Sydney to Forster road trip: Distance, drive time & best stops
Newcastle to Forster drive
The drive from Newcastle to Forster is 165km in distance, with a Newcastle to Forster driving time of one hour and 56 minutes. However, that’s from the centre of Newcastle, not the Pacific Highway on the edge of the city. So you can knock a good 15 to 20 minutes off that.
The Pacific Highway heads east after Newcastle, passing the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens, Raymond Terrace, Karuah National Park and North Arm Cove.
Sydney to Forster road trip via the Lakes Way
As you go north through Nerong and Bulahdelah, the Sydney to Forster drive offers a choice. Keep going up the less interesting Pacific Highway to Coolongolook and Nabiac, or divert east. In terms of Sydney to Forster driving time, going east along the Lakes Way only adds about seven minutes to the drive. But there are lots of stops and slight detours you might wish to make along the way.
Highlights of this section of the Newcastle to Forster drive include Myall Lake, Wallis Lake, the Booti Booti National Park and Cape Hawke. There are also fabulous beach stops at Seal Rocks, Cellito Beach, Blueys Beach and Elizabeth Beach.
Should you opt to go via the Pacific Highway, you join the northern end of the Lakes Way at Darawank. You then largely follow the Wallamba River through Tuncurry, and cross over the Coolongolook River into Forster. This route is slightly shorter, but offers fewer enticing stops for a road trip.
Sydney to Forster road trip: Forster accommodation
The best Forster accommodation options include Hotel Forster, which has a pretty big pool, the family-focused Discovery Parks Forster and the spacious, beachfront Sails Apartments.
Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie to Forster
Of course, you may be approaching Forster from the other direction. If coming south from Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie or Taree, the drive is a little shorter.
The Coffs Harbour to Forster drive is 249km in distance, meaning an approximate Coffs Harbour to Forster driving time of two hours and 36 minutes.
The Port Macquarie to Forster drive is 109km. It should take around one hour and four minutes to drive from Port Macquarie to Forster.
Taree is home to the nearest airport, however. From the airport in Taree to Forster, the drive takes around 34 minutes.
13 brilliant experiences in Sydney you should book
- (💲Great value 💲) Tick off several bucket list items on a highlights-packed Blue Mountains day tour.
- Get perfect views of the world’s most beautiful city on a Sydney Harbour helicopter tour.
- Save money with a multi-attraction pass.
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Enjoy the romance of a tall ship cruise on Sydney Harbour.
- Eat all you can at the Skyfeast at the top of Sydney Tower.
- See migrating humpbacks – on a whale-watching cruise.
- (Highly recommended ✅) Go behind the scenes of Australia’s most famous building on an Opera House tour.
- Dine as the city lights up on sunset dinner cruise around the harbour.
- Combine beers and stories on a historic pubs tour through the convict-era Rocks district.
- Stand on your board and catch waves during Bondi Beach surfing lessons.
- Go to wombat and kangaroo-spotting hotspots on a Southern Highlands tour.
- Enjoy Sydney’s wild side on a Manly snorkelling & nature walk.
- (🥇Top choice in Sydney) And, best of all, paddle to hidden beaches on a harbour kayaking adventure.
More New South Wales travel
Swimming in Watsons Bay: Camp Cove vs Watsons Bay Baths.
Go walking in the Mimosa Rocks National Park near Bega.
Visit Potoroo Palace on the Bega to Merimbula drive.
Swim at Aslings Beach Rock Pool in Eden.
Go on a Jervis Bay dolphin cruise from Huskisson.