G’day to the Down Under Diary – a blog dedicated to uncovering the hidden gems, unforgettable moments, and unfiltered adventures of my six-week road trip in 2023 along Australia’s east coast. Buckle up, because this journey is packed with stunning landscapes, quirky encounters, and plenty of unexpected twists.
Who’s on the Road?
In April and May 2023, three friends and I set off on an epic campervan adventure along Australia’s East Coast. Before we became road trip buddies, our story started at Pilatus Aircraft Ltd, where we all did our apprenticeships from 2015 to 2018 (or 2019). It was during this time that our friendship took shape, strengthened by shared challenges, and unforgettable excursions like the apprentice camp or fairs. Those experiences built a solid friendship, preparing us for the ultimate adventure: a six-week campervan journey across Australia!
- 👩🏼 Sabrina: Our fearless guide and Australia expert, having been here before. She also bravely handled all things creepy-crawly!
- 👩🏽 Simona: Our culinary queen, whipping up delicious meals (mostly Italian, of course).
- 👩🏼 Vanessa: The ultimate accommodation critic who ensured we stayed in the best possible places (when she could find ones that met her standards!).
- 👩🏼🦱 Géraldine: That’s me: Documenting the journey, handling finances, and ensuring with my camera we never forgot a single moment.
The Route
Our adventure kicked off in Sydney, where we enjoyed our first taste of Aussie city life. From there, we picked up our campervan and hit the road north! Over the next six weeks, we traveled over 3,660 kilometers, stopping at some of Australia’s most breathtaking spots as:
- 🌆 Sydney: Jetlag, Giant Spiders, and the Great Easter Brekkie Fail
- 🦘Emerald Beach: Kangaroos, Campervan Issues, and a Surprise Visit on the Dunny
- 🏄♀️ Byron Bay: Surf Lessons, Shark Spotting, and Birthday Celebrations
- 🐨 Brisbane: Koala Cuddles, Botanical Gardens, and South Bank Vibes
- 🌊 Noosa: Laundry Disasters, Desperate Cash Hunts, and a Coastal Walk with(out) View
- 🌈 Rainbow Beach: Lost in the Middle of Nowhere, Sand Cliffs, and our first AdBlue Panic
- 🐕 Fraser Island (K’gari): Bus Rollercoaster Ride, Champagne Pools, and Dingo Sightings
- 🌅 Cape Hillsborough: No internet, Two Failed Application Interviews, and the Sunrise Kangaroo Dre-(Sc)am
- 🏝️ Airlie Beach & Whitsundays: Whitehaven Beach Paradise, Scenic Flights, and Snorkeling Adventures
- 🚗 Magnetic Island: Living our Barbie Life in a Pink Rental Car, Rock Wallabies, and Koala Spotting
- 🤿 Cairns: The Great Barrier Reef, Night Markets, and Tropical Vibes
- 🐊 Port Douglas & Daintree: Crocodile Cruises, Meeting Boys, and an Unexpected Carnival
What to Expect
Each upcoming blog post will dive into a specific location, bringing you along for the ride as we uncover hidden gems, share insider tips, and reveal untold stories from the road. I’ll take you beyond the typical tourist spots, offering a real and unfiltered look at the highs and lows of van life. So whether you’re planning your own Aussie road trip or just love a good travel story, join me in reliving this adventure.
- ✨ Hidden Gems: From secluded beaches to off-the-radar hikes, discover the best-kept secrets of Australia’s east coast.
- 💡 Insider Tips: Learn from our experiences, whether it’s the best places to camp, how to avoid common road trip pitfalls, or must-try local eats.
- 💬 Untold Stories: The moments you won’t find in guidebooks: campervan challenges, unexpected wildlife encounters, and the hilarious mishaps that made this trip unforgettable.
- 🫵🏻 Your Turn: We want to hear from you! Share your road trip experiences, ask questions, or let us know what stories you’re most excited to read about.
Want to help shape the upcoming stories? Vote for which travel stories and tips you’d love to read next!
Pre Insider Tip
🎒 Road Trip Essentials
As a first pre insider tip, let’s talk about packing. A few smart items can make all the difference on a long campervan road trip. From insect repellent to a tape, here’s a list of things we were most grateful to have (and a few we wished we’d thought of sooner). Curious how we ended up needing some items? Click the link (if available) to read the full story in another blog post!
