3. The Pacific Coast Highway
7 day driving route between Sydney to Brisbane:
Sydney–Central Coast–Hunter Valley–Port Stephens–Coffs Harbour–Byron Bay–Gold Coast
Explore the Central Coast, the wineries of the Hunter Valley and the inlets of Port Stephens. Stop at Coffs Coast and swim and camp at Byron Bay. Dive in Solitary Islands Marine Park and visit the Gold Coast. This scenic drive takes you from Sydney to Brisbane.
Day 1 - Sydney to Central Coast
Head north out of Sydney to the Central Coast, where you can bushwalk in Bouddi National Park, surf in Avoca and fish from the beach in Terrigal. There's a Coast Walking Track through Bateau Bay and the beaches and wildlife-rich hinterland of Toowoon Bay.
Further north, fish and feed pelicans from the ocean beaches of The Entrance. You can canoe, water-ski, sail, row and sailboard on Tuggerah Lake or ride a bike around its shores. Inland there are the bushwalks that lead you past Aboriginal art and wildflowers. Stay overnight in your favourite Central Coast town.
Hunter Valley, NSW
Day 2 - Central Coast to Hunter Valley
Drive through Newcastle and surf at Nobby's Beach, swim at Bar Beach, hang-glide at Dixon Park or scuba dive the wrecks near Newcastle Harbour. Relax with lunch at a café along the boardwalk or at Queens Wharf, before heading to the vines of the Hunter Valley.
The region's best known wines are Semillon and Shiraz at 120 wineries. Visit the long established names like McGuigan, Tyrrell, Tulloch and Drayton. Buy straight from the cellar at Lovedale and taste handcrafted-wines in Broke, a tranquil village surrounded by olive groves and the Yellow Rock escarpment.
Tandem skydive at Cessnock, bushwalk in Yengo National Park or take a hot air balloon ride over the vineyards from Pokolbin. Spend the night it a campsite in Lovedale, accessible Cessnock or the historic town of Wollombi.
Day 3 – Hunter Valley to Port Stephens
Head north past Kurri Kurri for the 26 beaches at Port Stephens. Drive up to the Nelson Head Lighthouse and stop to see the bay. From Nelson Bay, you can kayak or cruise next to bottle-nosed dolphins and dive or snorkel with other marine life at Fly Point.
Take the ferry to Tea Gardens, and then head toHawks Nest, swim in the ocean beaches or fish from Myall Lakes National Park. Walk to the top of Tomaree Headland in Tomaree National Park and visit the sand dunes of Stockton Beach on a quad bike or four wheel drive. Tuck yourself away for the night in quiet Anna or Fingle Bay.
Day 4 - Port Stephens to Coffs Harbour
Travel out of Port Stephens and through historic Raymond Terrace on the Hunter River. Continue up the coast. Fish and scuba dive from Seal Rocks and walk the beaches of Forster.
Alternatively, head inland to the World Heritage-listed wilderness of Barrington Tops. Here you can bushwalk or white water raft through subtropical rainforest and past extinct volcanic peaks. Visit Taree and Ellenborough Falls and ride a camel along Lighthouse Beach in Port Macquarie. Further north, you can dive, snorkel or deep sea fish from South West Rocks and visit beaches at Nambucca Heads. End your day in Coffs Harbour, a scenic resort town surrounded by lush forests and national parks.
Day 5 - Coffs Harbour to Byron Bay
Have breakfast on the beach and get a photo of the famous Big Banana, before exploring the larger adventure playground of the Coffs Coast. Kayak through Bongil Bongil National Park or whitewater raft on the Nymboida River. Fish or scuba dive in the Solitary Islands Marine Park, off the coast at Coffs Harbour. Alternatively, turn south west for the leafy hippy village of Bellingen and walk through waterfalls and Gondwanan rainforest in Dorrigo National Park.
