Driving the route south down the Pacific east coast of Australia is a favourite amongst backpackers, holiday makers and Australians. This well loved road trip is just over 900 km in distance and can take you from as little as two days to two weeks to complete, it all depends on what kind of road trip you’re looking for.
Here is a suggested road trip itinerary with some ideas for places to stop and top things you should see and do on the way!
Brisbane to Byron Bay
Stop 1
Time: 2 hours
Distance: 160 km
Head south out of the Brisbane and get onto the M1 which will take you right into the heart of Byron Bay. This famous little town is the perfect place to park up, hit the beach and relaaaaax. Grab breakfast at one of Byron’s great cafes, stroll around the famous farmers market or hit the surf! Â
If you want to fit in some extra exploring before you land in Byron then check out Tamborine Mountain to the south west of Brisbane city and try the treetop walk through the rainforest. It’s also an area that’s great for scenic rainforest hikes and picnics.
Get more tips on hiring a campervan in Brisbane and top things to do here.
Byron Bay to Coffs Harbour
Stop 2
Time: 2 hours 45 mins
Distance: 230 km
When you’re ready to move on from Byron that it’s time to shake the sand from your beach towel and pack your things back into your campervan. Wind your way down south via small towns such as Grafton and the seaside of village of Yamba. Grafton is famous for it’s Jacaranda trees, so if you’re driving through in October you might be lucky enough to see them in full bloom!
Coffs Harbour has some stunning beaches. If you are up for more beach time after Byron then you should check out:
- Gallows
- Park Beach
- Sapphire
- Emerald
- Sawtell Beach.
Coffs Harbour to Port Macquarie
Stop 3
Time: 1 hour 45 mins drive time
Distance: 153 km
As you’re leaving Coffs Harbour make sure you drive by the Giant Banana Fun Park for a photo stop, this popular tourist attraction is a backpack must see!
The easy drive from Coffs Harbour to the nearest large town, Port Macquarie, will take you just under two hours, but if you want to pull over there are plenty of remote beaches and picnic spots on the way.
Port Macquarie to Port Stephens
Stop 4
Time: 2 hours 15 mins
Distance: 218 km
The beautiful coastal town of Port Macquarie is known for its beaches and wildlife. If you’re stopping here then make sure you visit Lighthouse Beach, Sea Acres National Park and one of the many classic Aussie cafes for a great flat white.
There are lots of great campsites here with full facilities, which make this the perfect place to park up and stay put for a few nights.
When you leave Port Macquarie then we recommend that you take the scenic route to Port Stephens by turning off the highway and driving along the coast, passing some stunning spots such as Myall Lakes National Park, Blueys and Boomerang Beaches.
Port Stephens to Sydney
Stop 5
Time: 2 hours 15 mins
Distance: 177 km
Port Stephens is a great holiday destination and there are lots of activities on offer here. Many are water based due to the fact that Port Stephens covers a whopping 126,000 square meters of water, that’s two and a half times the size of Sydney Harbour! Book yourself on some sailing or whale watching trips, go swimming or snorkeling or go on a sand dunes quad bike tour.
Continue south past the Central Coast and through the Berowra Valley National Park before driving over the harbour bridge and pulling into Sydney city. If you want to carry on your trip then here are some top ideas on road trips from Sydney here.
Explore other popular road trips around Brisbane
Check out some of our other popular road trips from Brisbane
- See Our Brisbane to Uluru Road Trip Itinerary
- See Our Brisbane to Dubbo Road Trip Itinerary
- See Our Brisbane to Darwin Road Trip Itinerary
- See Our Brisbane to Cairns Road Trip Itinerary
- See Our Brisbane to Byron Bay Road Trip Itinerary
- See Our Brisbane to Airlie Beach Road Trip Itinerary
Looking for more? Check out other Brisbane road trips. Find a huge range of different routes and road trip itineraries across Australia.
Get the cheapest rates on Campervan hire in Brisbane for your next road trip
A road trip through Queensland starts with finding a cheap campervan rental in Brisbane. Since rates go up during high-demand periods, booking ahead is the best way to keep costs low.
FAQs about Brisbane to Sydney road trip
Travelling from Brisbane to Sydney is a 900km journey that would take you around 12 hours to do by car if you drive the whole way, not factoring in stops. We recommend taking it slow, travelling to Sydney over 7 days, and stopping off at some of the towns along the way.
There are some great places to stop between Brisbane and Sydney, from the fantastic beaches in Byron Bay to smaller towns down south like Grafton or Yamba, a small seaside town with some amazing views. As you get a little further, Port Stephens is a wonderful place to stop, with lots to do and a beautiful beach where you can relax and do absolutely nothing.
Yes, you can pick up your campervan from our Brisbane facility and drop it off at our drop-off facility in Sydney.
There are many lovely free camping areas from Brisbane to Sydney. These are some of our guides for the free camping areas near Brisbane, Byron Bay, Coffs Harbour, Newcastle, and Sydney.
Autumn or Spring are generally the best times to take a trip to Sydney from Brisbane. This is because the weather is more pleasant and mild, with less rain and wind, making the trip more enjoyable.
Yes, booking early usually means better prices, especially in the quieter seasons. It also ensures you can secure a campervan before they all get booked.
Yep, there are a few tolls in and around both cities. Leaving Brisbane, you might hit tolls like the Gateway Motorway or Logan Motorway. Once you’re on the Pacific Motorway heading south, it’s toll-free to Sydney. But as you enter Sydney, you’ll run into tolls again, like the M1, M2, or Harbour Bridge, depending on your route.
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