Every unmissable stop along a Sydney to Yamba road trip

Driving from Sydney to Yamba involves hugging the NSW coast but if you stick solely to the Pacific Highway you’ll miss some beautiful beachside secrets.

Yamba is around eight hours north of Sydney, so while you can technically drive there in one day, you’ll be arriving bone-tired and unable to immerse yourself in spectacular sleepy beach towns along the way. A much better Sydney to Yamba itinerary is to meander on and off the Pacific Highway, checking in to crystal-clear beaches and an all-year-round holiday lifestyle without detouring too far.

Here are our favourite sights and towns to visit on a Sydney to Yamba road trip.

Avoca Beach

Sydney to Avoca Beach: 1.5 hours

Around one-and-a-half hours north of Sydney will land you on the Central Coast, and while you might find the busy township of Terrigal a bit too populated for your liking (although it’s filled with great cafes and boutiques), your first dip in the ocean should be at Avoca Beach, one of the best beaches on the Central Coast.

Its yellow sand and sapphire blue ocean waves are always a welcome reprieve from a stuffy car, plus the area has some delicious brekkie options – try Becker & Co for their great coffee, or Avoca Sands Cafe for fresh, light meals. Keen to make a day out of your Sydney to Yamba stopover? Lock down a table overlooking the surf at Avoca Beach House , one of the best bars on the Central Coast, famed for its seafood-drenched menu.

Hawks Nest

Avoca Beach to Hawks Nest: 2 hours

sailing on Nelson Bay — The calm waters of Nelson Bay make it perfect for boating.

If you’re taking it easy, you’ll likely get to Hawks Nest around lunchtime. It’s two hours north of Avoca and around fifteen minutes towards the coastline when you venture off the Pacific Highway. The white sand made famous by Nelson Bay is also found here, so don’t bother taking your swimmers off after your Avoca dip.

Lunch during your Sydney to Yamba pit stop should absolutely be at the Tea Gardens Hotel . It has a large, breezy, pet-friendly beer garden with plenty of shade and, on weekends, stages live music. The pub grub is delicious, and the beers are cold. If you’re staying in Hawks Nest proper, a more convenient pub option is Benchmark on Booner with its own outdoor tables, live music and kids’ play area.

The pizzas are especially rocking here, and it’s right across the road from Reflections Hawks Nest , which continues its extensive refurbishment efforts since kicking them off in December 2023. Meanwhile, the Tea Gardens Boatshed is the ultimate spot for a seafood platter right on the shores of the Myall River.

Old Bar

Hawks Nest to Old Bar: 1.2 hours

the Buyi Espresso Bar at sunset — Head to Buyi Espresso Bar for a sundowner.

Spend the afternoon at Old Bar, one of those quintessential New South Wales beaches that feels totally unchanged from the 1970s. If you’re peckish and can handle it, grab a burger from Blowfish Street Food – they have quite the reputation for their giant servings. Otherwise, Buyi Espresso Bar will keep you pepped for your last leg of the day, and Wallabi Point Coastal Cafe is super kid-friendly and feels like a nostalgic throwback to your youth.

Port Macquarie

Old Bar to Port Macquarie: 1 hour

Couple enjoying a visit to the Sea Acres Rainforest Centre, Port — Get your nature fix at Sea Acres Rainforest Centre. (Image: Destination NSW)

With a plethora of hotels, motels and other accommodation options, Port Macquarie is our pick for your halfway point. Finding one-night accommodation during the high season between Sydney and Yamba can be difficult, so it’s best to stay somewhere busy. Plus, this stunning corner of the world has a laid-back cafe culture for your morning pick-me-up (Bandwagon Cafe is a popular pick, nailing excellent morning elixir), some beautiful beaches (try Lighthouse or Flynns Beach) for an early dip and a lovely walking track in Sea Acres National Park.

For lunch, you’re spoilt for choice, but our ultimate recommendation is Whalebone Wharf where high-quality seafood soars and cocktails might even run into sunset.

the Whalebone Wharf on Hastings River, Port Macquarie — Whalebone Wharf is perched high upon a platform on Hastings River. (Image: Destination NSW)

While you’re dining at this end of town, located closer to the Pacific Highway than Port’s town centre, drop into Ricardoes Tomatoes & Strawberries where you can pluck your own fruit and select outstanding housemade relishes and pasta sauces to take home with you.

Sails Port Macquarie by Rydges is a great pick to rest your head after some well-deserved indulgence, while Flynn’s Beach Resort is a winner if you’ve got the kids in tow.

