The Ultimate New South Wales Road Trip | Guide + Planner

Itching to get on the road again and looking for some holiday gems? A New South Wales road trip can quench your travel thirst by delivering a colourful palette of bewitching landscapes, spectacular coastal drives, vibrant culture, rustic rural vibes, and a vast network of national parks to explore. Whether you’re leaving Sydney in your RV or towing a caravan from beautiful Byron Bay, NSW has all the holiday favourites, along with impeccable produce to keep you nourished on the road and at the table. Use our NSW road trip planner to map your next motorhome adventure, with a few optional detours to suit your travel style.

NSW Road Trip Essentials: No Passport Required

Skip the jet lag and stay local with our 3-week RV touring holiday itinerary. NSW's well-connected road network gives easy access from metro to regional areas with plenty of motorhome-friendly powered sites, dump points, free camps, and rest stops throughout. Before heading out, check your gear, tyre pressure, water tanks, and pack the levelling ramps. Purchase the appropriate NSW National Parks Passes to avoid being stranded at remote sites. Note that spring and autumn are the most comfortable times to travel in NSW.

Day 1-2. Sydney to Jervis Bay (via Royal National Park)

Jervis Bay Kick off your adventure with one of Australia’s most picturesque coastal drives. Head south through the national park, then hug the Illawarra escarpment along the breathtaking 665m Sea Cliff Bridge. Stop at lookouts and beaches along the way before seeing Kiama’s blowhole, then roll into Jervis Bay for a dip in the crystal waters of Hyams Beach. Distance: 200km. Drive time: 3 hrs

Day 3-4. Jervis Bay (optional Bowral Day Trip)

Spend the day lazing on the region’s renowned white sandy beaches, enjoy a dolphin cruise or snorkel at Green Patch beach. For a charming inland detour, head to Bowral in the Southern Highlands to explore boutiques, antique stores, gourmet restaurants and charming cafes. Sports fans can visit the Bradman Museum. If travelling in September, explore the stunning displays at Corbett Gardens’ annual Spring Flower Festival, or take the 20-minute drive to Fitzroy Falls in Morton National Park. Day Trip Distance: 130km (one way). Drive time: 1.5 hrs (one way)

Day 5. Jervis Bay to Bega (via Batemans Bay & Tilba)

Batemans Bay Cruise the Eurobodalla Coast for lush scenery, gourmet temptations, and artisanal produce. Stop in Moruya and Batemans Bay for water fun, and visit Central Tilba for a charming heritage village with a rich Indigenous history of special significance to the local Yuin people. Then head south to Bega, home to the renowned Bega Cheese Heritage Centre. Distance: 230km. Drive time: 3 hrs

Day 6. Bega to Jindabyne (NSW Snowy Mountains)

Round out the southern part of your NSW road trip by heading inland to the Snowies. Cooma is the gateway to stunning alpine vistas and a hub for outdoor activities. Base yourself in Jindabyne and explore Kosciuszko National Park, where you can walk to waterfalls and stop for the views. Consider visiting again in winter to hit the piste at the region’s major ski resorts at Thredbo and Perisher. Distance: 156km. Drive Time: 2 hrs 10 min

Day 7. Snowy Mountains

Lake Jindabyne Explore the breathtaking beauty of the NSW Snowies outside of the winter snow season. Enjoy the thaw by kayaking, paddleboarding, or fishing on Lake Jindabyne. Thredbo offers downhill and cross-country mountain biking, while its many hiking trails provide panoramic views and decent workouts.

Day 8-9. Jindabyne to Wagga Wagga (via Yarrangobilly Caves and Tumut)

Leave the Snowy Mountains behind and travel northwest through the national park. Detours are ideal for travellers who want more wilderness and fewer crowds. So plan to see the impressive limestone formations of Yarrangobilly Caves near Talbingo and plunge into the thermal pool. Continue through Tumut, a charming riverside town, before reaching Wagga Wagga, Australia’s largest inland city. Distance: 300km. Drive time: 4.5 hrs

Day 10-11. Wagga Wagga to Orange (via Junee and Cowra)

Explore the Central Tablelands' agricultural food stops and historic Riverina towns for gastronomic treats and unique attractions. Cowra’s POW camp and World War II battle history are well worth a look, as is Junee’s impressive roundhouse and rail museum. Orange hosts a wine festival and offers delicious produce via long lunches, rooftop dinners, and vineyard strolls. Distance: 320km. Drive Time: 5.5 hrs Optional Detour: If you’ve plenty of time, visit the Blue Mountains driving via Bathurst and Lithgow. Soak up the views at Echo Point, admire the iconic Three Sisters, and browse Leura’s boutiques and cafes.

