Reef to Harbour. The Complete East Coast.
Two weeks that deliver every icon, every adventure, and every sunset this legendary coastline has to offer.
There is a moment on this tour — usually somewhere between surfacing from a coral garden on the outer reef and setting foot on the impossibly white sands of Whitehaven Beach — when the scale of Australia's East Coast truly lands. From the steaming tropical rainforests above Cairns to the gleaming tiles of the Sydney Opera House, this coastline compresses more natural wonders into a single corridor than most continents can offer in their entirety. Our 14-Day Classic tour is designed to capture all of them.
You will snorkel alongside sea turtles and reef sharks on the Great Barrier Reef, sail through the turquoise channels of the Whitsunday Islands, power a four-wheel-drive along Fraser Island's surf-washed sand highway, and hand-feed kangaroos and koalas on the Gold Coast — all before arriving in Sydney for one of the world's great city-walking itineraries. In between the marquee experiences, there is space for surf lessons at Byron Bay, craft-beer crawls in Brisbane's back lanes, and long lazy afternoons on beaches where the only company is a pelican.
We limit every departure to sixteen guests. That means you travel in a single coach with a guide who already knows your name, your dietary requirements, and whether you prefer an aisle or a window. It means spontaneous detours to a waterfall your guide grew up swimming in, and flexible dinner plans that reflect the group's mood rather than a rigid schedule. And it means you will leave with friends, not just memories.
- ✓ 13 nights accommodation (hostels & boutique stays)
- ✓ All inter-city coach & ferry transfers
- ✓ Full-day Great Barrier Reef excursion (snorkelling included)
- ✓ Whitsundays day sail & Whitehaven Beach
- ✓ Fraser Island 4WD full-day adventure
- ✓ Surf lessons at Byron Bay & Gold Coast
- ✓ Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary entry
- ✓ Guided Sydney & Brisbane city tours
- ✓ Welcome dinner (Cairns) & farewell dinner (Sydney)
- ✓ Expert tour leader for the full 14 days
Your 14-Day Itinerary
From tropical reef to iconic harbour — every day balances bucket-list highlights with free time to explore on your own terms.
Cairns — Arrival & Tropical Welcome
Touch down in tropical North Queensland and feel the warm humidity wrap around you the moment you step off the plane. Check in to your accommodation on the Cairns Esplanade, drop your bags, and head to the enormous free-entry lagoon pool that sits right on the waterfront — a perfect antidote to travel fatigue. In the evening, the group gathers for a welcome dinner at a laneway restaurant specialising in local reef fish and tropical produce. Your guide introduces the fortnight ahead, runs through the safety briefing for tomorrow's reef day, and hands out your personalised itinerary booklet.
Great Barrier Reef — Snorkel & Dive Day
The day many guests describe as life-changing. A fast catamaran carries you to the outer reef, where visibility regularly exceeds twenty-five metres. Strap on your mask and fins and slip into water so clear the coral gardens below seem close enough to touch. Giant clam shells, staghorn coral, parrotfish, clownfish, and — if you are lucky — graceful green sea turtles and blacktip reef sharks share the water with you. Two snorkelling sessions at different reef sites are included; certified divers can add a dive, and complete beginners can try an introductory dive with a one-on-one instructor. Between swims, a marine biologist on board delivers a presentation on reef ecology and the conservation efforts protecting this World Heritage wonder. The return voyage includes afternoon tea on the sun deck as the Cairns skyline grows on the horizon.
Day 3: Cairns → Airlie Beach — Coastal Transfer
A long but scenic driving day south along the Bruce Highway, with comfort stops at tropical fruit stalls, cane-country towns, and a swim at a freshwater creek. You arrive in Airlie Beach by late afternoon — a compact, colourful town built around a man-made lagoon and the departure point for the Whitsunday Islands. Settle in, take a dip, and explore the waterfront restaurants and bars at your own pace.
Whitsundays Sailing & Whitehaven Beach
Board a sailing catamaran and glide into the Whitsunday Passage. The morning is spent snorkelling fringing reefs accessible only by boat — expect turtles, rays, and colourful reef fish in knee-deep water. Then the boat anchors at Whitehaven Beach, consistently ranked among the world's most beautiful stretches of sand. The fine silica is so white it does not heat up underfoot, and the shallow turquoise bay beside it is warm enough to stand in for hours. Hike up to the Hill Inlet lookout for the famous swirling sand and sea panorama that looks like it belongs on a computer desktop. A fresh seafood lunch is served on board before you sail back to Airlie Beach with salt-stiffened hair and a camera full of photos you will never delete.