Nambucca Heads

Port Macquarie to Nambucca Heads: 1.2 hours

An hour and a half north of Port Macquarie you’ll come across Nambucca Heads and its sister town, Valla Beach. Both are beautiful, peaceful NSW beach towns worth meandering through, with great cafes like the Nambucca Boatshed and Cafe , a long-adored establishment on the river.

There’s also Matilda’s , a hot spot that slings superb pizzas and weekend barbecues from midday. Get there early because it lights up with local coasties quickly.

the restaurant exterior of Matilda’s — This charming pink cottage serves delicious pizzas.

If it’s a classic pub feed you’re hankering for, you’ve got two killer options. Golden Sands Tavern is chilled and often filled with live entertainment, while V Wall Pavilion throws up soothing water views and equally tasty plates.

Valla is our pick for a swim at this point of your Sydney to Yamba expedition. Slightly north of Nambucca, the town is RV-friendly if you’ve brought the caravan, and the lagoon area near Valla Beach Holiday Park is serene and great for kids with its low depth and calm waters.

Coffs Harbour

Nambucca Heads to Coffs Harbour: 35 minutes

It is practically mandatory to make a stop at Coffs Harbour’s Big Banana, one of Australia’s most iconic Big Things, which you can’t miss along the Pacific Highway. This road trip classic isn’t just a photo op, though – stop into the cafe for a banana split (or a frozen banana to-go) and enjoy everything the Fun Park has to offer, from waterslides to dodgem cars and laser tag.

When tummies rumble, it’s time to check out the best restaurants in Coffs Harbour and the surrounding locales including Stef Beachstone for atmospheric Italian feasting and the Jetty Beach House for one of the most spectacular waterfront dining positions in the region.

You could easily spend the entire day here, but if you want to explore Coffs Harbour a little further, The Clog Barn is a quirky stop with its tributes to Holland, and nature buffs will love the Forest Sky Pier which offers jaw-dropping views over the Coffs Harbour coastline and rainforest walking tracks. For more ideas, take a look at our guide for things to do in Coffs Harbour.

Maclean

Coffs Harbour to Maclean: 1.2 hours

beers at Sanctus Brewing Co., Clarence Valley — Sip refreshing beers at Sanctus Brewing Co. (Image: Destination NSW)

You’re almost there! Before turning off to Yamba, explore the beautiful country town of Maclean, rooted in Caledonian heritage that stems back to the 1840s. Grab a coffee at Botero Cafe & Roastery , or check out the nearby Sanctus Brewing Co if beer is more your thing in the afternoon.

There are plenty of boutiques to satiate shopping fans, and five kilometres out in Harwood you’ll find Cardiff Alpacas , where you can entertain the kids with a unique farm experience (and maybe pat a baby alpaca, if you’re lucky).

Sightseeing amid nature’s splendour is also plenty satisfying at this final section of your Sydney to Yamba road trip. Choose from Pinnacle Rock, a striking stacked-rock formation with significant Indigenous history, the Maclean Tartan Power Poles, vividly hued and poking out of lush lawn for a colourful holiday happy snap, or the Maclean Lookout, located just two kilometres out of the town centre and offering magical views of the coastline.

Yamba

Maclean to Yamba: 20 minutes

fishermen by the Clarence River, Iluka — Stop by the small fishing village of Iluka. (Image: My Clarence Valley)

Congratulations, you’ve made it! On your way into town, enjoy the beautiful crossing over Oyster Channel, where the road feels like it’s skimming the water.

Yamba Road runs all the way into the thick of things and along the way, you’ll pass Yamba Fair (where Coles and Kmart are found) and the Clarence River Fishermen’s Co-Operative ’s Yamba retail outlet, where freshly caught delicacies will prove far too tempting.

lunch at The Pacific Hotel Yamba — Enjoy pub meals overlooking the beach at The Pacific Hotel Yamba. (Image: Amy Addison, Sea and Stone Studio)

We wouldn’t blame you for zipping right on past it all though as you sniff out an obligatory excellent night’s sleep at the best Yamba accommodation options for any style of traveller. From luxe beachfront digs, like The Surf Yamba , to the warm and welcoming Blue Dolphin Yamba Holiday Resort , there’s a soft, fluffy stay with your name written all over it.

In desperate need of a meal beyond whatever’s going at the servo? Head straight to the Pacific Hotel Yamba where pub sessions by the beach are the order of every day. Better still, the Pacific is stocked with clean and contemporary rooms so dropping and flopping is also a very convenient option.

Originally written by Melissa Mason with updates by Kristie Lau-Adams

The heavens take centre stage at this Outback NSW glamping lodge.

