Hello there,

My family and I are due to arrive in Sydney 29 June. So far we have committed to 4 nights lodging in Sydney and then plan to travel the coast to Coffs Harbour, Byron Bay, Brisbane then back to Sydney. We have 19 days total.

My first question is: I read that the temperatures for July have average highs of 16C (Sydney) and 20C (Brisbane) but have a hard time imagining what it will be like at the beach during this type of weather? I can't picture swimming in that temp - but maybe resorts heat their pools, etc, since it is the school break? Maybe people are surfing in wetsuits, or maybe that is crazy - I have no idea what to expect. What is it like to go inland? (ie blue mountains, national parks) Any descriptions would be so helpful.

Secondly, our goals are to explore the countryside, experience the culture and hopefully observe wildlife - is traveling north along the coast a good way to do that? Our itinerary is not set - I could revise and go south.

Lastly, is the country link system a good way to go or do you recommend car rental? It looks like the rail system would take us to Coff's Harbour, Byron Bay, Brisbane and it seems economical - then maybe we could rent a car for a couple days in each locale, or maybe bicycles? Nervous about renting a car, but maybe I should just get over that.

Thank you very much in advance for any advice/descriptions you can provide.

I'll start the replies about Sydney beaches in July. Some people swim all year round & say that the water is fine. I'm prepared to believe them but there is no way I'd go swimming in July. They say the water's warm but it's cold once you get out- that's not for me
Last week I drove past Bondi Beach at 6.30am- it was barely light & I'd say there were at least 50 people in surfing but most of them were wearing wetsuits
Some days in July can be quite nice & you may get down to a T-shirt. If it's a nice day you could spend some time on the beach but I wouldn't imagine you'd really have to worry about getting sunburnt!!

One nice thing to do is the coastal walk from Bondi to Bronte (or even Coogee ) beach- it takes about 45mins - 1 hour . At either end there are cafes or other places to stop & enjoy the atmosphere.

Yes I will second recommendations for the Bondi to Bronte walk such a beautiful coastal walk and easy to access from public transport. When staying in Sydney buy a transport day ticket it allows unlimited travel on Ferries, buses and trains. Good value for making the most of a day around the Harbour.

Yes the water temperature will be too cold for general swimming in July in Sydney, although on a sunny day the beaches will still be lovely. Water temps up north will be a little warmer.

Train transport north is ok but limited. Maybe training it to a northern destination then hiring a car to visit the coastal towns would be an option.

Hiring a car would be your best option from Sydney to drive north, which would give you the most freedom for your family.

Do you specific things you want to fo whilst in Oz?

If you're nervous about driving you could compromise by taking the train to the small city of Newcastle, about 2 hrs north of Sydney by a good inter-urban electric train service, and renting your car there. The station is in the middle of Newcastle city (Hunter St) and I expect there's a rental agency not far away.

If you're worried about driving on the left, my attitude to driving on the right for the first time (in Boston, yet) was that thousands of others are going through the same experience and managing OK, so why should I wimp out? It's hardly rocket science, but do run a search for previous threads in which you'll find some useful tips.

Hint: on the way out of "Newie" you're almost certain to encounter roundabouts. Always bear left. Traffic already on the roundabout has right-of-way.

Note also that the Pacific Highway north of Newcastle can be slow in spots due to roadworks, it's only 2-lane in parts and still runs right through a number of towns en route. Mostly it's OK, but don't assume you'll average 100 km/hr overall.

Hi Lisa,
If you drive competently at home, you'll be fine here. Just allow yourself a little time & space to get used to it. Renting away from airports is a good idea because it will save you the airport taxes, and almost certainly won't be as hectic.

NeilOz's idea of taking a train to Newcastle is a good one. It looks as if you & your family rather like train travel, and it's a nice trip. It will also allow the driver to enjoy the scenery. More than that though, I think would limit your experiences & options to explore the myriad towns, villages & countryside between there & Brisbane.

I've topped a recent thread "Sydney to Noosa" that has some information you might find useful.

I'd highly recommend following the coast one way and taking an inland route the other. And as much as you can, get off the beaten path of the main highway. The border area between New South Wales and Queensland is particularly beautiful, with lots of opportunities for seeing wildlife: Lamington National Park, the Scenic Rim, the Granite Belt (Girraween and Bald Rock), Mt Warning and Mt Barney. Do plan at least a couple of full days in this general area. Also, inland towns are a much less developed and commercialized than those along the coast - the "real Australia" as it is were.

As you suggest, it will get progressively warmer as you head north. At Byron Bay, for example, you should see lots of sunbathers if the sun is out, though not many venturing into the water.

Your route could take a number of loops depending on your interests. Just to get your thinking started:- From Port Macquarie inland to Armidale and Glen Innes and back to the coast at Grafton/Yamba. From Ballina to Kyogle, Killarney and Warwick before heading to Brisbane, the Boarder Ranges adnd the Gold Coast.
You could then return by train.

The 17th Biennale of Art is on in Sydney now & will continue until 1st August. The works are shown in several interesting locations, which will take on an extra dimension during this period. Might be something for you ...

http://www.bos17.com/biennale/venue/2

My suggestion is a little different from Alan's. I'd continue on the New England hwy north through Glen Innes to Tenterfield so you can spend some time exploring the Granite Belt region. The walks at Girraween Nat'l Park and Bald Rock are excellent - some steep parts, but not too difficult or long. And both places are excellent spots for seeing wildlife. There are also a number of wineries in the area. I'd suggest staying at least one night, perhaps at the Beverley Vinyard B&B near Stanthorpe, where we've stayed. Very nice!

http://www.whiskeygullywines.com.au/Beverley/index.html

From Tenterfield or Stanthorpe the "boring" route to Brisbane or the Gold Coast would be on the main road via Warwick. A much more interesting route is the Mt Lindsey Rd/Hwy (Rte 13), which goes through the ranges and over the Queensland border to Beaudesert. There are some excellent short detours to St Mary Falls (near Legume) and Mt Barney (between Woodenbong and Rathdowney). Mt Barney is a challenging full day hike, but assuming you won't have the time or energy for that, it is still worth the detour just for the excellent view of the mountain from the access road. Note, the Mt Lindsey Rd is unpaved for some kilometers (say around 20 km), but is maintained in good condition.

Next, take the Beaudesert-Nerang Road (Rte 90) to Canungra. Here, turning right, follow signs to Lamington National Park, Green Mountain and O'Reilly's Guesthouse. The road is a very curvy as it winds its way up the range. O'Reilly's, on the edge of the park, is a wonderful place. Rainforest walks, lots of wildlife and fantastic views over the ranges to Mt Lindsey and Mt Barney. Another great place to spend a night!

From Laminton, the Gold Coast and Brisbane are less than 2 hrs drive away.

Thank you all very much for these descriptions and suggestions, they are so helpful! I will study all the routes suggested and try to get a plan that incorporates both the coast and inland sights. It does seem like renting a car will provide the most flexibility. The countrylink backtracker pass was really tempting at $250/person for a whole month of unlimited travel - but it seems we would still have to hire a car to get out to parks/walks, which is our main goal. Thank you for all the good advice.