Do you dream of Australia or are you already planning a trip to the continent? How about a road trip along incredible dream beaches for inspiration? TRAVELBOOK author Anna Wengel drove up and found beautiful corners between Byron Bay and Sydney in New South Wales. She wrote them down for us and recorded a podcast on the southeast coast of Australia.
Longing comes up in me when I think back to this Australia road trip. So many incredible beaches along the way, some of which I had all to myself. Plus lots of kangaroos, small charming towns and waterfalls. The stretch between Byron Bay and Sydney in the southeastern state of New South Wales is definitely worth a road trip.
Car and accommodation for the Australia road trip
I would always recommend getting a van for a road trip to anyone who has a bit of time. You have your home with you and you can sleep alone in the most beautiful natural surroundings. So that nothing bad is done to it, the van should have a minimum of sanitary facilities, so toilet, shower and the corresponding waste water regulations should be taken along. If they don’t, or if only the emergency minimum is met, the “Campermate” app, for example, can help. It shows everything useful such as public toilets, showers, gas stations, etc.
Another option for those who don’t have that much time or don’t want to commit to a car or van is to rent. Numerous private and commercial providers offer everything from cars to caravans. Those who do not want to spend the night in their wheels will find numerous hotels, hostels, bed and breakfasts, campsites and Airbnbs along the route. Like the car, they come in all price ranges. Australia is not the cheapest country to travel to, but if you look around here and don’t have too high expectations, you can also travel here cheaply.
Road trip start: Australia’s influencer paradise Byron Bay
After a wonderful couple of weeks in influencer heaven Byron Bay and its laid-back neighbor Mullumbimby, here we go (read what to do in and around Byron Bay here). I asked a friend who lives in Byron Bay and is a native of Sydney for road trip tips – and got plenty. Together with a few randomly discovered natural beauties, this itinerary was created:
Byron Bay – Broken Head – Lennox Head – Yamba – Angourie Back Beach – Brooms Head – Yuraygir Nationalpark – Arrawarra – Emerald Beach – Look at me now Headland Track – Moonee Beach – Sawtell Beach – Bellingen mit Waterfall Way – Valla Beach – Nambucca Heads – Crescent Head – Boomerang Beach – Blueys Beach – Seal Rocks – Newcastle – Munmorah State Conservation Area – Avoca Beach – Copacabbana Beach – Bouddi Nationalpark – Blue Mountains Nationalpark – Sydney
The route is around 1000 kilometers long, with a total travel time of around twelve hours. However, the actual road trip can be drawn out for a good few weeks, because there is so much to discover. You should plan time just for the many possible hikes, for example through national parks. And of course also absolutely for the countless beaches that you can discover along the way.
From Broken and Lennox Head to Yamba and Surroundings
Leaving Byron Bay, for the first time I get to know that sense of eternity that will always accompany me on road trips through Australia. I drive what feels like hours on the same road, only trees left and right. Always on the lookout for a koala somewhere. In fact, it’s not hours. The first beach I look at, Broken Head Beach, is only twelve kilometers away. The second, Lennox Head, another 15 kilometers. In between there are some more beautiful bays with beaches.
Further south is the small town of Yamba, also referred to by locals as the “next Byron Bay”. I don’t find the place itself all that exciting, but I do find its surroundings of dense bush landscapes, cliffs and undisturbed views of the sea. And its kangaroo appearance. I am sent to the local golf course by new acquaintances when I mention that I have hardly seen any kangaroos on my drive so far. And there they are. Lots of kangaroos, who don’t let themselves be irritated by golf balls flying around while eating and jumping around in the area. The golfers themselves keep their distance, but the kangaroos are clearly in the majority.