Crane your neck. Look up. If it’s nighttime in a major Australian city, you might see a faint dusting of stars. Now imagine yourself out in the bush. Here, those stars aren’t just scattered dots – instead, they’re smudged across the sky in endless, glittering streaks. Welcome to Wilderluxe Lake Keepit , a new glamping lodge in one of the most picturesque corners of outback NSW.

Between its eight stargazing tents, Gilay Guest Lounge, and shared tales of the Dreamtime night sky, this retreat is designed to exist in harmony with the breathtaking lake and surrounding landscape. Intrigued? Here’s everything you need to know.

Bathed in warm light, a couple watches the sun dip beyond the horizon. — Watch the sky melt into magic at Wilderluxe.

Getting to Wilderluxe Lake Keepit

Wilderluxe Lake Keepit is in the NSW Northern Tablelands, bordered by the Great Dividing Range. The lake itself is hard to miss: this mammoth body of water is two-thirds the size of Sydney Harbour.

Just 40 minutes from Tamworth and close to Gunnedah, it’s on the inland route between Sydney and Byron Bay. Drive or take one of the daily flights to Tamworth’s airport.

Aerial view of Wilderluxe. — Let vast waters and towering ranges set the scene for your escape.

Wilderluxe Lake Keepit rooms

Don’t settle for a paltry room when you can sleep directly under the cosmos. Wilderluxe offers eight domed ‘Star Tents’ , all named after Aboriginal sky stories – like Djirri Djirri, the sacred messenger bird, Baiame, the Sky Father and great creator, and Dhinawan, the Emu in the Sky constellation.

On a clear night, use your tent’s retractable roof for gazing above or wander to the outdoor bathtub on your private deck to soak under the night sky. No need to go anywhere. You can stay put come evening with a kitchenette inside and a gas barbecue on the deck.

A couple gazes up at a sky ablaze with stars at Wilderluxe. — Sleep beneath the stars.

Style and character

When it comes to aesthetics, Wilderluxe Lake Keepit stays on trend. The encampment blends with its surroundings, building up layers of minimalist visuals that mirror the ever-changing curves of the water.

Earthy tones, natural materials and timber finishes also anchor the retreat in its bushland surrounds. It’s enough to deepen the sense of calm you’ll experience as you drive off-grid, and this is only heightened as you spot kangaroos grazing at dawn or hear the chatter of native birds by the lake.

The dreamy sunset at Wilderluxe. — Go off-grid in style at Wilderluxe Lake Keepit.

Wilderluxe Lake Keepit dining

‘Dinner and a show’ hits differently with the property’s Big Sky dinner experience . Hosted in the Gilay Lounge, enjoy complimentary drinks and a grazing table with the host, followed by a screening of Big Sky Dreaming, a film produced exclusively for Wilderluxe guests in which Kamilaroi storyteller Uncle Len Waters narrates tales of the Dreaming above.

Once your imagination has been fed, it’s time to take a seat fireside for a glass of Australian port and a serving of s’mores.

Keen to explore the wider area? Staff can provide barbecue and picnic hampers, stuffed with regional meats, cheeses and organic local fare.

Wilderluxe Lake Keepit facilities

While you could very well spend all your time in your tent, sometimes it’s time to hit pause on the celestial show. Instead, make your way up to the Gilay Guest Lounge, where you can relax on the deck overlooking the lake or the outdoor fire pits. It’s a great way to unwind and clink glasses with other stargazers.

The Gilay Lounge with the view of the lake. — Unwind by the fire and raise a glass at Gilay Lounge.

Wilderluxe Lake Keepit experiences

No need to turn nocturnal; when the sun rises, there are still plenty of ways to touch the sky.

Lake Keepit hosted the 2020 Women’s World Gliding Championships, and it’s one of the best places in Australia to stretch your wings. The local Soaring Club operates year-round, meaning you can book a gliding experience any day of the year – or opt for a scenic flight to take in the vast beauty from above.

Prefer to keep your feet on solid ground? There are plenty of walking and cycling trails in and around the area. Luckily, bikes are part of the Wilderluxe package. All you have to do is ask a staff member for their favourite route, throw a picnic onto the back and cycle off into the great beyond.

Alternatively, nab a stand-up paddleboard (SUP) or kayak and head out onto the lake. Or, if you’re feeling lucky, borrow a fishing rod and try your chances.

A person kayaking through serene waters. — Paddle into peace.

The details

A two-night minimum twin-share accommodation package includes Big Sky dinner and drinks experience, plus daily continental breakfast. As well as access to leisure equipment including mountain bikes, kayaks, SUPs and fishing gear.

The interiors of the glamping tent. — Let nature restore you, while luxury takes care of the rest.

Start planning your outback glamping adventure at wilderluxe.com.au.