Best Party Hostels
5 February 2026 · 8 min read
The complete guide to Australia's most popular backpacker route. Sydney, Byron Bay, the Whitsundays, and the Great Barrier Reef in 3-6 weeks.
The Route at a Glance
The East Coast trail runs 2,500 kilometres from Sydney to Cairns along Australia's Pacific coast. It is the country's most travelled backpacker route, connecting cities, surf towns, rainforest, and the Great Barrier Reef into a single north-bound journey. Most travellers take 3-6 weeks, though some stretch it to 3 months with side trips.
The main stops, south to north: Sydney (3-5 nights), Blue Mountains (1-2 nights), Byron Bay (3-5 nights), Gold Coast / Surfers Paradise (2-3 nights), Brisbane (1-2 nights), Noosa (2-3 nights), Fraser Island (2-3 nights), Airlie Beach / Whitsundays (3-4 nights), Magnetic Island (2-3 nights), Cairns (3-5 nights).
Transport options: Greyhound bus passes ($300-500 for the full route, hop-on-hop-off), Premier Motor Service (cheaper individual tickets), or a campervan rental ($40-60/day including fuel). Many travellers buy a cheap car in Sydney and sell it in Cairns, splitting costs with other backpackers they meet along the way.
Sydney and the Blue Mountains
Most East Coast trips start in Sydney. Wake Up! Sydney (Central Station, 500+ beds) and YHA Sydney Harbour (The Rocks, harbour views) are the two main party hostels. Both run nightly social events and can help with bus pass bookings. Base yourself in the CBD or Surry Hills for walkable nightlife.
Three days in Sydney covers the essentials: Bondi to Coogee coastal walk (free, 6km, stunning), Opera House and Harbour Bridge (climb the bridge for $300 or walk across for free), The Rocks neighbourhood (pubs, markets, street food), and one big night out in Kings Cross or Darlinghurst. Day trip to the Blue Mountains: train from Central Station (2 hours, $8 with Opal card), Three Sisters lookout, Scenic Railway, and bushwalking trails.
Sydney is the most expensive stop on the trail. Budget $45-60/day (dorm $25-35, food $10-15, transport $5-10). Pregame at the hostel bar before heading out. Drinks in Sydney bars cost $10-14 for a pint.
Byron Bay to the Gold Coast
Byron Bay is the trail's spiritual centre. A small town with a massive backpacker presence, centred on the main beach and the lighthouse walk. Arts Factory Lodge (the original Byron backpackers, tepees and hammocks) and Nomads Byron Bay (party hostel with pool and bar) are the two main options. Dorm beds: $25-35/night.
Byron's nightlife concentrates on three venues: The Northern (live bands, beachfront beer garden), Cheeky Monkeys (the infamous traveller bar with wild nights), and Treehouse (cocktails on the rooftop). The vibe is barefoot and relaxed. Surf lessons at The Pass beach cost $35-45 for a 2-hour group lesson.
The Gold Coast (2 hours south of Byron) adds a different energy. Surfers Paradise is a strip of high-rise hostels, nightclubs, and theme parks. It feels like Spring Break meets Miami. Bunk Surfers Paradise and Budds Beach hostels are the main party spots. Two nights is enough to experience the club scene (Sin City, Elsewhere, Vanity) before moving on.
Fraser Island and the Whitsundays
Fraser Island (K'gari) is the world's largest sand island, accessible by 4WD tour from Hervey Bay or Rainbow Beach. Most backpackers do a 3-day/2-night tag-along tour ($350-450, camping on the beach, 4WD convoy through the sand). Highlights: Lake McKenzie (impossibly blue freshwater lake), 75 Mile Beach (also the island's highway), and the Maheno shipwreck.
The Whitsundays are the trail's centrepiece. Airlie Beach is the gateway town, packed with hostels and tour operators. The classic experience: an overnight sailing trip to Whitehaven Beach and the Great Barrier Reef ($350-550 for 2 days/1 night on a yacht). Budget option: day trip to Whitehaven Beach by speedboat ($150-180).
Airlie Beach itself has a free lagoon pool on the waterfront, a cluster of bars along the main strip, and Magnums (the legendary backpacker bar/hostel that has been running foam parties since the 1990s). Two nights in Airlie plus a sailing trip is the standard allocation.
Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef
Cairns is the trail's northern terminus. Tropical, humid, and set up for backpackers with a lagoon pool, night markets, and a bar scene on Shields Street. Gilligans Backpackers (the biggest party hostel in Cairns, 500+ beds, pool parties daily) is the default choice. Global Backpackers and Travellers Oasis offer quieter alternatives.
The Great Barrier Reef is the main draw. Day trips from Cairns to the outer reef cost $180-250 including snorkelling gear and lunch. Add $80-100 for an introductory scuba dive (no experience needed). Book through your hostel for discounted group rates.
Other Cairns activities: Daintree Rainforest day trip ($120-160, croc-spotting, Cape Tribulation beach), Fitzroy Island ferry ($40 return, great snorkelling from the beach), and the Cairns Esplanade boardwalk (free, spot crocodile warning signs). Budget $40-55/day in Cairns (dorm $22-30, food $10-15, one activity per day).
