# Road trips in New South Wales > 9 road trips and 74 hand-picked places in New South Wales, with routes, stops and practical tips for driving and camping. Source: https://camping-spirit.com/roadtrips/new-south-wales/ 9 road trips and 74 hand-picked places in New South Wales, with routes, stops and practical tips for driving and camping. ## Road trips through New South Wales - [Grand Pacific Drive: Sydney to Kiama](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/au-grand-pacific-drive/): A two-day coastal run south of Sydney through Royal National Park, over the Sea Cliff Bridge and past Wollongong to the blowhole at Kiama. - [Blue Mountains and the Central West](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/au-blue-mountains-central-west/): Cliff lookouts and caves in the Blue Mountains, then west over the range to the heritage towns, wine country and old goldfields of the Central West. - [Hunter Valley to Port Macquarie](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/au-hunter-valley-to-port-macquarie/): From Sydney through wine country, Newcastle and Port Stephens to the koala hospital and lighthouse beaches of Port Macquarie. - [Coffs Harbour to Byron Bay: Rainforest and Lighthouse](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/au-coffs-harbour-to-byron-bay/): Combine the Big Banana and Muttonbird Island with a loop on Waterfall Way, then run north to Cape Byron and the rainforest hinterland. - [South Coast: Kiama to Narooma](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/au-south-coast-kiama-to-narooma/): A relaxed four-day run on the Princes Highway through Jervis Bay's white beaches, Murramarang's kangaroos and the seal island at Narooma. - [Outback NSW: Mungo, Broken Hill and the opal fields](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/au-outback-nsw-mungo-broken-hill-opals/): From Mildura through Mungo and the Darling River to Broken Hill, then east via White Cliffs, Cobar and Bourke to Lightning Ridge: roughly 1,600 km of far-west New South Wales, much of it remote. - [Sydney to Melbourne: the Princes coast out, the Hume home](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/au-hume-and-princes-sydney-melbourne/): A loop between Australia's two biggest cities: about 1,030 km on the coastal Princes Highway south, then about 880 km back on the faster inland Hume Highway, with Big Things and historic stops. - [Canberra and the Snowy Mountains](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/au-canberra-and-snowy-mountains/): National institutions in Canberra, wildlife at Tidbinbilla, then south to Jindabyne and Thredbo for the walk to Australia's highest summit. - [Sydney to Cairns by the Pacific and Bruce Highways](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/au-pacific-bruce-highway-sydney-cairns/): Australia's east-coast drive, about 2,900 km from Sydney through Coffs Harbour and Brisbane to the tropical north, with Big Things, rum, caves, rainforest and the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. ## Places worth the detour in New South Wales - [Sydney Opera House](https://camping-spirit.com/places/au-sydney-opera-house/): Jørn Utzon's sail-roofed landmark on Bennelong Point opened in 1973 and is World Heritage listed. Walk around the foreshore from Circular Quay, or take a backstage tour, to see the tiled shells up close. - [Bondi Beach and the coastal walk to Coogee](https://camping-spirit.com/places/au-bondi-beach/): Sydney's famous surf beach is the start of a roughly 6 km clifftop walk south to Coogee, passing rock pools, small bays and the Bondi Icebergs pool. Go early or at sunset to avoid the crowds. - [Three Sisters and Echo Point](https://camping-spirit.com/places/au-three-sisters/): Three sandstone pillars rising from the Jamison Valley, the signature view of the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. Echo Point is busy by mid-morning, so arrive early for softer light and quieter lookouts. - [Jenolan Caves](https://camping-spirit.com/places/au-jenolan-caves/): A network of limestone caves, among the oldest known open to the public, visited on guided tours only. The access road is narrow and winding, so large caravans and nervous drivers should plan carefully. - [Pokolbin cellar doors, Hunter Valley](https://camping-spirit.com/places/au-pokolbin-hunter-valley/): The heart of the Hunter Valley, Australia's oldest wine region by continuous production, known for Semillon and Shiraz. Dozens of cellar doors cluster here, so choose a designated driver or book a tour. - [Cape Byron Lighthouse](https://camping-spirit.com/places/au-cape-byron-lighthouse/): Built 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. - [Sea Cliff Bridge](https://camping-spirit.com/places/au-sea-cliff-bridge/): A 665 