Sydney to Surfers Paradise road trip: Distance, time & best stops
Overnight stops between Sydney and Surfers Paradise: Byron Bay
The next leg of the Sydney to Surfers Paradise road trip is the short drive from Ballina to Byron Bay.
Just north of Tintenbar, there’s waterfall action at Killen Falls.
Alternatively, the coast offers a series of top surf spots along the coast. 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.
If planning to stay in Byron Bay, come off the motorway Ewingsdale. This is home to The Farm Byron Bay, where Byron Bay hot air ballooning tours depart from.
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.
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.
Sydney to Surfers Paradise road trip itinerary: Brunswick Heads and the Tweed Coast
It’s another 45 minutes from Byron Bay to Tweed Heads, NSW’s most northerly town.
The drive initially goes past Belongil Beach and the Tyagarah Nature Reserve.
Here’s why you should stay in Brunswick Heads – four fantastic experiences
- Take a snorkelling tour to the protected subtropical paradise – at the marine life-packed Julian Rocks.
- Take an eco-cruise through the rainforest – in the day time or on a sunset cruise.
- Watch migrating humpback whales between June and October – on a whale-watching cruise with a marine biologist guide.
- Take a nature kayaking tour along the river – choose from sunrise, daytime and sunset tours.
Further along, Brunswick Heads has a tremendous beach. You can also kayak or cruise on the Brunswick River and enjoy a snorkelling tour to Julian Rocks.
Brunswick Heads accommodation picks include the stylish Brunswick and the pool-centred Sails Motel.
Mooball National Park, Pottsville, Hastings Point, Cabarita Beach and Tropical Fruit World in Duranbah present more exploration options. The latter offers a farm tour and boat cruise.
Rum-tasting at the Husk Distillery in Tumbulgum is another option before the motorway rejoins the coast at Kingscliff. Here, Watersports Guru hires out kayaks.
Top Kingscliff accommodation options
The best places to stay in Kingscliff are:
- For a Balinese-style resort: Oaks Santai Casuarina Resort.
- For a kid-friendly holiday park: Ingenia Holidays Kingscliff.
- For suites with a lagoon pool: Mantra on Salt Beach.
- For good value by the beach: The Blue Water.
Things to do in Tweed Heads include crab-catching adventures, Tweed River cruises, and brewery and distillery tours.
Tweed Heads accommodation favourites are the well-rated Tweed Heads Vegas Motel and Arabella Motor Inn.
Five fabulous Tweed Coast experiences to at least consider booking
- Tweed River lunch cruise – with wildlife viewing in the rainforest.
- Crab-catching tour in Tweed Heads.
- Farm tour at Tropical Fruit World – with wildlife spotting cruise.
- Progressive four course meal across four top Kingscliff restaurants.
- Husk Distillers distillery tour – with tastings.
Sydney to Surfers Paradise by car: The Gold Coast
Coolangatta is the first town on the Gold Coast in Queensland.
Things to do in Coolangatta include walking from Point Danger to Snapper Rocks and throwing yourself into surfing lessons.
The Pacific Motorway, however, runs west of Coolangatta, Kirra Beach, the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary in Currumbin and Palm Beach.
If continuing to Surfers Paradise, leave the motorway at Exit 87 and drive along the Southport-Burleigh Road. This runs parallel to the coast past Burleigh Heads, Mermaid Beach and Broadbeach before you reach Surfers Paradise.
7 Gold Coast experiences worth booking in advance
- See waterfalls and natural wonders – on a full day Springbrook National Park tour.
- Be awed by massive migrating humpbacks – on a great value whale-watching cruise.
- Feast as you explore the Gold Coast waterways – on a dinner cruise.
- Kayak with dolphins and snorkel with hundred of sub-tropical fish – on the same tour.
- Enjoy high speed thrills along the waterways – on a jet boat adventure.
- Glide above the beautiful hinterland – on a serene hot air balloon flight.
- Taste the best Scenic Rim wines – on an indulgent Tamborine Mountain wine tour, with lunch.
Things to do on the Gold Coast include jet boat rides, sunset cruises, parasailing and amphibious vehicle tours. You can also go whale-watching during whale season or take in views of the coast from the Mick Schamburg Park Lookout by Miami Beach.
Gold Coast accommodation is mainly apartments, but top Surfers Paradise hotels include the luxurious Q1 Resort and Spa and the budget-friendly Vibe Hotel.
Best day trips from the Gold Coast – 7 ways to improve your stay
The Gold Coast is a destination in its own right, but there are several excellent day trips you can do while using it as a base.
- Deluxe Tamborine Mountain winery tour – with gourmet lunch.
- Full day Springbrook National Park tour – with waterfalls and bush tucker tasting.
- Snorkelling with turtles at Cook Island.
- Evening glowworm-viewing experience – with guided stargazing.
- Lady Elliot Island day trip – with glass bottom boat & guided Great Barrier Reef snorkelling tour.
- Hopping between microbreweries – with lunch included.
- Northern Rivers fruit & distillery tour – with Tropical Fruit World and Husk Distillers.
More New South Wales travel
The best stops on a Newcastle to Lismore road trip.
Are there sharks at Bondi Beach?
How long is the Wollongong to Gerringong drive?
The best stops on an Armidale to Brisbane road trip.
Where to stop on the Nambucca Heads to Brisbane drive.