Sydney gets the postcard status, so most first-time East Coast travellers default to starting there without really asking why. But if the actual plan is Byron Bay, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Noosa and Rainbow Beach, starting in Sydney means burning days and dollars just getting to the part of the coast you actually came for. Most people ask where is the best place to start my east coast trip and the answer is simple. Starting in Brisbane instead puts you in the action on day one and avoids those dreaded overnight buses.
Brisbane is the better starting point for an East Coast trip because it sits right at the top of the Byron Bay to Rainbow Beach stretch, cutting out the 900km, overnight bus run from Sydney that most travellers end up doing anyway before their trip properly starts.
Check out our blog on things to do in Brisbane if you’re short on time.
Ask most backpackers what “doing the East Coast” means and they’ll describe Byron, the Goldy, Noosa, maybe Rainbow Beach and K’gari. Sydney isn’t in that list, it’s a separate leg entirely, roughly 900km south of Byron Bay. Starting there means either a long haul overnight bus trip, an expensive one-way flight, or days spent slowly working your way up the coast before you even reach Byron. None of that is the trip. It’s just the commute to the trip.
If you need to start your trip in Sydney make sure to check out JOEY Travels 12 day package that includes your flight from Sydney to Brisbane.
Fly into Brisbane and you’re roughly a three hour bus ride from Byron Bay, not a ten hour one. The Joey Bus network runs daily departures connecting Byron Bay, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Noosa and Rainbow Beach, and Brisbane sits right at the top of that loop. That means your first day in the country can also be your first day on the bus, instead of your first day being eaten up by transiting from Sydney.
Sydney to Brisbane flights or long-distance coaches add a cost most travellers don’t budget for properly, on top of an extra night or two of accommodation while they make their way up. Flying straight into Brisbane skips that leg entirely. It’s the difference between spending your first few days and dollars on transit, or spending them on the surf lesson in Byron and the first night out with your new hostel crew.
Every day spent getting from Sydney to the start line is a day not spent in Byron, not spent on Hastings Street in Noosa, not spent out on K’gari. For a set length of trip, whether that’s Joey’s 8 Day Adventure, 11 Day Explorer or 11 Day Premium, starting in Brisbane means the whole itinerary is spent on the actual coast, not partly spent getting to it.
If you are starting in Sydney, check out JOEY’s 12 day package which includes your flight from Sydney to Brisbane.
None of this is an argument against seeing Sydney. It’s a genuinely great city and plenty of travellers want it on their itinerary somewhere. The point is sequencing. Doing Sydney first means doing the East Coast trip proper afterwards, tired, lighter in the wallet, and a few days behind where you could have been. Doing Sydney at the end, or as a separate trip altogether, means Brisbane gets you straight into the good part without the detour.
Do I need to start my East Coast trip in Sydney?
No. Sydney isn’t on the Byron Bay to Rainbow Beach stretch of the East Coast, it’s a separate leg roughly 900km south. Starting in Brisbane puts you directly on the route.
Check out JOEY’s route map here.
How far is Brisbane from Byron Bay compared to Sydney?
Brisbane to Byron Bay is around a three hour bus trip. Sydney to Byron Bay is closer to ten hours by road, which is why most Sydney starters end up flying or busing up overnight anyway before their trip really begins.
Can I still visit Sydney on the same trip?
Yes. It just works better added on before or after the Byron to Rainbow Beach loop rather than as the starting point, so it doesn’t eat into the days meant for the coast itself.
Is it cheaper to start in Brisbane?
Generally yes, since you skip the extra flight or coach leg from Sydney and the accommodation nights that come with it, leaving more of your budget for the trip itself.
The best deals can be gotten by booking a package including your accommodation, transportation and activities. Check out all of our JOEY Packages now.
Quick answer JOEY is a small group hop-on hop-off bus built for backpackers travelling the East Coast between Byron Bay, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Noosa and Rainbow Beach. Unlike the big national coach networks, JOEY runs small buses (20 seats max),...
JOEY’s Gold Coast stop is in the heart of Surfers Paradise, which is good news if you’re staying nearby, every major backpackers in Surfers is an easy walk away. Here’s exactly where to go, what to look for, and how...
The top things to do in Noosa are swimming in the Fairy Pools in Noosa National Park, eating and drinking your way along Hastings Street, a day trip to Australia Zoo, an afternoon at Buderim Falls, and paddling the Noosa...
