Tamworth to Byron Bay road trip: Best stops, distance & drive time
The best stops on a Tamworth to Byron Bay road trip include Armidale and Yamba. By car along sealed roads, the distance from Tamworth to Byron Bay is 466km, with a driving time of around 5h28m.
A Tamworth to Byron Bay road trip will take you through many difference faces of New South Wales, with country towns, forest, mountains and beaches.
Tamworth is Australia’s country music capital. You can look at the Tamworth accommodation options here.
If you can do just one thing in Byron Bay, make it kayaking with dolphins. The scenery’s beautiful, and you can get much closer to the dolphins than you would on a boat tour. BOOK HERE.
Byron Bay, meanwhile, offers kayaking with dolphins, beach and waterfalls tours and surfing lessons. To check out more Byron Bay tours and experiences, click here. For Byron Bay accommodation deals, venture this way.
This guide should help you plan your perfect Tamworth to Byron Bay road trip itinerary.
Tamworth to Byron Bay distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Tamworth to Byron Bay is 466km. That makes for a driving time of around five hours and 28 minutes.
Good stops to add to a Tamworth to Byron Bay road trip itinerary include Armidale and Yamba.
Things to do in Tamworth include the Australian Country Music Hall of Fame and the Tamworth Powerstation Museum, which explores electricity and electronics. For natural beauty in the vicinity, try Chaffey Dam near Nundle.
The best places to stay in Tamworth
There are several Tamworth accommodation options. These, however, are the best picks…
- For excellent value and a pool: Roydons Motor Inn.
- For design flair: CH Boutique Hotel.
- For central location: City Sider Motor Inn.
- For spacious apartments: Cadman Motor Inn and Apartments.
- For heritage and charm: Quality Inn Ashby House.
Tamworth to Byron Bay road trip: Tamworth to Uralla
On the way north out of Tamworth, you’ll go past the Oxley Scenic Lookout and the city’s Botanical Gardens.
Before joining the New England Highway, it’s worth pulling over at the Moonbi Lookout, a massive granite outcrop with great views over the New England countryside.
There are more such outcrops further along, including Captain Thunderbolt’s Rock. This picnic site and photo stop was where a notorious bushranger was shot by police in 1863.
Tamworth to Byron Bay road trip: Uralla to Armidale
The town of Uralla is somewhat obsessed with Captain Thunderbolt, who is buried in the Old Uralla Cemetery on John Street. You’ll find out more about the story in the McCrossin’s Mill Museum – a converted flour mill.
Also in Uralla, you can try your luck panning for golf at the Wooldridge Recreation and Fossicking Area. Don’t expect too much of the shiny stuff to be left behind, though.
The next worthwhile stop is the New England town of Armidale. Things to do in Armidale include helicopter flights over the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park, visiting the Saints Mary and Joseph Catholic Cathedral and browsing the New England Regional Art Museum.
Where to stay in Armidale
For the best Armidale accommodation, book one of these:
- For charm and character: Petersons Armidale Winery & Guesthouse.
- For a great value motel: Alluna Motel.
- For central location: Tattersalls Hotel.
Click through to the next section: The Waterfall Way scenic drive.