Koala Sanctuaries, fighting kangaroos, gigantic bats

Embarking on a Coastal Adventure: Sydney to Byron Bay Road Trip

Australia's allure is undeniable—the vibrant culture, delectable cuisine, and laid-back lifestyle make it a dream destination. If Australia wasn’t on the entirely opposite side of the world, I'd relocate in a heartbeat. Fortunately, my previous job allowed me to visit twice as they are headquartered in Sydney. Each time I went for two weeks (one for work and one for leisure) and also brought Juan along to explore Sydney and its neighboring cities. The first time I timed it with Thanksgiving, so we had around 5 days to explore before work began. We thought - what better way to immerse ourselves in Australia than a 16 hour road trip (also known as the North Coast Road Trip)!?

🚗 Road Tripping from Sydney to Byron Bay

Before even considering this trip, remember that Australians drive on the LEFT side of the road. Thankfully I had my chauffeur AKA Juan, who adjusted quite quickly. The journey from Sydney to Byron Bay spans approximately 8 hours of direct driving. We wanted to take the adventure slow, so we decided to stop overnight in different towns along the way to break up the trip. Here's a breakdown of our itinerary:

Day 1: Sydney to Newcastle

Upon landing in Sydney, we rented a car and headed straight to Newcastle, about a 3-hour drive north. Our first stop was the Newcastle Memorial Walk, a scenic 450-meter boardwalk offering panoramic ocean views. After soaking in the sights, we enjoyed a relaxing coffee by the coast to recharge from our insanely long flight in Economy.

Day 2: Newcastle to Port Macquarie

Continuing our journey, we drove another 3 hours to Port Macquarie. Along the way, we stopped at Heatherbrae’s Pies, a popular place for a pit spot and known for Australian savory meat pies. Each one is a fairly sized portion for lunch. After settling into our Airbnb in Port Macquarie, we rested to prepare for the next day's adventures.

🐨 Day 3: Exploring Port Macquarie

Our day began with a delightful breakfast at Frankies Cafe, recommended by our Airbnb host. We then visited the Koala Conservation Hospital, a rehabilitation center for injured koalas. The experience was both educational and heartwarming. In the afternoon, we embarked on the Port Macquarie Coastal Walk and had some delicious fish and chips from Mike’s Seafood, a local favorite by the coast. Just be careful of the Bin Chickens who are kind of like the Raccoon Birds of Australia who forage during the day.

Day 4: Port Macquarie to Byron Bay

The drive to Byron Bay took about 4 hours. We checked into the Sunrise Guesthouse, a cozy and clean hotel ($175/night). From the outdoor pool area, we could see huge Australian bats fly around right before sunset. After settling in, we explored the town center and dined at The Mez Club, where interior was stunning and the food was fantastic. I really enjoyed their slow cooked lamb and the seafood risotto.

Day 5: Discovering The Farm Byron Bay

Our next morning in Byron Bay was spent at The Farm, a working farm offering guided tours and a restaurant. We had some gigantic Portuguese tarts & some sausage rolls. The Farm is family friendly, and a perfect spot for brunch, coffee, and picking up unique gifts. Next time I would probably spend an extra day in Byron Bay to explore more restaurants.

Bonus Stop: Trial Bay Gaol

On our return journey, we detoured to Arakoon National Park to visit Trial Bay Gaol, a historic public works prison from the late 1800s. The site offers impressive ruins and the unique experience of encountering free-roaming kangaroos amidst the historic setting.

Final Stop: Newcastle

We concluded our trip with an overnight stay in Newcastle. Dinner at Bella Italia, an authentic Italian restaurant, was a delightful end to our culinary journey. The seafood pasta, gnocchi, and scallops were exceptional. The next morning, we fueled up with breakfast at Papatya Cafe in Marks Point before completing our drive back to Sydney.

Overall, this road trip offered a perfect blend of scenic drives, wildlife encounters, and culinary delights, making it the perfect introduction as Australia first-timers. If I had to re-do the whole trip, I would have rented a caravan to sleep in instead of checking into hotels each night. Caravan and van life culture is very popular in Australia, and many areas including beaches are very accommodating to camper vans. For a fraction of the cost of our nightly hotels, we could have had the flexibility of parking a caravan at each pit stop and sleeping right next to the ocean!

My Top Tips for this trip:

Do IT if you're comfortable driving on the LEFT side of the road!
Rent a Caravan or Camper Van to drive & sleep for the ULTIMATE Australian experience!
Take it easy & slow and maybe spend a little more time in Byron Bay before heading back.

If you're considering a similar adventure, feel free to reach out for more personalized recommendations and tips!

Australia: Road Trip From Sydney to Byron Bay