JOEY Packages

Day 1 Brisbane to Byron Bay

Pack your bags and get ready to roll. Jump on the Joey Bus departing Brisbane at 12:45 for a three-hour drive down to Byron Bay. Make sure to show up at the bus stop at least 15 minutes in advance of your departure time.

Pull into Byron at 15:50 and check into WakeUp Byron Bay, your home for the next two nights. You’re in an 8-bed mixed dorm, so get friendly, because these guys might just be your travel crew for the week.

Spend the evening getting your bearings. Hit the main beach, scope out the famous lighthouse walk, or just grab a feed on Jonson Street. Byron has a way of making you feel at home pretty fast.

Day 2 Byron Bay

Rise and shine, today’s about making the most of one of Australia’s most iconic beach towns.

Kick off the morning with a surf lesson. Whether you’ve been on a board before or you’re a total beginner, Byron’s gentle beach breaks are the perfect place to find your feet. Your instructor will have you up and riding before you know it.

The rest of the day is yours. Explore the Byron Arts and Industry Estate for some local market vibes, head out to the Cape Byron Lighthouse for ridiculous views, or just plant yourself on the sand and watch the world go by. There’s no wrong way to spend a day in Byron.

Day 3 Byron Bay to Surfers Paradise

It’s an early one. Hop on the Joey Bus departing Byron Bay at 09:10 for the run up to Surfers Paradise.

Check into Bounce Surfers Paradise, the newest hostel on Australia’s East Coast. A rooftop pool bar looking over Budds Beach, a restaurant doing woodfired pizzas, a gym with an open air balcony and a cafe downstairs for slow mornings. There’s something on most days, from wellness sessions to DJs, and the beach is a short walk away.

Get out there and explore everything Surfers Paradise has to offer

Day 4 Surfers Paradise to Noosa

Jump on the bus from Surfers Paradise at 11:00am at 10 Pine Avenue and settle in for your trip to Noosa

Roll into Noosa at 15:20 and check into Bounce Noosa, your base for the next four nights. Get settled in, grab a coffee on Hastings Street, and take in your new surroundings. Noosa is one of those places that takes exactly zero time to fall in love with, national park on one side, perfect beach on the other.

Ease into your first evening however you like. The esplanade’s a great spot for a sunset walk, and Hastings Street has no shortage of places to eat and drink

Day 5 Noosa

The day’s yours to explore.

Noosa is seriously underrated as a destination, most people think beach, but there’s way more to it. Grab a surf board and paddle out at Main Beach, hike the Noosa National Park coastal trail for insane ocean views, or kayak through the Everglades in the Noosa Biosphere Reserve.

If you’re after something a little more low-key, Hastings Street has some of the best cafes and restaurants on the east coast. Pull up a chair, watch the locals, and enjoy not having anywhere to be.

Day 6 Noosa

Another day, another chance to make it your own.

If you haven’t done the coastal walk yet, today’s the day. The track through Noosa National Park to Hell’s Gates and back is one of the best short hikes on the east coast. You’ll have the chance to spot dolphins, kangaroos, and experience amazing ocean views the whole way. Hard to beat.

Alternatively, hop on a bus up to Eumundi Markets if it’s Wednesday or Saturday for fresh produce, local crafts, live music, the works. Or just spend the day on the beach. No judgement here.

Day 7 K’gari day trip

This is a big one. Departing from Noosa, spend the day exploring K’gari, the incredible World Heritage-listed sand island that sits just off the coast.

Think crystal-clear freshwater lakes perched high in the dunes, ancient rainforest growing straight out of sand, and wild dingoes roaming the beaches. Highlights include the famous Lake McKenzie, the coloured sand cliffs at The Cathedrals, and Eli Creek — the largest freshwater stream on the island’s east coast.

At the end of the day, the tour will finish in Noosa for one more night at Bounce Noosa where you’ve earned a good sleep.

Day 8 Noosa to Brisbane

Last morning. Grab a final coffee on Hastings Street, swap numbers with anyone you haven’t already, and load up for the final leg.

Hop on the Joey Bus departing Noosa at 09:55 and roll into Brisbane at 12:15, ending one hell of a week on the east coast.

Whether you’re flying out, heading to the Gold Coast, or extending the adventure somewhere else: you’ve done it! Eight days, four stops, one seriously good trip.

See you on the bus.

Day 1 – Brisbane to Byron Bay

Pack your bags and get ready to roll. Jump on the Joey Bus departing Brisbane at 12:45 for the run down to Byron Bay, arriving at 15:50.

