Worth the visit. The air-conditioned accommodation is 1.6 km from Lighthouse Beach, and guests benefit from private parking available on site and free WiFi. Show only these on map Mosman Save The walk provides access to Bogey Hole, a convict-built ocean bath from the colonial period. It gives a beautiful panoramic view of the beautiful hills and the mountains to the visitor. It was well worth the walk up there and they now have seats and a great lookout platform hanging over the cliff (I wasn't crazy enough to lean over but my friends did.). Good for picnic and family. If you want to help further, you can also sponsor wild koalas through the Koala Hospitals adoption program. The superbank is one of the most consistent surf breaks on the Gold Coast in Queensland, and begins at Snapper Rocks and extends to Kirra Point. Just long enough to be tiring. Just over two hours from Sydney, Terrigal on the Central Coast is the perfect place to stop off for breakfast. Camden Head rock pools. The owners should consider an automatic escalator. Really good visibility at the exhibits. Really cool. Popular for weddings, this traditional beacon built in 1903 offers lodging & scenic ocean views. The views are always stunning and the drive there through the rainforest is stunning also. Every man and his dog knows about Byron now. Nearly every city both capital and regional has a single outstanding lookout point, and Coffs Harbours answer to this is the excellent (and entirely free) Forest Sky Pier that extends out from Sealy Lookout. Byron Bay is a coastal town in the southeastern Australian state of New South Wales. It depends on when you visit! Short drive from Hornsby shire, this beautiful beach is full of Cafes and restaurants. Where can we meet in the middle? Great for kids and adults alike. Entry is free but you can donate while you are there which is a beautiful feeling. 351 Pacific Hwy, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450, Australia. Cape Byron Lighthouse is probably the most famous photo spot in Byron Bay. Great surf club. Enjoy a short walk around & see all the animals, have some fresh macadamian nuts under the trees. The pier projects 21.6 meters beyond the Sealy Lookout at a height of 310 meters above sea level. Its a place where people from all over the world come to enjoy the surf, sea and scorching sunshine. You can even tour the facility. There is also a Dutch village not far from here, which is actually a shop selling Dutch clogs. About : The Big Banana Fun Park is one of the biggest park in the North NSW Coast. Famous for its scenic views, this 106-mi. There is a shop and restaurant selling various products. They sell chocolate sauce near the counter for the strawberries. All the staff were professional and very helpful. All rights reserved. Sun sand surf coffee food walks swim stay shop smile chill sleep eat repeat + small village big impact The beach is quiet with cafes and a pub close by. Press the question mark key to get the keyboard shortcuts for changing dates. The koala hospital is a wonderful resource for teaching kids and families about koala conservation in the area. Have fun! Animal lovers will jump at the opportunity to swim with or kiss the dolphins, feed a seal and watch live shows. Lots of stairs. If you are just wanting to get from Sydney to Qld as quickly and efficiently as you possibly can then check out driving betweenSydney & Byron Bay with kids, its the version that I do when I need to get to Byron without mucking around. Wind your way through banana plantations on the 10-minute drive from Coffs Harbour to Sealy Lookout in the Orara East State Forest. Facilities: And, if you suffer FOMO and dont want to miss the next riveting post by yours truly then subscribe here. The engaging crew allow visitors to get extremely up close and personal with the animals, which makes for an incredible experience. Follow the path around to the left & down the stairs to the lower viewing platform for a different angle. It has a really lovely main street with large established trees all through the centre of town. Right on the river and super close to the beach. You will have to turn off to the coast but the drive in about 30 mins in. Lots of interesting, educational plaques throughout. Beautiful coastal national park with lovely campgrounds and also a caravan park. Read about the 40 best attractions and cities to stop in between Sydney and Melbourne, including places like Canberra, Scenic World, and Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park . It is definitely one of the best places to see in Gold Coast. However, many locals and surfing enthusiasts list Snapper Rocks as their favourite beach owing to its distinct waves, uniform swell and the Superbank, a human constructed sand bank that lets boat riders cruise from Snapper Rocks to Coolangatta. Really lovely and not yet crazy busy like Byron. There is a caravan park right on the beach and also some great campgrounds nearby down dirt roads and away from the masses. Coffee is only on front deck and inside main serving area. The area is the centre of the Lower Hunter Valley wine region. 