Australia In-Depth: Self-Launched West to East Coast Adventure
25 days · Australia
SKR Reisen charges £9,600
No-markup version: ~£3,050 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 25-day self-launched take on SKR Reisen's "Australia In-Depth" tour, covering Perth and the WA coast, Adelaide and wine country, Kangaroo Island, Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road, the Red Centre, Sydney and the Blue Mountains, then tropical Cairns and the Reef. Instead of a German-guided coach group with included international flights, you book your own flights (or use a working-holiday flight deal), take domestic budget flights and regional buses, join self-bookable day tours via Klook/GetYourGuide, and stay in hostels, YHA-style properties and budget motels. Costs are backpacker-level estimates for one person sharing a dorm or twin; Australia is expensive, so this is a genuinely budget version of a premium tour rather than a dirt-cheap one.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Perth
Perth, WA
Land at Perth Airport, take the Airport Line train into the CBD (~£2.50) and check into a hostel in Northbridge or near the city centre. Pick up a Transperth SmartRider card, sort a local SIM (Telstra/Optus ~£8-15), and do a gentle wander down to Elizabeth Quay and the Swan River foreshore. Grab dinner in Northbridge's Asian food strip.
🚌Airport Line train from Perth Airport to CBD (~£2.50)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget private room, Northbridge/Perth CBD (~£25-35)
- →Elizabeth Quay waterfront walk
- →Northbridge food strip
- →Sort SmartRider card and SIM
Perth city and Kings Park
Perth, WA
Free day exploring Perth on foot. Walk or take a free CAT bus to Kings Park for the skyline and Swan River panorama, join a free volunteer-guided walk if running (check the Kings Park website), then explore the Cultural Centre, Art Gallery of WA (free) and Hay Street Mall. Afternoon ferry to Fremantle (~£3 each way) to see the colonial streets, Fremantle Markets and the harbour, returning by ferry or train.
🚌Free CAT bus + Transperth ferry/train to Fremantle (~£6 return)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget private room, Perth (~£25-35)
- →Kings Park lookout and botanic garden
- →Art Gallery of Western Australia (free)
- →Fremantle Markets and historic streets
- →Swan River ferry ride
Pinnacles day tour and Swan Valley wine tasting
Nambung National Park / Swan Valley, WA
Book a self-bookable Pinnacles and Swan Valley day tour via Klook or GetYourGuide (typically £95-130 including transport, park entry and a winery tasting), or if you have a car, hire one and drive the 2.5 hours north yourself. Walk among the limestone pillars at sunset time if your tour allows, and stop at a Swan Valley winery plus chocolate/coffee producers on the way back.
🚌Day tour coach included, or rental car share (~£30 pp if split)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget private room, Perth (~£25-35)
- →Pinnacles Desert walk in Nambung NP
- →Swan Valley wine tasting
- →Sandboarding at Lancelin (on many tours)
Rottnest Island by ferry and bike
Rottnest Island, WA
Book the Rottnest Express or SeaLink ferry from Barrack Street Jetty or Fremantle directly online (~£35-45 return), and pre-book a bike hire on the island (~£20). Cycle the car-free island's loops to The Basin, Parakeet Bay and Cape Vlamingh, spotting quokkas along the way. Bring your own lunch and snorkel gear to keep costs down.
🚌Ferry to Rottnest Island (~£40 return) + bike hire (~£20)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget private room, Perth (~£25-35)
- →Cycle Rottnest Island
- →Quokka spotting
- →Swim and snorkel at The Basin
Fly Perth to Adelaide
Adelaide, SA
Budget morning flight Perth to Adelaide on Jetstar/Virgin (~£100-160 booked ahead, more on the day). Check into a hostel in the CBD or North Adelaide, then stroll the free-admission Adelaide Botanic Garden, Rundle Mall and the Central Market for cheap lunch. Evening walk along the River Torrens to the Oval.
