Campervan Hire - Sydney to Brisbane

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1:

  Sydney to Newcastle

  

  

  

  

  Distance: 200 km | 2.5–3 hours Overnight: Stockton Beach Holiday Park Once you’ve picked up your Awesome Camper from our Caringbah rental office, hit the road north! Crossing the Sydney Harbour Bridge should be on everyone’s bucket list - and here’s your chance. Driving north you’ll cross the bridge, taking in sweeping views of beautiful Sydney Harbour, before continuing through Sydney’s north shore along the Pacific Highway. It will take about 2.5hrs to get to Newcastle (pending traffic conditions - avoid peak hours!). The drive is not particularly interesting, but the destination is spectacular! Newcastle is a classic Aussie blue-collar beach town, historically known for shipbuilding and steel production. Since 2000 the city has transformed into a vibrant coastal destination without losing the ‘vibe’ of its industrial heritage. Merewether Beach is one of the East Coast’s most famous surfing beaches and a great place to sit back and have a beer or coffee from the café above. With a lively bohemian vibe, Darby Street in Cooks Hill is great spot if you want to embrace the best of Newcastle’s nightlife and café culture. After a big day exploring Newcastle, drive over to Stockton Beach Holiday Park (about 30mins from Newcastle) to setup up camp for the night. Powered sites start from $49 per night - you’ll need to book your stay ahead of time as this place gets busy during holiday periods. There’s not a lot going on around this area except for a long, isolated stretch of beach - so make sure you’re stocked up (or alternatively you can eat at the Bowls Club...cheap dinners!).

• day 4:

  Crescent Head to Bellingen

  

  Distance: 120 km | 90 mins Overnight: Bellingen Showground Today we’ll be heading north and inland slightly to discover the charming town of Bellingen, along the aptly named ‘Waterfall Way’. Bellingen is famous for its thriving arts community and breathtaking surroundings. Go for a swim in the Never Never River at the Promised Land (about 10kms from town), then visit Dorrigo National Park for rainforest walks and waterfalls. After a big day of adventure, setup camp at Bellingen Showground, a 5-minute walk from town and offering powered sites from $35

• day 5:

  Bellingen to Red Rock

  

  Distance: 80 km | 1 hour Overnight: Red Rock Holiday & Caravan Park After a lovely evening in Bellingen, hop in your Awesome Camper and head back East along Waterfall Way towards Coffs Harbour. Coffs Harbour is the quintessential North Coast beach town, famed for its Big Banana, pristine beaches and relaxed, holiday vibe. Stop and take a selfie with the Big Banana or take your pick of glorious beaches for a day of sun and sand. My favourite beaches in the area (and there are soooo many!) include Emerald Beach, Woolgoolga and Red Rock in the north. Be sure to check out ‘Look At Me Now Headland’ walk, where you’ll find wild kangaroos grazing by the beach and expansive views of the Solitary Islands off the coast. If you have time, stop in at the Yarrawarra Aboriginal Cultural Centre to learn about the Gumbaynggirr people and their dreaming, who have lived on the Mid North Coast since time immemorial. Or stop in at Arrawarra Beach and book a surf lesson with the friendly folks at Spot X Surf School. Tonight we’ll, be staying at Red Rock Holiday & Caravan Park - a little slice of paradise right on the beach about 30 minutes north of Coffs Harbour. Powered sites start from $50 per night. Stock up in Woolgoolga as supermarkets are scarce in Red Rock & nearby Corindi.

