Discover the famous East Coast of Australia! Marvel at the turquoise waters & long stretching pristine white beaches. Starting in Sydney, visit the Opera House, take a dinner cruise via the Harbor Bridge & check out Bondi Beach, before driving past coastal towns such as Byron Bay. Make your way past the popular Gold Coast & towards Brisbane on this stunning scenic road trip.
BeachesClassic driving toursWildlife & natureThis Tour Also Features
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Included transfer(s)- Private Transfer from Sydney Airport to your accommodation
- Meals included: 1 special dinner
On arrival, a private transfer will collect you from Sydney Airport and transfer you to your accommodation.
Sydney is Australia's most famous city and with almost 20% of the country's population, is also Australia's largest city. Situated on the east coast of Australia it has beautiful white sand beaches, including the famous Bondi Beach and Manly Beach as well as the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge and of course, the Sydney Opera House. Rich in history, art, and food Sydney has something for everyone.
Your accommodation: Adina Apartment Hotel Sydney, Darling Harbour
Located on King Street Wharf with views of the Harbour, Adina Apartment Hotel Darling Harbour offers an idyllic Sydney experience. One of Sydney’s entertainment hot spots, Darling Harbour dazzles with its countless bars, eateries and family-friendly attractions.
Often mistaken as Australia's capital city, Sydney is a vibrant coastal city with plenty to see and do. Starting in Circular Quay you will catch your first views of the two big icons, Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. From here you can catch one of the quintessential harbour ferries over to Manly Beach or Taronga Zoo, catching a glimpse of Kirribilli House, the Prime Minister's official Sydney residence, on the way over. Kirribilli is also home to one of Sydney's oldest markets at the Kirribilli Neighbourhood Centre twice a month. It is known for its stalls of vintage clothing, arts, delicious street food and its lively community atmosphere - so if you are in town on a market day, you can't miss it. For a relaxing end to your day of exploration, your dinner options are aplenty. From high-end restaurants around Circular Quay that offer amazing views, to the Chinatown food courts and a broad range of eateries at Barangaroo, you will be spoiled for choice.
Sydney harbour is like a sunset painting in progress. The aquamarine colours of Summer give way to the warm orange hues of Autumn before deepening to a magical Winter twilight blue. Year-round, sun-up or sun-down and everything in between, the colours of Sydney Harbour will welcome you onboard the evening Dinner Cruise. This is the perfect start to an evening or stunning end to an amazing day in the greatest city in the world.
Step inside an iconic landmark. The Sydney Opera House is one of the world’s most recognisable landmarks and this is your chance to truly get up-close. Run your hands over the world-famous shell tiles, take a seat in the elegant custom-made white birch timber chairs and marvel at the vaulted ceilings. Visit areas off-limits to the public and capture photographs from rare vantage points. Watch unforgettable moments from past Concert Hall performances, learning about the history and future of this world-famous hall in an immersive digital experience. Experience the future within a purpose-built venue that boasts heritage-inspired interiors, and state-of-the-art technology, including 270-degree visuals and surround sound.
From the jaw-dropping sweep of the sails to our soaring cathedral interiors, it is impossible to complete a tour of the Sydney Opera House without being compelled to look up.
Your accommodation: Adina Apartment Hotel Sydney, Darling Harbour
Located on King Street Wharf with views of the Harbour, Adina Apartment Hotel Darling Harbour offers an idyllic Sydney experience. One of Sydney’s entertainment hot spots, Darling Harbour dazzles with its countless bars, eateries and family-friendly attractions.
Our rental car range includes the latest vehicles from the top suppliers. We have a fantastic range, from economy hatchbacks to prestige sedans and SUVs. Insurance can often be included with a small excess or deductible.
Head to the Sydney CBD depot today to collect your chosen rental car, and continue your journey.
Your journey along the "Legendary Pacific Coast" begins by heading north out of Sydney along the Pacific Motorway (M1). If you feel like meeting some native wildlife, you could pop into the Australian Reptile Park, or for something more scenic, take the exit at Gosford for a great little stopover at Norah Head Lighthouse, standing proudly on the coast since 1903.
Back on the motorway, you will pass the Hunter Valley (one of Australia's most famous wine regions) and Newcastle as you continue your journey towards your destination, Port Macquarie. Home to 17 beaches, beautiful scenic walks, and the Koala Hospital, there is plenty to do. If time allows, we recommend the 9km Coastal Walk from town to Lighthouse Beach.
