Coffs Harbour to Grafton: Distance, driving time & road trip stops

The Coffs Harbour to Grafton drive covers an 85km distance, with a driving time of around 58 minutes. The best road trip stops to add to an itinerary include the Solitary Islands Aquarium, Emerald Beach and the Yarrawarra Aboriginal Cultural Centre.

The drive from Coffs Harbour to Grafton takes you away from the Mid-North Coast of New South Wales and into the Northern Rivers region. It’s a key leg on the drive from Sydney to Byron Bay or Newcastle to Brisbane.

For Grafton accommodation picks, head here.

Coffs Harbour to Grafton distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Coffs Harbour to Grafton is 85km. That makes for a driving time of around 58 minutes.

The first part of the Coffs Harbour to Grafton road trip largely follows the Coffs Coast. Heading out of the city centre, you’ll the North Coast Regional Botanic Garden and cheesy Coffs Harbour attractions, the Clog Barn and the Big Banana. A short way off the highway towards the coast are Diggers Beach and the Solitary Islands Aquarium at Charlesworth Bay Beach.

6 fab Coffs Harbour experiences to book in advance

Glide through nature – on a Boambee Creek kayaking tour guided by a marine scientist.
Jump out of a plane – with tandem skydives that land on the beach.
Go kayaking and wildlife-spotting – on a coastal adventure.
Head into the hinterland – on a rainforest and waterfalls day tour.
Test your nerve and agility – at the Treetops Coffs Harbour adventure course.
See migrating humpbacks up close – on a whale-watching cruise.

A minor detour inland, meanwhile, takes you to the Forest Sky Pier and Treetops Adventure in Korora.

Coffs Harbour to Grafton road trip: Coffs Coast beaches

Next come a succession of excellent beaches, which the 60km Solitary Islands Coastal Walk runs alongside. Sapphire Beach and Moonee Beach both have their fans, and the Moonee Beach Nature Reserve is a great place for wildlife spotting. It ends at the Look At Me Now Headland, just south of Emerald Beach. This is one of the best places to see kangaroos in Coffs Harbour, let alone the whales and dolphins swimming along the coast.

Coffs Harbour to Grafton drive: Woolgoolga and Arrawarra

The Pacific Highway then skips around the west of Woolgoolga, another beach town, before coming to surfer favourite Arrawarra.

The Yarrawarra Aboriginal Cultural Centre just north of Arrawarra is worth a look if you want to understand local Indigenous heritage, but otherwise this is where the Pacific Highway heads inland.

Much of the rest of the Coffs Harbour to Grafton drive is wild and rural. The Yuraygir State Conservation Area to the north of the highway is not set up for tourists.

You branch off the Pacific Highway at the junctions with the Big River Way, which heads into Grafton over the Clarence River.

Grafton’s attractions are mainly handsome heritage buildings such as Schaeffer House and the Christ Church Cathedral, although it is also famed for its jacaranda trees.

Top Grafton accommodation options

The best places to stay in Grafton are:

For central location: Civic Motel.
For charm and personal touch: Andavine House Bed and Breakfast.
For a relatively cheap, good quality motel with a pool: Grafton Lodge Motel.