What are the 'must visit' places beween Sydney and Gold Coast?

Question

Planning a trip in December for 2 weeks.

Any great vineyards to visit and any fun things to do?

Is the Pacific Highway the best route to take? What alternate route should I take on the way back to Sydney?

Answer 1

There are three routes from Sydney to Brisbane.

The Pacific Highway follows the coast. It is a good road and most of it is divided. There are many beaches along the way just off the highway to the right. The road also goes through a number of national parks and crosses many rivers. All the coastal towns have their attractions.

The Hunter valley is a major wine growing area. If you are going up the Pacific Highway, turn off to Cessnock and the wineries of the lower Hunter. If you are going up the New England Highway, the wineries of the upper Hunter become easy to get to. The New England highway runs up the Hunter Valley to cross the range at Murrurundi. It then goes north through Tamworth, Armidale and Tenterfield to cross into Queensland near Stanthorpe and then into Brisbane through Ipswich. It is a longer road than the Pacific Highway.

The shortest and prettiest route is to follow the Pacific Highway north through Raymond Terrace and then turn left onto Bucketts Way and travel through Gloucester and Walcha to Uralla south ofArmidale. Follow the New England Highway to Tenterfield and then turn right and come over the ranges to Tabulam on the Clarence River. Turn left at Tabulam and drive through Bonalbo, Woodenbong, Rathdowney and Beaudesert to Brisbane. This takes you through the spectacular Yabbra State Forest and round Mt Lindsay into Queensland. If you like scenery, this is the road for you and it has far fewer trucks than either of the main roads.

Answer 2

The Hunter Valley vineyards (Pokolbin) are nice - thats about an hour and a half north of Sydney on the New England hwy.

ooo and go visit the Big Banana in Coffs Harbour! Its exactly what it says it is!

From memory, I think you can either take the Pacific Hwy or the New England hwy - the latter is slightly longer and goes inland more than the Pacific Hwy.

Answer 3

I'm sure you'll want to drive straight to the Gold Coast as fast as you can so take the pacific highway.
if you don't surf don't stop at nambucca heads, coffs harbour, yamba, evans head, ballina, byron bay, brunswick heads.
At the G.C. do the usual touristy things - all the theme parks, & wineries in tamborine mtn area, etc.
Returning home - Take the roads less travelled
go inland from murwillumbah to kyogle with a small side trip to nimbin on to casino, west to tenterfield or south to grafton, south to armidale, tamworth, singleton, hunter valley - more wineries, cessnock, gosford and sydney.
you didn't say what you consider to be "fun" except for wineries
check out the racq trip planner web site.

Answer 4

Byron Bay and Nimbin. (Out of this world for fun) Yes take the Pacific Highway. It's safer? More cars? Long drive though in the heat. Have a blast.

Answer 5

December? Best time for the beaches!
Byron Bay, Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, The Entrance, Terrigal and any beaches in between. =D

Answer 6

you could ask a travel agent or at AAA if you're a member --or check out guide books and videos at the library. . .

I've been but it was too long to tell you specifics. You'll have a blast, though. It's REALLY beautiful.

Answer 7

http://www.ozasiatraveller.com/title-metas-manager/sydney-to-gold-coast