There’s nothing like the freedom of throwing your bag in the car and heading out of town. Road trips from Sydney slice through ocean vistas, soaring mountain ranges and outback sands, so you’ll never feel the need to ask, “Are we there yet?”
Pick your favourite driving tunes, pack some snacks and get ready to discover New South Wales on four wheels.
Short Drives from Sydney
The Grand Pacific Drive
For short drives from Sydney, you can’t beat the incredible Grand Pacific Drive. In fact, it’s likely you’ve already seen it on TV, as a favourite of luxury car advertisers. The main drawcard is the Sea Cliff Bridge, which curves around a rugged cliff face, before taking you right out over the sparking Pacific. You can also walk across to soak in the views.
Your journey starts in the Royal National Park and winds for 140km to Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama and Shoalhaven. Depending on how long your break is, you can return to Sydney through the Southern Highlands, or keep going towards the Sapphire Coast. Along the way, there are plenty of coastal towns for swimming breaks, beachfront cafes, boutique bars, detours to wineries and adrenalin activities, like hang gliding off Bald Hill.
Scenic Drives from Sydney
The Kosciuszko Alpine Way
Fresh mountain air and adventure awaits along the Kosciuszko Alpine Way. You’ll want a week to explore, starting with a 450 kilometre drive from Sydney to Jindabyne. From there, the journey weaves through the Australian Snowy Mountains for 175 kilometres of pristine scenery, via Thredbo village and Dead Horse Gap to Khancoban.
Snow-capped peaks and towering trees keep you company, while Aboriginal history intrigues. Tour one of the Snowy Hydro’s seven Power Stations and visit Geehi Flats to see the Geehi Hut, made from river stones in 1952 for mountain cattlemen. When it’s time to stretch your legs, hike, mountain bike, try trout fishing, ski or stop at a secluded campsite by an alpine river and toast those marshmallows.
The Waterfall Way
The Pacific Coast’s iconic appeal is due to a star-studded line up of spectacular beaches, from a scenic drive from Sydney to Tweed Heads. Take a couple of days to reach Coffs Harbour, via Nelson Bay or Port Macquarie to check them out, but venture inland instead. There, you’ll find national park heaven that’s straight from a fairy tale.
The Waterfall Way follows the tablelands of the New England region for 191 lush kilometres. Stop to meander over elevated boardwalks through the Dorrigo National Park, to thundering waterfalls. Take the Wonga Walk loop to see Tristania and Crystal Shower Falls and eat a packed lunch at the Never Never picnic area. The dense forests of the Cascade National Park lead to Platypus Flat and river rafting expeditions.
Don’t forget to explore the quirky, small town vibe of Bellingen before moving on to the parks and gardens of Armidale.
Weekend Road Trips from Sydney
Darling River Run
When you’re longing to escape, the Darling River Run takes you right into the soul of the outback. Take a day or two to travel west from Sydney to Walgett, at the tip of the Darling River. From there, the entire route is 730 kilometres, however you can navigate in easy segments as well.
The harsh landscape reveals a series of isolated towns that were once thriving ports. Stop at Brewarrina to see 40,000 year old Aboriginal fish traps, have a cold beer at the old Carriers Arms Hotel in Bourke, detour to Broken Hill for heritage buildings and continue on to the tiny town of Pooncarie, with its welcome ‘ute on a pole’ statue.
From there, keep travelling to the Mungo National Park. It’s part of the Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area and the site where the skeleton of ‘Mungo Man’ was discovered – the oldest known Australian at a mere 43,000 years of age.
The Greater Blue Mountains Drive
One of the most celebrated regions in Australia, the Blue Mountains offers 18 trails to discover famous sights, like the Three Sisters rock formation. Conquer the main attractions over two days if you like, however you might wish for more time, once there. Just a two hour drive from Sydney, first explore the charming towns of Faulconbridge and Hazelbrook, before admiring Wentworth Falls and views over Jamison Valley. Leura is a shopper’s delight, with arts and crafts on a leafy main street. Drive on to Katoomba and Echo Point for the obligatory happy snaps of the Three Sisters and jump on the cableway for adventure in the sky. Blackheath offers a colonial cemetery, antiques and bookshops, while the Mt Tomah Botanic Gardens has 5,000 species of cool climate plants. To end your trip, Bilpin is the place to go for (arguably unless you’ve tried them), the best apples in the world.
