Australia East Coast Ranking: Best & Worst Places I Visited

On By saar.decosterIn Australia

After 9 months of travelling, living and working along Australia’s East Coast, I decided to rank every major destination I visited, from big cities and backpacker towns to tropical islands and road-trip stops.

This is not a generic list of the best places on the East Coast of Australia. It’s my personal ranking based on the places I actually visited, the atmosphere, beaches, nature, nightlife, people, activities and, most importantly, the memories I made there.

And honestly? Some places I expected to love didn’t impress me that much, while some destinations I almost skipped ended up becoming my absolute favourites.

So if you’re planning an East Coast Australia road trip or backpacking adventure, here’s my completely honest ranking, from 4/10 to 11/10.

If you want to see exactly how I’d plan the route, check out my Ultimate East Coast Australia Itinerary. And if you’re short on time, I also created a 3-Week East Coast Australia Itinerary with the places I’d prioritise.

My East Coast Australia Ranking at a Glance

Here’s my ranking from least favourite to favourite:

  1. Gold Coast – 4/10
  2. Brisbane – 5/10
  3. Sydney – 6/10
  4. Tasmania – 7/10
  5. Noosa – 7/10
  6. Great Ocean Road – 7.5/10
  7. Phillip Island – 7.5/10
  8. 1770 / Agnes Water – 8/10
  9. Cairns – 8/10
  10. Airlie Beach – 8/10
  11. Melbourne – 8.5/10
  12. Magnetic Island – 9/10
  13. Byron Bay – 10/10
  14. Whitsunday Islands – 10/10
  15. K’gari (Fraser Island) – 11/10

And yes, 11/10 is intentional.

Some places deserve to break the scale.

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Planning your Australia adventure?

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4/10 – Gold Coast (Surfers Paradise)

I’ll start with the controversial one.

Surfers Paradise was my least favourite stop on the East Coast.

I personally found the area quite ugly and didn’t really enjoy the beach. The huge high-rise buildings and busy atmosphere weren’t really my thing.

That said, I know plenty of travellers absolutely love the Gold Coast.

And importantly, Surfers Paradise isn’t the entire Gold Coast. Places such as Burleigh Heads, Coolangatta and other parts of the coast might suit you much better.

So I wouldn’t necessarily skip the Gold Coast based on my experience alone.

My rating: 4/10

5/10 – Brisbane

Brisbane just wasn’t really my vibe.

I didn’t spend a huge amount of time here, so I also think it’s important to say that my rating isn’t necessarily a definitive judgement of the city.

It’s a big city with plenty to do, but after spending so much time travelling through smaller beach towns and nature destinations, Brisbane didn’t leave the same impression on me.

Maybe if I’d stayed longer, I would have liked it more.

My rating: 5/10

6/10 – Sydney

Sydney is one of those places that I think you should see at least once, even though it wasn’t one of my personal favourites.

What I loved:

  • The Opera House
  • The Royal Botanic Garden
  • Bondi Beach
  • The nightlife

What I didn’t love:

  • It was expensive
  • Nightlife closes relatively early
  • I was ready to leave after about a week
  • I’m just not really a big-city person
  • I had quite bad weather while I was there

The Opera House and harbour are obviously spectacular, and Sydney has some incredible coastal walks and beaches.

But personally, I preferred the smaller and more relaxed places along the East Coast.

→ Read my complete Sydney Travel Guide for things to do, places to eat and practical tips.

My rating: 6/10

Short on time? Here are my top 10 favourite hostels in Australia, listed from south to north.

  1. Flinders Backpackers – Melbourne
  2. Apollo Bay Backpackers – Apollo Bay
  3. Wake Up! Sydney– Sydney
  4. YHA Newcastle – Newcastle
  5. Surf Inn Boutique Backpackers – Gold Coast
  6. The Surf House Byron Bay – Byron Bay
  7. Nomads Noosa – Noosa
  8. Freedom Rainbow Beach – Rainbow Beach
  9. Nomads Magnetic Island – Magnetic Island
  10. Gilligan’s Cairns – Cairns

7/10 – Tasmania (overall)

I’m including Tasmania in this ranking because I travelled there during my Australian adventure, although technically it’s not on the East Coast mainland.

And honestly, Tasmania is absolutely beautiful.

The landscapes, sunsets and outdoor lifestyle were some of the highlights for me.