Check into WakeUp Byron Bay, your home for the next three nights. Get settled in, find your dorm crew, and ease into that unmistakable Byron vibe.

Hit the main beach to watch the sun go down, scope out Jonson Street for dinner, or just sit back and let Byron do its thing. It works fast.

Day 2 – Byron Bay

Rise and shine, it’s time to hit the water. Today you’ve got a surf lesson lined up, and Byron’s gentle beach breaks are about as good as it gets for getting up on a board.

Whether you’re a complete beginner or you’ve had a go before, your instructor will have you catching waves before the session’s out. Wipe-outs included, no extra charge.

The rest of the day is yours. Hike up to the Cape Byron Lighthouse for the best views on the coast, browse the markets, find a cafe on the hinterland strip, or just park yourself on the beach and watch the world drift by.

Day 3 – Byron Bay

A bonus day in one of Australia’s most loved beach towns. No agenda, no rush.

If you haven’t done the Cape Byron Lighthouse walk yet, today’s your chance. It’s a 3.7km loop with ocean views the whole way, and dolphins are basically guaranteed if you time it right. The lighthouse marks the most easterly point on the Australian mainland, which is a solid fact to drop later.

Or just spend the day at the beach. Hire a board, wander the Arts and Industry Estate, find a hammock somewhere in the hinterland. Byron rewards people who slow down.

Day 4 – Byron Bay to Noosa

Early start today. Board the Joey Bus at Byron Bay at 09:10 for the run up to Noosa, arriving at 15:20.

Check into Bounce Noosa, your base for the next three nights. Unpack, and head into town to take your first walk down Hastings Street. It’s the kind of place that takes about ten minutes to fall in love with.

Noosa has a national park on one doorstep and a perfect beach on the other. Spend your first evening exploring, grab dinner somewhere on the main strip, and get ready for a big few days ahead.

Day 5 – Noosa

This afternoon you’re joining the Joey crew for a trip to Buderim Falls, one of the Sunshine Coast’s best-kept secrets.

Pick-up from Bounce Hostel at 12:10pm (also picking up from Noosa Heads Bus Station at 12:30pm). By early afternoon you’ll be at the falls, swimming in natural rock pools, relaxing under the waterfall, and taking in the lush rainforest surrounds. It’s exactly the kind of afternoon this trip was built around.

On the way back, you’ll stop at the iconic Peregian Beach Hotel where a complimentary drink is included. Stick around for some optional food and more drinks before the bus heads back to Noosa, with drop-offs wrapping up around 5:30pm.

A proper afternoon out.

Day 6 – Noosa

Your day to do exactly what you want with.

The coastal walk through Noosa National Park to Hell’s Gates and back is one of the best short hikes on the east coast. Views, dolphins, kangaroos, the whole package. Give yourself a couple of hours and take it slow.

If markets are your thing, check whether it’s an Eumundi day. The Wednesday and Saturday markets are some of the best in Queensland. Or grab a kayak and paddle out through the Noosa Everglades. Hard to beat.

Day 7 – Noosa to Rainbow Beach

Today you make the move to Rainbow Beach, your gateway to K’gari. Board the Joey Bus at Noosa at 15:20 and roll into Rainbow Beach at 16:50.

Check into Freedom Rainbow Beach and take a walk up to Carlo Sand Blow. The coloured sand cliffs here are unlike anything else on the coast, and the views out over the ocean at sunset make the short walk worth it every time.

Get a good feed, pack your bag light for the island, and get an early night. Your three-day K’gari adventure starts tomorrow.

Day 8 – K’gari, day one

Welcome to K’gari. The world’s largest sand island, entirely World Heritage listed, and genuinely like nowhere else on earth.

You’ll be joining a tag-along camping tour for the next three days, exploring the island with a group and a guide who knows every corner of it. Today you’ll get out onto the island and start ticking off the highlights. Leave your bags in hostel luggage storage and get ready to hit the road.

The Maheno Shipwreck is one of the island’s most recognisable landmarks. A Scottish ocean liner that was being towed to Japan for scrap metal in 1935 when a cyclone drove it onto the beach. It’s been rusting in the sand ever since, and it’s a seriously impressive sight up close.

You’ll also visit the Champagne Pools, natural rock pools right on the ocean’s edge where waves crash in and fizz like, well, champagne. They’re the only safe place to swim in the ocean on K’gari, and they’re spectacular.

Tonight you’re sleeping in a tent under the stars on the island. Look up.

Day 9 – K’gari, day two

Another full day on the island, and today the freshwater highlights are on the agenda.

