Discover the best locations to explore in New South Wales Australia with these 5 Incredible NSW Road Trips.
Road trips are arguably one of the best ways to see Australia. It is such a massive country with so much natural beauty, unique wildlife, and heartwarming culture to experience. A road trip allows you to take your time and see every inch of the scenic routes that you pass.
NSW is one of the most visited states in the country, and it has lots of national parks and scenic drives that you can explore by car or van. The coastline is studded with heavenly beaches and coastal walks, and further inland you’ll find a wide range of different landscapes.
From powerful waterfalls and limestone caves to lush rainforests and rugged mountains, there is so much nature to explore in the state.
Whether you’re booking accommodations, going camping in the wilderness, or doing van life, NSW is an amazing state for road trips.
Roads around the state are generally well-paved and easy to navigate. There is a decent signal almost everywhere so you can use navigation apps. Also, there are plenty of official campgrounds, holiday cabins, Airbnb’s, and other forms of accommodation to suit any traveler.
Just be sure to book your campgrounds and accommodations in advance, especially in Summer which is the peak tourist season.
Here are 5 amazing NSW Road Trips to add to your Australia bucket list.
I’ll give brief overviews of the highlights of each route. Keep in mind, everyone is different and you can modify the road trip however you like.
Sydney to Byron Bay
Driving up the iconic northern coast of NSW is one of the best road trips in the country. You’ll pass idyllic beaches, lazy surf towns, rocky headlands, historic lighthouses, and more.
Start in Sydney, the capital city of NSW. Heading north into the Central Coast, you can stop at any of the beaches and small towns along the coast.
Bouddi National Park is a great place for a hike, as the swirling red sandstone rocks look other-worldly against the backdrop of the Pacific.
Newcastle is a fun city to visit, and you can indulge in the nightlife or hit up the weekend farmers’ markets. Just north of Newcastle is Port Stephens, another beautiful spot on the NSW Coast. Be sure to hike Tomaree Mountain at sunrise for a breathtaking view over the unique landscape dotted with islands and mountains.
Other cool things to do along the coast include walking to the Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse in Seal Rocks, watching the sunrise over Wallis Lake in Booti Booti National Park, and surfing the right-hand point breaks in Crescent Head.
As you get further north, stop and get a photo with the famous Big Banana in Coffs Harbor and be sure to soak in all the excitement of the iconic backpacker town, Byron Bay.
This NSW road trip is ideal for travelers who are living in a van or camping, as there are lots of picnic spots, public BBQs, and good beach showers lining the coast.
You can easily complete this road trip in a couple of days, though you can stretch it even longer if you want to spend lots of time in each place along the way.
Waterfall Way
This is a pretty short NSW road trip at only about 200 km long. But what it lacks in length, it makes up for in exquisite natural beauty.
Starting in Coffs Harbor and driving west to Armidale will bring you along a winding road fringed with subtropical rainforest. You can complete the entire drive in about 3 hours, maybe more if you choose to spend some time relaxing and hiking at each waterfall.
You’ll pass numerous national parks along the drive, all of which have opportunities for camping, hiking, swimming, and exploring the wilderness.
Fun things to do along the drive include kayaking on the Bellingen River, birdwatching in Dorrigo National Park, and of course, checking out the waterfalls.
Crystal Shower Falls, Tristania Falls, Dangas Falls, Ebor Falls, Chandler Falls, and Wollomombi Falls are some of the best waterfalls on the route. They all have clear walking trails and lookout platforms for viewing the falls and taking photos.
This route from Coffs Harbor to Armidale takes you through the lush forest of the Northern Tablelands, located at the edge of the Great Dividing Range. It’s an ideal road trip for nature-lovers who want to camp amongst the Eucalyptus Trees and start their day with a freshwater swim.
NSW South Coast
This is one of the most scenic and accessible road trips in NSW.
Heading from Sydney brings you along the South Coast, which is known for its golden beaches with world-class surfing spots and cozy historic towns with amazing cafes.
All you have to do is follow the Princes Highway. This road trails along the entire South Coast of NSW, so you can just stay on this road and take detours to the attractions. There are lots of cozy local Airbnbs on the South Coast, as well as campgrounds and national parks ideal for travelers with campervans in Australia.
Start on the Grand Pacific Drive, which runs from Wollongong down to Kiama. You can hike to Sublime Point Lookout in Thirroul for a view over the Illawarra Region, or go surfing or swimming in Killalea State Park.
Stop in Kiama to see the famous Kiama Blow Holes, or stop in the historic town of Berry and grab a homemade cinnamon donut from the Berry Donut Van.
