Help planning trip Central Coast to Sunshine Coast.

[JT76]

We have a few small trips planned to get the hang of our new van, been on one weekend to Hawks Nest and. Have two other small trips over the next month to Kiama and Port Stephens.

Now we are in the process of trying to work out a longer trip of around 2 weeks heading from the Central coast to the Sunshine Coast in the July schools holidays, with the misses and two kids. Happy to drive around 4 or 5 hours at most at a time. Rough plans is as follows but happy to take suggestions of a better plan or route altogether. Leave home and drive around 5 hours to get to the Coffs area, heard Darlington might be a good stop near here? Next leg would be to get to somewhere around Pottsville / Byron / Balina type area. Then getting as far as the Sunshine Coast maybe around Mooloolaba.

Have been hunting around the wikicamps app with is great but there are just so many options. On the return leg not sure if we will head back along the coast or maybe divert inland. So happy to hear any "must see" spots along the way.

 

[Dobbie]

I'd strongly suggest you avoid Byron area...expensive ...and, if you like beach area look at:

Bunjalung NP....right on coast, easy access but unpowered. Safe for kids.
Red Rock....see Drover's threads. Good fishing I hear.
Iluka. Great seafood but might be similar to central coast towns..
Pottsville. Quiet but parks there always busy. There's a quaint little park about 10 kms south, on beach ...name escapes me but we prefer it to Pottsy.

Your return leg would add interest and variety if you tried the Newell then the Gwydir (spelling?) but depends on whether you want variety or beaches. Could be cold at that time of year.

 

[JT76]

Thanks @Dobbie happy to return inland as we do live near the beach but still find our trips tend to hug the coastline, so an inland return trip makes sense. I'll look up the places you mentioned now. Thanks!

 

[Middo]

Camped at Byron Bay years ago. Too expensive. Pottsville, Brunswick Heads are good but can be hard to get into. Place south of Pottsville is Wooyung.

 

[Jamcor]

Hey jt76 defenetly darlington park great place tallabudgra on the gold coast sunny coast coolum nice all great caravan parks first hand experience

 

[Dobbie]

Areas around Glen Innes Tenterfield Armidale are lovely in winter and can get snow...so be warned!

But then again if you are a diesel heater family you might be fine.

Suggest Coolum Beach in Sunny Coast....agree with jamcor.

 

[JT76]

Areas around Glen Innes Tenterfield Armidale are lovely in winter and can get snow...so be warned!

But then again if you are a diesel heater family you might be fine.

Suggest Coolum Beach in Sunny Coast....agree with jamcor.

Heading north to get away from the cold. We don't have a diesel heater yet but it might be on the cards, as we are planning a few nights in the snow in August in the van. We are thinking now to stay in warmer places for this trip. Lots of good suggestions so we are starting to get a rough plan together.

 

[Jamcor]

Is your tug a 4x4

 

[JT76]

Is your tug a 4x4

Yeah its a Ranger with lift, sliders, AT's etc. its pretty capable but not keen on going too extreme with a caravan hanging off the back.

 

[Jamcor]

If u at coolum leave van there awsome day trip up beach to rainbow beach u about 20 mins away from noosa and another ten away from tewantin ferry cost about 10 buks each way on and off in about 3mins good day out

 

[Drover]

So many great places to go, can recommend Red Rock, Corindi Beach, actually any of the http://www.northcoastholidayparks.com.au/ are really good but during holidays they can be expensive, not as much as others though, anywhere from Ballina to Gympie can be very expensive especially with kids over school holidays, I find over $50/nt a ripp off, some don't.........Coolum Beach is nice, near the beach and good coffee, was overpriced in the off season though and Croki near Kempsey is very nice, not much of a town but great river though not for little kids, found Jimmys Beach to be a great spot until they upped the fee's..........Myall lakes camps are great but again don't know for school holidays.........running up the Pacific Hwy is a breeze, I do Toowoomba to Red Rock in around 5 hrs so your trip plan can cover more Km's than you think in the time, just plan your fuel stops there are some traps along the way, use the Fuel Watch app................. I run Nowra to Hawks nest area then up to Coffs usually, not pushing it except to get out of Sydney...........July, while I love Bingara and the Gwydir River, Glen Innes etc it can get into the minus temp overnight, it is great, just fill the kettle up before you go to bed, the area all the way down to Tamworth is brilliant any time of the year.
And we have a gathering in July just up the road in the Stanthorpe area, good prep for heading south again.......

 

[JT76]

Thanks for the tip @Jamcor will keep it in. Mind if we are looking for some fun.

Thanks @Drover some good tips, I'll try to lock in a few places soon. Going in the holidays means booking ahead I guess. Wouldn't mind a NP or two but will mainly use caravan parks and will check out the above options. Might have to look at sticking a heater in and head inland and check it out. Misses hates the cold and she grew up in a smaller country town so it's not as high on her list... Now the arm twisting begins as we both decide where to go.

 

[Dobbie]

If u at coolum leave van there awsome day trip up beach to rainbow beach u about 20 mins away from noosa and another ten away from tewantin ferry cost about 10 buks each way on and off in about 3mins good day out

We've just come back from camping along that beach...in very wild weather.

The ferry can be horrendous on a Saturday or Sunday as hordes start or finish their holidays and lots of day trippers but is relatively quiet during the week.

Last weekend the beach was actually closed by huge tides and gales....but it's a great place to camp and well worth the trip.....wide expanses of pristine beaches in normal conditions and normally good fishing.

Just drive to Tewantin and cross in the ferry but a 4wd is needed.

I think you have one!