Newcastle to Port Macquarie road trip: Distance, drive time & stops
The direct drive from Newcastle to Port Macquarie is 244km in distance, with a Newcastle to Port Macquarie driving time of 2h39m. Go along the coast instead, and the best road trips stops include Wallis Lake, Boomerang Beach and Saltwater National Park.
If you’re driving from Sydney to Byron Bay or Brisbane, the Newcastle to Port Macquarie leg of the journey is hardly the expected highlight. But veer off the Pacific Highway, and there are a few attractions, beaches and national parks worth looking at.
Newcastle offers plenty of activities, including adventure boat cruises along the coastline, architecture and street art walking tours and whale watching cruises. For a big menu of Newcastle tours and experiences, explore here. To fix up one of Newcastle’s best accommodation options, book here.
Newcastle to Port Macquarie driving time
Once you enjoyed the ocean baths, Blackbutt Reserve and Fort Scratchley in Newcastle, the Newcastle to Port Macquarie drive is 244km in distance. If you go direct, that’s a Newcastle to Port Macquarie driving time of two hours and 39 minutes.
9 cool Newcastle experiences you need to book in advance
- An Adventure boat cruise along the Hunter coast – with thrills and scenery.
- A mobile phone-based scavenger hunt – explore the city differently.
- An architecture and street art walking tour – see all the best murals.
- A whale-watching tour – get close to the migrating humpback whales.
- A two hour city highlights tour by bus – get orientated when you first arrive.
- A scenic helicopter flight – see the spectacular coastline from above.
- A three hour craft beer and food-matching tour – get a taste of the drinking and dining scene.
- A food, drink and history walking tour – hear stories and indulge at the same time.
The journey north passes the Hunter Wetlands National Park before joining the Pacific Highway at Hexham. From here, if you go direct, you’re following the same route as you would from Sydney to Port Macquarie or Sydney to Coffs Harbour. The Pacific Highway passes through Raymond Terrace, skirts north of Karuah and Tea Gardens, then travels north.
Nerong, Bulahdelah, Coolongolook, Nabiac, Taree, Coppernook and Kew are underwhelming settlements on the way to Port Macquarie. That said, if you take a short detour near Wauchope, you can have fun in the Bago Maze. You branch off the Pacific Highway just before Billabong Zoo, then head into central Port Macquarie.
Click through for the next section: Coastal stops.