Backpack vs suitcase Australia East Coast: Which One Should You Choose?

On By saar.decosterIn Australia

If you’re trying to decide between a backpack or suitcase for Australia, you’re probably wondering which one will actually make travelling easier.

And honestly, I completely understand the dilemma.

Australia has a huge backpacker culture, so bringing a backpack can feel like the obvious choice. But after spending almost nine months travelling around Australia, including extensive travel along the East Coast, I actually came to a different conclusion.

For the East Coast of Australia, I would choose a suitcase.

That might sound surprising for a backpacking trip, but hear me out.

I’ve travelled through cities, beach towns, hostels, airports, buses and plenty of different destinations in Australia. I’ve also used a backpack in other countries where it made much more sense.

So here’s my honest comparison of backpack vs suitcase in Australia, including the pros and cons of each and which one I’d choose depending on your travel plans.

Backpack vs Suitcase Australia: Quick Answer

If you want the short version:

Choose a suitcase if you’re mainly travelling Australia’s East Coast and want comfort, easy organisation and convenient transport.

Choose a backpack if you’re planning to continue travelling through countries with rougher roads, lots of stairs or less developed infrastructure after Australia.

The East Coast is surprisingly suitcase-friendly.

Most major destinations have proper roads, pavements, airports, buses, hostels and hotels. You don’t constantly need to carry your luggage over dirt roads or through difficult terrain.

However, a backpack gives you much more flexibility if you’re planning a longer multi-country trip.

And that’s ultimately what makes the decision so personal.

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Suitcase for Australia: Pros and Cons

Let’s start with the option that surprised me most.

Pros of travelling Australia with a suitcase

1. A suitcase is much more comfortable in hot weather

Australia can get seriously hot.

Imagine arriving at a hostel after a long travel day, walking through a sunny city with 15–20 kg on your back.

Yeah.

No thanks.

With a suitcase, you simply roll your luggage behind you.

You don’t have:

  • A heavy bag pressing against your back
  • Your clothes sticking to your body
  • Sweat accumulating underneath your backpack
  • Constant weight on your shoulders
  • Back and shoulder strain during travel days

This is especially nice in places like Sydney, Brisbane, Byron Bay and Cairns, where you can easily find yourself walking around in hot weather.

If you’re travelling Australia during summer, I think this advantage becomes even more noticeable.

2. Suitcases are much easier to organise

This is probably my favourite thing about having a suitcase.

You can actually see your stuff.

Everything has a place.

You can separate:

  • Clothes
  • Shoes
  • Toiletries
  • Electronics
  • Swimwear
  • Dirty laundry
  • Travel documents

With a backpack, everything can end up stacked on top of everything else.

And when you’re moving every few days, constantly digging through your bag to find one T-shirt gets annoying very quickly.

A suitcase lets you open it, see everything and grab what you need.

3. Rolling your luggage is easier than carrying it

This sounds obvious, but it makes a huge difference.

Most of your Australian travel will probably involve some combination of:

airport → bus → hostel → city → next destination

And on most of those routes, you have somewhere to roll your suitcase.

You don’t need to carry everything on your back.

This is particularly convenient if you’re travelling with buses or flying between destinations.

4. A suitcase is great for longer trips

If you’re doing a Working Holiday or spending several months in Australia, you might have more stuff than you would on a two-week holiday.

Maybe you’ve bought:

  • Extra clothes
  • Shoes
  • Souvenirs
  • Camping gear
  • Beach equipment
  • Work clothes

A suitcase gives you plenty of space and makes it easier to keep everything organised.

Friends watching the sunset on the beach in Byron Bay during a backpack vs suitcase Australia East Coast trip.

Cons of travelling Australia with a suitcase

A suitcase isn’t perfect.

There are definitely situations where I’d rather have a backpack.

1. Stairs can be annoying

Hostels don’t always have lifts.

Neither do some train stations or older buildings.

And suddenly you’re carrying a suitcase up three flights of stairs.

That’s when you start questioning your life choices.

2. Sand is not your friend

Australia has a LOT of beaches.

And wheels don’t exactly love sand.

If you’re staying somewhere where you have to walk across a sandy path to your accommodation, a backpack is much easier.

3. Uneven roads and paths can be annoying

A suitcase is fantastic on smooth pavements.

Less fantastic on:

  • Gravel
  • Dirt roads
  • Grass
  • Sand
  • Uneven paths

This isn’t a huge issue on most of the main East Coast route, but it can definitely happen.

4. It can be less convenient outside Australia

This is actually the biggest reason I’d consider a backpack.

If Australia is only one part of a much longer trip, your luggage needs to work everywhere.

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

Backpack for Australia: Pros and Cons

Now let’s talk about the classic backpacker option.

Pros of travelling Australia with a backpack

1. A backpack gives you more flexibility

You don’t need a smooth surface.

You can simply put your backpack on and walk.

Stairs?

No problem.

Gravel?

Fine.

Sand?

Still fine.

Random dirt road?

Also fine.

That’s especially useful if you don’t know exactly where your next accommodation will be.

2. Backpacks are great for hostels

A soft backpack can be much easier to fit into awkward hostel storage.

You can squeeze it under a bed, into a locker or into a small space without worrying about a rigid suitcase shape.

This isn’t a dealbreaker with a suitcase, but it is convenient.

3. A backpack is much better for travelling beyond Australia

This is where backpacks really win.

I was actually very happy to have a backpack when I travelled through Bali after Australia.

The roads were rougher, there were more stairs and rolling a suitcase wasn’t always practical.

So if your Australia trip is part of a longer adventure through Southeast Asia, I’d seriously consider a backpack.