I also had a very different travel experience here. I travelled around Tasmania sleeping in the car with Mara, often with very little phone service. We spent evenings reading, relaxing and enjoying nature.

It was peaceful in a way that some of the busier East Coast destinations weren’t.

The downside?

  • We didn’t have proper sleeping equipment
  • We often survived on bread, cheese and cookies
  • Accommodation and food can be expensive
  • There aren’t as many hostels
  • It can be surprisingly cold, even in summer

Still, if you’re into nature and road trips, Tasmania is absolutely worth considering.

→ Read my complete Tasmania Travel Guide for my favourite places, itinerary and travel tips.

My rating: 7/10

7/10 – Noosa

Noosa is beautiful, but it wasn’t quite as unforgettable for me as some other destinations.

What I loved:

  • Beautiful beaches
  • Good surf
  • Nice coastal walks
  • Fun atmosphere at Nomads Hostel

What I didn’t love:

  • My YHA hostel was pretty boring

Noosa has a more polished and relaxed atmosphere compared with some of the other backpacker destinations along the coast.

I definitely understand why so many travellers love it.

→ Planning your visit? Check out my complete Noosa Travel Guide for things to do, places to eat and travel tips.

My rating: 7/10

7.5/10 – Great Ocean Road

The Great Ocean Road is one of Australia’s classic road trips, and for good reason.

The scenery is incredible, with dramatic cliffs, turquoise water, beaches and plenty of places to stop along the way.

What I loved:

  • Stunning scenery
  • Blue water
  • Watching surfers
  • The coastal landscapes

What I didn’t love:

  • It can be very touristy

My biggest tip?

Don’t just drive to the Twelve Apostles and turn around.

Rent a car and take your time exploring the smaller stops along the route.

→ Read my Great Ocean Road Itinerary for my favourite stops and a detailed route.

My rating: 7.5/10

→ Don’t want to drive yourself? You can also find guided Great Ocean Road tours on GetYourGuide.

7.5/10 – Phillip Island

Phillip Island was another place that surprised me.

What I loved:

  • Great hiking
  • Beautiful coastal scenery
  • Penguins!!!

What I didn’t love:

  • Quite touristy
  • Relatively small

The penguins are obviously the big attraction, but I actually preferred finding a quieter spot near the penguin parade.

One of my favourite tips from this trip is to go to a small beach next to the penguin area, wait until it’s dark and watch the penguins without taking photos.

It felt much more authentic than being surrounded by crowds.

My rating: 7.5/10

8/10 – 1770 / Agnes Water

1770 and Agnes Water were some of those places I almost could have skipped, and I’m glad I didn’t.

The area has a really relaxed atmosphere and beautiful beaches.

What I loved:

  • Beautiful beaches
  • Chill atmosphere
  • The walk between Agnes Water and 1770

What I didn’t love:

  • It’s a small town
  • There isn’t a huge amount to do

If you want nightlife and endless activities, this probably isn’t the place for you.

If you want to slow down, enjoy the beach and escape the crowds, I really liked it.

My rating: 8/10

8/10 – Cairns

Cairns actually surprised me.

I wasn’t expecting to love it as much as I did, but I really enjoyed the atmosphere.

What I loved:

  • Good vibes
  • Great weather
  • Plenty to do
  • Great Barrier Reef
  • Rainforest adventures
  • Good nightlife

Cairns is also a great base for exploring some of the most famous natural attractions in Far North Queensland.

It’s definitely a completely different experience from places like Byron Bay or Noosa, but that’s what makes travelling Australia’s East Coast so interesting.

My rating: 8/10

8/10 – Airlie Beach

Airlie Beach is another destination where the Whitsundays are obviously the main attraction.

The town itself is small, but I enjoyed the atmosphere.

What I loved:

  • Pretty surroundings
  • Fun parties
  • Nice shops
  • Great backpacker atmosphere

What I didn’t love:

  • There isn’t a huge amount to do in town itself
  • Most people come here for the Whitsunday Islands

And honestly, that’s completely fine.

If you’re coming to Airlie Beach, book a Whitsundays trip.

→ Read my Airlie Beach Travel Guide for things to do, food recommendations and practical tips.

My rating: 8/10

8.5/10 – Melbourne

Okay, Melbourne wasn’t exactly a small East Coast beach destination, but it was one of my absolute favourite cities in Australia.

I spent about one and a half months in Melbourne, and I completely fell in love with it.

