The name of this place says it all, and travellers wanting to practice their surf skills should factor in a stop at Surfer's Paradise on their way up or down Australia's East Coast. It's a lively city, and different from most of the other stops around this part of the coast. It's much busier than other places listed, and the tourist atmosphere means the beaches here are more in line with the ones we see in Europe. It's a great place to visit if you miss the city vibes, as you have plenty of shops, restaurant and a busy nightlife right on your doorstep.

TF's top hotel pick: voco Gold Coast

One of the most hippy places in Australia, Byron Bay is all about chilling, sun and surf. No rush, no stress.

Aside from surfing, there are many things to do in the area, such as trekking around the rainforest, taking a relaxing stroll to the lighthouse, or visiting Nimbin, a real hippie town where everything is full of colours, little gardens and orchards. Local people sell homemade food, arts and crafts, and handmade goods. Byron Bay is a picturesque and unusual place where you can learn about the hippie culture in Australia; how they travelled the country and ended up settling in the area in the 1970’s. Art and music festivals are also popular in this town.

Byron Bay is definitely a must-see place to visit on the east coast of Australia!

TF's top hotel pick: Crystalbrook Byron

The liveliest city in Queensland and the third most populous in Australia, Brisbane is a cosmopolitan place surrounded by natural spots, and is a great place to visit on your East Coast Australia road trip.

Apart from lovely cafes, restaurants and bars, the city offers interesting places like the cultural area of South Bank where you can visit the Queensland Museum and Science Centre, with their interactive exhibitions, or the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art. After a busy day in the city, a relaxing stroll around the beautiful Botanic Gardens might be a good idea.

If you feel like being hugged, 20 minutes from Brisbane is the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, the largest koala sanctuary in the world. Here you can see and learn from these lovely creatures, and some of the other species who live with them.

30 minutes away from the city you will find D’Aguilar National Park with its various walking trails and even an outdoor barbeque area for you to have a relaxing picnic - a must-do on your Australia East Coast trip!

TF's top hotel pick: Crystalbrook Vincent

Noosa is a typical stop on Australia's East Coast before or after a busy few days in the city. The best thing to do here is to chill, and enjoy the sun and beach. After a relaxing day by the ocean, the pedestrian only area of Hastings Street offers you a variety of restaurants and shops to keep you entertained. 

Noosa is also a good stop if you're planning to go to Fraser Island, as it's the departure point for many tours.

Fraser Island (K'Gari) is the longest sand island in the world and features amazing landscapes, beaches, dunes and lakes, surrounded by nature. It's World Heritage listing means there are few hotels in order to preserve it's wild and natural essence. Visits to the island are often organised as part of a tour, with different options of length of stay. 

Once on the island, you can drive across kilometres of long beaches and down sweeping dunes, before reaching clear blue lakes where you can freshen up with fishes swimming around you. You will also admire the traces of the history reaching the Maheno Shipwreck, or walk through the rainforest where you will probably spot dingos, an Australian wild dog. Without a doubt, Fraser Island is a completely unforgettable experience and one of the best places to visit on the east coast of Australia.

Townsville is a small town on the east coast of Australia that's convenient for a stopover if you're planning to visit Magnetic Island. If you're interested in the Aboriginal history, then Townsville is the right place. Aboriginal people are the official owners of this area, and in the Cultural Centre you can learn about the Aboriginal culture and it's traditions. 

Magnetic Island is one of the main reasons for people to go to Townsville. Daily ferries depart from Townsville at various times, and it takes just 40 minutes to reach this lovely island, sometimes eclipsed by another more popular islands such as the Whitsundays.

Magnetic Island offers a relaxing and calming vibe. Go for a walk in the national park, or enjoy crystal waters in the numerous bays around the island, with some great spots for snorkelling. Some beaches are in the main areas, others can be reached after a walk, or by heading down some trails and steps. Some are hidden and the smallest ones sometimes even disappear when the tide rises. It sounds like an adventure to me!

Mission Beach is an east coast lost paradise on the way to Cairns, and if it's beaches and palm trees you're looking for, then this is your place. There are four different areas in Mission Beach to suit everybody’s needs, and most of the beaches are long and uncrowded. As wi-fi coverage can be patchy in some areas of the island, it's the ideal place to disconnect and relax.

Sky diving is a popular activity here; views are said to be stunning and the weather normally has the right conditions for you to fly down over the beautiful beaches.

Mission Beach also offers the option to visit the incredible Great Barrier Reef. Just 4km away you can find Dunk Island, one of the Family Islands in the Great Barrier Reef National Park. It can be a nice day trip to explore the area and even fish for your dinner. The island can be reached by water taxi or, if you're feeling adventurous, you can even hire a kayak and reach it yourself from Wongaling Beach.

Further up Australia's east coast in Northwest Queensland we find Cairns, a popular place for its access to the Great Barrier Reef, a must visit for the area. It is an absolute dream for sea life lovers. You can do daytrips or even spend a night on the reef. On a snorkelling trip you will find colourful corals and different marine species; you might even find Nemo! Scuba divers should take this opportunity and investigate further down the ocean to discover its gems.

Cairns doesn’t have a main beach, but it does have a swimming lagoon where you'll be able to sunbathe and go for a refreshing dip. If you miss the beach, you can visit Port Douglas which is a bit further up the coast for a day trip.

Up north from Cairns we get to the popular Cape Tribulation and its beaches, along with the Daintree Rainforest. There are different daytrips in which you can visit both and witness stunning sceneries and wild animals. Inside the Daintree Forest we get to Mossman Gorge where you can admire its waterfalls and bathe in some of the refreshing water holes.

TF's top hotel picks: Crystalbrook Riley, Crystalbrook Flynn, and Crystalbrook Bailey

Heading north from Cairns, you’ll reach the gorgeous tropical town of Port Douglas, one of Queensland’s most beloved holiday hotspots.

Enjoy a stroll along palm-lined Macrossan Street or relax on the golden sands of spectacular Four Mile Beach. It’s also a fantastic base to visit the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest.

TF’s top hotel pick: Peninsula Boutique Hotel