How to Travel Australia’s East Coast Without a Car
As someone traveling solo to Australia from the US, I had zero confidence in myself being able to drive on the other side of the road without anyone else by my side. In retrospect, I could have done it if I put myself up to the challenge, but I was on vacation! I didn’t want to put the stress of finding parking and navigating a foreign country on myself. Thus, I dove head first into researching how to travel Australia’s East Coast without a car.
Ladies and gents, it is entirely possible to travel around without a car, as there are a few different transportation options at your disposal. This blog will list your different options for getting from place to place, which direction to travel in, how long you need, as well as where I recommend visiting on the East Coast.
Let’s get into it!
What Transportation Is There in Australia?
Greyhound Buses
Save yourself the trouble of driving by booking a Greyhound bus. These coaches are a great alternative to see Australia’s countryside and highway systems without having to drive yourself, and they are the prime choice for those backpacking Australia’s East Coast without a car.
Your seat is assigned to you at the time of booking, and you can expect to have free Wi-Fi, USB chargers, luggage storage, and leather seats during your journey. The free Wi-Fi was pivotal in helping the time move faster and keeping me entertained.
Although Greyhound bus rides can be quite long if you are traveling a long distance, it was an easy and convenient way to get from one city to the next. Depending on your route, you may even have an overnight bus. Even so, the seats are comfortable and provide a suitable way to travel.
Taking the Greyhound bus will take a bit longer than driving a car simply because they make a few stops along the way to pick up or drop off passengers. Depending on your route, your driver may also stop for a meal/bathroom break. Because of my 10-11 hour journey, we stopped for both lunch and dinner at quick-service restaurants.
In my opinion, this is a great cost-friendly way to get around Australia’s East Coast without a car, especially due to the luggage allowance. While I did a lot of domestic flights throughout my trip, as noted below, I was met with some wildly low baggage allowances, causing me to pay more than I would have liked for my carry-on. The Greyhound buses have a much more reasonable weight allowance and offered a stress-free experience.
It is recommended to book these far in advance, as they book up quickly! If you can’t find the fare you want on a Greyhound bus, though, you can always check out Premier Motor Service.
Domestic Flights
Since Greyhound buses can be lengthy, it might not be the best alternative for someone with limited time. The coaches were a popular option among backpackers there for a month or foreigners visiting on an extended work visa. However, if your vacation time is a bit more limited like mine was, then domestic flights are a great alternative.
Let’s start with the pros. We all know that flying eliminates a lot of time that driving takes up. What would have been a 10-hour drive to Brisbane turned into a 1.5-hour flight, saving me a lot of time in my packed schedule.
Additionally, these flights are not nearly as expensive as most domestic flights in the US, making them worth spending a few more dollars than you would have on a Greyhound bus.
However, as the reputation goes with budget airlines, you’ll likely end up paying elsewhere. What I’ve learned about Australian airlines, even for international flights, is that they enforce a strict weight limit for carry-on bags. Anything exceeding 7kg (~15 lbs.) will result in you being charged to check the baggage. No ifs, ands, or buts.
And when I say they enforce this, I mean it. I walked up to one of my domestic flights and hadn’t even made it to the seating area outside my gate before two employees asked me to put my suitcase and carry-on item on a scale. It is nearly impossible to pack that light when you’re flying from halfway across the world, so I fell victim to being charged a few times, whereas other airlines in the past have been more lenient with their weight restrictions.
If you have the cash to spend, however, domestic flights are a great option for saving time and making city-to-city travel a breeze.
Trains
Although a bit less popular, there are trains that run along Australia’s East Coast, if you’ll be traveling without a car. Two of the most popular routes along the East Coast include travel from Sydney to Melbourne, Canberra, and Brisbane, as well as from Brisbane to Townsville and Cairns.
These trains offer air-conditioned seats, as well as sleeper cars for overnight routes. Certain trains also include a buffer bar and showers. Some routes do require a bus connection, so make sure you look into this at the time of booking.
Similar to traveling by bus, these journeys can be long. But they offer another stress-free way to get from place to place, allowing you to sit back and enjoy the ride.
Train routes are offered a bit less frequently than buses and flights, so it is important that you book everything wisely and pay attention to travel times or delays.
Here is a helpful guide to train travel in Australia!
Ferries
It is important to note that ferries cannot be relied on for traveling up or down the entire East Coast. However, shorter distances do exist and offer a unique way to travel.
The majority of ferries are used to provide transportation to islands such as the Whitsundays or Rottnest Island. They are not the most practical way to travel and will not allow you to go long distances along the coast, unless traveling from Melbourne to Devonport, Tasmania.
Tours
Another alternative is to book a guided tour through a reputable company that will take care of all the transportation needs. Welcome to Travel offers a 30-day “Welcome to Australia: East Coast” semi-guided tour that arranges your travel needs and takes you through the best highlights, from Sydney to Cairns.
