Natural formation with a unique rock pool along with scenic views overlooking the beach. One of the best natural tourist attraction place I have ever visited. There are rides, slides and of course, bananas! This quaint little suburb exudes old-school charm in the beachside and is one of the quiet beaches in Gold Coast. 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. A beautiful clean white sand beach away from the madness of the main Gold Coast strip, come here to relax and get away from it all. Minyon Platform Track, Whian Whian NSW 2480, Australia. The 4D theatre was amazing. 3 km or 2 minutes. 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. We picked approx 2 kgs of strawberries (1 small bucket) and bought many strawberry jams to give away (each is $8). Can get very slippery on the way to the water if been recently raining. Amazing place to enjoy. Highly recommend. A well planned and laid out gallery with a wonderful vista over the Tweed and surrounding countryside. Of course many of these things that she couldn't bare to part will be remembered forever as they became part of arrangements in her still life paintings. There is nothing in the way of camping in Noosa itself but there are a few caravan parks nearby. Sea Acres Rainforest Centre is the ideal place to begin your fascinating journey through Sea Acres National Park, near Port Macquarie. For an easy to navigate list of all the posts available check out the index, that way you can find the posts relevant to you without having to dig around for ages. The state forest is home to a number of walking tracks and lookouts, so it is easy to spend a day here exploring. , Wifi Absolutely fabulous walk, cannot more heartedly recommend! Coffs Harbour, NSW. Camden Head rock pools. You know what, after all these years of driving up and down the coast Ive never been there! 65 Orlando St, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450, Australia. About : The Dolphin Marine Conservation Park is situated at the Orlando region of Coffs Harbour City and is home to the native marine animals. 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. Sealy Lookout is 310m above Coffs Harbour and the view is spectacular, giving you great perspective of the area, including the Solitary Islands Marine Park; on a clear day you can see 100km to the south. Parking Great surf club. If youre looking for the travelling vibe, Im pretty sure it was born here. Remains of a 19th-century prison featuring a museum & memorial located on a scenic peninsula. Mullum is awesome, Im biased as I went to school there. Its a popular holiday destination, known for its beaches, surfing and scuba diving sites. The Port Macquarie Koala Hospital is both a functional wildlife rehab centre and a tourist attraction. 12 minutes off the main route, 86% of way to the Gold Coast. Very well maintained with facilities and wonderful crowds. Show only these on map. North Coast Holiday Parks, Seal Rocks Treachery Camp Seal Rocks Yagon Campground, Seal Rocks Forster - This is a pretty big town with plenty of accomodation options. 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. A must for any visitor. The views are surrounding rainforest enough to lift ones spirits and set one up for an awesome day or night. This place was awesome, very educational and knowledgeable. However, if you would like to guarantee to see a dolphin year-round while you are in Coffs Habour then you need to head to Dolphin Marine Conservation Park. The alligators here amazing and the number of them that are maintained well in a water body with in park is amazing to watch. Restaurant was too busy so we did not end up eating there (due to covid we are avoiding crowded indoor place). The car park is not large, but adequate as most people only stay long enough to take a selfie. Make sure don't book toboggan, if weather will be rainy otherwise it was fun. Great little hike. Service is friendly and theres lots of strawberries to pick your own from. Mistake, many people did: wearing white shoes, this is after all a farm, so prepare to get mud on your shoes. Kirra Point is part of the World Surfing Reserve and produces some sizable surf breaks. Must say I love it but then again I live here. Billabong Zoo is known for its koala breeding centre. Basalt bridge & cavern formed by a cascade, with a loop walk around a forest home to frogs & koalas. There is a lookout with breathtaking views but I personally found quite scary. Located in the Mid North Coast of Coffs Harbour, the Dolphin Marine Conservation Park houses and cares for marine mammals that were injured or temporarily unfit to be released to their natural habitat. Wind your way through banana plantations on the 10-minute drive from Coffs Harbour to Sealy Lookout in the Orara East State Forest. Awesome pub with live music and yummy food. Cities between Sydney, New South Wales and Forster, New South Wales. Go for the super red ones. Not close to anything really so take what you need in with you. Only cost $10 to stay. There are a couple of drop toilets. Within a flora reserve in the Orara East State Forest, you can find this overhanging pier with amazing views over the whole Coffs Harbour area. Awesome scenic views and loads of wind in the face!! The break is accessed quickly by (carefully) paddling out from the rocks or by paddling