Coffs Harbour to Tweed Heads road trip: Distance & best stops
Coffs Harbour to Tweed Heads drive: Bundjalung National Park and Evans Head
Following the Coffs Harbour to Yamba section of the road trip, the next key lure is Bundjalung National Park. The Iluka Bluff Lookout offers a good photo stop, and the 6km Jerusalem Creek Peninsula track from the Black Rocks campground is more invigorating workout.
At Woodburn, you can veer off to Evans Head and Broadwater National Park. The Evans Head Heritage Aviation Museum is all about the town’s massive WWII pilot training base, but the 30km beach to the north is the real star.
The Pacific Highway then runs west of Ballina, one of the major hub towns in the Northern Rivers region. Here, you can partake in private surfing lessons and half day coastal walking tours.
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.
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.
Next section: Killen Falls and Macadamia Castle.