100 Things To Do On Australia’s East Coast This Summer

We’ve unpacked 100 things to do across the east coast of Australia this summer! From Melbourne and Sydney, to Byron Bay, Brisbane and Cairns, add these must-do experiences to your Aussie bucket list.

EAST COAST AUSTRALIA SUMMER BUCKET LIST

Last updated: November 2022

NEW SOUTH WALES

Sydney & surrounds

1. Do a day trip to the Blue Mountains
2. Catch the ferry and do a hike at Royal National Park
3. Revel in the Mardi Gras Parade
4. Take a road trip from Sydney to Byron Bay
5. Take part in Wake Up’s Hostel Activities – complimentary for all guests
6. Have dinner at Spice Alley
7. Walk from Bondi Beach to Coogee (included in our hostel activities for guests)
8. See the Darling Harbour fireworks
9. Dance the night away at a themed night at Side Bar
10. Have drinks at Opera Bar
11. Stretch out with a rooftop yoga class, directly in front of Bondi Beach – free for guests at Wake Up! Bondi Beach 
12. Drink margaritas at Salty’s Bondi
13. Do the Spit to Manly walk
14. Fill your camera roll with photos of the Sydney Opera House
15. Swim at Bondi Icebergs 
16. Take a public ferry ride
17. Walk around Grounds of Alexandria
18. Check out the Glebe Markets (or join our free Glebe Markets walking tour to make new hostel friends while you’re at it!)
19. Watch a movie at Westpac’s OpenAir Cinema in front of the Opera House
20. Catch a show at the Sydney Festival (we have our eyes on Werk It)
21. Eat delicious Asian street food at the Chinatown Night Markets
22. Swim at all the beaches and ocean pools
23. Have fresh fish at the Sydney Fish Market
24. Immerse your senses at the incredible Van Gogh Alive gallery experience
25. Walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge (free)
26. Have a picnic at Centennial Park, Cremorne Reserve, on the beach… anywhere!
27. Go kayaking or stand up paddleboarding 
28. Walk around Royal Botanic Garden and soak up the sights from Mrs Macquarie’s Chair (you’ll go here on our free guided City Walk at Wake Up!)
29. Go on a guided snorkelling tour at Bondi

WHERE TO STAY:

• Wake Up! Sydney Central
• Wake Up! Bondi Beach

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Wake Up! Hostels (@wakeuphostels)

NSW South Coast

30. Learn to surf with the legends at Surf Camp Australia 
31. See kangaroos catching waves on the beach at Pebbly Beach
32. Soak up the beach and brilliantly-white sand at Hyams Beach in Jervis Bay
33. Drive along Sea Cliff Bridge on the Grand Pacific Drive

WHERE TO STAY:

• Surf Camp Australia

Central Coast

34. Go quad biking at the Worimi Conservation Lands in Port Stephens
35. Climb the Tomaree Head Summit walk for epic views
36. Hike the Coastal Walk at Bouddi National Park on a day trip
37. Drink wine in the Hunter Valley
38. Pub crawl in Newcastle

Byron Bay & Surrounds

39. Enjoy dinner and live music at Treehouse
40. Get your dancing shoes on at the Piano Bar at Great Northern Hotel
41. Mooch and meander around the shops in the town centre and Arts & Industrial Estate
42. Take up a surf lesson
43. Wake up early for a Sunrise Lighthouse Tour (included in your stay at Wake Up!)
44. Enjoy Happy Hour at Miss Margarita
45. Take a day trip to the hippy town of Nimbin
46. Flow to a free yoga class in Wake Up’s private yoga tent – one of our complimentary hostel activities
47. Feel the energy at one of the world’s biggest crystal sanctuaries, Crystal Castle
48. Take a dip underneath a waterfall at Killen Falls or Minyon Falls
49. Dance the night away at Rails and Woody’s
50. Bike ride around Byron Bay with Wake Up’s affordable bike hire
51. Have a sunset picnic on the beach
52. Take some day trips out to Mullumbimby and Brunswick Heads
53. Make friends and meet other travellers at Wake Up! Byron Bay’s complimentary Wine & Cheese Night

WHERE TO STAY:

• Wake Up! Byron Bay

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Wake Up! Hostels (@wakeuphostels)

Queensland

Gold Coast, Brisbane, Noosa

54. Paddleboard along Noosa River
55. Have dinner and drinks at The Mexican Joint
56. Hike through Noosa National Park
57. Browse through the open-air Eumundi Markets
58. Shop along and around Hastings Street
59. Kayak the Noosa Everglades
60. Spend time at Australia Zoo (made famous by the late Steve Irwin and his wife Terri)
61. Take a dolphin and snorkelling tour of Moreton Island
62. Hold a koala at Lone Pine Sanctuary
63. Canoe down the Brisbane River
64. Have drinks and go bar-hopping in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley
65. Swim at Streets Beach
66. Head to Cali Beach Pool Club for drinks and DJs
67. Grab drinks and a meal at Burleigh Pavillion
68. Visit Australia’s tallest Building, Sky Point
69. Have a fun day out at the Warner Bros Movie World theme park

WHERE TO STAY:

• Brisbane Quarters Hostel, Brisbane
• Bounce Backpackers, Noosa

North-East Queensland (including Cairns, Townsville, Magnetic Island, Whitsundays)

70. Great Barrier Reef Scuba Dive
71. Cape Tribulation
72. Drinks and food at Howling Jays
73. Night out at Salt House
74. Skydive at Mission Beach
75. Frolic under the sun at The Splash Bar at Ville Resort in Townsville
76. Drive the Waterfall Circuit to Milla Milla Falls, Zillie Falls and Ellinjaa Falls
77. Go bungee jumping in Cairns
78. Drive Barbie Cars or Topless Jeep Wranglers around Magnetic Island
79. Feed rock wallabies and spot koalas in the treetops at Magnetic Island
80. Sail and socialise with a True Blue Sailing experience in the Whitsundays
81. Take a helicopter scenic flight from Airlie Beach
82. Have drinks, a swim and unrestricted ocean views at Coral Sea Marina Resort’s pool and bar
83. Do a boat tour of the Whitsundays from Airlie Beach
84. Have a day of adrenaline and snorkelling with Ocean Rafting
85. Take a pic of the Rainbow Steps at Rainbow Beach
86. Explore Fraser Island on an overnight tour

WHERE TO STAY:

• Nomads, Magnetic Island
• Bounce Backpackers, Cairns
• Base/Nomads Hostel, Airlie Beach

Victoria

Melbourne & surrounds

87. Drive along the Great Ocean Road or do a day tour (extend by plugging Melbourne to Sydney road trip
88. Take a photo at the Brighton Beach Boxes
89. Drink and party at St Kilda’s beach bars
90. Play Boozy Bingo at Base Hostel
91. Catch a movie at the Moonlight Cinema in the Botanic Gardens
92. See the world’s largest little penguin colony at Phillip Island
93. Take in the view from Melbourne Skydeck
94. Meander through the city’s laneways, including the famous Hosier Lane
95. Grab a Ground Pass to the Australian Open
96. Get your Aussie music education at the Australian Music Vault museum
97. Grab drinks on a pop-up floating bar at Arbory Afloat
98. Hit the waves at URBNSRF – a city surf park
99. Experience the Summer Night Markets at the city’s most iconic market, Queen Victoria Market
100. Have fun at a summer festival, like St Kilda Festival, Falls Festival, Meredith Music Festival and Laneway Festival.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Wake Up! Hostels (@wakeuphostels)