Discover the coastal beauties of Australia in our Byron Bay to Gold Coast Itinerary
Are you planning a short road trip to Australia? Wondering how to plan your itinerary, which places to see, and what things to do? Then read this guide as we take you to Australia’s two coastal paradises – Byron Bay and Gold Coast.
From beaches to rainforests, theme parks to shopping culture, Byron Bay and Gold Coast are two of the country’s most important tourist cities. I mean, there’s literally nothing that you can miss out on while exploring these two beautiful towns. The abundance of experiences oozes out the charm as you go on discovering its hidden gems, unique attractions, world-class restaurants, laid-back neighborhoods, beachfront houses, craft breweries, and much more.
Having said that, let’s first understand why you need to visit Byron Bay and Gold Coast?
Both of them are my favorite Aussie cities, and I’m saying this from my own experience and how I felt while exploring these paradises. Although I was on a short tour and could only cover up a few things, I soon realized that there’s more to it.
For me, it’s more about the vibe. I feel connected to the local culture, the roots of the neighborhoods, and the fascinating tales that have inspired its generations. It’s more about getting to know these towns rather than just making a tour and coming back home. And that’s when I thought these two famous Australian cities t have a friendly barefoot lifestyle. You’ll only get to know it if you visit them!
But yes, apart from the vibes, it’s about the experience. Ultimately, you’re planning an itinerary to visit popular places within these two coastal towns. Thus, we curated a simple but classic Byron Bay to Gold Coast itinerary to make your plans super-efficient. This tour plan will cover the must-visit places, renowned beaches, popular surfing spots, wildlife adventures, and some culinary scenes.
So let’s get started!
How to Get to Gold Coast from Byron Bay
Byron Bay to Gold Coast Drive
The drive from Byron Bay to Gold Coast is 92kms via the M1 route and should have a drive time of approximately 1hr 22mins. However, expect up to 2 hours of drive during heavy traffic. The alternative route to reach Gold Coast is via Tweed Valley Way, which is 98.3kms. It’s not the fastest route, as you go through the inland region of Queensland and NSW.
Byron Bay to Gold Coast Shuttle
If you’re not driving to Gold Coast via car, then the next best alternative would be a shuttle. There are frequent bus shuttles operating between Byron Ballina Airport and Gold Coast Airport. Usually, the starting price for a one-way ticket is $38. You can check this page for more info.
You can also explore this operator’s timetable and pricing for more affordable travel.
Planning Tips for Byron Bay to Gold Coast
Best Time to Visit
The best part about visiting these cities is that both are year-round destinations. Offering bright sunshine and warm temperatures, these coastal towns are a perfect place to go around any time of the year. However, the best time to visit Byron Bay and Gold Coast is May and October. You can expect temperatures averaging between 14 – 24°C. The days are warmer, and the nights are more relaxed, making activities like swimming, kayaking, and surfing perfect for enjoying.
How to Rent a Car in Australia
Planning to visit Gold Coast by car? Then renting a vehicle is your best option.
Choosing the right vehicle for your road trip is as important as planning your entire journey. Typically, for long road trips, renting a car is a preferable idea, and the same works well even for shorter journeys like Byron Bay to Gold Coast. You get maximum flexibility and freedom to tour the attractions at your own pace.
To rent a car, we recommend booking Rentalcars. I use their service for all my journeys and shorter road trips and find it pretty affordable to book. Moreover, it’s often cheaper than the other rentals I’ve tried.
Byron Bay to Gold Coast Map
Take a look at the drivable route mentioned on the map below. The total driving time can vary depending on the weather, road condition, and traffic.
The Best Byron Bay to Gold Coast Itinerary
Day 1: Surf, Beaches & Cape Byron Lighthouse
Arrive in Byron Bay
Your first day in Byron Bay is basically an introduction to the city’s local attractions and popular activities. This way you get to know the city much closer and can discover unique things by yourself.