4. You can carry everything with you

A backpack makes you more mobile.

You don’t have to worry about finding a place to put your suitcase while walking somewhere.

You simply put it on your back and go.

This can be especially useful when travelling independently or changing accommodation frequently.

Cons of travelling Australia with a backpack

1. Your back can get very tired

This is the obvious downside.

A backpack is literally sitting on your body.

And the heavier it gets, the more you notice it.

After a long travel day, carrying a heavy backpack through a hot city isn’t exactly my idea of fun.

2. Organisation can be harder

Unless you are extremely organised, backpacks can become a black hole.

You know the item you’re looking for is somewhere inside.

But where?

Good packing cubes can make a huge difference here.

3. Backpacks can be uncomfortable in hot weather

This deserves its own point.

Australia gets hot.

And having a large backpack covering most of your back isn’t exactly ideal.

You can end up sweaty before you’ve even reached your hostel.

Backpack vs Suitcase Australia: Which Is Better?

Here’s how I’d compare them.

SuitcaseBackpack
Comfort in hot weather⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Organisation⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cities⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hostels⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Stairs⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sand & rough roads⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Long-term travel⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Southeast Asia afterwards⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
East Coast Australia⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

For Australia’s East Coast, I would give the suitcase the advantage.

But that doesn’t mean everyone should bring one.

Backpack or Suitcase for an Australia Working Holiday?

This is where your plans become particularly important.

If you’re going to Australia on a Working Holiday Visa, you might be staying for several months or even a year.

You might travel around the East Coast, work in different places and then continue travelling afterwards.

So ask yourself:

What happens after Australia?

If Australia is your main trip

I’d choose a suitcase.

Especially if you’re mainly travelling between cities and coastal towns.

If you’re travelling Australia + Southeast Asia

I’d choose a backpack.

You’ll probably appreciate the flexibility once you leave Australia.

If you’re moving around constantly

Either can work, but I’d still lean towards a suitcase for the East Coast if most of your travel is on established routes.

If you’re doing lots of camping or remote travel

A backpack may make more sense, especially if you’re carrying additional outdoor equipment.

What I Personally Chose

After almost nine months travelling around Australia, I would personally choose a suitcase for the East Coast.

And I know that sounds slightly controversial considering Australia has such a huge backpacker culture.

But honestly?

The East Coast is just incredibly easy to travel with a suitcase.

You have:

  • Good roads
  • Airports
  • Buses
  • Hostels
  • Hotels
  • Pavements
  • Developed cities
  • Well-established backpacker routes

You don’t constantly need to carry your luggage across difficult terrain.

And after spending months travelling, comfort becomes more important than looking like a stereotypical backpacker.

If I had to do the trip again, I’d take a suitcase.

The only reason I’d choose a backpack instead is if I knew I was continuing somewhere like Southeast Asia afterwards.

What Other Travellers Told Me

Another thing that changed my opinion was talking to other travellers.

I expected almost everyone to tell me:

“Backpack, obviously.”

But plenty of people travelling Australia’s East Coast were perfectly happy with suitcases.

And honestly, it makes sense.

The backpacker culture doesn’t mean you actually have to carry a backpack.

You’re travelling Australia.

Not auditioning for the role of “World’s Most Authentic Backpacker.”

Choose whatever makes your trip easier.

My Biggest Tip: Don’t Pack Too Much

Whatever you choose, this is probably more important than the actual luggage type.

Don’t overpack.

Australia has shops.

If you forget something, you can buy it.

And if you’re travelling for months, you’re almost guaranteed to accumulate things along the way anyway.

The less you bring, the easier travelling becomes.

If you’re preparing for a Working Holiday, check out my Australia Working Holiday Packing List for a more detailed list of what I’d actually bring.

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: Backpack vs Suitcase Australia

Is a suitcase good for travelling around Australia?

Yes. A suitcase can be a very practical choice, particularly for Australia’s East Coast. Most major destinations have good roads, pavements, airports, buses and developed accommodation, making it easy to roll your luggage between destinations.

Should I take a backpack or suitcase to Australia?

It depends on your itinerary. If you’re mainly travelling the East Coast, I personally prefer a suitcase. If you’re continuing to Southeast Asia or travelling through areas with rough roads and lots of stairs, a backpack is more flexible.

Is Australia backpacker-friendly?

Absolutely. Australia has a huge backpacker culture, particularly along the East Coast. However, being a backpacker doesn’t mean you have to travel with a backpack. Suitcases are perfectly practical on the main East Coast route.

What do most backpackers use in Australia?

Backpacks are extremely common because Australia has a strong backpacking culture. However, you’ll also see plenty of travellers using suitcases, especially those travelling longer-term or staying mainly in cities and established coastal destinations.

Is a backpack better for hostels?

A backpack can be slightly more convenient in hostels because it is flexible and easier to fit into awkward storage spaces. However, most hostels can accommodate suitcases too.

Is a suitcase difficult to travel with in Australia?

Not usually. Australia’s East Coast is relatively easy to navigate with a suitcase. The main situations where a suitcase becomes inconvenient are sand, stairs, dirt roads and uneven paths.

What is better for an Australia Working Holiday?

If you’re mainly travelling Australia’s East Coast during your Working Holiday, I’d personally choose a suitcase. If you’re planning to continue travelling through Southeast Asia afterwards, I’d choose a backpack for the additional flexibility.

Can you backpack Australia with a suitcase?

Absolutely. “Backpacking Australia” describes the style of travel, not necessarily the type of luggage you use. You can travel through Australia, stay in hostels, meet other backpackers and move between destinations perfectly well with a suitcase.

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