Heath

Recently back from GBR and WA and now planning our next Australia trip for '17.
We will be flying into Brisbane and have 12-14 days before heading to Auckland to visit parts of the N Island that we missed on a previous trip.
Thoughts are to drive Pacific Coast Rd from Brisbane to Sydney - or maybe a loop back to Brisbane. Lamington Park sounds appealing. We would enjoy Hunter Valley. Lots of beach areas to see- Coffs, Pt Macquarie, Pt Stephens -- not sure which areas are the most worthwhile for a visit and stay.
Look forward to suggestions to make this road trip interesting and well paced.

Melnq8

How about a trip report from WA and GBR?

Heath

WA Trip report coming- great time, everything was perfect - -and many thanks Mel for your suggestions,recommendations and reports. Made it to Lamonts.

Melnq8

Woo-hoo! Look forward to reading it.

michelhuebeli

Brissie to SunnySinny - I’ve done this drive more times than I can remember, at one time for work when I usually had no option but go down New England Highway for speed reasons, and many times since for leisure (aah - retirement...). That’s when I have learned to take it easy and enjoy the non-linear ways.

Warning: This will take a moment - get a good map and try to follow, it will be worth it, I promise.

My favorite route goes something like this, using many secondary and tertiary roads that will make this much more enjoyable and much slower than either the New England Highway 15 (http://www.atn.com.au/maps/sydbne2.html) or the Pacific Coast Highway A1 (http://pacificcoast.com.au) but using parts of both:

Tamborine Mountain (unless you did that as a daytrip while based in Brisbane?)

Advancetown Lake (97) south to the border

NSW 34 to Murwillumbah - Dum Dum (not you...) - Uki - Nimbin (by the “Nightcap” National Park - raise a glass before bedtime!)

A word about Nimbin: In the minds and memories of many Baby Boomers this holds a place dear to the heart - it was a counterculture headquarter where alternative lifestyles were celebrated and - largely but not always - tolerated. Much of what was “outrageous” in those days has now become mainstream, and I’m sure you can tell your parents that you drove through Nimbin and took a good look around without them cutting out your allowance as punishment... See http://www.visitnimbin.com.au

Continue your countryside hill-and-dale driving to Lismore, a regional center with many motels etc. Note that “Pubs” (Public Houses - watering holes of old) used to offer simple accommodation and many still do, but not usually in the main building but in adjacent motel-style units.

However, if your budget requires it, ask if they have “pub” rooms still available, we slept in one such room for a pittance not long ago - the bare lightbulb and the sagging mattress notwithstanding, it was a cheap and memorable experience for just the one night...

Now head to Ballina and the A1, and soon you’ll be in Grafton, another regional center, nicely located on a river.

Now the country ride and mountain fun begins:

Head for Nymboida, Dundurrabin, and before Ebor pick up the B78 that will take you to Armidale.

Armidale is a lovely regional center, a town full of contradictions, a university town at the same time as an agricultural center - academia meets the barn - and with lots of arts and crafts and other gems.

Now you take the A15 south for a bit, but soon it becomes monotonous and Tamworth (the oh-so-phony wannabe Nashville country-music imitator) bears few charms, so in Bendemeer you hang a left and take the B56 through Walcha and past the Cottan-Bimbang National Park to the A1 near Port Macquarie.

There’s a Billabong Zoo Koala and Wildlife Park right there - http://billabongzoo.com.au.

Head south for a few km and turn toward the ocean on Houston Mitchell Drive, stay on it through North Haven and Dunbogan and past Crowdy Bay National Park, either enter the park and come out the other end to regain the A1, or hang a right and take Coralville Rd to the A1.

Now keep going south on A1 but be aware of many worthwhile spurs to places like Forster and Blueys Beach, and - after Bulahdelah - down to Hawks Nest.

Around Heatherbrea it’s decision time: Head south (A43) towards Newcastle and - past the city - to Toronto and Morisset, or follow A1 to where it becomes M1 (expressway) to Sydney, or ignore the M1 and take the B68 west to the wine region of the Hunter Valley?

Cessnock has a visitor center that will inform you about the wineries etc. My favorite: Tyrrell’s in Pokolbin. But there are lots and lots of good ones, take your pick.

A last hurrah of a hilly drive is via Wollombi and Wisemans Ferry down to Sydney.

Or take the M1 for a rapid ride.

This could easily take a week if you do it right - you can wing the accommodations as you go.

You’ll get it all - beaches, mountains, parks, solitude, great scenery, the lot. Enjoy!

