Manly is a good place to start a road trip. You're on the northern side of the harbour, and within a few hours you can be in the mountains, in wine country or on a quiet south coast beach. These are the six round trips we've mapped out for our van, from a three-night escape to a full fortnight, and every one starts and finishes in Manly.
Quick comparison
| Route | Distance | Nights | Best time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Mountains Escape | 472 km (about 7.6 hrs driving) | 3–4 | Year round (Mar–May for autumn colour) |
| South Coast & Jervis Bay | 522 km (about 8.5 hrs) | 5–7 | Oct–Apr (whales May–Nov) |
| Hunter Valley & Port Stephens | 502 km (about 8.2 hrs) | 4–6 | Year round |
| Byron Bay & Waterfall Way | 1,745 km (about 22.8 hrs) | 10–14 | Sep–May |
| Snowy Mountains & Sapphire Coast | 1,222 km (about 17.2 hrs) | 9–12 | Nov–Apr |
| Central West Wine & Gold | 708 km (about 11.4 hrs) | 5–7 | Mar–May, Sep–Nov |
Blue Mountains Escape
This is the shortest loop and the one we suggest for first-timers. It's 472 km with about 7.6 hours of driving in total, so most of your time is spent walking and looking, not driving. You head up to Leura (114 km, about 1.8 hours), carry on to Blackheath, drop south to Jenolan Caves, then come home over the Bells Line of Road through Bilpin.
Best three stops:
- Echo Point: the classic Three Sisters view. Go at sunrise, before the tour buses arrive.
- Govetts Leap Lookout: huge views over the Grose Valley from Blackheath, and usually quieter than Echo Point.
- Jenolan Caves: guided tours through limestone caves. The road down is steep and winding, so check current road conditions and tour times before you go.
It suits couples, first-time campervanners and anyone with a long weekend. Read the full Blue Mountains campervan road trip for a day-by-day plan.
South Coast & Jervis Bay
The Grand Pacific Drive, white-sand beaches and small coastal towns, with a return through Kangaroo Valley. It's 522 km over 5–7 nights, with no single day longer than the 2.5-hour run home. You go south through Royal National Park, over the Sea Cliff Bridge, then on through Kiama, Berry, Hyams Beach and Ulladulla.
Best three stops:
- Sea Cliff Bridge: drive it, then park and walk back across for the view along the cliffs.
- Hyams Beach: some of the whitest sand in Australia. It gets very busy in summer and parking is tight for a big van, so arrive early.
- Booderee National Park: beach camping, kangaroos and snorkelling on the southern side of Jervis Bay. It's managed by Parks Australia rather than NSW National Parks, so book its campgrounds through Booderee directly.
It suits beach lovers and small families, since the van sleeps three. Between May and November you have a good chance of seeing whales from the headlands. See the full South Coast and Jervis Bay road trip.
Hunter Valley & Port Stephens
Wine country, huge sand dunes and dolphin-filled bays, then home along the Central Coast. The loop is 502 km over 4–6 nights, and the longest drive is the first one, 167 km (about 2.4 hours) from Manly to Pokolbin. From there you head east to Nelson Bay, then back south via Newcastle, The Entrance and Terrigal.
Best three stops:
- Pokolbin cellar doors: semillon and shiraz at more than 150 wineries. Park the van for the night and walk, cycle or book a tour so nobody has to drive.
- Stockton Bight dunes: the largest moving sand dunes in the Southern Hemisphere. The beach is 4WD only, so leave the van in a car park and walk in or join a tour.
- Tomaree Head: a short, steep summit walk at Nelson Bay with 360-degree views over Port Stephens.
It suits food and wine lovers and friends travelling together, and it works in any season. The full Hunter Valley and Port Stephens guide has the day-by-day route.
Byron Bay & Waterfall Way
The big one: 1,745 km and roughly 22.8 hours of driving over 10–14 nights. You go up the coast through Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour and Yamba to Byron Bay, then turn inland at Bellingen and climb the Waterfall Way to Dorrigo and Armidale before coming home via Tamworth. The first and last legs are the longest (385 km and 410 km), so plan to break them up if you'd rather not drive for five hours straight.
Best three stops:
- Koala Hospital, Port Macquarie: meet rescued koalas and learn how they're cared for.
- Cape Byron Lighthouse: the most easterly point of the mainland. Walk up at sunrise.
- Dorrigo Skywalk: a walkway out over the rainforest canopy at the top of the range.
It suits surfers, people with two weeks up their sleeve and anyone who wants coast and country in one trip. At 14 nights the lower long-trip rate applies to every night. Read the full Byron Bay and Waterfall Way road trip.