Lake McKenzie is the one everyone talks about, and for good reason. A perched freshwater lake sitting high in the dunes, ringed by white silica sand and surrounded by bush. The water is crystal clear and soft on the skin because of the almost zero mineral content. No fish, no seaweed, just you and one of the most beautiful swimming spots in the country.

Eli Creek is worth every minute too. Float downstream through the largest freshwater creek on the east coast of the island and let the current carry you. It sounds simple, but it’s genuinely one of those experiences that sticks with you.

The order of stops may shift depending on the tour, but every highlight gets covered. Another night under the island sky.

Day 10 – K’gari to Noosa

Last morning on the island. Take a final wander, soak it in, and say goodbye to K’gari properly. Three days goes fast out here.

The tour wraps up back at Rainbow Beach, where you’ll board the Joey Bus at 17:00 for the run back to Noosa, arriving at 18:45.

One last night at Bounce Noosa. Grab dinner, swap stories from the island with whoever’s around, and start thinking about how you’re going to explain K’gari to people who haven’t been.

Day 11 – Noosa to Brisbane

Last morning. Grab a final coffee on Hastings Street, swap numbers with the people you haven’t already, and load up for the run home.

Board the Joey Bus at Noosa at 09:55 and arrive back into Brisbane at 12:15. Eleven days, five stops, one seriously good lap of the east coast.

Whether you’re flying out, heading somewhere new, or already planning the next trip, you’ve done it right. See you on the bus.

Day 1 – Brisbane to Byron Bay

Pack your bags and get ready to roll. Jump on the Joey Bus departing Brisbane at 12:45 for the run down to Byron Bay, arriving at 15:50.

Check into WakeUp Byron Bay, your home for the next three nights. Get settled in, find your dorm crew, and ease into that unmistakable Byron vibe.

Hit the main beach to watch the sun go down, scope out Jonson Street for dinner, or just sit back and let Byron do its thing. It works fast.

Day 2 – Byron Bay

Rise and shine, it’s time to hit the water. Today you’ve got a surf lesson lined up, and Byron’s gentle beach breaks are about as good as it gets for learning to surf.

Whether you’re a complete beginner or you’ve had a go before, your instructor will have you catching waves before the session’s out. Wipe-outs included, no extra charge.

The rest of the day is yours. Hike up to the Cape Byron Lighthouse for the best views on the coast, browse the markets, find a cafe on the hinterland strip, or just park yourself on the beach and watch the world drift by.

Day 3 – Byron Bay

A bonus day in one of Australia’s most loved beach towns. No agenda, no rush.

If you haven’t done the Cape Byron Lighthouse walk yet, today’s your chance. It’s a 3.7km loop with ocean views the whole way, and dolphins are basically guaranteed if you time it right. The lighthouse marks the most easterly point on the Australian mainland, which is a solid fact to drop later.

Or just spend the day at the beach. Hire a board, wander the Arts and Industry Estate, find a hammock somewhere in the hinterland. Byron rewards people who slow down.

Day 4 – Byron Bay to Noosa

Early start today. Board the Joey Bus at Byron Bay at 09:10 for the run up to Noosa, arriving at 15:20.

Check into Bounce Noosa, one of the best hostels on Australia’s East Coast and your base for most of this trip. Get unpacked and take your first walk down Hastings Street. It’s the kind of place that takes about ten minutes to fall in love with.

Noosa has a national park on one doorstep and a perfect beach on the other. Spend your first evening exploring, grab dinner somewhere on the main strip, and get ready for what’s ahead.

Day 5 – Noosa

Your first full day in Noosa and it’s yours to do with as you please.

The coastal walk through Noosa National Park to Hell’s Gates and back is one of the best short hikes on the east coast. Views, dolphins, kangaroos, the whole package. Give yourself a couple of hours and take it slow.

If markets are your thing, check whether it’s an Eumundi day. The Wednesday and Saturday markets are some of the best in Queensland. Or grab a kayak and head out through the Noosa Everglades into the Biosphere Reserve. Whatever you pick, Noosa delivers.

Day 6 – Noosa

This afternoon you’re joining the Joey crew for a trip to Buderim Falls, one of the Sunshine Coast’s best-kept secrets.

Pick-up from Bounce Hostel at 12:10pm (also picking up from Noosa Heads Bus Station at 12:30pm). By early afternoon you’ll be at the falls, swimming in natural rock pools, relaxing under the waterfall, and taking in the lush rainforest surrounds. It’s exactly the kind of afternoon this trip was built around.

On the way back, you’ll stop at the iconic Peregian Beach Hotel where a complimentary drink is included. Stick around for some optional food and more drinks before the bus heads back to Noosa, with drop-offs wrapping up around 5:30pm.

