Getting to the North Coast

There are plenty of ways you can get to the North Coast of NSW. Pack the car for a classic Aussie road trip, fly into a regional airport or hop aboard a train or bus and enjoy the scenery. Get ready to discover stretches of empty beaches, pristine rivers, World Heritage rainforest and waves dotted with playful dolphins.

By road

The Legendary Pacific Coast Drive winds along more than 800km of gorgeous coastline, passing through national parks, quaint seaside fishing and surfing towns and rustic hinterland villages set amongst native bush. It’s easy to explore, with a huge range of travel options to choose from.

The route takes you from Sydney all the way along the North Coast right up to Tweed Heads. Whether you’re travelling north or south, or wanting a break in a special location, the interactive map will help you find great places to stay, things to do and delicious places to eat.

By air

Take your pick of domestic airlines Jetstar, Qantas, Regional Express (Rex) and Virgin Australia to fly to many destinations up and down the North Coast. These include Newcastle, Taree, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Grafton, Lismore and Ballina. Coolangatta Airport in Queensland is also just a short drive over the border. You can then hire a car and get on the road to explore.

By train or bus

The North Coast train line runs between Sydney and Brisbane with more than 20 stops along the way. The trip between Sydney and Newcastle, the second-largest city in NSW, takes about 2hr 30min. From there, you can catch a bus to seaside favourites Port Stephens, Tea Gardens or Blueys Beach.

Heading further north, Taree, Kempsey, Coffs Harbour, Grafton and Casino are all stops on the line with bus connections to nearby towns. The longest journey, between Sydney and Kyogle (close to the Queensland border) would take around 12 hours. Use the Transport for NSW trip planner to check routes and timetables.