Australia East Coast vs. West Coast — Which route?

East coast or west coast — The great Australian question

If you're planning a trip to Australia, sooner or later the question arises: East Coast or West Coast? I've done both — three weeks on the East Coast from Sydney to Cairns and two weeks on the West Coast from Perth to Broome — and the answer is less clear-cut than most people think.

In short: The east coast is easier, more sociable, and has the Great Barrier Reef. The west coast is wilder, more isolated, and has landscapes that took my breath away. Both are spectacular—but completely different.

Australia East Coast — The All-Inclusive Package

Route: Sydney → Cairns (approx. 2,500 km)

The classic East Coast route is Australia's backpacker highway. Well-developed, with hostels and tour buses everywhere, and the highlights are strung together like pearls on a necklace:

• Sydney: Harbour Bridge, Bondi Beach, Opera House — 2-3 days minimum
• Byron Bay: Surfer vibe, hippie markets, the easternmost point of Australia. You'll practically run into every other backpacker here.
• Gold Coast: Skyscrapers, surf beaches, parties. Not my thing, but okay for 1-2 days.
• Fraser Island: The world's largest sand island. Only accessible by four-wheel drive, wild dingoes, turquoise freshwater lakes in the middle of the sand — one of my Australian highlights.
• Whitsunday Islands: Whitehaven Beach has the whitest sand I've ever seen. Book a 2-3 day sailing trip – it's well worth it.
• Great Barrier Reef: The world's largest coral reef. Snorkelling or diving from Cairns or Airlie Beach. Diving is better — the best spots are deeper than snorkeling depth.
• Cairns: Gateway to the Reef and the Daintree Rainforest, the oldest rainforest in the world (over 100 million years old).

Advantages of the East Coast

• Simple infrastructure — buses, trains, accommodation everywhere
• The Great Barrier Reef is unique in the world.
• Social: You meet other travelers everywhere
• More nightlife and cities
• Cheaper (more competition = lower prices)

Disadvantages of the East Coast

• Touristy — especially between Byron Bay and Cairns
• Less of a "real" Australian feel
• Some spots (Byron Bay, Whitsundays) are overrun with Instagram.

Australia's West Coast — The Wild Side

Route: Perth → Broome (approx. 2,400 km)

The west coast is the Australia I had imagined before I went there: endless expanses, red earth, hardly any people, and landscapes that look like they're from another planet. The route:

• Perth: One of the most isolated major cities in the world. Rottnest Island with its quokkas (the friendliest animals in the world) is a must-see.
• Pinnacles Desert: Thousands of limestone pillars in a desert landscape — surreal, especially at sunrise. Perfect for drone footage with the DJI Mini 5 Pro.
• Shark Bay: Monkey Mia, where wild dolphins swim to the beach every morning. Plus: Stromatolites — the oldest life forms on Earth (3.5 billion years old).
• Ningaloo Reef: Australia's other reef — but you can snorkel right from the beach (no boat needed). Between March and July, you can swim with whale sharks. Honestly, I found it more impressive than the Great Barrier Reef.
• Karijini National Park: Narrow gorges with red rock and emerald-green natural pools. Hiking through the gorges was one of the most intense nature experiences of my life.
• Broome: Cable Beach at sunset, camels on the beach, the red rock meets the turquoise sea. A perfect ending.

Advantages of the West Coast

• Significantly fewer tourists — you're often alone.
• Wilder, more dramatic landscapes
• Ningaloo Reef directly from the beach (instead of a boat)
• Better drone spots (fewer restrictions, more epic landscapes)
• „"Authentic" Australian feeling

Disadvantages of the West Coast

• Rental car is mandatory — no bus system
• Long distances between the highlights (sometimes 500+ km of desert)
• More expensive (less competition, more expensive gasoline)
• Less backpacker infrastructure
• Loneliness — those seeking social interaction are in the wrong place.

Direct comparison — East Coast vs. West Coast

criterion	East Coast	West Coast
Landscape	Beaches, rainforest, reef	Desert, canyons, red earth
Travel type	Backpacker, group tour	Road trip, individual trip
Budget (3 weeks)	2.500-4.000 €	3.500-6.000 €
transport	Bus/train possible	Rental car mandatory
Diving/Snorkeling	Great Barrier Reef (boat)	Ningaloo Reef (from the beach)
Drone spots	Good (but with more limitations)	Outstanding (fewer prohibitions)
Social/Nightlife	★★★★★	★★☆☆☆
Solitude/Wilderness	★★☆☆☆	★★★★★
Wildlife	Koalas, crocodiles, whales	Whale sharks, quokkas, dolphins
Photo potential	★★★★☆	★★★★★

Cost comparison for 3 weeks

Position	East Coast	West Coast
Flight DE → AUS (Outbound/Return)	800-1.200 €	800-1.200 €
Transport (3 weeks)	€400-800 (bus/rental car)	€800-1,400 (rental car + petrol)
Accommodation per night	€25-60 (Hostel/AirBnB)	40-100 € (Camping/Motel)
Food per day	25-50 €	30-60 €
Total activities	300-600 € (Reef trip, Fraser Island)	200-500 € (whale shark tour, parks)
In total	2.500-4.000 €	3.500-6.000 €

My recommendation — Who should go where?

East Coast, if you…

• This is your first time in Australia
• The Great Barrier Reef is on your bucket list.
• want to meet other travelers
• You have a small budget
• You don't want to drive a rental car

West Coast, if you…

• Have you ever been to Australia?
• You seek solitude and wilderness
• If you want to take photos or videos (better spots, fewer restrictions)
• Are you a road trip fan?
• If you want to experience the "real" Australia

Combine both?

If you have 5-6 weeks: Do both. Fly to Sydney, work your way up to Cairns, then take a domestic flight to Perth and down to Broome (or vice versa). Domestic flights with Jetstar or Virgin start at around €80-150. This way you get the full Australian experience.

FAQ — Australia East Coast vs. West Coast

How much time should I allow for each coast?

East Coast: At least 3 weeks (Sydney → Cairns). West Coast: At least 2 weeks (Perth → Broome). Less is possible, but then you'll miss too much and the travel days will eat up your time exploring.

Do I need a visa for Australia?

Yes. As a German citizen, you apply for the eVisitor visa (subclass 651) — free of charge, completely online, processing takes 1-2 days. Valid for up to 3 months. For longer stays, you need a different visa.

Is the West Coast dangerous (wilderness, no help)?

Common sense tells you not to. But: Always take enough water and fuel (recommendation: 10 liters of water per person as a reserve), don't blindly trust the GPS (Google Maps sometimes sends you onto unpaved roads), and never go hiking alone in canyons.

When is the best time to travel?

East Coast: September-November or March-May (shoulder season — fewer tourists, good weather). Avoid the tropical north (Cairns) in summer (Dec-Feb) — monsoon season.
West Coast: April-October (dry season). Never visit the north (Broome, Karijini) in summer — temperatures above 45°C and roads closed.

Which coast has the better drone spots?

Definitely the West Coast. Fewer national park restrictions, fewer people (no one complains), and the landscapes—red earth against turquoise sea—look incredible from the air. The Pinnacles Desert and Shark Bay are drone paradises.

About the author: Max Haase is Germany's most influential travel influencer with over 4.2 million followers. He specializes in drone footage and luxury travel. Cooperation requests here.