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25-day Australia road trip: East Coast, Sydney, and the Great Barrier Reef

04/25/2017 by Celi

Nemo upolo reef

Would you like to know our Australia road trip route from summer 2015?

Discover Sydney and the Great Barrier Reef with me in 25 days.

And if you want to have everything ready, check out the basic guide with the essential documents you'll need to visit the Australian continent.

The Australia Guide in PDF

Want a PDF with all the Australia articles published on this blog?

Save it to your tablet or phone and check it out whenever, wherever, and however you like, while planning and traveling your own route along Australia's East Coast.

Interested? Then, click here and get it for only 1.95€.

Is this Australia itinerary for you?

To save you time, let me make it clear that this East Coast Australia itinerary is perfect for you if:

  • You're passionate about snorkeling and/or scuba diving. This is essential. We spent a big part of the trip exploring the wonderful Australian Great Barrier Reef. If you don't enjoy these activities, look for another route. You might want to check out the guide to discover the essentials of Sydney in two days.
  • You want to see koalas and kangaroos in the wild. I'm against locking up animals and taking them out of their natural habitat just for the selfish reason of wanting to watch them whenever we feel like it. What's the point of seeing a real animal in front of you if it's depressed, bored, dejected, and, worse still, behaving completely differently from how it does in the wild? If you can't travel and enjoy them in freedom, isn't it better to watch them in nature documentaries? Do you know the BBC's Planet Earth? Check them out, they are totally worth it.
  • You have a reasonable minimum budget for an Australia road trip. The country and, especially, the water activities I suggest, are very expensive. It's true that you can always lower the trip's cost a bit if you go for super cheap accommodation, like camping or shared dorms in hostels. Although I always look for the most affordable travel option, we're already getting ‘too old’ to share so much of our personal space and privacy.
  • You have two to three weeks to do it. If you don't have that much time, it might be worth sacrificing some destinations to enjoy the rest at a slower pace.

What do you say? Interested? Then let's go!

Our East Coast Australia route

Cairns

Choosing Cairns as our entry city to the country was due to work reasons. But,

What a great choice!

There we discovered the Great Barrier Reef, an unforgettable experience. Plus, we got to see our first marsupials: wallabies, tree kangaroos, possums...

Here is a brief summary: though, if you want to know all the details of everything we did and, especially, who we did it with, check out the post dedicated to Cairns.

Cairns lagoon

Practical info

  • Outbound flight. It consisted of 2 layovers and lasted about 30 hours in total.
    • Genoa-Paris, 1.5-hour flight, Airfrance.
    • Paris-Tokyo, 12-hour flight, Airfrance.
    • Tokyo-Cairns, 7-hour flight, Jetstar.
  • Why Cairns? It's an ideal base camp for day trips out on the water to the Great Barrier Reef and is very close to the oldest rainforest in the world, the Daintree Rainforest.
  • Length of stay. We stayed 7 nights for work reasons. However, depending on how many tours you want to do, 3 to 5 nights in this area will be enough.
  • Cost.
    • Tours: €275 (Wait-a-While) + €197 (ReefDay) + €137 (CDC) (€304.5/person).
    • Transport: 20€ (taxi, 10€/person).
    • Accommodation: €372 (€26.6/person/day).

Itinerary

We arrived late, so the first thing was to go to sleep (or try to).

  • Day 1: Getting our bearings. We bought an Optus SIM card with 1.5 GB of data for 30$ for a month, stocked up on groceries at the supermarket, strolled around the city, met the bats, took a dip in the lagoon, and watched Inside Out at the shopping mall cinema.
  • Day 2: Trip to the Great Barrier Reef with Reef Day Tripper.
  • Days 3, 4, and 5: Lots of work, little play.
  • Day 6: Morning swim in the lagoon, Wait a While tour during the afternoon/evening.
  • Day 7: Trip to the Great Barrier Reef with CDC.
  • Day 8: Bus departure to the next leg of the journey: Magnetic Island.
Moore Reef Cairns

Pros and cons

What I liked most about Cairns

  1. Diving in the Great Barrier Reef. Without a doubt, the most spectacular reefs of my life.
  2. The variety of Asian food at great prices. I loved it!

