Coffs Harbour to Byron Bay: Rainforest and Lighthouse
Combine the Big Banana and Muttonbird Island with a loop on Waterfall Way, then run north to Cape Byron and the rainforest hinterland.
- Distance
- 367 km (228 mi)
- Driving
- 4 h 00 min
- Suggested days
- 4
- Stops
- 9
- States
- New South Wales
- Updated
- May 4, 2026
At a glance: 4-day road trip of about 367 km (228 mi) with 9 stops, from Coffs Harbour to Nimbin. About 4 h 00 min of driving in total.
More road trips in New South Wales
Route description
Base yourself in Coffs Harbour, a town of banana plantations and a working fishing harbour. Visit the Big Banana, a roadside landmark from 1964, then walk the breakwater to Muttonbird Island at the harbour. The island is a nature reserve with nesting shearwaters from about late August to April, so keep to the track and avoid walking off it at dusk.
Take the Waterfall Way inland, about 65 km from Coffs Harbour to Dorrigo, climbing from the coast to the plateau. Walk the Dorrigo Skywalk over the rainforest canopy, then return via Bellingen, about 30 km from Dorrigo, a pleasant valley town for lunch. The road is sealed but winding and steep in places, so allow extra time.
From Coffs Harbour to Byron Bay it is about 250 km and roughly three hours on the Pacific Motorway, mostly dual carriageway with regular fuel stops. Walk up to Cape Byron Lighthouse from the town or the car park, then explore Byron's beaches. Accommodation fills quickly in summer and school holidays, so book ahead.
Spend the last day in the hinterland. Minyon Falls in Nightcap National Park is about 40 km from Byron Bay, with a lookout near the car park. Nimbin, roughly an hour from Byron by road, is a colourful village shaped by the 1970s counterculture. Roads are sealed but winding, and rain can make creek crossings and walking tracks slippery.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Coffs Harbour
New South Wales - 22 km
The Big Banana
OdditiesCoffs Harbour, New South WalesOpened in 1964 beside the Pacific Highway, this giant yellow banana is often counted as the first of Australia's Big Things. It marks the heart of the area's banana-growing history and has a small fun park.
- 34 km
Muttonbird Island (Giidany Miirlarl)
NatureCoffs Harbour, New South WalesA nature reserve joined to Coffs Harbour's breakwater, culturally significant to the Gumbaynggirr people. Wedge-tailed shearwaters nest here roughly from late August to April; whales pass offshore in winter and spring.
- 435 km
Bellingen
HistoryBellingen, New South WalesA relaxed valley town on the Bellinger River with heritage buildings, galleries and cafés, set between the coast and the Dorrigo plateau. A regular farmers' and craft market adds to its character.
- 523 km
Dorrigo Skywalk
ViewsDorrigo, New South WalesAn elevated boardwalk projecting out over the rainforest canopy in Dorrigo National Park, part of the Gondwana Rainforests World Heritage Area. Mist often fills the valley in the morning, so early visits can be dramatic.
- 6250 km
Byron Bay
New South Wales - 74 km
Cape Byron Lighthouse
ViewsByron Bay, New South WalesBuilt in 1901 on the most easterly point of mainland Australia. A walking track climbs from the town or the car park, and between about May and November humpback whales are often seen from the headland.
- 829 km
Minyon Falls
NatureThe Channon, New South WalesA waterfall of around 100 m plunging into a rainforest gorge in Nightcap National Park, part of the Gondwana Rainforests. A lookout is near the car park and a longer track leads down to the base. Flow is best after rain.
- 920 km
Nimbin
OdditiesNimbin, New South WalesA small hinterland village shaped by the 1973 Aquarius Festival and the alternative lifestyle movement that followed. Its main street is covered in murals, with craft shops and a museum telling the counterculture story.
Suggested stages and overnight stops
4 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Coffs Harbour → Dorrigo Skywalk · 63 km · 0 h 41 minOn the way: The Big Banana, Muttonbird Island (Giidany Miirlarl), Bellingen.
- Day 2: Dorrigo Skywalk → Byron Bay · 250 km · 2 h 44 min
- Day 3: Byron Bay → Cape Byron Lighthouse · 4 km · 0 h 03 min
- Day 4: Cape Byron Lighthouse → Nimbin · 49 km · 0 h 32 minOn the way: Minyon Falls.
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually February–November. Still fine, with some compromises, in December–January. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
FAQs
How long is Coffs Harbour to Byron Bay: Rainforest and Lighthouse?
4-day road trip of about 367 km (228 mi) with 9 stops, from Coffs Harbour to Nimbin. About 4 h 00 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Coffs Harbour to Byron Bay: Rainforest and Lighthouse?
We suggest 4 days: about 4 h 00 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Coffs Harbour to Byron Bay: Rainforest and Lighthouse start and end?
It starts in Coffs Harbour and ends in Nimbin.
Which states does Coffs Harbour to Byron Bay: Rainforest and Lighthouse pass through?
New South Wales.
When is the best time for Coffs Harbour to Byron Bay: Rainforest and Lighthouse?
The most pleasant months are usually February–November. Still fine, with some compromises, in December–January. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
