Sydney to South West Rocks road trip: Distance, time & best stops
The best stops to add to a Sydney to South West Rocks road trip itinerary include Newcastle, Port Stephens and Port Macquarie. By car, the Sydney to South West Rocks distance is 461km and driving time around 4h50m.
A Sydney to South West Rocks road trip heads from the New South Wales capital to one of most appealing holiday towns on the Mid-North Coast
Sydney offers tall ship cruises on the harbour, Opera House tours and historic pub tours. To get the best deals on Sydney accommodation, book here. To find Sydney tours and experiences that suit your tastes, step this way.
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Skip the queues – and get the best prices – with mobile-friendly advance tickets for these top Sydney attractions.
- Taronga Zoo – the zoo with harbour views (and plenty of cute Aussie animals)
- Sydney Opera House – official walking tour. See behind the scenes!
- Wild Life Sydney – Aussie animal favourites in convenient Darling Harbour location. Perfect if on limited time.
- Sydney Cricket Ground – behind the scenes secrets tour.
- Sydney Tower Eye – 360 degree views from 250 metres above the city.
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South West Rocks, meanwhile, has fabulous beaches and the atmospheric Trial Bay Gaol
By far the best way of visiting South West Rocks is as part of a road trip, taking in several highlights of the New South Wales North Coast along the way. This guide should help you plan a Sydney to South West Rocks road trip itinerary.
Sydney to South West Rocks distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Sydney to South West Rocks is 461km. This makes for a driving time of around four hours and 50 minutes.
13 brilliant experiences in Sydney you should book
- (💲Great value 💲) Tick off several bucket list items on a highlights-packed Blue Mountains day tour.
- Get perfect views of the world’s most beautiful city on a Sydney Harbour helicopter tour.
- Save money with a multi-attraction pass.
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Enjoy the romance of a tall ship cruise on Sydney Harbour.
- Eat all you can at the Skyfeast at the top of Sydney Tower.
- See migrating humpbacks – on a whale-watching cruise.
- (Highly recommended ✅) Go behind the scenes of Australia’s most famous building on an Opera House tour.
- Dine as the city lights up on sunset dinner cruise around the harbour.
- Combine beers and stories on a historic pubs tour through the convict-era Rocks district.
- Stand on your board and catch waves during Bondi Beach surfing lessons.
- Go to wombat and kangaroo-spotting hotspots on a Southern Highlands tour.
- Enjoy Sydney’s wild side on a Manly snorkelling & nature walk.
- (🥇Top choice in Sydney) And, best of all, paddle to hidden beaches on a harbour kayaking adventure.
Excellent road trip stops between Sydney and South West Rocks include Newcastle, Port Stephens and Port Macquarie.
Sydney to South West Rocks road trip: Sydney to the Hawkesbury River
The first section of the Sydney to South West Rocks 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.
Click through for the next section: Hawkesbury River to Newcastle.