People always say that it is the journey, not the destination, that truly matters. Maybe this is why road trips have the most appeal among seasoned travellers. You’ll probably see an increase in the number of tourists driving down the Legendary Pacific Coast this holiday season due to many city dwellers trying to escape the heat that summer brings with it.
Quick Facts about Legendary Pacific Coast
The Legendary Pacific Coast is a 1,000-kilometre stretch of lush sceneries, glistening beaches and great-tasting wines. The road connects Sydney to Brisbane with the picturesque Pacific Ocean as a backdrop. If you are traveling from Sydney to Tweed Heads, you can take one of the many tunnels and tollways within the city to get past the Harbour Bridge and take the M1 heading north. Of course, this can vary depending on your travel itinerary and the number of planned stops along the way you’ll have. To fully enjoy the road trip along the coast, you might want to allot at least a week of driving to experience everything the roads to the coast have to offer.
Key stops in the Legendary Pacific Coast
Whilst the view of the Pacific Ocean is breath-taking by itself, there are also plenty of beautiful sights to behold when driving along the coast. It will be such a waste if you just drive non-stop to Tweed Heads without exploring any of these sites.
Day 1: Take a detour from Sydney to Central Coast
The beauty of a road trip is that you can take your sweet time driving towards your destination. This means that detours are not only expected but are almost required in road trips. Start your beach road trip right by swinging to the Central Coast, and visit the pretty beaches of Toowoon Bay. You can also take the equally scenic route via Umina and see the largest ocean pool complex in the Southern Hemisphere in Newcastle.
Day 2: Drive from Central Coast to Hunter Valley
Forget your diet and indulge in sumptuous meals between Newcastle and Hunter Valley. For certified foodies, you should head to Bolton Street Pantry for some excellent seasonal, farm produce dishes and a great cup of coffee. You should also pick up some delicious, handmade doughnuts at Doughheads to energise you whilst on the road. For wine connoisseurs, a stop at the world-renowned Hunter Valley is a must.
Day 3: Head to the sandy beaches of Port Stephens
There’s one good reason you should stop at Port Stephens at all cost: dolphins. Known as the country’s dolphin capital, there’s a high probability that you’ll witness something fantastic and almost magical if you stay long enough in Port Stephens.
Day 4: Brace for cuteness overload at the Koala Hospital and Billabong Zoo
It is no secret that Australia is well-known for its exotic wildlife. Whether you’re a local or touring, you should try to visit either the Koala Hospital or the Billabong Zoo, where you can get up-close to unique Australian animals. You might also want to stop over at the most photographed landmark in Australia—the Big Banana—and see what the buzz is all about.
Day 5: Live to the extreme at Byron Bay
It’s like stepping into a whole new world by the time you reached the natural subtropical splendour of Byron Bay. Build your appetite by skydiving 14,000 feet above the coastline, then fill your tummy with dishes made from local organic ingredients. If you think skydiving is too much, then try hang gliding over the Byron Bay Lighthouse or driving through Byron’s famous hinterlands. For those who are not a big fan of the great outdoors, Byron Bay has Saturday markets where they feature the works of local artists.
Day 6: Chill at Tweed Heads
Tweed Heads is the ultimate destination of those who have an innate love for water activities. Try one of their numerous offshore fishing adventures, join the famous Northern Rivers Sportfishing, or grab the chance to catch fresh mud crabs.
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