places to stop between sydney and forster
The bonus is you are going to be right there for the farmers market every Friday which is awesome. The top cities between Sydney and Gold Coast are Cessnock, Port Macquarie, Byron Bay, Coffs Harbour, Newcastle, Pokolbin, and Nelson Bay. Snapper Rocks is famous for more than just being ridiculously good looking. Top cities between Sydney and the Gold Coast, Best stops along Sydney to the Gold Coast drive. Best view as well.. Then reward yourself at the top with some ice cream from this cute caf, which has a large terrace with sweeping views of the bay. We look forward to returning and trying to see the glow worms. It has many rides and attractions completely dedicated to Banana theme. My third visit this year. Parking can be challenging on public holidays but drive around and youll eventually snag a parking spot especially in the Haven. Good insight into the conservation efforts of the turtles, seals and dolphins. There is a caravan park right on the beach and also some great campgrounds nearby down dirt roads and away from the masses. Lots of birds flying around for spotting. 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. Its a place where people from all over the world come to enjoy the surf, sea and scorching sunshine. Also, you can enjoy daily shows and even get up close and personal. You all do a great service. Fully recommend parking at the bottom near Clarkes Beach head left and around Palm Beach into Wategos Beach then up the headland to amazing panoramic views East to West before heading to the lighthouse. I would like to add there is no camping and the gates are locked at 5 pm. Its a chance to capture some really iconic shots of the Gold Coast. From Byron you are about 40 mins from the QLD border. Check them out here: Yes! We will visit again if we come to Port Macquarie. The direct drive from Sydney to the Gold Coast is 526 mi (847 km), and should have a drive time of 8 hrs 21 mins in normal traffic. Never dig through your emails again access all your flights, lodging, and any reservations in 1 place. This little town is gorgeous. About : The Forest Sky Pier is situated in theBruxner Park Flora Reserve and is famous for standing about 15 meters above the forest floor. Saw lots of people surfing near the beach. 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. 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. This unique Coffs Harbour marine park offers fun, conservation, and education. Spending a day on the soft sun-soaked sands here is one of the best things to do on the Gold Coast for free. Coolangatta Beach Gold Coast Australia. Acting as the initial symbol many international and interstate visitors will have upon arriving at the Gold Coast by plane, Coolangatta is the area where the main stretch of continuous beach that reaches up to Main Beach in the north begins. Our guide was very well informed and was able to answer our questions. What started out as a gimmick to draw tourist attention to the banana plantation, the Big Banana was Australias first Big Thing when it was built in 1964, leading the way in what has become a staple of road trips all over Australia. Popular hiking loop with ocean views, a lighthouse, wildlife sightings & picnic spots. The lighthouse is incredibly picturesque and quite unique in its features. I had no idea that this wonderful woman was a hoarder and because of this her life was filled with many gems from flowers and statues to ewers and vases. This short walk with beautiful views of the waterfall is great for kids. Don't miss going here! 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. Named by explorer Matthew Flinders after his early 19th-century circumnavigation around Australia, the lighthouse was built to address the problem of shipwrecks in the area at the time. There is also a great pub right up on the headland overlooking the ocean. Hidden little gem on the coast with gorgeous walks. The tortoise that we saw was over 100 years and looks so healthy and stunning. Very well maintained with facilities and wonderful crowds. CITIES BETWEEN. One-hour guided tours run at 9am Friday to Sunday during summer, and horseback tours happen at 7am Saturdays ($65). Basalt bridge & cavern formed by a cascade, with a loop walk around a forest home to frogs & koalas. 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. Inside of Bruxner Park Flora Reserve you will find one of the best places to go. Moderate ability. Visitors will be enthralled by acrobatic dolphins, cute penguins and turtles, plus playful seals. Im a fit person, but it was too much. 2 caravan parking bays, although our single axle van took up almost both of them pulled all the way forward The big slice was empty, its a shame because it was fun. Popular zoo with many species of reptiles, free-roaming kangaroos, shows & hands-on experiences. Strong recommend from me! One of the best natural tourist attraction place I have ever visited. Just be aware it can get busy with cars and parking can be tricky if lots of people are there. The water park offers something for everyone in the family to enjoy, from their wide range of attractions like the six-lane giant slide, state-of-the-art laser tag arena, and the kids aqua-play area. It has a really lovely main street with large established trees all through the centre of town. A really beautiful bit of coast with amazing beaches. A relatively easy walk on a sealed path. Love love love! This is an oasis. Amazing waterfall! Clear blue water, beautiful soft sand, you cant ask for more from an iconic Australian beach!. Service is friendly and theres lots of strawberries to pick your own from. Palm Beach is a suburb in the Northern Beaches region of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Kirra Beach is mostly frequented by locals but is another great spot if you or some of the family are really