The Ultimate Sydney To Brisbane Road Trip Itinerary

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The long-lasting east coast highway journey from Sydney to Brisbane, generally known as the Legendary Pacific Coast, is one in all Australia’s high highway journeys.

Stretching 900 kms alongside the Pacific Freeway hall it has one thing for everybody: beautiful seashores, inexperienced rolling hills, beachside cities, riverside cities, wineries, historic websites, the hinterland, wildlife watching, and each water sport possible.

It’s a drive we’ve carried out many occasions and every time we uncover new wonders, new locations to remain, and new eating choices. Greatest explored at your individual tempo in your individual automobile, we suggest taking a minimum of per week, ideally two, to do that drive.

We as soon as spent six weeks tenting alongside the Pacific Coast from our hometown Woy Woy to Byron Bay, and did it once more as a household of 4 on our epic 18-month Australia highway journey.

Listed here are all of the stops on the Sydney to Brisbane highway journey and a few useful tricks to make your journey go easily…

About This Sydney to Brisbane Highway Journey Itinerary

The gap between Sydney and Brisbane is round 981 km and takes 10 hours to drive in a single go, hugging the East Coast of Australia shoreline for a lot of the means.

In fact, it would be best to cease alongside the way in which, which is why we propose setting apart a minimum of per week. We’ll suggest locations to remain, additional studying guides, and excursions and points of interest by way of Get Your Information.

We like them the very best because the reserving affirmation is quick, you’ll be able to learn 1000’s of evaluations and you may cancel anytime as much as 24 hours earlier than the exercise.

It’s all the time finest to guide prematurely for safety and to avoid wasting time!

Here’s a map that reveals the path to take and every cease alongside the way in which.

Stops on a Sydney to Brisbane Highway Journey

Under you can see the very best stops on the Sydney to Brisbane drive itinerary. You may spend as a lot time as you please at every place, however we suggest 1-2 days at every to essentially get a really feel for them.

Cease 1: Sydney

Earlier than you pack up your automobile and head out in your journey, be sure you spend just a few days exploring Sydney first.

This iconic metropolis has a lot to see and luxuriate in, from the well-known Sydney Opera Home to climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

And if you happen to discover cities overwhelming, the Blue Mountains Nationwide Park is barely a brief drive out of the town and is the place you could find the well-known three sisters rock formations.

When you have time earlier than you begin driving up the coast, we extremely suggest visiting Katoomba, a small city the place you get superb panoramic views of The Blue Mountains.

Cease 2: The Central Coast

Simply an hour north of Sydney is our hometown area of the Central Coast.

Most travellers have a tendency to stay on the principle freeway and by-pass this stunning area. However we had so as to add it in.

Widespread locations embrace Terrigal which is a stylish and upmarket seashore space with tons of cafes, eating places, fishing, diving, whale watching, and probably the greatest beer gardens in Australia on the Crowne Plaza Resort.

For the character buffs, don’t miss a stroll in Bouddi Nationwide Park which has dramatic coastal views in addition to secluded seashores and tenting alternatives.

Different locations to take a look at:

• Avoca
• MacMasters Seashore
• Copacabana Seashore
• The Entrance
• Toowoon Bay

Cease 2: Newcastle

We’ve got been exploring extra of this area lately. The beachside metropolis of Newcastle was voted as one in all Lonely Planet’s must-see locations for 2011. With nice seashores, interior metropolis pubs with reside music, and a thriving restaurant scene, reminiscent of Derby road, Newcastle is a occurring place.

At close by Stockton Seashore there are the huge Stockton sand dunes providing 4WD excursions, sand boarding, and quad biking.

And simply north of Newcastle is Port Stephens, a vacation spot with unbelievable fishing, stunning seashores, alternatives for snorkelling and diving, and for whale and dolphin watching. Nelsons Bay is the principle city on this space.

