Australia Encompassed — Self-Launched

Arrive at any time and check into a hostel near Central Station (Wake Up Sydney or a similar budget hostel). Use the Airport Link train from T1/T2 to Central (~AUD 20 / £11) rather than a taxi. In the evening head to a bar in the city or Surry Hills to meet other travellers.

🚌Airport Link train from Sydney Airport to Central, ~£11

🛏Hostel dorm near Central Station (e.g. Wake Up Sydney), ~£28/night

• →Airport Link train to Central
• →Evening out in Surry Hills

Free day. Walk the Coogee to Bondi coastal path (free, ~6 km), visit the Opera House forecourt, or take the ferry to Manly (~AUD 8 each way with an Opal card). Optional: Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb (AUD 385–415, ~£200–215) booked direct with BridgeClimb, or a jet boat ride from Circular Quay (~AUD 70–90).

🚌Opal card ferries and trains, ~£6

🛏Hostel dorm near Central Station, ~£28/night

• →Coogee to Bondi coastal walk
• →Opera House and The Rocks
• →Manly ferry
• →Optional: Harbour Bridge Climb (book direct)

Take the early NSW TrainLink regional train from Sydney to Maitland or Singleton (~AUD 25–35), then a local bus or pre-booked Hunter Valley wine tour pickup. Several operators run half-day winery tastings from Pokolbin (~AUD 90–120 including tastings — book on GetYourGuide or direct). In the afternoon continue by TrainLink coach/train to Tamworth (~AUD 30), a country music town.

🚌NSW TrainLink Sydney–Maitland–Tamworth, ~£30

🛏Tamworth hostel or pub-hotel room, ~£30/night

• →Hunter Valley wine tutorial/tasting (self-booked)
• →Train journey over the Great Dividing Range
• →Evening in Tamworth

Long travel day. Take the NSW TrainLink coach/train combination north to Grafton (~AUD 60–75), then a local bus or short taxi to Yamba on the coast. Once there, swim at Yamba Main Beach and walk to the lighthouse for sunset views over the Clarence River mouth.

🚌TrainLink coach/train to Grafton, then local bus, ~£35

🛏Yamba YHA or surf hostel, ~£28/night

• →Yamba Main Beach swim
• →Yamba lighthouse walk

Take the TrainLink coach south to Casino, then the connecting coach or the local rail-bus to Byron Bay (~AUD 25–35 total). In the afternoon book a 2-hour group surf lesson at Clarkes Beach or Main Beach (~AUD 70, ~£37 — book direct with Black Dog Surfing or Let's Go Surfing). Evening stroll to the Byron lighthouse for sunset.

🚌TrainLink coach via Casino, ~£16

🛏Byron Bay backpackers dorm (e.g. Aquarius or Arts Factory), ~£30/night

• →Group surf lesson (self-booked)
• →Cape Byron lighthouse sunset walk

Free day. Options: sea kayaking with dolphins (~AUD 75), a yoga class (~AUD 18), or a day tour to Minyon Falls and the hinterland (~AUD 139). Cheapest option is a hike up to the lighthouse and a swim at Wategos Beach. Book activities the day before at your hostel reception or online.

🚌Walking / local bus, ~£3

🛏Byron Bay backpackers dorm, ~£30/night

• →Optional: sea kayaking with dolphins
• →Optional: Minyon Falls hinterland tour
• →Beach time and Wategos Beach walk

Take the Greyhound or Premier Motor Service coach from Byron Bay to Brisbane (~AUD 30–40, 2.5 hrs). Stop at the Yatala Pie Shop en route if you're driving, or grab a pie in Brisbane instead. Check into a hostel in Fortitude Valley or the CBD and head out for a night in the Valley's bars.

🚌Greyhound/Premier coach Byron Bay–Brisbane, ~£18

🛏Brisbane YHA or Bunk Brisbane dorm, ~£28/night

• →Coach up the coast to Queensland
• →Night out in Fortitude Valley

Take the Premier coach or Queensland Rail train plus bus from Brisbane to Noosaville (~AUD 30). In the afternoon rent a kayak from a local operator (Kanū or Noosa Everglades Kayak Tours, ~AUD 60–90 for a self-guided or guided half-day) and paddle the Tea Tree Bay wetlands — the famous 'river of mirrors'. Overnight at a Noosa hostel or campsite (Habitat Noosa runs eco-tents right on the Everglades, ~AUD 45 dorm).

