Australia
Aussie East Coast
Work, surf, repeat — the working-holiday classic
40 days
Duration
$70
Daily budget
Easy
Difficulty
Sep – Nov, Mar – May
Best months
Expensive on paper, but hostel work-exchange and casual bar shifts make it sustainable. Greyhound or a $2k van gets you from Sydney to Cairns.
The route, stop by stop
🌉 Sydney · Australia
Coogee-to-Bondi walk and free harbour views.
6 nights$78/day
🏄♀️ Byron Bay · Australia
Surf lessons and the lighthouse sunrise.
5 nights$72/day
🏙️ Brisbane · Australia
Best place to pick up hostel work.
3 nights$65/day
🐨 Noosa · Australia
Everglades kayak and koalas in the national park.
3 nights$70/day
🚙 Fraser Island · Australia
4x4 the world's biggest sand island.
3 nights$90/day
⛵ Whitsundays · Australia
Two nights sailing Whitehaven Beach.
4 nights$95/day
🐠 Cairns · Australia
Great Barrier Reef dives and Daintree rainforest.
6 nights$68/day
7 stops · 30 nights
≈ $2,291 total
Totals are estimates built from the per-night budgets above — your real spend will vary.
Getting around
- →Greyhound hop-on pass
- →Second-hand van (resell at the end)
- →Cheap Jetstar hops
Don't forget
- ✓Stinger suit for the far north
- ✓Reef-safe sun cream
- ✓Tax file number if you'll work
- ✓Snorkel
Ready to walk it?
Save the stops as a trip, track your budget and find hostels along the way.
Start planning free