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North Coast NSW is one among my favorite areas in Australia. It’s lush, hilly, crammed with historical rainforests, magnificent views, beautiful shoreline and seashores, and various life.
It’s the place my soul involves breathe and simply be.
One of the simplest ways to soak up all the sweetness and serenity of this area is on a NSW street journey from Lennox Head to the Gold Coast.
It passes by means of the hinterland and likewise huge stretches of coast, in addition to stops by means of sleepy cities the place you possibly can kick off your sneakers and let your worries slip away.
There are such a lot of stunning locations to take pleasure in on this drive, that we felt it was solely proper to share them with you. On this information, we’ll be sharing the final word New South Wales street journey itinerary from Lennox Head to Gold Coast and all the highest spots to take a look at alongside the way in which.
Go have a look!
What Is the Drive from Lennox Head to Gold Coast?
The Lennox Head to Gold Coast street journey is a scenic drive that takes you alongside the coast of New South Wales, Australia. The entire drive takes solely an hour and half-hour, however you’ll want to cease off at a number of places alongside the way in which.
We suggest you begin from Lennox Head and head north in direction of the Gold Coast, however you possibly can simply reverse this itinerary and drive the opposite approach, extending the journey on to Yamba, South West Rocks and even on to Sydney.
How Lengthy Do You Want For a North Coast NSW Highway Journey?
How lengthy you spend doing this street journey will largely depend upon how a lot time you have got out there, as some stops may be skipped in the event you’re quick on time.
Nonetheless, if time is at your disposal, we suggest you spend not less than 3-4 days to per week driving from Lennox Head to Gold Coast.
When you’ve got longer, then you possibly can simply use it. It’s price spending a day or two at every vacation spot we point out within the beneath itinerary so you possibly can actually discover the world, though we don’t suggest anyplace that you could possibly would wish to spend over per week at.
NSW Highway Journey Itinerary
Now you understand how lengthy to put aside to your journey, it’s time to point out you just a few of our favorite spots on the North Coast of NSW to incorporate in your Lennox Head to Gold Coast street journey.
We’ve integrated locations to remain at every cease on the journey. However you possibly can simply base your self in central Byron Bay space and discover from there in the event you didn’t need to transfer round an excessive amount of.
Cease 1: Lennox Head
The primary cease is after all, Lennox Head. You could possibly simply spend a day or two having fun with this city and all it has to supply earlier than heading out on the street journey.
In the event you’re a eager surfer, the lengthy right-hand break at Lennox is fairly well-known. Hearsay has it Jack Johnson and Ben Harper prefer to surf right here!
After a time out on the waves, drive as much as the headland to the Port Morton Lookout for some beautiful views again down the Lennox Shoreline and Seven Mile Seashore.
Take the steps on the high and switch proper. Observe the monitor by means of the farmland and alongside the cliffs high and also you’ll be met with beautiful views – it’s a shocking and peaceable stroll.
In the event you take pleasure in a peaceable and scenic stroll, you possibly can stroll all the way in which round to Skennars Head, we made it simply to Boulders Seashore.
The place to remain in Lennox Head
Cease 2: Damaged Head
Damaged Head is simply a 10-minute drive from Lennox Head, which makes it the proper place to camp if you’d like a vacation targeted on enjoyable on the seashore.
There are a number of actually stunning and secluded seashores close to Damaged Head, equivalent to Whites Seashore and Brays Seashore, that are accessible through a dust monitor and require a little bit of mountaineering to get to.
For that motive, not many individuals go there, which suggests you possibly can (more than likely) have the seashore to your self!
It’s best to purpose to spend a day or so in Damaged Head and discover all the gorgeous seashores within the space.
It’s solely about 7kms from Byron Bay, so in the event you don’t need to hold round on the seashores you possibly can proceed on. It additionally means you possibly can keep in Byron Bay and have a little bit of vibrancy, however there isn’t a lot else to do at Damaged Head however relax on the fairly seashore areas.
The place to remain in Damaged Head
- Damaged Head Vacation Park has air-conditioned visitor lodging just a few steps from Damaged Head Seashore and 1.8 miles from Tallow Seashore
- A Excellent Keep – Tidemark is a self-catered trip residence with a personal pool and backyard solely a 3-minute stroll from Damaged Head Seashore.
Cease 3: Tallows Seashore
I really like watching the surf at Tallows Seashore from the Byron Bay Lighthouse. Tallows is a big stretch of white sand and thunderous surf on the northern finish of Seven Mile Seashore.
We truly watched a surfer rescued by Jet Ski who was caught in a rip and brought approach out across the lighthouse headland.
It’s the browsing place for many who know what they’re doing. In the event you don’t, simply get a chilly bevvy and sit again and watch like we did.