What I loved:

  • Amazing coffee
  • Incredible breakfast spots
  • Great food
  • Markets
  • Fitzroy
  • Alternative European atmosphere
  • Flinders Backpackers

What I didn’t love:

  • The beaches aren’t amazing
  • Not really a surfing destination

But for food, culture, cafés and city life, Melbourne was easily my favourite Australian city.

→ Check out my Melbourne Travel Guide if you’re planning a visit.

My rating: 8.5/10

olourful Brighton Beach bathing boxes in Melbourne, Australia

9/10 – Magnetic Island

Magnetic Island was one of the places where I immediately wished I’d stayed longer.

The island has an amazing combination of wildlife, beaches, hiking and a relaxed atmosphere.

What I loved:

  • Beautiful nature
  • Wildlife
  • Exploring by car
  • Amazing landscapes

What I didn’t love:

  • I only stayed for two nights!

I honestly would have loved to have had more time here.

→ Read my Magnetic Island Travel Guide and my guide to renting a car on Magnetic Island before your trip.

My rating: 9/10

10/10 – Byron Bay

My absolute favourite East Coast destination.

Byron Bay completely stole my heart.

What I loved:

  • Beaches
  • Surf
  • Weather
  • Atmosphere
  • People
  • Lighthouse
  • Backpacker community
  • Backpackers Inn hostel

What I loved most was the size of the town.

It’s small enough that you keep bumping into the same people, which creates such a nice community feeling when you’re travelling.

I spent a lot of time here and could have stayed even longer.

My rating: 10/10

→ Read my Byron Bay Travel Guide for things to do, where to eat, nightlife and more.

Absolute favorite!!

10/10 – Whitsunday Islands

The Whitsundays are probably one of the most beautiful places I visited in Australia.

I did a 3-day sailing trip, and honestly, it was incredible.

What I loved:

  • Turquoise water
  • Swimming
  • Snorkelling
  • Sailing
  • Beautiful islands
  • The overall experience

The Whitsundays are one of those places where the photos genuinely don’t do it justice.

Just check the season before booking. Weather can make a huge difference to the experience.

→ Want to know exactly what it was like? Read my Whitsundays Sailing Tour Review.

My rating: 10/10

→ Want to explore the Whitsundays? Check out available sailing, snorkelling and island tours on GetYourGuide.

11/10 – Fraser Island

Okay, I know.

11/10 isn’t technically possible.

But K’gari deserves it.

This was honestly one of the best adventures of my entire 9 months in Australia.

The combination of:

  • Camping
  • Driving 4x4s on the beach
  • Sleeping under the stars
  • Sitting around the fire
  • Meeting amazing people
  • Exploring the island
  • Having an awesome guide

made this experience unforgettable.

It wasn’t just the destination itself.

It was the whole experience of being there.

→ Want to know what the tour was actually like? Read my K’gari (Fraser Island) Tour Experience Review.

My rating: 11/10

→ Planning your K’gari adventure? Check out the available K’gari tours and 4WD experiences on GetYourGuide.

4WD vehicle at sunrise campsite on K’gari Fraser Island in Australia

Best Beaches on the East Coast of Australia

If you’re specifically looking for the best beaches on Australia’s East Coast, my personal favourites weren’t necessarily the most famous ones.

Based on my own experience, these are some of the places that stood out most:

1. Byron Bay

For me, Byron Bay had the best overall beach experience.

You get beautiful beaches, surf, a relaxed atmosphere and plenty of places to walk, swim and watch the sunset.

2. Whitsunday Islands

For turquoise water and tropical scenery, the Whitsundays are hard to beat.

The beaches here feel completely different from the beaches around Sydney or Melbourne.

3. Magnetic Island

Magnetic Island combines beaches with hiking and wildlife, which makes the experience much more interesting than simply spending the day lying on the sand.

4. Great Ocean Road

The beaches along the Great Ocean Road are more about dramatic scenery and cliffs than tropical swimming.

5. Noosa

Noosa is a great option if you want beautiful beaches combined with a polished town, surf and coastal walks.

6. 1770 & Agnes Water

For something quieter, I really enjoyed the beaches around 1770 and Agnes Water.

They’re much more relaxed than some of Australia’s famous beach destinations.

Of course, this is completely personal. Australia has hundreds of incredible beaches, and the “best” beach depends on whether you’re looking for surfing, swimming, scenery, nightlife or simply somewhere quiet to relax.

