East Coast Australia is the TOP destination for travellers. It pretty much has something for everyone. 2 weeks may not seem like a long time, but let us tell you, you can fit in A LOT of experiences and activities in this time frame. It’s gonna be jam packed and it’s gonna be epic.

We are gonna show you exactly how and share our tips on:

• How to fit in those epic bucketlist destinations
• Where to go to visit Fraser Island and the Whitsundays

• How long to spend in each spot between Sydney and Cairns
• And most importantly… how we can save you money $$$

From sky diving, to snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef to spending the night on a remote island, the East Coast has it allllll – it is winning with it’s list of insane trips and tours.

Plus, the new Greyhound Whimit pass makes it easier than ever for you to tick off all of the hot spots the East Coast has to offer.

A little spontaneity and going with the flow is sweet, but when it comes to ticking off those bucket list experiences in just 2 weeks, life is made so much easier if you jump on a tour and book some activities – which we can help you with!

The route we’re about to chat about starts in Sydney and takes you all the way up to Cairns.

Let’s goooooooo….

Getting around…

The big ol’ question – to travel by Greyhound coach or camper van?

Now this TOTALLY depends on your style of travel, vibe, budget and if you are travel solo or with a crew…

Greyhound 15 Day Whimit pass

The Whimit pass is ideal if you’re travelling for a shorter period of time as you can cover more ground. You can pop all over the place without being tied down to a certain route. So more time adventuring and less time planning.

Camper van

The benefits of travelling by camper are endless – complete and utter freedom to zoom around the insane ocean roads of Aussie, no late night awakenings from noisy hostel goers, and the ability to do what you want, when you want.

But, if you’ve only got 2 weeks, grabbing a bus pass or a camper would BOTH be epic options depending on your vibe and travel style… Choose the bus pass if you are a solo traveller, as you can just hop on and off as you please and go directly from place to place without having to factor in time for finding lifts or getting to and from the airport. Or choose to travel via camper if you are travelling with a crew or the other half and fancy abit of time to yourself and hitting the open road (just make sure you take into consideration how long the journeys are!)

Chat to Our Team

via WhatsApp


via FaceBook

Where should we stay?

The best bet, if you’re travelling by Greyhound, is to stay in hostels.

As you know how long you’ll be travelling, we’d recommend pre-booking the whole 2 weeks of travel so that you don’t have to worry about finding a bed on the night.

Check out our fave East Coast hostels here.

if you travel via campervan then you will be spoilt for choice with the amount of paid and free camping spots on the East Coast! If you are travelling over a busy period such as easter or christmas then we recommend to prebook. The app Wikicamps is super handy for finding campsites and seeing where they are on the map..

Ready to begin the ‘virtual’ roadie?

We’ll take you through our favourite spots between Sydney and Cairns with extra tips on how long to spend in each location, what to do there and everything you need to know as a backpacker!

Travelling for longer than 2 weeks? Click here for a FREE Calendar Plan


Planning to travel via Campervan? Click here for a Camper Rental Quote

Stop 1: Sydney

2 days in Sydney

What to do here: You’ve got to see those iconic sites. Head to Circular Quay to see the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Stroll around the Rocks and the Botanic Gardens and get a great view of the harbour from Mrs Maquarie’s Chair. Jump on the ferries or buses and check out bondi Beach, Manly Beach, Watsons Bay and Coogee Beach.

What to eat: Head to Surrey Hills to find hipster cafes and lush brunches.

Where to stay: Sydney Harbour YHA hostel

Then, hop on an overnight bus to Byron Bay or hit the road. It’s a long ride via bus (about 13 hours), so be sure to get a night journey. You don’t want to waste a day with travel.

Stop 2: Byron Bay

2 days in Byron Bay

The HOME of RatPack Travel, when you are in the Bay shoot us a WhatsApp and come and have some bants with the crew!

What to do here: Head to the beach, these beaches are like NO other.. Our faves are Main beach, Belongil, The Pass and Wategos. Enjoy the music scene, there are buskers everywhere on everyday, the legend that is Tones and I (Dance Monkey) used to busk regulary in the bay and the cre would watch her! Now is your chance to tick the big sky dive off your bucket list. And what better place to do it then the home of RatPack yewwwwww. You can also give surfing a go, head to the hippie town of Nimbin, Kayak with Dolphins and do the epic hike up to the Lighthouse.

What to eat: The town is full of cute little eateries and healthy cafes but some of our favourites are, Byron Burgers, Byron Fresh, Combi, Dip Cafe, The Treehouse and the unreal sushi!

Where to stay: Backpackers Inn on the Beach, Cape Byron YHA or Nomads

Stop 3: Gold Coast

1 day in Gold Coast

What to do here: Head to the sky scraper lined beach at Surfers Paradise for a bit of chill out time or head over to Burleigh Heads for some epic city views and a dip in the lagoon. Fan of theme parks? Head to Movie World or Dream World to get your rollercoaster fix.

What to eat: Gold coast is known for its nightlife, so grab some goon and head out on the town for some food and drinks. You’ll find lots of good foodie deals here as there are alot chains and join a pub crawl for a true Surfers Paradise night out.

Where to stay: Bunk Hostel

Stop 4: Brisbane

1 day in Brisbane

What to do here: Stroll around the city, do a spot of shopping (or window shopping) and head over to South Bank to take a dip at the man-made beach. Jump on the FREE ferry and cruise up and down the river. Go to Australia Zoo. Check out the sunset from Mount Cootha

What to eat: There are loads of backpacker and happy hour foodie deals in Brisbane, or Brisvegas as it’s known. Pop over to the Eagle Street for some dinner under the city lights at the harbour, Southbank for pubs or head to Eat Street for Food truck central! If you are keen for a night out, head to Fortitude Valley where you will find plenty of clubs and bars…

Where to stay: Summerhouse Backpackers

Stop 5: Noosa

1 day in Noosa

What to do here: Take the National Park walk and if you’re lucky you might spot a wild koala. Get a sick shot at the Fairy Pools or try your hand at surfing. If you’ve got time, head to Noosa Spit which is essentially a natural lazy river.

