Built in 1879 on a rocky outcrop, this spot is perfect for some great photos of the coastline. places to stop between sydney and forster. Popular hiking loop with ocean views, a lighthouse, wildlife sightings & picnic spots. The gift shop also has a room full of beautiful artworks and documentarys on animals living in the rainforest, very informative. We are hoping the place would provide more outdoor seating in the future. Snapper Rocks Rd, Coolangatta QLD 4225, Australia. Nice view and nice place for swimming. You all do a great service. The schooner Coolangatta was wrecked here in 1846, which gave this beach its name. There are plenty of free parking spots. They're definitely Earth Angels every one of them! 65 Orlando St, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450, Australia. One of the most famous surf breaks, Snapper Rocks is a consistent point break that can provide up to a kilometre long ride if you can pull the right wave. Enjoy the magical and unforgettable experience of a Dolphin Encounter be touched by the magic. Secure Lifestyle Lakeside Forster Quaint, octagonal 1891 beacon with a winding staircase & overnight stays at the keeper's cottage. You could check out Pittwater Kayak Tours and Australian Reptile Park, or the always popular Palm Beach! Get inspired for your trip to Sydney with our curated itineraries that are jam-packed with popular attractions everyday! There is also a great pub right up on the headland overlooking the ocean. 3 km or 2 minutes. Good view and landscape for both scenic and portrait photography shots. Where to Stop on the Drive Between Sydney and Byron Bay Gosford, Central Coast Newcastle, Hunter Region Forster, Mid-North Coast Port Macquarie, Mid-North Coast South West Rocks, Kempsey Coffs Harbour, North Coast A short cantilevered walkway juts out 15m above the forest with views sweeping Drive to Sealy Lookout for incredible views over the city and then grab a beer and toast to the first night of your Australian road trip! This quaint little suburb exudes old-school charm in the beachside and is one of the quiet beaches in Gold Coast. Admission is free, with charges for associated attractions, such as ice skating, toboggan rides, minigolf, the waterpark, plantation No trip to Coffs Harbour is complete without visiting The Big Banana. We were very lucky to have found this little gem during our visit to Port Macquarie. Hence the status as a World Surf Reserve. Its a popular holiday destination, known for its beaches, surfing and scuba diving sites. Scenic stop overlooking Minyon Falls & the rainforest, also offering walking paths & picnic areas. Spend around 2 hours just walking around looking at all the different cells and sights. Ample parking spaces. Embark on a Sydney to Melbourne Coastal Discovery road trip and along the way stop to explore the tranquil villages and delicious oyster farms of the New South Wales South Coast, 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. Small, indoor-outdoor koala rehabilitation center with a gift shop, open to the public for tours. There was a coffee van and It was awesome in the cold autumn weather. You can see many bays and coves from the summit. Now boasting 6 fantastic attractions including a 600m Toboggan Track, state of the art Laser Tag arena, a brand new Water Park including 4 heart stopping thrill slides and kids aqua play area, a magnificently sculpted 36 hole Mini Golf course, a Theatre and Plantation tour, an Ice Skating rink, Gift shop, Caf, Candy Kitchen and Nursery. A great visit. zhweiei"Daxiang Check them out here: Yes! In fact, seasonal whale and dolphin boat tours are extremely popular. Kirra Point's small rocky headland serves to separate Kirra Beach on the North from the main Coolangatta beach to the south, and is often regarded as one of the world's premier surf breaks, with multiple surfing competitions - both professional and amateur - held here throughout the year. The Big Banana is an amusement park in Coffs Harbour built in 1964 and a popular family attraction among locals and tourists alike. The park aims to promote the conservation of our marine environment and is home to a family of five inquisitive bottlenose dolphins who were either rescued or born at the park. The area is well cared for and the small cafe and covered seating areas make it a good picnic spot. I would like to add there is no camping and the gates are locked at 5 pm. 311 km to go, or 3 hr 32 min. Stunning views south to Surfer Paradise, very well kept area considering how many people utilise it!! It is a small centre which offers an intimate, up close experience with some beautiful marine animals. Parking It is definitely one of the best places to see in Gold Coast. Great to get a different view from the canopy walk. This was infinatiely better than other penal colonies and gaols I have visited (looking at you port Arthur), however Castel st Angelo in rome is probably the best gaol. The new board walk is a must visit and great for walking and relaxing. Families, surfers & swimmers frequent this scenic beach with city views & access to restaurants. Took us 3 attempts before we got to the pier without it being head and shoulders in the clouds, but the view was worth the repeat visits. Kirra Point is part of the World Surfing Reserve and produces some sizable surf breaks. Some climbing up the stairs. Strong recommend from me!!! North Coast Holiday Parks Terrace Reserve. The pier projects 21.6 meters beyond the Sealy Lookout at a height of 310 meters above sea level. He was a local surveyor, and the weatherboard home was occupied by John Flynns descendants until 1979. Part of the Orara East State Forest, the lookout point is just a short drive from central Coffs Harbour and offers an outstanding aspect overlooking the city of Coffs Harbour and extending outwards to the open ocean. The Dolphin Marine Magic is a marine park in Coffs Harbour that also acts as a rescue and rehabilitation center for marine animals native to the region. An urban beach found in the neighbourhood of Coolangatta, part of Queensland's Gold Coast, Kirra Beach is a relaxed and down to earth destination that continues to exude the surf vibe that made it famous around the world. 