10 best road trips from Sydney: ultimate guide 2024

Plan the adventure of a lifetime using our guide to the 10 best road trips from Sydney.

Our travel experts have compiled a range of ideas, from quick weekend getaways to week-long coastal extravaganzas. Whether you’re after sun and sand or snow and Shiraz, you’ll find it all on this list. Plus, we’ve thrown in a heap of extra information like drive times, distances, the best season to travel and much more!

10 best road trips from Sydney

1. The best road trip from Sydney to the Blue Mountains

Total distance: 280 km | Recommended days: 1 to 3 days | Best time to do the route: Summer | Route Map

The Blue Mountains is a UNESCO World Heritage site right on the doorstep of Sydney. There are a few scenic road trips through the Mountains but we suggest taking the loop route. Start by following the winding Bells Line Road through the apple-growing town of Bilpin before stretching your legs at The Blue Mountains Botanic Garden. Pass over the other side of the mountains and stay in the historic town of Lithgow, gateway to the famous Jenolan Caves. Return via tourist towns like Katoomba and Leura whilst ticking off some of the biggest attractions in the Blue Mountains, including viewing the Three Sisters from Echo Point Lookout and riding the world’s steepest passenger railway at Scenic World.

2. The best road trip from Sydney to Wollongong

Total distance: 182 km | Recommended days: 1 to 3 days | Best time to do the route: Summer | Route Map

The road trip from Sydney to Wollongong is only short but it packs a punch. Less than an hour after leaving Sydney, you’ll pass the entrance to the Royal National Park - one of the oldest National Parks in the world and home to iconic sights like Wedding Cake Rock (a 7km / 2-hour return walk) and Figure 8 Rock Pools (12km / 8-hour return). Camp in the National Park or continue south along the Grand Pacific Drive, an amazing 140km stretch of coastal highway that includes the famous 665m Sea Cliff Bridge. Stay overnight at a beachfront camping spot like Windang Beach Tourist Park before returning to Sydney the next morning.

3. The best road trip from Sydney to the Hawkesbury

Total distance: 185 km | Recommended days: 1 to 3 days | Best time to do the route: Summer | Route Map

On the northern outskirts of Sydney, the Hawkesbury region is the perfect road trip for a waterside weekend. Grab lunch at the renowned Glenorie Bakery before slowly making your way down to Wisemans Ferry on the edge of the Hawkesbury River. This charming town has the oldest ferry crossing still in operation in NSW and a World-Heritage walkway along the convict-built Old Great Northern Road. Follow the river’s edge past more historic sites like Ebenezer Church (Australia’s oldest surviving church) to Windsor. Only the third town ever built in Australia, Windsor is home to Australia’s oldest pub and a wealth of history that you can learn about at the Hawkesbury Regional Museum.

4. The best road trip from Sydney to Hunter Valley

Total distance: 427 km | Recommended days: 1 to 3 days | Best time to do the route: Winter | Route Map

Another easy weekend road trip from Sydney, the Hunter Valley is Australia’s oldest wine-growing region. Sample the famous Semillon or Shiraz from over 150 wineries and cellar doors in the area before tasting some of the local artisan cheeses and chocolates. Put aside one morning for a sunrise hot air balloon ride and then chuck on your chef's hat to take an evening cooking class in Asian or European cuisine. If you’re looking for somewhere to stay, try the Wine Country Tourist Park Hunter Valley - a small family-owned park close to the vineyards which offer cycle hire.

5. The best road trip from Sydney to Kangaroo Valley

Total distance: 322 km | Recommended days: 2 to 3 days | Best time to do the route: Winter | Route Map

Kangaroo Valley is a great road trip from Sydney for those who enjoy the great outdoors and country charm. Start by following the coastline south to Kiama, a historic seaside town surrounded by lush green dairy farms. Take in the sights like the famous Blowhole Point and Kiama Lighthouse before continuing to the village of Berry, famous for its quaint main street and boutique shops and restaurants. As you make your way inland through the magical forests around Kangaroo Valley, you’ll pass over Australia’s last surviving wooden suspension bridge: Hampden Bridge. Return to Sydney via more charming country towns like Bowral, a rural retreat for Australia’s rich and famous and home to the Bradman Museum and International Cricket Hall of Fame.

