Sydney to Port Macquarie drive: 5-day road trip guide

Escape the city and cruise the NSW Pacific Coast, hitting all the highlights on this Sydney to Port Macquarie road trip!

Use this 5-day guide when planning your Sydney to Port Macquarie road trip vie the Lake Macquarie and Newcastle area. It can be modified to suit the exact number of days you have available and also includes all the best attractions and camping spots. Plus, we’ve thrown in a heap of extra information like drive time, distance, the best season to travel and much more!

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Sydney to Port Macquarie road trip: 7 places you can’t miss

Total Distance: 522 km | Recommended duration: 2 - 5 days | Best Time to Visit: Between November and April | Route on Google Maps

1. Sydney

Kick off your Port Macquarie road trip by picking up your campervan hire in Sydney. If you’re a tourist to the city, spend some time checking out all the major sights and attractions.

If you have the time, spend a day or two in the Blue Mountains (one of the best NSW road trips). Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage area, there are so many amazing sights in the Mountains including the Three Sisters, Katoomba Falls and Jenolan Caves.

Want to stay within the city limits? Take the kids on a ferry ride to the iconic Taronga Zoo , where you can watch the giraffes and elephants against the city backdrop. Alternatively, head to the Eastern Beaches and spend an afternoon meandering along the Bondi to Coogee Beach Walk.

Stay at the Lane Cove Holiday and Caravan Park if you want a campsite that is central but scenic. It has a heap of family-friendly facilities and is considered one of the best caravan parks near Sydney.

2. Central Coast

The first stop on any Sydney to Port Macquarie road trip should be the Central Coast.

Terrigal is a popular tourist spot, famous for its beach and cafe scene, including the famous Terrigal Ice Creamery (home of the 15 scoop sink)!

If you’re looking to keep the kids entertained, head along to the Australian Reptile Park. Host to over 2,000 animals, you could spend a whole day here cuddling koalas, kangaroos, quokkas and dingoes.

And don’t miss Norah Head Lighthouse built in 1903. Climb up all 96 stairs and enjoy panoramic views of the coastline.

Stay nearby at the Patonga Camping and Caravan Ground, which has beachfront access to the tranquil Brisk Bay and provides a wide range of facilities across its tranquil grounds.

3. Lake Macquarie

Continue your road trip north toLake Macquarie, the largest coastal saltwater lake in Australia.

This area is home to several amazing beaches. Catherine Hill Bay has been named one of the 100 best beaches in Australia numerous times. It sits next to an old mining and heritage-listed village and features a historic jetty.

Caves Beach is a family favourite, famous for its network of sea caves and tidal pools that can be explored at low tide. Not far away is Redhead Beach , a popular surfing spot known for its stunning cliffs, rocky outcrops and shark tower.

Stay at the Ingenia Holiday Park Lake Macquarie, where you can camp mere footsteps away from the lapping waters. Grab a waterfront site and make use of the facilities, including a swimming pool.

4. Newcastle

Newcastle is a must-visit on any Sydney to Port Macquarie road trip. With so many parks, beaches and eateries, it’s a great place to stop overnight.

Start with a coastal stroll along the Anzac Memorial Walk , which features a 160m stretch of clifftop bridge and provides awesome views over Newcastle City and the Hunter Valley.

Next, spend an afternoon relaxing amongst the 182 hectares of natural bushland at Blackbutt Reserve. With over 10 kilometres of walking trails and free entry to the wildlife exhibit, this is also a good place to take the kids.

End your day with a swim at the Bogey Hole, a convict-built pool carved out of a coastal rock platform in 1819. This is a photographer's hotspot and one of the earliest known ocean swimming pools in Australia.

Stay at the NRMA Stockton Beach Holiday Park, a highly-rated beachfront campground located only 900m away from the Newcastle Ferry.

5. Nelson Bay

Spend a night camping in Nelson Bay , using the town as your base whilst exploring the Port Stephens region.

Take on the nearby Tomaree Head Summit Walk, a short but challenging hike with picturesque views over the coast. On your way up, stop and see the historic World War II gun emplacements.

Book yourself on a quad bike tour of the Worimi Conservation Sand Dunes - the largest moving coastal dunes in the Southern Hemisphere. Ride from bush to beach across the dunes, taking in awesome ocean views as you go.

Stay at the Halifax Holiday Park with access to two separate beaches. Only a 15-minute walk from the Nelson Bay town centre, it has all the facilities you need for your camping trip.

6. Forster

The next stop on your Sydney to Port Macquarie road trip is the amazing coastal town of Forster.

Once again, you are spoilt for choice when it comes to the beaches. Head to One Mile Beach for white sand and giant dunes (great for sand boarding). Alternatively, try Burgess Beach for some awesome scenery and rock pools.

Forster is a popular place to go whale watching between June and November. Admire these giant creatures (up to 16m and 40,000kg in size) as they cruise down the Humpback Highway.

If you’re up for a bit of a hike, head over to Booti Booti National Park where you’ll find rainforest-covered coastal hills and beaches. There’s even a fabulous lookout at Cape Hawke with some stunning views for you to soak up.

Stay at the Lakeside Forster Holiday Park, considered one of the best holiday parks in NSW. Camp along the tranquil shores of Wallis Lake and relax in the resort-style pool.

7. Port Macquarie

The final stop on your Sydney to Port Macquarie road trip is, you guessed it, Port Macquarie. This coastal city is the perfect family destination, and also home to the largest population of koalas on the east coast of Australia!

Get up close and personal with some of the wildlife at the Koala Hospital. You can watch them being fed and even adopt one of them to help fund programs across Australia. Alternatively, try the Billabong Zoo where you can pat a Koala and meet a saltwater crocodile.

Next, head to Middle Brother National Park, where you can see some of the biggest Blackbutt trees in New South Wales. Nearby is the Sea Acres National Park , which offers outstanding walking trails through the coastal rainforest.

After your adventure, kick back and relax at the Bago Vineyards and Maze. Enjoy a glass of wine whilst the kids run around the Lilly Pilly hedge maze.

Stay at the NRMA Port Macquarie Breakwall Holiday Park, centrally located between the river, beach and town centre. Camp by the sea and make the most of their facilities including a resort-style pool.

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