Albury to Newcastle road trip: Best stops, distance & drive time
The best stops on an Albury to Newcastle road trip itinerary include Goulburn, Bowral and Sydney. By car, the distance from Albury to Newcastle is 704km, with a driving time of around 7h21m.
Planning an Albury to Newcastle road trip itinerary
An Albury to Newcastle road trip connects the largest city on the Murray River to the second largest city in New South Wales. For many travellers, this will be a leg on a longer journey from Albury to Brisbane.
For Albury accommodation picks, head here.
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.
However, there is plenty to see along the way. An Albury to Newcastle road trip strings together wineries, charming country towns, urban energy and national parks.
This guide should help you plan out the best stops on an Albury to Newcastle road trip itinerary. Click through on the individual places and attractions for more detailed, specific information.
Albury to Newcastle distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Albury to Newcastle is 704km. That makes for a driving time of around seven hours and 21 minutes.
The best stops to add to an Albury to Newcastle road trip itinerary include Bowral, Sydney, Port Macquarie and Byron Bay.
Things to do in Albury include kayaking along the Murray, seeing Aboriginal art of the Yindyamarra Sculpture Walk and getting a fascinating insight into Australian immigration history at the Bonegilla Migrant Experience.
Best Albury accommodation picks
The best places to stay in Albury are:
- For a heated pool and spa in a gorgeous location next to a riverside park: Best Western Plus Hovell Tree Inn.
- For apartments with kitchenettes in a central location: Mantra Albury.
- For a good quality motel next to the train station: Winsor Park Motor Inn.
- For a holiday park with lots of facilities for the kids: Big4 Albury Tourist Park.
- For a motel with cheap rates and fairly central location: Allawa Motor Inn.
Near Albury on the New South Wales side of the border, Woomargama National Park provides a pleasant diversion if you’re in search of wildlife and walking trails.
Heading up the Hume Highway, Gundagai offers the Australian Road Transport Heritage Centre and high quality, distinctive accommodation nearby at the Nimbo Fork Lodge or Kimo Estate.
Where to stay in Gundagai
The best Gundagai accommodation options are:
- For a decent, cheap motel: Poets Recall Motel.
- For family cabins and a playground: Gundagai Cabins and Tourist Park.
- For central location: Garden Motor Inn.
Albury to Newcastle road trip stops: Jugiong to Goulburn
Jugiong on the Murrumbidgee River is the perfect lunch stop, with several good places to eat – most notably the Long Track Pantry.
Yass, however, is arguably the better overnight stop as it is near several Canberra region wineries. Canberra Winery Tours offers pick-ups in Yass.
For Yass accommodation, try the handily downtown Yass Central Bed and Breakfast and the well-reviewed Colonial Lodge Motor Inn.
It’s another 86km to Goulburn. The Pye Cottage Museum in Gunning on the way takes you back in time to the 1860s.
Goulburn doesn’t have any truly gripping attractions, but the Goulburn Rail Heritage Centre and Goulburn Historic Waterworks are moderately interesting.
Best places to stay in Goulburn
The top Goulburn accommodation choices are:
- For good quality, business traveller-friendly apartments: Quest Goulburn.
- For a cheap, decent motel for a no-fuss one night stay: Black Sheep Motel.
- For road-tripper convenience next to the Hume Highway: Mercure Goulburn.
- For free parking in the city centre: Heritage Motor Inn.
The best place to stop on the Albury to Sydney leg of the road trip, however, is the Southern Highlands. Almost everyone stops at the Sutton Forest East Service Centre on the way, although Sutton Forest Estate Wines is a more amiable spot for a journey break.
Click through to the next section: Bowral to Campbelltown.