Road Trip in Eastern Australia from Brisbane to Sydney
Part A - Brisbane to Coffs Harbour
♦ Part A - Brisbane to Coffs Harbour
♦ Part B - Coffs Harbour to Sydney
Introduction
Australia is an amazingly beautiful continent, both in its natural landscapes and in its beautiful cities: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and others. Most residents live in settlements close to the sea because most of the interior of the continent is one large desert. Therefore, in almost any long trip to Australia, you will travel along the coastline of the continent, which turns the trip into a magical experience of beautiful bay views, long sandy beaches, special cities touching the sea with marinas and various water sports, well-kept parks, and convenient roads.
Because of Australia's enormous size, most travelers fly between destinations and major cities that are thousands of kilometers apart. But even between the major cities, there are many special charming spots that you can only see if you set out by car for a multi-day trip. In this article, I will describe the destinations on a road trip heading south from the city of Brisbane in eastern Australia down to Sydney (you can, of course, also travel the route in the opposite direction). The length of the route, including detours toward all the destinations along it, is about 1050 km. The roads on this route are expressways (highways) only near large populated areas, while between them the road is one lane in each direction.
♦ Trip from Brisbane to Gold Coast
The route starts in the city of Brisbane in eastern Australia and ends in Sydney.
Brisbane
The city of Brisbane is crossed by a winding river named Brisbane, which adds a lot of charm to it with beautiful bridges stretched between its banks and well-maintained promenades along it. In the city center, there is a large public pool with a sandy beach (entry is free).
At the top of the following picture, you can see the high-rises of downtown, and on the right side, you can see the bridge called Story Bridge.
You can read in detail about trips and recommended accommodations in Brisbane, the capital city of Queensland, in another article of mine: Trip in the city of Brisbane. The driving time from Brisbane to Gold Coast is about an hour (78 km), and the route is on a wide highway.
Gold Coast
The Gold Coast is considered the Riviera of Queensland, featuring long sandy bathing beaches with many lagoons used for water sports, especially surfing, and a harbor for countless yachts.
♦ Booking attractions in Gold Coast (from Viator site):
Also, for travelers who love amusement parks, there is plenty of enjoyment here. In the Gold Coast, there are five large amusement parks including Sea World, Movie World, Wet 'n' Wild water park, Dream World which is an amusement park full of rides and attractions, and adjacent to it a relatively new water park, WhiteWater World. You will find additional details in my article about the Gold Coast.
♦ Booking tickets for attractions in Gold Coast from Viator site:
From the Gold Coast, you can continue south toward Byron Bay, but for nature park lovers, it is recommended to detour slightly toward the southwest and travel in Springbrook National Park, located only about 25 km from the Gold Coast. Details about this park can be found in the article: Springbrook National Park.
♦ Trip from Gold Coast to Byron Bay
The driving time to Byron Bay, located in northern New South Wales (NSW), is about an hour and fifteen minutes (93 km).
On the way there, drive along the coast and stop at the beautiful beaches along the road. It is nice to stop at Burleigh Heads and take a short walking tour in the national park adjacent to the sea, located on a green hill.
Afterward, stop at Coolangatta and walk along the beautiful seaside promenade reaching up to the Captain Cook Memorial and the border with the state of New South Wales.
Byron Bay
Byron Bay is located at the easternmost point of the Australian continent. It is a cool hippie town, full of galleries, shops, and a relaxed atmosphere. It is great to spend time at the beach, walk along the coastlines, and take a walking trip on a lovely scenic trail up to the town's famous lighthouse, The Cape Byron Lighthouse.
Afterward, you can spend time in the town's clubs with a special relaxed Shanti vibe. Many young people arrive here and stay for weeks.
You can also combine a visit to the nearby Crystal Castle (about a half-hour drive) & Shambhala Gardens, featuring gardens, many Buddha statues, crystals, and much tranquility.
♦ Booking recommended guided tours in Byron Bay:
♦ Trip from Byron Bay to Coffs Harbour
The driving time to Coffs Harbour is three and a quarter hours (248 km). On the way, you can stop in the town of Ballina, which is famous for the giant shrimp statue located in it. Here you can dine at a seafood restaurant located near the statue.
Coffs Harbour
Coffs Harbour is a vibrant and charming resort town. It is recommended to stay there for at least one night (preferably more, of course).
A recommended hotel here is BreakFree Aanuka Beach Resort located north of Coffs Harbour near Diggers Beach. A large hotel with facilities, beautiful pools, mini-golf, and tennis courts. The hotel has access to the beach through a locked gate with a key for hotel guests only.
Additional recommended hotels in Coffs Harbour:
BIG4 Park Beach Holiday Park – A holiday park by the sea, with a swimming pool, including a children's pool and water slide, picnic and barbecue area, mini-market, laundry (for an extra charge). In the park, there are spacious and equipped apartments with 2 bedrooms and a living room suitable for 4-8 people. Free internet and parking.
Pacific Towers Beach Resort – A great resort with a private beach, swimming pool, hot tub, tennis court, and barbecue. The resort has 1, 2, and 3-bedroom apartments with a fully equipped kitchen. Intended for 2-6 people. Free internet and parking.
Walking tour in and around Coffs Harbour:
It is recommended to take a walking tour from BreakFree Aanuka Beach Resort south along the coast to the town and back (about 5 km each way).
Equip yourselves with swimsuits and a bag with light provisions and drinks. From the hotel, head first to Diggers Beach and turn right (south) for a walk along the beach towards the marina.
First, you arrive at Park Beach. Here the sea itself is a bit rough and uncomfortable for swimming, except at low tide when closed, calm pools are revealed where you can bathe even when the sea is rough. At the end of the beach is a river flowing into the sea where you can swim in its waters. Cross the bridge over the river and continue along the long beach to the marina. Walk around the beautiful marina, where you can eat at a good seafood restaurant and enjoy wonderful ice cream.
From there, continue to Jetty Beach, which is a quiet beach protected by breakwaters. Here, too, you can swim in the water.
Further on, you can walk along a street parallel to the sea with a variety of shops and cafes, and from here return to the hotel on foot or by taxi.
You can also set out from the hotel for a walking tour heading north along the beaches. The trail passes over hills along the coast, through forests and beaches, most of which are rough, with viewpoints of the coastline from the hills.
The trail also passes near villa neighborhoods. It is recommended to finish at the Opal Cove Resort hotel where you can eat lunch and also find a taxi to return to your hotel.
Mountain Viewpoint and Chocolate Factory
In the mountains near Coffs Harbour, there is a special lookout called Sealy Lookout. The viewpoint is from a bridge built over a cliff offering an impressive view of the city, port, and beaches.
From there, continue to a small factory producing chocolate and carob products called Carobana. You can take a self-guided tour or arrange a group tour in advance.
♦ Part B of the continuation of the route from here to Sydney in the article-Coffs Harbour to Sydney