road trip from Sydney to Caloundra
 

My husband, 2 daughters (16 & 12) and I are planning a driving trip from Sydney to Caloundra from Nov 29 to Dec 3. Because we are arriving the morning of Nov 29 we planned on driving to the Port Stephens area the first night and spend most of the day on Nov 30 there. The night of Nov 30 we are going to stay in Port Macquarie. Then we will drive most of the day on Dec 1 to arrive in a town near the natural bridge (Springbrook National Park). Spend Dec 2 there and then drive to Caloundra on Dec 3. What I was wondering if some one could give us some ideas on reasonable priced places to stay in these cities and to recommend restaurants and things to do in the areas. Thank you

As your dates are expressed as month first instead of day, I'm assuming you are coming to Sydney from north America. I really wouldn't recommend driving on the first day or night that you arrive, particularly not at night the jet lag will have really set in.

There are quite a variety of places to stay round Port Stephens from Peppers, which is quite expensive, to other motel style places. What style/price of accommodation were you looking for? It would help us to recommend things for you.

It is a good approach you are taking in limiting your driving each day and though I consider staying active during the day following a flight and then getting a good long sleep can help with the jetlag, like Susan I do not really reccomend driving if you can avoid it.

The traffic about Sydney Airport and getting through Sydney could be quite stressful (and you will be doing it at a busy time by time you get through immigration, customs and get a hire car - have you considered a campervan by any chance and even one on the cheap, doing a relocation - http://www.standbyrelocations.com/default.aspx - none showing at the moment but list changes daily), and another point - declare any food - http://www.sydneyeguide.com/gettinghere.php) - any strange city is to me and even knowing Sydney, I avoid driving through it as much as possible, but if that is the plan do make use of a travel planner - http://www.travelmate.com.au/Home/Home.asp being one in which you can insert Sydney Airport and then say Hornsby (start of the Sydney to Newcastle Freeway that takes you in the Port Stephens direction), and hopefully hire people may have direction sheets printed.

To cut down on the drive and the freeway is the kind of road (very monotonous and boring except for the Hawkesbury crossing) where you could easily nod off on, there are a few other closer options to relax at - http://www.cruisingcats.com.au/5.html on the Hawkebury for the afternoon and night would be nice, great national park environment on Sydneys doorstep (but a bit pricey) and then if you take the Gosford/Entrance turn off after the Hawkesbury, there'll be plenty of beach side locations to relax at, get a great nights sleep and then you can make Port Stephens even as a late breakfast (brunch) call before doing an afternoon/evening leg to Port MacQuarie.

There's daylight saving at the moment in Australia and it will not get dark until close on 9PM.

The nearest towns to the Natural Bridge are going to be Murwillumbah beforehand and Nerang after and to get there coming from the south you'll need to turn off the Pacific Motorway to take the old highway into Murwillumbah - again, use travelmate to plan a route between Murwillumbah and Springwood, (but it may default to use the Motorway) so get a map that shows the Murwillumbah to Nerang road.

The alternative if you're wanting to be there in the dark to see the glow worms will be to keep driving on up through the Gold Coast to say Burleigh Heads which is a nice spot amongst the Hurly Burly, and a nice National Park headland walk there too, find some accommodation - just so much about, and being before school holidays, it should not be a problem at all, seeing it is holidays central.

Have your tea and then drive on out to the Natural Bridge, and if you want to have less of a drive, then keep on the motorway until you get to Mudgeeeraba (not sure on accommodation there ) or Nerang, and once you get into the town shopping area, head a kilometre west and there's a few accommodation options along that stretch, but you'll miss being near the beach in the afternnon and evening before heading out there and it's an easy drive from Burleigh Heads to the motorway, Mudgeeraba and across to the Nerang Murwillumbah road for Natural Bridge.

At the Burleigh Heads National Park, there's a great ocean outlook point and if you're lucky you might even see a whale somewhere.

My UPS - power supply is beeping, so will post rest later.

Back w/o the beeps - P2.
I was going to add a couple of alternatives for you too.

In late November/early December, getting accommodation should not be too much of a hastle anywhere save right in Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast, because it could be the second week of what they call Schoolies (good time to avoid there).
But travelling north, there are so many smaller villages and one of the best accommodation options you could go for would be to get a cabin at a caravan park - far different to US permanent residence style trailer parks - they are often right on the beach at a town or not far from one.

That said, whether you stay on the central coast or at PS, you should not have too much trouble getting one and probably about half to two thirds of two motel rooms, and certainly more choice on central coast.

If you go to PS or not(it's a fair distance off the highway)and it's about three hours to Port MacQuarie on mostly double interstater style highway but get away a bit earlier and you could make either Southwest Rocks -http://www.southwestrockstourist.com.au/ , a delightful spot right on a small headland or http://www.vallabeachcaravanpark.com.au/ just past Nambucca Heads easily enough for second night.

That'll give you time to get to about Byron Bay for a later lunch and despite the possibility of some schoolies there, still one place to enjoy a few hours or the whole afternnon for it's only about an hour from there to the Gold Coast.
Keep on the Motorway and keep a lookout for the Bermuda street Burleigh heads turn-off and then after a couple of kilometres turn right at Reedy Creek Road and about three kilometres on you'll hit the Gold Coast Highway right at Burleigh Heads and quite a few motels/holiday apartments in that area but HA possibly require longer bookings.

As for eats, you'll find plenty of places in just about all coastal/holiday villages and try out a parcel of fish and chips to take over to a beachside setting, and/or most hotels have meals cheaper than restaurants in dining room surroundings, kids allowed and drinks bought at the bar.

The Gold Coast is also near Capital for http://www.shop-a-docket.com.au/ and it could save you heaps - have a look at the site and you can print off dockets at home and bring them with you - look for the buy one meal, get one free (sometimes a limit of one per table - easy fixed with mum sitting at one with one daughter and dad with the other, just alongside oneanother - four meals for price of two or 241 as I call it.

If you've goy the whole next day, maybe girls (and no doubt mum and dad) will like a theme park - http://www.tourismgoldcoast.com/tours_themeparks.html.

You're not heading all the way to Caloundra for a Stevie Pilgrimage are you? - certainly a great block and Terry a great girl and also the kids likewise but the Australia Zoo is a bit touristry.

On way up, drop in at http://www.koala.net/index.htm for a Koala cuddle.

P3.
Staying in the Gold Coast area for two nights - there's accommodation options all along the Gold Coast Highway from Burleigh Heads to Broadbeach and a pub I've stayed at a couple of times that has like motel units at the back - nothing too flash but comfy, clean and great water pressure for the showers, it is easy to get to with that Ferry St. showing on the map a continuation of Bermuda Street where you leave the Motorway, and you see Queen St joins up with Nerang St., and that takes you directly out to Nerang to get onto the Murwillumbah Rd. for the Natural Arch - also some great lookouts out there at Springbrook if you want to go earlier.

The Hotel has a good restaurant and also been known to have 241 specials of their own, and with motel units right at back, there is no road noise, so reasonably peaceful.

But what I did come back with P3 for was if you're staying two nights you might be interested in
http://www.outbackspectaculargoldcoast.com.au/

Thank you so much for all of the wonderful information. My family is really excited about visiting Australia and will take all advice into consideration. Thanks again!