Where to eat: You’ve gotta try Betty’s Burgers – they’re to die for! There are some awesome restaurants on Hastings Street, a little on the expensive side but worth it..

Where to stay: Flashpackers Noosa (Say hello to the crew for us they are legends!)

Stop 6: Fraser Island

Head to Rainbow Beach before setting off for 3 days on Fraser Island on a tour

What to do here: The question is, what isn’t there to do here!? Fraser is awesome! Lake Mckenzie is beaut, Lake Wabby is super cool. There’s an old ship wreck aka the Maheno, a natural lazy river, dingos and wildlife roaming around, driving on the beach and through the jungle, camp under the stars- the list is endless.

What to eat: You don’t need to worry about that (mainly because there are no restaurants on the island) You’ll get meals included in the tour, expect to pitch in and help with the cooking as part of the experience.

Where to stay: Again, camping accommodation is included on the tour. There is even the option to upgrade to a glamping experience on the epic Drop Bear tour!

Hop on the overnight bus to Airlie Beach. Again, it is a long one.

Stop 7: The Whitsundays

Head to Airlie Beach before setting off for 3 days on the Whitsundays.

What to do here: Feast your eyes (and your feet) on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world AKA Whitehaven Beach. Sail around the Southern Great Barrier Reef and catch an epic view at Hill Inlet look out. Snorkel on the reef during the tour and check out the unreal wildlife!

What to eat: Food will be included in the tour and even better, the crew cook it for you.

Where to stay: Get this… You’ll be staying on the ocean, on the boat, an experience like NO other…

Stop 8: Magnetic Island

Head to Townsville before setting off on the ferry to spend 3 days on Magnetic Island.

What to do here: Spot wild koalas along Forts Walk, get a 360 view of the island from the view points, hire a topless 4wd and cruise around the island, feed wild wallabies at sunset and visit all of the beaut beaches.

What to eat: Head to the hostel bar for happy hour and some epic food, the breakfast here is the ultimate hangover cure!

Where to stay: Base Hostel, we have an epic deal that includes your accomodation, ferry transfer, and some epic extras… read more about this deal here

The Final Stop: Cairns

3 days in Cairns

What to do here: The moment you’ve been waiting for – it’s Great Barrier Reef time, learn how to scuba dive or head on a snorkel tour of the reef. You can also visit the Atherton Tablelands which is full of waterfalls or head up to Cape Tribulation and check out the Daintree rainforest and spot the crocs on the Daintree River. if you’ve always fancied skydiving and landing on the beach then this is the spot, Mission Beach is just a short drive from Cairns. Fancy a bungy jump overlooking the rainforest? You can do that here too!

What to eat: Cairns is TOTAL backpacker central, so if you’re running low on cash at this point there’s a load of backpacker friendly bars and restaurants to pick from, make the most of the food deals in your hostel too!

Where to stay: Mad Monkey

Top tips for your East Coast Adventure…

There you have it, the ultimate 2 week itinerary for travelling the East Coast of Australia. Its an absolute beauty and all of the recommendations above come from our own experiennces. The RatPack way is ALL about sharing honest, genuine advice with the next generation of BackPackers, or as we like to call our legends that book with us, RatPackers…

Check out our top tips below to make your adventure EPIC:

• Get your trip on paper ( or virtual paper ), its so much easier to see your 2 week trip on a calendar. Hit the link here to request a free calendar from us.
• Book your Campervan as soon as you book your flights, the further in advance you book it, the more epic deals you can take advantage of. Click here to request a discounted quote.

• Don’t leave the big trips like the Whitsundays and Fraser island until the last minute, get these locked in when you book your trip as these get booked up months in advance in the busy periods. Read more about these epic trips here
• Chat to us if you need some inspiration or general advice about your trip, we’ve all been there and done it, and are always here to help!

Our Favourite East Coast Experiences…

Book Now

Book Now

Chat to our Team

We operate a 24/7 service across multiple time zones. Our RatPackers have all been there and done it! Get the ball rolling on your upcoming trip. Send over your rough travel plans (including your flight details / dates). If you are yet to book a flight and seeking advice – HIT US UP ↡

WhatsApp Us

If this looks like your kinda thing, we’re more than happy to make a calendar for you to pin point exactly what’s going to be going on each day. You’re gonna have the time of your life!

Jules (RPT Blog Writer)… Stay Tuned for my next piece…

Get Your Free Personalised calendar

Share this post >>

East Coast Australia is the TOP destination for travellers. It pretty much has something for everyone. 2 weeks may not seem like a long time, but let us tell you, you can fit in A LOT of experiences and activities in this time frame. It’s gonna be jam packed and it’s gonna be epic.

We are gonna show you exactly how and share our tips on:

• How to fit in those epic bucketlist destinations
• Where to go to visit Fraser Island and the Whitsundays

• How long to spend in each spot between Sydney and Cairns
• And most importantly… how we can save you money $$$

From sky diving, to snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef to spending the night on a remote island, the East Coast has it allllll – it is winning with it’s list of insane trips and tours.

Plus, the new Greyhound Whimit pass makes it easier than ever for you to tick off all of the hot spots the East Coast has to offer.

A little spontaneity and going with the flow is sweet, but when it comes to ticking off those bucket list experiences in just 2 weeks, life is made so much easier if you jump on a tour and book some activities – which we can help you with!

The route we’re about to chat about starts in Sydney and takes you all the way up to Cairns.

Let’s goooooooo….