This experience includes an industry-first tasting and tour of the Shellar Door, a cruise out to the farm longlines on the scenic lower Hawkesbury River and an immersive pearl grading session inside the restricted-access Pearl Room. Follow the story of the Australian pearl from its ancient Indigenous beginnings through modern farming and grading techniques, all the way to the finished piece of unique pearl jewellery.
Your accommodation: Rydges Port Macquarie
The hotel is located in the heart of the Port Macquarie CBD with breathtaking views over the Hastings River. The hotel is situated on the coast, a short walk from local galleries, bars and restaurants. Relax in the hotel's swimming pool or enjoy the bar and Australian menu in the hotel's restaurant.
Driving distance and time (approximate) for this leg: 366 kms / 227 miles : 3.7 hours
The Port Macquarie Koala Hospital was established in 1973 and is a licensed wildlife rehabilitation facility. The Hospital is a popular tourist attraction which welcomes thousands of national and international visitors every year. The Hospital is also a scientific research, training and education centre.
The Koala Hospital consists of exhibit enclosures, a treatment clinic, intensive care units and rehabilitation yards, many of which have trees for koalas to learn to climb as part of the rehabilitation process. There is also a Koalaseum - a museum for Koalas which provides information on koala evolution and biology and interactive displays so visitors can touch koala fur or look down a microscope at koala poos (scat).
Admission is free, so we recommend bringing some cash to donate to their valuable conservation work.
Today's drive will cover about 400km (250 miles) up the Pacific Coast, leaving you plenty of opportunities to stop off and take in the sights. From Port Macquarie, head north on Pacific Highway (A1) for about 150km (93 miles) to reach your first stop of the day, Coffs Harbour. Home to the iconic Big Banana, Australia's first "big thing" built back in 1964. Stop at the cafe for a coffee or banana split, or head into town to take a stroll on the Coffs Harbour Jetty.
From Coffs Harbour, snake along the coast for 120km until you reach signs for Yamba. This sleepy hamlet has beaches that rival those of Byron Bay but remains a little more low-profile. Take a stroll on one of the beautiful beaches, or head to the Pacific Hotel for some great views.
From Yamba, return to the Pacific Highway (A1) and continue to head north. If you want an opportunity to spot a second "big thing" today, take a short detour into Ballina to see the Big Prawn. Back on the highway, it's just 30km (18 miles) further to your final destination, Byron Bay.
Your accommodation: Eco Beach Resort Byron Bay
Eco Beach Resort Byron Bay is nestled on the edge of Byron Bay’s thriving town centre, in a stunning location famous for its beaches, sun sparkled ocean, and lush surrounding mountains. The resort’s central swimming pool will beckon you after you have visited the beach which is only a short walk away, or you can relax in the spa and have a barbeque if you prefer a quieter option to the nearby bustle of Byron.
Driving distance and time (approximate) for this leg: 411 kms / 255 miles : 4.5 hours
The drive from Byron Bay to Brisbane will see you crossing state lines from New South Wales to Queensland. This drive will take a little over two hours, so have a leisurely start to your morning before heading west out of Byron Bay and onto the M1.
Travel past Coolangatta, a surf and diving mecca revered for its unpretentious culture and bountiful array of aquatic life and continue through the Gold Coast, famed for its white-sand beaches, theme parks, and the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. Stop at the iconic Surfers Paradise, take a surf lesson, or, for a bird's eye view of the city and surrounding beaches, head up the 270m tall (886 foot) Q1 building.
From the Gold Coast, continue on the M1 to the state capital, Brisbane.
The “World’s First” amphibious Aquaduck Safari, operating since 1996, is an established Gold Coast icon.
Departing from the heart of Surfers Paradise, tours aboard the amphibious ‘Duck’ combine informative city tours with a unique and exciting river cruise, travelling past the glitzy waterfront mansions of the rich and famous and taking in the spectacular views of the Gold Coast waterways and its famous landmarks.
