Nelson Bay is a significant township of the Port Stephens local government area in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. A stroll around the point to nearby Snapper Rocks can also give you an increased chance of seeing whales passing on their annual migration throughout the year's cooler months. Ill work in order from Sydney to the Sunshine Coast heading north in the list below and Ill also put them all into a map so you can get an idea of where they sit in relation to each other. A great landmark to visit, when we were visiting a rainbow just appeared on the ocean. It was well worth the walk up there and they now have seats and a great lookout platform hanging over the cliff (I wasn't crazy enough to lean over but my friends did.). Nice Milky Way viewing at night, no light pollution. Hence the status as a World Surf Reserve. Pack some brunch and enjoy relaxed time with family on sunny warm bench. Remains of a 19th-century prison featuring a museum & memorial located on a scenic peninsula. Make sure to encourage your kids to touch Dolphins and feed the fishes. Check out the Forster Ocean Baths, its kid swim heaven. 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. Located at Sealy Lookout in Bruxner Park Flora Reserve, the architectural site offers a spectacular panorama of the citys rainforest and canopy. The most famous surf break on the coast has to be Snapper Rocks. Theres plenty of Cafes, restaurants hotels that serve fine dining and or fast food. Really lovely and not yet crazy busy like Byron. He was a local surveyor, and the weatherboard home was occupied by John Flynns descendants until 1979. Just under three hours north of Sydney, Newcastle combines a city landscape with the guise of a beach-side town. Snapper Rocks is famous for more than just being ridiculously good looking. Another reason to visit Kirra Beach is not only the beach itself, but also the range of beautiful Gold Coast scenery that it has to offer with scenic footpaths, headland, golden sand and greenery all combining to make it a picturesque locale. Now boasting 6 fantastic attractions including a 600m Toboggan Track, state of the art Laser Tag arena, a brand new Water Park including 4 heart stopping thrill slides and kids aqua play area, a magnificently sculpted 36 hole Mini Golf course, a Theatre and Plantation tour, an Ice Skating rink, Gift shop, Caf, Candy Kitchen and Nursery. While one parent surfs the large breaks at the point, the other can hang with younger kids on the wide sandy area of Kirra Beach. If you think the drive up the mountain to Sealy Lookout, with its windy road and sleepy banana plantations, was spectacular, you havent seen anything yet. Better early in the morning or by sunset. What a great experience for the family. Great surf beaches, awesome cafes and a cool live music event that happens once a month on the grassy area right on the beach called Peregian Originals. They also have a variety of food items and sweets as you sip and enjoy the sweeping views of the sea. This is a pretty big town with plenty of accomodation options. Always such a pretty beach. Entry is free but you can donate while you are there which is a beautiful feeling. A beautiful town right on a great surf beach. After I left Bird Island, I drove there immediately. Because it is rich in bananas, this rhubarb banana has become a local symbol. Alligator and crocodile talks were the best for me. The Seal and Dolphin shows are highlights. The lighthouse is incredibly picturesque and quite unique in its features. Dolphin Marine Magic is a place where life-long memories and experience happen every day. Stunning views south to Surfer Paradise, very well kept area considering how many people utilise it!! Billabong Zoo is known for its koala breeding centre. Mick Fanning and Co. love it. It depends on when you visit! Second Head Lookout Forster Beneath the lookout is Pebbly Beach, where the path meanders past the Tanks to the section known as Frewin's Walk. The largest amusement park between Sydney and the Gold Coast is right here in Coffs Harbour. Families, surfers & swimmers frequent this scenic beach with city views & access to restaurants. We will visit again if we come to Port Macquarie. A few things to note if you go here, take a container to transport your strawberries. Great beach. 