Getting around…

The big ol’ question – to travel by Greyhound coach or camper van?

Now this TOTALLY depends on your style of travel, vibe, budget and if you are travel solo or with a crew…

Greyhound 15 Day Whimit pass

The Whimit pass is ideal if you’re travelling for a shorter period of time as you can cover more ground. You can pop all over the place without being tied down to a certain route. So more time adventuring and less time planning.

Camper van

The benefits of travelling by camper are endless – complete and utter freedom to zoom around the insane ocean roads of Aussie, no late night awakenings from noisy hostel goers, and the ability to do what you want, when you want.

But, if you’ve only got 2 weeks, grabbing a bus pass or a camper would BOTH be epic options depending on your vibe and travel style… Choose the bus pass if you are a solo traveller, as you can just hop on and off as you please and go directly from place to place without having to factor in time for finding lifts or getting to and from the airport. Or choose to travel via camper if you are travelling with a crew or the other half and fancy abit of time to yourself and hitting the open road (just make sure you take into consideration how long the journeys are!)

Chat to Our Team

via WhatsApp


via FaceBook

Where should we stay?

The best bet, if you’re travelling by Greyhound, is to stay in hostels.

As you know how long you’ll be travelling, we’d recommend pre-booking the whole 2 weeks of travel so that you don’t have to worry about finding a bed on the night.

Check out our fave East Coast hostels here.

if you travel via campervan then you will be spoilt for choice with the amount of paid and free camping spots on the East Coast! If you are travelling over a busy period such as easter or christmas then we recommend to prebook. The app Wikicamps is super handy for finding campsites and seeing where they are on the map..

Ready to begin the ‘virtual’ roadie?

We’ll take you through our favourite spots between Sydney and Cairns with extra tips on how long to spend in each location, what to do there and everything you need to know as a backpacker!

Travelling for longer than 2 weeks? Click here for a FREE Calendar Plan


Planning to travel via Campervan? Click here for a Camper Rental Quote

Stop 1: Sydney

2 days in Sydney

What to do here: You’ve got to see those iconic sites. Head to Circular Quay to see the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Stroll around the Rocks and the Botanic Gardens and get a great view of the harbour from Mrs Maquarie’s Chair. Jump on the ferries or buses and check out bondi Beach, Manly Beach, Watsons Bay and Coogee Beach.

What to eat: Head to Surrey Hills to find hipster cafes and lush brunches.

Where to stay: Sydney Harbour YHA hostel

Then, hop on an overnight bus to Byron Bay or hit the road. It’s a long ride via bus (about 13 hours), so be sure to get a night journey. You don’t want to waste a day with travel.

Stop 2: Byron Bay

2 days in Byron Bay

The HOME of RatPack Travel, when you are in the Bay shoot us a WhatsApp and come and have some bants with the crew!

What to do here: Head to the beach, these beaches are like NO other.. Our faves are Main beach, Belongil, The Pass and Wategos. Enjoy the music scene, there are buskers everywhere on everyday, the legend that is Tones and I (Dance Monkey) used to busk regulary in the bay and the cre would watch her! Now is your chance to tick the big sky dive off your bucket list. And what better place to do it then the home of RatPack yewwwwww. You can also give surfing a go, head to the hippie town of Nimbin, Kayak with Dolphins and do the epic hike up to the Lighthouse.

What to eat: The town is full of cute little eateries and healthy cafes but some of our favourites are, Byron Burgers, Byron Fresh, Combi, Dip Cafe, The Treehouse and the unreal sushi!

Where to stay: Backpackers Inn on the Beach, Cape Byron YHA or Nomads

Stop 3: Gold Coast

1 day in Gold Coast

What to do here: Head to the sky scraper lined beach at Surfers Paradise for a bit of chill out time or head over to Burleigh Heads for some epic city views and a dip in the lagoon. Fan of theme parks? Head to Movie World or Dream World to get your rollercoaster fix.

What to eat: Gold coast is known for its nightlife, so grab some goon and head out on the town for some food and drinks. You’ll find lots of good foodie deals here as there are alot chains and join a pub crawl for a true Surfers Paradise night out.

Where to stay: Bunk Hostel

Stop 4: Brisbane

1 day in Brisbane

What to do here: Stroll around the city, do a spot of shopping (or window shopping) and head over to South Bank to take a dip at the man-made beach. Jump on the FREE ferry and cruise up and down the river. Go to Australia Zoo. Check out the sunset from Mount Cootha

What to eat: There are loads of backpacker and happy hour foodie deals in Brisbane, or Brisvegas as it’s known. Pop over to the Eagle Street for some dinner under the city lights at the harbour, Southbank for pubs or head to Eat Street for Food truck central! If you are keen for a night out, head to Fortitude Valley where you will find plenty of clubs and bars…

Where to stay: Summerhouse Backpackers

Stop 5: Noosa

1 day in Noosa

What to do here: Take the National Park walk and if you’re lucky you might spot a wild koala. Get a sick shot at the Fairy Pools or try your hand at surfing. If you’ve got time, head to Noosa Spit which is essentially a natural lazy river.

Where to eat: You’ve gotta try Betty’s Burgers – they’re to die for! There are some awesome restaurants on Hastings Street, a little on the expensive side but worth it..

Where to stay: Flashpackers Noosa (Say hello to the crew for us they are legends!)

Stop 6: Fraser Island

Head to Rainbow Beach before setting off for 3 days on Fraser Island on a tour

What to do here: The question is, what isn’t there to do here!? Fraser is awesome! Lake Mckenzie is beaut, Lake Wabby is super cool. There’s an old ship wreck aka the Maheno, a natural lazy river, dingos and wildlife roaming around, driving on the beach and through the jungle, camp under the stars- the list is endless.

What to eat: You don’t need to worry about that (mainly because there are no restaurants on the island) You’ll get meals included in the tour, expect to pitch in and help with the cooking as part of the experience.

