Soak ip all that NSW has to offer with a road trip this weekend.
Planning on binge watching Netflix and eating pizza in bed this weekend? Think again. It’s time for a mini adventure. So pack your bags, we’re heading on a road trip.
WHERE TO GO
Port Macquarie
Port Macquarie isn’t just warm and sunny all year round, this relaxed coastal town has great surf beaches, plenty of nice restaurants and the locals are super friendly. This October long weekend, settle in to the four hour drive north from Sydney or take a one hour flight to make the most of your weekend getaway.
South West Rocks
If you’re after an affordable mini-getaway, look no further than South West Rocks. Nestled between Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour, South West Rocks is about a five hour drive from Sydney. This small coastal town has established itself for its great diving spots, camping and fishing.
Located just 3.5 hours from Sydney, Orange has become a premium food and wine destination for foodies and holiday goers. Visit one of Orange’s many vineyards, spend the afternoon wining and dining and take a stroll through the Botanical gardens. Just beyond Orange rests one of Australia’s first gold-mines teamed with some charming historic villages.
Hunter Valley
Less than two hours drive from Sydney, the Hunter is a popular weekend getaway for many Sydneysiders. With 150+ wineries to choose from, we’ve taken the guess work out of where to visit this long weekend with our top picks for the Hunter’s vineyards.
Byron Bay
There may be 800km separating Sydney from Byron Bay’s wide stretching beaches, national parks, great restaurants, bars and cafes, but those who’ve visited Byron Bay will tell you that it’s worth the drive.
Avoca
Situated on the Central Coast about 1.5 hours from Sydney, Avoca is well known for its relaxing seascape, friendly locals and homely cafes and restaurants. If you’re on a budget, there are plenty of wallet friendly things to do, including fishing, beach walking as well as exploring the nearby parks and headlands. We recommend grabbing a group of mates and securing a beachside spot on Airbnb.
Northern Tablelands
Whether its exploring the cultural offerings of Armidale, the fodder and fare of New England’s foodie capital, Uralla, or the music and stunning landscape of Inverell, you’ll want to make the most of the long weekend by savouring all that this region has to offer.
Broken Hill, Outback NSW
Okay so the 13-hour drive from Sydney to Broken Hill may feel a little unachievable given your three day window. We recommend taking the Friday and Tuesday off either side to make the most of your road trip. It’s well worth a visit, for the iconic sun sets at Mundi Mundi plains, smorgasbord of op shops and antique stores and delicious eating spots. It’s also the home of the annual Broken Heel festival.
SNACKS ARE A MUST
No road trip is complete without snacks. Avoid the disappointment of inconspicuous petrol station sandwiches, stodgy meat pies and overpriced soft drinks and BYO. Road trip snacks are subjective but here are our favourites.
- Homemade trail mix – combine your favourite roasted nuts with dried fruit, coconut chips and sunflower seeds. Make it a little bit naughty with some M&Ms or dark chocolate chips thrown in.
- Macro Wholefoods Market Chips -the ultimate snack food item are Woolworths’ new dip-flavoured Macro chips, available in the health food aisle. The Macro chips come in three exciting flavours, including Hommus with Split Pea Chips, Tzatziki Lentil Corn Chips and Spicy Tomato Salsa Chickpea Corn Chips. With no need for the dip, road trip snacking just got a whole lot easier. Read more here.
- Fresh Fruit – Skip the sticky watermelon, stick to grapes, strawberries and blueberries.
- Biltong – this dried and cured meat is not only incredibly tasty, but low in fat and high in protein to keep you feeling fuller for longer on those long stretches of road. We are obsessed with the chilli biltong from Victor Churchill.
- Coconut water – quench your thirst and keep your electrolytes up, especially for those longer drives.
- Chocolate Coated Pretzels – warning, these are INCREDIBLY addictive.
Camping Done Right
If you’re like us, you may not have a tent, fold out chairs, esky and blow up mattress casually lying in storage. Check out CampNow – a camping hire service for those who want to be occasional campers without the hassle. You can read all about it here.
CampNow might be convenient but if it’s ultimate luxury you’re after check out Flourish Tents and Events. Owner Trish and her team set up stunning bell tents for people on the mid-north coast in locations spanning across Newcastle to Coffs Harbour. All you need to do is find the perfect camping spot and they’ll do the rest. Each tent sleeps up to five people with different bedding configurations. They are 5m in diameter and the centre pole is 3m high making them super spacious. Prices start at $390 for 2 nights for 2 people and include delivery, set up, styling, lanterns, mattresses, luxury linen, magazines, floor cushions, tea and coffee. There are no cooking facilities so you’re encouraged to BYO or explore the area and discover local eateries. You’ll also need to arrange your own site and any fees involved. Make this a romantic camping experience to remember or if you have a group of mates book multiple tents for one giant sleep over.
SING ALONG TO THIS PLAYLIST
No road trip is complete without an epic play list. Tired of listening to Oasis on repeat? Stream Ms Darlinghurst’s ultimate road tripping tunes via Spotify here
Sponsored Love
This article is proudly presented in partnership with Macro Wholefoods from Woolworths. Thank you for supporting the partners that make Eat Drink Play possible.