Newcastle to Gold Coast road trip: Best stops, distance & time
The best stops on a Newcastle to Gold Coast road trip include Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour and Byron Bay. The Newcastle to Gold Coast drive covers a 769km distance in a driving time of around 8h15m.
Making a Newcastle to Gold Coast road trip itinerary
A Newcastle to Gold Coast road trip takes you from the second largest city in New South Wales to Queensland’s most famous tourist strip. There are two choices for this drive – make it a long slog up the Pacific Highway or turn it into an adventure, making plenty of fun stops along the way.
This guide is aimed at those who want to plan a Newcastle to Gold Coast road trip itinerary.
Newcastle offers plenty of activities, including adventure boat cruises along the coastline, architecture and street art walking tours and whale watching cruises. For a big menu of Newcastle tours and experiences, explore here. To fix up one of Newcastle’s best accommodation options, book here.
When you finally reach the Gold Coast, top experience options include kayaking and snorkelling tours, buffet dinner sightseeing cruises and jetboat adventures.
Newcastle to Gold Coast distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Newcastle to the Gold Coast is 697km. This makes for a driving time of around seven hours and 30 minutes.
9 cool Newcastle experiences you need to book in advance
- An Adventure boat cruise along the Hunter coast – with thrills and scenery.
- A mobile phone-based scavenger hunt – explore the city differently.
- An architecture and street art walking tour – see all the best murals.
- A whale-watching tour – get close to the migrating humpback whales.
- A two hour city highlights tour by bus – get orientated when you first arrive.
- A scenic helicopter flight – see the spectacular coastline from above.
- A three hour craft beer and food-matching tour – get a taste of the drinking and dining scene.
- A food, drink and history walking tour – hear stories and indulge at the same time.
This is assuming your final destination is Surfers Paradise. If you’re aiming for other Gold Coast suburbs such as Coolangatta, Burleigh Heads or Broadbeach, then it’ll be a few minutes either side.
Good road trip stops along the Newcastle to Gold Coast driving route include Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour and Byron Bay.
However, you could also opt for quieter spots like Seal Rocks, Crescent Head, South West Rocks and Yamba.
Newcastle to Gold Coast road trip: Detour via Forster?
Leave Newcastle to the north along the Pacific Highway. You’ll go past the Hunter Wetlands National Park and the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens.
The Newcastle to Taree leg of the journey then heads through Raymond Terrace and passing the southern fringes of Wallaroo National Park and Karuah National Park. The latter has campgrounds and 4WD trails on offer.
It’s far more enjoyable to stick to the coast in these parts, initially heading for Karuah, Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest. Jimmys Beach and Bennetts Beach in Hawks Nest are especially loveable.
Another dip towards the coast will bring you to Seal Rocks and Myall Lake, while the Pacific Palms area is just to the north. Blueys Beach, Boomerang Beach and Elizabeth Beach are justifiably popular here.
The coastal route then heads east of Wallis Lake through Booti Booti National Park towards twin holiday towns Forster and Tuncurry.
Here, try One Mile Beach or nine mile-long Tuncurry Beach for surfing, or Burgess Beach for the photogenic fairy pools.
There are several good accommodation options in Forster. Pick the Hotel Forster for a big pool, the Forster Motor Inn for well-located convenience and the Dorsal Boutique Hotel for charm.
Pacific Highway route to the Gold Coast inland
The quicker inland route going past Taree is, alas, less exciting. That said, you can enjoy Aboriginal heritage and walking trails at Bulahdelah Mountain in Bulahdelah. Or maybe look for wildlife at the O’Sullivans Gap Picnic Area in Myall Lakes National Park.
The highway route then offers wine-tasting at Great Lakes Paddocks, cafés in Coolongolook and the National Motorcycle Museum in Nabiac.
Turn off for regional hub Taree along Manning River Drive, skirting the edge of mountain bike trail-laced Khappinghat National Park. Highlights here include the walking trail along the Dawson River and scenic flights from Taree Airport.
Best Taree accommodation
Taree accommodation is available for from $105 per night. But the best choices are…
- For central location: In Town Motor Inn.
- For good value and a pool: Caravilla Motor Inn.
- For charm and warmth: Birches B&B.
- For distinctive character: A Railway Lodge.
Click through for the next section: An overnight stop in Port Macquarie.