Sydney to Brisbane Pacific Coast Road Trip

Head north along the Pacific Coast, connecting bays, koalas, rainforests, and Byron Bay

The most established self-drive route on Australia's east coast, covering about 1,000 kilometers with most daily drives taking one to three hours. The first half features coastal cities and dolphins, the middle section ventures into rainforest highlands, and the second half slows down the pace in Yamba and Byron Bay. This one-way route requires a one-way car rental. The half-day detour to Dorrigo is a key choice to make; you can skip it if you are short on time.

Whale watching is available from June to November; accommodation in Byron Bay is tight during summer

Day by day

Day 1 · Sydney to Newcastle Coast

Newcastle & Port Stephens（Newcastle Ocean Baths、Bogey Hole、Newcastle Memorial Walk、Nobbys Head & Nobbys Beach）

Pick up your car and head north on the M1 for about 2.5 hours; spend the afternoon walking along the coast in Newcastle

Stay: Newcastle East

Day 2 · Stockton Sand Dunes and Koalas

Port Stephens（Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary、Stockton Bight Sand Dunes (Worimi Conservation Lands)、Gan Gan Lookout）

Drive about 1 hour from Newcastle to Anna Bay, then another 20 minutes to Nelson Bay

Entering the sand dunes requires joining a 4WD tour or obtaining a permit

Stay: Nelson Bay

Day 3 · Dolphin Cruise and Mount Tomaree

Port Stephens（Dolphin & Whale Watching Cruises、Shoal Bay & Zenith Beach、Tomaree Head Summit Walk）

Take a half-day cruise from Nelson Bay Marina, then take a short drive to Shoal Bay and the trailhead in the afternoon

Stay: Nelson Bay

Day 4 · Lakes Way to Port Macquarie

Port Stephens（Myall Lakes National Park） → Port Macquarie（North Brother Mountain Lookout (Dooragan NP)、Town Beach & Breakwall）

Drive about 280 km along the Lakes Way, taking 5 to 6 hours including stops; or take the highway for about 3 hours

Stay: Town centre and Town Beach

Day 5 · Koala Hospital and Coastal Walk

Port Macquarie（Port Macquarie Koala Hospital、Port Macquarie Coastal Walk、Sea Acres Rainforest Centre、Tacking Point Lighthouse）

Spend the whole day in the town and coastal areas, mostly on foot; short drives can be taken for the rainforest and lighthouse sections

The Koala Hospital will reopen in September 2026; check opening hours before departure

Stay: Town centre and Town Beach

Day 6 · Bellingen and Dorrigo Rainforest

Coffs Harbour（Bellingen、Dorrigo National Park & Skywalk、Dangar Falls）

Drive along the highway to Urunga, turn onto Waterfall Way to Dorrigo, then drive down to Coffs Harbour, taking about 6 hours in total

The Rainforest Centre is undergoing redevelopment until 2028; check if the Skywalk is open beforehand

Stay: Jetty Foreshore

Day 7 · Coffs Coast to Yamba

Coffs Harbour（Muttonbird Island Nature Reserve、Coffs Harbour Jetty、Guru Nanak Sikh Temple, Woolgoolga） → Yamba

Spend the morning exploring Coffs Harbour, then drive north along the Pacific Highway for about 1.5 hours to Yamba in the afternoon

Stay: Yamba

Day 8 · Lennox Head to Byron Bay

Byron Bay（Lennox Head、Lake Ainsworth、Main Beach, Byron Bay）

Drive about 140 km (1.5 hours) from Yamba to Byron Bay, stopping at Lennox Head along the way

Parking in town is limited; try to walk into town from your accommodation

Stay: Byron Bay Town Centre

Day 9 · Cape Byron Lighthouse Sunrise

Byron Bay（Cape Byron Walking Track、Most Easterly Point of Mainland Australia、Cape Byron Lighthouse、Wategos Beach）

Drive or walk to the lighthouse in the early morning, taking the coastal walk for the entire route, which takes about 2 to 3 hours