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

Sydney to Gold Coast road trip: Along the Pacific Highway to Taree

Beyond Newcastle, the Pacific Motorway becomes the Pacific Highway. And the Sydney to Gold Coast road trip becomes much more rural. Stick close to the highway, and you’ll pass Hunter Wetlands National Park and the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens.

The Newcastle to Taree leg of the Sydney to Gold Coast road trip then curves east and north of Port Stephens. It passes the southern fringes of Wallaroo National Park and Karuah National Park, with the latter offering campgrounds and 4WD trails.

You may be interested in making small detours to the Port Stephens towns of Karuah, Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest. Jimmys Beach in Hawks Nest is particularly lovely.

Further north, Bulahdelah Mountain in Bulahdelah offers walking trails and Indigenous heritage, while the O’Sullivans Gap Picnic Area in Myall Lakes National Park is a good base for walks and wildlife-spotting.

Click through to the next section: A detour to Forster?