Sure, you could drive from Brisbane to Sydney in one long day. Or you could fly from Brisbane to Sydney in just a few short hours. But why rush past some of the most charming beach towns in Australia when you could spend a full five days driving along Australia’s Pacific Coast from Brisbane to Sydney? We think this is one of the most laid back road trips in Australia and is a great way to explore some of the smaller Australian towns.
Along the drive from Brisbane to Sydney (or Sydney to Brisbane), you’ll see beautiful Pacific Coast views, laid back surfing beaches, wildlife filled waters, sandy beaches, amazing seafood restaurants, rolling inland hills and more! So if this natural paradise sounds like the place for you, keep reading to see how we spent 5 days driving from Brisbane to Sydney and all of our favorite places to stop.
When To Visit Australia’s Pacific Coast
No worries – timing your road trip from Brisbane to Sydney is easy. This is because there is no good or bad time to go. As you’ll be driving over miles of coastline, you’ll likely be traveling through several different weather conditions, regardless of the time of year you visit. Spring and autumn are good times to visit as you’ll avoid cooler temperatures in the south and sticky hot temperatures in the north. Also, avoiding holidays will help you to avoid crowds and surge pricing on accommodations as these are very popular vacation destinations for Australians as well as foreign visitors.
Getting Around New South Wales
The drive from Brisbane to Sydney follows well paved and well maintained roads. You will not need a 4×4 vehicle unless you are planning on traveling further inland for side trips or accomodations.
We rented our compact car at the airport in Brisbane. If you are traveling from Sydney to Brisbane (the reverse of this trip), you can rent a car in Sydney.
Additionally, camper vans are very popular along this route and you’ll often see people napping in their vans along the beach. If this sounds like the way for you to travel, you’ll also find rental vans in Brisbane and Sydney.
We had a giant Australian atlas that we used to get around – because we love paper maps. However, if you prefer to navigate by cell phone GPS, you’ll be fine near the coast. We did occasionally lose service when we traveled inland, so make sure to download the maps so you don’t loose your directions when you need it.
Towns along this road trip are frequent so gas shouldn’t be hard to find. However, if you do plan to venture inland, towns start spreading out so remain fuel aware and fill up often.
How Long Does It Take To Drive From Brisbane To Sydney?
To drive straight from Brisbane to Sydney, with no stops, you’ll need to allot 9.5 hours.
However, if you’d like to take a Brisbane to Sydney road trip, you’ll need to set aside at least 5 days. There are tons of small towns along this road trip and you’ll want to give yourself plenty of time to stop and explore them. Also, the vibe of these towns is very chill, so you really don’t want to rush through and see all the sights but miss the experience of relaxing on beaches, sipping Australian wines and dining with your toes in the sand.
Additionally, if you have more than 5 days to explore the coast between Sydney and Brisbane, we’ve also included some additional stops below to help spread out your road trip.
Brisbane To Sydney Road Trip Itinerary
Day 1 – Brisbane
First, start your Sunshine Coast road trip in Brisbane. Spend one day exploring the bustling city of Brisbane. Our favorite activity, and one of our favorite things to do in Australia, was visiting the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary.
Next, head into Brisbane for lunch before wandering around the downtown area and exploring some of the fun things to do in Brisbane.
Stay overnight in Brisbane.
Day 2 – Byron Bay
Morning – Burleigh Heads
Drive Time: 1 hour
First, head to the Burleigh Heads Beach to watch some surfers catch the waves. If you’re lucky, like we were, you may even see dolphins or manta rays in the waters. Burleigh Heads is a popular suburb of Gold Coast and a popular Australian getaway destination.
Next, drive to Byron Bay.
Drive Time: 1 hour
Our favorite city on the planet – Byron Bay. Spend one day in this laid back town where shoes and shirts are entirely optional. While Byron Bay doesn’t offer a ton of things to do for the activity-hungry tourists, it is just such a chill town that we loved it and could have stayed there forever.
Next, head into town for lunch. PS: We were just amazed at the number of people without shoes eating in restaurants in Byron Bay – it was definitely our vibe.
Afternoon – Byron Bay
Next, visit Cape Byron Lighthouse. This lighthouse on a hill is pretty, but what is really impressive are the views from the lighthouse. You can see blue ocean for miles. We also saw dolphins doing flips and jumps from this vantage point too. Leading us to believe that all dolphins must live in Byron Bay.
Next, take a hike along the Cape Byron walking track to get more ocean views. The cape swings out into the ocean protecting Byron Bay from the direct force of the open ocean, making their beaches beautiful. However, this cape is a popular place to walk as it gives you great views of the open ocean and great views of the beaches.
Plus, if you have extra time and the sun is still out, consider heading inland near Byron Bay. There are several amazing lookout areas in the hinterland (which appears to be the Australian equivalent of the term “the country” in the US).
Stay overnight in Byron Bay. We also stayed inland on a banana farm to save some money as Byron Bay is an expensive destination.
Of all of the towns on this Brisbane to Sydney road trip, Byron Bay was our favorite. So if you have extra time, consider spending an extra day here.
Day 3 – Coffs Harbour
First, drive toward Coffs Harbour.
