Hi
First time in Oz in November and are trying to decide (one of our decisions!) between driving from Sydney to Brisbane and catching a flight to Mackey or flying into Brisbane and driving to Mackay. typically trying to fit way to much into this trip but think we would leave 3/4 days for the drive - are we mad? Which would be the better trip/.

Gold or Sunshine??

Drive sydney-brisbane.
Stay at smoky cape lighthouse b&b etc
If you want to see some sunshine coast highlights keep your car and go up there from brissy..its only 1-2 hours.

The drive brissy-mackay is tough going...it is NOT interstate driving.

I think the Sydney to Brisbane leg is a much more enjoybale drive. Planty of interesting stops on the way, although some will require a short detour off the Pacific Hwy. After Brisbane the highway heads a fair way inland for large parts and can be fairly boring. Brisbane to Mackay is slightly longer distance wise but probably about the same in driving time.

Ditto...and places to stop between Sydney/Brisbane might be:

Newcastle (about 2.5 hrs out of Sydney) - used to be heavy industry (ie coal) but is quaint, waterside town. It'd be a nice tea/lunch/wander stop on your first day if you leave in the morning.

Port Stephens
Seal Rocks/Forster
Coffs Harbour
Byron Bay

Drive Sydney-brisbane. We once did the trip all the way from Cairns to Brisbane stopping on the way in Townsville and Rockhampton, the biggest shock was the road! As another post alreay said it is not a highway and it is just enough for 2 cars to pass. The large road-trains can be rather daunting when they zoom past!