Sydney to Gold Coast road trip: Stops, distance & driving time

Top stops on a Sydney to Gold Coast road trip include Forster, Coffs Harbour, Yamba and Byron Bay. The Sydney to Gold Coast drive covers a distance of 846km in a driving time of around 8h57m.

The drive from Sydney to the Gold Coast makes for a superb Australian road trip.

Sydney brings harbour cruises on romantic tall ships, historic pub tours and behind-the-scenes visits to the world’s most famous Opera House. To get the best deals on Sydney accommodation, book here. To find Sydney tours and experiences that suit your tastes, step this way.

There are several brilliant places to stay along the way to Queensland’s favourite holiday strip. Spread your itinerary over a few days, and your Sydney to Gold Coast road trip can include a wealth of beautiful beach towns, national parks and quirky attractions.

Sydney to Gold Coast distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Sydney to the Gold Coast is 846km. That makes for an approximate driving time of eight hours and 57 minutes. 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.

This guide is fairly detailed and should help you plot the key stops of your journey. But click through to the pieces on individual towns, attractions and experiences for further information.

Sydney to Gold Coast road trip: Northern Sydney and the Central Coast

The first leg of the journey leaves Sydney through the northern suburbs. Feasible stops near the route include the architecturally-striking Rose Siedler House in Wahroonga, beautiful Bobbin Head in Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park and Galston Gorge in Berowra Waters National Park.

Before crossing the Hawkesbury River Bridge, you’ll pass Brooklyn. This is where the quirky Riverboat Postman cruises depart from. It’s a cruise, but it’s also the mail run for several Hawkesbury River communities such as Dangar Island.

On the other side of the bridge is Mooney Mooney, where the Broken Bay Pearl Farm opposite Spectacle Island offers tours.

You’re now onto the Central Coast, although the Pacific Motorway doesn’t go all that near the coastal sections. It runs significantly west of the likes of Forresters Beach, Toowoon Bay and Wamberal.

However, you can spend time at Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary, Australian Reptile Park and Girrakool Loop walking track near Gosford.

There’s also abseiling, horse-riding and quad biking at Glenworth Valley near Popran National Park.

A little further north come Somersby Falls and Stickland Falls, then a series of attractions near Alison. The Jilliby Lookout offers views, Treetops Adventure Central Coast has thrills and the  Amazement Farm and Fun Park offer mazes and cute animals.

Click through for next section: Newcastle and Port Stephens.