Port Macquarie to Grafton road trip: Distance, time & best stops
The best stops to add to a Port Macquarie to Grafton road trip itinerary include Kempsey, Bongil Bongil National Park and Coffs Harbour. By car, the Port Macquarie to Grafton distance is 244km and driving time around 2h37m.
A Port Macquarie to Grafton road trip connects two of the bigger cities in northern New South Wales.
Port Macquarie offers lots of koalas, the Sea Acres Rainforest Centre, riding camels on Lighthouse Beach and scenic helicopter flights.
Grafton, meanwhile, has an impressive cathedral and is known for its gorgeous jacaranda trees. For Grafton accommodation picks, head here.
By far the best way of visiting Grafton is as part of a road trip, taking in several highlights of the New South Wales North Coast along the way. This guide should help you plan a Port Macquarie to Grafton road trip itinerary.
Port Macquarie to Grafton distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Port Macquarie to Grafton is 244km. This makes for a driving time of around two hours and 37 minutes.
Excellent road trip stops between Port Macquarie and Grafton include Kempsey, Bongil Bongil National Park and Coffs Harbour.
Leave Port Macquarie along the Oxley Highway, then turn north up the Pacific Highway past Billabong Zoo and Cassegrain Wines on the way to Kempsey
Kempsey pays tribute to the nation’s most adored country musician at the Slim Dusty Centre.
Port Macquarie to Grafton road trip stops: Kempsey to Macksville
Kempsey accommodation picks include the riverside Park Drive Motel and the pool-equipped Motel Kempsey.
It’s another 106km from Kempsey to Coffs Harbour. You might want to make a short detour to the Yarriabini Lookout for wonderful Macleay River Valley views.
The next town up is Macksville, which offers birdwatching at the Valley of the Mist wetland and local history at the Mary Boulton Pioneer Cottage.
The Mandarin Motel is your best bet for overnight accommodation in Macksville, but you may as well keep going to coastal Nambucca Heads.
Click through for the next section: Nambucca Heads to Bongil Bongil National Park.