Snowy Mountains & Sapphire Coast
Canberra, the high country around Mount Kosciuszko, then home along the far south coast. It's 1,222 km with about 17.2 hours of driving over 9–12 nights. The run to Canberra is 300 km (about 3.8 hours), then it's on to Jindabyne and Thredbo before you drop down to Eden and work your way north through Merimbula, Narooma and Batemans Bay.
Best three stops:
- Mount Kosciuszko: take the chairlift from Thredbo and walk to the top of Australia. Bring layers, as the weather changes quickly up there.
- Central Tilba: a heritage village known for its cheese and ice cream.
- Montague Island: seal and penguin tours leave from Narooma. Book ahead.
It suits walkers and anyone wanting a cooler summer holiday. Stick to November to April: in winter, chains are required for 2WD vehicles in parts of Kosciuszko National Park. The full Snowy Mountains and Sapphire Coast guide covers each leg.
Central West Wine & Gold
Over the mountains to gold-rush towns, cool-climate wineries and the sandstone country of Wollemi. It's 708 km with about 11.4 hours of driving over 5–7 nights. You head through the Blue Mountains to Bathurst and Orange, swing north to Mudgee and Rylstone, then come home through Lithgow and Bilpin.
Best three stops:
- Mount Panorama: the Bathurst race circuit is a public road outside race events, with a low speed limit. Drive a lap and stop at the top for the view.
- Orange wineries: cool-climate wines and a strong food scene, with Mount Canobolas close by for views.
- Ganguddy (Dunns Swamp): paddle and camp among sandstone cliffs in Wollemi National Park. The access road has some gravel, so check conditions after rain.
It suits wine and history lovers, and anyone who likes quieter roads. Autumn and spring are the sweet spots. Read the full Central West wine and gold road trip.
Choosing the right trip
By trip length. The van has a three-night minimum. With three or four nights, do the Blue Mountains. With five to seven, pick from the South Coast, the Hunter or the Central West. If you have nine nights or more, the Snowy Mountains loop or the run up to Byron Bay are worth the extra driving.
By season. In summer, head for the South Coast beaches or the cooler air of the Snowy Mountains. Autumn is best in the Blue Mountains and the Central West, when the leaves turn. Winter suits the Hunter, and whales pass the coast from May to November, but inland nights get very cold, so pack warm layers. Spring opens up the long trip north to Byron Bay.
By interest. For wine, choose the Hunter or the Central West. For beaches and surf, the South Coast or Byron Bay. For bushwalking, the Blue Mountains or Kosciuszko. For history, the gold towns around Bathurst. If none of these quite fits, sketch your own route in the trip planner.
Campervan tips for NSW road trips
- Know where you can camp. Caravan parks and national park campgrounds are your main options. Free camping rules vary by council, and camping on city streets, including around Sydney and Manly, isn't allowed.
- Book national park campsites ahead. Most NSW national park campgrounds need to be booked through NSW National Parks, and popular coastal sites fill up fast in school holidays and on long weekends. Some parks also charge a vehicle entry fee.
- Plan around no toilet. The van has no toilet, so pick campgrounds with amenities and know where the next public toilets are. Many free camps are signposted for fully self-contained vehicles only, which usually means an onboard toilet, so they're not an option.
- Cold water only. The indoor and outdoor showers run cold, which is refreshing after a beach day. For a hot shower, stay a night at a caravan park every few days.
- Mind the high roof. Avoid multi-storey car parks, drive-throughs and low-hanging branches. Stay off unsealed or 4WD-only tracks and beach driving, and take steep, winding roads such as the Jenolan descent slowly.
- Use the batteries. The two lithium batteries run the fridge and lights for a few days off-grid, so you can enjoy a couple of quiet national park nights in a row. Have a look inside the van to see the full setup.
FAQ
Where can you camp in a campervan near Sydney?
The closest options are caravan parks and national park campgrounds, such as Bonnie Vale in Royal National Park, which you need to book ahead. You can't camp on streets in Sydney, so plan your first night somewhere official.
Do I need a special licence to drive the van?
No. It's an automatic and drives on a standard car licence. It's long and tall, though, so allow extra room for parking and turning.
How many nights do I need for a campervan trip from Sydney?
Three nights is enough for the Blue Mountains. Five to seven nights covers the South Coast, Hunter Valley or Central West comfortably, and you'll want ten to fourteen for Byron Bay and back.
Can I bring my dog?
Yes, pets are welcome in the van for a pet-friendly clean fee. Dogs aren't allowed in most NSW national parks, so plan on pet-friendly caravan parks instead.
Pick your route and check availability for your dates.