The place to remain close to Tallows Seashore
- You’ll be able to’t go previous this luxury escape. Iluka Pavilion 5 is nestled amongst rainforest tea timber and options direct entry to Tallow Seashore. The villa gives 2 massive luxurious bedrooms, 1 smaller bed room, 3 bogs and a central dwelling/lounge space separated within the heart of the villa advanced. The home is adorned with aboriginal artwork and textiles. See charges and availability right here.
Cease 4: Byron Bay Lighthouse
Sundown is the time to go to the Byron lighthouse. It sit on high of a cliff trying over the ocean, which in the event you go to throughout June to November, is often crammed with dolphins and humpback whales on their annual migration. It’s the proper spot for whale watching from the shore.
Right here’s a tip – don’t park within the lighthouse automobile park. They shut it proper on sundown, so that you miss the afterglow of colors. Park just under, or stroll up from Wategos Seashore.
The lighthouse is nice at any time to go to, however sundown is very stunning.
We additionally extremely suggest strolling from Byron Bay to the lighthouse. It’s solely a brief 3.7 km loop, however the views are stunning and it’s straightforward to do – we’ve carried out it twice with the children.
(Simply bribe them with an ice-cream on the Lighthouse Cafe.)
Cease 5: Byron Bay
I might simply by no means go away Byron. It’s some of the iconic locations in Australia, and for good motive.
It has this glorious Asian really feel to the vitality and life-style – it’s eclectic, various, accepting and sluggish tempo. There’s additionally a little bit of an “up-market vibe” if that’s what you want.
It’s on a crystal mattress AND has been a sacred therapeutic floor for over 20,000 years. It has at all times been a spot for ceremony, dancing circles, birthing rituals and religious respite and dreaming.
Are you able to see the impact this place has on folks then?
We love Byron, as you possibly can see from the various guides now we have on Bryon Bay, so for now all we suggest you do is benefit from the seashore life-style, check out a number of the wonderful cafes, do some buying, and absorb each magnificent sundown on the seashore.
We suggest you keep not less than 3 days having fun with all of the sights that Byron has to supply. Try these high Byron Bay seashores and issues to do with children in Byron Bay.
The place to remain in Byron Bay
- Victoria at Wategos gives lodging with views over the backyard, outside pool or Cape Byron Lighthouse. Offering browsing facilities, it’s simply 350 toes from Wategos Seashore in Byron Bay. Learn extra critiques and e book your keep right here.
- Components of Byron Nestled on 50 acres of absolute beachfront, Components Of Byron Resort & Spa options non-public villas with unique beachfront and a lagoon pool. Learn extra critiques and e book your keep right here.
- Seashore Lodge Resort Simply 150 toes from Byron Bay’s Foremost Seashore and surrounded by lush tropical gardens, this resort gives free WiFi, an opulent swimming pool and a scorching tub Learn extra critiques and e book your keep right here.
- We’ve camped at Reflections Vacation Park earlier than. Whereas small, it has an unbeatable location righ ton Clarkes Seashore.
Cease 6: Belongil Seashore
The following seashore from Byron is Belongil, which we solely found on the day we left. We acquired a scorching tip from a neighborhood who mentioned cease for breakfast at Belongil Bistro.
In all honesty, there’s not a lot right here on this charming one road village, which is all of the extra motive to absorb the serenity.
This can be a fast espresso or breakfast cease on the way in which to the following vacation spot on this NSW street journey, which is someplace you’re going to need to give loads of time…
The place to remain in Belongil Seashore
You could possibly have a quieter expertise staying at Belongil Seashore relatively than Byron. They’re fairly shut to one another.
- 3 Salty Sisters is a 3-bedroom trip residence with a balcony and fairly backyard. It’s solely a 2-minute stroll from Belongil Seashore.
- Swell Byron Bay is reverse Belongil Seashore and has beachfront lodging with swimming pool and gardens.
- The beautiful 4-bedroom trip residence, Belongil Beachfront Pavilion is simply steps away from Belongil Seashore.
Cease 7: The Byron Bay Hinterland
Take a detour into the sub-tropical hinterland within the Northern Rivers, the place you’ll discover rolling hills, pristine rainforest, secluded waterfalls and spectacular views.
The Byron Bay hinterland a shocking space to go to. It’s an enormous space of 12,406 km² and is well-known for its beautiful pure magnificence, making it the proper place to do some mountaineering or absorb the vitality of the rainforests and waterfalls.
Our high ideas are head to the Crystal Fort at Mullumbimby the place you’ll get stunning views, superior meals, and a few crystal therapeutic.
Inform me you don’t stroll out of right here feeling calm and comfortable…
Additionally go to Bangalow, a small city outdoors Byron Bay for lunch, or when the Sunday market is on (fourth Sunday of each month).
Cease 8: Cabarita Seashore
Cabarita is a spot I need to return to discover extra. We solely stopped in on a brief morning drive however we might see it had a lot extra to supply.
