Queensland is the heart of the east coast route: from the surf beaches of the Gold Coast via K'gari and the Whitsundays to the Great Barrier Reef and the rainforest near Cairns. Here you'll find all 11 places with 149 checked spots, the climate, jobs and the matching road trips.
Brisbane is Queensland's laid-back capital and for many the start of the east coast heading north: a free city beach, 50-cent ferries, cheaper rent than Sydney and plenty of jobs in construction and warehouses.
The Gold Coast is Australia's surf and party coast: world-famous waves at the Superbank, calm river mouths for swimming, high-rises right on the beach and a green hinterland with waterfalls and glow worms.
Cairns is the end of the east coast route and the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest — two World Heritage sites side by side.
Magnetic Island is a 20-minute ferry ride from Townsville: wild koalas in the gum trees, rock wallabies by the water and swimming bays between granite boulders.
Bundaberg is one of Queensland's biggest harvest areas and for many working holiday makers the place to do their 88 days of farm work.
K'gari, formerly Fraser Island, is the world's largest sand island and a UNESCO World Heritage site: freshwater lakes with white sand, a beach that doubles as a highway and wild dingoes.
Noosa is about two hours north of Brisbane on the Sunshine Coast: a national park with koalas right by the beach, long longboard waves and one of the few east coast beaches with a sunset over the water.
Airlie Beach is the gateway to the Whitsunday Islands: sailing trips to Whitehaven Beach with its almost pure silica sand, scenic flights over Heart Reef and snorkelling tours on the Great Barrier Reef start here.
Mission Beach is the quietest stop on the east coast between Townsville and Cairns: 14 kilometres of palm-lined beach between rainforest and reef, wild cassowaries and skydives that land on the sand.
Rainbow Beach is a small town at the gateway to K'gari: coloured sand cliffs, a huge dune above the sea and hostels that run 4WD tours to the island.
Agnes Water and the Town of 1770 are two small towns on the Queensland coast: the state's northernmost surf beach is here, boats run to the coral island of Lady Musgrave, and the sun sets over the sea.
All 149 spots at a glance: open the Queensland map.
The south around Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Noosa is subtropical and warm all year. The further north you go, the more tropical it gets: May to October is the dry season with clear water on the reef and pleasant temperatures, November to April the wet season with humidity, storms and the occasional cyclone. In the tropical north stinger season runs roughly from November to May, so only swim inside stinger nets or in a stinger suit.
Queensland is one of the most important states for the 88 days. Bundaberg and Childers are almost year-round harvest areas with lots of working hostels (peak season in June), Bowen has mangoes and vegetables (from November), Stanthorpe stone fruit and berries (December) and the Sunshine Coast strawberries (July). Brisbane has jobs in hospitality and construction, but the city doesn't count towards the 88 days. In remote areas tourism work can count too. Always check the postcode with Home Affairs before you start a job.
Minimum wage, tax, your rights and the harvest calendar for all of Australia are on Working in Australia.
For the tropical north with Cairns and the Whitsundays, May to October. The south around Brisbane, Noosa and the Gold Coast is pleasant all year, but hot and humid in summer.
Mainly in Bundaberg and Childers, plus Bowen, Stanthorpe and the Sunshine Coast. Working hostels there often arrange jobs directly, but read their conditions carefully first.
In the south yes, between the flags where lifeguards patrol. In the tropical north, from roughly November to May only inside stinger nets or in a stinger suit, and never at river mouths or mangroves because of crocodiles.
New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory.
Updated October 2026. Checked against official sources. Whether a job counts towards your second visa is decided by Home Affairs alone, so check with them before you start.