6. The best road trip from Sydney to Dubbo

Total distance: 802 km | Recommended days: 3 to 5 days | Best time to do the route: Winter | Route Map

A Sydney to Dubbo road trip is perfect for couples and families wanting a taste of the NSW outback. Visit the best attractions in the Blue Mountains before continuing to country towns like Mudgee, famous for producing some of the best food and wine in Australia. Eventually, you’ll reach Dubbo, home to several award-winning tourist attractions like the heritage-listed Old Dubbo Gaol and the highly interactive [Royal Flying Doctor Service Visitor Experience](https://dubbo.experience.flyingdoctor.org.au/# gref). Devote a whole day to exploring Dubbo Zoo, one of Australia’s largest zoos, which you can drive around in your own car. When returning to Sydney, detour via Bathurst and take your vehicle for a lap around Australia’s most famous race track, the Mount Panorama Racing Circuit.

7. The best road trip from Sydney to Kosciuszko (via Canberra)

Total distance: 1,190 km | Recommended days: 4 to 6 days | Best time to do the route: Winter | Route Map

If you want to see Australia’s snow country in all its winter glory, take a road trip from Sydney to Kosciuszko National Park. On the way, stop for a night at Canberra and explore all that Australia’s Capital has to offer, including the impressive Australian War Memorial, the halls of Parliament House and the wacky exhibits at Questacon National Science and Tech Centre. Continue southward and stopover in country towns like Cooma and Jindabyne before ascending into the breathtaking high country that inspired famous ballads like The Man from Snowy River. Visit Kosciuszko National Park in winter and you can try your hand at skiing or snowboarding. Alternatively, visit in summer and you can take on mountain biking, horse riding or some fishing. When returning to Sydney, consider taking the scenic route along the NSW South Coast (see below).

8. The best road trip from Sydney to the NSW South Coast

Total distance: 1,086 km | Recommended days: 4 to 6 days | Best time to do the route: Summer | Route Map

A road trip from Sydney to the NSW South Coast is perfect for lovers of all things sand and sea. Take things slowly and spend a few days relaxing on the sugar-white sands of Hyams Beach in Jervis Bay. When you’re ready, continue to port towns like Ulladulla and Batemans Bay, where you can get some of the best seafood in the country. Be sure to stop at the iconic Mogo Wildlife Park (Australia’s largest collection of exotic animals) before concluding your road trip in the historic town of Eden, famous for its Killer Whale Museum. In the museum, you’ll see the full skeleton of ‘Tom the Killer Whale’, a legendary orca that used to lead a pack of killer whales in the waters off of Eden.

9. The best road trip from Sydney to Byron Bay

Total distance: 1,738 km | Recommended days: 5 to 8 days | Best time to do the route: Summer | Route Map

Want to soak up some sun and take a longer road trip from Sydney? Follow the Pacific Coast northwards and stop in at sleepy coastal towns like Port Stephens - the dolphin-watching capital of Australia and home to the largest moving coastal sand dunes in the Southern Hemisphere. Spend the next night in Myall Lake National Park and be sure to grab some photos from the historic Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse. Continue northward and visit more attractions like Sea Acres National Park in Port Macquarie and the Big Banana Fun Park in Coffs Harbour. Finally, you’ll reach the hipster beach city of Byron Bay - the perfect place to spend a few more days soaking in the sun on the Cape Byron walking track or Main Beach.

10. The best road trip from Sydney to Melbourne

Total distance: 2,000 km | Recommended days: 5 to 7 days | Best time to do the route: Summer | Route Map

A road trip from Sydney to Melbourne is a great way to experience country life in regional NSW and Victoria. On your way down, take the inland route and stop at some of Australia’s most legendary attractions, including the Big Merino in Goulburn and the iconic Dog on the Tuckerbox in Gundagai. After crossing the border, visit the Ned Kelly Memorial Museum in Glenrowan, the site where the world-renowned bushranger made his last stand. Once you arrive in the buzzing metropolitan of Melbourne, head to Lygon or Brunswick Street and take your pick from the trendy cafes, bars and restaurants on offer. Don’t miss the Eureka Skydeck or the Royal Botanical Gardens before heading back to Sydney via the coast.

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Now that you’ve got a few ideas for a road trip from Sydney, it’s time to start organising the finer details that’ll guarantee a great vacation!

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