🚌Coach Brisbane–Noosa, ~£16; local bus to Noosaville ~£3

🛏Habitat Noosa eco-tent or Noosa hostel dorm, ~£32/night

• →Kayaking the Noosa Everglades
• →BBQ dinner by the lake

Book a 2-day/1-night tag-along 4x4 tour or a guided day tour from Hervey Bay or Rainbow Beach in advance (Fraser Island Tag Along Tours, ~AUD 350–450 for 2 days including ferry, 4x4, camping and most meals; a single day tour is ~AUD 200). Take the morning bus from Noosa to Hervey Bay (~AUD 25, 2.5 hrs) to join it. Drive 75-Mile Beach, swim in Lake McKenzie, and look for dingoes and the Maheno shipwreck.

🚌Bus Noosa–Hervey Bay ~£13; tour ferry and 4x4 included in tour price

🛏Camp or eco-cabin on K'gari as part of the tour, included

• →Fraser Island/K'gari 4x4 tour
• →Lake McKenzie swim
• →75-Mile Beach drive

Second morning on the island — more beach driving and a forest walk. Return to the mainland mid-afternoon and make your way to Maryborough West or Gympie North station for the Queensland Rail 'Spirit of Queensland' overnight train north to Proserpine (~AUD 120–180 in a seat/economy berth, book direct with Queensland Rail). Sleeping on the train saves a night's accommodation.

🚌Tour return ferry; Queensland Rail to Proserpine, ~£70

🛏Overnight Spirit of Queensland train seat

• →Fraser Island forest walk
• →Overnight train north

Arrive Proserpine early morning, take the local bus or shuttle to Airlie Beach (~AUD 10). Brunch in town, then board your 2-night Whitsundays sailing trip from the marina (book direct with e.g. Prosail, Whitsunday Sailing Adventures or Apollo, ~AUD 500–600 including meals, snorkel gear and stinger suits). Set sail and anchor in a secluded cove for the night.

🚌Bus Proserpine–Airlie Beach ~£5; sailing trip included

🛏Maxi yacht overnight (2 nights included in sailing price)

• →Brunch in Airlie Beach
• →Board Whitsundays maxi yacht
• →Sunset sail

Hike to the Hill Inlet lookout over Whitehaven Beach, spend time on the famous silica sand, then snorkel a fringing coral garden with your crew (included in the sailing price). Many operators also offer an optional intro dive (~AUD 90). Anchor at another island for the night.

🚌Sailing included

🛏Maxi yacht overnight, included

• →Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet lookout
• →Snorkelling the fringing reef
• →Optional: introductory scuba dive

Sail back to Airlie Beach in the morning. Take the afternoon Greyhound/Premier coach north to Cairns (~AUD 60–75, ~7 hrs) or, if you're keen on a reef day trip, fly Cairns–Proserpine later. Check into a Cairns hostel on the Esplanade and join the evening nightlife.

🚌Coach Airlie Beach–Cairns, ~£35

🛏Cairns hostel dorm (e.g. Gilligan's or Bounce), ~£28/night

• →Dive off the yacht
• →Esplanade walk and lagoon swim in Cairns

Book a full-day outer reef trip with snorkelling and an optional intro dive (Reef Magic, Great Adventures or Passions of Paradise, ~AUD 200–290 including lunch, reef tax and snorkel gear; book on GetYourGuide/Klook or direct). This replaces G's included reef snorkel stop. Boats leave the Cairns Marlin Marina around 8am and return ~5pm.

🚌Walk to the marina; reef trip includes boat

🛏Cairns hostel dorm, ~£28/night

• →Outer Great Barrier Reef snorkelling
• →Optional: intro scuba dive
• →Marine biologist briefing

Free day. Options: Skyrail rainforest cableway to Kuranda (~AUD 116–171), bungee jumping (~AUD 179), whitewater rafting on the Tully (~AUD 138–210), or the free Esplanade Lagoon. Budget for one splurge activity or just chill — a good rest day before the Outback leg.

🚌Local bus, ~£3

🛏Cairns hostel dorm, ~£28/night

• →Optional: Skyrail and Kuranda
• →Optional: whitewater rafting
• →Esplanade Lagoon (free)

Fly Cairns to Alice Springs (Jetstar/Virgin, book early — ~AUD 250–350 one way). Check into a hostel in town. Hike Anzac Hill for sunset (free) and visit the Royal Flying Doctor Service museum if time allows (~AUD 16).

🚌Domestic flight Cairns–Alice Springs, ~£140

🛏Alice Springs YHA or Toddy's dorm, ~£28/night

• →Anzac Hill sunset hike
• →Royal Flying Doctor Service museum

Join a 3-day/2-night Red Centre camping tour from Alice Springs (e.g. Adventure Tours Australia, Emu Run or Autopia, ~AUD 550–750 including transport, swags, meals and park fees — book direct or via GetYourGuide). Drive the Mereenie Loop or Stuart Highway to Watarrka, with stops at the West MacDonnell Ranges. Camp under the stars in a swag.