Your accommodation: Adina Apartment Hotel Brisbane
Immerse yourself in this grand historic building suitably in the center of Brisbane. The Adina Apartment Hotel Brisbane is heritage-listed and artfully restored with a classic yet contemporary design. Located on George Street, the ground floor lobby space celebrates the building’s Art Deco origins. A stone’s throw from Queen Street Mall and Queen’s Wharf, or a brief stroll will find you in amongst buzzing Southbank’s cool bars, restaurants and parklands. The building has a wonderful and rich history. Initially built to accommodate the Queensland Government Savings Bank, it opened in 1922.
Driving distance and time (approximate) for this leg: 157 kms / 98 miles : 1.7 hours
Explore more of Brisbane before dropping your rental car at the airport depot and continuing your onward journey.
Farewell Australia today. If there is more of Australia or New Zealand you would like to explore, talk to your sales consult about planning your next stop!
Pure Journeys - Privacy Policy
Last review: 28 March 2024
1. About this Privacy Policy
1.1 This is the Privacy Policy for Inside Australia Travel Pty Ltd ABN 34 661 344 690 (IAT Inside Australia Travel, us, we, our). This Privacy Policy sets out Inside Australia Travel’s obligations in line with the Australian
Privacy Principles in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR - Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council) - as it applies to persons in the
European Union who interact with us. A reference to ‘Personal Information’ in this policy is a reference to both ‘Personal Information’ as defined in the Privacy Act and to ‘Personal Data’ for the purposes of the GDPR (if it applies to you).
1.2 This Privacy Policy does not deal with IAT’s obligations under the Privacy Act 2020 (New Zealand), which are dealt with by New Zealand Fine Touring Ltd https://nzft.co.nz
1.3 This Privacy Policy sets out the different types of Personal Information we collect, why we collect it and what you can do if you would like to remove yourself from our mailing list, correct any details we may hold about you, or exercise other rights you have.
1.4 We will update this Privacy Policy from time to time at our discretion, and we will notify you of updates. You can visit our website to see the latest copy of the Privacy Policy.
1.5 By using our site or acquiring goods or services from us, you consent to us applying this Privacy Policy and to our website Terms of Use, if any.
2. What Personal Information Do We Collect?
2.1 We collect the following Personal Information:
(a) personal identification information including: name, email, address, telephone numbers, dates of birth, itineraries; and
(b) information you supply in emails, requests for services, information we must pass on to third party suppliers.
3. How Do We Collect and Store Your Personal Information?
3.1 We collect Personal Information in a number of ways, including:
(a) information submitted through our website;
(b) in some cases, through web analytics;
(c) being provided it by third parties who you deal with; and
(d) through communications with you, including emails, and voice calls.
3.2 We hold Personal Information:
(a) in systems that we use in connection with our business, some of which may be owned and operated by our suppliers; and
(b) in our hard copy files; and
(c) in the databases associated with our website.
3.3 Provided that it is lawful and practical, we will give you the option of not identifying yourself, using a pseudonym, or not providing Personal Information when you enter into a transaction or deal with us. However, if you elect not to provide us with Personal Information then it is unlikely we are able to provide you with the information, products, services or support that you may want.
3.4 We may receive other unsolicited Personal Information in the course of our business. We will deal with this unsolicited Personal Information in accordance with this policy.
3.5 We will retain your Personal Information for as long as needed or permitted in light of the purpose(s) for which it was obtained. The criteria used to determine our retention periods include:
(a) the length of time we have an ongoing relationship with you and provide services to you;
(b) legal obligations we may have to keep (or destroy) your data; or
(c) legal advice we receive (such as in regard to litigation, regulatory investigations or applicable statutes of limitation).
4. What Do We Use Your Personal Information For?
4.1 We collect, hold, use and disclose Personal Information for the following purposes:
(a) supplying you with goods and services;
(b) arranging for third parties to provide you with goods and services;
(c) improving the website experience of our visitors; and
(d) analysing goods and services that our customers purchase so that we can better understand what future customers want in the future.
4.2 We also use Personal Information for our own internal business purposes including:
(a) data analysis to improve our products and services;
(b) auditing our internal processes to ensure they function as intended and that we comply with regulatory requirements;
(c) fraud and security monitoring;
(d) developing new products and services;
(e) identifying usage trends so we can understand which of our services are of most interest to our customers;
(f) determining the effectiveness of marketing campaigns so that we can adapt to the needs and interests of our customers; and
(g) operating and expanding our business activities such as understanding which of our services are of most interest to our customers, so we can focus on our customers’ needs.