- App BOM
- App GetYourGuide
- App WikiCamps
- Bikini Bags
- Brush
- Case scale
- Cell phone plan with Opus
- Clothesline
- Charger
- Coins
- Daypack
- Hangers
- Insect repellent (Bite Away)
- Insurance
- Laundry bag
- Mosquito repellent
- Multiple socket strip
- Nausea medication (Itinerol)
- Pink Outfit
- Scissors
- Shopping bags
- Swiss Knife / Multitool
- Tape
- Torch
- Thongs (flip-flops)
- Water shoes
- Waterproof phone pouch
Missed a Blog Post?
No worries! Catch up on all the adventures here:
- 🌴 #1: G’Day – The Ultimate Australia’s East Coast Road Trip (this blog article)
- 🏄🏼♂️ #2: Sydney – Giant Spiders, Jetlag, & the Great Easter Brekkie Fail
- 🦘 #3: Emerald Beach – Campervan Issues, Kangaroos, & the Surprise Visit on the Dunny
- 🌊 #4: Noosa – Rain Disaster, Desperate Cash Hunt, & the Coastal Walk with(out) View
- 🐕 #5: Fraser Island – The Guided Tour We Didn’t Regret, Dingos, & Champagne Pools (with Video!)
Your Turn!
I’d love to hear from you! Share your stories in the comments at the very bottom of the page (after the “You might also like”) in English or German.
Have you ever been to Australia? Where exactly? 💭
Or have you ever been on a road trip? Where did you go? 💭
I’d love to hear from you! You can answer in English or German
🇦🇺 Have you ever been to Australia? Where exactly? 💭
Or have you ever been on a road trip? Where did you go? 💭
🇨🇭 Warst du schon einmal in Australien? Wo genau? 💭
Oder hast du schon einmal einen Roadtrip gemacht? Wohin bist du gefahren? 💭
Yes, it was amazing🦘🇦🇺😍
G’Day Francine, nice to hear! Where exactly have you been to Australia?
So cool🇦🇺🦘😍
G’Day Franci, that’s lovely to hear!
I never traveled to Australia before, but it sounds amazing! I did once a roadtrip in Portugal.
G’Day, ohh yes, Portugal sounds nice too!
Absolutely amazing, looking forward to more stories of you! 🤩
G’Day Sabrina, thank you and I’m looking forward to create more blog posts!
Australia is definetely on my buckt list! 🇦🇺🐨 Can’t wait to read your insights, recommendations & hidden gems! 😍
G’Day Jasmin, nice! I definitely recommend Australia for traveling!
This blog brings back memories of my fantastic roadtrip through Australia!! I wonder how many spiders you had to handle throughout your trip 😉 !
G’Day Lawrence, too many! Right at the start of the trip, in our very first taxi, we encountered a Huntsman spider 🕷️😱 Stay tuned for the next post, where I‘ll tell you the story! 🚕
G’Day Géraldine,
Dein Blog ist mega inspirierend! Freue mich auf die nächsten Beiträge!
Cheers aus der Schweiz!
G’Day Cornel, super, freut mich zu hören!
I have a few experiences with roadtrips so far. I went on two in Florida US, three on the westcoast of the US and one in Australia. One more roadtrip in the US is coming up soon! I love going on roadtrips because you‘re able to see so many different places in a short amount of time.🧭
I‘m looking forward to reliving the journey and the wonderful memories we made through this blog!😍🇳🇿
G’Day Simona, wow, that’s an incredible road trip résumé! 🚗🌍 Your upcoming US trip sounds exciting, any bucket list stops planned? Can’t wait to take you along on our journey through Australia in the blog! 🦘
Ich freue mich viele interessante Erlebnisse von Australien lesen zu können
G’Day Sandra, das freut mich zu hören! Bleib gespannt 🇳🇿
Ich war noch nie in Australien, habe aber auch schon Autorundreisen in Europa gemacht
Hi, I‘ve never been to Australia, but I did a roadtrip in the USA with my family 10 years ago. And now I will repeat it with Sabrina 🤩. I think I‘m very happy to be her companion because with your giant Australia journey experience nothing will throw her off track 🚐🏞️.