159 Pacific Dr, Port Macquarie NSW 2444, Australia. Highly recommend The Big Banana Fun Park! Its known for its beaches, wildlife and penal colony past. Awesome pub with live music and yummy food. The Dolphin Marine Magic is a marine park in Coffs Harbour that also acts as a rescue and rehabilitation center for marine animals native to the region. The top cities between Sydney and Forster are Cessnock, Mosman, Newcastle, Pokolbin, Port Stephens, Nelson Bay, Blacktown, Manly, and North Sydney. Very popular location with friendly atmosphere, great for families, couples for romances or family get togethers. Coffs Harbour is a city on the north coast of New South Wales, Australia. Enjoy the fantastic rugged scenery, try your hand at a bit of fishing or enjoy a stroll along one of Australias most beautiful beaches at sunset. Pacific Hwy, Somersby NSW 2250, Australia. 221 Blackmans Point Rd, Blackmans Point NSW 2444, Australia. A great activity for kids and adults. Popular hiking loop with ocean views, a lighthouse, wildlife sightings & picnic spots. Nearby is Rainbow Bay Surf Club. Coffs Harbour, NSW. The cafe/restaurant was very good. Well maintained.. good place to workout for free if you are living nearby. Trial Bay Gaol is a excellent place to see a little of Australia's history. Great cafes with quality food and coffee and really nice friendly people. Its just a short drive from Coffs Harbour but the trip will be well worth the effort and time spent. They also have a variety of food items and sweets as you sip and enjoy the sweeping views of the sea. Now boasting much more than just the giant banana, its also home to a water park, ice-skating rink, giant slide, mini golf course and a 650m toboggan ride overlooking the Pacific Ocean, meaning theres plenty to see and do if youre either young or young at heart. What started out as a gimmick to draw tourist attention to the banana plantation, the Big Banana was Australias first Big Thing when it was built in 1964, leading the way in what has become a staple of road trips all over Australia. Complete with a garden, barbecue facilities and a terrace, Twin Palms Holiday House at Lighthouse is situated in Port Macquarie, 7 km from Port Macquarie Marina and 9 km from Port Macquarie Regional Stadium. Truly one of the better places in the world. The history of Coffs Harbour is rooted in bananas, as the first major industry from the region, and this fun, quirky and ever-so kitsch monument and adventure park is a celebration of this. Kids loved the park and had a great time. The exact latitude and longitude coordinates are 32 49' 2" S and 151 38' 7" E. This is where the best of the best surfers come to have a play. Walk back through the conservation area for another unique view, shade and steps back down to the car park again. The Broadwalk to the skillion is a great walk. Using the total driving distance, you can figure out if there's a good meeting place halfway between, a third of the way, or any of the stops along the route. Nice Milky Way viewing at night, no light pollution. If you look at a Gold Coast tourist map, you'll see that this stretch of coast faces north, which means the water is typically calmer with great conditions for swimming. Definitely worth a visit when youre in this area. 311 km to go, or 3 hr 32 min. Its a popular holiday destination, known for its beaches, surfing and scuba diving sites. If youve always dreamt of getting up close and personal with dolphins, then the Dolphin Marine Conservation Park is an attraction you wont want to miss. Please walk from the start all the way around to the lighthouse, such a beautiful landscape. There are currently nine display koalas (injured animals undergoing rehab), plus an education display, a souvenir shop, a clinic viewing area, and the Koalaseum (a rundown of koala history). I had no idea that this wonderful woman was a hoarder and because of this her life was filled with many gems from flowers and statues to ewers and vases. This quaint little suburb exudes old-school charm in the beachside and is one of the quiet beaches in Gold Coast. Waterfront park offering an elevated rainforest walkway, with guided tours & a cafe. The combination of the sheer size and conspicuousness of the landmark, as well as its location right on the highway, has led to many an impulsive roadside travel-selfie for the unaware international traveller and is something that has become a rite of passage for Aussies making the east-coast-capitals road trip as well. From planning your day perspective you can visit in the morning and go with each talk or other option to visit in the afternoon as all the talks repeat in the second half. A stroll around the point to nearby Snapper Rocks can also give you an increased chance of seeing whales passing on their annual migration throughout the year's cooler months. It is a small centre which offers an intimate, up close experience with some beautiful marine animals. Embark on a Sydney to Melbourne Coastal Discovery