Further north, stop in the charming provincial city of Grafton, cruise next to dolphins in the Clarence River and ride a heritage steam train across the mountains in Glenreagh. Head to Nymboida for whitewater rafting, abseiling and rock-climbing and see the largest platypus colony in the region. Then rejoin the Pacific Highway and head through the bustling riverfront town of Ballina before arriving at Byron Bay for the night.
Day 6 – Byron Bay to Gold Coast
Walk along Cape Byron Walking Track and see the Byron Bay lighthouse. Watch out for whales making their annual migration between May and November and snorkel with humpback whales, sea turtles and dolphins in Cape Byron Marine Park.
Swim or kayak with dolphins off Main Beach or hit the popular surf break of The Pass. Hang glide and horse riding are available in the Bangalow.Four wheel drive tours run through the waterfalls and rainforest of Byron's hinterland. You can get a tarot card reading here and find inner peace at a rainforest retreat or browse the work of local artists at the Saturday markets. Drive the scenic 90-minute drive to the Gold Coast. You can detour through the scenic national parks around Murwillumbah and climb Mount Warning, an ancient eroded volcano. Stay at Surfer's Paradise or a hinterland retreat.
Day 7 - Gold Coast to Brisbane
Spend the day on the beaches or shopping on the Gold Coast. Ride the waves of Broadbeach, Kirra and Main Beach. Or lie on the golden sand of Surfers Paradise, where afterwards you can shop and visit the cafes and restaurants of lively Cavill Avenue.
Snorkel or dive the wreck of the Scottish Prince off Main Beach or explore the artificial reef just off Narrow Neck. Inland you can explore the waterfalls, rock pools and lush sub-tropical rainforest of Tamborine Mountain National Park, Springbrook National Park and Lamington National Park. For theme park thrills, swim with dolphins and cuddle seals at Sea World, watch movies being made at Movie World and survive the mother of all tidal waves at Dreamworld. Once you've dosed up on fun, do the hour drive to the relaxed and sophisticated capital of Brisbane.
4. Sydney to Melbourne Coastal Drive
Sydney–Nowra–Batemans Bay–Eden–Bairnsdale–Wilsons Promontory–Phillip Island–Melbourne
7 days drive from Sydney.
Swim from white beaches in Jervis Bay, eat fresh oysters in Pambula and spot whales in Eden. Feed sea eagles in Mallacoota and experience the precious eco-systems of Croajingolong National Park.
Go boating on the vast, tranquil Gippsland Lakes. Then walk along the sweeping expanse of Ninety Mile Beach and to the southernmost tip of Australia's mainland in Wilsons Promontory National Park.
On Phillip Island, you'll find fur seals and a daily dusk parade of little penguins. This drive takes you to sleepy seaside towns, national parks teeming with wildlife and long, solitary beaches where your feet are the only ones on the sand.
Day 1 – Sydney to Nowra
Drive south out of Sydneyand through the Royal National Park to begin the Grand Pacific Drive.
Stop to swim, surf or picnic at Stanwell Tops, where you can also take in stunning coastal views from the cliff-tops.
Drive over the dramatic Sea Cliff Bridge, which spans 455 metres over the ocean, and into the scenic city of Wollongong. Stop here, in Shellharbour on Lake Illawarra or in Kiama where the famous Blowhole shoots water up to 60 metres.
Continue through the lush rolling hills to Gerringong and Gerroa, which sits perched on cliffs overlooking Seven Mile Beach.
Drive alongside it to Shoalhaven Heads, a popular spot for swimming, surfing and beach fishing, or head inland for a pub lunch in the pretty historic town of Berry. Do a short, scenic drive to the antique shops, galleries and green pasturelands of Kangaroo Valley. Or curve towards the coast and stop at Coolangatta Estate for award-winning wines.
Finish your first day in Nowra, which offers pretty antique shops and stay the night.
Jervis Bay, NSW
Day 2 – Nowra to Batemans Bay
Head to Huskisson inJervis Bay, where you can cruise next to dolphin pods or burrow your feet in the whitest sand at Hyams Beach.
