WHERE DOES THE TOUR START AND FINISH?
WHO WILL I BE TRAVELLING WITH?
WHERE WILL I BE STAYING?
CAN I BOOK ANY EXTRAS WITH MY TRIP?
CAN I BOOK EXTRA NIGHTS?
CAN YOU HELP ME ORGANISE FLIGHTS & INSURANCE?
ARE THERE ANY EXTRA FEE'S?
IS THERE A LUGGAGE LIMIT?
IS THIS TRIP FULLY GUIDED?
ARE THERE MEALS INCLUDED?
CAN I TRAVEL WITH SPECIAL DIETARY REQUIREMENTS?
IS AN AIRPORT TRANSFER INCLUDED?
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO EXPLORE AUSTRALIA?
IS THERE FREE TIME ON THIS TOUR?
CAN I TRAVEL WITH A MEDICAL CONDITION?
IS TRAVEL INSURANCE REQUIRED?
HOW MUCH SPENDING MONEY DO I NEED?
WHO IS THIS TRIP DESIGNED FOR?
CAN ANYONE BOOK ULTIMATE EAST COAST?
HOW CAN I ACCESS MY MONEY WHILE TRAVELING AND HOW MUCH DO I NEED TO BRING?
WHAT WILL HAPPEN AFTER MY TOUR?
HOW DO I BOOK?
WHERE DOES THE TOUR START AND FINISH?
The Melbourne to Cairns Explorer (7 Week) starts in Melbourne on Mondays or Thursdays at 12pm and ends in Cairns on Mondays or Thursdays at 10am. At the end of your adventure your tour guide can help you to arrange onward travel. You can continue your adventure with our Outback add-on or select a return transfer to take you to the airport at the end of the tour.
WHO WILL I BE TRAVELLING WITH?
You’ll be travelling with a group of 18-30-somethings from all over the world, and a fully licensed Group Leader available 24/7 whilst on tour. Group sizes vary but you can generally expect to travel with a group of approximately 10-20 people.
WHERE WILL I BE STAYING?
We stay at the best hostels along the Australian East Coast. All prices are based on shared accommodation in 6, 8 or 10 share dorm style rooms. Twin and private room upgrades are available to book but are subject to availability and single supplement charges. Note: Twin and Private room upgrades are not available on the Whitsundays.
CAN I BOOK ANY EXTRAS WITH MY TRIP?
Want to explore a bit more time Sydney? Check out our Ultimate East Coast Explorer + Sydney tour which combines our 7 Day Ultimate Sydney tour with this Ultimate Explorer 5 week itinerary. The Explorer + Sydney tour includes an additional 7 nights accommodation in Sydney, a city tour, welcome dinner, a Sydney Harbour cruise and a few days to explore Bondi! Keen for more after your East Coast Adventure? Get the real Aussie Outback experience with our Red Centre Outback add-on! Various activity add-ons on your way up the coast including: Skydive, bungy jump, white water rafting, waterfall tours and more! Simply add your extras on when you check out.
CAN I BOOK EXTRA NIGHTS?
If you need additional nights before or after your Ultimate East Coast Australia Explorer tour, just add them to your booking when you checkout. Not sure if you need extra nights? Get in touch to chat with a member of the crew before or after you book. If you are arriving early into Sydney or want to explore more of the harbour city before starting your trip, book our guided Sydney arrival package which includes 3 nights accommodation pre-tour, a city orientation tour to explore all the highlights, and an iconic Harbour cruise on board the Ultimate Catamaran.
CAN YOU HELP ME ORGANISE FLIGHTS & INSURANCE?
Sure! We recommend searching and comparing flight prices using Skyscanner.com – get a flight quote.
Travel insurance is required to participate in this tour. We recommend that you find and compare various policies to ensure you have an appropriate level of coverage for you adventure. Not sure where to start? You can find some trusted Travel Insurers here.
ARE THERE ANY EXTRA FEE'S?
We have done our best to include all fee's and charges but there are some key touring components that are required to be paid on arrival whilst on tour.
- Fraser Island Insurance Fee ($20 AUD) - Paid direct on arrival
- Fraser Island Sleeping Bag Hire ($10AUD) - Paid direct if required
- Great Barrier Reef Conservation Levy ($20 AUD) Paid direct on arrival
- Whitsundays National Park EMC Levy ($30 AUD) Paid direct on arrival
Optional Activity Levies - Whilst on tour, various local activity operators may charge a levy that is to be paid direct on the day your activity takes place. These will be communicated to you when booking any optional activities. A local 'levy' is generally a tax or administration fee.
IS THERE A LUGGAGE LIMIT?
On this tour, we travel via a domestic flight from Melbourne to Sydney and we are restricted to 20kg luggage limit. If you exceed this limit, you can purchase additional luggage prior to the tour or at the airport. Excess fees do apply.
IS THIS TRIP FULLY GUIDED?
Yes. This tour is fully guided by ULTIMATE. On Day 8 of the itinerary in Sydney, you will connect with the East Coast Explorer 6 week tour and welcome additional group members. Your tour guide will remain the same throughout.
ARE THERE MEALS INCLUDED?
Australia has no shortage of incredible food and when travelling on our East Coast tours, we make sure we include some iconic Australian BBQ’s. Please refer to the tour itinerary and inclusions for a list of included meals, but please note that meals are generally not included and we recommend you account for meals and drinks in your budgeting.
CAN I TRAVEL WITH SPECIAL DIETARY REQUIREMENTS?
In most cases, we can cater to Vegetarian and Gluten Free diets. We will make every effort to cater to all other diets and needs, but we are unable to guarantee this will be possible in every location we visit. Unfortunately we will not cater for tastes or dislikes. We will ask you to re-confirm any dietary requirements with your Group Leader at the start of your trip.
IS AN AIRPORT TRANSFER INCLUDED?
An airport shuttle on arrival is not included on this tour. We do include a transfer when you fly into Sydney from Melbourne on the tour.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO EXPLORE AUSTRALIA?
The great thing is, there is no bad time to travel to Australia! The country is so vast that depending when and where you plan on travelling you're always likely to hit some sun! At certain times of the year there can be tropical storms in some locations across Australia, there can be hot, humid weather and there can be beautiful sunny skies with a cooler breeze. As you'll be travelling such a wide area from South to North you are likely to experience a bit of everything. Please Note - We cannot predict the weather and cannot guarantee perfect days, but we will do our best to make the most of days when Mother Nature isn't in our favour!
IS THERE FREE TIME ON THIS TOUR?
Yes! Our East Coast Explorer tour range is suited to travellers who want to travel at a reasonable pace and tailor their experience to their preferences. Each stop along our journey to Cairns will have some free time for you to explore with our group and on your own.
CAN I TRAVEL WITH A MEDICAL CONDITION?
If you have an existing medical condition or disability that may affect your trip or how deliver our experience, we ask that you inform us in writing at the time of your booking. You may be asked to obtain a medical certificate and if we reasonably feel we are unable to accommodate your particular needs, we reserve the right to decline your booking.
IS TRAVEL INSURANCE REQUIRED?
Yes. It is mandatory that you travel with a comprehensive travel insurance policy to cover the likes of cancellation, personal injury and medical expenses. By joining us on tour, you acknowledge that you have obtained a policy and are covered. You are responsible for reading and understanding the details of the policy that you are taking out. You should book your travel insurance at the time of booking your trip.
HOW MUCH SPENDING MONEY DO I NEED?
On our Group Tours, your transport and accommodation along with the meals and activities listed on the itinerary are all included in your tour price. While you are travelling you may wish to participate in additional activities which you will need to budget for. While travelling you may wish to eat and drink out or you may plan to cook and prepare some of your own meals.
As a guide, we recommend you budget an additional $80 - $100AUD per day for spending money. Please note that all travellers are different and you may wish to travel with additional spending money. There are amazing optional activities and food options on offer on the East Coast and if you desire to experience most of them, you may wish to budget for additional spending money.
WHO IS THIS TRIP DESIGNED FOR?
Our East Coast Explorer tours are designed for travellers 18-35 that wish to experience the best of the East Coast. Some travellers will be on Gap Years and others will be on short holiday breaks looking to have fun, meet new people and experience Australia. Our tours are Social and Fun and our itineraries are designed for those who are eager to travel and experience their ULTIMATE Travel Moment. You should join us if you are looking to meet other travellers, make the most of every moment and experience the best of the East Coast.
CAN ANYONE BOOK ULTIMATE EAST COAST?
Looking for adventure, bucket list tick-offs and an experience you'll never forget? Looking for an automatic group of friends, a leader to show you the best spots and everything all organised for you? Then the Ultimate East Coast is for you! Whether you're in Australia for a Working Holiday or just visiting, this tour is perfect for you if you want to experience the best spots along the famous East Coast of Australia. We have a few options available from 3 to 6 weeks long, have a look at the Australia tours we have available!
HOW CAN I ACCESS MY MONEY WHILE TRAVELING AND HOW MUCH DO I NEED TO BRING?
You can either open an Aussie bank account or bring a debit/credit card from your home country to use. Just make sure your bank are aware of your travel plans and your card will except overseas payments.
Our Ultimate East Coast packages include your travel pass, accommodation, heaps of activities and some of your food so you won’t have to spend a lot more during your trip however we recommend budgeting $20-$40AUD per day to cover any extra food and drinks you’d like to purchase.
Some of your trips are all inclusive so you won’t have to budget for these days!
WHAT WILL HAPPEN AFTER MY TOUR?
At the end of your tour you'll be full of emotions and some amazing memories, but the adventure doesn't have to stop there! If you’re unsure of what to do after your package ends, talk to your leader or drop us an email or give us a call – we’re happy to give you recommendations on what to do next!
If you’ve got the travel bug our friendly travel experts can talk you through some options – and even set you up with some sweet deals on discounted travel!
On a working holiday and looking for a job? Our jobs expert can help you write the perfect CV and apply for jobs.
We love hearing from you and we’re here to assist you any way we can!
HOW DO I BOOK?
To book this East Coast Australia tour, select your chosen departure date, enter your details and we’ll send you a booking confirmation as well as useful information about your tour and where you can meet others booked onto your start date! Got a travel date in mind but not ready to pay in full? Choose to pay a non-refundable $300 deposit to secure a spot on your chosen departure date. Need someone to talk through your travel plans with? Get in touch!