road trip and along the way stop to explore the tranquil villages and delicious oyster farms of the New South Wales South Coast, Other popular stops include Coolangatta Beach, Cape Byron Walking Track, and Australian Reptile Park. The drive through the waterfall way is in itself beautiful. This is one of the great escape spots located just around an hour drive from Sydney. The Big Banana Fun Park has a brand new giant slide named The Racer. We've compiled data from NASA for each month of the year: see the links below for more information. Great experience and nice marine park. A visit to the Sea Acres Rainforest Centre in Port Macquarie is a great way to get a real feel for this areas rainforest. There are small playground for kids, picnic area and toilets near the observation deck. Theres a small cafe on top where you can have some coffee and cookies for the kids. Your email address will not be published. Built in search to find the best places so you dont have to open 50 more tabs. Make sure don't book toboggan, if weather will be rainy otherwise it was fun. Great little hike. There are a couple of drop toilets. Lots of birds flying around for spotting. Beautiful wide, white sandy beach in upmarket precinct. 3 km or 2 minutes. A small coastal town with beautiful beaches and a reputation for having great surf. Also, you can enjoy daily shows and even get up close and personal. Absolutely fabulous walk, cannot more heartedly recommend! From Byron you are about 40 mins from the QLD border. Cessnock is a city in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia, about 52 km by road west of Newcastle. Top cities between Sydney and the Gold Coast, Best stops along Sydney to the Gold Coast drive. You can drive from Sydney to the Gold Coast. When your friend gets the perfect shot in the perf, My fave new addition to the silo light show is thi, Always fabulous to re bump into friends over and o, Totally engrossed in the show while sunset happens, We are back in Quorn! The caf sits atop a cliff beside the Byron Bay Lighthouse overlooking the magnificent Byron Bay coast, a great stop after a long hike. A relatively easy walk on a sealed path. These guys do a fantastic job looking after the koalas and trying to rehabilitate and educate us all on how we can help this precious endangered species. Dolphin Marine Magic offers the opportunity to swim with dolphins for aged six and older. Grab smoothies and head across the road to watch surfers and early morning swimmers take to the ocean. The Big Banana now boasts The Banana Slip Water Park (Australias first 3 story high inflatable waterslide the biggest in the world), Area 351 Laser Tag Arena, Ice Skating Rink, Wild Toboggan Ride, The World of Bananas multimedia theatre experience, plantation. The short but very steep walk from the car park up to the lighthouse needs to be taken slowly with frequent breaks to study the view. Lovely place with astonishing beaches and views. Can't wait to come back here and explore the entire for the whole day. This Springbrook natural bridge has amazing views of mountains, woods, waterfall and a glow worm cave! 130 Lighthouse Rd, Byron Bay NSW 2481, Australia, 201 Lighthouse Rd, Byron Bay NSW 2481, Australia. It is special because it is completely dedicated to Bananas. We look forward to returning and trying to see the glow worms. This is also a theme park. My kids enjoyed every moment and as parents, it was amazing to see that even during this challenging COVID19 situation, kids having a good time with huge smiles on their faces! This was the one Coffs Harbour attraction that I knew for many years before visiting. Waterslides, ice skating, mini golf & laser tag are offered at this banana-themed amusement park. Just be sure to check out the comments section for each site as it gives a great indication of what the place is really like. Picking your own strawberries, such a fun activity. It's a good place to see and know about Australian native animals. It was my first time in Terrigal beach but will definitely visit again. Image SourceChoosing a favourite beach at Gold Coast is as different as choosing a favourite ice cream flavour for a child!. One of the oldest lighthouses in Australia, Tacking Point Lighthouse is a historic treasure of Port Macquarie. The Kangaroos here are lovely and kids can have fun time feeding them. Adequate car parking with access on a sealed road. The gift shop also has a room full of beautiful artworks and documentarys on animals living in the rainforest, very informative. Large outdoor park with a boardwalk suspended over rainforest, trails to waterfalls & scenic views. Lovely place to visit. Billabong Zoo is known for its koala breeding centre. Aydin Properties > Uncategorized > places to stop between sydney and forster. There is wheelchair access everywhere and they had maintained the toilets well. Lots of places to eat closeby and nice sunsets. Hence the status as a World Surf Reserve. The schooner Coolangatta was wrecked here in 1846, which gave this beach its name. , Wifi Very interesting building providing great views at the top. The rain forest and the serenity within it was to die for. 14 Forster Road Katoomba (1.9 km from center )Show on map. Below you'll find some of the best day trips from Sydney and stops between Sydney and Brisbane. 