Sydney to Grafton road trip: Distance, time & best stops

Sydney to Grafton road trip: Distance, time & best stops

Sydney to Grafton drive: Nambucca Heads to Bongil Bongil National Park

Things to do in Nambucca Heads include land-based whale-watching from the Captain Cook Lookout and gentle kayaking through Gaagal Wanggaan National Park.

Nambucca Heads accommodation highlights include the family-friendly Ingenia holiday park, the amiable Riverview Boutique Motel and the pool-equipped Beach Rooms.

From Nambucca Heads to Coffs Harbour, there are a couple of solid photo stops. Try the Oyster Creek Lookout just north of Valla Beach and the Perry’s Hill Lookout by of the Bellinger River.

The highway then runs through Bongil Bongil National Park. The walking tracks around the Bongil Picnic Area and Sid Burke Picnic Area are good places for spotting koalas.

Bongil Bongil National Park to Coffs Harbour

On the way into Coffs Harbour, Sawtell Beach and Boambee Beach are on the coast, while the Coffs Harbour Butterfly House is next to the highway.

6 fab Coffs Harbour experiences to book in advance

Good things to do in Coffs Harbour include Jetty Beachrainforest tourswhale-watching cruises and skydives.

For Coffs Harbour accommodation, consider the quirky Big Windmill Motel, the nature-flanked Sanctuary Resort, the helpfully central Best Western Zebra Motel and the well-equipped Beachpark Apartments.

Windsurfers at Jetty Beach in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales
Windsurfers at Jetty Beach in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales. Photo courtesy of Destination NSW.

Click through to the next section: Coffs Harbour to Corindi Beach.