Port Macquarie to Brisbane road trip: Distance, drive time & stops

Port Macquarie to Brisbane drive: North of Coffs Harbour

Leaving Coffs Harbour, the route passes by the North Coast Regional Botanic Garden and the city’s somewhat tacky gimmick attractions – the Clog Barn and the Big Banana.

You can also potentially visit Diggers Beach and the Solitary Islands Aquarium at Charlesworth Bay Beach, or the Forest Sky Pier and Treetops Adventure in Korora.

Sapphire Beach and Moonee Beach are among several fabulous along the northern stretch of the Coffs Coast. For wildlife-lovers, the Moonee Beach Nature Reserve and the Look At Me Now Headland host large numbers of kangaroos. You’ll find the latter just south of Emerald Beach.

After passing big surf spots Woolgoolga and Arrawarra, the Pacific Highway turns inland before reaching Corindi Beach. You can stop at the Yarrawarra Aboriginal Cultural Centre for a cultural education.

The highway skims just east of Grafton and Woodford Island before the Bicentennial Museum in Maclean explores the Scottish influence on the area.

Attractions between Port Macquarie and Brisbane: Yamba and Bundjalung National Park

Top drawer beach town Yamba is a short detour to the east. Choose which of Turners Beach, Yamba Main Beach, Pippi Beach and Green Point Beach is your favourite.

Yamba accommodation highlights include the Calypso Yamba caravan park, the well-priced Aston Motel, the riverside Moby Dick and the gardens-surrounded Blue Dolphin Holiday Resort.

Following the Coffs Harbour to Yamba section of the Port Macquarie to Brisbane drive, Bundjalung National Park offers a photo stop at the Iluka Bluff Lookout and the 6km Jerusalem Creek Peninsula walking track.

Click through to the next section: Evans Head and Ballina.