73 Trial Bay Gaol Access Rd, Arakoon NSW 2431, Australia, 52 Wellington Dr, Nambucca Heads NSW 2448, Australia. The Kangaroos here are lovely and kids can have fun time feeding them. The small town of Hay in New South Wales is roughly halfway between Sydney and Adelaide and is one of a few options for places to stopover on the drive as outlined in this blog post. Head down to the esplanade, where you'll find an abundance of cafes and local shops. The Big Banana Fun Park is the biggest water park in Sydney and the Gold Coast and it is a must-visit for anyone traveling to Coffs Harbour. Has an amazing little Cafe. The tortoise that we saw was over 100 years and looks so healthy and stunning. New South Wales 1%. Scenic stop overlooking Minyon Falls & the rainforest, also offering walking paths & picnic areas. Other attractions include an ice skating rink, a toboggan ride, and a water park. Parking was sufficient at the time but when the weather is good or when it's summer you might struggle to find a spot. Gorgeous place to visit. Overall we had great fun and we will definitely come back again! We will visit again if we come to Port Macquarie. Great spot for overnight parking/camping on car, waking up to see the sunrise straightaway. North Coast Holiday Parks Terrace Reserve. It is part of the Singleton Council local government area and the city of Cessnock. Lower area only approx 500m walk from car park. Do yourself a favour and take the 6km drive off the Pacific Highway (north of Coffs Harbour) through the banana plantations and into the lush green Orara East State Forest. This is a pretty big town with plenty of accomodation options. Planning travel has actually been fun instead of tedious because of this app. Be careful on walking tracks as we had a lot of run in with leeches but didnt discover them until after the walk. The alligators here amazing and the number of them that are maintained well in a water body with in park is amazing to watch. The Coffs Coast is the only region in New South Wales where the mountains of the Great Dividing Range meet the Pacific Ocean. Kirra Point is part of the World Surfing Reserve and produces some sizable surf breaks. Fully recommend parking at the bottom near Clarkes Beach head left and around Palm Beach into Wategos Beach then up the headland to amazing panoramic views East to West before heading to the lighthouse. Camping for tents, campervans or caravans in the beautiful Crowdy Bay National Park. Astonishing view from the top observation deck and also there is a trail to the bottom of the fall. The aim here is just to head you in the direction of lovely places along the way. It's a good family venue with additional areas for kids to run around. The introductory video is 10 minutes and the grounds are a reasonable size. Surprisingly. Must say I love it but then again I live here. Great idea and nice atmosphere for a cafe/restaurant. Allow 2 to 3 hours. Byron Bay (2 nights). Good insight into the conservation efforts of the turtles, seals and dolphins. Visited just after heavy rains/during some light rains, so water flow was spectacular! There is a caravan park right on the beach and also some great campgrounds nearby down dirt roads and away from the masses. The closest camping would be at Coolum which is about 5km south. A must for any visitor. Ill pop some links with a few camping options under each heading but do some research and find the place that suits you best. Best parts: place is undercover, dry (no dirty shoes) and entry is FREE! And seeing them in there natural state. This small rocky headland among the Gold coast beaches is one of the worlds premier surf breaks. The beautiful beach of Coolangatta is the last town before the border of New South Wales and also houses the Gold Coast Airport. It is worth the drive. Visitors are not allowed to go inside, but it provides a wonderful view of the coast. This app helps you find places to stop between two cities. I would definitely revisit. The exact coordinates of the midpoint are: 33 2' 0" S 151 52' 13" E The best place to meet based on recommendations from Trippy members is Newcastle (Australia). Have you not visited here? Sydney is a great base for epic road trips. Better to carry food as the cafe gets busy during weekend lunch hours. Hippies and stoners sit happily beside party animals and leggy ladies dancing on tables in Cheeky Monkeys, a local nightlife institution. Natural formation with a unique rock pool along with scenic views overlooking the beach. Noosa main beach is stunning too. Cities Between. Good quality to price was much less than my expectation but overall experience would compensate for that. It hasnt change much since our last visit in 2018. Heads up for the holiday surcharge. 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