The Cudgen Nature Reserve is without doubt one of the high sights in Cabarita (apart from the seashore after all) and is the proper place to take a kayak or canoe out onto the lake.
The surf right here was wonderful and there’s a pretty quick stroll to Norries Headland for spectacular views of Diamond Seashore.
Cabarita is a 40-minute drive from Byron Bay, passing by means of Brunswick Heads (a spot you need to cease for a day when you’ve got further time to make use of) and Hastings Level.
The place to remain in Cabarita Seashore
I’d most likely keep in Kingscliff and go to Cabarita from there.
Cease 9: Salt Seashore, Kingscliff
Salt Seashore is simply an 8-minute drive from Cabarita.
We love Salt Seashore and at all times keep on the Mantra after we go to. We might simply spend a few weeks enjoyable right here. The sunrises are a number of the finest I’ve seen.
We undoubtedly suggest strolling from Salt Seashore round to Kingscliff by means of the bush monitor and across the creek. It solely took us 40 minutes with the women.
Cease 10: Kingscliff
Kingscliff is one other sleepy city that you could possibly end up kicking again in for some time. It has just one principal road, however you wouldn’t suppose it as a result of there’s fairly a vibrant ambiance right here.
As all seashores alongside the East Coast, Kingscliff attracts a surfer crowd, and is a superb place to do some watersports equivalent to kayaking, snorkelling or scuba diving.
Cudgen Creek is the spotlight of this pretty small city near the border.
The water is crystal clear and excellent for rise up paddle boarding, kayaking and swimming, particularly for households. You’ll discover there are such a lot of issues to do in Kingscliff, you’ll need to keep for a few days.
The place to remain in Kingscliff
In the event you didn’t need to keep on the Mantra on Salt, listed below are another locations in Kingscliff.
Cease 11: Fingal Head
Fingall Head is simply a 15-minute drive from Kingscliff and is the proper cease off level on the way in which to the Gold Coast.
There’s a brief walk-through remnant coastal rainforest to the headland and lighthouse in Fingal. Right here you’ll discover some nice views of Fingal Seashore and Dreamtime Seashore.
You too can take a river cruise alongside the Tweed River, or take a ship tour over to Prepare dinner Island to snorkel with turtles.
After a day at Fingal Seashore, you’re crossing over the border into Queensland.
The place to remain in Fingal Head
- The Seaside Vacation Resort is positioned reverse Fingal Seashore, and encompasses a kids’s playground, BBQ services, and a picnic space. They’ve self-contained residences with a personal patio.
Cease 12: The Gold Coast
The final cease is the Gold Coast. It’s well-known for its lengthy, sandy seashores, epic surf and the Lamington Nationwide Park, which is residence to mountains, valleys, rainforest and loads of wildlife.
It’s additionally the theme park capital of Australia, so in the event you’re travelling with children, you had higher ensure that to cease off at Moist ‘n’ Wild or DreamWorld!
There are such a lot of issues to do within the Gold Coast for households, you could possibly simply spend a full week right here on the finish of your journey. However in the event you’re not blessed with time, we suggest staying not less than 3 days. Right here is our 48-hour itinerary for the Gold Coast and listed below are some high free issues to do on the Gold Coast.
The place to remain on the Gold Coast
We suggest staying within the southern a part of the Gold Coast (and even the hinterland) as a substitute of the Surfers Paradise area.
How you can Prolong this NSW Highway Journey
When you’ve got extra time at your disposal and need to see extra of New South Wales, you could possibly flip this itinerary on it’s head and drive from the Gold Coast to Sydney.
To drive from the Gold Coast to Sydney, we might say you have to allocate 2 weeks (together with the stops to Lennox Head above).
The whole drive is 526 mi (847 km), which takes 8 hrs and 21 minutes. You could possibly simply skip some locations and preserve going if time is of the essence, or cease and spend longer.
Listed below are the stops we suggest you cease off at for a day or two:
If you wish to prolong it even additional, head down in direction of Royal Nationwide Park and take the Grand Pacific Freeway previous Sea Cliff Bridge, Wollongong, Kiama Blowhole, and the Shoalhaven.
NSW Highway Journey Map
That will help you navigate this itinerary, see the beneath map which has routes for Lennox Head to the Gold Coast, plus an extra route which extends from Lennox Head down in direction of Sydney.
Ultimate Ideas on This NSW Highway Journey
We love this route from Lennox Head to the Gold Coast, it has every thing you could possibly probably need and extra.
Nature? Verify!
Seashores? Verify, Verify!
Serenity? Verify, test and test!
We hope this information helped you intend your route and gave you some concepts for what to see and do. The North Coast NSW area is spectacular and deserves a devotion of your time exploring!
What locations do you suggest seeing on this North Coast NSW street journey? Tell us within the feedback.
Supply: Breaking Travel News
