Sydney to Hervey Bay road trip: Distance, time & best stops

The best stops to add to a Sydney to Hervey Bay road trip itinerary include Newcastle, Port Macquarie, Byron Bay and the Gold Coast. By car, the Sydney to Hervey Bay distance is 1,119km and driving time around 13h20m.

Planning a Sydney to Hervey Bay road trip itinerary

A Sydney to Hervey Bay road trip heads from the New South Wales capital to one of the major gateways to K’gari/ Fraser Island in Queensland.

Sydney’s enormous collection of experiences includes all-inclusive sunset dinner cruises, behind-the-scenes tours of the Opera House, jet boat thrill rides and historic walking tours. To get the best deals on Sydney accommodation, book here. To find Sydney tours and experiences that suit your tastes, step this way.

Hervey Bay, meanwhile, offers sunset cruises, whale-watching and wildlife cruises in the Great Sandy Strait. To pick out Hervey Bay experiences that pique your interest, look here. For Hervey Bay accommodation, nosy around here.

However, there are several excellent attractions between Sydney and Hervey Bay. This guide is aimed at helping travellers plan their perfect Sydney to Hervey Bay road trip itinerary.

Sydney to Hervey Bay distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Sydney to Hervey Bay is 1,119km. This makes for a driving time of around 13 hours and 20 minutes.

Excellent road trip stops between Sydney and Hervey Bay include Newcastle, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Byron Bay, the Gold Coast and Brisbane.

You might, however, get more joy from smaller spots such as Forster, South West Rocks and Nambucca Heads.

Sydney to Hervey Bay road trip: Sydney to Popran National Park

The first section of the Sydney to Hervey Bay road trip is the 170km drive from Sydney to Newcastle.

Some stops in Sydney’s northern suburbs are worth considering. These include Lane Cove National Park, Cumberland State Forest in West Pennant Hills and the architecturally-dazzling Rose Siedler House in Wahroonga.

Also mull over short detours to the gorgeous Bobbin Head picnic ground in Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park or Galston Gorge in Berowra Waters National Park.

Before crossing the Hawkesbury River in Brooklyn, you might wish to join the Riverboat Postman cruise. This postal boat brings tourists along as it delivers mail to small river communities like Dangar Island.

The Central Coast is on the other side of the Hawkesbury Bridge, although beach towns such as Terrigal or The Entrance require a hefty detour.

Stay near the Pacific Motorway, though, and the Broken Bay Pearl Farm in Mooney Mooney shows how pearls are cultivated on its pearl farm tour.

Nearer Gosford, you’ll find the Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary, Australian Reptile Park and Girrakool Loop walking track.

Glenworth Valley near Popran National Park, meanwhile, runs activities such as abseiling, horse-riding and quad biking.

Sydney to Hervey Bay drive: Central Coast to Newcastle

Pleasant photo stops before hitting Newcastle include Somersby Falls, Strickland Falls and the Jilliby Lookout. Treetops Adventure Central Coast and Amazement Farm and Fun Park will eat a bit more of your time.

The Sydney to Hervey Bay drive continues between Morriset and Cooranbong, veering west of Lake Macquarie and near the southern end of Watagans National Park.

The motorway goes around the second largest city in New South Wales – Newcastle. But you might wish to make an overnight stop here.

If so, pay a visit to the magnificent ocean baths, such as Merewether Baths.

Other things to do in Newcastle include watching wildlife at Blackbutt Reserve, whale-watching tours and visiting several good quality museums.

Newcastle also offers coastal boat tours, street art walks and evening true crime tours.

Newcastle accommodation heroes include the lavish Crystalbrook Kingsley, the peppy QT Newcastle and the heritage-drenched Grand Hotel.

Click through for the next section: Newcastle to Port Stephens.