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The long-lasting highway journey from Sydney to Brisbane, often called the Legendary Pacific Coast, is one in all Australia’s greatest highway journeys.
Stretching 900 kms alongside the east coast of Australia, often known as the Pacific Freeway hall, it has one thing for everybody: gorgeous seashores, inexperienced rolling hills, beachside cities, riverside cities, wineries, historic websites, the hinterland, wildlife watching, and each water sport conceivable.
It’s a drive we’ve achieved many occasions and every time we uncover new wonders, new locations to remain, and new eating choices. Finest explored at your individual tempo in your individual car, we suggest taking at the very least 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.
On this information, we share our ideally suited itinerary for a highway journey from Sydney to Brisbane and a few useful tricks to make your journey go easily…
Sydney to Brisbane Street Journey Itinerary
The gap between Sydney and Brisbane is round 981 km and takes 10 hours to drive in a single go, hugging the Australia’s East Coast shoreline for a lot of the method.
After all, it would be best to cease alongside the best way, which is why we propose setting apart at the very least per week. We’ll suggest locations to remain, additional studying guides, and excursions and points of interest.
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.
Here’s a map that exhibits the path to take and every cease alongside the best way.
Cease 1: Sydney
Earlier than you pack up your car and head out in your East coast highway journey, be sure to spend just a few days exploring Sydney first.
Spend a day or two wandering across the CBD, do some purchasing and discover the artsy neighborhood of The Rocks District. If you happen to want seashores, head over to the world well-known Bondi Seaside. We love the coastal stroll from Coogee to Bondi if you wish to stretch your legs.
For a bucket listing second, climb the long-lasting Sydney Harbour Bridge or watch a present on the Sydney Opera Home, or in case you have children, take a ferry to Manly and play on the golden sandy seashores.
And if you happen to discover cities overwhelming, the Blue Mountains Nationwide Park is barely a brief drive out of town and is the place you will discover the well-known three sisters rock formations.
You probably 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
- Distance from final cease: 94.6 km through M1
- Drive time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Simply 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 as we all know how idyllic the small coastal cities of this area are.
Fashionable locations embrace Terrigal, which is a classy 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.
If you happen to get pleasure from seashores, don’t miss Avoca Seaside, MacMasters Seaside, Copacabana Seaside and Toowoon Bay.
You can too commerce seashores for the Tuggerah Lake at The Entrance, or go to The Entrance Ocean Baths for a refreshing ocean expertise with out the waves.
Cease 3: Newcastle
- Distance from final cease: 105 km through M1
- Drive time: 1 hour 20 minutes
The beachside metropolis of Newcastle was voted as one in all Lonely Planet’s must-see locations for 2011, and was additionally talked about as a “Good Metropolis” by Nat Geo because of its modern vibe.
With nice seashores, internal metropolis pubs with stay music, and a thriving restaurant scene, Newcastle is a vacation spot on the up.
Sure it’s a metropolis, nevertheless it’s an underrated coastal gem. It has a recent vitality, surf tradition and industrial grit.
Some thrilling issues you are able to do listed below are swim within the refreshing Merewether Ocean Baths, the most important of their variety within the Southern Hemisphere, or go artisan espresso looking on Darby Avenue, a neighborhood favorite thoroughfare recognized for its quirky boutique shops and buzzing cafés.
If you wish to keep away from town vibes, stroll the Bathers Means coastal stroll alongside golden seashores and over dramatic headlands.
Artwork lovers will get pleasure from diving head first into town’s arts scene at The Lock-Up, a up to date gallery housed in a historic police station.
Newcastle is a occurring place, so remember to linger some time.
Cease 4: Port Stephens
- Distance from final cease: 63.5 km through Nelson Bay Street / B63
- Drive time: 1 hour
It’s price stopping by Port Stephens after Newcastle, a small hamlet on the top of a sand barrier.
It’s well-known for its small city of Shoal Bay, which is uncrowded and relaxed. It has a white sand seashore and a laid-back vibe.
Plus it has calm waves so it’s nice for small children to swim in.
It additionally has superb coastal surroundings, incredible fishing, stunning seashores, alternatives for snorkelling and diving, and for whale and dolphin watching. Nelsons Bay is the principle city on this space.
Look out into the waters as you’re paddleboarding for dolphins and search for koalas when mountain climbing the coastal trails.
Over on the opposite aspect you’ll discover Anna Bay, gateway to the Stockton Bight Sand Dunes.