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. They pack a lot into the very small park had wheelchair accessible exhibits. A steep hill to hike but views and peace up there, definitely worth it!! This little town is gorgeous. Well maintained.. good place to workout for free if you are living nearby. This is the crme de la crme of planning apps! Visited just after heavy rains/during some light rains, so water flow was spectacular! Whenever you visit Port Macquarie you must visit the Koala Hospital, make a small donation and appreciate what the volunteer workers go through in protecting some of our endangered species. White sand beaches on the gold coast. This is our camp near Seal Rocks on our last trip up the coast, it is such a beautiful spot. A few things to note if you go here, take a container to transport your strawberries. I would definitely revisit. Show only these on map. Established in 1973, this nationally recognised treatment and rehabilitation centre in Port Macquarie has four permanent paid staff and provides 14 intensive care units and 33 special yards for rehabilitation. Make sure don't book toboggan, if weather will be rainy otherwise it was fun. Great little hike. Coolangatta Beach is renowned for its casual culture and relaxed vibe. Surf life savers on guard. Plenty of picnic areas to cook up a feed and relax. All rights reserved. Can't wait to come back here and explore the entire for the whole day. Ride the famous Toboggan Ride overlooking the beautiful Pacific Ocean. There is also a Koalaseum a museum for Koalas which provides information and has interactive displays so kids can touch koala fur or look down a microscope at koala poos poo! There is also some great camping available on the headland overlooking the ocean at Trial Bay Gaol. No mention of Port Stephens. Conservation and education are the focus at this unique marine park. Definitely worth a visit when youre in this area. Also, you can enjoy daily shows and even get up close and personal. Lots of interesting, educational plaques throughout. The walk through through the national park along the beach is one of the most beautiful walking tracks Ive done. However, many locals and surfing enthusiasts list Snapper Rocks as their favourite beach owing to its distinct waves, uniform swell and the Superbank, a human constructed sand bank that lets boat riders cruise from Snapper Rocks to Coolangatta. Cremorne. The quality of the surf is the best its ever been, creating one of the longest, hollowest and best waves in the world. Otford, New South Wales You will have to turn off to the coast but the drive in about 30 mins in. And with us there are no hidden fees - what you see is what you pay. A post shared by DolphinMarineConservationPark (@dolphinmarineconservation) on Jul 25, 2019 at 1:17am PDT. Spending a day on the soft sun-soaked sands here is one of the best things to do on the Gold Coast for free. There are variety of birds and reptiles here. A community of growers and producers share this photogenic, 32-hectare green oasis just outside Byron, along with the Three Blue Ducks restaurant, a produce store, a bakery, an ice-creamery and a florist. Im a fit person, but it was too much. There are 4 large sheds to pick up strawberries. Afterwards be pampered at one of the Hunters many day spas before spending the night at five-star luxury resort, Chteau lan at The Vintage. Ill work in order from Sydney to the Sunshine Coast heading north in the list below and Ill also put them all into a map so you can get an idea of where they sit in relation to each other. The award-winning Forest Sky Pier offers visitors a unique view of the Coffs coast and the mountains offering a great opportunity to take photographs of the picturesque landscape. There is also a cafe here (the scones with strawberry jam are highly recommended) and a store to buy preserves, sauces, chocolate, jams, pickles and other produce, including fresh vine ripened tomatoes. The town that marks the exact halfway point is actually Woodberry, Australia. Snapper Rocks is famous for more than just being ridiculously good looking. Required fields are marked *, Travel addict Just landed after a lap of Aus Living big after breast cancer Currently in NSW, Designed by Max & Ivy | 2017 Max & Ivy. Not only is this where you will find Australias most easterly point, but its picturesque vantage point makes it a great spot to watch both the sunrise and sunset, whilst also dolphin spotting!. Strong recommend from me! Theres a lot of places to visit while staying in the nearest holiday park around. There is so much to do there, so much flexibility in buying tickets for the different attractions, which is fantastic for families travelling on a budget! If you want to walk along the 1.3km Rainforest Boardwalk it will cost $9 for adults. The beautiful beach of Coolangatta is the last town before the border of New South Wales and also houses the Gold Coast Airport. texas basketball camps 2022; mikhail and sarina abramovich Every man and his dog knows about Byron now. Tacking Point Lighthouse was built in 1879 and offers nice views down over Lighthouse Beach which stretches 7km. It was such a fun activity for the whole family. Astonishing view from the top observation deck and also there is a trail to the bottom of the fall. . Think a little bit alternate, awesome delicious organic food, good coffee and the most magical waterholes and rivers to swim in. I wont get right into where to stay in each place as it really depends on what sort of accommodation you are into, what your budget is and what sort of gear you have if you are camping (camper/caravan/tent etc). With free admission and plenty of Australias cuddliest mammals on display, this is a great place to visit if youre taking a family holiday. It is also the thirteenth oldest lighthouse in Australia. 