Swim, bushwalk or birdwatch in the beaches and forest of Booderee National Park. You can picnic at Hammerhead Point near Currarong and Red Point near Callala. Or dive from Green Patch, where the crimson rosellas lend bright splashes of colour.
Hire a sea kayak and paddle round Honeymoon Bay and swim off Murrays Beach, where the waters are sheltered by Bowen Island. When you are ready to get behind the wheel, drive south and stop at Ulladulla for fish and chips on the harbour.
Learn about local Aboriginal history on the 'One Track for All' walk along the northern headland or swim at Pebbly Beach with resident kangaroos.
Take in the rugged coastline of Murramarang National Park and the lakes and beaches of South Durras. End your day in the vibrant holiday town of Batemans Bay, where you can cruise the Clyde River and feast on fresh oysters.
Batemans Bay, NSW.
Day 3 – Batemans Bay to Eden
Stop in Mogo, where you can shop and experience life in a 19th century gold mining village. Then visit the pretty National Trust-listed village of Central Tilba and see traditional craftspeople at work.
Stop off at the Umbarra Cultural Centre, where you can join a boomerang-throwing session or a four wheel drive tour to the sacred sites of Gulaga (Mt Dromedary) and Wallaga Lake.
Travel along the beach road to Mimosa Rocks National Park, where you can swim and snorkel in the lagoons, surf from the ocean beaches and walk the coast.
Head inland to sample the cheeses of Bega or taste the famous oysters of Pambula. Pull in to the whale watching town of Eden, where you can watch southern right and humpback whales make their annual migration between May and November.
Bushwalk through wildflowers, beaches and eucalypts in Ben Boyd National Park before retiring for the night.
Day 4 – Eden to Bairnsdale
Continue on to the Victorian border to the coastal town of Mallacoota, on the lakes of Mallacoota Inlet.
Steer a boat or paddle a canoe up the Genoa or Wallagaraugh rivers to Gipsy Point, where you can picnic with kangaroos and feed sea eagles.
See one of the world's largest known colonies of little penguins at Gabo Island.
Explore eco-systems so precious they are protected by a World Biosphere Reserve in Croajingolong National Park. Or travel south to Cape Conran Coastal Park for a picnic lunch.
You can camp here, between heathlands, wild ocean beaches and banksia woodlands. Or continue towards Metungpast Lakes Entrance, where you can sail or cruise the Gippsland Lakes, Australia's largest inland waterway.
Stay here or in Bairnsdale, at the junction of the Gippsland Lakes and alpine region.
Day 5 – Bairnsdale to Wilsons Promontory
Drive along the Princes Highway and call into Yarram for lunch on your way toWilsons Promontory National Park.
Camp at Tidal River at Norman Bay and set out on one of the park's many walks. Follow the Lilly Pilly Gully Nature Walk through heathland, eucalypt forest and rainforest or walk to Squeaky Beach to see its pure white sand.
Trek to the top of Mt Oberon for one of Victoria's best panoramas or hike out to one of 11 outstation campsites. Snorkel or dive the granite cliffs, bright fish and multi-coloured seaweed of Wilsons Promontory Marine National Park. Stay overnight at Tidal River or in the nearby town of Foster.
Day 6 – Wilsons Promontory to Phillip Island
Stop at Fish Creek, a small quirky town lined with galleries, bookstores and cafes or wait till you reach the popular seaside town of Inverloch for lunch.
Drive through the fishing and pelican haven of San Remo and over the bridge to Phillip Island. See koalas and water birds in the wild at Rhyll and watch fairy penguins waddle home at dusk on Summerland Beach.
For a different kind of wild life, visit the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, home to the Australian Motor Cycle Grand Prix and V8 Supercar 500.
Cruise past Australia's largest seal colony of fur seals at Seal Rocks and see thousands of short-tailed shearwaters on the rugged bluffs of Cape Woolami. Spend the night in Cowes or the sheltered port of Rhyll.
Day 7 – Phillip Island to Melbourne
Book Early and hire a luxury camper van. The earlier you book, the cheaper the rate.