Hop right into a 4WD car and drive alongside Stockton seashore within the Worimi Regional Park, a seashore drive the place you may take a 4WD car onto the seashore and play within the dunes.
Cease 5: The Hunter Valley
- Distance from final cease: 121 km through Nelson Bay Street / B63
- Drive time: 1 hour 55 minutes
It’s a must to flip again on your self a bit of to get to the long-lasting wine and meals path often called the Hunter Valley, nevertheless it’s positively definitely worth the detour.
That is one in all our favorite areas in Australia and Australia’s oldest wine area. With over 140 wineries this is the place you wish to go to pattern a few of Australia’s greatest wines.
There may be additionally an abundance of nice eating places and cafes for the foodies.
And why not incorporate a sizzling air balloon journey over the valley when you are there? We positive did!
Except for sizzling air balloon rides and wineries, there’s not a lot to see and do right here, so that you solely have to spend a day or two having fun with it.
Ambly stroll across the rolling vineyards and bask within the gourmand delights of its delicacies, and absorb the laid-back nation vibe – like a positive Australian Shiraz, you’ll wish to decelerate and savour each second.
Cease 6: Seal Rocks
- Distance from final cease: 133 km through Booral Street
- Drive time: 2 hours
Seal Rocks is a quiet fishing village close to the Myall Lakes Nationwide Park, and affords clear bays for swimming, snorkelling, boating, and fishing.
It’s additionally an excellent place to go tenting, or just take a nature stroll and benefit from the recent air.
Seal Rocks has a wild, rigged appeal to it. It has little or no infrastructure, which is why we find it irresistible a lot – it feels nearly primitive, which is difficult to seek out on this digital world.
I extremely suggest you hike as much as the historic Sugarloaf Level Lighthouse and hike the 1.5 km coastal path to a lookout level, the place throughout the best season (Could to November) you may see humpback whales on their annual migration.
On a heat day, go attempting to find secluded coves like Boat Seaside and Lighthouse Seaside for a swim or to snorkel with wobbegong sharks in crystal clear water.
Or, why not deal with your self to some nights in a Lighthouse Keepers Cottage with superb ocean views? Staying in a lighthouse keeper’s cottage is likely one of the most unusual issues you are able to do right here.
Cease 7: The Manning Valley
- Distance from final cease: 120 km through The Lakes Means
- Drive time: 1 hour 50 minutes
The riverside cities of Tinonee and Wingham in The Manning Valley make a pleasant detour off the coastal highway and are inside putting distance of the legendary Ellenborough Falls.
This area is thought for being a lush pocket of pure splendour and rural small-town appeal simply inland from the coast.
You may spend your days slowly cruising down the tranquil Manning River by kayak or houseboat, or wander by means of the heritage cities the place grand fig bushes shade outdated pubs.
A spotlight of this area is Ellenborough Falls, which is called one of many tallest single-drop waterfalls within the Southern Hemisphere.
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.
On path to the following cease, make a plan to go bushwalking by means of Coorabakh Nationwide Park’s rainforest trails.
Cease 8: Port Macquarie
- Distance from final cease: 125 km through Pacific Freeway / A1
- Drive time: 1 hour 40 minutes
Port Macquarie is a vibrant and unspoilt city sitting on the estuary of the Hastings River.
The gorgeous shoreline of the rocky headlands makes it an excellent place to spend just a few quiet days.
Or, if you’re the energetic kind, the spectacular 9km coastal stroll from City Seaside to Tacking Level Lighthouse takes in seashores, headlands, historic websites, and uncommon subtropical rainforest.
With calm waterways, boardwalks, bountiful fishing, breathtaking 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 in style 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 study wildlife conservation in Australia.
Cease 9: South West Rocks
- Distance from final cease: 80 km through Pacific Freeway / A1
- Drive time: 1 hour
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 10: Coffs Harbour
- Distance from final cease: 100 km through Pacific Freeway / A1
- Drive time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Half method alongside the Sydney to Brisbane route is Coffs Harbour, and the drive into Coffs is simply beautiful with its rolling emerald inexperienced hills.
The Coffs Coast space is large enough in itself to spend an entire week and has one thing for everybody.
A few of our favorite issues to do in Coffs Harbour are discover the Jetty and Marina space with a stroll to the highest of Mutton Hen Island to observe the sundown over the marina.
You probably have kids with you, remember to take them to The Massive Banana Enjoyable Park, or seize a selfie in entrance of the BIG Banana (for the banana break up sundae). They will even get pleasure from The Butterfly Home and going for a nature stroll in World Heritage listed Dorrigo Nationwide Park.
