Sydney to Noosa road trip: Distance, driving time & best stops

The best stops on a Sydney to Noosa road trip include Newcastle, Coffs Harbour, Byron Bay and the Gold Coast. The Sydney to Noosa drive covers a 1,055km distance in a driving time of around 11h3m.

A Sydney to Noosa road trip is the fun alternative to flying to the Sunshine Coast, partly because there are so many enjoyable places to stop along the way.

Sydney brings harbour cruises on romantic tall ships, historic pub tours and behind-the-scenes visits to the world’s most famous Opera House.

To get the best deals on Sydney accommodation, book here. To find Sydney tours and experiences that suit your tastes, step this way.

This guide should help you plan out that road trip – and work out which coastal towns are the best bet for an overnight stop.

Sydney to Noosa distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Sydney to Noosa is 1,055km. This makes for a driving time of around eleven hours and three minutes.

Good road trip stops along the Sydney to Noosa driving route include Newcastle, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Byron Bay, the Gold Coast and Brisbane.

However, you could also opt for quieter spots like Seal Rocks, Crescent Head, South West Rocks and Yamba.

Sydney to Noosa road trip: Leaving Sydney

The first leg of the Sydney to Noosa road trip is from Sydney to Newcastle, a 170km drive.

There are a few worthwhile stops on the route through Sydney’s northern suburbs. Lane Cove National Park, Cumberland State Forest in West Pennant Hills and the archictecturally-striking Rose Siedler House in Wahroonga are all impressive if you’ve got the time.

You may also enjoy small detours to the gorgeous Bobbin Head picnic ground in Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park or Galston Gorge in Berowra Waters National Park.

The route leaves Sydney over the Hawkesbury River Bridge in Brooklyn. A fun tour option here is the Riverboat Postman cruise, which drops mail off at river communities such as Dangar Island.

Sydney to Noosa drive: Central Coast

Once over the Hawkesbury River Bridge, you’re on the Central Coast. However, it’s a significant detour for any of the beach towns such as Terrigal or The Entrance.

The Pacific Motorway runs inland, reaching the Central Coast at Mooney Mooney. Here the Broken Bay Pearl Farm runs a pearl farm tour which shows how pearls are cultivated.

Further north come the Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary, Australian Reptile Park and Girrakool Loop walking track near Gosford.

There are also plenty of activities on offer, including abseiling, horse-riding and quad biking, at Glenworth Valley near Popran National Park.

Continuing towards Newcastle, Somersby Falls, Strickland Falls and the Jilliby Lookout are solid photo stops. Treetops Adventure Central Coast and Amazement Farm and Fun Park may detain you a little longer.

A stopover in Newcastle?

The Sydney to Noosa drive next passes between Morriset and Cooranbong, skirting west of Lake Macquarie and close to the southern tip of Watagans National Park.

If you’re not planning to visit Newcastle, the motorway goes round New South Wales’ second largest city.

But Newcastle has a lot to offer, including its famous ocean baths, such as Merewether Baths.

Other things to do in Newcastle include wildlife-spotting at Blackbutt Reserve, whale-watching tours and museum-hopping.

Newcastle also offers boat tours along the Hunter coast, street art walks and after dark true crime tours.

Newcastle accommodation favourites include the fancy Crystalbrook Kingsley, the hip QT Newcastle and the heritage-oozing Grand Hotel.

Click through for the next section: Port Stephens.