My East Coast Australia Favourites

After 9 months travelling along the coast, these were my biggest highlights.

Best overall vibes

Byron Bay

Best beaches & turquoise water

Whitsunday Islands

Best nature

Tasmania + Great Ocean Road

Best city

Melbourne

Best party atmosphere

Byron Bay, Airlie Beach & Noosa

Best island

Magnetic Island

Best adventure

K’gari (Fraser Island)

Most unexpected experience

Phillip Island

What 9 Months on Australia’s East Coast Taught Me

After travelling, working and living along Australia’s East Coast for 9 months, I learned that the destinations I expected to love weren’t always the ones that became my favourites.

Some places were objectively beautiful but didn’t really click with me.

Others were small, quiet or completely unexpected, and ended up becoming some of my favourite memories.

That’s why I think you shouldn’t plan an Australia itinerary based purely on a list of “must-see” places.

Leave some room for spontaneity.

Stay an extra week somewhere you love.

Take the random beach stop.

Talk to people at your hostel.

Change your plans.

Sometimes the places you almost skip become the highlights of your trip.

Final Thoughts

If there’s one thing I hope you take from this ranking, it’s that there isn’t one objectively best place on Australia’s East Coast.

Your perfect destination depends on what you want.

Want beaches and surf? Byron Bay.

Want turquoise water and sailing? The Whitsundays.

Want wildlife and nature? Magnetic Island.

Want an epic adventure? K’gari.

Want food, cafés and city life? Melbourne.

Want dramatic coastal scenery? The Great Ocean Road.

And if you’re planning your own route, don’t feel like you have to love the places everyone else recommends.

My 4/10 might be your 10/10.

That’s the fun part of travelling.

Planning Your Australia Trip?

Planning a trip to Australia can feel overwhelming, with so many places to explore and things to organise.

That’s why I created my Australia Travel Guide, sharing my itineraries, tips, experiences and everything you need to plan your own adventure.

→ START HERE: Australia Travel Guide
→ GET MY MAP: Australia Google Map

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FAQ – East Coast Australia Ranking

What is the best place to visit on the East Coast of Australia?

For me, the best places were K’gari (Fraser Island), the Whitsundays and Byron Bay.

K’gari was my favourite adventure, the Whitsundays had the most incredible tropical scenery, and Byron Bay was my favourite destination for beaches, surf, people and atmosphere.

Of course, your favourite could be completely different depending on your travel style.

What are the best beaches on the East Coast of Australia?

Some of my personal favourites were the beaches around Byron Bay, the Whitsunday Islands, Magnetic Island, Noosa and 1770/Agnes Water.

For dramatic coastal scenery, I’d also recommend the Great Ocean Road.

How long do you need to travel the East Coast of Australia?

I’d recommend at least 3 weeks if you want to see the highlights without constantly rushing.

Personally, after spending 9 months travelling the coast, I think 4–6 weeks is an ideal amount of time for a classic East Coast trip.

If you have longer, even better.

→ Check out my Ultimate East Coast Australia Itinerary for the route I’d recommend.

Is the East Coast of Australia worth visiting?

Absolutely.

The East Coast gives you an incredible mix of beaches, surf towns, islands, wildlife, national parks, cities and road trips.

What surprised me most was how often the smaller destinations became my favourites.

What is the most overrated place on the East Coast of Australia?

For me, Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast was the least memorable destination.

However, that’s completely personal. Other parts of the Gold Coast, such as Burleigh Heads, are very popular with travellers and might suit you much better.

What is the best island on the East Coast of Australia?

For me, Magnetic Island and the Whitsunday Islands were the highlights.

Magnetic Island is great for wildlife, hiking and exploring independently, while the Whitsundays are all about sailing, beaches, snorkelling and turquoise water.

What is the best city on Australia’s East Coast?

Melbourne was my personal favourite.

I loved the cafés, food, markets, Fitzroy and the alternative European atmosphere.

Sydney is still a city I think first-time visitors should see, especially for the Opera House, harbour and beaches.

Is Byron Bay worth visiting?

Absolutely, it was my favourite destination on the East Coast.

I loved the beaches, surf, weather, people, nightlife and small-town atmosphere.

If you’re a backpacker, Byron Bay is also a great place to meet other travellers and stay for a while rather than rushing through.

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