Ten Days on the FlexiPass, an East Coast Road Trip with Brit Bruhn

Brit Bruhn is no stranger to adventure. She and her partner Dylan have built and lived in multiple campervans, chased waves across continents, and spent years travelling slowly, intentionally, and close to nature.

So when they landed in Australia for the first time, they knew exactly how they wanted to explore it: on the road, with everything they needed packed into one rolling home, and enough freedom to say yes to whatever the day brought.

What followed was ten unforgettable days travelling Australia’s East Coast in a Mystery Machine campervan, a trip filled with surf breaks, waterfalls, wildlife, local kindness, and that feeling you only get when the road is wide open and the plan is loose.

The rest of this story is told in Brit’s own words.

Picking Up the Van & Rolling Straight Into It

We just got back to Brisbane and dropped the van off, and honestly, we’re already sad it’s over.

The second we pulled out with the Mystery Machine, it was game on. We stopped at our very first traffic light and someone pulled up next to us hooting and hollering, yelling stuff out the window about how epic the van was. That kind of set the tone for the whole trip.

People were excited. Locals were smiling. It felt welcoming right away.

We’d been travelling for a while before Australia, so it felt really good to just load everything into one space and go. Boards, snorkel gear, fishing rods, backpacks, everything had a spot. No overthinking it.

Day One: Sunshine Coast, jungle…and Now it Feels Real

Our first day was pretty chill. We worked our way up toward the Sunshine Coast and the hinterland and ended up around the Mooloolah Valley area. Long travel day, so we laid low, grabbed dinner, and crashed early.

But even that first night was wild. We pulled into where we were staying and looked out over these mountains with fruit trees everywhere. I remember just standing there taking panoramic videos like, “This is crazy. I can’t believe we’re actually here.”

Even right away, we were seeing wildlife, tropical plants, and just way more greenery than I expected. Everything felt bigger, lusher, more alive.

Surf in the Morning, Waterfalls by Afternoon

The next day we woke up and headed to Noosa National Park, and honestly, that was the perfect intro to Australia.

We were walking through the jungle with our surfboards, and there’s a python just hanging in a tree above us. You’re surrounded by this dense green jungle, then you look out and there’s crystal-clear water and perfect point breaks. Surfing point to point there was unreal.

What blew us away was how easy it was to do everything in one day. You can surf in the morning, drive inland, hike mountains, swim in waterfalls, and still be back cooking dinner at camp that night.

Coming from places where you need passes and permits and pay for everything, it felt so free here. Just roaming between oceans and mountains, all in the same day.

Inland Adventures: Mountains, Hikes, and Chasing Waterfalls

We spent time inland around the Glass House Mountains and the hinterland, doing hikes and chasing waterfalls that locals recommended to us.

That was a big theme of the trip, locals helping us out. Someone would say, “Everyone goes there, but you should check out this spot,” and next thing you know we’re swimming under a waterfall or jumping off rocks somewhere we never would’ve found on our own.

We saw so much wildlife just driving through national parks, kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, snakes…and one huge bucket-list moment for me: seeing wild platypus swimming in a river. That was insane!

The Mystery Machine: Simple, Comfortable, and Just Works

We’ve built and lived in multiple campervans ourselves, from super basic to way more built-out, and this van was honestly the perfect middle ground.

It had everything we needed:

• Storage for all our gear
• A sink for dishes, coffee, brushing teeth
• A big comfy bed that converts into a lounge setup
• A table where we could sit, eat, and hang out
• Shelter from rain or sun when we needed it

What I really loved is how approachable it felt. If you’ve never lived in a van or even been camping before, this wouldn’t feel intimidating.

It’s simple, functional, and comfortable without being complicated.

It really was the perfect setup for adventuring around this region.

Camps, Caravan Parks, and Falling Asleep to Kangaroos

Finding places to stay was way easier than I expected. We mostly used Google Maps and sometimes iOverlander. There are heaps of caravan parks and eco parks, and they’re really well set up.

