The classic road trip has long been a rite of passage for Australian families. There are now more ways than ever to journey through NSW. 

It’s a journey made by generations of Australians, myself included. Every summer when I was a child, we’d pack our station wagon to the roof and wind our way up the coast from Sydney towards northern NSW, Disney tapes playing in the cassette player. We’d look out for familiar landmarks along the way: Leyland Brothers World on the Central Coast, the Big Banana at Coffs Harbour. 

Little did I know that decades later, I’d make the same drive countless more times with my own son in tow. The station wagon has been replaced by an SUV, and the cassette tapes by an iPad, but some things haven’t changed. As we approach the Big Banana he looks out the window, eyes wide with excitement. “Which side of the road is it on, Mummy?"  

Sure, it’s just a road, but it’s really about what it represents: long, carefree days with family and friends, ice creams melting in the heat, saltwater, sand and sunburn. It’s the road to summer, and all the memories that come with it. 

The coastal route 

On today’s freeways, the drive from Sydney to northern NSW takes eight or nine hours. But it’s better to take your time, stopping for swims at uncrowded beaches, tucking into fish and chips in riverside parks and staying overnight in the old-school towns along the way. 

Start in the Barrington Coast town of Forster, where the Great Lakes meet the ocean. You can hire a tinnie to explore the turquoise waters, pick up oysters from a tin shed on the lake, then join the queue for gelato in the main street. Continue on to South West Rocks, where the historic Trial Bay Gaol is well worth the detour. The beaches of Arakoon National Park also beckon, with stand-up paddleboarding and daring leaps from Back Creek Bridge adding a dose of adventure.  

Further north, Nambucca Heads is made for a long, lazy lunch, followed by a wander along the V-Wall outdoor gallery along the breakwater at the mouth of the Nambucca River. 

Then comes Yamba, one of the coast’s great end-of-the-road towns. Swim in the ocean pool, walk the breakwall or make the short trip to Angourie’s famous blue and green pools. A stay at Blue Dolphin Yamba is holiday nirvana for kids with its Clarence River setting, water park and pump track (parents don’t mind the pool bar, either). While the historic Pacific Hotel is a classic pub stop with a cliffhanger position right above Main Beach. Then it’s onwards past Ballina for an easy run towards the border. 

The inland route 

Why choose between the coast and the country when you can do both? Take the coastal route one way and return via the inland route, or vice versa, for a road trip that gives you two very different yet glorious views of NSW. The inland journey takes around the same time, but instead offers wide-open skies, rolling countryside and a bucolic patchwork of farmhouses, grazing cows, granite boulders and sleepy country towns. 

Make Dubbo your first major stop, where a night at Taronga Western Plains Zoo turns the trip into an adventure of its own; waking to the animals’ sounds is a memorable way to experience the region. In town, visit Dubbo School of Distance Education to get a glimpse into the unique way students spread through remote NSW learn and connect. 

Continue north to Tamworth, Australia’s country music capital, where the 12-metre-tall Big Golden Guitar makes an irresistible photo opportunity. Dive into the city’s musical heritage at the guitar-shaped Australian Country Music Hall of Fame before winding your way towards Armidale. Allow time to explore the national parks surrounding the city, where waterfalls, escarpments, ancient forests and granite country offer a spectacular counterpoint to the gentler farmland behind you. 

Switch road for rail 

Train travel has a way of making Australia’s scale feel wonderfully tangible. On Journey Beyond’s Great Southern rail journey the landscape becomes the entertainment, from rainforests and rolling green hills to lush valleys showcasing trickling creeks, yellow-sand beaches, open fields and farms dotted with windmills and rusty tin sheds.  

Departing Brisbane, the four-day, three-night journey heads south through northern NSW, with the bright orange locomotive pulling you onwards while friendly service, good food and ever-changing views replace the rush of airports and motorways. In Coffs Harbour, step off for a memorable beachside dining experience. Later, choose your own adventure from historic Maitland Station: you can explore Newcastle on foot, visit the historic vineyards of the Hunter Valley, or discover Port Stephens by land or sea on a cruise spotting dolphins. These experiences, or ‘whistle stops’, are designed to bring regional food, wine, art and culture into the journey, rather than simply passing through. 

Back on board, the crew transforms your private cabin from lounge seating by day into comfortable beds at night as you enjoy dinner in the Queen Adelaide Restaurant. It offers an elegant, relaxed dining experience featuring regionally inspired cuisine and fresh local produce, complemented by fine Australian wines. 

By the time the train reaches Adelaide, after passing through Victoria, you’ve travelled through a remarkable slice of the country – and savoured some of the best of NSW along the way. 

Make an electric trip 

There are now thousands of public EV chargers across NSW, so travelling in an EV has become a solid option. You can plug in while you enjoy lunch in a cosy pub, browse a gallery or explore the main street; by the time you’re ready to roll, so is the car.  

For a taste of regional NSW, follow the five-day, 420-kilometre Classic Country Road Trip, winding through historic towns, wine country and the gold rush heartland. The route heads inland through the Southern Tablelands and Riverina Murray, taking in the likes of Yass and the Hilltops region (Young is a standout for its orchards and seasonal cherries), before continuing through quintessential rural landscapes towards the Riverina.  

Visit the historic twin towns of Harden–Murrumburrah to explore the Antique Trail, browsing treasures and vintage pubs before visiting the Light Horse Memorial and enjoying a pie from the famous Jackson’s Bakery & Cafe. In Cootamundra, discover Donald Bradman’s birthplace and wander along the Captains’ Walk, which celebrates Australia’s cricketing greats.  

Finish in the charming riverside village of Jugiong, where 1800s hotel The Sir George, the popular Long Track Pantry and Jugiong Country Experience are all worth checking out; the latter features a comedic coach hold-up by a ‘bungling bushranger’ who doubles as your tour guide.  

The official itinerary maps EV chargers along the route, with many positioned close to attractions and accommodation, so charging can simply become part of your day. It’s a country road trip without the costly petrol station pit stops.