East Coast Australia Road Trip Guide from Melbourne to Cairns

Embarking on a road trip along the stunning east coast of Australia is an adventure of a lifetime. With breathtaking landscapes, vibrant cities, and unique wildlife, this journey allows you to experience the very essence of this magnificent country. Whether you're a thrill-seeker or someone looking to unwind on pristine beaches, this guide will equip you with all the necessary information for an unforgettable experience.

Our journey spanned three weeks and covered over 5,300 kilometers, taking us from the cultural hub of Melbourne to the tropical paradise of Cairns. We explored charming towns, magnificent national parks, and iconic landmarks along the way. If you're planning a similar adventure, this comprehensive guide to a road trip along Australia’s east coast will provide you with essential insights and tips.

General information about the road trip

Before hitting the road, it's important to know the basics of your journey. Here are some key details that can help you plan your trip effectively:

• Starting Point: Melbourne
• Ending Point: Cairns
• Total Duration: 22 days
• Total Distance: 5,323 kilometers
• Vehicle Type: Rented campervan (Hitop style)

Itinerary breakdown

The east coast of Australia is renowned for being one of the most popular routes for road trips. From the bustling streets of Melbourne to the tropical allure of Queensland, this journey takes you through a variety of landscapes, urban areas, charming small towns, and breathtaking beaches. The route mainly follows the coastal roads, where a significant portion of Australia's population resides, making it vibrant and full of life.

Below is an overview of our itinerary, segmented into four main stages, allowing you to follow our path easily:

Stage 1: Melbourne to Sydney

• Distance: 1,510 kilometers
• Duration: 5 days
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Stage 2: Sydney to Brisbane

• Distance: 1,136 kilometers
• Duration: 4 days
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Stage 3: Brisbane to Magnetic Island

• Distance: 1,839 kilometers
• Duration: 8 days
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Stage 4: Magnetic Island to Cairns (Cape Tribulation)

• Distance: 838 kilometers
• Duration: 3 days
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Budget considerations for your trip

We opted for a rental campervan, which allowed us to save significantly on accommodation by parking in free overnight spots. While we occasionally stayed at hostels from the YHA chain, it’s entirely feasible to complete the journey camping for free. However, if you plan to spend a few nights in Sydney, make sure to adjust your budget accordingly.

The largest expense was the campervan rental. With cooking facilities available, we were able to minimize food costs. Still, keep in mind some extra expenditures, like a scenic flight over the Great Barrier Reef or a crocodile-spotting tour in Daintree National Park, both highly recommended.

Here’s a summary of the estimated budget per person for a three-week trip for two, traveling from Melbourne to Cairns:

Flights: Although Australia is quite far from Spain, there are often great deals available if you’re flexible with your travel dates. A realistic estimate for flights could be around €600.

Campervan Rental: Keep in mind that rental prices can fluctuate based on the season. We traveled in mid-season (April), and our campervan cost 1,291 AUD. This estimate assumes a low-season price. If you consider additional insurance, budget an extra 25-40 AUD per day for coverage.

Fuel: For our 5,323 kilometers, we needed about 590 liters of fuel, averaging 11.10 liters per 100 km. Fuel costs in Australia are reasonable, with our total expenditure around 807 AUD (approximately €495, or €247 per person).

Accommodation: As previously mentioned, you can complete the journey without spending a dime on lodging. Apps like Campermate or Wikicamps provide numerous options for free overnight parking. We did, however, account for 5 nights in hostels, averaging around €18 per night.

Food: This can vary widely, but we estimated around €150 per person for groceries and the occasional restaurant meal during our three weeks on the road.

Miscellaneous Expenses: This category includes the scenic flight over the Great Barrier Reef (€150) and a boat tour in Daintree (€15), along with travel insurance (€110) and additional expenses (€50).

Campervan rental insights

We booked our campervan through Motorhome Republic, which compares various rental options in Australia to find the best prices. Our Hitop van from Cheapa Campa was rented for 22 days at a cost of 1,291 AUD (around €1,200), excluding extended insurance.

Be aware that this price typically includes only basic coverage, which usually has a deductible amount (between 2,700 and 5,000 AUD) that you'll be responsible for in case of an accident. Many rental companies offer an extended coverage package, which can eliminate the deductible for an additional daily fee—ours was 30 AUD per day and included extras like bedding and waiving the administrative fee for the deductible.

Rental prices can vary according to the season and your intended route, but expect to pay around 75-90 AUD per day for a Hitop van during peak season. Discounts are typically available for longer rentals (usually after the second week), and it can be cheaper if you choose to do the trip in reverse.

Top 15 must-see spots along the east coast

A road trip along the east coast of Australia offers an abundance of breathtaking locations. The cities of Melbourne and Sydney are not just travel destinations; they are vibrant places where one could easily imagine spending a much longer time. Here’s our personal top 15 list of the most remarkable places we visited:

• Melbourne
• Wilsons Promontory
• Jervis Bay and Hyams Beach
• Kiama and its blowholes
• Sydney
• Blue Mountains
• Port Macquarie Koala Hospital
• Moonee Beach Natural Reserve and its free-roaming kangaroos
• Byron Bay
• Glass House Mountains
• Eungella National Park and its happy platypuses
• Scenic flight over the Great Barrier Reef
• Magnetic Island
• Etty Bay and the couple of cassowaries
• Daintree National Park and its free-roaming crocodiles

We hope this guide to a road trip along the east coast of Australia from Melbourne to Cairns inspires you to explore these amazing destinations. If you have any questions or need further information, feel free to leave a comment!

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