Which direction to travel the Australian East Coast based on climate and swimming spots?

Hi there,

My wife, our 3-year-old son, and I are planning a trip along Australia’s East Coast, leaving in early October and returning in mid-November. The plan is to do a 4-week road trip in a campervan, then settle down for about ten days.

The question I’m asking myself is: which way should we go? From Sydney to Cairns or the other way around? Despite all the documentation I’ve read, I’m still struggling to decide the best direction based on the climate at that time and swimming conditions.

Up north, the weather will be warmer, and the water too, unlike the south. However, in the north, there are swimming restrictions, especially because of jellyfish, whereas in the south, there seems to be less danger (apart from sharks, maybe). Are there many protected beaches in the north where we can swim safely? Also, I should consider that in the south, the Great Barrier Reef no longer protects the beaches, so I imagine there are fewer calm spots for swimming?

I’d love any tips or advice you can share, and thanks in advance!

A dad keen to make this trip a success

Hi Christophe,

I’d recommend going from north to south because it’ll be warmer up north, and you’ll be heading into summer in October-November. To maximize your chances, it makes sense to go that way to try and avoid the worst of the heat and rain as much as possible.

As for beaches, I’m less familiar with northern Queensland than the south, but around Cairns, between the crocodiles, jellyfish, and water that isn’t the clearest (it’s a bit murky around Cairns-Palm Cove, etc.), it’s not necessarily the best spot for swimming. For me, it’s more of a place to go on excursions to the Great Barrier Reef than to spend the day at the beach. That said, there are protected beaches with nets pretty much everywhere. For clearer water and sheltered bays, I’d suggest heading to the islands (Magnetic Island or the Whitsundays, for example).

Further south, it’s roughly around Bundaberg that there are no more jellyfish (and no crocodiles either). The best spots for swimming in peace, in my opinion, would be around Agnes Water and further down toward Noosa (before reaching Brisbane). Otherwise, a bit further south (I live near Byron Bay), you can also swim in November. The water’s still chilly, but on sunny days, it’s doable. Around Sydney, though, I’d say it’s still too cold (but that depends on your tolerance for cold water).

Hi Claire,

First of all, a big thank you for taking the time to reply and for your valuable tips.

Following your advice and some further research, it does seem more sensible to travel along the coast from Cairns to Sydney.

Once in Sydney, we’re planning to spend 2–3 days exploring the city. After that, we’d like to head somewhere between Sydney and Brisbane to relax for a week in beach mode (a seaside hotel with a pool). Which spots would you recommend? Since we won’t have a vehicle, what are our options for getting there? Taxi, bus, train, plane, or renting a car (we’d rather not, as we’ll be resting and won’t be doing much sightseeing)?

Thanks again for your help and time.

Best regards,

Hi and sorry for the delay—I was traveling to Fraser Island! :)

So, for a car-free stop between Sydney and Brisbane that’s super "chill" and beachy but still has restaurants and things to do, Byron Bay would be the spot, though it’s pretty spread out. Without a car, it might get a little frustrating. For example, if you’re staying in the center and want to go to Wategos—a nice beach—it’s a 35-minute walk. Doable, but with a 3-year-old, it won’t exactly be relaxing (unless they walk way better than my kids, haha). Still, it’s manageable since there are Ubers and bike rentals. There are also flights from Sydney to Ballina, and from there, it’s easy to find a transfer/taxi to Byron Bay. Another option I think is more compact is Noosa. Just make sure to book a place near the main street (Hastings Street), where there’s a proper shopping strip along the beach, the national park, and smaller beaches are closer. The downside? Accommodation there is pretty pricey. But there’s also an airport at the Sunshine Coast (MCY) nearby, with easy taxi options to get there. One last option would be Hamilton Island (Whitsundays), which is *really* set up for car-free travel. You can use golf carts, and everything is within walking distance. I think for pure relaxation, it’s the best choice, and there are direct flights from Sydney. That said, for all three options, I’d say 4-5 days without a car would be plenty.