Port Macquarie to Ballina road trip: Distance, drive time & stops

Port Macquarie to Ballina drive: Nambucca Heads and Bongil Bongil National Park

The highway rejoins the coast in holiday town in Nambucca Heads. Here you can watch whales from the Captain Cook Lookout and go kayaking in Gaagal Wanggaan National Park.

Accommodation choices in Nambucca Heads include the roadtripper-friendly Ingenia holiday park, the distinctive Riverview Boutique Motel and the pool-equipped Beach Rooms.

Keep going from Nambucca Heads to Coffs Harbour and you can take photo stops at the Oyster Creek Lookout just north of Valla Beach or the Perry’s Hill Lookout north of the Bellinger River. The Raleigh Winery cellar door is also open for tastings near the river.

The Port Macquarie to Ballina drive then passes through Bongil Bongil National Park, which is mainly beaches and rainforest. Try spotting koalas on the walking trails from the Bongil Picnic Area or Sid Burke Picnic Area.

Click through to the next section: Coffs Harbour.