🚌4WD tour vehicle from Alice Springs

🛏Swag camping in the Outback (included in tour)

• →Red Centre camping tour departure
• →West MacDonnell Ranges stops
• →Swag camping under the stars

Sunrise start for the 6 km Kings Canyon Rim Walk (free with your tour, ~3–4 hrs — closed at short notice in extreme heat). Then drive to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park (~AUD 38 park entry, usually included in the tour price) and continue to the campground near Yulara.

🚌Tour 4WD, included

🛏Swag camping near Uluru (included in tour)

• →Kings Canyon Rim Walk
• →Drive to Uluru
• →Optional: Kata Tjuta Valley of the Winds walk

Sunrise or Mala Walk at the base of Uluru with your guide, visit the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre, then the classic champagne sunset viewing of Uluru. The tour returns to Alice Springs in the evening (or take a short flight/bus to Alice if you've booked a one-way tour). Re-check in at a hostel.

🚌Tour 4WD back to Alice Springs (included in tour)

🛏Alice Springs hostel dorm, ~£28/night

• →Mala Walk at Uluru
• →Uluru Cultural Centre
• →Champagne sunset at Uluru

Spend a relaxed day in Alice Springs, then board The Ghan overnight south to Adelaide (economy 'Red Service' seat ~AUD 250–350 one way, book well ahead with Journey Beyond — a cheaper alternative is the daily Greyhound overnight coach ~AUD 180). Sleeping on the train saves a night's accommodation and is one of the great rail journeys.

🚌The Ghan Alice Springs–Adelaide, ~£140

🛏Overnight on The Ghan or coach

• →Desert Park visit (optional, ~AUD 25)
• →Board The Ghan

Arrive Adelaide in the morning. Walk the Central Market and Rundle Mall, then take a public bus or regional LinkSA coach to the Clare Valley (~AUD 30, 2 hrs) for self-guided winery tastings (small tasting fees ~AUD 10–15 per cellar door — or a half-day wine tour ~AUD 110). Alternatively do a Barossa Valley food and wine tour from Adelaide (~AUD 120).

🚌Coach or bus to the Clare Valley, ~£16

🛏Adelaide hostel dorm, ~£28/night

• →Adelaide Central Market and city walk
• →Clare Valley self-guided wine tasting
• →Optional: Barossa Valley day tour

Take the morning Greyhound/Premier coach from Adelaide to Mount Gambier (~AUD 70), then continue with a connecting coach to Port Campbell (~AUD 40) — total ~9 hrs. Alternatively fly Adelaide–Melbourne cheaply and pick up the road from there. Check into a hostel in Port Campbell (the Port Campbell Hostel or a cabin park) ready for the 12 Apostles the next morning.

🚌Greyhound/Premier coach Adelaide–Port Campbell, ~£55

🛏Port Campbell hostel or cabin park, ~£30/night

• →Long coastal transfer
• →Evening at Port Campbell beach

Sunrise at the 12 Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge (free). Continue along the Great Ocean Road — easiest as a self-drive day with a one-day car hire from Port Campbell to Melbourne (~AUD 60–90 plus fuel), or join a one-day Great Ocean Road tour (~AUD 110–140). Stop for the Maits Rest rainforest walk in Great Otway National Park, then overnight in Lorne or Apollo Bay (hostels ~AUD 45 dorm).

🚌One-day car hire split with travel companions, ~£25

🛏Apollo Bay or Lorne hostel dorm, ~£30/night

• →12 Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge
• →Great Otway National Park rainforest walk
• →Great Ocean Road drive

Drive or coach east through the Grampians (Halls Gap) for a short walk to the Pinnacle or MacKenzie Falls (~2–3 hrs, free), then continue to Melbourne (~2 hrs). Drop the car off and check into a hostel in St Kilda or the CBD. Dinner in Fitzroy or the Queen Victoria Market night market.

🚌Car hire and fuel to Melbourne (~90 mins from Halls Gap), ~£25

🛏Melbourne hostel dorm (e.g. Space Hotel or Discovery Melbourne), ~£30/night

• →Grampians National Park walk
• →Arrive Melbourne
• →Fitzroy dinner and bars

Free morning exploring the laneways, Hosier Lane street art and the coffee scene (Melbourne does the best flat white in the world). Lunch at Queen Victoria Market, then take the SkyBus to Tullamarine Airport (~AUD 22, 30 mins) for your onward flight.

🚌SkyBus to Melbourne Airport, ~£12

🛏None (departure day)

• →Laneway and street art walk
• →Queen Victoria Market
• →SkyBus to Tullamarine