Choose a beach along the way and spend the rest of your morning relaxing. Consider packing a lunch and having a beach picnic. We chose to stop in Woolgoolgo (because we liked the name) and took a nap on the beach.
Next, continue on to Coffs Harbour.
Drive Time: 2.5 hours
First, take a short detour and drive up the hill to the Forest Sky Pier. This hanging bridge to nowhere provides you with great views of the Australian coastline and the cities along the coast. This is a quick stop but is beautiful.
Once in Coffs Harbour, make your way to the Jetty and wander to the end enjoy the ocean views. You can also enjoy the shops in the small downtown area. There also is a “Big Banana” just outside of town that is one of those photo opportunities all good road trips offer.
Next, either continue to relax on the beach or if you’re ready for an activity, check out the Coffs Harbour Butterfly House. This is actually a bit south of Coffs Harbour but is a great activity, especially for the family. You get to interact with butterflies and lovely and fun interactive toys/sculptures.
Lastly, drive on to Nambucca Heads.
Drive Time: 40 minutes
Day 4 – Port Macquarie
Morning – Beaches and Town
First, start your morning with a quick stroll along the coast at Nambucca Heads. We were lucky enough to stay along a nature reserve with access to the coast. The beaches here are a mixture of wide sandy expanses, revealed a low tide and rocky cliff regions.
Next, drive to Port Macquarie in the morning. Port Macquarie was another magical Australian city that we absolutely loved along the Pacific Coast.
Drive Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Once you arrive in Port Macquarie, hike the Googik Heritage Track around along the Lake Innes Nature Reserve. This short hike will allow you to experience the natural environment of this area.
Next, head into town to visit the Koala Hospital. Spend some time visiting with these recovering adorable and learning about the threats to koala life in Australia. This is a quick stop, especially if you already visited Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane.
Afterwards, wander downtown Port Macquarie as you find a place to eat lunch. Port Macquarie has a really walkable downtown where you can do some shopping if that is your thing.
Afternoon – Rainforest and Ocean
After lunch, visit Sea Acres Rainforest Centre. This elevated boardwalk through a dense rainforest will allow you to learn all about rainforest ecology and how the plants and animals live in symbiosis. While this nature walk wasn’t guided like the one in Kuranda (outside of Cairns), it was still very informational and gives you a great base of knowledge for the plant life you’ll see in Australia.
Next, visit the Tacking Point Lighthouse. This lighthouse is surrounded by beautiful blue waters and you’ll get great views of the coastline.
Lastly, consider visiting the Port Macquarie beach or take a walk along the breakwall walking path. We walked this path and saw amazing dolphins and surfers alike.
Day 5 – Myall Lakes National Park and Onward
Start your day with another drive to Myall Lakes National Park.
Once in the park, consider exploring the beautiful beaches or take a walk through the bush. This is a quick stop to stretch your legs and get some more amazing views of the Pacific Coast.
Next, continue driving on to Sydney to end your Brisbane to Sydney road trip. This is the longest day of driving so make sure to enjoy the sights and stop regularly for fun roadside attractions.
Drive Time: 4 hours
Once in Sydney, Australia’s largest city, there is so much to see and do. If you’re looking to fill your time in Sydney, check out our 3 day Sydney itinerary here.
Want To Adjust The Itinerary
Additionally, if you have extra time, there are so many places for you to spend it along this Sydney to Brisbane road trip. We’ve included several extra days below that you can insert into the 5 day Brisbane to Sydney road trip we’ve outlined above.
Gold Coast
Where this fits: After Brisbane and before Byron Bay
Spend one extra day exploring the Gold Coast. The Gold Coast is the smaller town just south of Brisbane. It is still a big town. It’s very like the Miami Beach to Miami; the cooler more relaxed beach sister city. You can spend the day exploring the gorgeous beaches in the Gold Coast. There also is a ton to do in Gold Coast, as it is such a popular tourist destination. You can go dolphin spotting, visit an amusement park, hike in a National Park and more.
Newcastle and Hunter Valley
Where this fits: After Myall Lakes National Park and before your return to Sydney
Spend one extra day touring the Hunter Valley wine region. You’ll definitely want to do this on a tour or with a designated driver and drunk driving laws in Australia are strict and you’ll be driving through one of the most popular wine regions in Australia.
In the evening, take a walk along Newcastle shores or consider doing a boat tour of Newcastle.
Dorrigo National Park
Where this fits: After Coffs Harbour and before Port Macquarie
Spend one extra day exploring a UNESCO World Heritage site, Dorrigo National Park, home to the oldest trees in the world. While there, DO go chasing waterfalls on several mid-range hikes that will take you through this old forest. This free attraction is a short inland detour that is a great stop for outdoor adventure lovers.
Stay overnight, a second time, in Nambucca Heads.
We hope you’ve been inspired by this Brisbane to Sydney road trip itinerary. We think it is one of the best road trips in Australia because it allows you to visit so many iconic Australian destinations while still having the relaxed beachy vibe you’re likely imagining for your Australian vacation. If you have any questions or comments about this Sydney to Brisbane road trip, please leave them in the comments below.