From patrolled and dog-friendly beaches to isolated coves near the town, Byron Bay houses a 30km stretch of beaches. With warm, turquoise blue waters, Byron Bay is one of the best places in Australia to swim and surf. Having said that, you can never get enough of exploring the beaches in Byron. I had seen people traveling from far away places just to soak in the surfing adventure of this town.
As popular swimming and surfing are in Byron Bay, the beaches also offer excellent walking tracks and lookout areas for people to stroll & enjoy the views. Of course, not necessarily everyone knows surfing, and this way, you get good alternatives to explore the beaches at your own pace and at leisure. What’s more, is that you could see humpback whales migrating near the ocean during the months of June and October. Day trips take you on tour to see these natural habitats in action.
While numerous beaches are spread across Byron Bay, we recommend visiting the famous ones first. These include Main Beach, Little Wategos Beach, Tallow Beach, and Clarkes Beach. Many of these beaches have great coffee shops and little restaurants.
Along with its popular beaches, Byron Bay is home to some of the country’s most beautiful lighthouses. Amongst all, the Cape Byron Lighthouse is a must-visit attraction in the town. Perched atop the hill, this particular lighthouse has been a symbolic landmark of Byron Bay. Moreover, the place isn’t only famous for its history and great panoramic views. You can take a guided tour of the lighthouse and learn more about shipwrecks, maritime history, and the region’s most exciting hidden gems.
Overnight in Byron Bay.
Recommended | Looking for accommodation in the heart of Byron Bay? Look no further than Aabi’s at Byron which guarantees a special discounted stay for your memorable trip.
Day 2: Explore Byron Bay’s Hinterland
Apart from the beaches, there’s a lot to see and do in Byron Bay, especially in the World Heritage-listed rainforests of the Byron Bay Hinterland.
The hinterland region in Byron bay is well-known for its historic villages, lush-green farms, rolling hills, and panoramic lookouts. The contrast of these rainforests offers great tranquillity to travellers visiting the region for the first time. Moreover, the hinterland is a perfect place to wash the urban stress of busy city life.
As much as we want you to explore the inland region of Byron by yourself, we also recommend taking a guided tour of the hinterland. This popular 6-hour excursion takes you around to explore the ancient rainforests, the Nightcap National Park, old settlement areas, eco-friendly resorts, and picturesque villages.
The first half of the guided tour is all about exploring the natural wonders of Nightcap National Park. These include visiting the spectacular Minyon Falls. You can spend time here, swim, relax, and soak in nature’s most precious vibes. Later, you can have a BBQ lunch at one of the towns known as Bangalow. There’s plenty to explore, including cafes & restaurants, local markets, shops, galleries, and souvenir shops.
To know more about the hinterland guided excursion, visit this page.
Overnight in Byron Bay.
Read Next | 7 Ultimate Melbourne to Gold Coast Road Trip Spots
Day 3: Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
Arrive at Gold Coast
Upon your arrival, check in to your hotel and get freshened up. After some rest, head to one of Gold Coast’s most popular attractions – Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.
A visit to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary will immerse you into the Australian native wildlife the country boasts. It’s one of the exciting ways to get up close and watch these natural habitants doing their activities. With the help of this full-day ticket, you get an entry to the park, watch animal presentation shows, interactive displays, and also an opportunity to feed wild lorikeet.
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is located only a 40-minute drive from Gold Coast. The park is spread across an area of 27-hectare, with over 1400 native wildlife. With species like kangaroos, koalas, red pandas, lemurs, echidnas, wombats, and dingoes, the sanctuary is a perfect place to greet these animals. Furthermore, you can hand-feed kangaroos, watch the famous bird show, and learn stories of the Aboriginal culture. If that’s not enough, you can also indulge yourself at one of the interactive keeper shows inside the sanctuary.
In the late afternoon, you can spend time wandering the Lost Valley. This 5-hectare zone is a small paradise harboring stunning rainforest, boardwalks, and a collection of distinctive flora.
For more info on this guided tour, visit this page.
Overnight in Gold Coast.
Day 4: Full Day Trip to Moreton Island
Let’s prepare for an exciting day as we prepare ourselves to hop on a cruise to Moreton Island.