What I liked least about Cairns

It's a city with very basic architecture, mostly focused on tourism.

Want all the details? Don't miss the post dedicated to Cairns:

A window to the Great Barrier Reef.

Magnetic Island

The second stop on our Australia route was Magnetic Island. Although it is located within the Great Barrier Reef, its proximity to the continent's east coast prevents its reef from being as lush as what we had seen on our day trips from Cairns. However, the magnetism we felt for this island was all about another kind of wildlife... want to know what I mean? Take a look at the post about Magnetic Island.

Horseshoe bay Lagun_Magnetic Island

Practical info

  • Transport. We took an early morning Greyhound bus from Cairns to Townsville (a 6-hour ride). Once in Townsville, we took the Sealink ferry to the island (a 25-minute crossing).
  • Why Magnetic Island. It's one of only three spots in Australia where it's easy to see wild koalas on your own, without needing guides, powerful binoculars, or keeping these poor animals locked up in cages.
  • Length of stay. We spent two nights there. If you only want to spot koalas, it's enough. But the island is great for spending more time, especially if you want to do other hiking trails or enjoy its beaches.
  • Cost.
    • Accommodation: 133€ (33€/person/day).
    • Transportation: 77€(bus) + 44€(ferry) + 10€(local transit) (65,5€/person).
    • Food: 72€ (18€/person/day).

Itinerary

  • Day 8: Arrival by ferry to Magnetic Island from Townsville. The owner of the Airbnb, located in Picnic Bay, picks us up. We head up to watch the sunset from Hawkings Point and take a stroll along the beach.
  • Day 9: We take the bus to the trailhead called The Forts, where we spot up to 8 different koalas, three of them babies. The route wrapped up with spectacular views of the island. On the way back, we went for a dip at Arthur Bay and took a sunset walk along Horseshoe Bay before heading back to our accommodation.
  • Day 10: Departure on the ferry to Townsville to catch a new bus, heading to the third stop of our Australia road trip: Whitsunday Island.
Mum and baby koala_Magnetic Island

Pros and cons

What I liked most about Magnetic Island:

The chance to see koalas in the wild on a simple walk.

What I liked least about Magnetic Island:

Compared to what I had seen in Cairns, the reef near the island.

Want to follow in our footsteps? Check out the article dedicated to Magnetic Island:

Magnetic Island: the best way to see koalas in the wild.

Whitsunday Island

The third stop on our Australia route was Airlie Beach, the closest coastal town to the Whitsunday islands and the wonderful Whitehaven Beach. This huge white sand beach is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. Want to see it? Find everything you need to know about the Whitsunday Islands here.

Hill Inlet close up

Practical info

  • Transport. We took a Greyhound bus from Townsville to Airlie Beach (almost a 4-hour journey). Once at our destination, we took a taxi to our Airbnb.
  • Why Whitsunday Island and Airlie Beach. The star beach of these islands, Whitehaven Beach, is on the list of the most spectacular and visited in the world. How could we miss it being so close? Airlie Beach is simply the most budget-friendly base camp closest to the archipelago.
  • Length of stay. Two nights are enough to explore the Whitsundays from Airlie Beach, unless you prefer camping right on Whitehaven Beach itself.
  • Cost.
    • Accommodation: €87 (€22/person/day).
    • Tour: €214 (€107/person).
    • Transport: 67€ (bus) + 8€ (taxi) (37,5€/person).
    • Food: €67.2 (€16.8/person/day).

Itinerary

  • Day 10: Arrival in Airlie Beach by bus and taxi transfer to the Airbnb. Stroll around Airlie Beach.
  • Day 11: Northern lights tour with Ocean Rafting to the Whitsundays and Whitehaven Beach.
  • Day 12: Departure for Proserpine Airport to start the fourth stop of our Australia route: Lady Elliot Island.
Whitehaven beach panorama

Pros and cons

What I liked most about Whitsunday Islands:

The views of Whitehaven Beach from Hill Inlet and sinking my feet into its white sand. What a treat!

What I liked least about Whitsunday Islands:

The Airbnb accommodation we chose in Airlie Beach.

