Syd to Brisbane Road Trip - Xmas Break - Couple - Tips/Recommendations?

activ8newbs on 03/05/2023 - 16:03

Hello Ozb
Wife and I are thinking to road trip this Xmas break as it's the only idea we have to make the best use of our "forced" leave (Flying overseas etc is too exxy!)

We plan to depart Syd and drive up to Brissy in our own midsize SUV. I have a few questions, hoping you all can help

  1. How long is a good amount of time? We're thinking probably 5-8 days

  2. Where should we stop by on the way and for how long? So far we're thinking:
    Newcastle
    Hunter valley
    Nelson Bay
    Port Macquarie
    Coffs Harbour
    Woolgoolga
    Ballina/Byron Bay
    Gold Coast
    Brisbane
    Sunshine Coast

Not necessarily in that order….some we'll stop by on the way there, and some on the way back.

  1. That leads to the next question…which route to take? I imagine there's a coastal route and inland route? Additionally, any recommendations re: which tolls (if any) are worth taking, and which are not?

  2. Additionally, should we be worried about Xmas Traffic? How bad do you think it'll get?

  3. We're a young couple…don't have a lot of money so hoping to do this reasonably affordable-y. Any tips to save expenses? Places to stay or places to shop before we enter a particular area? E.g. last woolies in XYZ area before long stretch of nothingness

  4. Naturally, we expect Accommodation and petrol to be the main expense. We've got a 2023 Kia Sportage. Definitely not a LARGE SUV by any stretch of the imagination but would it be unreasonable for 2 adults to sleep in the car for a couple nights to cut on costs? If so, can we just park on the side of the road/car park lot? Or do we need to pay for and book caravan parks? If caravan park route, any idea where I can locate them, how much I can expect to pay etc? Otherwise I guess we'll stick to Airbnb's as we work out way along the coast and back ($$$)

  5. Along that journey, where would you recommend to spend Xmas or NYE?

  6. Any other tips and tricks?

Thanks guys. Looking forward to advice! Hope this thread helps others also!

Cheers guys!

Travel Brisbane Queensland Road Trip

Comments

  • randomusername2017 on 03/05/2023 - 16:07

    Newcastle
    Hunter valley
    Nelson Bay
    Port Macquarie
    Coffs Harbour
    Woolgoolga
    Ballina/Byron Bay
    Gold Coast
    Brisbane
    Sunshine Coast

    • activ8newbs on 03/05/2023 - 16:40

      Thanks for the recommendation! Newy I thought would be fun.
      Nice beaches. Good for summer. Easy drive. Little/no risk of kangaroos etc

  • GG57 on 03/05/2023 - 16:12

    What dates? (Christmas Day is on a Monday; would you leave then or on a preceding date?) That might help in determining where to spend Christmas and New Year.
    I would take alternate routes each way, but a quick look at a map might help you decide which ones and where to stop.
    There will be Christmas traffic.
    I think that there are cities / towns all over the place, but looking at a map might help you sort out where they are in relation to your chosen routes.
    I don't think you can sleep in a car, but you might find a place where that is allowed. Reasonably uncomfortable in my view. Caravan parks are on a map.

    A quick google gave me this: https://www.nomadasaurus.com/sydney-to-brisbane-road-trip-it…

    • activ8newbs on 03/05/2023 - 16:41

      Thanks that helps! Haven't decided dates yet. Probably depart on that weekend before Xmas and then return around 1/2 Jan ish.
      I wonder if it's worth forking out to hire a campervan.

  • MS Paint on 03/05/2023 - 16:21

    I would make it an ozbargain meet and greet tour:

    Newcastle - pegaxs
    Hunter valley - ?
    Nelson Bay - ?
    Port Macquarie - ?
    Coffs Harbour - ?
    Woolgoolga - ?
    Ballina/Byron Bay - jv at his holiday house
    Gold Coast - brendanm
    Brisbane - jimothy
    Sunshine Coast - ?

    I'm sure you can fill in the blanks by Christmas.

    • spackbace on 03/05/2023 - 16:33

      I would make it an ozbargain meet and greet tour

      Muzeeb does QLD?

    • activ8newbs on 03/05/2023 - 16:42

      Lol

  • pharkurnell on 03/05/2023 - 16:34

    We're thinking probably 5-8 days

    One way?

    • activ8newbs on 03/05/2023 - 16:43

      Total. It's not really a long drive tbh. Most people can probably drive Syd to Brissy in 2 days…we plan on doing in 5-8 (albeit with stopovers).
      Doesn't sound unreasonable to me but I'm happy to be proved wrong

      • MS Paint on 03/05/2023 - 16:47
        +3

        You can do it in a day easy. It's like 10 hours.