Not far from Yamba I find Angourie Back Beach, which is particularly popular with surfers. Apparently, Angourie Point is one of Australia’s best so-called right-hand point breaks. Those who don’t surf can go hiking, relax on the beach or swim in natural pools. You can also spend hours walking around Yuraygir National Park with its red sand. When walking along the coast, you sometimes see not only kangaroos, but also larger animals: whales. But you need a bit of luck – and the right time of year. Loud visitnsw.com The coastline of the Australian state of New South Wales is also known as the “Humpback Whale Highway”, and around 30,000 whales pass by here between May and November. Mainly humpback whales, but also southern right whales, killer whales, blue, minke and sperm whales.
Dream beaches on the way to Bellingen
The next worthwhile place on the route is Bellingen. But before we get there, there are still plenty of beaches to discover. I drove down the A1 to a large extent. Unlike our home A1, the so-called Pacific Highway is not a fast-moving concrete desert, but almost lonely in many places, has only one lane on each side and is lined with trees. It is worth turning left here and there near the sea and following small streets and paths. They often end on or near beaches that are almost or completely empty. Above all, I followed my feelings (and my desire for breaks) and discovered really impressive, lonely stretches of beach. Worthwhile beaches on the way are for example these here (I’m sure there are at least as beautiful others that I haven’t seen): Corindi Beach, Emerald Beach, Moonee Beach, Sawtell Beach. The Look at me know Headland Track on the peninsula of the same name is also worthwhile. Why? This is where I probably saw the most kangaroos on the whole trip – and some of them got pretty close.
The path finally leads away from the coastal highway and a little further inland to Bellingen. From there I drive along the Waterfall Highway for quite a while – until the name makes sense and water falls down the mountain in several places. In the middle of the rain of the rainforest, it sometimes seemed pretty mystical. And this is how it looks:
Bellingen itself is a small, charming town with pretty Victorian and Art Deco houses, small cafes and shops to make hipster hearts happy. Maybe it’s also the alternative mixture of freethinkers, authors, artists and musicians that can be felt in this place and somehow makes me feel a little bit at home. Whatever the reason, Bellingen should not be missed on this Australia road trip.
Australia’s second oldest city Newcastle
I’m going on anyway, in the direction of Newcastle. Along the way, it’s worth stopping at Nambucca Heads with its V-Wall outdoor gallery, made up of numerous painted and inscribed rocks along the water. Crescent Head is also worth a stop for its bushveld and beautiful Back and Goolawah Beach. Great beaches along the way also include South Valla Beach, the long Boomerang Beach and Blueys Beach. A stop at Seal Rocks is also worthwhile if you enjoy climbing over rugged cliffs.
After all the beaches and wild nature, if you fancy a bit more civilization and city life, you can stop in Newcastle. A nice hostel in the city, for example, is the Newcastle Beach YHA with its dark leather sofas and partly wood-paneled walls – and that’s pretty much right on the beach. Newcastle itself is the second largest city in New South Wales and Australia’s second oldest. Here you will find numerous charming cafes, pretty Art Deco buildings, markets, galleries, a bustling harbor and golden sandy beaches all around.
Newcastle is just a two-hour drive from Sydney. However, before we make the last stop on this road trip there, there are still a few beautiful places to discover. Munmorah State Conservation Area for example, another exciting national park with ocean views, secluded scenery and beaches and steep cliffs. The Bouddi National Park a little further south is also worthwhile. Great beaches on the way are also Avoca and Copacabana Beach.
Blue Mountains and road trip destination Sydney
Shortly before Sydney there is one last, really big highlight on this Australia road trip: the Blue Mountains in the national park of the same name. You can plan several days for that. If you don’t have that much time, you should at least have seen the Three Sisters. At the Echo Point Lookout you get a great view of the rock formation as well as the vastness of the blue mountains. But beware: it is teeming with tourists here.
And then we have already arrived at the end of this road trip. Find out what you should see in Sydney in our travel tips for Sydney. And if you want to travel even further south from the metropolis, this might also be of interest to you: The best travel tips! 13 things to do in Melbourne.
