? Why not take a sea kayak tour in search of whales and dolphins, sign up for a scuba diving taster or visit a nearby national park to explore lush foliage and waterfalls. Finish your day with an ice-cold craft beer overlooking the ocean. 

Rested and recharged, you’ll continue your journey north to the Sunshine Coast town of Noosa, where yet more idyllic beaches await. En route, you’ll stop off at the David Fleays Wildlife Park to encounter some of Australia’s native animals with a wildlife ranger. This government-owned rescue centre has taken in everything from crocodiles and cassowaries to koalas and emus. Arriving in Noosa for dinner, those with a second burst of energy can head down to the beach to watch the beautiful sunset or explore the main drag, Hastings Street. Tomorrow awaits with a day of high-octane fun and adventure… 

Flashpackers, today you’re off for an incredible 4×4 adventure around K’gari (formerly known as Fraser Island). Measuring 120 kilometres, this is the world’s biggest sand island with a rich and diverse ecology. It’s unlike any other place on earth, so drink in the unique setting as you off-road through a canvas of rainforest, giant dunes, crystalline creeks and vivid blue freshwater lakes. There’ll be plenty of stops for swimming, walking and nature spotting (keep a look out for the native dingoes), as you make the most of the wilderness. Having explored this enigmatic island, you’ll catch a ferry back to the mainland to hit up Hastings Street for an evening of Sunshine Coast dining and Noosa nightlife.

Wave goodbye to the blue skies of Noosa as you fly north to Proserpine. The nearby town of Airlie Beach is the gateway to the gorgeous Whitsunday Islands. Check into your hotel before a leisurely afternoon exploring this lively coastal town. Ramble around the lagoon – the town’s free public park and swimming pool – or find a patch of beach to call your own. There are plenty of shops, bars and seafood restaurants to keep you occupied. Later, rally your Flashpackers for an evening out in friendly Airlie, but don’t go too hard – you’ll want a clear head for tomorrow’s sea-faring foray…

Whitehaven Beach is arguably Australia’s number one beach. The sand is soft, perfectly white and makes your feet squeak. It’s also made from quartz, something that can only be found here. Your full-day speedboat escape today will take you to this beautiful spot, alongside many other mind-blowing islets and coves that scatter the Whitsunday Islands. No photograph will ever be able to recreate the wonder of this idyllic maze, so take a mental picture and commit this moment to memory. Onboard your boat, the crew will cater to your every need, leaving you to soak up the sunshine as you whizz between lesser-known beaches, snorkelling in warm, turquoise waters with some incredible marine life.

The best way to appreciate Australia’s vast size is on a road trip, and today you’ll be up early for the eight-hour journey to Cairns. There’ll be stretch-your-legs stops along the way at traditional Aussie roadhouses, but settle in with a good book, download a playlist and enjoy the epic scenery. Late afternoon, you’ll reach the eclectic coastal metropolis: entry point to the Great Barrier Reef and Queensland’s tropical north. After checking in at your seafront hotel (and perhaps a quick dip in the pool), you’ll be free to explore the Esplanade with its cool cafes, bars and restaurants. 

Following the coastal highway north of Cairns, Daintree National Park is home to the world’s oldest rainforest: a lush expanse of swamps, mangroves and jungle-clad hills sweeping right down to the beach. Your first stop is Mossman Gorge, where a crystal-clear river cascades through an ancient boulder-strewn valley. The traditional lands of the Kuku Yalanji people, you’ll part in take a Dreamtime Walk with an aboriginal guide before a Welcome to Country ceremony. Then, aboard an inflatable raft, you’ll drift down a freshwater creek, soaking up the tropical sounds and looking out for wildlife around you. 

Fill up at breakfast because today you’re headed for the Great Barrier Reef, a hotbed of biodiversity that sprawls for over 2,300 kilometres off Australia’s northeast coast. Boarding your catamaran, you’ll cruise to two snorkelling sites, with lazing on deck in-between. Your group will be accompanied by a Master Reef Guide who will share their knowledge of this fragile ecosystem and show you how to monitor the reef. Grabbing your snorkels (scuba diving is an optional extra), you’ll swim in the company of parrotfish and clownfish, maori wrasse and giant clams, along with thousands of other species that call this area home. Grab lunch onboard with your Flashpacker crew before returning to Cairns in time for Happy Hour.

Your final day is free for some R&R or to explore this tropical playground further. Your Pack Leader can help you book one of the optional activities on offer, such as bungy jumping, skydiving or a heli-flight over the Great Barrier Reef. Or perhaps you’d rather unwind under warm rays by the hotel pool before an afternoon wander into town and a visit to the local markets. Tonight, you’ll gather for a farewell dinner at a renowned Italian restaurant. Raise a toast to your incredible fortnight together as the sun goes down on your final Australian night.

Grab your last brekkie at the hotel before checking out and making your own way to the airport; salty toes, sandy hair and a heart full of the joie de vivre only a true adventure can bring. As you jet back home, think back on the incredible adventure you’ve had, from getting under the skin of Sydney’s cosmopolitan city life, and drinking fine wines in Hunter Valley, to bumping around K’gari and snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef. The best way to ward off your post-trip blues? Start planning your next trip! The world awaits and our trip experts are ready for your call.