Their incredible itinerary is perfect for those feeling clueless about where to go and how to get there. Although on the pricier side for backpackers, this is a great option for solo travelers who don’t plan on renting a car or taking buses or flights.
Alternatively, there are other East Coast tours as well, but the majority of these are set up to accommodate a longer travel schedule of 3+ weeks.
What Is the Cheapest Way to Travel Around Australia’s East Coast?
In terms of money, the cheapest way to travel through Australia’s East Coast without a car is by taking a Greyhound bus. Even though these take a bit more time compared to flights, their cost-friendly nature and comfortability make them an obvious choice for budget travelers.
You’ll get the cheapest rates when booking in advance, especially as these tend to book up fast. Therefore, it is recommended to have your East Coast itinerary finalized as soon as possible to narrow down the dates of travel and get the best rates.
Which Way Should I Travel the East Coast of Australia?
It is completely up to you! Some individuals travel up while others travel down the coast. It seemed to be about 50/50 with everybody that I met.
Because my flight from the US arrived in Sydney, I decided to begin my trip there and travel up the coast. However, you can also opt to fly directly to Cairns from Sydney and start your journey up north near the Great Barrier Reef. Either way, flights are available between these destinations, making it easy to get to wherever you’ll be leaving from.
Personally, I enjoyed traveling up the coast, as this saved my favorite places for last. I recommend basing everything off of how the prices are looking and making your decision from there.
Where to Go on Australia’s East Coast
Now that you know it’s possible to travel Australia’s East Coast without a car, it’s about time you narrow down where you’d like to go! There are countless places to visit, from tiny beach towns to remote islands to large cities. So, where do you begin?
In terms of large cities, Sydney is a must-see. Other honorable mentions include Brisbane and Melbourne, which is a bit more south.
Check out my blog on things to do in Sydney in December!
However, I found the real star of Australia to be its beach towns rather than its large cities. There are so many cute beach towns up the coast, and it can be difficult to narrow down your choices with limited time!
In terms of the major stops, a lot of travelers opt to visit Byron Bay, Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays, and Cairns. Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays were my favorite parts of the entire trip, so I definitely recommend including these in your itinerary.
I’ll be writing a full blog on where to stop along the East Coast, so stay tuned!
As for my itinerary, I began my time in Sydney. After spending a few days here, I traveled up to Brisbane, then continued on to Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays, and I concluded my trip in Cairns. Looking back, I could have spent less time in Brisbane to try to fit in a day or two in Noosa, another notable mention. However, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to visit the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary outside of Brisbane, the reason for my visit.
In my opinion, this was a great introduction to the East Coast and the ideal itinerary for someone with limited time.
How to Get to Hostels in Australia Without a Car
There are various hostels on the East Coast, and I found it quite easy to get to each accommodation despite not having a car. Public transportation is widely available in Sydney, with tap-on-tap-off options for cards.
Brisbane was the most difficult in terms of public transportation. Although there was a high-speed train to the city from the airport, most inner-city transportation options were difficult to find, as the buses do not accept payment by credit card and instead require a specific payment method called the Go Card. However, I was able to walk to the hostel from where the train dropped me off.
If you’re flying into Airlie Beach, you’ll likely land at the Proserpine Airport. From here, you can book a bus that will drop you off directly at your accommodation. If arriving via bus or ferry, you’ll have to walk ~20 minutes into town to get to your accommodation. However, the town is extremely easy to navigate, with almost everything being on one main street.
Cairns does have some bus options, but walking, taking a taxi, or booking a tour is generally the easiest way to get around. I arrived at the train station and walked about 15 minutes to my accommodation.
If you’re traveling Australia’s East Coast without a car, you don’t typically have to worry too much about how you’ll get to your accommodation for the night once arriving.
How Many Weeks Do You Need on the East Coast of Australia?
Many individuals were shocked when they heard I was only spending two weeks in Australia. That’s PTO in America for you! With that being said, I do feel that I saw a good amount of the country and accomplished everything I was hoping to in that amount of time.
However, I met many individuals who were either moving there on a working visa or traveling for 1-3 months. Since it is a bucket-list-worthy destination that can be expensive to travel to, I definitely recommend making the most of your time there if you’re able to stay for an extra week or two.
20-30 days is usually the recommended time period to travel around, especially if you want to hit each town and recommended island along the East Coast or make it over to Uluru. However, it is completely doable to hit some major spots within two weeks.
I wouldn’t recommend anything less than two weeks, as this will really limit you in terms of where you can get to. Australia is a huge country, and because of the large distance from one hotspot to the next, it is recommended to give yourself time to see everything you want to see.
So, Is it Possible to Travel Australia’s East Coast Without a Car?
Yes, it is possible! I am living proof that you can travel throughout this region despite not having a car. Given the long driving distances from one place to the next, I don’t think I would have enjoyed myself as much if I had put myself in the stressful position of driving on the other side of the road by myself. And let’s be honest - it’s not much fun to drive by yourself for that many hours anyway!
Have any other questions about traveling Australia’s East Coast without a car? Drop them below!