🚌Flight Perth-Adelaide (~£130), airport bus to CBD (~£3)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget private room, Adelaide CBD (~£25-35)
- →Adelaide Central Market
- →Botanic Garden
- →River Torrens walk
Barossa Valley wine tour
Barossa Valley, SA
Join a self-bookable small-group Barossa Valley wine tour from Adelaide via Klook/GetYourGuide (~£85-110, usually 3-4 cellar doors and lunch or a platter). Alternatively take the public bus/train towards Gawler and use local taxis between wineries if you're confident on logistics — the organised day tour is better value for solo travellers.
🚌Day tour minibus included
🛏Hostel dorm or budget private room, Adelaide (~£25-35)
- →Barossa Valley cellar door tastings
- →Jacobs Creek or Seppeltsfield visit
- →Winery lunch
Kangaroo Island: sea lions and wildlife
Kangaroo Island, SA
Take a self-bookable 2-day Kangaroo Island tour from Adelaide (small-group, ~£280-350 including ferry, transport, one night's accommodation and some meals), or DIY it: bus to Cape Jervis (~£20) plus the Sealink ferry (~£50 each way) and a hostel in Kingscote. Today: Seal Bay guided beach walk to the sea lion colony, then wildlife spotting for kangaroos, echidnas and koalas.
🚌Coach to Cape Jervis + Sealink ferry + tour vehicle
🛏Kangaroo Island hostel or tour lodge, Kingscote/Penneshaw (~£35-50)
- →Seal Bay sea lion colony walk
- →Wildlife spotting drive
- →Picnic lunch
Flinders Chase: Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch
Flinders Chase National Park, SA
Visit Flinders Chase National Park for Remarkable Rocks, Admirals Arch and the Cape du Couedic lighthouse, with koala spotting in the eucalyptus along the way. Park entry ~£7. Late afternoon ferry back to the mainland and bus into Adelaide.
🚌Tour vehicle + Sealink ferry return + bus to Adelaide (~£20)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget private room, Adelaide (~£25-35)
- →Remarkable Rocks
- →Admirals Arch fur seal boardwalk
- →Koala spotting
Fly to Melbourne
Melbourne, VIC
Morning budget flight Adelaide to Melbourne (~£60-100). SkyBus from Tullamarine to Southern Cross (~£10), then check into a hostel in the CBD or Fitzroy. Afternoon free walking tour of Melbourne (tip-based, book via GetYourGuide or Freetour.com), covering laneways, street art, Hosier Lane and the Queen Victoria Market.
🚌Flight (~£80) + SkyBus (~£10)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget private room, Melbourne CBD/Fitzroy (~£30-40)
- →Melbourne laneways and street art
- →Queen Victoria Market
- →Free walking tour
Melbourne parks and city
Melbourne, VIC
Explore Melbourne under your own steam: Royal Botanic Gardens, Shrine of Remembrance (free), Southbank and the Yarra, plus Fitzroy and Collingwood for coffee and cheap eats. Use the free City Circle tram. Evening in the laneway bars or a cheap dumpling dinner in Chinatown.
🚌Free City Circle tram + Myki travel (~£5)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget private room, Melbourne (~£30-40)
- →Royal Botanic Gardens
- →Shrine of Remembrance
- →Fitzroy coffee crawl
Phillip Island penguin parade
Phillip Island, VIC
Book a Phillip Island penguin parade day tour from Melbourne via Klook/GetYourGuide (~£75-100 including transport and general viewing ticket). Afternoon stops usually include Nobbies boardwalk and koala conservation reserve; the parade viewing happens after sunset. Alternatively catch the V/Line train to Frankston/Stony Point plus bus and book the parade ticket direct (~£20).
🚌Tour coach or V/Line train + local bus
🛏Hostel dorm or budget private room, Melbourne (~£30-40)
- →Penguin parade at sunset
- →The Nobbies boardwalk
- →Koala Conservation Reserve (optional)
Great Ocean Road and the Twelve Apostles
Great Ocean Road, VIC
Take a self-bookable small-group Great Ocean Road day tour (~£70-95) covering Torquay, the Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge and rainforest stops, or rent a car with other travellers and drive it yourself. The drive is one of the world's great coastal roads — bring layers, it's windy.