through the breakers of the beach. Visited just after heavy rains/during some light rains, so water flow was spectacular! While you're travelling along the East Coast, it's safe to say you're going to see your fair amount of beautiful beaches. You can see many bays and coves from the summit. Beautiful wide, white sandy beach in upmarket precinct. A small coastal town with beautiful beaches and a reputation for having great surf. The beach here is wide and expansive. I hope you find a favourite spot of your own along the way. Wander through lush tropical rainforest to the scenic bridge/waterfall/cave and also admire the glowworms which inhabit the cave. Enjoy meal at the three ducks cafe or get takeaway & enjoy it under the trees. Known for its iconic Big Banana, Coffs Harbour is one of only a couple of towns not bypassed in the upgrade of the Pacific Highway, with the multilane road taking you straight through the . Offering incredible dolphin swimming experiences and the opportunity to swim with dolphins for all aged six and older. There is a shop and restaurant selling various products. I would like to add there is no camping and the gates are locked at 5 pm. Plan along with your friends with live syncing and collaborative editing. 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. Cape Byron Lighthouse Cafe .. is a good recovery spot .. after exploring the Cape Byron Lighthouse & the beautiful Cape Byron State Conservation Area. Picturesque 30-m. waterfall with a viewing platform, parking & picnic tables in a wooded setting. Popped in for a quick snack and beverage when viewing the lighthouse. CITIES BETWEEN. Tacking Point, the landform, was named by famed navigator and cartographer Matthew Flinders on his 1802-03 circumnavigation of Australia. Definitely worth a visit when youre in this area. Here in the Orara East State Forest the Sky Pier is set atop an escarpment, 310 metres above the coast and projecting more than 20 metres over the edge of the lookout. Plus, dont forget the photo opportunities at the big banana itself! If you think the drive up the mountain to Sealy Lookout, with its windy road and sleepy banana plantations, was spectacular, you havent seen anything yet. The beach is quiet with cafes and a pub close by. Lord St, Port Macquarie NSW 2444, Australia. Being a coastal town, Coffs Harbour is famous for its sea life. It was opened in 1970 and has since then been a favorite among locals and tourists alike. 46 Marine Parade, The Entrance NSW 2261, Australia. Short drive from Hornsby shire, this beautiful beach is full of Cafes and restaurants. We were very lucky to have found this little gem during our visit to Port Macquarie. Darby Street, home to around 25 cafes and restaurants, is the best place to stop for lunch. Just under three hours north of Sydney, Newcastle combines a city landscape with the guise of a beach-side town. Palm Beach is located 41 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Northern Beaches Council. Click here to read more. This is an oasis. Be sure not to miss out on riding their world-class and thrilling slides that can stand as tall as four stories!. Kids loved the park and had a great time. Amazing waterfall! You can also explore small towns you might normally pass on a trip so you don't miss out on an interesting . The top cities between Sydney and Gold Coast are Cessnock, Port Macquarie, Byron Bay, Coffs Harbour, Newcastle, Pokolbin, and Nelson Bay. Note that this one has a hint of Orange oil so if youre not fan it might not be a great purchase. I would highly recommend going to this attraction. The river is gorgeous at high tide and perfect for a swim. Originally built in order to draw roadside traffic to a local banana stall, the Big Banana complex has since expanded significantly to include a surrounding plantation, shop, cafe, and even a hybrid amusement/water park in the modern day. As per usual, Ill be adding to this list as I go, Im always falling in love with somewhere new. This Springbrook natural bridge has amazing views of mountains, woods, waterfall and a glow worm cave! Better to carry food as the cafe gets busy during weekend lunch hours. Very easy grade but not quite wheel chair throughout (certainly not at Crystal Falls). A really beautiful bit of coast with amazing beaches. Thank you. After our 7 Day South Coast Road Trip where we drove all the way to Mount Kosciuszko (Australias Tallest Peak) we wanted to see more. If youre going on a road trip from Sydney to the Gold Coast, we did the research for you and compiled some great stops along the way with Cessnock, Port Macquarie, Byron Bay, Coffs Harbour, Newcastle, Pokolbin, and Nelson Bay and top places to visit like Pittwater Kayak Tours and Australian Reptile Park, or the ever-popular Palm Beach. 35 minutes off the main route, 25% of way to the Gold Coast. We've compiled data from NASA for each month of the year: see the links below for more information. The Big Banana has many school holiday activities, including rides, water slides, mini golf, exciting shops and small craft businesses onsite. See koalas in their rehabilitation area and learn about threats to their survival. Just order via The Chickn Shack app - its so easy and convenient! It is a beautiful fall but you should adjust the expectations if going just for the lookout. I cant imagine anyone not loving this app! Saw a powerful owl! Sea Acres takes the tried and tested formula of seaside bushwalks and marries it with eco-displays, boardwalks, and on-site cultural centres and cafs. Make sure to encourage your kids to touch Dolphins and feed the fishes. with all-things-aquatic, offering the chance to get up close with a variety of some of natures cutest marine dwellers. The introductory video is 10 minutes and the grounds are a reasonable size. 