Heading further south, you can stop in Jervis Bay to see the picturesque Hyams Beach, known for having some of the whitest sand in the world. Nearby is the tiny tourist town of Bendalong, where you can visit virtually empty beaches and see kangaroos hopping through the local caravan parks and campgrounds.
Grab a coffee in the adorable town of Milton, and stop at the Bodalla Dairy Shed to pick up some cheese and ice cream infused with natural local ingredients. Continuing south, you’ll soon reach Bermagui, a family-friendly town with lots of nice spots for swimming and sightseeing. Be sure to go for a dip in the Blue Pool and complete the short bushwalk to Horse Head Rock.
After driving through more rolling green hills, farmland, and national parks, soon enough you’ll be in Merimbula where you can eat lots of fresh seafood and enjoy the surrounding national parks and beaches.
Kosciuszko Alpine Way
Those looking to explore the Snowy Mountains of southern NSW should consider this epic road trip. The Kosciuszko Alpine Way weaves through Kosciuszko National Park and the surrounding towns and lakes, making it perfect for adventurous travelers who love sports and cooler temperatures.
Start in the quiet heritage town of Cooma, which is known as the gateway to the Snowy Mountains. Then head to Jindabyne, a mecca for trout fishing and adventure sports like rock climbing and mountain biking.
Continuing along Alpine Way, you’ll enter the majestic mountains of Kosciuszko National Park. Within the park, you can choose to hike Mount Kosciuszko, Australia’s highest peak, or head to the ski villages of Perisher or Thredbo to ski or snowboard.
If you’re visiting in the summer, Kosciuszko National Park also has incredible cycling trails and rock climbing spots, as well as an abundance of wildflowers. Thredbo Valley Track is a top mountain biking option, and riding the chairlifts up the mountain in summer is an amazing way to get a panoramic view of the landscape, even without all the snow.
After getting your fill of adrenaline from either snowboarding, skiing, biking, or hiking, continue along the winding, scenic route of Alpine Way. You’ll see lots of dense forests, jagged mountain peaks, and wilderness trails, and you’ll get to breathe lots of crisp, cold fresh air into your lungs.
Towards the latter end of Alpine Way, you’ll reach Khancoban, a lakeside town near the Victorian Border that is perfect for water sports. Rent a kayak or canoe and glide along the lake, or go fishing.
For another exciting activity, head north from Khancoban to Yarrangobilly Caves. This collection of six limestone caves is mysterious and magical, and there are nearby thermal pools where you can relax your muscles after a few days of adventure sports.
The Kosciuszko Alpine Way is one of the most thrilling and gorgeous NSW road trips, and there are lots of nice campgrounds along the way.
Greater Blue Mountains/Southern Highlands Loop
The Blue Mountains are undoubtedly one of the most gorgeous areas in NSW. Located just west of Sydney, they are super easy to access from the city. Even if you’re a traveler in Australia without a van or a car, you can take the train directly from the city to Katoomba, the main town in the Blue Mountains.
But for those looking for epic NSW road trips, a loop through the Blue Mountains area is a treat. You’ll find vast valleys bordered by cliffs and forests, as well as rainforest hiking trails, waterfalls, and hidden caves.
First, head to Katoomba and walk the Prince Henry Cliff Walk. This easy trail will bring you past all the most iconic sights in the area, including the Three Sisters, Katoomba Falls, and Leura Cascades. After Katoomba, continue west to Blackheath, another charming town in the Mountains. There are lots of free camping spots, day hikes, and lookout points here as well.
Heading south from Blackheath, you’ll drive through the sprawling greenery of the Megalong Valley on your way towards the country town of Oberon. Turn off to explore Jenolan Caves which are full of limestone stalactites and stalagmites. Continuing south you can explore Wombeyan Caves, another incredible natural formation of caves and caverns where you can camp as well.
From Wombeyan Caves, head east towards Bowral and enjoy the Southern Highlands area. Here you’ll find massive waterfalls like Carrington Falls and Belmore Falls, as well as quaint rural towns with nearby wineries, antique shops, and charming Airbnbs. From there it’s only an hour back to Sydney.
AUTHOR BIO
Alesha and Jarryd are travel writers, photographers and creators from Australia who have been travelling the world together non-stop since 2008. Their passion for adventure travel, sustainable tourism and van life has seen them visit some of the most remote destinations on the planet, seeking out incredible landscapes and unique cultures. You can follow their adventures on NOMADasaurus and Van Life Theory.
