Pacific Coast Highway Tour

Start your tour of the Pacific Coast in the cosmopolitan city of Sydney. Spend your days exploring the iconic harbour area and the Opera House, as well as Harbour Bridge. Enjoy gourmet dining with views of the harbour in one of the restaurants dotted throughout the area. Our experts recommend the MV Sydney 2000 Harbour Cruise with Captain Cook. Enjoy a delicious menu and cocktails as you take in the spectacular views and watch shows and dancing, before joining in on the dance floor. Spend one of your evenings at the top of Shangri-La Sydney, enjoying a delicious cocktail or glass of local wine.

Depart Sydney today and head up north, stopping at Wollombi, which is just two hours away. Famous for its Aboriginal legends and history of convicts, it’s surrounded by beautiful bushlands and home to traditional Australian architecture. Drive through Millfield town, which is surrounded by rolling green countryside, before reaching Cessnock where you will be in the heart of the Hunter Valley wine region. Spend the afternoon enjoying a wine tasting class and try some of the local varieties alongside fresh produce grown in the surrounding farmlands. 

Travel northeast to Port Stephens, where you will find a beautiful natural bay surrounded by two volcanic headlands. Take in the spectacular views or wander along the beach, which stretches out over an area twice the size of Sydney Harbour. You may even be able to spot bottlenose dolphins from the beach. Try scuba diving trips or simply enjoy a chilled glass of wine alongside delicious fresh local seafood in one of the town’s restaurants. 

Set off north along the Pacific Highway and take in the ocean views as you drive to Port Macquarie. This is one of the oldest towns in the state and is well known as the mid-point between Brisbane and Sydney. Surrounded by luscious forests and overlooking the sea, with streets seeming to stretch into the ocean, stop off and make the most of this picturesque town. Set off again for Coffs Harbour, where you will spend the evening. Admire the views of the yachts bobbing in the bay and wander along the beach. The town is located in one of Australia’s tropical fruit growing areas and is ideal for those wanting to try delicious local produce.

Head to the very north of New South Wales, where you can stop in Byron Bay and admire the views over the ocean from the easternmost point in Australia.

Spend the day exploring Byron Bay at your own pace. It’s well known for its beautiful beaches and relaxed, bohemian culture. Choose to surf in the bay, try a yoga class or watch the fire shows as the sun sets. There are some excellent restaurants serving delicious local produce and healthy options, as well as smoothie shacks, laid back cafés and more.

For some spectacular views head to Cape Byron Lighthouse, or visit The Farm, which offers 80 acres of beautiful gardens to explore. Learn about their sustainable farming practices before enjoying a meal in the bakery, picking up local produce in the onsite shop or visiting the florist.  

Depart Byron Bay before making your way along the Gold Coast, taking in the 70kms of golden sandy beaches which give the area its name. Visit Surfer’s Paradise and take a surfing lesson, pick up gifts and souvenirs in one of the many large shopping centres or enjoy one of the trendy restaurants in the town.

From theme parks to casinos and live shows, there’s plenty of entertainment here as well. Nature lovers should explore the sub-tropical forests which can be found stretching inland from the coast in the Hinterland. Here you’ll find three national parks, as well as craggy mountains, ideal for walks and hikes.

Continue driving north, through Tamborine National Park. Choose to stop off in Queensland’s first national park and enjoy bush walks, swim in waterfalls and swimming holes or visit a lookout for some incredible views. Finish the day in Brisbane, which is Southern Queensland’s largest city and home to an array of activities and attractions.

Spend the day exploring the lively city of Brisbane and make the most of its many attractions. Queen Street Mall is ideal for those wanting to pick up clothes, accessories, trinkets and gifts, before stopping off to enjoy the many restaurants, bars and cafés which can be found here.

Our experts recommend choosing a boat cruise, which will take you along Brisbane River to the world’s largest Koala Sanctuary. Get up close to these little creatures and learn about their history, environment and challenges.

Continue north to Noosa, which is located along the area nicknamed Australia’s Nature Coast. Known for its beautiful white sandy beaches and clear waters, you can spend the day relaxing in the sun or take to the seas with a surf board. The town itself is home to chic Hastings Street, which is completely pedestrianised, and allows you to soak in the relaxed atmosphere, wandering the streets and ducking into shops and restaurants. 

Head off on a coach tour of K'gari (Fraser Island), which is the world’s largest sand island. This full day tour begins with a journey across Noosa River, on your way to Cooloola National Park. Stop off in Teewah, where you can enjoy beautiful coastal views, before getting out of the bus at Rainbow Beach for a cup of tea as you soak in the views of the colourful sands which lead into the clear waters.

Drive along the sands of Seventy-Five Mile Beach before your rainforest walk where you can admire the green canopies above and twisted roots below. Swim in the crystal clear waters of Lake McKensie, where the sands seem impossibly white and stop off for lunch on a remote beach before returning to Noosa.

Spend a relaxed day exploring the town of Noosa. Our experts recommend visiting Noosa Everglades, a long stretch of narrow river with a mirrored surface, surrounded by emerald green trees. Over 44% of Australia’s birdlife resides in the area, with 1,365 species of plants to discover. See the area by kayak or explore the Everglades for yourself. Alternatively, try horse riding or mountain biking in the Hinterland, take a surfing lesson or spend the day relaxing on the soft sands of the beach.

Drive 30 minutes south to the Sunshine Coast, where you can spend two days exploring at your own pace. The area is famous for its gorgeous beaches and surf, as well as beautiful rainforests where you can see some of the wildlife the area is known for.

The Glasshouse Mountains are ideal for hiking and mountain biking, while in Nambour town you can see the Big Pineapple before heading to the trendy shops. Golf lovers will find championship courses in the area, while scuba divers can book excursions and trips along the coast.