Coffs Harbour to Brisbane road trip: Drive distance & best stops
Attractions between Coffs Harbour and Brisbane: Maclean and Yamba
The Coffs Harbour to Brisbane driving route then continues north towards the Clarence River, skipping east of Grafton and Lawrence before arriving in the peculiarly Scottish Maclean. Here, the Bicentennial Museum delves into that Scottish past and the Ferry Park Gallery showcases the local art scene.
The Waterview Motel and Club Maclean are the best Maclean accommodation options.
Before crossing the Harwood Bridge over the Clarence River, consider whether you want to make a slight diversion to the gorgeous coastal town of Yamba.
Yamba beaches worth investigating include Turners Beach, Yamba Main Beach, Pippi Beach and Green Point Beach.
Here, the Calypso Yamba caravan park is one of several good accommodation options. Others include the budget-friendly Aston Motel, the riverside Moby Dick and the gardens-surrounded Blue Dolphin Holiday Resort.
Coffs Harbour to Brisbane drive: Bundjalung National Park and Evans Head
If skipping Yamba, the next highlight of the Coffs Harbour to Ballina road trip is Bundjalung National Park. Here, you can go canoeing on the Esk and Evans Rivers, make a photo stop at the Iluka Bluff Lookout or walk the 6km Jerusalem Creek Peninsula track from the Black Rocks campground.
There’s also a decision to make at Woodburn – keep going along the highway or turn off for delightful beach town Evans Head.
Go the highway route, and it’s a pretty uneventful drive into Ballina. Go via Evans Head, and you can learn about WWII pilot training at the Evans Head Heritage Aviation Museum then tackle Broadwater National Park. A 30km beach runs up the side of it, called various names along its length. These include Airforce Beach, Evans Head Beach, Broadwater Beach and Patches Beach.
The beach runs as far as the mouth of the Richmond River. The Burns Point ferry will take you over the river into Ballina.
5 Ballina experiences to book in advance
- Go on a dolphin watching cruise – sightings are very reliable.
- Take a guided coastal walk – learning about the natural environment on the way.
- Clink glasses as the sun goes down – on a Richmond River sunset cruise.
- Take a cruise to the Julian Rocks Marine Reserve – with a marine biologist pointing out the dolphins, turtles and dramatic cliffs.
- Learn to surf – on a private surfing lesson.
Things to do in Ballina include private surfing lessons and half day walking tours along the coast.
Where to stay in Ballina
The top Ballina accommodation options are:
- For charm and personality: Ballina Manor Boutique Hotel.
- For a holiday park with family-sized cabins and lots kid-friendly facilities: Discovery Parks Ballina.
- For a relatively cheap, good quality motel: Almare Tourist Motel.
- For riverside location: Ramada Hotel and Suites.
Click through to the next section: To Byron Bay.