Sydney to Noosa road trip: Distance, driving time & best stops

Overnight stops between Sydney and Noosa: Byron Bay

The next leg of the Sydney to Noosa road trip is the short drive from Ballina to Byron Bay.

Just north of Tintenbar, there’s waterfall action at Killen Falls and a kid-pleasing wildlife park at Macadamia Castle.

Alternatively, the coast offers a series of top surf spots. Lennox Head, Whites Beach, Kings Beach, the Broken Head Reserve and Arakwal National Park are all massively underrated compared to Byron.

The Pacific Motorway, however, goes past attractive Newrybar and food-centric Bangalow.

8 amazing Byron Bay experiences worth booking today

Experience the region’s glorious natural landscapes from above – on a hot air balloon ride.
Go kayaking with dolphins – and get much closer to them than on a boat tour 🐬.
Learn to surf – on a half day surf lesson 🏄‍♀️.
Discover the local secrets – let a guide show you the hidden beaches and waterfalls 🏖️.
Go on a three habitat wildlife safari – spotting koalas, kangaroos and flying foxes 🐨🦘.
See glowworms light up the World Heritage-listed rainforest.
Explore the Byron Bay hinterland – including the rainforest walk to Minyon Falls.
Taste craft beers and spirits – on a tour of Byron’s breweries and distilleries 🍻.
Also try… Skydives | Sea-kayaking | Whale-watching.

If planning to stay in Byron Bay, come off the motorway at Ewingsdale. This is home to The Farm Byron Bay, where Byron Bay hot air ballooning tours depart from.

Good Byron Bay activities include brewery tours, art and wine classes and turtle snorkelling tours.

For Byron Bay accommodation, take a look at the beachside Cavvanbah, the Bayview Beachfront Apartments and the Ingenia Byron Bay holiday park.