The road trip between Sydney and Brisbane on the Pacific Highway is one of Australia’s most popular. The combination of beautiful beaches, national parks, Australian history and gourmet food and wine experiences make the Sydney to Brisbane road trip an attractive option for many visitors.
Part 1 covers the road trip from Sydney to Coffs Harbour. This article covers the road trip from Coffs Harbour to Brisbane on the Pacific Highway.
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2WD Road Trip from Coffs Harbour to Brisbane, Australia
The road trip from Coffs Harbour to Brisbane is the second half of the road trip from Sydney to Brisbane. The route from Coffs Harbour to Brisbane is 393 km, 244 mi, 4:23 hrs.
2WD Pacific Highway Road Trip – Coffs Harbour to Grafton and Harwood, New South Wales Australia
North of Coffs Harbour the Pacific Highway initially winds attractively beside the Pacific Ocean and there are many places to stop and enjoy the beach.
The inland town of Grafton is 84 km, 52 mi, 1:10 hrs north of Coffs Harbour. Grafton is the start of the Northern Rivers section of the road trip. The Clarence River is the centrepiece of Grafton and the broad river parallels the Pacific Highway for the first 50 km, 31 mi, 0:41 hrs to the distinctive sugar mill town of Harwood.
Side 2WD Road Trip Option – Yamba, New South Wales Australia
From Harwood, there is a worthwhile short side trip to the popular beachside town of Yamba, which sits at the beautiful junction of the mouth of the Clarence River and the Pacific Ocean. Yamba is only a short 15 km, 9 mi, 0:16 hrs detour from the Pacific Highway at Harwood.
2WD Pacific Highway Road Trip – Harwood to Ballina, New South Wales Australia
The road trip along the Pacific Highway from Harwood to Ballina is a lovely 82 km, 51 mi, 1:08 hr drive where the large rivers are a consistent feature of the landscape. This is sugar cane country, so you will see many sugar cane farms along the way, which are centred on the sugar mill towns of Harwood and Broadwater. There are many bridges to cross, and you will also regularly observe the bridges which rise up across major rivers to enable larger water vessels to access further inland.
Side 2WD Road Trip Option – Nimbin, Mt Warning and Rainforest Scenic Road Trip, New South Wales Australia
A lovely side trip to take is the windy road trip through the rainforest and mountains near Mt Warning (Wollumbin). If you wish to bypass Ballina you can turn off much earlier at the town of Woodburn and head towards Lismore. From either Ballina or Byron Bay you can head west towards Nimbin (73 km, 45 mi, 1:22 hrs), Australia’s ‘Alternative Lifestyle Capital’.
There are many scenic road trip options through the area and the Minyon Falls Scenic Route (78 km, 49 mi, 4:00 hrs Lismore to Nimbin) is definitely worth a look, as you can see the spectacular over 100m high Minyon Falls.
After exploring Nimbin, you can continue to Nightcap National Park (38 km, 23 mi, 0:54 hrs) which has spectacular views of Mt Warning and is part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area.
Alternatively, you can drive a circle route through the Tweed Range Scenic Drive (90 km, 56 mi, 4:00 hrs), which goes around a mammoth ancient volcano caldera.
The road trip to Wollumbin National Park (formerly Mt Warning National Park) (34 km, 21 mi, 0:54 hrs), which is also part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area, will take you close up with the remnants of an ancient volcano. The peak of Mt Warning is 1157 m (3795 ft) above sea level and is the tallest peak in the area. If you have more time available, you can drive on the Mt Warning Viewing Circuit (95 km, 59 mi, 4:00 hrs full circle), which will take you on a circular route around Mt Warning with many viewing options.
The drive from Mt Warning National Park direct to Coolangatta via Murwillumbah is 47 km, 30 mi, 0:53 hrs.
2WD Pacific Highway Road Trip – Ballina, New South Wales to Gold Coast, Queensland Australia
North of Ballina on the Pacific Highway, the terrain changes to a mountainous, forested region of which the centrepiece is the fabulous Mt Warning. The drive from Ballina to the Gold Coast (91 km, 57 mi, 1:13 hrs) on the Pacific Highway is a progressive vista of mountains interspersed with periodic views of the Pacific Ocean. You will cross the New South Wales and Queensland State border at Coolangatta.