Where to stay: Again, camping accommodation is included on the tour. There is even the option to upgrade to a glamping experience on the epic Drop Bear tour!

Hop on the overnight bus to Airlie Beach. Again, it is a long one.

Stop 7: The Whitsundays

Head to Airlie Beach before setting off for 3 days on the Whitsundays.

What to do here: Feast your eyes (and your feet) on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world AKA Whitehaven Beach. Sail around the Southern Great Barrier Reef and catch an epic view at Hill Inlet look out. Snorkel on the reef during the tour and check out the unreal wildlife!

What to eat: Food will be included in the tour and even better, the crew cook it for you.

Where to stay: Get this… You’ll be staying on the ocean, on the boat, an experience like NO other…

Stop 8: Magnetic Island

Head to Townsville before setting off on the ferry to spend 3 days on Magnetic Island.

What to do here: Spot wild koalas along Forts Walk, get a 360 view of the island from the view points, hire a topless 4wd and cruise around the island, feed wild wallabies at sunset and visit all of the beaut beaches.

What to eat: Head to the hostel bar for happy hour and some epic food, the breakfast here is the ultimate hangover cure!

Where to stay: Base Hostel, we have an epic deal that includes your accomodation, ferry transfer, and some epic extras… read more about this deal here

The Final Stop: Cairns

3 days in Cairns

What to do here: The moment you’ve been waiting for – it’s Great Barrier Reef time, learn how to scuba dive or head on a snorkel tour of the reef. You can also visit the Atherton Tablelands which is full of waterfalls or head up to Cape Tribulation and check out the Daintree rainforest and spot the crocs on the Daintree River. if you’ve always fancied skydiving and landing on the beach then this is the spot, Mission Beach is just a short drive from Cairns. Fancy a bungy jump overlooking the rainforest? You can do that here too!

What to eat: Cairns is TOTAL backpacker central, so if you’re running low on cash at this point there’s a load of backpacker friendly bars and restaurants to pick from, make the most of the food deals in your hostel too!

Where to stay: Mad Monkey

Top tips for your East Coast Adventure…

There you have it, the ultimate 2 week itinerary for travelling the East Coast of Australia. Its an absolute beauty and all of the recommendations above come from our own experiennces. The RatPack way is ALL about sharing honest, genuine advice with the next generation of BackPackers, or as we like to call our legends that book with us, RatPackers…

Check out our top tips below to make your adventure EPIC:

• Get your trip on paper ( or virtual paper ), its so much easier to see your 2 week trip on a calendar. Hit the link here to request a free calendar from us.
• Book your Campervan as soon as you book your flights, the further in advance you book it, the more epic deals you can take advantage of. Click here to request a discounted quote.

• Don’t leave the big trips like the Whitsundays and Fraser island until the last minute, get these locked in when you book your trip as these get booked up months in advance in the busy periods. Read more about these epic trips here
• Chat to us if you need some inspiration or general advice about your trip, we’ve all been there and done it, and are always here to help!

Our Favourite East Coast Experiences…

Book Now

Book Now

Chat to our Team

We operate a 24/7 service across multiple time zones. Our RatPackers have all been there and done it! Get the ball rolling on your upcoming trip. Send over your rough travel plans (including your flight details / dates). If you are yet to book a flight and seeking advice – HIT US UP ↡

WhatsApp Us

If this looks like your kinda thing, we’re more than happy to make a calendar for you to pin point exactly what’s going to be going on each day. You’re gonna have the time of your life!

Jules (RPT Blog Writer)… Stay Tuned for my next piece…

Get Your Free Personalised calendar

Share this post >>

East Coast Australia is the TOP destination for travellers. It pretty much has something for everyone. 2 weeks may not seem like a long time, but let us tell you, you can fit in A LOT of experiences and activities in this time frame. It’s gonna be jam packed and it’s gonna be epic.

We are gonna show you exactly how and share our tips on:

• How to fit in those epic bucketlist destinations
• Where to go to visit Fraser Island and the Whitsundays

• How long to spend in each spot between Sydney and Cairns
• And most importantly… how we can save you money $$$

From sky diving, to snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef to spending the night on a remote island, the East Coast has it allllll – it is winning with it’s list of insane trips and tours.

Plus, the new Greyhound Whimit pass makes it easier than ever for you to tick off all of the hot spots the East Coast has to offer.

A little spontaneity and going with the flow is sweet, but when it comes to ticking off those bucket list experiences in just 2 weeks, life is made so much easier if you jump on a tour and book some activities – which we can help you with!

The route we’re about to chat about starts in Sydney and takes you all the way up to Cairns.

Let’s goooooooo….

Getting around…

The big ol’ question – to travel by Greyhound coach or camper van?

Now this TOTALLY depends on your style of travel, vibe, budget and if you are travel solo or with a crew…

Greyhound 15 Day Whimit pass

The Whimit pass is ideal if you’re travelling for a shorter period of time as you can cover more ground. You can pop all over the place without being tied down to a certain route. So more time adventuring and less time planning.

Camper van

The benefits of travelling by camper are endless – complete and utter freedom to zoom around the insane ocean roads of Aussie, no late night awakenings from noisy hostel goers, and the ability to do what you want, when you want.

But, if you’ve only got 2 weeks, grabbing a bus pass or a camper would BOTH be epic options depending on your vibe and travel style… Choose the bus pass if you are a solo traveller, as you can just hop on and off as you please and go directly from place to place without having to factor in time for finding lifts or getting to and from the airport. Or choose to travel via camper if you are travelling with a crew or the other half and fancy abit of time to yourself and hitting the open road (just make sure you take into consideration how long the journeys are!)

Chat to Our Team

via WhatsApp


via FaceBook

Where should we stay?