Heath

Thank you for the very detailed route - I have a good map and traced out the route and I agree it encompasses mountain,valley,coast etc.
We have decided to spend our 3 wks in S Queensland and NSW.
Questions:

Is Brisbane worth a 1-2 day stay? -could be an option to head to Sunshine coast for a few days -Noosa or Maroochydore?

Tamborine or O'Reilly? I see Tamborine has more services and a village and the drive may be easier. Comments?

Should I be concerned missing Byron Bay and Coffs Harbour - or are the coastal areas around Forster/Seal Rocks better?

Areas to stay: suggestions? Bellingen and Forster sound appealing so may adjust the route for a 1-2 stay in Bellingen.

After following your suggested route we will spend 2-3 days in Hunter Valley and 2-3 days in Blue Mts (Leura) and then head to the Southern Highlands (maybe a day trip to Canberra, and day trip to coast -Berry and blowhole at Kiama). The SH wine area sounds interesting - comments?

On our trip to WA we stayed in chalets -mostly on small farm properties. There does not seem to be much of this type of accommodation on our NSW route - am I correct? Are there some hidden chalets that I missed?
All comments appreciated.

KayF

We've lived in Brisbane for a year or so now (from Melbourne) and love it. If you decide to stay in Brisbane, do the free CityHopper ferry ride, especially good at night with the Story Bridge and highrise buildings lit up. One of the world's best travel bargains.

There is also a lovely free swimming lagoon area at Southbank Brisbane, right in the centre of things. Very popular on hot days!

Regarding the Sunshine Coast, Noosa is more upmarket and touristy than Maroochydore, also more popular. We prefer Maroochydore which is more 'real life' with good beaches and lots of nice places to eat. If you go there, check out Cotton Tree and Picnic Point areas for accommodation. Ocean St in Maroochydore has lots of restaurants.

Kay

michelhuebeli

Just back from a trip without internet. In answer to your question about chalets - sorry, no idea, never looked into that.

While in the Blue Mountains, consider strongly the Jenolan Caves - www.jenolancaves.org.au/ - not a quickie, a bit out of the way, bring good shoes and cool-weather jacket and pick your cave as per fitness level and time you have. Awesome!

I wouldn't worry about missing any given beachfront town, there are so many and I don't know that any have it by so much over others. Mostly it's personal preference and fond memories that make some folks swear by one over the other location.

It will be a great trip no matter which modality you choose.

Ozian

Overall a good itinerary with a variety of scenery.

I spent 2 full days in Brisbane which was more than enough for me. The Southbank area was nice, particularly in the evening. For a cultural hit the Art Gallery surprised me with a good collection.

Lamington NP is excellent for keen bushwalkers and birders. The drive up to O'Reillys is long, steep and narrow, so at least a 2 night stay is needed to make the drive worthwhile. There are some excellent full day walks and some shorter walks available.

I visited Tambourine Mountain and Springbrook NP as day trips from the Gold Coast. Both these areas have a variety of walks to enjoy the environment. Tambourine had plenty of shops and food during the day, but looked quiet later in the day.

I liked Coffs Harbour, but mainly used it as a base to explore the area. The Bellingen area had some interesting craft shops and galleries. The Waterfall Way has numerous walks, waterfalls and superb scenery. I would agree that its worth a stay but cant help with accommodation.

Byron Bay I found very disappointing. The surrounding country was uninteresting, the beach and coast OK but no better than many other places and the town itself I did not like.

Canberra is under-rated and worth more than a day trip if you can find the time. The Australian War Memorial is one of the world's best. The scenery around Berry is lovely but I have no idea about the wines.

Heath

Thanks for the great input - still fine tuning.
Any Southern Highland comments?
Also 3-4 days in HV too much or is there enough there to keep things interesting?

Bokhara2

Heath:

I think 2 days would be plenty to see the Hunter Valley & surrounds.

I'd spend longer in the Southern Highlands & South Coast. Have a look at the websites for both. If you have the time, you could do a very nice loop - South Coast to Canberra & back to Sydney via the Southern Highlands.

That would be my idea of a good 3-4 days or preferably a little more.

Heath

Great -thanks. I just plotted a route Leura, Berry, Batemans Bay, Canberra, Bowral, Sydney -- looks good.
Favorite stops??

michelhuebeli

<"Leura, Berry, Batemans Bay, Canberra, Bowral, Sydney -- looks good">

In that order? Really?

Why not Leura - and don't forget the Jenolan Caves (www.jenolancaves.org.au/) while in the Blue Mountains, easily the best attraction up there - to Canberra to Batesmans Bay to Berry to Bowral to Sydney?

Heath

Thanks for the input. Will review the circular route and also will put caves on the must see list and map the location.