If you feel like visiting this world-unique archipelago, find out everything you need to know about how to get there and enjoy it in the following post:

Whitsunday Island and Whitehaven Beach, welcome to paradise.

Lady Elliot Island

The fourth stop on our Australia route was Lady Elliot Island, a small island at the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef surrounded by protected reefs and marine life. A paradise for diving and snorkeling lovers. Want to know why this is, hands down, my favorite place in the world? Well, take a look at the article dedicated to Lady Elliot Island and you'll understand.

Lady Elliot Island from the air

Practical info

  • Transport. We flew from Proserpine to Bundaberg, with a layover in Brisbane on a combined Jetstar and Qantas flight. We spent the night in Bundaberg-Bargara to catch the light aircraft to Lady Elliot Island the next morning.
  • Why Lady Elliot Island. An eco-resort isolated from the world, a tiny paradise island right in the Australian Barrier Reef, everything you could ever wish for from the reef just steps from the shore, dives into the underwater world whenever and as much as you want, without having to endure hours sailing on crowded boats... what more could you ask for?
  • Length of stay. We spent seven nights on Lady Elliot Island, taking advantage of their stay 7/pay 5 offer. And I have to say it was the best decision of the whole trip. If I had to recommend a minimum number of nights, I would say three; though I’d go for seven again in a heartbeat.
  • Cost.
    • Transport: 14€ (taxi) + 303€ (flights) (158,5€/person).
    • Accommodation: 42€ (Bargara) (21€/person).
    • Lady Elliot Island 7×5 Package: €1,542 (€110/person/day).
    • Extra food: 138€ (9€/person/day).
    • Extra water activities: €250 (€125/person).
Clownfish - Lady Elliot IslandJPG

Itinerary

  • Day 12: Arrival in Bundaberg by plane. The hosts of the Airbnb «Resort Living» 5* at Kellys Beach pick us up. This place is 100% recommended; Alan's hospitality was fantastic, and the place is charming. We took a walk along the beach and had dinner in Bargara.
  • Day 13: Flight to Lady Elliot Island and welcome to paradise. A small plane picked us up at Bundaberg Airport. Aerial views of the island, a warm welcome, and our first taste of the island with a guided Reef Walk and an unforgettable sunset. After dinner, we lay under the stars gazing at the Milky Way like we'd never seen it before.
  • Day 14: Lagoon exploration in the morning and an afternoon snorkeling session with turtles, sharks, stingrays, manta rays, millions of fish, all kinds of coral, and whales breaching in the distance. Sunset, dinner, and a presentation about octopuses.
  • Day 15: Free snorkeling tour in the morning with whale, dolphin, manta ray, and turtle sightings. A bit more lagoon time and snorkeling in the afternoon. Sunset, dinner, and relaxing under the stars.
  • Day 16: Bird Watching, blacktip sharks in the area known as the shark pool, more snorkeling, a talk about turtles, diving in the lagoon, and a Night Walk after dinner... I was terrified! But it was fun.
  • Day 17: A morning scuba diving refresher in the hotel pool and a spectacular dive at midday, followed by another free snorkeling session because it's never enough! After dinner, a little stargazing and off to bed—we had well and truly earned it.
  • Day 18: Behind the scenes tour, snorkeling, and more snorkeling. We discovered the shipwreck and saw eagle rays (eagle rays) for the first time. We enjoyed the sunset from the water and lay under the stars after dinner.
  • Day 19: Diving on our own in the morning and a snorkel safari tour in the afternoon. It was an amazing afternoon with schools of angelfish, turtles, reef sharks, and eagle rays. We wrapped up with the sunset.
  • Day 20: We got up super early for our last diving session before breakfast, and... total success! Sharks, manta rays, stingrays, eagles, sweet turtles, and even a squid procession. We packed up happily and took the morning flight to Bundaberg.
Sunset Mosaic - Lady Elliot Island

Pros and cons

What I liked most about Lady Elliot Island:

Having the Great Barrier Reef right on the beach doorstep and being able to dive into it whenever I felt like it.

What I liked least about Lady Elliot Island:

... Having to leave.