The best bet, if you’re travelling by Greyhound, is to stay in hostels.

As you know how long you’ll be travelling, we’d recommend pre-booking the whole 2 weeks of travel so that you don’t have to worry about finding a bed on the night.

Check out our fave East Coast hostels here.

if you travel via campervan then you will be spoilt for choice with the amount of paid and free camping spots on the East Coast! If you are travelling over a busy period such as easter or christmas then we recommend to prebook. The app Wikicamps is super handy for finding campsites and seeing where they are on the map..

Ready to begin the ‘virtual’ roadie?

We’ll take you through our favourite spots between Sydney and Cairns with extra tips on how long to spend in each location, what to do there and everything you need to know as a backpacker!

Travelling for longer than 2 weeks? Click here for a FREE Calendar Plan


Planning to travel via Campervan? Click here for a Camper Rental Quote

Stop 1: Sydney

2 days in Sydney

What to do here: You’ve got to see those iconic sites. Head to Circular Quay to see the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Stroll around the Rocks and the Botanic Gardens and get a great view of the harbour from Mrs Maquarie’s Chair. Jump on the ferries or buses and check out bondi Beach, Manly Beach, Watsons Bay and Coogee Beach.

What to eat: Head to Surrey Hills to find hipster cafes and lush brunches.

Where to stay: Sydney Harbour YHA hostel

Then, hop on an overnight bus to Byron Bay or hit the road. It’s a long ride via bus (about 13 hours), so be sure to get a night journey. You don’t want to waste a day with travel.

Stop 2: Byron Bay

2 days in Byron Bay

The HOME of RatPack Travel, when you are in the Bay shoot us a WhatsApp and come and have some bants with the crew!

What to do here: Head to the beach, these beaches are like NO other.. Our faves are Main beach, Belongil, The Pass and Wategos. Enjoy the music scene, there are buskers everywhere on everyday, the legend that is Tones and I (Dance Monkey) used to busk regulary in the bay and the cre would watch her! Now is your chance to tick the big sky dive off your bucket list. And what better place to do it then the home of RatPack yewwwwww. You can also give surfing a go, head to the hippie town of Nimbin, Kayak with Dolphins and do the epic hike up to the Lighthouse.

What to eat: The town is full of cute little eateries and healthy cafes but some of our favourites are, Byron Burgers, Byron Fresh, Combi, Dip Cafe, The Treehouse and the unreal sushi!

Where to stay: Backpackers Inn on the Beach, Cape Byron YHA or Nomads

Stop 3: Gold Coast

1 day in Gold Coast

What to do here: Head to the sky scraper lined beach at Surfers Paradise for a bit of chill out time or head over to Burleigh Heads for some epic city views and a dip in the lagoon. Fan of theme parks? Head to Movie World or Dream World to get your rollercoaster fix.

What to eat: Gold coast is known for its nightlife, so grab some goon and head out on the town for some food and drinks. You’ll find lots of good foodie deals here as there are alot chains and join a pub crawl for a true Surfers Paradise night out.

Where to stay: Bunk Hostel

Stop 4: Brisbane

1 day in Brisbane

What to do here: Stroll around the city, do a spot of shopping (or window shopping) and head over to South Bank to take a dip at the man-made beach. Jump on the FREE ferry and cruise up and down the river. Go to Australia Zoo. Check out the sunset from Mount Cootha

What to eat: There are loads of backpacker and happy hour foodie deals in Brisbane, or Brisvegas as it’s known. Pop over to the Eagle Street for some dinner under the city lights at the harbour, Southbank for pubs or head to Eat Street for Food truck central! If you are keen for a night out, head to Fortitude Valley where you will find plenty of clubs and bars…

Where to stay: Summerhouse Backpackers

Stop 5: Noosa

1 day in Noosa

What to do here: Take the National Park walk and if you’re lucky you might spot a wild koala. Get a sick shot at the Fairy Pools or try your hand at surfing. If you’ve got time, head to Noosa Spit which is essentially a natural lazy river.

Where to eat: You’ve gotta try Betty’s Burgers – they’re to die for! There are some awesome restaurants on Hastings Street, a little on the expensive side but worth it..

Where to stay: Flashpackers Noosa (Say hello to the crew for us they are legends!)

Stop 6: Fraser Island

Head to Rainbow Beach before setting off for 3 days on Fraser Island on a tour

What to do here: The question is, what isn’t there to do here!? Fraser is awesome! Lake Mckenzie is beaut, Lake Wabby is super cool. There’s an old ship wreck aka the Maheno, a natural lazy river, dingos and wildlife roaming around, driving on the beach and through the jungle, camp under the stars- the list is endless.

What to eat: You don’t need to worry about that (mainly because there are no restaurants on the island) You’ll get meals included in the tour, expect to pitch in and help with the cooking as part of the experience.

Where to stay: Again, camping accommodation is included on the tour. There is even the option to upgrade to a glamping experience on the epic Drop Bear tour!

Hop on the overnight bus to Airlie Beach. Again, it is a long one.

Stop 7: The Whitsundays

Head to Airlie Beach before setting off for 3 days on the Whitsundays.

What to do here: Feast your eyes (and your feet) on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world AKA Whitehaven Beach. Sail around the Southern Great Barrier Reef and catch an epic view at Hill Inlet look out. Snorkel on the reef during the tour and check out the unreal wildlife!

What to eat: Food will be included in the tour and even better, the crew cook it for you.

Where to stay: Get this… You’ll be staying on the ocean, on the boat, an experience like NO other…

Stop 8: Magnetic Island

Head to Townsville before setting off on the ferry to spend 3 days on Magnetic Island.

What to do here: Spot wild koalas along Forts Walk, get a 360 view of the island from the view points, hire a topless 4wd and cruise around the island, feed wild wallabies at sunset and visit all of the beaut beaches.