Cease 3: The Hunter Valley

The wine and meals path generally known as the Hunter Valley is one in all our favorite areas in Australia. With over 140 wineries this is the place you need to go to pattern a few of Australia’s finest wines.

There may be additionally an abundance of nice eating places and cafes for the foodies.

And why not incorporate a scorching air balloon experience over the valley if you are there?

We certain did, adopted by a scrumptious lunch on the fashionable Harrigans restaurant.

Cease 4: Seal Rocks

Seal Rocks is a quiet fishing village close to the Myall Lakes Nationwide Park, and gives clear bays for swimming, snorkelling, boating, and fishing.

It’s additionally a terrific place to go tenting, or just take a nature stroll and benefit from the recent air.

Or, why not deal with your self to some nights in a Lighthouse Keepers Cottage with superb ocean views?

Cease 5: The Manning Valley

The riverside cities of Tinonee and Wingham make a pleasant detour off the coastal highway and are inside placing distance of the legendary Ellenborough Falls. 

Spend an evening or drop in for some arts and crafts at Artisans on the Hill B&B adopted by a go to to Australia’s award successful cafe Bent on Meals.

Cease 6: Port Macquarie

Port Macquarie is a vibrant and un-spoilt city sitting on the estuary of the Hastings River.

The beautiful shoreline of the rocky headlands makes it a terrific place to spend just a few quiet days.

Or, in case you are the energetic sort, the spectacular 9km coastal stroll from City Seashore to Tacking Level Lighthouse takes in seashores, headlands, historic websites, and uncommon subtropical rainforest.

With calm waterways, boardwalks, bountiful fishing, attractive Nationwide Parks, and browsing seashores so many guests return to Port Macquarie.

And don’t miss the spectacular sunsets with a beer in hand from the Royal Resort proper on the town on the river.

One other fashionable attraction in Port Macquarie is the Koala Hospital, the place injured koalas are rescued and rehabilitated earlier than heading again to the wild.

Cease in to see these cute native Aussie animals be taken care of and find out about wildlife conservation in Australia.

Cease 7: South West Rocks

Only a 20 minute detour off the Legendary Pacific Coast Drive is South West Rocks. Surrounded by Nationwide Parks and seashores, this small city of 4,000 doesn’t have room to develop which supplies it a small city appeal and ambiance.

There’s solely a small providing of cafes and eating places, however an entire lot of magnificence and rest. Wild kangaroos are in abundance by the seashore in Little Bay, drive out to Smokey Cape Lighthouse, and go to the historic Trial Bay Gaol.

We stayed in a cabin at a Caravan Park in South West Rocks, on the Hat Head Nationwide Park, and would extremely suggest it.

Cease 8: Coffs Harbour

Half means alongside the  Sydney to Brisbane route is Coffs Harbour, and the drive into Coffs is simply attractive with its rolling emerald inexperienced hills. The Coffs Coast space is sufficiently big in itself to spend an entire week and has one thing for everybody.

Should dos embrace:

• The Jetty and Marina space with a stroll to the highest of Mutton Hen island to observe the sundown over the marina.
• A meal and a beer on the crusing membership
• Diggers and Park Seashore
• Take a drive to the riverside city of Bellingen and admire the inventive way of life and cafes.
• A nature stroll in World Heritage listed Dorrigo Nationwide Park
• The BIG Banana (for the banana cut up sundae)
• Seize a espresso within the charming beachside city of Sawtell
• The Butterfly Home (for the children)

Cease 9: Yamba

Yamba lies on the mouth of the Clarence River and has lately gained numerous awards together with Greatest City in Australia. It has a laid-back, quasi-bohemian appeal and a stunning mix of the outdated and the brand new.

There are the chilled cafes and eating places that line the principle road on the town, the charming outdated Film Cinema, and the enduring Pacific Resort that sits on a bluff overlooking the city’s fundamental seashore.

Including to that’s world-class browsing seashores, a river to fish in, considerable wildlife, world-famous prawns, and an ideal local weather. 