🚌Day tour minibus included (~£85)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget private room, Melbourne (~£30-40)
- →Twelve Apostles lookout
- →Loch Ard Gorge
- →Great Ocean Road coastal drive
Fly to Alice Springs and explore the outback town
Alice Springs, NT
Budget flight Melbourne to Alice Springs (~£120-180). Afternoon in town: Telegraph Station Historical Reserve (~£10), the Royal Flying Doctor Service tourist facility (~£10) and the Women's Museum or Reptile Centre. Stock up on water and food — outback prices are high. Book your Uluru tour for the next days today if you haven't already.
🚌Flight (~£150) + town bus/foot
🛏Hostel dorm or budget room, Alice Springs (~£25-35)
- →Telegraph Station Historical Reserve
- →Royal Flying Doctor Service facility
- →Outback town wander
West MacDonnell Ranges day trip
West MacDonnell Ranges, NT
Join a self-bookable West Macs day tour (~£80-100) covering Simpsons Gap, Standley Chasm (~£10 entry), Ellery Creek Big Hole, Ormiston Gorge and Glen Helen, with swims in the waterholes (seasonal). Or hire a car and drive yourself — the road is sealed and easy.
🚌Day tour minibus or rental car share
🛏Hostel dorm or budget room, Alice Springs (~£25-35)
- →Standley Chasm
- →Ellery Creek Big Hole swim
- →Ormiston Gorge walk
Transfer to Uluru: sunset at the Rock
Yulara / Uluru, NT
Take a self-bookable 3-day/2-night Uluru tour from Alice Springs (~£260-320 incl. transport, accommodation and some meals) which covers the drive down, or DIY with a flight/greyhound and a Yulara campground cabin or Ayers Rock Resort budget room. Tonight: sunset viewing area at Uluru with drinks and snacks from the IGA.
🚌Tour coach from Alice Springs (included) or bus/flight
🛏Yulara campground cabin or tour swag/lodge (~£45-65)
- →Uluru sunset viewing
- →Desert stars
Uluru base walk, then fly to Sydney
Uluru to Sydney, NSW
Sunrise at Uluru, then walk or join the free ranger-guided base walk (~10.6km, flat, 3-4 hours) through rock caves and crevices — the cultural centre is worth an hour too. Respect closure requests on the climb. Late afternoon transfer to Connellan Airport and fly to Sydney (~£160-220), arriving in the evening.
🚌Uluru base transfer + flight to Sydney (~£180) + train to CBD (~£10)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget private room, Sydney (~£35-45)
- →Uluru sunrise
- →Uluru base walk
- →Cultural Centre
Sydney city and Opera House
Sydney, NSW
Free walking tour of Sydney (tip-based) through The Rocks and Circular Quay, then a 1-hour Opera House guided tour booked direct (~£25). Afternoon ferry to Manly (~£8 return with Opal card) or a cheap harbour cruise on the public ferry to Watsons Bay. Evening at the Rocks or cheap eats in Haymarket.
🚌Opal card ferries and trains (~£10)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget private room, Sydney (~£35-45)
- →Free walking tour of The Rocks
- →Sydney Opera House guided tour
- →Manly ferry crossing
Coogee to Bondi coastal walk
Sydney, NSW
Free day walking the 6km Coogee to Bondi coastal path (~2 hours plus swims), passing Bronte and Tamarama, then lunch in Bondi. Afternoon back to Darling Harbour and Barangaroo, or the free Art Gallery of NSW and Royal Botanic Gardens. Swap the planned catamaran harbour lunch for a picnic with a view.
🚌Opal buses/trains (~£8)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget private room, Sydney (~£35-45)
- →Coogee to Bondi coastal walk
- →Bondi Beach swim
- →Darling Harbour and Barangaroo
- →Art Gallery of NSW (free)
Blue Mountains by train
Blue Mountains, NSW
Catch the NSW TrainLink intercity train from Central to Katoomba (~£5 each way, about 2 hours). Walk to Echo Point for the Three Sisters, then descend the Giant Stairway and walk the Federal Pass or the cliff-top trails. Optional Scenic World gondola/scenic railway (~£30) or the free alternative walks. Return train in the evening.