      • pharkurnell on 03/05/2023 - 18:31

        2 days each way.. thats 4 out of 5-8…. your driving to brissy for maybe 1-2 dayz?

        you and 50,000,000,000 others

  • BigBirdy on 03/05/2023 - 16:42
    +1

    I wouldn't bother with places you can do as day trips out of Sydney (Newcastle, Hunter, etc). In the couple of weeks following Christmas Day, it'll be very busy, with accommodation (esp coastal) reflecting this, ie book well in advance and expect it to be pricey.

    • activ8newbs on 03/05/2023 - 16:44
      +1

      That's a good point. Might just to a couple hour stop over at a local cafe or pub in those areas

  • spackbace on 03/05/2023 - 16:54
    +1

    Just throwing another option, as you say you don't have heaps of money… return flights are $200-$250 each, would this be more viable than the drive plus meals/accom in those towns?

    900km for a straight run each way = 1800km @ 8.1L/100km or so, that means 145.8L = maybe up to $300 in fuel at Xmas prices

    Go up there with basics, stay at a basic motel/airbnb/backpackers etc

    • MS Paint on 03/05/2023 - 16:59
      +1

      But what about the meet and greet tour?

    • spackbace on 03/05/2023 - 17:11

      And just to add to this, you could fly up to Brisbane, train down to Gold Coast, then fly from there down to Sydney

  • Ramennightmare on 03/05/2023 - 17:03
    +1

    To be honest, 8 days return might be a bit too tight as I have driven this route couple of times. My recommendations are as follows:

    1) Day 1 go straight up to Coffs harbour, quick stop at Port Macquarie and South West Rock.
    2) Day 2 Coffs Harbour: Muttonbird island walk (go at Sunset) ,Dorrigo National park (Dangar Fall & Griffith Lookout)
    3) Day 3 Ballina (Evan's head & Lennox head), Yamba (Yamba Breakwater, lots of good and reasonable priced fish and chips in this town). Probably stay in Byron Bay.
    4) Day 4 Byron Bay (light house), Head to Gold coast, maybe make a stop at collangatta.
    5) Day 5 Gold Coast (mount Tamborine, Surfers Paradise)
    6) Day 6 Brisbane (Mount Coot that Lookout and South Bank)
    7) Day 7 Sunshine coast (Glasshouse mountain, Australia Zoo, Rainbow Beach, Carlo Sandblow, Caloundra)
    8) Day 8 Stay in Byron Again
    9) Day 9 Head straight back

    I can tell you, there is $hit tons of driving here, unless you make your stop at Brisbane without heading further north

    • stephd on 07/08/2023 - 02:37

      Where would you stay in Yamba please, not too expensive, but good and safe with kids? Thank you

  • Peter Enis on 03/05/2023 - 17:12

    Buy a tent and camp. Enough room in your car for a camping trip.
    Book early, half of Sydney will be joining you.

  • altomic on 03/05/2023 - 17:24
    +1

    why not do an inland route.?

  • melancholykeith on 03/05/2023 - 17:33

    Did all of that trip and then some over the xmas break last year.
    Stay away from the major on highway service centres (especially the ones after a large break like Ballina) as they are packed and stacked and you'll be lucky to get out of there in an hour even just for a toilet break.
    Road has changed for the better even compared to just a few years ago.
    We did Canberra to Sunshine coast in 2 days stopping in Nambucca Heads overnight in the cheapest motel in town but we must have lucked out as the room was nowhere near as bad as the reviews suggested it might be.
    Obviously you have much more relaxed timeframe than I did. You probably even have time to go via the old pacific highway (where there are still stretches of it remaining) and it will be much more relaxed than the freeway.
    To answer the inland route question, we did a return 3 years ago via the New England and the road conditon then was getting pretty bad, can only assume after fires and flooding through there it's not going to have gotten much better.

  • sumyungguy on 03/05/2023 - 17:48
    +1

    I too used to get this forced break and resent paying school holiday tax. You'll find good accommodation rates in Brisbane and in the regional hotels/motels aren't on the beach. Definitely take the Pacific Highway in both directions as the quickest and safest option. Food stops worth leaving the highway for: Rick Stein at Bannisters, Fredo Pies at Frederickton, Fins Restaurant at Kingscliff, Cubby Bakehouse at Chinderah, Tasty Magic at Hope Island.

  • AustriaBargain on 03/05/2023 - 18:02

    Lots of snacks. And set expectations for what you listen to before hand. If you or your life partner wants to listen to podcasts or audiobooks the whole trip and the other wants to listen to music, then one of you will be disappointed.

  • EightImmortals on 03/05/2023 - 18:03

    "How long is a good amount of time? "

    About 10 hours, maybe a bit more around xmas time.

    "Where should we stop by on the way and for how long?"

    Petrol station, 10 minutes.

    "Additionally, should we be worried about Xmas Traffic? How bad do you think it'll get?"

    Depending on what days you travel. If it's close to xmas or on boxing day take the inland route…trust me.

    "Any other tips and tricks?"

    Once you get to Brisbane……keep on driving. A couple more hours and you can hit Coolum/Noosa area much nicer than the GC IMO. Can also head inland to Maleny area.