Fraser Island — 4WD Adventure & Rainforest Lakes
Travel south and cross by barge to K'gari (Fraser Island), the world's largest sand island and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Over two action-packed days you will ride a rugged four-wheel-drive along Seventy-Five Mile Beach — an official highway on the sand — swim in the otherworldly blue waters of Lake McKenzie and Lake Wabby, walk through ancient rainforest growing on sand dunes, and spot dingoes, sea eagles, and humpback whales (in season) from the island's eastern cliffs. Your guide doubles as a driver and storyteller, sharing the island's Indigenous history and ecology as you bounce between landmarks. Accommodation is in comfortable eco-lodges set among the trees, and evenings are spent stargazing in one of the darkest skies on the Australian mainland.
Day 7: Fraser Island → Brisbane — River City Culture
Morning barge crossing back to the mainland and a drive south to Brisbane. Arrive in time for a guided walking tour of Queensland's capital — South Bank parklands, the Gallery of Modern Art, Fortitude Valley's street art and rooftop bars, and the riverside botanic gardens. Brisbane has reinvented itself over the past decade, and your guide reveals the best of the new city alongside the heritage bones. The evening is free: your guide's restaurant list covers everything from Vietnamese street food to wood-fired steakhouses.
Gold Coast — Surf, Wildlife & Nightlife
Two full days on the Gold Coast deliver adrenaline and wildlife in equal measure. Day eight begins with an included surf lesson at one of the southern breaks, followed by a free afternoon to explore Surfers Paradise, ride the SkyPoint observation deck, or simply bask on the sand. Day nine is anchored by a visit to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, where you will hand-feed wild lorikeets in a cacophonous rainbow cloud, hold a koala for a professional photograph, and learn about native wildlife conservation from the sanctuary's educators. Theme park addicts can swap the afternoon for a self-guided visit — your guide handles the logistics. Evenings bring night markets, live music, and rooftop cocktails within walking distance of your accommodation.
Byron Bay — Lighthouse, Surf & Hinterland
Cross back into New South Wales and arrive at Australia's most easterly town. Day ten opens with the Cape Byron lighthouse walk at sunrise — watch dolphins play in the surf below while the first light of the day paints the Pacific gold. Your second included surf lesson takes place at Tallows Beach in the afternoon, followed by free time in Byron's boho main street. Day eleven is unstructured by design: join an optional hinterland minibus trip to the lush villages of Bangalow and Federal, browse the weekly farmers' markets, take a yoga class overlooking the ocean, or simply claim a patch of sand and read. Byron rewards those who slow down, and this layover lets you do exactly that.
Sydney — Icons, Coastal Walks & Farewell Dinner
Day twelve is a travel day south to Sydney, arriving in time for an optional harbour sunset cruise. Day thirteen is a full guided immersion in Australia's greatest city. Walk across the Harbour Bridge for the definitive Opera House photograph, explore the cobblestoned Rocks precinct where the colony began, ride the Bondi-to-Bronte coastal path past ocean pools and sandstone cliffs, and wander through the Royal Botanic Gardens beneath giant Moreton Bay figs. Lunch is at your leisure in one of Surry Hills' celebrated cafes. The tour culminates with a farewell dinner at a harbourside restaurant — speeches optional, laughter guaranteed, and the sparkling bridge as your backdrop.
Day 14: Sydney — Morning at Leisure & Departure
No alarms. Enjoy a final swim at Bondi, a flat white at a Surry Hills laneway cafe, or one last stroll through the botanical gardens. The tour officially ends at 11:00 AM, giving you time to reach the airport for afternoon flights or extend your stay in Sydney. Your guide provides a farewell dossier of restaurant picks, hidden beaches, and day-trip suggestions for anyone lingering in the city.
Fourteen sunsets, each more spectacular than the last.
Activities & Highlights
Everything below is covered by your tour price — no hidden costs, no upgrade pressure.
Great Barrier Reef
Full-day outer-reef catamaran with two snorkel sessions, marine biologist talk, and optional intro/certified dive.
Whitsundays Sailing
Day sail through the passage, snorkelling, Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet lookout, and a fresh seafood lunch on board.
Fraser Island 4WD
Two-day sand-island adventure: Seventy-Five Mile Beach, Lake McKenzie, rainforest walks, and eco-lodge stays.
Surf Lessons
Two professionally coached sessions — Byron Bay and Gold Coast — with all equipment provided.
Wildlife Encounters
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary entry including koala photo, kangaroo feeding, and wild lorikeet frenzy.
