The Eastern Current
Sydney to Brisbane
Lord Howe Island • Fish Rock Cave • Julian Rocks
Duration: 14 days
Departs: September to May
From: AUD 9900 AUD / 5500 EUR pp
Subject to seasonal availability, flight schedules, accommodation category, and final itinerary design.
Along Australia’s east coast, a warm ocean current runs north along the edge of the continent, shaping life above and below the surface. It connects volcanic islands, coral reefs, and quiet surf towns, carrying mantas, turtles, and sharks through clear blue water. This expedition follows that current from Sydney to Brisbane, linking a World Heritage island with some of the country’s most iconic coastal dives and the relaxed rhythm of life by the sea.
It begins in Sydney, a harbour city built around water and light. You feel the ocean immediately: in the salt air, the crashing surf at Bondi and Manly, and the cliffs that mark the start of the long coast ahead. The journey flows north from here, tracing the Eastern Current itself, one of the great ocean highways of the southern hemisphere.
A short flight east takes you to Lord Howe Island, a tiny crescent of volcanic peaks rising from turquoise water. It feels untouched and timeless, a place where forested ridges fall to white sand and coral gardens lie just metres from shore. Warm tropical currents mix with cooler southern water, bringing an incredible diversity of marine life. Every snorkel or dive reveals new colour: butterflyfish, turtles, trevally, and coral species found nowhere else in Australia.
Back on the mainland, the road north winds through forest and coastline until South West Rocks appears, a quiet town where the sea is always close. The diving here is legendary for Fish Rock Cave, a natural tunnel beneath a small island where beams of light cut through clouds of fish and grey nurse sharks glide through the shadows. It is one of those experiences that feels both wild and peaceful, raw and perfectly balanced.
Further north lies Byron Bay, where the ocean currents meet and the energy of the coast changes. The dives at Julian Rocks bring encounters with turtles, rays, and the occasional manta gliding through the blue. Between dives, the days unfold easily: coastal walks, long beaches, local markets, and sunrise at the lighthouse, watching dolphins play in the surf below.
The journey ends across the Queensland border, where the water turns warm and glassy and life slows to a softer pace. The Gold Coast and Brisbane bring a sense of calm closure, a chance to reflect on the coast you’ve just followed, from volcanic island to coral reef, from bustling harbour to quiet sea.
From reef to rainforest, from ancient islands to open ocean, you’ve followed the Eastern Current itself, discovering how one thread of water connects every place along Australia’s east coast into a single, living story.
Every Strada Expeditions journey can be customised. These itineraries are starting points, the best way to find inspiration. The best way to build yours is to reach out and tell me what you would like to experience, and I will design the perfect trip to your taste.
All itineraries are the intellectual property of Strada Expeditions and cannot be reproduced or distributed without our consent.
Itinerary
Day 1: Sydney Arrival
Arrive in Sydney and feel the meeting of city and sea that defines this coast. Wander the Botanic Garden overlooking the harbour or swim in one of the ocean pools carved into the rocks. Enjoy dinner near the water and watch the light fade across the skyline as your journey begins.
Day 2: Flight to Lord Howe Island
Fly east across open water to Lord Howe Island, two hours yet a world away from the mainland. As the island comes into view, volcanic peaks rise above a turquoise lagoon. Check in, walk the beach, and take your first swim before the sun sets behind the mountains.
Day 3: Reef and Lagoon
Snorkel through coral gardens alive with parrotfish, butterflyfish, and turtles feeding calmly in the shallows. Kayak across the lagoon or walk the reef flats at low tide. Spend the afternoon hiking through the forest or relaxing by the water as the reef glows in the late light.
Day 4: Outer Reef Exploration
Head offshore to deeper reefs where volcanic pinnacles rise from the sea floor and schools of trevally flash in the current. The visibility often feels limitless, and the mix of coral and temperate species makes every dive unique. Return to shore for a quiet dinner under a sky full of stars.
Day 5: Morning on Lord Howe and Return to Sydney
Enjoy a final swim in the lagoon or a walk beneath the palms before your flight. From the window, you’ll see the reef sparkle below as the island disappears into the blue. Back in Sydney, stay near the coast for a relaxed evening ahead of the road north.
Day 6: Sydney to South West Rocks
Leave the city and follow the Pacific Highway north through forests and quiet coastal towns. Arrive in South West Rocks by afternoon and settle into the slower rhythm of small-town life.
Day 7: Dive Fish Rock Cave
Boat out to Fish Rock Cave for a two tank dive and descend through its natural tunnel, where light filters through clouds of fish and grey nurse sharks drift by in calm procession. It’s a dive that stays with you long after you surface.
Day 8: Second Dive and Coastal Rest
Spend a second day doing two dives exploring nearby sites, watching the play of light around the cave’s entrance and finding small details on every wall. In the afternoon, visit the old gaol on the headland or relax by the beach below it.
Day 9: South West Rocks to Byron Bay
Continue north through river valleys and forest until the road opens to the sea at Byron Bay. The atmosphere changes instantly : creative, coastal, unhurried. Walk to the lighthouse at sunset and watch the Pacific turn gold in the fading light.
Day 10: Dive Julian Rocks
Take a short boat ride to Julian Rocks, where warm and cool currents meet to create a marine crossroads. Dive among turtles, rays, kingfish, and in the warmer months, leopard sharks. Spend the afternoon exploring town or relaxing by the sea.
Day 11: Explore and Dive Again
Return to Julian Rocks for a second day of diving, seeing how the same site changes with the tide and light. Between dives, browse Byron’s markets or walk the coastal track where dolphins often appear just offshore.
Day 12: Byron Bay to Gold Coast
Cross the border into Queensland and follow the long beaches north. Stop for a swim in a quiet cove before arriving at the Gold Coast by late afternoon. The skyline rises behind the sand, but the ocean still feels open and free.
Day 13: Beach and Optional Dives
Take the day at your own pace, join a local reef or wreck dive, explore the headlands, or simply rest by the beach. The light is softer here, the sea calm and glassy. Spend your final evening dining by the water, thinking back over the journey.
Day 14: Brisbane Departure
Drive north to Brisbane, a city shaped by its river and its easy connection to the coast. Wander along South Bank or take a ferry before your flight. The Eastern Current has carried you from one world to another, leaving you with the colours, warmth, and calm of the Pacific still fresh in your mind.
Optional Extensions
This journey can be extended with any of the experiences and destinations offered by Strada Expeditions. You might combine it with a major city stay or an iconic Australian destination to create a seamless journey from coast to outback.
Strada takes care of every detail from the moment you land in Australia to the moment you depart, including accommodation, transfers, domestic flights, and hand-picked experiences. Every element is coordinated to create a smooth and memorable journey that feels effortless from start to finish.
Visit the Experiences page for inspiration, or reach out directly to Strada Expeditions to share your interests, travel dates, and preferences. Together we will design a complete itinerary tailored to you, ensuring every part of your trip captures the best of Australia.