Explore Australia's Pacific Coast
With a few nights stay in the magnificent city of Sydney, that sits on a natural harbour - use your time here to visit some wonderful sights.
From the world-famous Sydney Opera House to the iron-grey struts of the Sydney Harbour Bridge – I highly recommend walking over the top of Sydney Harbour Bridge and also the hop-on-hop-off bus which has a couple of different routes including Bondi Beach. Also live like a local and hop on one of the green and gold ferries that weave their way back and forth across the harbour to Manly, renowned for its surf breaks and laid-back vibe. With so many choices from city-life – will you be able to fit it all in?
At the end of your stay, travel on to Hunter Valley, Australia’s oldest wine region and just a 90-minute drive from the city. The region is blessed with a number of cellar doors at both big-name, renowned wineries as well as small, family-owned vineyards. Travel North along the Coast and you’ll find dolphins in Port Stephens plus Rick Stein’s newest Australian incarnation, Bannisters, which is found at Bannisters Port Stephens. This is known for its marine life and home to a pod of resident dolphins in the bay.
From your stay here, continue North to the popular holiday resort of Coffs Harbour. It truly has amazing beaches, the Marine Park and the Big Banana monument!
After a nights’ stay, head to Byron Bay which is a beachside town located in the far-northeastern corner of the state of New South Wales. There are several beaches that are popular for surfing and the scenery attracts skydivers. An ocean-way path allows visitors to walk and cycle from the town-centre to Cape Byron Lighthouse. Use time here to catch the stunning orange sunsets with a cold beer - it will take your breath away. This area is noted for its wildlife, with whale watching a significant contributor to the local economy. Temperate and tropical waters merge here, making it a popular place for scuba diving and snorkelling.
End your stay in the capital of Queensland, Brisbane. This is the most populated city here and the 3rd most populated in Australia. Major landmarks and attractions include South Bank Parklands, the Queensland Cultural Centre (home to the Queensland Museum, the Art Gallery and other institutions), Fortitude Valley, the Riverwalk network, the D'Aguilar National Park, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary and so much more.
Immediately to the south and north of Brisbane are the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast respectively, which are home to several of Australia's most popular swimming and surfing beaches.
I hope this provides a real taster of experiences from this Pacific Coast itinerary - it is well worth doing, I loved every minute, it was an incredible adventure to fulfil
If you are looking to do something similar, get in touch – the question is when would you like to go?