Australia's Ultimate Road Trip — Sydney to Cairns
The Australian east coast drive from Sydney to Cairns is a bucket-list road trip. Over 2,500km of beaches, surf towns, tropical islands, the Great Barrier Reef, and ancient rainforest — all experienced from the freedom of your own campervan.
The east coast of Australia between Sydney and Cairns is one of the world's greatest road trip routes. Covering over 2,500 kilometres, this journey takes you from the cosmopolitan harbour city of Sydney through surf-culture Byron Bay, subtropical Brisbane, the stunning Whitsunday Islands, and into the tropical paradise of Far North Queensland with the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest.
Hiring a campervan in Sydney for the east coast drive is the most popular way to experience this iconic route. You'll have the freedom to spend extra time at the places you love, skip the ones that don't appeal, and camp at beautiful beachfront locations along the entire coast. Most travellers take between 2 and 6 weeks, though you could spend months exploring every detour.
We compare one-way campervan hire deals from Sydney to Brisbane and Sydney to Cairns across all major companies. Unlimited kilometres is included as standard, and relocation specials heading north are regularly available at significant discounts.
No tour bus schedule. Stop where you want, stay as long as you like, and travel at your own pace.
Hundreds of beaches from Bondi to the Whitsundays — many only accessible by road.
Combine accommodation and transport. Camp at beachfront parks for a fraction of hotel prices.
Surf towns, rainforest, islands, reef snorkelling, wildlife encounters — all on one route.
Pick up in Sydney, drop off in Brisbane or Cairns. Fly home from your endpoint.
The most popular backpacker route in Australia, with excellent budget campgrounds along the way.
Here's our recommended 3-week itinerary for the Sydney to Cairns east coast drive:
The east coast is packed with unforgettable experiences. Here are the absolute must-dos:
For a couple in a budget campervan over 3 weeks, expect approximately: campervan hire $800–$1,500, fuel $600–$900, campground fees $500–$900, food/groceries $600–$900, activities $500–$1,000. Total: $3,000–$5,200 for two, or $1,500–$2,600 per person for 3 weeks of travel.
Save money by cooking most meals, mixing caravan parks with free camping, and booking activity deals online in advance. The WikiCamps app is essential for finding affordable camping all along the coast.
Collect your campervan from any of our 10 depots across Australia