If there is one place I want to return to, it is definitely Lady Elliot Island. Discover all its wonders in this post:

The Great Barrier Reef at Lady Elliot Island: you won't want to get out of the water.

Newcastle

The fifth stop of our Australia route had a personal touch. Two years earlier, we had met an Australian couple during our trip to Indonesia. They live in Newcastle, just a few hours from Sydney, where we wanted to wrap up our adventure. So everything fell right into place.

Parrots Cairns

Practical info

  • Transport. We traveled from Bundaberg to Newcastle by plane, with a layover in Brisbane on a combined Jetstar and Qantas flight.
  • Why Newcastle. Personally, we wanted to visit some friends and meet their little baby girl who had just been born a month earlier. However, the area is gorgeous, full of vineyards and vast beaches where you can surf.
  • Length of stay. Initially, we were planning to spend 3 nights, but the flights played tricks on us. I'll tell you about it later on.
  • Cost.
    • Transport: 336€ (flights) (168€ /person).
    • Accommodation: 0€ (we stayed with friends).
    • Food: 52€ (13€/person/day).

Itinerary

  • Day 20: Trouble at Bundaberg airport. Our first flight to Brisbane was canceled due to an engine issue, and the next one wasn't arriving in time to catch our connection to Newcastle. The airline (Qantas) put us up in a hotel for the night in Brisbane with a 50$ meal voucher (dinner/breakfast), and gave us a ticket on the first flight to Newcastle the following morning.
  • Day 21: Our friends, who are absolute sweethearts, picked us up at the airport and took us straight to Shoal Bay to spend the day at the beach and do some SUP (stand-up paddleboarding). It's a gorgeous bay where, as they told us later, sharks come to breed their young. And they didn't mention it until I was out of the water… funny guys!
  • Day 22: A stroll around Newcastle and its beach dotted with surfers.
  • Day 23: On our way to Sydney, we took a slight detour near a psychiatric hospital. Don't get the wrong idea! Nobody needed treatment. The thing is, in the surrounding grounds, wild grey kangaroos roam freely, completely used to people visiting and petting them. After delighting in their company, we continued our journey to Sydney, where we spent the afternoon.
Mom and baby kangaroo

Pros and cons

What I liked most about Newcastle:

Catching up with great friends and, above all, meeting their baby Little Chicken.

What I liked least about Newcastle:

Arriving a day late because of flight delays.

Sydney

The sixth and final stop on our Australia route was Sydney, a city I had been dying to visit for years. And, although our visit was a whirlwind, I have to say it exceeded my expectations. If you want to discover Sydney's essentials in two days, don't miss the article I wrote about it recently.

Views of the Opera House and the financial district from the ferry to Manly

Practical info

  • Transport. We traveled by car from Newcastle.
  • Why Sydney. It's an iconic city, with spectacular architecture and exotic birds everywhere. Having the chance, who would miss it?
  • Length of stay. We spent two nights there. That's the bare minimum needed to see the city's essential spots. But Sydney is great for longer visits, so if you have time, make the most of it.
  • Cost.
    • Transport: 19€ (ferry) + 37,5€ (airport taxi) (28€/person).
    • Accommodation: 180€ (45€/person/day).
    • Food: 136€ (34€/person/day).
    • Opera House Tour: 43€ (21,5€/person).
  • Flight back home. It consisted of 2 layovers and lasted about 31 hours in total:
    • Sydney-Kuala Lumpur, 9-hour flight, Malaysia Airlines.
    • Kuala Lumpur-Paris, 13-hour flight, Air France.
    • Paris-Genoa, 1,5-hour flight, Air France.

Itinerary

  • Day 23: We arrive in Sydney. We grabbed a pita sitting on the grass at Bradfield Park, right across the water from the Opera House. Afterwards, we crossed the Sydney Harbour Bridge and strolled around Circular Quay for a while before saying goodbye to our friends.
  • Day 24: We took the tour inside the Opera House and walked through the botanical gardens all the way to the scenic viewpoint Mrs Macquaries Point. After a quick sandwich, we caught the ferry to Manly to enjoy the views from the water. On the way back, we visited the observatory and walked up the Sydney Harbour Bridge. From up there, we watched the roofs of the Opera House turn into pastel shades during sunset. And to wrap up our grand adventure on a high note, a delicious seafood dinner at Fish on the Rocks. (link)
  • Day 25: Early in the morning, we headed down to the harbor to say goodbye to the city. Afterwards, we called a taxi that took us to Sydney Airport and began our journey back home… awww!
Views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge at nightfall from the Opera House

Pros and cons

What I liked most about Sydney:

  1. The contrast between the skyscrapers of the financial district, the impossible architecture of the Opera House, and the natural oases created by its parks.
  2. The sunsets over the Sydney Opera House.