experienced and avid surfers. Beautiful beaches and an amazing rivermouth that is the bluest of blue, I'm always amazed how stunning it is every time I drive over the bridge between the two towns. The Big Banana is an amusement park in Coffs Harbour built in 1964 and a popular family attraction among locals and tourists alike. Follow the path around to the left & down the stairs to the lower viewing platform for a different angle. For over a century now Kirra Beach has been a popular vacation destination thanks to its sun-kissed sands and sensational surf spots. Planning travel has actually been fun instead of tedious because of this app. This rocky outcrop called Snapper Rocks is where surfers launch themselves into the waves. The staffs are all so beautiful and kind Highly suggest this place to pass by if you have time. Tacking Point Lighthouse was built in 1879 and offers nice views down over Lighthouse Beach which stretches 7km. Campfires are ok when a total fire ban isnt in place. Amazing!! How Long is the Sturt Highway? 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!. 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. This is a must pass from Sydney to the Gold Coast. Great Strawberries picking time! Hands-on experiences with a number of the creatures. Check out the Forster Ocean Baths, it's kid swim heaven. The Forest itself changed throughout the walk as we moved up and down the Mountain. My kids couldnt go up to the top and carry their own mat. This beach is not crowded, the waves are less fierce, and with lifeguards present this beach is ideal for families. Lots of parking spaces, there's also cafe nearby. This beach features a pretty lagoon by the sandbar which shields the area from waves and is a great place for young children. I cant imagine anyone not loving this app! 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. 12 minutes off the main route, 86% of way to the Gold Coast. People love visiting Cessnock, Port Macquarie, and Byron Bay, among others. I had a amazing time being that close to a wild rescued koala. The passionate dedication to traditional and sustainable practices here is both a working ethos and an educational mission. Near the New South Wales state border, Coolangatta Beach provides a much more peaceful alternative to the tourist-packed Surfer's Paradise beaches a 30-minute drive north. Think a little bit alternate, awesome delicious organic food, good coffee and the most magical waterholes and rivers to swim in. A post shared by DolphinMarineConservationPark (@dolphinmarineconservation) on Jul 25, 2019 at 1:17am PDT. Really nice area to visit (even if it was a stormy day) was difficult to get parking to go into this area though, had to walk some distance. Walk back through the conservation area for another unique view, shade and steps back down to the car park again. The views are surrounding rainforest enough to lift ones spirits and set one up for an awesome day or night. If you want to meet halfway between Sydney, NSW and Kingscliff, NSW or just make a stop in the middle of your trip, the exact coordinates of the halfway point of this route are -31.235126 and 152.821609, or 31 14 6.4536 S, 152 49 17.7924 E. 221 Blackmans Point Rd, Blackmans Point NSW 2444, Australia. Nice beaches and alot of accommodation. Great cafes and restaurants along the beach. The gift shop also has a room full of beautiful artworks and documentarys on animals living in the rainforest, very informative. It a cute little town on a stunning beach/river mouth just south of Coffs Harbour. Highly recommend The Big Banana Fun Park! Located on the northern side of Point Danger at the southern end of Rainbow Bay on the Gold Coast, Snapper is a point break forming the first part of the man-made Superbank which extends from Snapper Rocks Point, through Rainbow Bay, Greenmount Point, Coolangatta Beach, and Kirra, for a distance of around two kilometers. The southernmost suburb in the city, Coolangatta and its idyllic beach lie half an hours drive from the center, right on the border with New South Wales. Newcastle is a harbour city in the Australian state of New South Wales. Lighthouse Rd, Port Macquarie NSW 2444, Australia. Very interesting building providing great views at the top. Snapper Rocks Rd, Coolangatta QLD 4225, Australia. The art installations are well presented and interesting. Inside, you can find out all you need to know about the rainforests delicate ecology, as well as its importance in local Aboriginal culture. The town that marks the exact halfway point is actually Woodberry, Australia. Within a flora reserve in the Orara East State Forest, you can find this overhanging pier with amazing views over the whole Coffs Harbour area. 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. Forster - This is a pretty big town with plenty of accomodation options. Strong recommend from me!!! A place that kids would love and a must visit spot indeed. Established in 1973, Port Macquaries Koala Hospital is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the treatment and rehabilitation of sick and injured koalas, as well as research into the plights of these much-loved animals. between Show only these on map. Beautiful beach and great views of the coast, especially to see the sunrise! Picking your own strawberries, such a fun activity. Trial Bay Gaol is a excellent place to see a little of Australia's history. So much to see along the way. Very close to the beach. Amazing place to enjoy. In addition, it has four huge thrill slides, two inflatable slides and a kids water park. Australias 13th-oldest lighthouse, Tacking Point Lighthouse was built in 1879 after more than 20 ships were wrecked on the coast around Port Macquarie. Clean, good amenities ,with toilets close, picnic tables and perfect for little ones supervised swimming on Estuary side. 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