4.5 to 5 hours north of Sydney. Restaurant was too busy so we did not end up eating there (due to covid we are avoiding crowded indoor place). It's a good place to see and know about Australian native animals. The alligators here amazing and the number of them that are maintained well in a water body with in park is amazing to watch. The cafe/restaurant was very good. Other popular stops include SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, Raging Waters Sydney, and Flagstaff Point Lighthouse (Wollongong Head). For over a century now Kirra Beach has been a popular vacation destination thanks to its sun-kissed sands and sensational surf spots. Conservation and education are the focus at this unique marine park. The walks can be up to 1-2 hours but is definitely worth it for the views and waterfalls. Do yourself a favour and take the 6km drive off the Pacific Highway (north of Coffs Harbour) through the banana plantations and into the lush green Orara East State Forest. CITIES BETWEEN. 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. texas basketball camps 2022; mikhail and sarina abramovich About : The Forest Sky Pier is situated in theBruxner Park Flora Reserve and is famous for standing about 15 meters above the forest floor. Read about the 40 best attractions and cities to stop in between Sydney and Melbourne, including places like Canberra, Scenic World, and Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park . The mountain is a bit stif to drive but the road is nicely done enough to let 2 cars pass by. Some well done, some kindergarten level, all with a story! We learned scuba diving in Terrigal Haven. Ample parking spaces. Get some that are less ripe. Ive managed to miss Nambucca for years and just drove right on by until recently and Im so glad I finally stopped by! Bakers Rd, Natural Bridge QLD 4211, Australia. And thats before we come to the 2019-2020 bushfires that devastated a huge portion of their habitat. And with us there are no hidden fees - what you see is what you pay. Built in 1879 on a rocky outcrop, this spot is perfect for some great photos of the coastline. Very interesting building providing great views at the top. The landmark, walk-through Big Banana may have been the first of the monumental Big Things that are dotted around Australia. Ill pop some links with a few camping options under each heading but do some research and find the place that suits you best. Easy 100m to the top viewing platform, small playground, picnic tables & toilets here. If you want to walk along the 1.3km Rainforest Boardwalk it will cost $9 for adults. Cities Between. Here in the Orara East State Forest the Sky Pier is set atop an escarpment, 310 metres above the coast and projecting more than 20 metres over the edge of the lookout. The staff member was a lady with a bun, she was so lovely. With high cascading waves and the breaks, this beach has the perfect natural conditions for surfing on the water. A community of growers and producers share this photogenic, 32-hectare green oasis just outside Byron, along with the Three Blue Ducks restaurant, a produce store, a bakery, an ice-creamery and a florist. A guided tour is included in the price or you can walk along the boardwalk alone if you wish. Plan ahead and have your brekky or lunch delivered DIRECT TO SANDY POINT we will have it there for you at completion of your kayak experience! Halfway between Forster and Sydney To reach the midway point from Sydney to Forster, you would fly roughly 113 km from Forster to the halfway stop. Aussies love their BIG things and therefore you cannot miss The Big Banana in Coffs Harbour!. 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. There is also some great camping available on the headland overlooking the ocean at Trial Bay Gaol. 46 Marine Parade, The Entrance NSW 2261, Australia. Coffs Harbour is also a beautiful seaside town. The 4D theatre was amazing. Please walk from the start all the way around to the lighthouse, such a beautiful landscape. 311 km to go, or 3 hr 32 min. Cape Byron Lighthouse is probably the most famous photo spot in Byron Bay. The short but very steep walk from the car park up to the lighthouse needs to be taken slowly with frequent breaks to study the view. Complete with a garden, barbecue facilities and a terrace, Twin Palms Holiday House at Lighthouse is situated in Port Macquarie, 7 km from Port Macquarie Marina and 9 km from Port Macquarie Regional Stadium. Lots of jams and chutney to choose from. Nice view for hiking/exercises. Australias 13th-oldest lighthouse, Tacking Point Lighthouse was built in 1879 after more than 20 ships were wrecked on the coast around Port Macquarie. There are variety of birds and reptiles here. We are hoping the place would provide more outdoor seating in the future. Port Macquarie is a town at the mouth of the Hastings River in New South Wales, Australia. Saw a powerful owl! 13 minutes off the main route, 21% of way to the Gold Coast. The Sturt Highway stretches 947km from the Hume Highway (M31) in Tarcutta, NSW to Northern Expressway (M2) in Gawler, SA. A visit to the Sea Acres Rainforest Centre in Port Macquarie is a great way to get a real feel