What I liked least about Sydney:

The fact that monstrous cruise ships are allowed to dock at Circular Quay, spoiling the views of the most iconic spot in the city.

Do you only have two days to discover the essentials of Sydney? In that case, this post is going to be super helpful for you:

2 days and 2 sunsets in Sydney

Full budget

  • International flights: 2300€
  • Domestic transport and flights: 935€
  • Accommodation (includes full stay on Lady Elliot): 2356€
  • Meals (not included in accommodations): 760€
  • Water activities and other extras: 1116€

In total, the trip for two cost: 7467€ (3734€ per person).

To this, you have to add the laughable sum of 100€ per person that our travel insurance with Iati cost us.

  • A budget tailored to your personal needs.
  • Helpline and guidance from anywhere in the world.
  • It doesn't require you to pay upfront, and if you ever need to, they reimburse you in a heartbeat.
  • Hyper-competitive prices… Under 100€ for a month of peace of mind in Australia? Seeing is believing…
  • If you need more reasons to take out your insurance with Iati and travel worry-free, here you go:

A 5% discount on your travel insurance when booking through this link.

Our next visit

2 rainbow bee-eater birds_Magnetic Island

There's so much to see! Let's see, my wishlist comes down to:

  1. Going back to Lady Elliot Island: Yes, top of the list. Hands down.
  2. Swimming with whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef.
  3. Seeing the stromatolites on the Monkey Mia peninsula.
  4. Whale watching in Hervey Bay.
  5. Driving along the famous Great Ocean Road and visiting the Twelve Apostles.
  6. Gazing at Mount Uluru with my own eyes.
  7. Exploring the Blue Mountains, just outside Sydney.
  8. Getting from Cairns to Cape Tribulation, and diving in the magnificent Agincourt Reef.
  9. Visiting Darwin and Kakadu National Park.
  10. Discovering Fraser Island.

How many months do you think I should spend in Australia to see all this? Do you think I'm leaving anything important out? Most likely, this continent is huge and full of natural wonders. Well, don't wait any longer—let me know in the comments so I can update my wishlist.

Useful links

  • Flight deals: Trabber, eDreams and Momondo.
  • Greyhound bus company.
  • Sealink ferry to Magnetic Island.
  • Lady Elliot Island official website.
  • Booking deals.
  • 5% discount on your IATI travel insurance.

Map

Published in: Travel Tagged with: 2015, Australia, Great Barrier Reef, Epic Trips

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Reader interactions

Comments

  1. Maria says

    09/29/2019 at 21:59

    Hi, what time of year did you travel? We want to go in January, but we've read that it's not a good time to visit the east coast because of the jellyfish and the rain... Thank you so much!

    • Celi says

      09/30/2019 at 19:45

      Hi, María. We were there in late August–early September, late winter in Australia, so we didn't have that problem (although the water was colder).

      You might find better areas of Australia to visit at that time of year if you want to avoid rain, like the south coast, for example.

      As for jellyfish, I think there are areas where Great Barrier Reef tours run that are safe or where jellyfish don't show up as often, but it's best to check with the tour operators for more details. They would never put you in danger.

      Best regards and have an amazing trip! 🙂

  2. Lorena says

    02/24/2019 at 2:03

    Hi, I loved your blog, the info is super complete, I want the
    PDF, I'm planning to travel in January 2020, and I need help putting the finishing touches on my itinerary.