2WD Side Road Trip Option – Lennox Heads and Byron Bay, New South Wales Australia
A short but worthwhile side trip is the road trip on the coastal drive north of Ballina to explore the beachside towns of Lennox Heads and the well-known tourist destination of Byron Bay before progressing to Coolangatta (98 km, 61 mi, 1:26 hrs).
Byron Bay has a vast range of tourist activities available centred around the beautiful crescent bay. Activities include various beach and water sports, scuba diving at Julian Rocks, whale watching, fantastic local markets and the individual Byron Bay beach culture.
2WD Side Road Trip Option – Gold Coast, Queensland Australia
A visit to the Gold Coast is on many visitor’s list of places to visit. Coolangatta to Brisbane via Surfers Paradise and Hope Island is a trip of 105 km, 66 mi, 1:05 hr.
Gold Coast Beaches
Gold Coast beaches are justifiably famous. The Gold Coast consists of a 70km beautiful soft sandy beach with options for every swimmer, family and surfer. The southern section of the Gold Coast between Surfers Paradise and Coolangatta consists of many surf beaches. The northern section of the Gold Coast between Southport and Paradise Point provides still water swimming in the Broadwater, which is protected from the ocean by South Stradbroke Island.
Gold Coast Theme Parks
The Gold Coast is well-known in Australia for being the home of the four major theme parks, each including a variety of themed shows and rides. Various ticket package options for Seaworld, Movieworld, Wet’n’Wild and the Australian Outback Spectacular show are all available through themeparks.com.au. A variety of ticket package options for Dreamworld and White Water World are available via shop.dreamworld.com.au.
Another great park is the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, which has a great range of Australian animals on display and the opportunity for visitors to participate in the famous lorikeet feeding. The Green Challenge provides an exciting treetops ropes course that includes a flying fox.
South Stradbroke Island
For an off-the-beaten-track option, a visit to South Stradbroke Island is worth considering. The island is 23 km long and 2.5km wide at the widest point and has surf beaches on the eastern side and protected still-water beaches on the western side. There are many camping and holiday home options available on the island. South Stradbroke Island is a vehicle-free zone.
2WD Pacific Highway Road Trip – Coolangatta to Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
The Pacific Highway enables you to bypass the Gold Coast and travel directly to Brisbane CBD along a bland multi-lane highway (104 km, 65 mi, 1:14 hrs).
Brisbane, Queensland Australia
Upon arrival in Brisbane, you will have completed the road trip from Sydney to Brisbane along the Pacific Highway, a trip of 918 km or 517 mi direct. If you have chosen to take any of the recommended side trips, you will have travelled a much greater distance.
Join the Australia Travel Planning Facebook Group
Check out our Australia Travel Planning Facebook Group – you are welcome to join and it is a great resource to enable you to ask questions about your Australian trip!
Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. If you book after clicking on one of these links then we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Anne Sutherland-Smith is the creative force behind Pretraveller.com, a travel blog that specializes in offering insightful guidance for exploring Japan, South Korea, Australia, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Her passion for these diverse and dynamic regions shines through in her expert advice, particularly in helping travellers stay connected with the latest in SIM cards, pocket WiFi, and eSIMs.
With an unquenchable thirst for Asian and Oceanian cultures, Anne has carved out a niche as a knowledgeable guide for those venturing into the bustling streets of Tokyo, the historical alleys of Kyoto, the vibrant scenes of Seoul, the scenic landscapes of Australia, the vibrant markets of Hong Kong, or the futuristic cityscape of Singapore. Her articles are full of practical tips and detailed information, ensuring travellers are well-equipped for their journeys.
Anne’s approach is grounded in providing reliable, authoritative travel content that enhances the travel experience. From navigating the complexities of digital connectivity on the go to immersing in the local culture, her advice is designed to make travel both enjoyable and seamless.
This sounds like such a great trip! It looks like you get a good mix of the beaches, rainforest and city. Must do this one day!
I think the hardest part is choosing which beaches and rainforest you will visit. You could easily take several weeks to tour the Sydney to Brisbane route if you have the time.
You seem to have had a bit of everything in this trip. The good times…
The road trip from Sydney to Brisbane is really special, and showcases some of the best of Australia.