There’s additionally a unbelievable coastal stroll you’ll be able to go on by means of the Nationwide Park to the small secluded Shelley’s seashore.

We additionally suggest heading to the Yamba Tavern for fish feeding and sundown watching, Wato’s Fish and Burger Bar on the nook of the principle highway, taking a brief drive to Angourie, and staying at the Yamba YHA which is a superb spot for households.

For a pit cease heading in direction of Byron Bay, we extremely suggest the Macadamia Fort which we consider has the world’s finest pancakes.

And, for a small charge, you’ll be able to exit the again and meet kangaroos, wombats and livestock in your youngsters to get near and feed.

Cease 10: Lennox Head

The scenically stunning coastal drive between Ballina and Byron Bay brings you to the browsing city of Lennox Head. Lennox Level is famous as being one of many high ten browsing breaks in Australia and for that cause is a mecca for surfers.

It’s a fairly laid again and funky place to hang around with boutiques, cafes, and eating places.

Cease 11: Byron Bay

One of many extra fashionable Australian locations, Byron Bay is legendary for its various laid again way of life, world-class individuals watching, studying to surf faculties, and beautiful sheltered seashores reminiscent of Wategoes Seashore. 

The Cape Byron lighthouse is the furthest Easterly level of Australia and could be reached by an attractive coastal cliff stroll.

The very talked-about Byron Bay Bluesfest takes place each Easter, and while in Byron be sure you drive to close by hippy enclave Nimbin, nestled on the foothills of an extinct volcano.

We additionally suggest a meal at Asia Joe’s and a chilly beer and ocean views on the iconic Seashore Resort.

Cease 12: Kingscliff

This gem of a beachside city, Kingscliff is barely a 15-minute drive to the Queensland border. There is just one fundamental road within the city and it’s alive with busy cafes, and eating places. 

There may be additionally a creek that when the tide is down sparkles crystal clear for swimming, fishing, and water sports activities.

Seize a memorable espresso from one of many cafes, have lunch on the surf membership, try the groovy bar “Babalou” on the principle highway, and stroll alongside the seashore entrance.

Cease 13: The Gold Coast

As you cross the border from New South Wales into Queensland you hit the well-known vacation capital of Australia, the Gold Coast. 

This area sits on a 70km stretch of effective, sandy seashore on the Pacific Ocean and has all the pieces you can need.

There may be simply one thing in regards to the Gold Coast, together with:

Our beneficial spots embrace Coolangatta, Kirra Seashore, Currumbin, Burleigh Heads, and Broadbeach. There may be additionally the excessive rise capital of the area, Surfers Paradise, which is present process considerably of a metamorphosis for the higher.

And no matter your style or funds, you’ll discover each lodging sort to fit your wants.

Cease 14: Brisbane

Final however not least, is Brisbane. Our closing vacation spot on this Sydney to Brisbane highway journey.

Brisbane is a vibrant metropolis with a laid-back tradition and an array of nice points of interest. It has all the pieces from breathtaking seashores to its lush rainforest reserves, and naturally, loads of city escapes.

In case you’re bored with nature after per week alongside the coast, head to the GOMA (Gallery of Fashionable Artwork) for a little bit of tradition. Or head over to South Financial institution Parklands or Moreton Bay for some extra pure websites.

No matter you determine to do in Brisbane, you gained’t be disenchanted, The Legendary Pacific Coast has one thing for everybody.

Remaining Ideas on a Sydney to Brisbane Highway Journey

Taking a highway journey alongside the scenic shoreline of Sydney to Brisbane is an unforgettable expertise.

It passes by breathtaking, sun-soaked seashores, rolling hills, and luxurious countryside, in addition to vineyards, rainforests, and extra.

When starvation strikes, there is no such thing as a higher place to fill your abdomen than at one of many small city eating places serving recent native seafood.

Whether or not you’re on the lookout for coastal sightseeing or an action-packed exploration – there’s one thing for everybody alongside the highway journey from Sydney to Brisbane.