Brisbane to Sydney 3 Day

A short self-drive itinerary from Brisbane to Sydney for those wanting to travel the Pacific Touring Route south, but with limited time

Daily itinerary

Day 1 - Brisbane to Byron Bay (Drive Time 2 hours)

Leaving the city drive down the coast to the famous Surfers Paradise, take a swim and walk around the shops before continuing south passing Broadbeach, Mermaid Beach, Burleigh Heads and Palm Beach before arriving in Coolangatta; a seaside village. Take the walking track to Rainbow Beach, it’s a great place for a swim at this sheltered beach and if you are there around lunch try the Surf Club, its great! Hit the road and drive to Tweed Heads which is located on the boarder of New South Wales and Queensland, continue on and you will arrive in the legendary Byron Bay. This is the eastern-most point of the continent of Australia, the beautiful beaches and casual lifestyle makes this town a ‘must see’. It is surrounded by National Parks such as The Boat Harbour Nature Reserve, Nightcap National Park, Mount Warning, and Broken Head Reserve. If it is snorkelling with the giant turtles, horse riding along the beach or kayaking with dolphins then this is a fabulous place to do it. Don’t forget to walk up to Cape Byron and see the awesome views of Mount Warning, Border Rangers and Tallow Beach. Spend the evening meeting the locals and trying the best fish and chips in town at Fishmongers. Overnight.

Day 2 - Byron Bay to Coffs Harbour (Drive Time 2.5 hours)

Enjoying a relaxing morning exploring the area and taking in an activity, then drive south passing Lennox Head; a fantastic surfing beach before arriving in Yamba; a wonderful little village, take the ferry across to Illuka and spend a day at the local pub and have the fabulous seafood meal. When you are ready carry on with your journey to Coffs Harbour; Coffs has some excellent beaches; like Gallows, Park Beach, Diggers, Sapphire and more, this is one of the busiest and largest towns along the Pacific Highway so there is plenty to see and do. Enjoy the nightlife here and Overnight.

Day 3 - Coffs Harbour - Sydney (Drive Time 7.5 hours)

Leaving Coffs Harbour take the coastal road passing Nambucca Heads, Port Macquarie before arriving into Port Stephens; considered an outstanding holiday destination, the Port covers over 126,000 square metres of water, which is 2.5 times the size of Sydney Harbour. The stunning unspoiled waters and over 26 golden beaches and eco-diverse Marine and National Parks this area is really a must do if visiting Australia. Take in some snorkelling or a cruise to observe the resident bottlenose dolphins and humpback whales on their migratory journey up the coast (June to November), and visit Stockton Beach; the sand dunes are truly one of nature’s masterpieces. Leaving Port Stephens, head for Newcastle; it is second largest city in NSW and is located in the heart of the Hunter Region, bordered by a stunning coastline with beautiful beaches. Then onto Sydney which is waiting to be explored.

Not long enough? How about extending your itinerary to include our 13 day Brisbane to Cairns (Pacific Coast Northern Tour) self drive, you won’t regret it!

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