This itinerary takes you from Sydney to Darlington Beach, just north of Coffs Harbour. Along the way you’ll stop at several beautiful beachside locations that we think are some of the most underrated in NSW.
Distance: 3 Stops, 533 km total drive distance, Short Distance
📍STOP 1: PORT STEPHENS
What’s the drive from Sydney to Port Stephens?
It will take just over 2.5 hours to cover the 232 km journey from Sydney to One Mile Beach in Port Stephens, where you’ll find our first stop.
Where to stay in Port Stephens?
The Port Stephens area is made up of an incredible 26 beaches, and our favourite is Anna Bay (also known as One Mile Beach), where you’ll find Ingenia One Mile Beach situated right on the beach. There’s a range of accommodation options including Cabins & Villas, Ensuite Sites, Powered Sites, Unpowered Sites and some of the best Glamping we’ve seen including tents large enough to accommodate a whole family - one with a queen bed and two sets of bunks. Resort style facilities including a great swimming pool will keep travellers of all ages entertained.
What to do, eat and drink in Port Stephens?
One Mile Beach has limited options, but One Mile Cafe & Bar is a short walk away, open daily from 7am to 8 pm for coffee, meals, and drinks. For more variety, drive five minutes to Anna Bay, where you'll find several restaurants and takeaway shops on Gan Gan Rd. We love grabbing a pizza from Romanza Pizzeria to enjoy back at the park. The recently renovated Camp Kitchen within the park provides all you need, offering a great space for meals and socialising with fellow travellers. Directly in front of your accommodation is One Mile Beach, a 1.3 km curved stretch of sand and ocean also known as Anna Bay. For swimming, head to the southern end, which is patrolled in summer. There are several good surf spots along the beach, depending on the day's conditions. Operating out of nearby Nelson Bay, Dolphin Swim Australia is an incredible experience offering the only permitted wild dolphin swim in NSW and the first swim of its kind anywhere in the world.
What’s the drive from Port Stephens to Harrington Beach?
Roughly 2.5 hours in the car and 196 km on the road will have you arriving at your next stop in Harrington Beach.
📍STOP 2: HARRINGTON BEACH
Where to stay in Harrington Beach?
Discovery Parks Harrington Beach offers a quiet beachside location with all your expected resort-style facilities and a wide range of accommodation options including Powered, Unpowered and Ensuite Sites as well as Cabins and Glamping. Similarly to our previous stop, we love the Glamping options here as they are larger than usual and suitable for a family, with a room including both a queen size bed and a bunk bed.
What to do, eat and drink in Harrington Beach?
There’s plenty of great options for a swim around here, starting within your accommodation itself where the pool and the waterpark, especially the giant tipping bucket, always brings laughter. For a beach swim, Crowdy Head is about a 5-minute drive away. The bay beach is beautiful and protected, ideal for swimming, kayaking, and SUPing. A further drive along you'll find Diamond Hed which is another picturesque beach and a prime location for some kangaroo spotting. Directly accessible from the park, Harrington Lagoon is a great spot for fishing and you’ll be sure to find plenty of bream about. The nearby breakwall is also a well known fishing spot, and if you’ve got access to a boat you can head out on the ocean with several spots to find snapper, tailor and more. Our favourite spot for a drink and/or a meal is the nearby Harrington Hotel, a beautiful federation-era building serving cold beers, bistro classics, fresh seafood, and a great kids menu. For morning coffee and breakfast, Hey Little Fishy is our top choice; the corn fritters with a poached egg are a must-try, and the staff is very friendly (note it's closed on Wednesday and Thursday). When you crave takeout, Nate’s Pizzeria offers delicious, filling pizzas and delivers to the Holiday Park.
What’s the drive from Harrington Beach to Darlington Beach?
The next stop in Darlington Beach is 250 km away, which will take 2.5 to 3 hours depending on the traffic. If you want to make a stop along the way, a slight detour to Nambucca Heads and you’ll find a town with plenty of cafes, a great Woolworths supermarket and some beautiful beaches.
📍STOP 3: DARLINGTON BEACH
Where to stay in Darlington Beach?
NRMA Darlington Beach Holiday Park offers resort style facilities, a family-friendly atmosphere and a convenient location to nearby Corindi Beach. Accommodation options include all the usual suspects with Powered and Unpowered Sites, Glamping, Cabins and Villas.
What to do, eat and drink in Darlington Beach?
We don’t come here to do much beyond enjoy the warm weather and the facilities of the park and its proximity to the beach. The park features multiple pools with a waterslide, a spa, and a separate water park. Our favourite is the huge lagoon pool which offers plenty of space for those who want to splash about as well as those who just want to relax. For ocean swimming, there's direct access to Corindi Beach, which also has a consistent surf break, so bring your board. Land-based activities include a BMX track, mini golf, and a unique archery range. Golf enthusiasts will enjoy the fun 9-hole course on the property for a small fee of $10. If you didn't bring your gear, you can rent it from reception. Darlington Beach itself is a quiet spot and you won’t find much when it comes to bars, restaurants or cafes. The closest spot is the Amble Inn, a classic pub about a five-minute drive away in Corindi Beach, offering cold drinks and standard pub fare. For more variety, drive 10 minutes to Woolgoolga. We recommend La Hacienda 101 for a taco-filled Mexican feast and a great kids menu, perfect for lunch or dinner. Ground Earth is excellent for coffee and offers a variety of vegan and gluten-free options, making it a favourite for those with allergies or intolerances.
What’s the onward drive?
Whilst our itinerary ends here, if you want to keep heading north you’ll find a few of our favourite towns along the coast - Yamba, Byron Bay and Brunswick Heads.
