Newcastle to Lismore road trip: Distance, time & best stops
The best stops on a Newcastle to Lismore road trip itinerary include Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour and Yamba. By car, the Newcastle to Lismore distance is 584km and driving time around 6h11m.
A Newcastle to Lismore road trip heads from the second largest city in New South Wales to one of the major towns in the Northern Rivers region.
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.
For the best Lismore accommodation deals, look here.
However, there are several excellent attractions between Newcastle and Lismore. This guide is aimed at helping travellers plan their perfect Newcastle to Lismore road trip itinerary.
Click through on the links for more detailed links about individual towns and attractions – and remember to stock up on your road trip essentials before setting off.
Newcastle to Lismore distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Newcastle to Lismore is 584km. This makes for a driving time of around six hours and 11 minutes.
Excellent road trip stops between Newcastle and Lismore include Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour and Yamba.
You might, however, get more joy from smaller spots such as Forster, South West Rocks and Nambucca Heads.
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.
Top things to do in Newcastle include watching wildlife at Blackbutt Reserve, whale-watching tours and visiting several good quality museums.
Newcastle also offers coastal boat tours, street art walks and evening true crime tours.
The best way to enjoy Newcastle’s beaches is the 6km Bathers Way walk from Nobbys Beach to the Merewether Ocean Baths. This goes past Newcastle Beach and Bar Beach along the way, and you can tackle the short but visually impressive Newcastle Memorial Walk too.
Newcastle accommodation heroes include the lavish Crystalbrook Kingsley, the peppy QT Newcastle and the heritage-drenched Grand Hotel.
Attractions between Newcastle and Lismore: Newcastle to Port Stephens
After Newcastle, you may wish to steer off towards all-action Port Stephens. If so, drive towards Williamtown, which brings fighter jets at Fighter World and a quad biking tour across the Worimi Sand Dunes.
Further towards Nelson Bay are several wildlife attractions – Oakvale Wildlife Park, the Shark, Ray and All Creatures Rescue Centre and Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters.
6 fantastic Port Stephens experiences worth going for.
- 4WD dunes tour with sandboarding – whizz down the Sahara-style dunes
- Dolphin-watching cruise with fun boom nets 🐬.
- Quad-biking over the Worimi sand dunes – learning about local Aboriginal culture along the way.
- Snorkelling with wild dolphins – the ultimate dolphin experience
- Port Stephens koala sanctuary admission tickets 🐨.
- Shallow water shark and ray encounter 🦈.
Near Anna Bay, try riding camels on Birubi Beach, clothing-optional bathing at Samurai Beach and koala-watching at the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary.
Things to do in Nelson Bay include dolphin-watching cruises, snorkelling with dolphins and taking on the Tomaree Head Summit Walk.
For Nelson Bay accommodation, take a look at the golf course-centric Landmark Resort, the wallet-friendly Peninsula Motel and Serviced Apartments or the apartment-style Mantra Nelson Bay.
Newcastle to Lismore road trip: Newcastle to Taree
If ignoring Newcastle and Port Stephens, stick to the Pacific Highway as it goes past the Hunter Wetlands National Park and Hunter Region Botanic Gardens.
The Newcastle to Taree leg of the Newcastle to Lismore road trip heads through Raymond Terrace, Wallaroo National Park and Karuah National Park.
You may wish to dip towards the coast, however. Jimmys Beach or Bennetts Beach in Hawks Nest are gorgeous. Then you can aim towards Seal Rocks and Myall Lake.
The Pacific Palms area is just to the north, with Blueys Beach, Boomerang Beach and Elizabeth Beach the highlights.
The coastal route then stays whips east of Wallis Lake, passing through Booti Booti National Park towards Forster and Tuncurry.
Here, choose One Mile Beach or nine mile-long Tuncurry Beach for surfing, or Burgess Beach for the photogenic fairy pools.
There are many impressive accommodation options in Forster. Pick the Hotel Forster for a big pool, the Forster Motor Inn for convenient location and the Dorsal Boutique Hotel for charm.
The inland route is quicker but less enticing. You can stop for walking trails and Aboriginal heritage and walking trails at Bulahdelah Mountain or native wildlife at the O’Sullivans Gap Picnic Area in Myall Lakes National Park.
Turn off along Manning River drive for Taree, another feasible overnight stop.
Taree attractions 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: Taree to Nambucca Heads.