m curved bridge hugging the escarpment between Clifton and Coalcliff, opened in 2005 after rockfalls closed the old road. It has a shared path for walkers and cyclists and is a highlight of Grand Pacific Drive. - [Hyams Beach](https://camping-spirit.com/places/au-hyams-beach/): A small village on Jervis Bay famous for its very fine, bright white quartz sand and clear shallow water. Parking is limited in summer and on weekends, so go early or visit outside school holidays. - [Mount Kosciuszko summit](https://camping-spirit.com/places/au-mount-kosciuszko/): At 2,228 m the highest point on mainland Australia, reached by an easy gradient on a metal walkway. Allow about 13 km return from the top of the Thredbo chairlift, and carry layers: weather changes fast, even in summer. - [The Dish, Parkes Observatory](https://camping-spirit.com/places/au-the-dish-parkes/): The 64 m Parkes radio telescope, opened in 1961, which helped receive the television pictures of the Apollo 11 Moon landing in 1969. A visitor centre explains how it still studies pulsars and distant galaxies. - [Walls of China, Mungo](https://camping-spirit.com/places/au-walls-of-china-mungo/): A 33 km crescent of wind-sculpted sand dunes on the eastern side of the dry Lake Mungo, part of the Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area. Visit at dawn or dusk; the walkway protects fragile clay. - [Silverton and the Mad Max country](https://camping-spirit.com/places/au-silverton-hotel/): A former silver-mining town of a few residents, 25 km from Broken Hill, with stone ruins, small galleries and a pub that has appeared in films including Mad Max 2. The light is best late in the day. - [White Cliffs opal field and dugouts](https://camping-spirit.com/places/au-white-cliffs-dugouts/): Opal has been mined here since 1889, and many residents live in dugouts cut into the hillside. Underground lodgings stay comfortably cool all year, and fossicking areas let visitors look for opal. - [Chambers of the Black Hand](https://camping-spirit.com/places/au-chambers-of-the-black-hand/): A working opal mine whose underground chambers are carved with sculptures and scenes by a miner-artist. Guided tours go below ground, and Lightning Ridge is known for its rare black opal. - [Sydney Harbour Bridge](https://camping-spirit.com/places/au-sydney-harbour-bridge/): The steel arch opened in 1932 and can be crossed on foot via the eastern walkway. The Pylon Lookout and the guided bridge climb give the best views over the harbour, the Opera House and the city. - [Royal Botanic Garden Sydney](https://camping-spirit.com/places/au-royal-botanic-garden-sydney/): Founded in 1816, this free harbourside garden runs from the Opera House to Mrs Macquarie's Chair. It is a relaxed place for a picnic, with flying-fox colonies in the trees and classic skyline views. - [Manly Beach and ferry](https://camping-spirit.com/places/au-manly-beach/): The ferry from Circular Quay takes about 30 minutes and doubles as a cheap harbour cruise. At Manly, a pedestrian street leads to a long surf beach, with the Shelly Beach snorkelling cove a short walk south. - [Sydney Fish Market](https://camping-spirit.com/places/au-sydney-fish-market/): A working seafood market on Blackwattle Bay where oysters, prawns and grilled fish are sold to eat on the spot. Arrive in the morning for the best choice and watch the wholesale trade at its busiest. - [Cockatoo Island](https://camping-spirit.com/places/au-cockatoo-island/): A former convict prison and shipyard in the middle of Sydney Harbour, part of the Australian Convict Sites World Heritage listing. Reached by ferry, it has tunnels, workshops and sandstone cell blocks to explore. - [Barrenjoey Lighthouse](https://camping-spirit.com/places/au-barrenjoey-lighthouse/): A sandstone lighthouse from 1881 on the headland at the northern tip of Sydney's beaches. The steep walk from Palm Beach takes about half an hour and rewards you with views of Pittwater, Broken Bay and the Central Coast. - [Wattamolla, Royal National Park](https://camping-spirit.com/places/au-wattamolla/): In Australia's oldest national park, a lagoon and small beach sit behind a waterfall that drops straight into the sea. Calm days are good for swimming, but cliffs and swell make the ocean side hazardous. - [Scenic World, Katoomba](https://camping-spirit.com/places/au-scenic-world-katoomba/): Home to the Scenic Railway, one of the steepest passenger railways in the world, built for a coal mine. It drops into the rainforest, where a boardwalk loops among tree ferns and old mining relics. - [Wentworth Falls](https://camping-spirit.com/places/au-wentworth-falls/): A multi-stage waterfall dropping close to 190 m into the Jamison Valley. Short lookout walks start at Falls Reserve, while the