for this areas rainforest. This was infinatiely better than other penal colonies and gaols I have visited (looking at you port Arthur), however Castel st Angelo in rome is probably the best gaol. Built in search to find the best places so you dont have to open 50 more tabs. This small rocky headland among the Gold coast beaches is one of the worlds premier surf breaks. Offering incredible experiences swimming with dolphins, and a daily presentation, this is a fascinating way to experience some of natures most amazing creatures. The air-conditioned accommodation is 1.6 km from Lighthouse Beach, and guests benefit from private parking available on site and free WiFi. Beautiful beaches and an amazing rivermouth that is the bluest of blue, Im always amazed how stunning it is every time I drive over the bridge between the two towns. Built in 1964 as a way to encourage travellers to stop at a road-side banana stall, the Big Banana was Australias first Big Thing and still manages to stop traffic today. Very popular location with friendly atmosphere, great for families, couples for romances or family get togethers. Pick up a self-guided-tour map and roam the veggie plots and cattle-and-pig-dotted fields. The top cities between Sydney and Forster are Cessnock, Mosman, Newcastle, Pokolbin, Port Stephens, Nelson Bay, Blacktown, Manly, and North Sydney. 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. Cape Byron State Conservation Park is on a headland with a lighthouse. Would love to go again and suss out the local hiking trails. Whichever the case may be. From planning your day perspective you can visit in the morning and go with each talk or other option to visit in the afternoon as all the talks repeat in the second half. Between June and November, humpback whales can be spotted from headland viewpoints such as the Captain Cook Lookout. Easy access for parking and viewing the Centre, as well as the boardwalk. It offers the best chance I have experienced to get up close to these animals in a way that is as animal friendly as it can be with small crowds and without paying a fortune. Coffs Harbour is a city on the north coast of New South Wales, Australia. We enjoyed every moment and it was amazing to see that even during this challenging COVID19 situation, kids having a good time with huge smiles on their faces!There holidays were paid off after visiting that place.Highly recommend The Big Banana Fun Park! [Scenery] The banana is in Coffs Harbour. In more ways than one. Parking was sufficient at the time but when the weather is good or when it's summer you might struggle to find a spot. This iconic spot offers amazing surf and gorgeous views. It was such a fun activity for the whole family. TOP TIP Cape Byron Lighthouse is a lot busier on the weekend, so if you can I would come midweek. Dolphin show is a highlight. The tour is well worth the admission. St. Thomas' Anglican Church was built by convicts in the 19th century. Not close to anything really so take what you need in with you. Sea Acres Rainforest Centre is the ideal place to begin your fascinating journey through Sea Acres National Park, near Port Macquarie. One of Australias original big icons, this destination has something for everyone. 351 Pacific Hwy, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450, Australia. Press the question mark key to get the keyboard shortcuts for changing dates. The introductory video is 10 minutes and the grounds are a reasonable size. Known for its iconic Big Banana, Coffs Harbour is one of only a couple of towns not bypassed in the upgrade of the Pacific Highway, with the multilane road taking you straight through the . You cant go past Noosa, its busy these days but so worth the visit. There are bathrooms and picnic facilities close by as well. Very short route which is a bit overpriced, they even charge $1 for one paper map after paying for tickets already. Set just south of Currumbin Beach, it has a lovely laid back feel to it with cozy cafes and weatherboard beach shacks lying alongside the ocean. The passionate dedication to traditional and sustainable practices here is both a working ethos and an educational mission. One of the oldest lighthouses in Australia, Tacking Point Lighthouse is a historic treasure of Port Macquarie. After our 7 Day South Coast Road Trip where we drove all the way to Mount Kosciuszko (Australias Tallest Peak) we wanted to see more. We stayed at a place called, driving betweenSydney & Byron Bay with kids, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHhkEw2uAv0, The car seat head flop & how we fixed it, eventually, Festivals with kids Handy stuff to know before you go. This indoor-outdoor facility is home to a gift shop and is open to the public. The best customer service ever. Definitely worth a visit when youre in this area. One of the very beautiful waterfalls I have seen. Foster is nice and also Byron Bay is popular among back packers. 