A proper afternoon out.

Day 7 – Noosa

One more free day in Noosa before the big island adventure begins tomorrow. Make the most of it.

If you’ve been saving the beach for today, Main Beach is right there. The surf at Tea Tree Bay in the national park is a favourite with locals and worth the walk if you’ve got a board. Or head out to Noosa Heads and spend the afternoon hopping between the cafes and bars on Hastings Street.

Tonight, pack your bag for the island and get a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow is a big one.

Day 8 – K’gari, day one

Today you leave Bounce Noosa and head to K’gari, the world’s largest sand island and one of the most extraordinary places on earth. Your guide from Drop Bears will take care of everything from here.

This is a different kind of island experience. Drop Bears put Aboriginal culture front and centre, and today you’ll get your first taste of that. Try your hand at boomerang throwing, take in a didgeridoo demonstration, and start learning about the deep connection between the Butchulla people and this island. It brings K’gari to life in a way that most visitors never get to experience.

And unlike most island tours, you won’t be sleeping in a tent tonight. Your accommodation is a proper beach house on the island. Get settled in, enjoy the surroundings, and look up at those stars. K’gari has a way of putting everything else on hold.

Day 9 – K’gari, day two

A full day on the island to take in the natural highlights.

Lake McKenzie is the one everyone talks about, and it earns the reputation. A perched freshwater lake sitting high in the dunes, ringed by white silica sand. The water is crystal clear and incredibly soft because of the near-zero mineral content. There’s nothing quite like it.

Eli Creek is worth every minute too. Float downstream through the largest freshwater creek on the east coast of the island and let the current carry you along. Simple, but genuinely one of those experiences that sticks.

You’ll also take in the Maheno Shipwreck, a Scottish ocean liner that’s been rusting in the sand since a cyclone drove it ashore in 1935, and the Champagne Pools, natural ocean rock pools where waves crash in and fizz up around you. The order of stops may shift on the day, but all the highlights are covered.

Another night in the beach house. Another proper sleep on the island.

Day 10 – K’gari to Noosa

Last morning on the island. Take a final wander, soak it all in, and say goodbye to K’gari properly. Three days goes fast out here.

Drop Bears will drive you back down to Bounce Noosa, where you’ll have your last night of the trip. Grab a shower, get changed, and treat yourself to a decent dinner on Hastings Street.

Swap stories with whoever you’ve been travelling with. You’ve earned it.

Day 11 – Noosa to Brisbane

Last morning. Grab a final coffee on Hastings Street, swap numbers with anyone you haven’t already, and load up for the run home.

Board the Joey Bus at Noosa at 09:55 and arrive back into Brisbane at 12:15. Eleven days, four stops, one seriously good premium lap of the east coast.

Whether you’re flying out, heading somewhere new, or already planning the next trip, you’ve done it right. See you on the bus.

Day 1 – Sydney to Brisbane

Take your flight from Sydney to Brisbane. Spend one night in Roamer Brisbane and explore the city. Tomorrow you’ll be embarking on your JOEY trip down to Byron Bay.

Day 2 – Brisbane to Byron Bay

Pack your bags and get ready to roll. Jump on the Joey Bus departing Brisbane at 12:45 for the run down to Byron Bay, arriving at 15:50.

Check into WakeUp Byron Bay, your home for the next three nights. Get settled in, find your dorm crew, and ease into that unmistakable Byron vibe.

Hit the main beach to watch the sun go down, scope out Jonson Street for dinner, or just sit back and let Byron do its thing. It works fast.

Day 3 – Byron Bay

Rise and shine, it’s time to hit the water. Today you’ve got a surf lesson lined up, and Byron’s gentle beach breaks are about as good as it gets for learning to surf.

Whether you’re a complete beginner or you’ve had a go before, your instructor will have you catching waves before the session’s out. Wipe-outs included, no extra charge.

The rest of the day is yours. Hike up to the Cape Byron Lighthouse for the best views on the coast, browse the markets, find a cafe on the hinterland strip, or just park yourself on the beach and watch the world drift by.

Day 4 – Byron Bay

A bonus day in one of Australia’s most loved beach towns. No agenda, no rush.

If you haven’t done the Cape Byron Lighthouse walk yet, today’s your chance. It’s a 3.7km loop with ocean views the whole way, and dolphins are basically guaranteed if you time it right. The lighthouse marks the most easterly point on the Australian mainland, which is a solid fact to drop later.

Or just spend the day at the beach. Hire a board, wander the Arts and Industry Estate, find a hammock somewhere in the hinterland. Byron rewards people who slow down.