longer Wentworth Pass loop descends past the cascades; carry water and expect steep steps. - [Govetts Leap Lookout](https://camping-spirit.com/places/au-govetts-leap/): A cliff-edge lookout above the Grose Valley, where Bridal Veil Falls plunges into a deep eucalypt-filled canyon. Quieter than Echo Point, it is also the start of several clifftop and valley walks. - [Jenolan Caves House](https://camping-spirit.com/places/au-jenolan-caves-house/): A grand guesthouse built in the late 19th century at the foot of the cave entrances. Staying overnight means you can see the Grand Arch and the surrounding bush in the quiet hours after the day visitors leave. - [Hydro Majestic Hotel](https://camping-spirit.com/places/au-hydro-majestic/): A historic hotel perched on the edge of the Megalong Valley at Medlow Bath, opened in the early 1900s as a health retreat. Even without staying, its terrace and dining rooms offer sweeping cliff views. - [Wollombi village](https://camping-spirit.com/places/au-wollombi/): A small sandstone village set among bushland south-west of the vineyards, close to the convict-built Great North Road. It makes a quiet alternative to the cellar-door crowds, with old buildings and a country pub. - [Newcastle Ocean Baths](https://camping-spirit.com/places/au-newcastle-ocean-baths/): A large tidal swimming pool by the sea, opened in 1922 with an Art Deco pavilion added later. It sits below the Bogey Hole and the Newcastle foreshore walk, handy for a swim after exploring the city. - [Tomaree Head summit](https://camping-spirit.com/places/au-tomaree-head/): A steady 30-minute climb in Tomaree National Park leads to a rocky summit with 360-degree views over Port Stephens, the Pacific and the offshore islands. Remains of a World War II battery lie along the way. - [Stockton Bight sand dunes, Worimi Conservation Lands](https://camping-spirit.com/places/au-worimi-sand-dunes/): Huge moving sand dunes stretching along the coast, jointly managed with the Worimi people. Sandboarding and quad tours run from the Anna Bay area; driving your own 4WD on the beach needs a permit and tide knowledge. - [Port Macquarie Koala Hospital](https://camping-spirit.com/places/au-koala-hospital-port-macquarie/): A volunteer-run wildlife hospital, founded in 1973, that treats koalas hit by cars, attacked by dogs or sick with disease. Visitors can see patients and long-term residents and learn about habitat loss. - [Tacking Point Lighthouse](https://camping-spirit.com/places/au-tacking-point-lighthouse/): A small white lighthouse from 1879 on a headland south of Port Macquarie, with long views along the surf coast. From roughly May to November it is a good spot to watch humpback whales passing. - [Bellingen](https://camping-spirit.com/places/au-bellingen/): A 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. - [Dorrigo Skywalk](https://camping-spirit.com/places/au-dorrigo-skywalk/): An 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. - [The Big Banana](https://camping-spirit.com/places/au-big-banana/): Opened 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. - [Muttonbird Island (Giidany Miirlarl)](https://camping-spirit.com/places/au-muttonbird-island/): A 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. - [Minyon Falls](https://camping-spirit.com/places/au-minyon-falls/): A 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. - [Nimbin](https://camping-spirit.com/places/au-nimbin/): A 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. - [Nan Tien Temple](https://camping-spirit.com/places/au-nan-tien-temple/): A large Buddhist temple complex near Wollongong, among the biggest in the southern hemisphere, built by the Fo Guang Shan order in the 1990s. Visitors can walk the grounds, join a meditation session or try a vegetarian lunch. - [Wollongong Harbour and Breakwater Lighthouse](https://camping-spirit.com/places/au-wollongong-harbour-lighthouse/): A small working fishing harbour in Wollongong, overlooked by the Breakwater Lighthouse and Flagstaff Hill fort. Fishing boats unload at Belmore Basin, and the headland walk gives good views of the surf and the city beaches. ## FAQs **What are the best road trips in New South Wales?** Popular routes include Grand Pacific Drive: Sydney to Kiama, Blue Mountains and the Central West, Hunter Valley to Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour to Byron Bay: Rainforest and Lighthouse. CampingSpirit has 9 trip guides that pass through New South Wales, each with a stop-by-stop itinerary and a route map. **Which places in New South Wales are worth a detour?** Our editors recommend Sydney Opera House, Bondi Beach and the coastal walk to Coogee, Three Sisters and Echo Point, Jenolan Caves, Pokolbin cellar doors, Hunter Valley and Cape Byron Lighthouse.