130 Lighthouse Rd, Byron Bay NSW 2481, Australia, 201 Lighthouse Rd, Byron Bay NSW 2481, Australia. The Big Banana Fun Park has a brand new giant slide named The Racer. Driving around the area was a little confusing also as its on the border of NSW and QLD, and daylight savings was in effect and our clock kept changing. Kirra Point's small rocky headland serves to separate Kirra Beach on the North from the main Coolangatta beach to the south, and is often regarded as one of the world's premier surf breaks, with multiple surfing competitions - both professional and amateur - held here throughout the year. Lovely place to visit. Well it's quite a walk up the hill but I took some water and got up to the top and wow what have you if you make the trip up the mountain it is well worth it lot of spots it's quite easy the pathway is a lot better than what it used to be they spend a bit of time fixing up the path I do recommend going up the hill if you have the time the views are excellent from mwh. It is free to access the Sea Acres Rainforest Centre where you can learn about the Aboriginal culture and rainforest, as well as see exhibitions by local artists. Surf life savers on guard. Newcastle is a harbour city in the Australian state of New South Wales. "This lookout pier is 15 m. high, extends out 21 m. & offers sweeping views of the mountains & coast. Popped in for a quick snack and beverage when viewing the lighthouse. I could spend weeks at a time in Byron Bay, its just one of the coolest places to hang out in Oz. If youre going on a road trip from Sydney to the Gold Coast, we did the research for you and compiled some great stops along the way with Cessnock, Port Macquarie, Byron Bay, Coffs Harbour, Newcastle, Pokolbin, and Nelson Bay and top places to visit like Pittwater Kayak Tours and Australian Reptile Park, or the ever-popular Palm Beach. It is definitely worth a visit, if only to have your photo taken with the banana and to have a chocolate coated, frozen banana soooooo good! Parking can be challenging on public holidays but drive around and youll eventually snag a parking spot especially in the Haven. The state forest is home to a number of walking tracks and lookouts, so it is easy to spend a day here exploring. 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. Now boasting much more than just the giant banana, its also home to a water park, ice-skating rink, giant slide, mini golf course and a 650m toboggan ride overlooking the Pacific Ocean, meaning theres plenty to see and do if youre either young or young at heart. Lighthouse Rd, Port Macquarie NSW 2444, Australia. Flex your dates to find the best SYD-FOT flight fares. Save all the best places to visit with Wanderlog, Download the travel planning app everyone's been raving about, https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/visitor-centres/sea-acres-rainforest-centre?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=Google+My+Business+Page, https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/historic-buildings-places/smoky-cape-lighthouse?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=Google+My+Business+Page, https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/historic-buildings-places/trial-bay-gaol?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=Google+My+Business+Page, https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/dorrigo-national-park?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=Google+My+Business+Page, https://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/north-coast/coffs-harbour-area/dorrigo/attractions/dangar-falls, http://www.dolphinmarineconservation.com.au/, Solitary Islands Village - The Premier Over 55 Retirement Village, http://www.forestrycorporation.com.au/visit, https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/lookouts/minyon-falls-lookout?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=Google+My+Business+Page, https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/walking-tracks/cape-byron-walking-track?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=Google+My+Business+Page, https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/cafes-and-kiosks/cape-byron-lighthouse-cafe?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=Google+My+Business+Page, https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/springbrook?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=gmb&utm_content=natural-bridge, Sydney to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park drive. 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