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. The closest camping would be at Coolum which is about 5km south. There are a number of stunning beaches and some really nice restaurants. It is the administrative centre of the City of Cessnock LGA and was named after an 1826 grant of land called Cessnock Estate, which was owned by John Campbell. Worth the visit. Highly recommended. 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. We learned scuba diving in Terrigal Haven. Heads up for the holiday surcharge. The staff member was a lady with a bun, she was so lovely. With free admission and plenty of Australias cuddliest mammals on display, this is a great place to visit if youre taking a family holiday. Pricing for experiences is a bit crazy but fun for the rich Im sure. Its just a short drive from Coffs Harbour but the trip will be well worth the effort and time spent. Be careful on walking tracks as we had a lot of run in with leeches but didnt discover them until after the walk. A coastal town also known for its good surf. See time and distance between places, and optimize your route to get the most of your day. Kids can see dolphins, penguins, turtles and seals on display or watch one of the many daily shows. White sand beaches on the gold coast. We began our exploration of Coffs Harbour things to do at the point where I think all adventures should start in this area at the Sealy Lookout and Forest Sky Pier. You know I couldnt write a guide for Coffs Harbour without mentioning the iconic Big Banana. There are no doubt heaps of gorgeous spots along the way that I still havent checked out, Ill have to get cracking Id love any hot tips you have of where I should head when I make it to Port Stephens , Your email address will not be published. Was a bit tricky at the bottom to find the path through the rocks to get to the base, and due to the rain the rocks were incredibly slippery so didnt go super close but still had a wonderful experience! The local Surf lifesaving Club patrol this beach. There are small playground for kids, picnic area and toilets near the observation deck. We are hoping the place would provide more outdoor seating in the future. The southern trailhead for the Coastal Walk is a stirring promontory capped by a whitewashed lighthouse. The Coffs Coast is the only region in New South Wales where the mountains of the Great Dividing Range meet the Pacific Ocean. A place that kids would love and a must visit spot indeed. Great spot for overnight parking/camping on car, waking up to see the sunrise straightaway. I cant recommend it enough! Snapper Rocks Rd, Coolangatta QLD 4225, Australia. Good quality to price was much less than my expectation but overall experience would compensate for that. Tacking Point Lighthouse was built in 1879 and offers nice views down over Lighthouse Beach which stretches 7km. Well done to everyone involved in ensuring the koalas are well looked after. Jump on WikiCamps to get a detailed list of all of the options available in regards to places to camp or park the van in each town. Please share it, you will make my day . Mosman. The area is the centre of the Lower Hunter Valley wine region. It is located on a bay of the same name on the southern shore of Port Stephens about 60 kilometres by road north-east of Newcastle, its nearest rail link. Built in 1879, this white cement lighthouse with a keeper's cottage sits on a rocky headland. Pokolbin is a rural locality in the Hunter Region of New South Wales Australia. Visiting the iconic Big Banana is a must for visitors of all ages to the Coffs Coast. There are variety of birds and reptiles here. Find out more about Orana East State Forest and the Sky Pier here. Nerang Murwillumbah Road and Bakers Road, Springbrook, One of the shorter trails on this list yet offering one of the areas star attractions, the Natural Bridge. Renowned for both its gorgeous golden sands and lovely chilled out vibe, it has lots of excellent outdoor activities for visitors to enjoy with plenty of beachfront bars and restaurants to be found in the area. I love d the chicken croissant. Better early in the morning or by sunset. Whichever the case may be. What are the best places to stop from Sydney, New South Wales to Forster, New South Wales? Scenic stop overlooking Minyon Falls & the rainforest, also offering walking paths & picnic areas. 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). 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 . The air-conditioned accommodation is 1.6 km from Lighthouse Beach, and guests benefit from private parking available on site and free WiFi. The view from the Forest Sky Pier. Animal lovers will jump at the opportunity to swim with or kiss the dolphins, feed a seal and watch live shows. Re: Best place to stop on drive between Sydney & Gold Coast. Really cool. 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