Day 5 – Byron Bay to Noosa

Early start today. Board the Joey Bus at Byron Bay at 09:10 for the run up to Noosa, arriving at 15:20.

Check into Bounce Noosa, one of the best hostels on Australia’s East Coast and your base for most of this trip. Get unpacked and take your first walk down Hastings Street. It’s the kind of place that takes about ten minutes to fall in love with.

Noosa has a national park on one doorstep and a perfect beach on the other. Spend your first evening exploring, grab dinner somewhere on the main strip, and get ready for what’s ahead.

Day 6 – Noosa

Your first full day in Noosa and it’s yours to do with as you please.

The coastal walk through Noosa National Park to Hell’s Gates and back is one of the best short hikes on the east coast. Views, dolphins, kangaroos, the whole package. Give yourself a couple of hours and take it slow.

If markets are your thing, check whether it’s an Eumundi day. The Wednesday and Saturday markets are some of the best in Queensland. Or grab a kayak and head out through the Noosa Everglades into the Biosphere Reserve. Whatever you pick, Noosa delivers.

Day 7 – Noosa

This afternoon you’re joining the Joey crew for a trip to Buderim Falls, one of the Sunshine Coast’s best-kept secrets.

Pick-up from Bounce Hostel at 12:10pm (also picking up from Noosa Heads Bus Station at 12:30pm). By early afternoon you’ll be at the falls, swimming in natural rock pools, relaxing under the waterfall, and taking in the lush rainforest surrounds. It’s exactly the kind of afternoon this trip was built around.

On the way back, you’ll stop at the iconic Peregian Beach Hotel where a complimentary drink is included. Stick around for some optional food and more drinks before the bus heads back to Noosa, with drop-offs wrapping up around 5:30pm.

A proper afternoon out.

Day 8 – Noosa

One more free day in Noosa before the big island adventure begins tomorrow. Make the most of it.

If you’ve been saving the beach for today, Main Beach is right there. The surf at Tea Tree Bay in the national park is a favourite with locals and worth the walk if you’ve got a board. Or head out to Noosa Heads and spend the afternoon hopping between the cafes and bars on Hastings Street.

Tonight, pack your bag for the island and get a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow is a big one.

Day 9 – K’gari, day one

Today you leave Bounce Noosa and head to K’gari, the world’s largest sand island and one of the most extraordinary places on earth. Your guide from Drop Bears will take care of everything from here.

This is a different kind of island experience. Drop Bears put Aboriginal culture front and centre, and today you’ll get your first taste of that. Try your hand at boomerang throwing, take in a didgeridoo demonstration, and start learning about the deep connection between the Butchulla people and this island. It brings K’gari to life in a way that most visitors never get to experience.

And unlike most island tours, you won’t be sleeping in a tent tonight. Your accommodation is a proper beach house on the island. Get settled in, enjoy the surroundings, and look up at those stars. K’gari has a way of putting everything else on hold.

Day 10 – K’gari, day two

A full day on the island to take in the natural highlights.

Lake McKenzie is the one everyone talks about, and it earns the reputation. A perched freshwater lake sitting high in the dunes, ringed by white silica sand. The water is crystal clear and incredibly soft because of the near-zero mineral content. There’s nothing quite like it.

Eli Creek is worth every minute too. Float downstream through the largest freshwater creek on the east coast of the island and let the current carry you along. Simple, but genuinely one of those experiences that sticks.

You’ll also take in the Maheno Shipwreck, a Scottish ocean liner that’s been rusting in the sand since a cyclone drove it ashore in 1935, and the Champagne Pools, natural ocean rock pools where waves crash in and fizz up around you. The order of stops may shift on the day, but all the highlights are covered.

Another night in the beach house. Another proper sleep on the island.

Day 11 – K’gari to Noosa

Last morning on the island. Take a final wander, soak it all in, and say goodbye to K’gari properly. Three days goes fast out here.

Drop Bears will drive you back down to Bounce Noosa, where you’ll have your last night of the trip. Grab a shower, get changed, and treat yourself to a decent dinner on Hastings Street.

Swap stories with whoever you’ve been travelling with. You’ve earned it.

Day 12 – Noosa to Brisbane

Last morning. Grab a final coffee on Hastings Street, swap numbers with anyone you haven’t already, and load up for the run home.

Board the Joey Bus at Noosa at 09:55 and arrive back into Brisbane at 12:15. Eleven days, four stops, one seriously good premium lap of the east coast.

Whether you’re flying out, heading somewhere new, or already planning the next trip, you’ve done it right. See you on the bus.