Sydney to Coffs Harbour in Jan with kids, 9 and 11
 

Hello. Planning a driving trip for me and my kids, 9 and 11 years old, in January 2017. Decided to drive up north from Northern shore suburb Killara to Coffs Harbour. Then take a flight back to Sydney. Though I'm not from Oz, I've driven in Victoria, Adelaide, and Perth - southwards. But not in NSW. Would appreciate your comments/thoughts on below if you're from NSW or have taken this route :

Day 1-2 Drive from Killara to Port Stephen, stopping by Newcastle on the way. Stay 2 night.
Day 3 Drive and stay overnight at Myall Lakes National Park
Day 4-5 Drive to Port Macquarie. Stay 2 nights
Day 5-7. Drive to Bellingen. Stay 2 nights.
Day 8-10 Drive to Coffs Harbour. Stay 2 nights.

I only have 10 days so decided to forego the drive to Byron Bay.

Any thoughts/advice ?

Thanks
Eric

Too many moves - for example why be packing up in Bellingen and moving house to Coffs Harbour when it's just down the road?

And why fly when it's only six hours to drive back down to Sydney? The cost of the flights and the one-way drop-off charge for the car?

I suggest driving on Day One to somewhere near Forster, staying a few nights, then move further up the coast if you have a good reason for doing so, and drive down again with an overnight stop somewhere.

Book early, it will be the height of tourist and summer vacation season.

Thanks.

Though I checked distance between stops, I anticipate a bit longer with holiday period. My limit is 3 hours drive per day . Kids and I will have a hard time more than that

I dO understand your point though. Any suggestions on other stop over points , doing a u turn in belling run bsck to Sydney?

As noted on TA, you will be travelling at the peak of the peak school holiday period - sling thr most popular route.

I'm guessing your children are on school holidays too? If not, I'd suggest you wait until February or come in early December.

If you're stuck with those dates, make your accommodation bookings early, be flexible in your choices - and/or prepare for minimum 2 or more night stay requirements. Look for towns close to, but not the major & most popular places.

Hi Eric

I suggest driving both directions, with stops at different places each time.

Port Stephens is beautiful (My home base!). If you are travelling at the end of January you can usually pick up a couple of nights stay easily; the first two weeks in January are so heavily booked that most accommodation places will only accept full week bookings.

We are only a 45 minute drive from Newcastle, so another suggestion would be to extend your number of nights there, and do a day trip here. Accommodation is not so restricted there at that time of year.

Newcastle has great beaches too, as well as historical sites that would interest children the age of yours. The harbour entry is quite narrow, so shipping can be seen very close up quite easily. Plenty of eateries along that strip too.

Are you planning to camp at Myall Lakes? Not much else in the way of accommodation that I know of, and once again sites will be at a premium at that time of the year.

I'd choose either Coffs or Bellingen - as others have said, it's only around 40 min drive between the two. Di

Thanks All

Unfortunately , the travel dates of first two weeks of Jan is fixed .

Hearing how tough it is , any suggestions on places near my itinerary where there are better options to find accommodations ?

Hi Eric
As your journey takes you along the coastal strip, you will have the problems already mentioned. I'd suggest trying the smaller motels, rather than the big chain ones. They may be more amenable to short stays (assuming you are looking for this type of accommodation?) Places like Raymond Terrace (40 min inland from Port Stephens bays) don't book as quickly or heavily as the ones right on the coast.

If you go to www.stays.com.au and put in your dates, then search 'north coast' you can then change to the map view. This shows what's available at each town, so you can select those that suit you.

Otherwise, if you are willing to chance it, last minute bookings that will take up whatever odd nights that accommodation providers have, would be another option.



Good luck! Di

You can take the route via Pacific Hwy/A1 (514 KM), it takes the time approx 6 hours. It will be great option for the trip with your kids.

Take a tent with you and think about camping. If you have blow up matresses - Lielows then stay in Bellingen and you and your kids can float on the river which is just beside the town and slow moving and shallow { unless there is floods]. a great days fun i did it with my kids when they were young. Bellingen has great cafes and restaurants all within close walking distance and is far more beautiful than Coffs Harbour.

Even if camping, book your sites ahead as soon as possible. They are also at a premium along the north coast at that time of year.
In some areas, pitching a tent outside camping areas may be permitted, but in Port Stephens you'd be up for a stiff fine - rangers definitely patrol! Di