7-Day Sydney to Byron Bay Itinerary 2026

The Sydney to Byron Bay stretch is one of Australia's most scenic coastal drives, covering roughly 770 kilometres of stunning coastline, charming towns, and incredible natural beauty. This 7-day itinerary is perfect for travellers who want to explore at a relaxed pace without feeling rushed.

You can drive yourself, take the Greyhound bus, or join one of Dundee Adventure's guided small-group tours that handle all the logistics. Either way, this itinerary gives you the highlights and hidden gems you shouldn't miss.

Start your adventure in Australia's iconic harbour city. On Day 1, hit the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk in the morning, then explore The Rocks and Circular Quay in the afternoon. Grab dinner at Barangaroo waterfront.

Day 2, take a day trip to the Blue Mountains — the Three Sisters lookout and scenic railway are must-dos. If you have time, squeeze in a visit to Featherdale Wildlife Park to see koalas and kangaroos up close. Return to Sydney for your last city night.

Drive 2.5 hours north to Port Stephens — a bay twice the size of Sydney Harbour surrounded by national parkland. The highlight here is sandboarding on the Stockton Sand Dunes, the largest moving sand dunes in the Southern Hemisphere. In the afternoon, join a dolphin-watching cruise in the bay (Port Stephens has a resident pod of 150+ bottlenose dolphins). Stay overnight in Nelson Bay.

Continue north to Coffs Harbour (3 hours from Port Stephens). Visit the iconic Big Banana, then head 30 minutes inland to Bellingen — a hidden gem of a town with a thriving arts scene, organic cafes, and stunning swimming holes in the Bellinger River.

Day 5, explore the Dorrigo National Park Skywalk for incredible rainforest canopy views, then swim in one of the pristine creeks. This area is where the tourists thin out and you get a taste of the real Australian hinterland.

The final stretch to Byron Bay (3 hours from Coffs) takes you through beautiful coastal scenery. Arrive in the afternoon and head straight to The Pass for your first Byron swim.

Day 7 is all about Byron's greatest hits: wake up for the Cape Byron Lighthouse sunrise (Australia's most easterly point), kayak with dolphins in the morning, explore the town's boutiques and organic cafes in the afternoon, and finish with sunset beers at The Beach Hotel — Byron's most iconic watering hole.

From Byron, you can continue north to the Gold Coast and beyond, or fly home from Ballina Airport (30 minutes south).