What to eat: Head to the hostel bar for happy hour and some epic food, the breakfast here is the ultimate hangover cure!

Where to stay: Base Hostel, we have an epic deal that includes your accomodation, ferry transfer, and some epic extras… read more about this deal here

The Final Stop: Cairns

3 days in Cairns

What to do here: The moment you’ve been waiting for – it’s Great Barrier Reef time, learn how to scuba dive or head on a snorkel tour of the reef. You can also visit the Atherton Tablelands which is full of waterfalls or head up to Cape Tribulation and check out the Daintree rainforest and spot the crocs on the Daintree River. if you’ve always fancied skydiving and landing on the beach then this is the spot, Mission Beach is just a short drive from Cairns. Fancy a bungy jump overlooking the rainforest? You can do that here too!

What to eat: Cairns is TOTAL backpacker central, so if you’re running low on cash at this point there’s a load of backpacker friendly bars and restaurants to pick from, make the most of the food deals in your hostel too!

Where to stay: Mad Monkey

Top tips for your East Coast Adventure…

There you have it, the ultimate 2 week itinerary for travelling the East Coast of Australia. Its an absolute beauty and all of the recommendations above come from our own experiennces. The RatPack way is ALL about sharing honest, genuine advice with the next generation of BackPackers, or as we like to call our legends that book with us, RatPackers…

Check out our top tips below to make your adventure EPIC:

• Get your trip on paper ( or virtual paper ), its so much easier to see your 2 week trip on a calendar. Hit the link here to request a free calendar from us.
• Book your Campervan as soon as you book your flights, the further in advance you book it, the more epic deals you can take advantage of. Click here to request a discounted quote.

• Don’t leave the big trips like the Whitsundays and Fraser island until the last minute, get these locked in when you book your trip as these get booked up months in advance in the busy periods. Read more about these epic trips here
• Chat to us if you need some inspiration or general advice about your trip, we’ve all been there and done it, and are always here to help!

Our Favourite East Coast Experiences…

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Chat to our Team

We operate a 24/7 service across multiple time zones. Our RatPackers have all been there and done it! Get the ball rolling on your upcoming trip. Send over your rough travel plans (including your flight details / dates). If you are yet to book a flight and seeking advice – HIT US UP ↡

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If this looks like your kinda thing, we’re more than happy to make a calendar for you to pin point exactly what’s going to be going on each day. You’re gonna have the time of your life!

Jules (RPT Blog Writer)… Stay Tuned for my next piece…

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We recently chatted with the legends over at BBM Live about all things RatPack Travel including the story behind the bus and chatting all things travel…

We chatted all about insider tips including:

• How did RatPack Travel come about?
• What do we actually do and HOW do we do it?

• What makes us totally different to the rest and how are we totally switchIN UP the travel industry
• How do we help Backpackers create a trip of a lifetime?

Read on to find out all about our story and why we are CHANGIN’ the game of travel for BackPackers

First off where does the name RatPack come from?

Working in Australia selling trips to BackPackers with one of the big chain high street travel companies started to hurt my love for travel >>> no morals, no ethics & poor customer service was a toxic mix. Original plan was to set up a website for first time BackPackers with money saving tips and advice on how to avoid the ‘classic’ travel shop tricks.

Then came my lightbulb moment … why just moan and limit myself to ‘ratting out’ the industry with an information website? Why not change the game and create a much better and more personalised experience for BackPackers to book trips & transport? That’s how RatPack Travel was born. When you are part of The RatPack it’s all about receiving honest & transparent advice from someone who has actually been there and done it.

Chat to Our Team

via WhatsApp


via FaceBook

We heard you had an interesting office. Where exactly is it?

When I first set up RatPack almost 2 years ago we rented a small office space that was attached to a hostel in Byron Bay… it suited the brand perfectly it was right by the beach and it was away from the hustle of the high street. Early this year the independently owned hostel was sold to a chain organisation with it an already established high street brand moved into the space as part of the deal.

At first – I was like OH Sh*t… but I’m a firm believer in everything for a reason. In true RatPack style I thought, why not step completely outside the box… I sourced a run down 1973 bus – with the amazing help of close friends and family (who were visiting from the UK) we completed the renovation in just under 3 months.

The bus is now our rolling, mobile HQ. We’ve stayed innovative behind the scenes, after launching our brand new site a month ago… by moving online we’ve managed to reduce our overheads – thats the reason we can give such EPIC discounts compared to the competition.

It’s no secret that people are moving towards booking tours direct / online, why do think this is?

When I first started working in the industry (5 years ago) it was common for BackPackers to travel without the latest iPhone, now it’s unheard of. Previously BackPackers had to rely on the high street agencies. It amazes me that despite every BackPacker having access to the internet some still arrive in Australia having not researched the trip that is best suited for them. Even if they know where they are going if they have no knowledge about the specific tours and prices, then they become easy prey for unscrupulous travel shops.

Try wandering down any busy high street in Cairns, Sydney or Byron Bay … then count how many times you are repeatedly hit up by sales people from the shops. They are hassling you (sorry – engaging with you!) for one reason – to get you inside the shop, sit you down and sell you the tour that makes the most money and commission for them. Working in this environment taught me how not to run an ethical BackPacker business.

The result – many dissatisfied BackPackers who, even when they get to go to the right place, often have their experience diminished by realising they have been sold a second rate trip or not even been told about the trip that would have been best suited for them.

Great that you found our discounted service – Click here for a Camper Rental Quote

So what’s the benefit of booking with an agency:

When someone has no clue about where to start, no idea of how to get from A – B & is NERVOUS as hell about stepping on that plane on a solo mission, then that’s when an agency is potentially great. You need advice but the benefit is only there if the advice is honest and suited to your needs not those of the agency.

