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There’s no doubt that Australia’s East Coast is absolute paradise. There are loads of cheap and free things to do in Australia – from markets to live music, free comedy gigs to amazing walking trails, cheap ferry rides and cheap eats! And let’s be honest – who doesn’t want to explore the best of what Australia has on offer for less than a price of a box of goon? So here it is, a list of our top 101 things to do along Australia’s East coastline for $10 or less.
Melbourne
1. Stroll through the graffiti lined, inner city laneways
2. Spot for Penguins at St Kilda Pier
3. Get a taste of Melbourne’s CBD by jumping on the FREE City Circle Tram
4. Take a free city walking tour, departing from the Sir Redmond Barry Statue at the State Library of Victoria at 10:30am & 2:30pm daily
5. Grab a few beers and have a BBQ at the Royal Botanic Gardens
6. Hire a bike from one of Melbourne’s 51 bike stations and explore the St Kilda foreshore & Brighton Bathing Boxes
7. Head to Chinatown for a cheap feed (you can BYO Booze too)!
8. Pick up some souvenirs or a cheap feed at the Queen Victoria Market – you can also check out the Winter Night Market on Wednesday nights!
9. Jump on a tram to St Kilda – Melbourne’s funky beach side suburb
10. Have a beer at any of Melbourne’s rooftop bars – our favs – Rooftop Bar, Madame Brussels, Campari House & Carlton Club
11. Explore the hipster northern suburbs by foot or tram – Brunswick and Fitzroy
12. Check out one of the free films or exhibitions at the Australia Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) at Federation Square
13. Take a tram to Chapel Street in South Yarra and taste test yummy goodies at Prahran Market and explore Melbourne’s best street of shopping
14. Check out some Aboriginal artwork at the Ian Potter Centre
15. Take a free tour of the Parliament of Victoria
16. Free Wi-Fi hot spots: Federation Square, Flinders St Station, City Library, State Library of Victoria, Queen Victoria Building, Melbourne Airport, Melbourne Museum & Melbourne Visitor Centre
Sydney
17. Buy a Ferry Pass for a cheap scenic boat ride under the Harbour Bridge and by the Sydney Opera House
18. Free City Walking Tour departing daily at 10:30am & 2:30pm from Sydney Town Hall
19. For the lazy or hungover, take the Free 555 bus throughout the city centre
20. Head down to Darling Harbour on a Saturday night and catch the free fireworks display
21. Every weekend you can find funky little markets in the city’s suburbs: Glebe Market, The Rocks Market & Paddington Market are our favourites
22. Take a bus to Bondi Beach and stroll along the scenic coastal walk to Coogee Beach
23. Enjoy one of the free exhibitions or art displays at the Art Gallery of NSW. They have free films on Wednesday evenings!
24. Soak in the sights and enjoy free live music with the best views in the country at the Opera Bar
25. Take a donation based Yoga Class in Paddington at Barefoot Yoga Studio
26. Museum of Contemporary Arts (MCA) has free entry and is located at The Rocks
27. Royal Botanic Gardens offer great views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge & the Rose Gardens – great place to chill in the sun
28. Take a ferry to Manly Beach for the day
29. Have a browse through Chinatown
30. Check out our guide to Sydney’s best cheap places to eat and grab an affordable meal
31. Walk to the Rocks to get some epic photos of Sydney Harbour Bridge
32. Catch a live gig at the Oxford Arts Factory
33. Chill out in Hyde Park
34. Explore Sydney by bike – only $10/hour or $19/4hour
35. Say hi to the Koala out the front of the Wild Life Sydney Zoo in Darling Harbour
36. Take a train ride down to the famous Cronulla Beach for the day
37. Free Wi – Fi Hot Spots: Circular Quay, Public Libraries & McDonalds Restaurants
Byron Bay
38. Walk to the Byron Bay Lighthouse for an amazing sunrise or sunset
39. Pick up some colourful pieces from Byron Bay’s Artisan Markets every Saturday night in the Railway Park 4pm – 9pm from October to April
40. Chill by Byron’s main beach
41. Go halvies with your travel buddy and hire a surfboard
42. Visit the Arts Factory Lodge and take part in the free drumming classes, activities or a swim in the tea tree lake
43. If you have a car drive out to the hippy village of Nimbin
