Jockstar

Myself and the wife are relocating to the Gold Coast. The plan was to drive up there on Tuesday morning. But i now have to fly up on Monday for a four day course before we fly back to Sydney on Friday. So we now plan on leaving Saturday morning. But i was hoping to take a few days to drive back to the Gold Coast. So my question is. What would people recommend seeing on the way? Thanks in advance.

Jockstar

30 views and not one suggestion! Has no one ever driven from Sydney to the Gold Coast? I have no idea what to see on the way. Hence why i asked here. Anyone?

Sally Simpson

Sorry, can't help as not been down that way either!
Hopefully someone will come along soon who can give you some good advice

SNH

I've not ever made that trip either, but it is a very common route, especially for backpackers....

Jockstar

Maybe thats the problem. Many people live here but havent actually travelled in Oz. I done it years ago. But we did it in one hit as my mate was off to Brissie to see his missus and we had no time. This time i want to enjoy the drive and see as much as we can.

spartacus

Paris is beautiful in the spring.

Keith&Lol

Try www.totaltravel.com I think it has a route planner, accommodation and things to see and do. Sorry can't be of more help as I have never been up that way.

Jockstar

Thanks. But i was hoping to get some personal experiences. Anyone.

Sally Simpson

Are you able to make the title of your thread more specific which may encourage more folks to read it in the first place?

Juliecabs

We drove between Sydney and the Gold Coast a few years back, stopping overnight at Port MacQuarie and Byron Bay en route. Both really pretty places to visit. Byron Bay is the eastern most point on mainland Australia.

Julie.

NickyC

I've driven up to Queensland from Sydney quite a bit.

Travelling north, you could spend a day or two in the Hunter Valley. Lots of lovely wine to try and good restaurants too.

Check out Port Stephens and maybe do a dolphin cruise.

There's not a huge amount to see on the Pacific Highway itself as it rarely follows the coast so take any turn-off towards the coast that you like the look of. Myall Lakes are interesting - but it's very quiet around there.

Port Maquarie is worth a quick look, same with Coffs Harbour. Also checkout Bellingen inland from Coffs Harbour. It's a nice little country town with a slight hippy feel.

There are some amazingly scenic and remote roads that will take you across the range at various spots on the trip north. (Gloucester to Walcha, Armidale to Kempsey and Grafton to Glen Innes on the old road) that I'd take if it was me doing the trip but it would add a lot of driving to your trip and probably an extra week .

Sticking to the coast, I think the scenery gets far more interesting when you get to the north of the state. Definitely stop at Byron Bay - the scenery in the whole Byron area is really gorgeous and it's worth staying in that area for a while to also check out the hinterland around there: Mullumbimby, Bangalow, Nimbin etc and the Mount Warning surrounds.

Have fun - I'm jealous

DestinationSydney

We drove last July fm Sydney to the Gold Coast and stopped overnight at Coffs Harbour. The road is not very scenic at all and full of speed cameras. Coffs Harbour was nothing special. We stopped at Byron for lunch which is lovely. We had the dog so did not do it slowly but still a boring journey.
Good Luck

TiddlyPom

I'm with Nicky.... Bellingen is lovely though they got a bit flooded recently I think but not in the main town, Bryon Bay - has an excellent tatoo artist () and gorgeous beaches... Big banana at Coff's - pull in, wind the window down, take picture, carry on going... Miss Port Macquarie... it's bland and Byron bay is far nicer.
Byron Bay's lighthouse is worth a visit. You can often see whales going past there if you're lucky. Might not be right season though.

Deffo stop in the Hunter... do a bit of a wine taste.

Long road to get there and going inland can be more fun. I went through Armidale last time and stopped off at this amazing steak restaurant in the town... if you go there, eat there. Fab.
The Wicklow
http://www.wicklow.com.au/restaurant.html

Broad Shoulders

To us Brits Byron by day is just paradise IMO. By night it can be a bit dodgy, but certainly worth a visit.

I've only driven as far south as Coffs from Brisbane. Alot of the Hinterland of Byron is quite stunning and worth a trip inland

spartacus

Sydney - Brisbane, a journey of 450 miles as the crow flies, and judging from the dearth of suggestions, bugger all to see or do.

Plenty to look at, in an 'I'm looking out of the window' sort of way, but nothing to see in a 'oh look I can see a castle' sort of way.

We went to Ballina / Byron Bay last year. Ballina is hellish boring, Byron Bay is nice. The scenery is nothing spectacular. And there's nothing to do, unless you have an unhealthy interest in macadamia nuts.