    • Celi says

      02/25/2019 at 10:01

      Hi, Lorena. Thank you so much for your kind words.
      You can get the PDF guide here: https://www.losmundosdeceli.com/guia-de-australia/

      Big hug and have a fantastic trip! 🙂

  3. Maria says

    08/13/2018 at 20:37

    Hi there,
    I loved your blog! I'm planning to travel with my partner between February and March 2019 since it's the end of the Australian summer and not peak season. One of the main attractions for us is the Barrier Reef, both for snorkeling (on our own or on tours) and scuba diving. I've read that it might be jellyfish season, and I'm wondering if it would be better to change our dates or if it's worth buying a wetsuit instead of renting one every day, though I'm not sure what kind of suits we'd need. About changing the dates or not because of the jellyfish, I've read that in winter, due to the water temperature, we'd have to wear a wetsuit anyway. Could you give me some advice? I know it's a tricky question, cheers and thanks for the site 🙂 !

    • Celi says

      08/14/2018 at 9:48

      Hi María,
      Thanks a lot for your comment. You're right, that's a tough question.
      When the water temperature rises, the jellyfish population goes up too. So you have to deal with one of the 2 things either way. But it's not a problem!

      During jellyfish season, I wouldn't buy a wetsuit to bring along, because that means carrying extra heavy luggage and having to pack it wet (even heavier) on several occasions. In any case, in the summer (over there), instead of a wetsuit, they use a stinger suit for jellyfish, which is much thinner (doesn't get as hot) but covers more of the body combined with a hood, gloves, socks... I found this website that sells them in Spain, although I don't have any experience with them, the suits look good. However, a stinger suit won't work for scuba diving.

      If you prefer to buy a wetsuit and carry the extra weight, remember to add gloves, socks, hood... your whole body protected.

      In winter, it's true that you'll swim much more comfortably with a wetsuit because of the water temperature.

      We always rent them, and it's true that we probably spent more than it would cost to buy a suit. But personally, the convenience of leaving it on the boats or at the office after the tour and saving ourselves the hassle of lugging it around was totally worth it.

      Either way, take a look at the Lady Elliot Island post. They told me that jellyfish don't reach that area, even during stinger season. That being said, I'm not sure if they still take precautions in summer with stinger suits or not. If your English is a bit rusty, I could ask them for you. Let me know, okay?

      I've just given you a bit more info, but I can't make the decision for you. It's tough, I know. I went for late winter and rented a wetsuit.

      My recommendation? Go in summer (since you already had it planned that way), buy a stinger suit so you have peace of mind if you prefer (though some tours provide them for free, you could check that in advance), and rent the wetsuit when you go scuba diving (it's usually included in diving tour packages, along with tanks, BCD, mask, etc...).

      A big hug.

  4. jose romero says

    03/15/2018 at 17:03

    Hi Celi,
    you went during the European summer, right? Is the weather there (winter) good for the Barrier Reef area?

    • Celi says

      03/15/2018 at 18:43

      Hi Jose,
      Yes, we went during the European summer, specifically between late August and mid-September.
      That time of year, even though it's winter in Australia, is pretty good for visiting the Reef. It's true that the sea isn't at its warmest, but renting a wetsuit is all you need to spend hours snorkeling. Plus, thanks to those cooler temperatures, you avoid jellyfish season altogether!
      And I promise you won't be short on sunshine (maybe even too much sun, remember to use sunscreen).
      If you have any other questions, I'd be happy to help. Big hug.

  5. Sea says

    03/10/2018 at 11:16

    I'm planning my trip to Australia and stumbled upon your blog. I think it's going to be super helpful, but on top of everything you share here... I want the PDF! 🙂 Thanks for sharing your experience!

    • Celi says

      03/10/2018 at 11:34

      Awesome! Thank you for your comment, Mar. I love hearing that my experience is helping you out.
      If you'd like, you can sign up for the newsletter to get the PDF delivered straight to your inbox as soon as it's ready. 🙂
      Big hug, and have an amazing trip to Australia.

  6. Carolina says

    03/02/2018 at 3:43

    Hi Celi
    My name is Carolina and I'm traveling to Australia in April. I was reading your posts about Cairns and Whitsunday Island and found them super helpful. My plan is to snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef, but also enjoy the beaches. I was thinking of 3 days in Cairns, but I'm not sure if I should add 1 day and a half in Whitsunday Island. Which option do you recommend? Are there beaches near Cairns to enjoy? Whitsunday Island looks incredible and I wouldn't want to miss it, but I don't know if I have enough time or if I'll be rushing too much. From there, I'm heading on to Sydney.
    Thank you so much!