• day 6:

  Red Rock to Yamba

  

  Distance: 100 km | 1.5 hours Overnight: Blue Dolphin Yamba Holiday Resort After a nice little stay in Red Rock, get back on the road, northbound on the Pacific Highway towards Yamba. This stretch of coast is pure North Coast bliss, dotted with sleepy holiday towns like Wooli and Brooms Head - Heaven for wave-hungry surfers roaming in search of uncrowded surf mecca. Alas, this drive takes us past Australia’s ‘Scottish’ town of Maclean, a quaint little town on the mighty Clarence River. This area is all cattle and cane (yes, and you should listen to ‘The Go-Betweens’ while here), sunshine and salt air. Yamba, formerly a sleepy North Coast beach town has become ever-more popular over the past 2 decades as more and more people discover the absolute beauty of the region. Tonight, stay at the Blue Dolphin Yamba Holiday Resort (powered sites from $58), just a 5-minute walk from the centre of town. Of course, the beaches around Yamba are spectacular, and you’ll often spot pods of dolphins splashing around Mckittricks Beach on calmer days. 10 minutes south of Yamba is another surf spot that has been written into Australian surfing folklore - Angourie. Lush tropics meet dense bushland with long stretches of isolated beach and emerald waters; this is a special place indeed. Walk around Angourie point and visit the back beach (just south of the point) - a great beach to visit when the summer winds are strong from the north. After working up a sweat, jump in the picturesque Angourie Blue Pool - a natural freshwater pool for swimming & cliff diving, with ocean views. After all that, head up to Yamba’s Pacific Hotel for a beer to take in the view over the coast.

• day 7:

  Yamba to Brunswick Heads

  

  Distance: 130 km | 1.5 hours Overnight: Massy Greene Holiday Park You won’t want to leave Yamba, but alas, the road beckons. Head back on to the Pacific Highway, north towards Ballina and Byron Bay. If you’ve read anything about travelling in Australia, you’ll probably know something about Byron Bay. Once a sleepy bohemian surf town, Byron Bay has become THE spot for the rich and famous, with the area becoming somewhat of a victim of its own popularity. And while this has tainted the ‘utopian’ flavour of the area a little, the natural splendour of the region is still a sight to behold. Walk the main streets, Jonson & Lawson Streets and you’ll get a good feel for the town. Have a beer at The Beach Hotel or the Great Northern. Cruise up to the Lighthouse or sunbake on Main Beach, then keep trekking north to the real jewel of the region - Brunswick Heads. A sleepy fishing town on the Brunswick River, Brunswick Heads is the perfect setting for a sunset beer commercial. Frolic in the clear waters on the Main Beach or hire a kayak and paddle along the river for a while - you’ll soon see why this is indeed a very special place. Camp out at the Massy Greene Holiday Park, a 5-minute stroll from town, offering powered sites from $58 per night. Head to the Brunswick Heads Hotel for entertainment and great food or stay in and enjoy the campground’s BBQ facilities by the river.

• day 8:

  Brunswick Heads to Tallebudgera

  

  

  Distance: 65 km | 45 mins Overnight: Tallebudgera Creek Tourist Park Finally, your roadtrip takes you to the northern boundary of NSW and into the Sunshine State...Queensland! But before crossing the border, cruise through beachside towns like Kingscliff, Cabarita and Hastings Point - take your time and enjoy the drive. Just across the border is the densest pocket of world-class surf spots in Australia. From Snapper Rocks in the south to Burleigh Heads 20kms to the north, this area has birthed world champion surfers - and no wonder, the coastline is home to some of the world’s longest right-hand point breaks. If you’re over the beach, head out to Currumbin Valley along Currumbin Creek Road where you’ll see kangaroos hopping around in the Eco Village. Keep venturing further west towards the Rock Pools and Mount Cougal, where you can swim in lush freshwater pools and small waterfalls and hike the areas tropical trails. After an action-packed day, head back towards the coast, then north along the Gold Coast Highway until you reach Tallebudgera Creek at the northernmost part of Palm Beach. This will be your campsite for the next two evenings at Tallebudgera Creek Tourist Park, located right on the pristine Tallebudgera Creek and just across the road from the beach.

