3-Day Sydney to Port Stephens Road Trip with JUCY World

6 June 2016

Road tripping along the beautiful New South Wales coast is an amazing experience that everyone should do at least once. We sent nine adventure travellers on a 3-day Sydney to Port Stephens road trip in JUCY World campervans to explore the best pit stops along the way and fun things to do when you reach Port Stephens.

DAY 1

It takes less than 3 hours to drive from Sydney to Port Stephens, so there’s plenty of time to stop and explore these must-see spots in Central Coast and Newcastle on the way.

Somersby Falls, Gosford

Just over an hour’s drive north from Sydney, you’ll reach Somersby Falls, a perfect spot to enjoy a picnic lunch amidst the lush rainforest. Hike the 500m Somersby Falls walking track to take in the views of the top and bottom waterfalls. Make sure you have some good walking shoes on, as the walk can be steep and slippery in places.

Somersby Falls by Nicola Easterby

Somersby Falls by Brent Purcell

Merewether Ocean Baths, Newcastle

2 hours and 10 minutes drive from Sydney, the iconic Merewather Baths are the largest Ocean Baths in NSW. The baths consist of two large rectangular pools arranged perpendicular to the ocean. Take a dip here before driving onto Port Stephens.

Mereweather Ocean Baths, Newcastle by Andrew Bartholomew

Mereweather Ocean Baths Newcastle by Andrew Bartholomew

Port Stephens

Arrive at Port Stephens just in time to catch the sunset over their many gorgeous beaches. Be sure to also visit the Nelson Head Heritage Lighthouse and Reserve for beautiful views, local history and photo opportunities. Enjoy dinner at one of Nelson Bay’s waterfront restaurants to unwind an eventful day.

Sunset at Nelson Bay by Ally Sheehan

DAY 2

Beach Hopping in Port Stephens

Port Stephens is famous for its 26 sandy golden beaches and scenic waterways, home to over 150 bottlenose dolphins making this the dolphin-watching capital of Australia. Spend your morning swimming, surfing or dolphin-spotting in the calm waters of beaches like Shoal Bay Beach or Zenith Beach.

Port Stephens by Nicola Easterby

Zenith Beach by Chloe Barry-Hang

Stockton Sand Dunes

Visit the famous Stockton Sand Dunes at the Worimi Conservation Lands, the largest sand dune system in Australia, covering an area of 4,200 hectares. Here you can go on a thrilling quad biking tour or sandboard across the dunes that climb up to 40m high.

Quad biking at Stockton Sand Dunes by Nicola Easterby

Sand boarding at Stockton Sand Dunes by Hailey Bartholomew

Barrington Tops National Park

The rainforests of Barrington Tops National Park form part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area. Carved out of ancient volcanic flows, the park rises from near sea level to over 1,500 metres and protects one of the largest temperate rainforests in mainland Australia. Immerse yourself in nature and spend the night here in the campground.

Barrington Tops National Park by Brent Purcell

Barrington Tops National Park by Gabi Mulder

Barrington Tops National Park by Brent Pucell

DAY 3

Barrington Tops

Wake up early to catch the sunrise at Mograni Lookout or Kia Ora Lookout in Barrington Tops National Park. Spend the morning kayaking or mountain biking at Barrington Outdoor Adventure Centre. Take your time driving back to Sydney and drop by Catherine Hill Bay in the Lake Macquarie area if you have time.