🚌Train Sydney-Katoomba return (~£10) + optional Scenic World (~£30)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget private room, Sydney (~£35-45)
- →Three Sisters at Echo Point
- →Giant Stairway descent
- →Scenic World gondola (optional)
Fly to Cairns
Cairns, QLD
Budget flight Sydney to Cairns (~£110-160). Check in to a hostel with a pool (Cairns has great budget options), then walk the Cairns Esplanade and lagoon, and book your reef and Daintree tours for the next few days. Evening night market for cheap food.
🚌Flight (~£130) + airport shuttle (~£8)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget room, Cairns CBD/Esplanade (~£25-35)
- →Cairns Esplanade and lagoon
- →Night markets
Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation
Daintree Rainforest, QLD
Book a small-group Daintree day tour via Klook/GetYourGuide (~£105-130) including the Daintree River wildlife cruise, Cape Tribulation beach, Mossman Gorge and a Kuku Yalanji-guided walk or the Daintree Discovery Centre. Self-drive is possible but the day tour makes the river crossings and timing easy.
🚌Day tour vehicle included
🛏Hostel dorm or budget room, Cairns (~£25-35)
- →Daintree River crocodile cruise
- →Cape Tribulation beach
- →Kuku Yalanji cultural walk
- →Mossman Gorge
Great Barrier Reef: Michaelmas Cay snorkel
Great Barrier Reef, QLD
Book the Ocean Spirit catamaran to Michaelmas Cay direct or via Klook (~£150-180 including reef tax, lunch, snorkel gear and a glass-bottom boat). Snorkel the cay's fringing reef — a great spot for turtles and giant clams — and take the glass-bottom boat if you don't want to get wet.
🚌Reef cruise from Cairns Marlin Marina (included)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget room, Cairns (~£25-35)
- →Snorkelling at Michaelmas Cay
- →Glass-bottom boat tour
- →Beach time on the sand cay
Kuranda: Skyrail and rainforest village
Kuranda, QLD
Take the public bus or train to Smithfield and ride the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway to Kuranda (~£30 one way) or the historic scenic railway (~£30). Explore Kuranda's markets, the Butterfly Sanctuary and Aboriginal cultural experiences, then return. Alternatively book the optional Frankland Islands reef/bus combo (~£115) — the tour's Frankland Islands trip is also worth a look direct with the operator.
🚌Public bus + Skyrail or Scenic Railway (~£35)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget room, Cairns (~£25-35)
- →Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
- →Kuranda markets
- →Barron Falls lookout
Cairns free day and flight planning
Cairns, QLD
Last full day: swim at the Esplanade lagoon, do the free Cairns Botanical Gardens and Centenary Lakes, or add a half-day Fitzroy Island ferry trip (~£35 return) for more snorkelling. Sort your onward/return flight and repack.
🚌Local bus (~£3) or optional Fitzroy Island ferry (~£35)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget room, Cairns (~£25-35)
- →Cairns Botanical Gardens
- →Fitzroy Island (optional)
- →Esplanade lagoon swim
Depart Cairns
Cairns, QLD
Airport shuttle (~£8) or the public bus to Cairns Airport for your international or onward flight. Book an evening departure if you want a final morning swim. Note that international flights to/from Europe are not included in this self-launched estimate — expect roughly £750-1,100 for a return long-haul fare depending on season and routing.
🚌Airport shuttle (~£8)
🛏None (departure day)
- →Departure
Self-launched vs. SKR Reisen
| This itinerary (self-launched) | SKR Reisen | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£3,050 | £9,600 |
| Duration | 25 days | 25 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £6,550 per person (68%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more SKR Reisen-style trips? Check them out here.~£3,050
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Australia In-Depth: Self-Launched West to East Coast Adventure cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £3,050 per person for 25 days in Australia. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with SKR Reisen?+
Yes — SKR Reisen charges around £9,600 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £3,050 — a saving of roughly £6,550 (68%) per person.
How long is the Australia trip?+
This itinerary runs 25 days, covering 25 day-by-day stops through Australia.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, culture, beaches trip through Australia, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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