Fringed by clear blue waters, dunes, and sparkly beaches – Moreton Island is the third-largest sand dune located near Brisbane. Although the ferry from Gold Coast to Moreton Island is a bit far, approximately 2hr 30mins, it’s still worth your time exploring this paradisical island.
If you book a guided tour to Moreton Island, then you’ll travel on a bus to your nearest boat departure. Most boats depart to Moreton have an outdoor seating area and a spacious seating deck to sit and relax. As you start sailing, do not forget to marvel at the aquatic species harboring the sea. Go snorkeling or swimming at one of the stops, and discover the rich marine world of Australia. You can spot turtles, dolphins, fish, and many other shipwrecks abandoned near the beach.
Before reaching the island, you also have the option to try a glass-bottom kayak. It’s a thrilling experience to witness the magical underworld of Tangalooma Wrecks. Upon reaching Moreton Island, you can do plenty of other adventurous activities, including quad-biking on the Tangalooma Desert, hiking to the Cape Moreton Lighthouse, exploring Honeymoon Bay, and staying in a fancy resort.
Overnight in Moreton Island/Gold Coast.
Recommended: Got only 2 days? Read this short version of our 2-day Byron Bay Itinerary.
Day 5: Exploring Surfers Paradise
Today, we explore Surfers Paradise and the city’s local attractions.
Ask anyone, “what’s the best surfing spot in Australia?” and the common answer would be Surfers Paradise. Well, it’s not entirely true, but it definitely lives up to the expectation that most travelers often dream of. On the other hand, Surfers Paradise isn’t only a popular surfing spot and home to many activities and local experiences. Honestly, you could spend two or three days here and not get bored!
Below are some of the suggested activities which you can do on Surfers Paradise –
Learn surfing: If you’re a beginner willing to stretch your legs for surfing, then there’s no better place than Surfers Paradise. Many tour operators offer basic lessons to get your feet up on the paddleboard. You can check Go Ride a Wave to join them for an hour’s class on surfing.
Visit the SkyPoint Climb: The adrenaline fun of standing 270 meters above sea level is something thrilling, right?. Well, the SkyPoint Climb at Surfers Paradise offers the best viewing experience of the entire coastline. Located on top of the Q1 building, the thrill of soaking in the panoramic views is beyond imagination.
Explore Beachfront Markets: Since this is the last day of your tour, it does make sense to explore the local markets and shop for souvenirs at Surfers Paradise. The Beachfront Markets comes to life every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday night, with hawkers selling different local produce, craft items, and amazing artwork.
Recommended | Meriton Suites Surfers Paradise is one of the splendid hotels facing the extensive coastline of the Gold Coast. Book now to get discounted rates on your visit.
Note: You can also do this itinerary in reverse order, i.e. Gold Coast to Byron Bay. The suggested routes, activity list, and experiences would remain the same.
Guided Tours for Byron Bay to Gold Coast
These popular guided tours compliments our itinerary well. If you’re planning to extend your itinerary, customize it, or change it as per your preference – you could book these optional tours to make your itinerary unique.
Further Readings & Resources
Love Australian road trips? Here’s a couple of in-depth guides:
Great Ocean Road: The Ultimate Great Ocean Road Itinerary for 2 Days
Melbourne to Coober Pedy: 9 Sensational Melbourne to Coober Pedy Road Trip Stops
Melbourne to Gold Coast: 7 Ultimate Melbourne to Gold Coast Road Trip Spots
Yarra Valley: Yarra Valley 3 Day Itinerary : Ultimate Guide (+Map & Tips)
Whitsundays: Whitsundays Itinerary 7 Days: Ultimate Guide (+ Sailing Ideas, Tips)
Explore Fleurieu Peninsula with us:
Experiences: Best Things to Do in the Fleurieu Peninsula of South Australia
Where to Stay: 10 Gorgeous Places to Stay on the Fleurieu Peninsula
Coastal Towns: 10 Unique Places to Visit on the Fleurieu Peninsula of South Australia
