Stretching from the Hawkesbury River to the border town of Tweed Heads, the New South Wales North Coast encompasses beautiful beaches, subtropical rainforests and charming coastal towns. It’s traversed by the Pacific Highway, which provides the starting point for scenic drives that include the Rainforest Way and the Waterfall Way.
Soak up the views across the North Coast from the Cape Byron Lighthouse, a whitewashed icon that watches over the surf beaches, organic eateries and farmers’ markets of Byron Bay. For a creative fix, head south to the explore Coffs Coast Arts & Culture Trail, which takes in boutique galleries, public sculptures and innovative museums.
Sprawling across an inland plateau is Dorrigo National Park, which is home to spectacular waterfalls and the treetop Skywalk. Walking trails also traverse the World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforests of Barrington Tops National Park, a magnificent wilderness just a short drive from the beaches of Pacific Palms.
Getting there
Newcastle Airport serves the southern part of the North Coast while Ballina Byron Gateway Airport is in the north, with both offering flights across Australia. Buses connect major towns and cities along the coastline while renting a car gives you greater freedom to explore the region.