It is fantastic when a good agent can pass on their personal experience and knowledge to help the next generation of BackPackers.

Fancy naming and shaming any operators travellers should be aware of?

No need to ‘Name & Shame’ but try this one for size… When you arrive in Sydney or Cairns, walk down the high street and see how many travel shops have sellers outside targeting BackPackers to sell them tours.

Now, have you ever been stopped by a street seller offering you ‘Insurance’ or ‘a ticket to win $1000’… what is your usual reaction? Well here it should be no different. If a company relies on a hard direct sales approach then it’s not the consumer who is ultimately put first, it is the sale. It’s manipulated by the salesperson and you will typically only be offered the trips that pay the most commission rather than the tour which is best suited to you. I’ll let you into another little secret – there are 3 main travel shops in Oz.

However – In any one town there maybe 9 or 10 different shops, meaning they brand the shops differently even though it’s the same company / owner. So if you “shop around” you may not actually be comparing competitors. The same sales person may be in one shop one day and in the other shop with a different name the next.

What does RatPack Travel do differently?

First – we only ever give advice on the trips which have a 5* reputation. Once you are happy we then discount it, which actually makes it cheaper than booking direct!

Second – personalised service – we don’t just say this we mean it. We are not just an online company. You can come in and speak to us face to face, last year we moved out of our office and we renovated an old 1973 Bus which we use as our mobile HQ – Check out the banter bus story on our website. We don’t just rely on email we offer our personal FB details to every RatPack customer, we also use WhatsApp to make it easy for our customers to keep in touch.

Inevitably when travelling things can sometimes go wrong – the weather, an injury or illness … RatPackers have peace of mind knowing they can get in touch with us instantly. For me as a business owner, I know we have our travellers’ backs and if something goes wrong we are there to help.

Third – its not just about helping RatPackers with their epic trips. Having done it ourselves, we know how important it is to be able to get accurate advice about all other aspects of Backpacking in Oz & NZ. We offer all our advice for FREE so don’t be afraid to just hit us up or access our Free Money Saving Pack on our website. We can help with visa Q’s, banking advice, tax file info, work – the list goes on. TRY US!

Great that you found our discounted service – Click here for a FREE Calendar Plan

So why start a travel agency when trends are moving?

Trends are moving and we are moving them! When I travelled Oz on my #ratpackroadie ; ) I racked up 25,913 Km’s by car. I did this for my love of travel… I run RatPack exactly the same! Keeping that personalised approach with customers is amazing! We make sure that it is no cheaper to book direct so RatPackers get the best price and the best trips. There is a reason we get more 5* reviews that any other agency…

Australia is still way up there on the working holiday travellers bucket list. Give us 5 reasons why you think it’s got to be done?

– Internal Flights are MEGA cheap, so once you’ve travelled & then started working it’s super easy to have weekends away

– It’s not uncommon to receive $20 – $25 an hour for a casual job in a bar or supermarket. More funds = more travel yewwwwwwwww

– HOT, HOT, HOT > being a Brit (who now lives in Byron Bay) it would be rude not to mention the weather!

– The people, working to live & not living to work is certainly the Aussie motto.

– Beaches. Fun Fact: 85 per cent of Australians live within 50 kilometres of the coast…nowhere has better beaches than Australia, with so many and roughly three times fewer people than the UK, you can find you own special place. If you are a beach lover BOOK YOUR FLIGHT

Chat to Our Team

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The RatPack have gotchaaa back…

We get it that planning your trip can be totally overwhelming, thats why the RatPack crew are here for you every step of the way…

We can for sure help you out with:

• Discounts on overnight tours and day trips…
• Calendars personalised to you and your adventure no matter what timeframe or travel vibe

• Discounted backpacker rates on campervan rentals in Aussie and NZ
• EPIC recommendations for your route based on our own experiences

Ready for the adventure?

Book Now

Book Now

Chat to our Team

We operate a 24/7 service across multiple time zones. Our RatPackers have all been there and done it! Get the ball rolling on your upcoming trip. Send over your rough travel plans (including your flight details / dates). If you are yet to book a flight and seeking advice – HIT US UP ↡

WhatsApp Us

If your heading over to Aussie or NZ hit us UP! We can bounce some ideas around for you and get you epic deals on all trips and transport including the epic Fraser Island, Scuba Diving on the Great Barrier Reef, Sailing the Whitsundays or Skydiving!

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading the story of RatPack… STOKED to have you as part of the famo!

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Are you ready to travel around your own backyard and travel Australia by Campervan? If you are planning a staycation, hire a Campervan Rental and travel around Australia to visit some of Australia’s best beaches and national parks including Sydney, Byron Bay, Melbourne, Cairns, Perth and beyond. Finding a Campervan for Rent in Australia can be overwhelming when you are doing your research and the RatPack Travel team are here to help you book your campervan rental (at a discounted rate) and answer all your questions.

We’ll be sharing all of our Campervan Australia tips with you including:

• Which campervan hire is best for you and your road trip?
• Where to visit on your Australia roadtrip, East Coast or West Coast?

• How much it costs to hire a campervan in Australia
• How to hire and book a campervan rental for your trip.

Ready to hit the road?….

LETS GO!

Where to visit on an Australia Roadtrip?

There are so many different roadtrip routes around Australia to choose from. Whether you want to travel on Australia’s East Coast, the West Coast or South Australia you’ll find that choosing to drive around Australia by Campervan or Motorhome is the best option for your roadtrip. Wherever you choose for your route, you will find some of the best national parks in Australia and some of the best beaches in the world!

Did you know that there are lots of camping spots all over Australia where you can park your campervan or motorhome? The campsites have toilets, showers and power for you to hook the campervan up to.

