Sydney to Byron Bay Road Trip Itinerary

Welcome to Sydney, the oldest and grandest of Australia's big cities. Dynamic, cosmopolitan and surrounded by stunning natural attractions, Sydney is the ultimate big city getaway. Set on one of the most beautiful harbours in the world and with famous architectural icons such as the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge to explore, Sydney offers plenty of excitement at any time of the year.

Settle in with a stroll along Circular Quay. With the Harbour Bridge at one end and the Opera House at the other, is there any more iconic place to begin your Australian dream vacation?

Accommodation: Sydney - 2 Nights

Sydney is a wonderland of beautiful beaches, historical sites, fantastic restaurants and much more, Sydney is brimming with memorable experiences from the majestic Sydney Opera House on one of the world's great natural harbours to iconic Bondi Beach you'll find incredible things to do in Sydney all year round.

Sydney also has an abundance of outstanding natural attractions, from the harbour and golden beaches to national parks and lush botanic gardens. There are championship golf courses, harbour cruises, scenic coastal walks, surfing and cycling tours.

Dining Highlights Include: Quay, Marque, Momofuku Seiobo, Rockpool and Sepia.

To help you tick everything off your Sydney bucket list today, we've included a hop-on-hop-off Ferry Pass.

See Sydney by Ferry

Sydney's ferries are an easy way to travel around, and any ferry trip is worth it for the views alone. Hop-On-Hop-Off rocket ferries depart Sydney's main tourist precincts for a 60 to 90-minute cruise around the harbour with 11 famous stopovers along the way. These include the beach town of Manly, pretty Watsons Bay, Luna Park, Taronga Zoo and bustling Darling Harbour.

Collect your car this morning and cross the Sydney Harbour Bridge and drive to the Hunter Valley.

Hunter Valley

Australia’s oldest wine region is home to a staggering 150 wineries, from the biggest names to tiny boutique growers. It’s only a 40-minute drive from one end of the Valley to the other so there's plenty of time to admire the region's sweeping landscapes: you're likely to encounter your first wild kangaroos here too. Many wineries have superb restaurants on-site, making great a scenic lunch stop for drinkers and non-drinkers alike.

Approximate Distance: 208 km | 130 miles   Total Driving Time: 2 hours 40 mins

Accommodation: Hunter Valley - 2 Nights

Experience the Hunter Valley total "Winery Experience". The on-site winery is by far the largest, and most advanced in the Hunter Valley. The Wine Tasting Cellars are open everyday to try the fruits of their labour... Crushing some 6.500 tonnes of grapes each year, the winery produces around 6 million litres of wine.

Join the comprehensive winery tour to experience how wine is actually made... right from the grapevine to bottle! The two-hour Hunter Valley Wine School promises an education of wine. Walk through the vineyard and learn how and why a grapevine grows. Then it's off to the crusher, and into the Winery. See the huge vats, the Potter Tanks, the filtration equipment, and the largest Rotovat in the Hunter. From there, the tour then moves through into the Cask Hall, and on into the Wine Tasting Cellars.

Journey to subtropical Coffs Harbour for more fun in the Australian sunshine.

Coffs Harbour

Fringed by forest-covered hills and leafy banana plantations, the uncrowded beaches of Coffs Harbour really are a winner.

For superb views of the city and coastline, head to the Forest Sky Pier: it juts out 21 metres (68 feet) and hovers 15 metres (49 feet) above the forest floor! It's a great way to get acquainted with Coffs Harbour.

Suggested Activity: Swimming with Whales

Extending along 75 kilometres of coastline, Solitary Islands Marine Park is the place to see a huge range of aquatic wildlife. You'll find Nemo here, and Dory too! But the main attractions are the humpback whales - you can even swim with them from June to October.

Local experts Jetty Dive will take you out for a Whale Swim, where you can don a snorkel and see the giant humpbacks passing under the water. They can also help you with dive courses and charters.

Approximate Distance: 381 km | 236 miles   Total Driving Time: 4 hour 30 mins

Accommodation: Coffs Harbour - 2 Night

Despite its inland city centre, Coffs has a string of fabulous safe beaches, bordered by the clear warm waters of the Pacific Ocean and the luxurious rainforests of the Great Dividing Range. Surrounded by National Parks and facing the Solitary Islands Marine Park - there are numerous crescent-shaped beaches for swimming, surfing and relaxing - whale and dolphin watching. Inland are vine-clad rainforests to explore. It also makes an easy base for exploring the quaint towns and beautiful drives of the hinterland.

Today's destination is the hip, free-spirited beach town of Byron Bay.

Byron Bay

Byron is one of Australia's most creative locations, with a huge population of musicians, writers, and designers living here and enjoying the relaxed beach lifestyle. Think chic boutiques, luxury wellness retreats, organic cafes and yoga on the sands.

Byron is blessed with a world-famous right-hand surf break known as The Pass, where you can watch pro surfers ride the waves or try it yourself. Perched atop Australia's most easterly point, the Cape Byron Lighthouse shines brightly over Byron Bay - in fact, it's the most powerful lighthouse in Australia. Stroll to Cape Byron to check out the expansive views - you'll probably spot a dolphin or two.

Approximate Distance: 239 km | 149 miles   Total Driving Time: 2 hours 58 mins

Accommodation: Byron Bay - 2 Nights

Imagine the thrill of kayaking up close with dolphins, whales (May to October) and turtles at Byron’s beautiful marine park, whilst learning about local history and listening to local Indigenous stories.

So grab a paddle and set out for an exciting sea kayaking adventure around Byron Bay. For about 2.5 hours a local guide will take you paddling around Australia's most easterly point where you'll be on the lookout for dolphins, turtles and even humpback whales during whale season. 

On your way back to shore you'll enjoy an exciting lesson on how to surf your kayak in on a wave so you can finish off your adventure with an extra thrill.

After an amazing holiday, return your rental vehicle to Byron Bay Airport prior to boarding your onward flight

Today we say farewell. There may be time for some last-minute excursions or shopping before you head home. We know you will enjoy your holiday and our promise to you is to make your travels through Australia as hassle-free and hospitable as possible - ensuring that today you leave with a camera full of photos, and huge smiles on your faces when recalling your holiday!