• day 9:

  Explore the Gold Coast

  

  

  Overnight: Tallebudgera Creek Tourist Park From your campground base in Tallebudgera, the Gold Coast is yours to explore! There’s something for everyone around here - beaches, bush trails, theme parks and world-class restaurants. Take your pick! My recommendation - if the budget can stretch, head to Rick Shores in Burleigh Heads for amazing food right by the beach. If the budget’s tight, no worries - grab some sausages and a salad from Woollies’ and head to Burleigh Headland for a BBQ by the beach! After lunch, walk around Burleigh Headland and back along the Tallebudgera Creek to your campsite. If you want to explore the GC’s famous nightlife, head north to Broadbeach & Surfer’s Paradise where you’ll find an abundance of night clubs, bars and pubs. The public bus runs up and down the Gold Coast Highway, dropping you practically back at the campground at the end of the night!

• day 2:

  Stockton Beach to Booti Booti National Park

  

  

  Distance: 140 km | 2 hours Overnight: The Ruins Campground & Picnic Area Today takes in some of my absolute favourite beaches on the planet! However, before setting off from Stockton Beach, you might want to consider exploring the area a little more. This area is home to the largest moving coastal dunes in the Southern Hemisphere. These towering dunes, some over 30 meters high, are part of the Worimi Conservation Lands, reflecting the deep cultural significance of the area to the Worimi people. You will need to go on an organised tour of these dunes as they are accessible via 4WD only - we recommend checking out Sand Dune Adventures for Quad Bike & Safari Hummer (with driver) tours where you will visit the WWII Tank Traps, the forgotten Tin City and the Sygna Shipwreck. Ready to hit the road? Cruise back to the Pacific Highway and continue your drive north until you reach ‘The Lakes Way’ turnoff - a wonderful, winding forest drive taking in the Mayall & Smiths Lakes. If you’ve got plenty of time up your sleeve, take the detour to Seal Rocks where you’ll often see dolphins frolicking near the point and sweeping views of this magnificent stretch of coast. Along The Lakes Way, turn off and visit Blueys & Boomerang Beaches - both offering some of the clearest waters and best surf you’ll find on the NSW coast. There are a few shops in Blueys to stock up for the night as you’ll be camping nearby. Tonight, you’ll be staying at The Ruins Campground and Picnic Area, a great little spot nestled between the beach and Wallis Lake on the fringes of Booti Booti National Park. There are no powered sites in this campground, so you’ll need to keep this in mind when planning dinner and equipment charging. It’s part of the national parks, so it’s very affordable (from $24 per night), but you will need to book ahead. Facilities include picnic tables, barbecue facilities, drinking water, showers & toilets. If you prefer a powered site for the evening, continue north to Forster (about 25 mins) where there are many powered camp sites to choose from.

• day 10:

  Tallebudgera to Brisbane

  

  Distance: 90 km | 70 mins made it to the end of the trip in your Awesome Camper, head north along the Pacific Highway, cross the mighty Brisbane River and return your camper at our Brisbane office. We hope you’ve had an amazing trip (P.S don’t forget to explore Brisbane while you’re here!).

• day 3:

  The Ruins Campground to Crescent Head

  

  

  Distance: 180 km | 2 hours Overnight: Crescent Head Holiday Park After spending the morning basking in the glorious sun on your stretch of private beach, jump back in your Awesome Camper and continue north, through Forster (stop in for a yummy pub lunch at The Lakes & Ocean Hotel!) and Tuncurry onwards to the Pacific Highway. Continue until you reach ‘Guulabaa Place of Koala’ (just south of Port Macquarie), world’s first wild Koala breeding facility, where you can learn all about the ongoing rejuvenation of the koala species (and see some of the little fellas up close!). After your visit, keep on cruising north until you reach the Crescent Head turnoff just near Kempsey. Crescent Head is the ultimate chilled out Aussie surf town. Far enough away from the big cities to keep the masses from settling here, yet built up enough so there’s a pub, golf course and supermarket. The point at Crescent Head is iconic in Australian surf culture, offering long, cruisy right-hand breaks along a rocky coastline. Crescent Head Holiday Park is literally right on the beach, looking out at the point and offers powered camp sites from $47 per night. If you’re not into surfing and want a break from the beach, take a hike up to Crescent Head Lookout where you’ll have sweeping views north and south of this amazing coastline!