Chat to Our Team

via WhatsApp


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The most popular campervan roadtrip routes in Australia:

Sydney to Cairns Campervan Roadtrip

• Pick up the campervan in Sydney and drive up the east coast, stopping off at camping spots and beautiful destinations including, Blue Mountains, Byron Bay, Gold Coast, Fraser Island, Noosa, Fraser Island, the Whitsundays and Cairns.

Cairns to Brisbane Campervan Roadtrip

• Pick up the campervan hire in Cairns and travel around Cape Tribualtion and the Daintree Rainforest before driving down the East Coast stopping off at amazing national parks and visiting bucketlist destinations including Magnetic Island, Airlie Beach, the Whitsundays, Fraser Island, Noosa and the Sunshine Coast.

Brisbane to Sydney Campervan Roadtrip

• Pick up the campervan rental in Brisbane and drive down the east coast towards Sydney stopping off at the Gold Coast, Byron Bay, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Newcastle, Blue Mountains. Palm Beach and dropping the campervan off in Sydney.

Sydney to Melbourne Campervan Roadtrip

• Pick up the campervan hire in Sydney and drive along the coastline towards Melbourne stopping off at national parks including Figure 8 Pools, Jervis Bay, Eden, Phillip Island, Mornington Peninsula and dropping off the campervan in Melbourne.

Melbourne to Adelaide Campervan Hire

• Pick up the campervan hire in Melbourne city or Melbourne Airport and drive along the famous Great Ocean Road in your campervan, stop off at campsite and explore the beautiful beaches including the 12 Apostles, Bells Beach, Torquay and more before driving through the Grampians and dropping the campervan off in Melbourne or Adelaide.

Perth to Perth Campervan Hire

• Pick up the campervan rental in Perth and drive north or south of the west coast! Here you can visit the beautiful Margaret River, the Pinnacles, Esperance, Monkey Mia, Coral Bay, Exmouth and more before dropping the campervan off in Perth.

Great that you found our discounted service – Click here for a Camper Rental Quote

Which campervan is right for my trip?

There are lots of different types of campervan and motorhomes available to rent at many locations around Australia, you can pick your camper rental up from Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Cairns, Perth and more!

We can help with all needs, whether you are travelling on a budget and looking for a 2 person campervan to travel the Great Ocean Road, or if you are planning a trip with a group of friends and need a campervan to fit 3 people or more to travel the East Coast of Australia from Cairns to Sydney.

2 berth campervan rental AKA the 2 seater 2 sleeper, is perfect for 2 people travelling on a short campervan roadtrip.

3 berth campervan rental AKA the Hi Top is the best option for 2 or more people travelling on a longer roadtrip.

6 berth motorhome rental AKA the Motorhome is most suitable for large groups or families no matter the duration.

Great that you found our discounted service – Click here for a Camper Rental Quote

How to hire a campervan in Australia

When you tell us your dates, start and end location we will run a comparison with some of the best campervan rental companies in Australia to find you the cheapest rate for your campervan hire. We work with companies such as Camperman Australia, Jucy, Spaceships Campers, Apollo Motorhomes, Cheapa Campa, Travellers Autobarn who have experience in renting campervan and motorhome rentals in Sydney, Cairns, Brisbane and beyond.

Once we’ve found the best rated and best value campervan rental for your roadtrip, we’ll add on a 10% discount to the direct rate, saving you money and helping with your backpacker budget. Once you are happy with the campervan for your roadtrip, we will book it in directly with the campervan rental company and take a deposit from you, the rest of the amount will be paid when you pick up your camper hire in your chosen pick up location.

Chat to Our Team

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How much does it cost to hire a campervan?

• Daily Rental – The campers are priced based on a daily rental price which we can apply our discount on to, which saves you money!
• Insurance – we ALWAYS recommend insurance for your roadie, better to be safe than sorry! This can cost $30+ a day. If you don’t take the insurance option expect to put down a bond of $3000.
• One Way Fees – in the case of some routes you’ll be travelling one way as opposed to a loop, sometimes we can help to waive these fees.
• Premium Location Fees – to avoid these, chat to us and we’ll help you choose your locations to save you even more money
• Admin Fee – most campervan companies have an admin fee with any booking
• Extra Add ons – if you wish to add on table and chairs, GPS or additional insurance cover
• Petrol – You’ll have to top up the petrol as you go. Most companies will expect you to return the camper with a full tank.  To give you an idea of how much you’ll have to spend – on her Great Ocean Road roadie, RatPacker Mollie spent $140 on petrol over 5 days.
• Food and drink – You’re going to have to keep that fridge topped up. Try and do a big food shop every week or so
• Campsites – There are plenty of campsites all over Australia and some are free camping spots where you can camp for free.

Great that you found our discounted service – click here for a camper rental quote

Time to hit the road?

Travelling Australia by campervan is a great way to explore all of the amazing destinations on the east coast and beyond! Here at RatPack Travel we LOVE a roadtrip, so much so we even did a camper conversion to an office where we can all work from.

• Be careful of comparison sites that show ‘to good to be true deals’ these will often not be true and you’ll end up paying more as the cheap camper will be ‘unavailable’
• Chat to us about your campervan rental, we can save you 10% off the direct rate

• If you find a camper online that you like the look of, send it over to us and we’ll help you!
• The further in advance you book your camper, the better deal you’ll get!
• You don’t have to pay in full for the camper when you book it, just a deposit.

We gotcha…

Book Now

Chat to our Team

We operate a 24/7 service across multiple time zones. Our RatPackers have all been there and done it! Get the ball rolling on your upcoming trip. Send over your rough travel plans (including your flight details / dates). If you are yet to book a flight and seeking advice – HIT US UP ↡

WhatsApp Us

Heads up RatPackers, did you know that we can ALSO help you find an epic campervan rental to travel New Zealand too?

And of course including that epic 10% discount!

Hit us UP and lets find you some wheels…

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