12 minutes off the main route, 86% of way to the Gold Coast. Nearly every city both capital and regional has a single outstanding lookout point, and Coffs Harbours answer to this is the excellent (and entirely free) Forest Sky Pier that extends out from Sealy Lookout. 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. Lyrebird Link, Dorrigo Mountain NSW 2453, Australia. 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. I enjoyed the drive (through Nightcap Range Rd) a lot more than this end point :) A well planned and laid out gallery with a wonderful vista over the Tweed and surrounding countryside. The top stops along the way from Sydney to the Gold Coast (with short detours) are Cape Byron Lighthouse Cafe, The Big Banana Fun Park, and Koala Hospital. The history of Coffs Harbour is rooted in bananas, as the first major industry from the region, and this fun, quirky and ever-so kitsch monument and adventure park is a celebration of this. All the staff were professional and very helpful. 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. Kids loved the running around .. Halfway between Forster and Sydney To reach the midway point from Sydney to Forster, you would fly roughly 113 km from Forster to the halfway stop. Take your time on the walk and you may see some of the local wildlife. Absolutely fabulous walk, cannot more heartedly recommend! The headline attraction here is a 1.3-kilometre raised boardwalk, leading you through a spectacular, untouched tract of subtropical rainforest. Just order via The Chickn Shack app - its so easy and convenient! One of the largest surviving rainforest reserves in New South Wales is little more than five kilometres from Port Macquaries CBD. So much to see along the way. Nothing outstanding just another tourist town. Kirra Beach is renowned for being the spiritual home of surfing on the Gold Coast and is considered one of the worlds premier surfing wave breaks. Wander through lush tropical rainforest to the scenic bridge/waterfall/cave and also admire the glowworms which inhabit the cave. Its in from the coast, has a huge market that happens every Wednesday and Saturday and a cool pub with good live music gigs. Stay organized with a to-do list, packing list, shopping list, any kind of list. 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. Gorgeous place to visit. The first of the craze of Big Things in Australia, the Big Banana is an iconic Coffs landmark, and comes with rides, attractions, a waterpark, plantation tours, and the brilliantly-named World of Bananas Experience. Do yourself a favour and take the 6km drive off the Pacific Highway (north of Coffs Harbour) through the banana plantations and into the lush green Orara East State Forest. Cape Byron Lighthouse is probably the most famous photo spot in Byron Bay. 28 minutes off the main route, 21% of way to the Gold Coast. We enjoyed every moment and it was amazing to see that even during this challenging COVID19 situation, kids having a good time with huge smiles on their faces!There holidays were paid off after visiting that place.Highly recommend The Big Banana Fun Park! Walk the Rainforest Boardwalk, look through the exhibitions on display or maybe go on a bush tucker tour. Great cafes with quality food and coffee and really nice friendly people. I went on a walk to the base fall from the Grasslands picnic area. The Dolphin Conservation Park is a long-running attraction in the Coffs Harbour region that has drawn countless visitors from all over the country and has a focus on interactive aquatic experiences with natures' cutest marine dwellers. Below you'll find links to all the road trips we've assembled for Sydney. Very solemn and beautiful look out. Very close to the beach. Very easy grade but not quite wheel chair throughout (certainly not at Crystal Falls). Saw lots of people surfing near the beach. Seriously, this app does it all! The largest amusement park between Sydney and the Gold Coast is right here in Coffs Harbour. Trial Bay Gaol is a excellent place to see a little of Australia's history. Easy access for parking and viewing the Centre, as well as the boardwalk. Find out more about Orana East State Forest and the Sky Pier here. Press the question mark key to get the keyboard shortcuts for changing dates. 2 caravan parking bays, although our single axle van took up almost both of them pulled all the way forward Its just a short drive from Coffs Harbour but the trip will be well worth the effort and time spent. Dubbed the biggest and best fun park on the Northern NSW coast, it would be unthinkable to head to Coffs Harbour and not visit the Big Banana Fun Park. The Sturt Highway stretches 947km from the Hume Highway (M31) in Tarcutta, NSW to Northern Expressway (M2) in Gawler, SA. 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. 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. This Springbrook natural bridge has amazing views of mountains, woods, waterfall and a glow worm cave! 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. Will definitely go back. The lighthouse is beautifully kept, startling white and on a magnificent sight with views for miles. Why Should You Visit : Love Heights? Other attractions include an ice skating rink, a toboggan ride, and a water park. If you have a little more time you could stop in Newcastle or Port Macquarie, but as were rushing to only the best places along the east coast, Id recommend getting as far north in this first day as possible, and realistically, this is Coffs Harbour. How Long is the Sturt Highway? The views are always stunning and the drive there through the rainforest is stunning also. Lit up at night, as well. It depends on when you visit! Time from Brisbane - 6 hours. 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