The Legendary Sydney to Byron Bay Drive - 8 Stops You Must Take

The Pacific Highway from Sydney to Byron Bay is also known as The Legendary Pacific Coast -  by far one of the most popular and sought-after road trips! The 1000km long scenic drive takes you on an adventure through lush national parks, stunning beaches, rolling green hills of the hinterland, and small yet vibrant off the beaten track towns full of charisma and Aussie culture.

If you’re on a holiday, you may as well rediscover your own backyard and check out some of Sydney’s best that you’ve always wanted to check off your list! Perhaps the Sydney Tower Eye for starters? Sydney Tower’s 268m glass viewing platform, the Skywalk, offers 360-degree views of the city, harbour and suburbs, offering a new perspective of the city:

Small secluded beaches fringed by rainforests, sandstone cliffs, and coastal heaths blanketed in wildflower colour make this park one of the most diverse and delightful reserves accessible to Sydney. 

There’s so much to do at Bouddi! Camping is available at Putty Beach, Little Beach and Tallow Beach. You can also discover picturesque Maitland Bay and the wreck of the PS Maitland at the heart of the park’s marine protected area, plus explore the spectacular Bouddi Coastal Walk with its breathtaking views along the windswept coastline.

Port Stephens is known for its wonderful beaches - you won’t want to miss out on this stop! There are 26 golden sandy beaches, some sheltered bay beaches that are perfect for families as well as swimming, snorkeling and kayaking. Ocean beaches are sublime, great for surfing and beach walks. Don’t miss One Mile Beach, Box Beach and Fingal Spit if you’re an experienced surfer.

Port Stephens is also home to around 150 bottlenose dolphins; you’ll find plenty of tours departing from Nelson Bay that offer dolphin-watch cruises or even kayak trips. If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, why not jump on a quad bike and adventure through the sand dunes?

The Hunter Valley is New South Wales’ pre-eminent wine region, so it should come as no surprise that a visit there is best spent tasting the local produce. Besides wine tasting, there is also a heap of unique activities you could check out in the Hunter, like grape stomping, wine barrel rolling, or even horse riding! 

If you just feel like spending a boozy weekend here, check out this list of the 28 best wineries in the region:

Port Macquarie is surrounded by beautiful waterways – the Hastings River, canals, creeks, bays and the Pacific Ocean. The city also has a five-star collection of golden-sand beaches stretching from Port Macquarie Beach to Town Beach and north along the 16-km swathe of North Beach.

If you’re doing this trip with your significant other and feel like collecting a few brownie points, this scenic chopper flight should do the trick:

Coffs Harbour, in Australia, is a coastal city located on the north coast of New South Wales about 540 km north of Sydney, and 390 km south of Brisbane. The coastal city is home to stretches of golden beach flanked by rainforests. Stop by the iconic Big Banana for a photo, as well as rides, puppet shows and delicious choc-banana sticks.

Lennox Head is a seaside village in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia, situated on the stretch of coast between Byron Bay and Ballina. with spectacular coastal scenery including a gorgeous lake for kayaking and the beautiful Seven Mile Beach.

If you’ve always wanted to catch a surf but feel like you need some help from someone profesh, now’s your chance too:

And...you’ve made it!  Pristine blue beaches and rolling countryside now await you. Byron is also known for its art, entertainment and locals, attracted by the laid back atmosphere and the beauty of the location. One of the most popular highlights of the area would have to be the famous lighthouse, where you may spot some of the migrating whales famous in the area. An easy walk to the Cape will allow you to experience the coastal scenery at its best.

An experience that is definitely like no other and totally worth the splurge is catching the sunrise over this magnificent location: 

Since you’ve made it this far, you may as well also check out Brisbane- the capital of Queensland! Brisbane is a cosmopolitan and lively city that is home to many different types of scenery, including skyscrapers, parkland and even an artificial beach. Brisbane is a river city, although close to the coast, with Brisbane River running through it.

It is surrounded by hills and full of bridges. Brisbane also gives easy access to a number of attractions as well as the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast.

Don’t let the adventure stop there though, check out Moreton Island and discover hidden underwater wonders beneath the Tangalooma Wrecks as you ride on transparent kayaks: