7 day road adventures in New South Wales

Got a week off?   Thinking about New South Wales?  Summer, Autumn, Winter, or Spring, New South Wales has something for everyone at every time of the year.  We have bought together links to previous Blog articles about destinations and links to destination websites as well as some special interest itineraries.  This should help you plan your getaway.  Pre-book your accommodation or holiday park for your camper if you are traveling in the school holidays.

Pick the region that suits the time of year, or indulge your special interests. 

COASTAL

Northern -  One of the most beautiful sections of the Australian coastline.  Port Macquarie to Brunswick Heads. It's about 500km of road-trip paradise. Take it slow and enjoy the scenery and the sand between your toes.  

Port Macquarie is a big regional center with some great beaches and a waterfront with restaurants that are really top-notch. Port Macquarie also has a well-serviced airport. From here follow the Pacific Hwy:

• Cresent Head is a surfer's haven with a great holiday park right on the beach.
• Hat Head (the national park walk is a must) and South West Rocks (Trial Bay Gaol) 
• Scotts Head and Nambucca Head
• Valla Beach, Oyster Creek Lookout, Urunga
• Coffs Harbour - Sawtell, Boambee Beach, the Big Banana  
• Sapphire and Emerald Beaches (spectacular!) 
• Arrawarra Headland and Woolgoolga Beach
• Angourie and Yamba - pre-book your table at the Pacific Hotel so you don't miss out on their amazing restaurant
• Razorback Lookout on route to Evans Head
• Skennars and Lennox Heads 
• Byron Bay region - south - Whites, Brays, Kings, Broken Head Beach.  Cape Byron Lighthouse walk and Mullumbimby, Binna Burra, Newrybar, and Bangalow in the hinterland
• Brunswick Heads on the Brunswick River is a little hippy gem

Special interest itineraries -  Golf - Northern NSW road-trip    Surfin Safari - North Coast NSW

Southern - Historic and less populated than the warmer northern section of the NSW coast, but equally spectacular.  Jervis Bay to Eden is a 450km section that you can fully enjoy in 7 days. 

Jervis Bay's whitest of white sands, marine park, and Booderee National Park are stunning places to start your excursion. Now, off you go down the Pacific Hwy to: 

• Mollymook and Ulladulla
• Bawley Point - Kioloa
• Pretty Beach, Pebbly Beach, and Depot Beach
• Batemans Bay - Sunshine Bay, Lilli Pilli, Rosedale, Guerilla Bay, and Broulee
• Moruya Heads, Tuross Heads, Narooma
• Hinterland - Tilba Tilba (ABC Dairy for great cheese) 
• Bermagui - (Honorbread for a baking lesson or just to get the perfect sourdough to go with your cheese) 
• Bega - (more cheese)
• Tathra, Merimbula
• Eden - Davidson Whaling Station

The Bush

Central and Southern Highlands - Jenolan Caves to Bowral loop 

• Jenolan Caves - The most spectacular cave system in the country, check the website for road conditions before you set off,  Winter is a great time to visit but it can be a little tricky 
• Bathurst/Orange - Mitchell Hwy, - from Mt Panorama to the wineries
• Parkes/Forbes - The Escort Way and Henry Parkes Way - Radio telescope, Elvis festival.
• Cowra/Cootamundra/ Gundagai - Newell Hwy - The home of Don Bradman, The Dog on the Tucker Box
• Bowral - Lachlan Valley Way, - visit the Bradman Museum and the Berrima Goal, and follow the scenic drives.

Hunter Valley to Western Plains to the Blue Mountains - Start in Cessnock and take in the wineries of the Hunter Valley

• Morpeth - Old Maitland Rd. - unique history of the Hunter River and its region. 
• Stroud - one of the prettiest towns in Australia, not to be missed, visit the Farmers Wife Gin Distillery for lunch a tour, and some gin (in nearby Allsworth). 
• Muswellbrook - the upper Hunter town that you base yourself in to do the Barrington Tops.  Also, if you're there on Race Day join the fun. 
• Dubbo - follow the Golden Hwy 260km from Muswellbrook to The Taronga Western Plains Zoo  
• Mudgee - taste wines, and outstanding cuisine, shop and enjoy the countryside 
• The Blue Mountains - Katoomba - Scenic Railway, Scenic Skyway, suspended 270m above the valley floor,  Scenic Cableway down into the Jamison Valley, and wander through the rainforest on the Scenic Walkway, it's very scenic!

See also for more information: 

• 5 Towns to visit in NSW
• Indigenous Tours to include in your itinerary
• 8 ways to spoil a loved one in NSW
• 5 quirky accommodation options in NSW
• Whale watching in NSW
• Wineries of the Hunter Valley
• 5 Great ways to discover Byron Bay
• 5 top lookouts in NSW
• Winter camping NSW 

While you're on tour don't forget to pay your respects to the traditional custodians of the land on which you travel, their elders, past present, and emerging. 

Shelley Richardson

Shelley has been working in the travel industry for over 30 years, in aviation, for tour operators and since 2016 for DriveNow. Having travelled extensively worldwide, alone, as a couple and with her family, Shelley has experience to share about how to make the most of your holiday, especially road-trips to amazing destinations.

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