JOEY Travel is Australia’s east coast hop-on hop-off backpacker bus pass, built for 18 to 35 year olds who want the freedom to explore at their own pace without the hassle of planning every detail from scratch. Forget rigid tour groups and expensive hire cars. JOEY connects the best stops along the east coast, including Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Byron Bay, Noosa, Rainbow Beach, and K’gari (Fraser Island), on a flexible schedule that works around you.
Whether you’ve got a week or a month, JOEY lets you move between destinations whenever you’re ready. Sleep in, stay an extra night, soak up a sunset longer than planned. The bus will be there when you are.
Getting started is simple. Head to joeytravel.com.au and pick the East Coast bus pass that suits your trip. JOEY offers a range of route passes, from a single trip to multi-stop options, so you only pay for what you need.
Route pass options include:
1-Trip Pass for a single leg of the journey
3-Trip Pass for travellers covering a few key stops
6-Trip Pass for those doing a longer stretch of the coast
Not sure which East Coast bus pass to go for? A good rule of thumb: think about how many different destinations you want to reach, and pick the pass that covers those legs. You can always hop on and off along the way, so there’s no pressure to rush through. Need more trip legs in the future? Just book them through the app.
Once your pass is purchased, it’s ready to use whenever you’re good to go.
With your pass sorted, it’s time to pick your trips. Log in to your JOEY account and book the specific legs you want to travel. Each booking locks in your seat on that route, so you’re guaranteed a spot.
Here’s a full breakdown of the routes JOEY runs:
Brisbane to Gold Coast
Start your east coast adventure heading south from Brisbane to the Gold Coast. Theme parks, beaches, and a buzzing nightlife scene are waiting.
Gold Coast to Brisbane bus route
Running the route in reverse? No worries. Hop on in the Gold Coast and ride back up to Brisbane.
Brisbane to Noosa bus route Head north from Brisbane up to Noosa, one of the most beautiful coastal towns on the east coast. Think great surf, national park walks, and Hastings Street cafe culture.
Noosa to Brisbane bus route
Coming back down from Noosa? Jump on board and we’ll get you back to Brisbane with ease.
Noosa to Rainbow Beach bus route
From Noosa, continue north toward Rainbow Beach, your gateway to K’gari (Fraser Island). This leg connects two of Queensland’s most underrated coastal gems.
Rainbow Beach to Noosa bus route Heading back from Rainbow Beach after your island adventure? This leg brings you back down to Noosa.
Byron Bay to Noosa bus route Jump on in Byron Bay and ride all the way up to Noosa in one go, perfect if you’re heading straight for Noosa and don’t want to spend hours in Brisbane waiting for a connecting bus.
You can mix and match these legs across your East Coast bus pass to build whatever route makes sense for your trip.
On the day of your trip, head to your pickup point at the scheduled time. When JOEY rolls up, open your app or booking confirmation, scan your QR code, and you’re on. No paper tickets to lose, no long check-in queues, no stress.
Your driver will confirm your stop and you’ll be on your way. JOEY picks up from key hostels and central locations along each route, so you won’t be trekking across town with your backpack just to catch the bus.
From there, sit back, meet your fellow travellers, and watch the east coast scenery roll past. The rest is entirely up to you.
That’s really all there is to it: buy your pass , book your legs , scan and go. JOEY is designed to be as easy as possible so you can spend less time planning and more time actually enjoying the coast.
Before you go, worth knowing: JOEY also offers a range of day trips if you’re looking to squeeze more into your time on the road. The Australia Zoo Day Trip from Brisbane is a popular one (yes, that Australia Zoo), and the Buderim Waterfall Trip is a great add-on from Noosa.
Plus, if you want the full package with accommodation included, check out the JOEY 8-day, 11-day, and 11-day Premium bundled packages. Everything sorted in one booking.
Ready to get moving? Grab your East Coast bus pass at joeytravel.com.au and we’ll see you on the bus.
JOEY Travel operates hop-on hop-off backpacker bus services along Australia’s east coast, connecting Brisbane, Gold Coast, Byron Bay, Noosa, Rainbow Beach, and K’gari (Fraser Island). Passes available online at joeytravel.com.au.
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