From Van Life to Vietnam: Our East Coast Road Trip

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In just a little green JUCY camper van, we made our way all the way from Sydney to Cairns over 2,400km of coastline, sunshine, beaches, and unforgettable experiences. With our lives packed into a few drawers and one duffel bag, we embraced the freedom of the open road… and maybe got a little too good at cooking pasta on a gas stove.

Our first big stop was Byron Bay, the kind of place that instantly makes you want to ditch your plans and stay forever. We got up early to walk to the Cape Byron Lighthouse, which is actually the most easterly point of mainland Australia, it’s also home to the country’s most powerful lighthouse, built back in 1901. Standing on the cliffs, we watched humpback whales breaching out at sea as they made their way along their annual migration route. Not a bad start to the trip! 🐳

Next up was the Gold Coast, where beach life and high-rise living collide. I went for a beach run at Surfers Paradise, and it felt wild to be surrounded by golden sand on one side and gleaming towers on the other. The energy here is fast-paced but fun, definitely not a place where anyone’s taking life too seriously. With over 70km of coastline, it’s easy to see why this spot is so popular with locals and tourists alike. 🏝️

We headed into Brisbane for a quick change of scenery swapping surfboards for city streets. We strolled along the river at South Bank, soaked up some culture (and strong coffee), and enjoyed a little urban vibe before heading back to nature. It’s such a liveable city, and it gave us a nice little breather mid-journey. 🌆

Then it was up to the Sunshine Coast, where the first stop had to be Australia Zoo. Even with rain pouring down, it was still such a brilliant day. You can really feel the spirit of Steve Irwin everywhere, from the croc shows to the conservation work they continue today. His family has kept the zoo running with so much heart. It’s mad to think it all started back in 1970 as a small reptile park run by his parents. 🐊

As we moved further north, the climate started shifting with warmer days, shorts back on, and the camper fan working overtime. Our next adventure was Fraser Island, or K’gari, which means “paradise” in the local Indigenous language. It’s the world’s largest sand island and unbelievably, it has the only sand highway in the world with speed limits, road signs, and even an airstrip!

We bumped along in a 4WD bus, visited the surreal blue waters of Lake McKenzie, and explored the rusting Maheno Shipwreck, which has been sitting on the shore since a cyclone in 1935. The island was unlike anywhere we’d seen before, raw, rugged, and completely magical. 🚎

After a loooong drive north, Airlie Beach welcomed us with bright blue skies and a properly laid-back coastal feel. It’s the main gateway to the Whitsundays, but even just relaxing in town was dreamy. There’s something so calm about this place, no rush, no pressure, just good weather and good vibes. And somewhere along that drive, we realised we’d made it through two different states, New South Wales, into Queensland. 🏖️ 🌊

At last, we made it to Cairns, the final stop on our epic van adventure. Of course, the highlight here had to be the Great Barrier Reef snorkelling trip. Floating above colourful coral gardens and weaving through schools of fish it was like being in an underwater dream. It’s honestly hard to believe something that beautiful is real. 🪸

We also took the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway over the Daintree Rainforest, which is actually one of the oldest rainforests in the world even older than the Amazon! Gliding above the canopy gave us a new appreciation for just how vast and untouched this part of Australia still is. 🌴 🦅

Two weeks of campervan living really makes you appreciate the simple things: cooking dinner on a little gas stove, lighting citronella sticks to fight off the mossies, sitting on a camp chair under the stars, and realising you can live very happily out of one backpack. It strips things back and makes space for the good stuff.

Next Stop: Vietnam

And just like that, our Australian chapter wraps up. Now we swap wheels for backpacks and set off for Vietnam, where the real travelling begins, new cultures, street food, night markets, scooters, and everything in between. Australia, you’ve been magic. Asia, we’re ready for you.

Rock on! 🤘

L