🌊 Six of the World's Greatest Coastal Routes
Each of these routes can fill a week or stretch to a month. They span five continents and every kind of coast — reef, cliff, fjordland, surf, and wine country — and each rewards an unhurried pace.
Australia's East Coast — Cairns to Sydney
More than 3,000km of Great Barrier Reef, the ancient Daintree Rainforest, the Whitsunday Islands, surf-culture Byron Bay, and iconic Sydney. One of the world's great travel routes, and Cooee Tours' home turf — we run day experiences across its South East Queensland heart from Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
Pacific Coast Highway — California
The 655-mile drive down California's Highway 1 from San Francisco to Los Angeles is the classic American road trip. Big Sur's cliffs, Bixby Bridge, the seals and wineries around San Simeon, and the boardwalks of Santa Cruz and Santa Monica. Drive north-to-south so you're on the ocean side of the road.
The Amalfi Coast — Italy
Pastel villages stacked on Mediterranean cliffs between Sorrento and Salerno — Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello, with lemon groves, ceramics, and some of Italy's best seafood. The coast road is famously narrow, so most travellers use the SITA buses or ferries rather than driving themselves in peak season.
The Garden Route — South Africa
About 300km of forest, lagoon, and dramatic coast between Mossel Bay and Storms River. Whale-watching at Hermanus, the elephants of Knysna, bungee at Bloukrans, and the indigenous forest of Tsitsikamma. An easy, safe self-drive that packs in an extraordinary range of landscapes and wildlife.
The Cabot Trail — Canada
A 298km loop around the highlands of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, where forested mountains drop straight to the Atlantic. Whales offshore, moose in the highlands, Celtic and Acadian music in the villages, and a blaze of colour in autumn. One of North America's most scenic drives.
The Wild Atlantic Way — Ireland
At 2,500km, one of the world's longest defined coastal routes, running the full Atlantic edge of Ireland from Donegal to Cork. The Cliffs of Moher, the Ring of Kerry, the lunar Burren, and countless harbour villages with live music and fresh seafood. Wild weather is part of the magic — pack a good waterproof.
📅 Sample Itineraries
Two worked examples — a one-week classic American coastal drive and a two-week Australian coastal journey. Use them as templates and adapt the pace to your own route.
7-Day Pacific Coast Highway — California
14-Day Australia East Coast — Cairns to Sydney
✈️ Essential Travel Tips
Best Time to Visit
☀️ Tropical Coasts
Reef and tropical coastlines (northern Australia, South-East Asia, the Caribbean) are best in the dry season. Avoid the wet/monsoon and cyclone or hurricane windows, when storms and — in some regions — jellyfish make the water risky.
🏖️ Temperate Coasts
Mediterranean, Californian, and southern-Australian coasts shine in late spring and early autumn — warm water, fewer crowds, lower prices. Peak summer brings the best beach weather but the highest prices and busiest roads.
🐋 Wildlife Seasons
Many coasts have a wildlife calendar — whale migrations off Australia, South Africa, and California, turtle nesting in the tropics, seal and seabird colonies. Time your visit to it. See our Whale Watching Guide for the best windows.
🎆 Shoulder Season
Wherever you go, the shoulder months on either side of peak season are the sweet spot — the weather is still good, accommodation is cheaper, and the famous viewpoints and coast roads aren't bumper-to-bumper.
Budget Planning
| Budget Level | Daily Cost (approx. USD) | Accommodation | Food & Transport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Backpacker | $50–90/day | Hostel dorms | Self-catering + buses/trains |
| Mid-range | $120–250/day | Budget hotels & B&Bs | Cafés, restaurants, hire car |
| Comfortable | $250–400/day | Boutique hotels | Good restaurants, some activities |
| Luxury | $450+/day | Premium stays | Fine dining, private tours |
Long-distance buses and regional trains are usually the cheapest way to follow a coast. Self-cater from local supermarkets and markets for most meals. The best coastal experiences are often free — beaches, clifftop and headland walks, public ferries, and sunrise at a famous lighthouse. Splurge on the one or two signature experiences each coast is known for, and keep the rest simple.
Getting Around
🚌 Bus & Coach
Long-distance and hop-on-hop-off coach networks connect coastal towns affordably almost everywhere. Slower than flying, but cheap and scenic — ideal for solo and budget travellers.
✈️ Regional Flights & Rail
For the long legs of a coastal route, low-cost flights or fast trains save days. Set fare alerts a few months out and book scenic rail segments early.
🚗 Hire Car
A car is the heart of most coastal road trips, giving you the freedom to stop at every viewpoint and hidden cove. Confirm whether you need an International Driving Permit, and check which side of the road you'll be driving on.
🎓 Guided Day Tours
On any coast, a local guide unlocks the spots you'd drive past. On Australia's East Coast, Cooee Tours runs small-group day experiences from Brisbane and the Gold Coast — hinterland wine tours, Indigenous experiences, whale watching, and wildlife.
Always swim between the flags at patrolled beaches — rip currents claim lives on every continent. Research local hazards before you swim: jellyfish and crocodiles in the tropics, cold-water shock and big surf on exposed Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Use SPF 30+ sunscreen year-round; UV is fierce near the equator and on the water. Learn the local emergency number (112 works on GSM networks across much of the world).
🎒 Packing Essentials for the East Coast
☀️ Reef-Safe Sunscreen
SPF 30+ broad-spectrum, free of oxybenzone and octinoxate (documented to damage coral). Essential every day on the coast, not just beach days — UV reflects hard off water and sand.
💧 Filter Water Bottle
1L minimum, with a built-in filter so you can drink safely where tap water isn't — and refill for free where it is. Staying hydrated on hot coast days is critical.
👙 Swimmers & Rash Vest
You'll be in the water daily. A long-sleeve rash vest doubles as sun protection while snorkelling and reduces sunscreen requirements significantly.
👟 Walking Shoes & Sandals
Quality walking shoes for clifftop and headland trails, and sandals or flip-flops for the beach and town. Most great coastal walks need proper footwear.
🦟 Insect Repellent
A strong DEET or picaridin repellent is essential on tropical and subtropical coasts, where mosquitoes and sandflies bite hardest at dawn and dusk.
🔌 Universal Power Adapter
Plug types and voltage vary by country. A single universal adapter with USB ports covers every coast on your route — buy before you go, as airport prices are steep.
📱 Power Bank (20,000mAh)
For photography, maps, and emergency calls where signal is patchy — remote headlands, islands, and long coastal drives all drain a phone fast.
🌊 Dry Bag
10–20L waterproof bag protects camera, phone, and valuables during Whitsunday sailing, kayaking, and beach visits.
🦘 Why Choose Cooee Tours?
If your coastal journey brings you to Australia's East Coast, Cooee Tours is your local expert. We run small-group day experiences across South East Queensland from Brisbane and the Gold Coast, with the genuine local knowledge that comes from touring this region since 1974.
Our tours include Gold Coast Hinterland wine and food experiences (Tamborine Mountain wineries and distilleries), Brisbane day trips (Glass House Mountains, Tamborine Mountain, Springbrook National Park), whale watching along the Humpback Highway (seasonal May–November), Indigenous cultural experiences, and wildlife encounters. All tours feature comfortable vehicles, expert local guides, and the kind of insider knowledge you won't find in a guidebook.
Contact our Brisbane team to discuss day trips, multi-day experiences, or help sequencing the Australian East Coast part of your journey around Cooee Tours departures. We're happy to help even if you just need advice on the route. Call 0409 661 342 or email contact@cooeetours.com.au.
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