G’Day Rachele, that sounds amazing! 🤩 A road trip through the US must be an adventure, especially getting to relive it after 10 years! And yes, with Sabrina’s Aussie road trip survivor skills, you’re definitely in good hands ☺️ No detour, breakdown, or unexpected wildlife encounter will faze her now! Can’t wait to hear about your trip, where will you be heading this time in the US? 🇺🇸
Hi Géraldine
I’m very proud of you!
And – a little bit jealous! I’ve been on many road trips with my old VW bus, but I’ve never made it all the way to Australia. Even though I always wanted to be a flying nurse!
So now I can travel to Australia in my mind with your blog!
Good luck and best wishes
G’Day Silvia, thank you! Road-tripping in a VW bus sounds like an absolute dream — so many adventures, I’m sure! 🚐 Who knows, maybe one day Australia will still be on the horizon for you… even if it’s not as a flying nurse! 🛩️👩⚕️ In the meantime, I’m happy to take you along on my journey through the blog, hope you enjoy the ride!
Leider habe ich es noch nicht bis nach Australien geschafft. Mal schauen, ob mich dieser Blog für eine Reise inspiriert. Bin gespannt was ihr vier Girls alles erlebt habt 🙂
Bis jetzt gefällt mir der Blog sehr gut. Tolles Layout!
G‘Day Nicole, danke dir! Ja, hoffentlich kann ich dir mit dem Blog und unseren Erlebnissen ein paar Gründe aufzeigen nach Australien zu reisen! 🦘🌊
Love it! Your blog seriously makes me want to pack up and head to Australia. 😍 I’ve only ever done a short 7-day road trip through Finland because I used to think camping wasn’t for me. 😅 But honestly, I was so wrong 🤭 – it was amazing to have my little home on wheels wherever I went! 🚌✨ Now I’m dreaming of doing an entire Scandinavian road trip by van. Who knows, maybe Australia will be next! 🐨💭
G’Day Saara, aww, thank you! 🥰 A road trip through Finland sounds magical with northern lights and peaceful forests and lakes! 🌌🌲 And yes, having your little rolling home gives you so much freedom. Let me know if you ever need tips for Down Under! 🐨
i’m really looking forward to your blog posts, as i’m planning to do a trip to australia next year!
G’Day Nina, that’s great news! I hope you will get some insights from the blog and if you have any questions, you can let me know! 🦘
I always wanted to visit Australia and this motivates me even more! I am exited to hear about your journey!
G’Day Erato, nice to hear! Australia is definitely worth it 🦘
Hi, I‘ve never been to Australia but some time in the future I d‘like to go. I’m also a big fan of roadtrips in a camper or with a tent. So I’m thrilled to hear about your travel tips for Australia 😍
G‘Day Andrin, great to hear! If you already love road trips and camping, Australia will be your dream come true! There’s so much to explore, and doing it in a camper makes it even more special. I’m so happy you’re following along – hope my travel tips will help you plan your future Aussie adventure! 🇦🇺 Let me know if there’s anything you’re especially curious about!
Love it!!! Such a beautiful travel blog! 😍 I can hardly wait to continue traveling through Australia someday… 🦘🌊
G’Day Vanessa, thank you very much for your kind words! I can’t wait too 🥹 We have to see the west coast together! 🌊😍
Woh woh, I missed Australia, it’s so nice 😄
That was my first solo trip back then.
G’Day Xing, now you’ve got me all nostalgic – I miss Australia too! 🥹🐨 Would go back immediately! Where exactly did you travel to? 🇦🇺
Loved reading about your East Coast road trip! Australia’s been high on my travel list for a while, and your post just boosted the wanderlust even more. I’m a surfer too, did you get a chance to catch any waves while you were there? Would love to hear about any good surf spots you discovered!
G’Day Michèle, thank you so much! I’m so happy to hear the post sparked even more wanderlust 🇦🇺 To be honest, I’ve only surfed three times so far (the last and favorite time was actually in Australia), so I’m far from being a surf expert and can’t give super authentic advice just yet 🏄♀️ But from what I saw, people were surfing pretty much everywhere! The most crowded spots with surfers were definitely Sydney, Byron Bay, Noosa, Surfers Paradise, and Rainbow Beach. Hope that helps a bit for now? 🌊