Whether you’ve just arrived in Brisbane or you’re wrapping up a few days in the city, the question is always the same: where to next? Brisbane sits right in the middle of JOEY’s east coast route, which means you’ve got options in both directions. Head south to the Gold Coast and Byron Bay, or north to Noosa and Rainbow Beach.
JOEY Travel runs a hop-on hop-off backpacker bus service along the east coast, connecting Brisbane south to the Gold Coast and Byron Bay, and north through Noosa all the way up to Rainbow Beach. Here’s everything you need to know about where you can go, what’s included, and how the routes work.
The Gold Coast is approximately 80km south of Brisbane, roughly an hour and a half by road. It’s one of the shortest legs on the JOEY route and an easy first stop heading south.
The Gold Coast delivers beaches, theme parks and one of the best nightlife scenes on the east coast. It’s a solid change of pace from the city before continuing south to Byron Bay.
The drive from Brisbane to Byron Bay takes roughly 3 hours by road. On JOEY, you travel via the Gold Coast, so you can break the journey up and spend time there before continuing south into Byron.
Byron Bay is one of the most iconic stops on the east coast backpacker trail. Known for its beaches, surf culture, live music and laid-back atmosphere, it’s the kind of place that was supposed to be a two-night stop and ends up being two weeks.
Find out more about our Brisbane to Byron Bay route here.
The drive from Brisbane to Noosa takes roughly 2 hours by road. It’s a straightforward hop north and one of the most popular legs on the JOEY route.
Noosa is one of the highlights of the east coast. Hastings Street, the national park, Main Beach and the Noosa River make it a place that’s easy to love. It’s the kind of stop that fills up your camera roll and makes you rethink your timeline.
Rainbow Beach sits north of Noosa on the JOEY route. From Brisbane, you head north through Noosa and continue up to Rainbow Beach, which serves as the main access point for K’gari (Fraser Island). It’s the largest sand island in the world and one of the most unique experiences on the entire east coast. Well worth adding to your itinerary if you have the time. Check out our JOEY packages that include either a day trip or overnight 4WD trip to K’gari.
JOEY runs one core route along Australia’s east coast:
Byron Bay > Gold Coast > Brisbane > Noosa > Rainbow Beach
The service runs as a hop-on hop-off pass, meaning you purchase a pass that covers the full route and use it however suits your trip. You can travel the whole route end-to-end, or jump off at any stop and explore before catching the next bus. See our JOEY Routes here.
JOEY offers three pasckage options designed for different types of trips:
Our shortest package, built for travellers who want a fast-paced run down the coast. Covers the core route with a curated selection of accommodation and inclusions.
Learn more about our 8 day package.
More time, same great route. The 11 Day Adventure gives you the flexibility to spend an extra night or two at your favourite stops and really settle into each place rather than rushing through.
See our 11 day package for more.
All the adventure, with upgraded experiences and stays. Designed for travellers who want a little more comfort without losing the backpacker community vibe that makes the east coast what it is.
Book our 11 day premium package now.
All packages include accommodation, and a community of other travellers going the same way. See all of our JOEY packages here. It’s not just a bus. It’s a crew.
If you’re based in Brisbane for a few days before heading out on the coast, there are some great day trips worth building into your itinerary.
Located in Beerwah on the Sunshine Coast hinterland, Australia Zoo is about an hour north of Brisbane. It’s one of Australia’s most famous wildlife experiences and a solid day out if you haven’t been. JOEY runs an Australia Zoo day trip on Tuesdays from Noosa.
A short ferry ride from Brisbane, Moreton Island offers sand dunes, snorkelling, shipwrecks and some of the best beaches in South East Queensland. An easy day trip from the city and a good way to break up your time before hitting the road.
About an hour south of Brisbane in the Scenic Rim, Mount Tamborine is a popular hinterland escape with rainforest walks, wineries, galleries and views back towards the Gold Coast. A solid half day out before heading south.
Yes. JOEY’s hop-on hop-off pass covers the full route from Brisbane south through the Gold Coast and on to Byron Bay.
See our full route map here.
Yes. JOEY’s hop-on hop-off pass covers the full route from Brisbane north through Noosa and up to Rainbow Beach.
Get your JOEY pass now.
You purchase a JOEY pass that covers the full route. At each stop, you decide how long you want to stay. When you’re ready to move on, you jump back on the next JOEY bus. There’s no fixed schedule you have to stick to, and accommodation is built into the pass.
Learn more about how JOEY works.
JOEY passes include transport between all stops on the route. JOEY also offers packages that include accommodation and activites. Specific inclusions vary by package. Check the Packages page on joeytravel.com.au for a full breakdown of what’s included in each tier.
JOEY is built for independent travellers aged 18 to 35 who want to explore the east coast without the hassle of planning every leg themselves. If that sounds like you, JOEY is built for you.
Head to joeytravel.com.au to see current packages and pricing, or book a call with the team if you want to talk through which pass suits your trip.
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