Newcastle to Canberra road trip: Best stops, distance & drive time
Newcastle to Canberra road trip stops: Central Coast
Going west of Lake Macquarie, the Newcastle to Canberra drive then goes past Cooranbong, Morriset and Wyee before entering the Central Coast region.
Now, there are lots of interesting spots on the Central Coast. But the likes of Toukley, Terrigal and Forresters Beach require a significant diversion east of the motorway. If you want to explore the actual coast, Australia Travel Questions has a Central Coast guide.
The Motorway, however, runs west of Wyong and Tuggerah. Stops worth considering include the Amazement Farm and Fun Park plus Treetops Adventure Central Coast near Alison and the Ourimbah Creek Weir and Fish Ladder.
Road trip essentials that many travellers forget
Search on the web, and you’ll find ludicrously long lists of equipment to take on a road trip. Australia Travel Questions isn’t going to do that to you. But it is worth buying the following road trip items before setting off. Click through for a good range of options.
- Charging cables – yes, you’ll probably need a spare at some point.
- Car charger adaptor – in case your rental car has the old-fashioned cigarette lighter rather than a USB.
- Multi USB charger – for those hotel rooms that don’t have enough power sockets.
- Fold-up chairs – to make anywhere a picnic spot.
- A really good water bottle – go for a bigger one than usual to last the longer drives.
- Packing cubes – save space but, more importantly, avoid unpacking everything every night.
Further south Strickland Falls in the Strickland State Forest is handily near the motorway, while Somersby Falls isn’t too much of a diversion west.
Just west of Gosford, you’ll find the Australian Reptile Park and the Girrakool Loop Track in Brisbane Water National Park.
Next section: North Sydney.