We additionally beloved our meal and a beer on the crusing membership and enjoying on Diggers and Park Seaside.
Take a drive to the riverside city of Bellingen and admire the creative life-style and cafes, and seize a espresso within the charming beachside city of Sawtell.
Cease 11: Yamba
- Distance from final cease: 138 km through Orara Means and M1
- Drive time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Yamba lies on the mouth of the Clarence River and has gained quite a lot of awards over time, together with Finest City in Australia by Australian Traveller Journal in 2009. It has a laid-back, quasi-bohemian appeal and a beautiful 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 long-lasting Pacific Resort that sits on a bluff overlooking the city’s essential 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 incredible coastal stroll you may go on by means of the Yuraygir Nationwide Park to the small secluded Shelley’s seashore.
We additionally suggest heading to the Yamba Tavern for fish feeding and sundown watching and taking a brief drive to Angourie.
For a pit cease heading in direction of the following cease of Byron Bay, we extremely suggest the The Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary (previously Macadamia Citadel), which we imagine has the world’s greatest pancakes.
And, for a small payment, you may exit the again and meet kangaroos, wombats and cattle in your kids to get near and feed.
Cease 12: Lennox Head
- Distance from final cease: 111 km through M1
- Drive time: 1 hour 20 minutes
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 prime ten browsing breaks in Australia and for that purpose is a mecca for surfers.
Except for browsing, Lennox is a reasonably laid again and funky place to hang around with boutiques, cafes, and eating places. You may commerce seashores for lakes and swim on Lake Ainsworth, or hike as much as Pat Morton Lookout for views over the ocean and see if you happen to can spot humpback whales!
STAY: Sea Salt is a self-contained house positioned just a few steps from Seven Mile Seaside. Quarterdeck is a 2-bedroom house with water views.
Cease 13: Byron Bay
- Distance from final cease: 20 km through Byron Bay Street and Damaged Head Street
- Drive time: 20 minutes
Probably the most in style locations in Australia is Byron Bay – well-known for its different laid again life-style, world-class browsing, individuals watching, surf faculties, and gorgeous sheltered seashores resembling Wategoes Seaside.
If you happen to’re not coming to surf, then why not hike out to Cape Byron Lighthouse, the furthest Easterly level of Australia and will be reached by a wonderful coastal cliff stroll. It’s an excellent place to catch a dawn.
The extremely popular Byron Bay Bluesfest is one more reason individuals come to Byron Bay. It takes place each Easter, and while in Byron be sure to drive to close by hippy enclave Nimbin, nestled on the foothills of an extinct volcano.
We additionally suggest a chilly beer and ocean views on the iconic Seaside Resort.
Cease 14: Kingscliff
- Distance from final cease: 60 km through M1
- Drive time: 45 minutes
This gem of a beachside city, Kingscliff, is barely a 15-minute drive to the Queensland border. There is just one essential 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, resembling Mockingbird Cafe, have lunch on the surf membership, take a look at the groovy bars on the principle highway, and stroll alongside the seashore entrance.
Cease 15: The Gold Coast
- Distance from final cease: 27 km through M1
- Drive time: 25 minutes
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 positive, sandy seashore on the Pacific Ocean and has the whole lot you would need.
There may be simply one thing in regards to the Gold Coast, together with:
Our beneficial spots embrace Coolangatta, Kirra Seaside, 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 change for the higher.
Cease 16: Brisbane
- Distance from final cease: 88 km through M1
- Drive time: 1 hour
Final however not least, is Brisbane. Our ultimate vacation spot, however on no account the top of the journey.
Brisbane is a vibrant metropolis with a laid-back tradition and an array of nice points of interest. It has the whole lot from breathtaking seashores to its lush rainforest reserves, and naturally, loads of city escapes.
If you happen to’re bored with nature after per week alongside the coast, head to the GOMA (Gallery of Trendy Artwork) for a little bit of tradition. Or head over to South Financial institution Parklands or Moreton Bay for some extra pure websites.
You probably have children, remember to take them to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, the oldest and largest koala sanctuary on this planet.
No matter you resolve to do in Brisbane, you gained’t be upset, The Legendary Pacific Coast has one thing for everybody.
Remaining Ideas
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 plush 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 searching for coastal sightseeing or an action-packed exploration – there’s one thing for everybody alongside the highway journey from Sydney to Brisbane.
Are you planning a Sydney to Brisbane highway journey? Tell us what you’re most trying ahead to within the feedback!