We stayed at places with showers, bathrooms, water fill-ups, and also found some beautiful free spots along rivers where locals were fishing and camping.

One of our favourite stays was up at Crystal Waters Eco Park. There were mobs of kangaroos everywhere, just hopping across the road and hanging out in the fields. Falling asleep surrounded by that was pretty special.

The Van Helped us Meet Locals

Driving on the left side took a minute to get used to, not gonna lie. There were a lot of laughs, a few reminders like “you’re drifting,” but it really wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.

What made everything even better was how friendly people were. The van was such an icebreaker. People would come up to us at camp spots, grocery stores, stoplights, asking about the van, asking where we’d been, giving tips.

We got so many “Where’s Scooby?” comments and laughs. It made meeting people really easy, even if you didn’t already have local friends.

Seeing it All in Ten Days

Ten days felt like the perfect amount of time for this region. The Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast combo was ideal, heaps of time on the coast, but also plenty of inland adventures.

You don’t even have to drive far here to experience so much. Half a day surfing or snorkeling, then a hike with a view, then back to camp for the night. It’s so convenient.

We did a lot, but it never felt rushed.

Would We Do It This Way Again? Absolutely.

We’re sad to see it end, but we’re so grateful for this trip.

Australia honestly exceeded what I had pictured in my head, more wildlife, more mountains, more variety, more kindness.

Travelling by campervan made it feel personal and flexible and real.

If we came back, we’d do it the same way. Hoodie weather at night, swimsuit during the day, waking up somewhere new, and carrying our little home with us wherever we went.

This was a really special ten days.

Why This Trip Belongs on Your East Coast Road Trip Itinerary

If you're planning an East Coast Australia road trip, Brit's ten-day journey shows just how much you can experience from the driver's seat of a campervan.

From surfing and snorkelling on the coast to waterfalls, mountain hikes and wildlife encounters inland, the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast offer an incredible variety of experiences without requiring huge distances between them.

Travelling in a Mystery Machine campervan gave Brit and her partner the freedom to move between beaches, national parks, waterfalls and campsites while carrying everything they needed with them.

Along the way, they discovered local tips, wildlife, beautiful camping spots and the flexibility that comes with having your own little home on wheels.

Whether you're a first-time campervan traveller or already comfortable living on the road, this trip is a great example of why the East Coast is made for campervan travel.

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How long do you need for an East Coast Australia road trip?

Brit and her partner Dylan found that ten days was a great amount of time to explore the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast, with enough time for coastal activities as well as inland adventures. They were able to combine surfing and snorkelling with hikes, waterfalls and wildlife experiences without feeling rushed.

Is the East Coast of Australia good for a campervan road trip?

Absolutely. The East Coast offers an easy mix of beaches, national parks, mountains, waterfalls and wildlife, often within relatively short driving distances. Travelling by campervan also gives you the flexibility to change plans, follow local recommendations and stay close to the places you want to explore.

What can you do on an East Coast Australia road trip?

There is plenty to experience, including surfing, snorkelling, hiking, swimming beneath waterfalls, exploring national parks and spotting Australian wildlife. Brit's trip included Noosa National Park, the Glass House Mountains and the hinterland, as well as encounters with kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, snakes and wild platypus.

Is the Mystery Machine suitable for first-time campervan travellers?

According to Brit, the Mystery Machine is simple, functional and comfortable without being complicated. Having previously built and lived in several campervans, she described it as a good middle ground, with storage, a sink, a convertible bed and lounge, a table and shelter from the weather. She also felt it would be approachable for someone who had never lived in a van or even camped before.

Where can you stay on an East Coast campervan trip?

Brit found a range of caravan parks and eco parks along the route, as well as free camping spots. She used Google Maps and sometimes iOverlander to find places to stay, and particularly enjoyed Crystal Waters Eco Park, where kangaroos were everywhere.