Melbourne to Byron Bay road trip: Best stops, distance & drive time
Melbourne to Byron Bay road trip: Woolgoolga to Yamba
Following surf hotspots Woolgoolga and Arrawarra, the Pacific Highway turns inland just before Corindi Beach.
The Yarrawarra Aboriginal Cultural Centre might be worth a visit before continuing – it offers insights into local Indigenous culture.
The highway veers past Grafton, Woodford Island and Lawrence before reaching weirdly Scottish Maclean. The Bicentennial Museum explains that Scottish heritage, while the Ferry Park Gallery showcases local artists.
The Waterview Motel and Club Maclean are decent choices for an overnight stay, but it’s a far better idea to turn east for delightful beach town Yamba.
Turners Beach, Yamba Main Beach and Pippi Beach are among the top spots for swimming and surfing here. You can also try cliff-jumping at Angourie Blue Pool.
Yamba accommodation picks include the Calypso Yamba caravan park, the well-priced Aston Motel, the riverside Moby Dick and the gardens-surrounded Blue Dolphin Holiday Resort.
Best stops on the Melbourne to Byron Bay drive: Yamba to Ballina
After the Coffs Harbour to Yamba section of the road trip, Bundjalung National Park is worth a look. For a photo stop, try the Iluka Bluff Lookout. For something more involving, opt for the 6km Jerusalem Creek Peninsula track from the Black Rocks campground.
At Woodburn, there’s a possible branch-off to Evans Head and Broadwater National Park.
Here, Evans Head Heritage Aviation Museum tells the tale of the town’s huge WWII pilot training base. But the real highlight is the stunning 30km beach that stretches to the north. Accommodation is available at the Evans Head caravan park.
The Pacific Highway, however, runs just west of Ballina. This is one of the major towns in the Northern Rivers region. Ballina activities include 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.
Highly-rated Ballina accommodation possibilities include the riverside Ramada Hotel and Suites, the Ballina Heritage Inn and the Ballina Palms Boutique Motel.
Click through to the next section: Into Byron Bay.