    • fantombloo on 03/05/2023 - 19:09

      take the inland route…

      This used to be true, but now that the Pacific hwy is approaching first world standards (albeit ~1980s first world standards) the new England hwy no longer offers any time benefits. Even with major bottlenecks at Newcastle and Coffs it's still better to do the coast. If you can't stand waiting at the bottlenecks but don't mind done extra driving then take some early exits and return on the hwy a few exits after the town.

      Good luck op. I did this trip regularly with my wife when we were newly married - easy, relatively cheap - helps if you've got friends at the other end to crash. If you like beaches / swimming and wanna camp then start booking NP camps now

      • EightImmortals on 04/05/2023 - 06:16

        Normally I'd agree, but around xmas time it kinda turns into a carpark, at least for a few hours north of Sydney. :)

  • pharkurnell on 03/05/2023 - 18:49

    About 10 hours, maybe a bit more around xmas time.

    except when theres a car crash on the way (and there is every holiday) and you end up with a 50klm traffic jam LOL

  • Downvoter on 03/05/2023 - 18:57

    Sleep in your car? Cmon mate get real.

  • t_c on 03/05/2023 - 19:57
    Day Destination Distance Things to Do Approximate Time Approximate Cost
    Day 1 Port Stephens 212 km (2.5 hours) Visit the Stockton Sand Dunes, go dolphin watching, take a whale watching cruise, explore Tomaree National Park 6-8 hours AUD 20-100 per activity
    Day 2 Coffs Harbour 510 km (6 hours) Visit the Big Banana, explore the Solitary Islands Marine Park, walk the Forest Sky Pier, visit the Muttonbird Island Nature Reserve 6-8 hours AUD 20-50 per activity
    Day 3 Byron Bay 240 km (3 hours) Visit the Cape Byron Lighthouse, go surfing, visit the Crystal Castle and Shambhala Gardens, relax on the beach 6-8 hours AUD 20-50 per activity
    Day 4 Gold Coast 88 km (1 hour) Visit the theme parks (Dreamworld, Movie World, Sea World), explore Surfers Paradise, visit the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary 6-8 hours AUD 50-100 per activity
    Day 5 Sunshine Coast 140 km (2 hours) Visit Noosa National Park, relax on Noosa Main Beach, explore the Eumundi Markets 6-8 hours AUD 20-50 per activity
    Day 6 Fraser Island 180 km (3.5 hours) Visit Lake McKenzie, go 4WD-ing, visit the Maheno Shipwreck, explore the Champagne Pools 10-12 hours AUD 200-300 for a full day tour
    Day 7 Port Macquarie 390 km (4.5 hours) Visit the Koala Hospital, explore the Sea Acres Rainforest Centre, relax on the beaches 6-8 hours AUD 20-50 per activity
    Day 8 Hunter Valley 250 km (3 hours) Visit the wineries, go on a hot air balloon ride, relax in the spas 6-8 hours AUD 50-200 per activity
    • activ8newbs on 03/05/2023 - 21:17

      Wow. This is incredible. Thanks for sharing. Really appreciate that

    • ForkSnorter on 04/05/2023 - 08:52

      Are you kidding? 6- 8 hours to see 3 theme parks, surfers paradise and a zoo?

      1 day to drive from sunshine coast to Fraser Island, explore Fraser Island, then back to Port Macquarie the next morning?

      Surfers Paradise to Noosa is a 3 hour drive with good traffic. Honestly, most people would be lucky to get there by lunchtime. And by driving straight to Noosa you're skipping nearly the entire Sunshine Coast.

      • sumyungguy on 04/05/2023 - 08:58

        AI bots are still learning

  • onetwothreefour on 03/05/2023 - 20:15

    I did this in January and our trip was:

    Night 1 Nambucca
    Night 2 Byron
    Night 3 Byron
    Night 4 Byron
    Night 5 Noosa
    Night 6 Noosa
    Night 7 Grafton

    We did a day trip to Gold Coast from Byron.

    We camped and paid about $105 per night for the sites in holiday parks.

    We'd previously been to Coffs and Port Macquarie so didn't want to stay there again.

  • Dejaar on 04/05/2023 - 11:37

    We did this and at port Macq went inland on on the Bushranger Way..or something like that. Stayed at Wacha. Yamba on coast super nice as is Iluka (pronounced eye luka)

  • joeystime on 10/05/2023 - 13:37
    +1

    Nice to do some coast but you might want to mix it up with an inland tour. The Blue Mountains is the most visited place in NSW, some highlights being

    https://www.scenicworld.com.au/

    to visit

    https://adifferentdrummer.com.au/wellness-retreat

    to stay

    https://www.lilianfels.com.au/dining/darley-s-restaurant

    to eat

    Then you can do a scenic drive to Mudgee, a pretty town with Vineyards then make your way up to the coast.

    https://www.visitmudgeeregion.com.au/

    Roads are a little quieter too & far more scenic then endless highways!

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