5. Do we share your information?
5.1 We may send Personal Information outside Australia in the following circumstances:
(a) where our website, or any hosting service we use to support our managed services, software or software as a service, is hosted by us or a third party, and the hosting facilities and/or the back-up/disaster recovery sites are located overseas. We have no control over where these third party providers host the website and it is impractical for us to be able to advise you of the countries where the Personal Information may be held or processed;
(b) where a third party application is being used in connection with our interactions with you, e.g. when we use email, help desk or VoIP providers, the third party providers of the relevant application may have their applications hosted overseas. We have no control over where these third party providers host their applications and it is impractical for us to be able to advise you of the countries where the Personal Information may be held or processed; or
(c) where we must do so to give you the benefits of what you have paid for.
When we send Personal Information outside Australia for processing we will enter into formal contracts with those processors, which will contain privacy terms and conditions that allow us to meet our privacy obligations to you.
6. Use of Social Media
Our website includes links to social media, including blogs, Twitter feeds, Facebook, Instagram, and similar services. The nature of social media is that these applications actively enable exchange and disclosure of any information, whether personal or otherwise, that is included within those applications. All information, including Personal Information that you enter in those applications may be used, stored, handled and disclosed in any way that is consistent with the privacy policies of the relevant applications, if any. We have no control over those interactions.
7. Cookies
7.1 Cookies are text files placed on your computer to collect standard internet log information and visitor behaviour information. When you visit our website, we may collect information from you automatically through cookies or similar technology.
7.2 We use cookies to operate and improve your experience on our site, including:
(a) allowing you to sign in faster, and keeping you signed in; and
(b) to track how the site is used.
7.3 If you do not allow cookies to be used some or all of the website or other applications or tools on it might not be accessible to you and you may not be able to purchase goods from us.
8. Your Rights Regarding Your Personal Information
8.1 You have the right to access your Personal Information that we hold, and request that it be rectified or erased. If you want to access your Personal Information we hold or you believe any of your Personal. Information that is held by us is inaccurate, out of date, incomplete, irrelevant or misleading or it is not necessary for us to continue to hold it, you can contact us, and we will either provide you with access to the Personal Information (in so far as we are required to do so by law,) or we will correct it, as applicable, within a reasonable period. We may make a reasonable charge for giving you access to your Personal Information, but we will not charge for you making the request, correcting Personal Information or making a statement as to why we are not correcting your Personal Information.
8.2 In certain circumstances if you raise a complaint on how we have handled your Personal Information, you may also request that we ‘restrict processing’ meaning that the data will be preserved from further processing ‘as evidence’ either while we investigate your complaint or to support your complaint to the Australian Information Commissioner.
8.3 Where you have provided your personal data directly to us that is processed by automated means and is done so solely on the basis of your consent, then you will have the right to obtain your personal data in an electronic format for your own purposes across different services.
8.4 You have the right to object any aspect of our processing of your personal data under certain circumstances under the GDPR. ‘Processing’ is the term under that law that describes all uses of your personal data. This will include the collection, sharing, storage, retention and destruction of your data.
8.5 You may unsubscribe from our direct marketing at any time. We will not send you direct marketing without your consent and you can withdraw your consent at any time by selecting the ‘unsubscribe’ link within each email.
9. Complaints
9.1 If you wish to complain about a breach of any Australian Privacy Principle that binds us, a registered privacy code that binds us, the GDPR or this Privacy Policy, then you should contact us using the information in the Contact Us section of this Privacy Policy.
9.2 We will use our best efforts to respond to any complaint within 5 business days of the date of receipt. We will attempt to resolve your complaint to your satisfaction. If you are not satisfied with how we deal with your complaint you may contact the Australian Information Commissioner, whose contact details can be found at http://www.oaic.gov.au/.
10. Mobile APP location permissions
If you use our APP please be aware of the following. The APP collects location data to display real-time risk alerts and personalised assistance notification features, even when the APP is closed and not in use. This option can be changed in the settings on your own device.
11. Contacting Us
11.1 If you have any questions regarding this privacy policy or your information, we invite you to contact the privacy officer by :
(a) email at the following email address privacy@nzft.co.nz
(b) writing to: Privacy officer, 73 Brownston Street, Wanaka, Otago 9305, NEW ZEALAND.