Day 12-13. Orange to Parkes (via Canowindra)

Head northwest to Canowindra, a beautifully preserved historic town with a vibrant arts scene. If you’ve always wanted to try hot air ballooning, this is the place to do it. Go back in time at the Age of Fishes Museum with its extraordinary 360-million-year-old fossils. Continue on to Parkes, where you can see the iconic Dish, made famous for its role in viewing the first moon landing in 1969, and explore the Henry Parkes Centre for its diverse exhibits. Distance: 165km. Drive time: 2 hrs 20 min Optional Detour: From Parkes, take an overnight trip to Warrumbungle National Park, Australia’s only Dark Sky Park, which restricts light pollution to maintain naturally dark night skies. Camp under the stars near Coonabarabran, hike volcanic landscapes, and visit the Siding Spring Observatory for a cosmic perspective. Distance: 265km. Drive time: 3 hrs

Day 14. Parkes to Mudgee

Whether you’ve driven out from Parkes or taken the trip out to see the Dark Sky preserve, as you travel to Mudgee, plan to enjoy a stop in Gulgong. The historic Gold Rush town offers time-frozen 19th-century architecture, mining lore, and insights into how poet Henry Lawson’s boyhood years in the town influenced his poetry. Mudgee presents a delightful tasting plate of sophisticated adventures, with a thriving food and wine scene, where you can indulge in gourmet temptations and relaxed country living. Distance: 202km. Drive Time: 2 hrs 20 min

Day 15. Mudgee to Hunter Valley

Hunter Valley Wine lovers will adore this stretch. Roll into the Hunter Valley for a glorious spread of beautiful vineyard views, leading to cellar doors for cheese and wine tastings and the latest varietals. Book a hot air balloon ride or take the day to unwind with luxury spa treatments. Distance: 307km. Drive time: 4 hrs

Day 16-17. The Hunter to Tamworth (optional Armidale route)

To cruise sun-dappled country roads, take the 444km scenic route north via the New England Highway towards Armidale, then loop west to Tamworth for transforming topography. Let Armidale embrace you with its colonial charm, cool-climate gardens, and nearby gorges. Enjoy a break at Dangars Falls or the New England Regional Art Museum before continuing on to Australia’s country music capital, Tamworth, for a wealth of family-friendly activities. Distance: 210km (direct). Drive time: 2 hrs 40 min Optional Detour: Walcha and Oxley Wild Rivers National Park

Day 18. Tamworth to Byron Bay (via Coffs Harbour and Yamba)

Byron Bay Set out early for a beautiful drive that transitions from fertile farmland to the sunny seaside towns of the idyllic NSW North Coast. Head east through Bellingen, before reaching Coffs Harbour for a stroll along the Jetty Foreshore, visit the Big Banana Fun Park, take a dip at Jetty Beach or explore the Muttonbird Island Nature Reserve. Driving further north, if you want to stop at beachy towns like Woolgoolga, you’ll need to take the exits as the new Pacific Highway bypasses many of these sleepy spots. Surfers can check the waves at Yamba, Byron’s quieter cousin, and oyster lovers will want to stop for locally grown Sydney rock oysters. Byron Bay is all about lighthouse walks, fine dining, markets, a hip traveller vibe and laid-back coastal bliss. Distance: 466km. Drive time: 5hrs 40 min

Day 19-21. Byron Bay to Sydney (via Port Macquarie and Port Stephens)

Port Stephens Your return journey south is best broken up into stops, starting with Port Macquarie, a charming coastal town with the kind of beaches, shopping, and cafes that make it ideal for a restful overnight family stay. The next day, head to Port Stephens, known for its dolphin cruises, sand dune adventures, and calm bays. Sneak in a lunch stop in Newcastle’s Darby Street cafes or Honeysuckle Foreshore and be mesmerised by the shimmering water, bobbing boats and big ships hauling in and out of the harbour before completing your loop back to Sydney. Distance: 760km. Drive time: 8 hrs in one go

Final Tips for Your NSW Road Trip

Planning makes perfect for a journey this long. So make sure you’re all set to go with: Fuel stops mapped out for remote areas like the Snowies If you can, avoid driving country roads at dusk, as it’s peak kangaroo hour Take your time, each spot deserves more if you can spare it Respect local signs about overnight parking or camping Use roadside rest areas for safer driving

NSW Road Trip Planner: Fuel Your Wanderlust

From white-sand beaches and alpine adventures to wine regions and lush hinterlands, this NSW road trip planner will take you on a breathtaking loop from Sydney and back, with all the magic in between. You don’t need a passport – just a full tank and a taste for adventure. If you’re looking at breaking in a brand-new Windsor RV on a NSW road trip, talk to our friendly expert team about the best model to get you to all the iconic spots in style.