Sydney to Newcastle road trip: Distance, driving time & best stops

Sydney to Newcastle distance and driving time

Whether you treat Newcastle as part of a larger itinerary, or a destination , it’s fairly easy to get to. The distance from Sydney to Newcastle is 170km, and the drive takes around two hours and six minutes. That’s assuming you depart from Sydney CBD. Add a bit extra to the driving time from Sydney to Newcastle if departing from south and east Sydney. Or Sydney International Airport.

On the flip side, if driving to Newcastle from north or much of western Sydney, the journey’s a bit quicker.

Sydney to Newcastle road trip: To the Hawkesbury River

On through Sydney’s northern suburbs, good stops include the Lane Cove National Park, Cumberland State Forest in West Pennant Hills and Rose Siedler House in Wahroonga.

You can also make small detours to the beautiful Bobbin Head picnic ground in Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park or Galston Gorge in Berowra Waters National Park.

In Brooklyn, just before crossing the Hawkesbury River Bridge, you can board the Riverboat Postman cruise, which delivers mail to river communities such as Dangar Island.

Next section: Central Coast experiences.