City Walking Tours
Expert-led explorations of Sydney (Harbour Bridge, Rocks, Bondi) and Brisbane (South Bank, laneways, galleries).
Moments from the Road
Tap any image to expand.
Outer reef coral garden
Koala encounters
Byron Bay surf
Bondi coastal walk
What Travellers Say
Rated 4.9 out of 5 from 186 verified reviews.
Every single day was packed with amazing sights. The reef day was genuinely life-changing — I could not believe how close we got to turtles. And then Whitehaven Beach the next day somehow topped it.
★★★★★ — Emma L., Dublin, Ireland
From the Great Barrier Reef to Sydney Harbour, this tour exceeded every expectation I had. The Fraser Island 4WD adventure and stargazing were highlights I did not even know were on the itinerary.
★★★★★ — David R., Vancouver, Canada
I have travelled a lot and I am rarely impressed by group tours, but Cooee nailed it. Small group, incredible guide, and the perfect balance of organised activity and free time. The two days in Byron were pure bliss.
★★★★★ — Sofia N., Stockholm, Sweden
Travelling solo and was worried I would feel awkward. By dinner on night one everyone felt like old friends. Two weeks later I left with genuine lifelong connections. Oh, and the Whitsundays is the most beautiful place I have ever been.
★★★★★ — Kenji T., Tokyo, Japan
What to Pack
Pack for warm weather and water. You will move between destinations, so travel light.
Essentials
- Comfortable walking shoes and reef-safe sandals
- Swimwear (bring two — things rarely dry overnight in the tropics)
- Reef-safe sunscreen (SPF 50+) and lip balm with SPF
- Reusable water bottle (1 L minimum)
- Quick-dry towel
- Valid ID or passport
Recommended
- Underwater camera or waterproof phone case (reef day!)
- Light rain jacket (tropical showers are short but heavy)
- Hat and polarised sunglasses
- Insect repellent (Fraser Island and hinterland)
- Smart-casual outfit for farewell dinner
- Portable charger
We Provide
- All snorkelling gear (mask, fins, stinger suit in season)
- Surfboard, wetsuit, and rash vest
- Snacks and water on all coach days
- Digital itinerary booklet and guide's mobile number
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before booking.
What destinations does the tour cover?
The 14-Day Classic travels from Cairns through the Great Barrier Reef, Airlie Beach/Whitsundays, Fraser Island (K'gari), Brisbane, Gold Coast, Byron Bay, and finishes in Sydney. You will experience tropical reef, sand islands, subtropical rainforest, vibrant cities, and iconic surf beaches along the way.
Do I need to be a strong swimmer for the reef?
No. Snorkelling takes place from a large, stable catamaran anchored in calm water. Flotation vests and pool noodles are available for nervous swimmers, and stinger suits provide extra buoyancy and sun protection. Non-swimmers can enjoy the reef from a glass-bottom boat or semi-submersible at no extra cost. Introductory dives are conducted one-on-one with an instructor who stays with you the entire time.
What type of accommodation is included?
We use a mix of well-reviewed hostels (private twin or double rooms, not dorms) and boutique eco-lodges. On Fraser Island, accommodation is in comfortable rainforest lodges. All stays are centrally located, clean, and comfortable. A solo supplement is available if you prefer your own room.
Are meals included?
A welcome dinner in Cairns and farewell dinner in Sydney are included. Breakfasts are provided at most accommodation stops, and a seafood lunch is served on the Whitsundays sailing day. Other meals are at your own expense, giving you the freedom to explore local food scenes — your guide provides daily recommendations for every budget.
Is this tour suitable for solo travellers?
Absolutely. Around half our guests travel solo. The small group size makes it easy to form friendships from day one. You will be paired with a same-gender roommate at no extra cost, or you can opt for the solo supplement for a private room.
What is the cancellation policy?
Free cancellation up to 21 days before departure for a full refund. Cancellations between 7 and 21 days prior receive a 50% refund. Within 7 days, no refund is available. Flexible rescheduling is offered at no cost with sufficient notice. Travel insurance is strongly recommended.
What about stinger season?
Box jellyfish are present in tropical waters roughly from November to May. During stinger season, full-body lycra stinger suits are provided free of charge for all water activities. The outer reef is generally less affected than inshore waters, and our reef operators monitor conditions daily.
Can I extend my stay at any destination?
Yes. Many guests add extra nights in Byron Bay, the Whitsundays, or Sydney. Advise us at the time of booking and we can arrange additional accommodation at partner rates. You would rejoin or leave the tour at the relevant stop.
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