44. Explore the quirky and colourful shops in Byron’s town centre
45. Have your palm read by a local
46. Venture to Byron’s hinterland and take a swim in Minyon Falls
47. Explore the less touristy beaches: Belongil Beach, The Wreck, Clarkes Beach, The Pass, Watego’s Beach, Little Watego’s, Cosy Corner, Tallow Beach
Brisbane
48. Check out Brisbane’s up and coming indie bands for FREE every Friday at Green Jam Sessions – hosted at the outdoor amphitheater at Melbourne St Green from 5:30pm
49. Explore the alternative shops and cafes in Westend
50. Go for a swim in Brisbane’s inner city lagoon
51. Take the Red City Hopper Ferry for free around Brisbane’s River
52. Chill in the Botanical Gardens
53. Window shop in Brisbane’s hipster suburb Fortitude Valley
54. Hire a bike and cycle the New Farm River Walk
55. Enjoy free entry to the Museum of Modern Art in Southbank and check out the many art exhibitions including film, cinema, sculptures, digital media & more
56. Eat Street Markets in Eagle Farm is our favourite. The stalls are set up in shipping containers and you will find anything and everything here! Open Friday evening, Saturday & Sunday all year round
57. Enjoy free comedy at “Knockoff” at Brisbane’s Powerhouse every Friday at 6pm
58. Find all sorts at the Queensland Museum including Aboriginal history and culture
59. Free Films at the State Library. On most Sundays
60. Check out the Southbank Markets for International Food, Fashion, Art & Entertainment
61. Go for a drive to Lamington National Park
62. Walk to the top of the Mt Cootha Botanical Gardens. Just a 15 minute bus journey from Brisbane CBD and home to acres of sub tropical gardens.
63. Free Wi – Fi Spots: Gallery of Modern Art, State Library
Noosa
64. For as little as $5 you can book a Noosa Ferry ticket. BYO booze and they will even offer a glass with ice!
65. Spot for Koalas in Noosa National Park
66. Chill by Noosa Main Beach
67. Hire a Kayak or Canoe and cruise along Noosa River
68. Grab a free body board from Nomads Noosa
69. Eumundi Markets are a must and are open every Wednesday & Saturday morning. Take bus 631
70. Hire a fishing rod and catch your dinner from one of Noosa’s many fishing spot
71. Soak up the sun at Sunshine Beach
72. Check out the views from Laguna Lookout
73. Take a stroll along the Noosa Coastal Walk and check out some of the less known beaches
74. Take a walk to Carlo Sand Blow – it will BLOW your mind!
75. Spot for Dolphins at Tin Can Bay
Airlie Beach
76. Sunbake at the Airlie Beach Lagoon
77. Head on down to Airlie’s safe swim beach by the Greyhound bus stop
78. Check out the weekend markets on the waterfront
79. Enjoy live music by the beach every Sunday
80. Enjoy the scenery along the Bicentennial Boardwalk from Airlie Beach to Cannonvale
81. Spot for wildlife in the rainforest along the Whitsunday Great Walk
82. Have a BBQ at the quiet and picturesque Shingley Beach
83. If you have a car make sure you pay a visit to Cedar Creek Falls
Magnetic Island
84. Walk to the top of Hawkings Point to capture an island sunset
85. Check out the historic WWII forts on the Forts Walk
86. Watch the Toad Races at Arcadia Hotel
87. Soak up the sun on a secluded beach in Radical or Florence Bays
88. For the fit, take a scenic walk to Rocky Bay
89. Grab some snorkels from Base Magnetic Island and check out the world beneath the ocean
90. Snap some photos from Tom Thumb lookout
Cairns
91. Go for a swim in Cairns Lagoon
92. For 360 degree views of Cairns and beyond, climb up Walsh’s Pyramid – the highest natural pyramid in the world
93. (if you have a car) head out to Crystal Cascades for a swim and some rock jumping
94. Hire a bike and take a ride to Cairn’s northern beaches
95. For less than $10 you can book a return bus to Palm Cove or any of Cairns northern beaches
96. Cairns Museum has lots on offer for around $5 entry
97. Grab a quick head massage at the Cairns Night Markets
98. Enjoy the Red Arrow (30 mins) or the Blue Arrow (a few hours) walks in the Botanic Gardens for amazing views of surrounding Cairns
99. Head to Rusty’s Markets to make the best fruit salad you have ever tasted for less than $10!
100. Live like a local for a day and get a public bus to Trinity Beach
101. Make the most of the free fitness classes and yoga on the esplanade
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