    • Celi says

      03/03/2018 at 11:30

      Hi Carolina! Thanks for your comment. So sorry for the delayed reply, but it was impossible for me to get online earlier.

      You have plenty of options, and all of them are great, so no worries:
      – In Cairns itself there's no beach, although there is one on a nearby island that's more family-friendly: Green Island. There are ferries from Cairns, so getting there will be a breeze. The only thing is that snorkeling around the island (right off the beach!) isn't as spectacular as on the outer barrier reef, which you'll see by taking day trips from Cairns. So don't skip that tour, even if you visit Green Island too.
      – 2 nights and one day in Airlie Beach are enough to do Ocean Rafting's Southern Lights tour, where you'll get plenty of beach time at Whitehaven Beach and do some snorkeling as well (the outer barrier reef is still way more stunning, though).
      – From Airlie Beach/Whitsundays you can also take day trips to the outer barrier reef. The only downside is that it takes longer to get there (it's further off the coast) and the trip tends to be more expensive than from Cairns.

      So, as you can see, you have all kinds of options! If you have time to spend two nights in the Whitsundays, I'd do tours in Cairns (a couple of different ones to explore two areas would be awesome) and then head down to the Whitsundays to check out Whitehaven Beach. But it all comes down to your plans. Either way, trust me, you're going to love it no matter what you end up seeing. I'm sure you'll have an absolute blast!

      If you need any more help, feel free to drop another line—don't be shy. Big hug and safe travels! 🙂

      • Carolina says

        04/03/2018 at 18:55

        Thank you so much for all the info, Celi! I'm going to visit both places since I don't want to miss anything. If I have any questions, I'll reach out again.
        Hugs!

        • Celi says

          04/03/2018 at 19:47

          Awesome, Carolina! I'm sure you're going to love both places. Big hugs and have an amazing trip! 🙂

  7. Adrian says

    24/01/2018 at 18:55

    We're thinking of going to Australia and we love your trip, I want the PDF!

    • Celi says

      24/01/2018 at 19:00

      You got it, Adrián! I hope to have it ready in a few weeks. Newsletter subscribers will be the first to know as soon as it's available. So, if you'd like, you can sign up and I'll send you the link shortly. Or, if you prefer, stay tuned to the blog.
      Oh, and thanks a million for the comment. 🙂

  8. Sara says

    16/01/2018 at 21:29

    We've been on our honeymoon to New Zealand and Australia. We split the month between the two places and I was left wanting more.
    In Australia we visited Cairns (Great Barrier Reef), Sydney with a visit to the Blue Mountains, and Melbourne with a road trip along the Ocean Road to the 12 Apostles. What an amazing country!!
    Still…. I want the PDF!!! I'd love to enjoy the entire East Coast at a relaxed pace, without rushing!!

    • Celi says

      17/01/2018 at 18:51

      ¡Hola Sara! ¡Qué maravilla de luna de miel! <3
      En cuanto lo tenga listo, te aviso por email para que puedas descargártelo para tu próximo viaje.
      Un abrazo y gracias por tu comentario. 🙂

  9. manuel moliner says

    10/12/2017 at 19:21

    FANTASTIC
    I WANT THE PDF

    • Celi says

      10/12/2017 at 22:13

      Coming right up! Thanks Manuel.

  10. Sergi6 says

    27/04/2017 at 0:50

    Wow!!!! What an incredible post! Congrats!

    • Celi says

      27/04/2017 at 7:13

      Hi Sergi, thanks a million for your comment! I'm so glad you liked it. Hugs.

  11. Mari says

    26/04/2017 at 19:53

    I love the photos. What an epic trip you guys took!

    • Celi says

      26/04/2017 at 20:17

      Thanks, Mari! I won't deny it, it was truly spectacular. And top that off with the genius photographer I had with me… 🙂 I'm dying to do it all over again. Thanks for the comment!

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