blue mountains | Travelling Simply

Our love of leisurely road trips allowed us to break the 10-11 hour drive from southeast Queensland to the Blue Mountains with some stops and a couple of overnight stays. Below are our suggestions for places to stop on a road trip from Brisbane to New South Wales.

Route options

With several route options available, our road trip from Brisbane to New South Wales was to be on the inland route with two overnight stays. The first was in the inland Scenic Rim town of Stanthorpe, and the second was in Australia’s country music capital, Tamworth.

Our plans rapidly changed when an oil tanker rollover blocked the highway. After sitting in a traffic jam for several hours, a quick decision was made to re-route and take the coastal road.

Phone calls were made on the go to cancel and make new accommodation bookings. We were glad to have taken the “Free cancellation” option on our original bookings

More traffic delays and we finally arrived at our overnight destination seven hours after leaving home. The drive would usually take two hours!

Hint: Travelling teaches you to be flexible and agile and enjoy the experience, even if it’s not what you expected.

The best places to stop on a road trip from Brisbane to New South Wales

An overnight stay in Kingscliff

Only a couple of hours of relaxed driving from Brisbane and just over the Queensland border is the coastal town of Kingscliff.

Kingscliff is not just a place to stop over on the way south, it’s a beautiful holiday destination in its own right and perfect for short or long stayovers. We have enjoyed short stay breaks in the laidback atmosphere that comes from one street town.

The “welcome drinks” at Peppers Salt Resort were extremely welcome and within moments of check-in, we had put the day behind us, were relaxed and ready to enjoy the evening.

A short stroll to the adjoining Salt Village and we are spoilt for choice by the dining options: Asian, Mexican, Italian, or simple fish and chips. For those staying for a few days, treat yourself to the spa or shop in the boutiques. Then, of course, there’s the beach!

Beachside at Kingscliff, New South Wales — Beachside at Kingscliff

Our misfortunes of the day changed to a fortune of a relaxed evening at the resort.

Hint: When you leave Kingscliff, drive south along the scenic coast road through Cabarita Beach, a small beachside village.

Stretching out legs at Nambucca Heads

The highway has dramatically improved. over the years. There is no longer the need to drive through small towns at limited speeds. Now you can pick and choose which towns you wish to detour into or turn on cruise control and keep driving.

We choose to stop at the scenic Nambucca Heads for lunch. We discover Gordon Park on the river. It’s a peaceful spot to stretch your legs and grab lunch and coffee—a fantastic place to take a break.

Gordons Park, Nambucca Heads. New South Wales, Australia — Tranquil Gordons Park, Nambucca Heads

Overnight stay in Port Macquarie

We arrived in Port Macquarie with fond memories of a stay during another road trip many years ago when we had arrived fresh from New Zealand to make our home in Australia. Arriving in the early afternoon allowed us time to do a little exploring. The best way was on foot.

We began our brisk walk from the town centre along the Coastal Walk. The painted rocks at the breakwall capture our intention. The painted rocks started as an art competition in 1995. and have become a gallery of sorts: tributes to loved ones who have passed away; celebrations of love and; anniversaries amongst others. Our walk is slowed down to a stroll as we stop, read, and admire the artwork.

At Town Beach, the artwork ends and our pace quickens. We aim to walk to the Lighthouse, but time is not on our side and we turn back at Nobby Head after a walk of breathtaking rough and rugged scenery.

Views on the Coastal Walk, Port Macquarie, Australia — Views on the Coastal Walk

After several hours of exploring we are back at our hotel to shower and enjoy a drink at the bar before walking the short distance into the town centre to choose somewhere for dinner. Again, we are spoilt for choice and decide on a simple pizza dinner.

The Blue Mountains

A World Heritage area, Blue Mountains National Park is one of Australia’s icons. You’ll be enchanted by its natural wonders. Explore the endless hiking trails around cliffs, canyons, waterfalls and lush forests of the national park by spending a few days in the area.

Views from the Skyway across the Jamison Valley, Blue Mountains

Read our post for more details on the things you can do in the Blue Mountains.

Other places to stop on a road trip from Brisbane to New South Wales

Of course, depending on how much time you have, there are numerous stops and stays to make on a road trip from Brisbane to New South Wales. A few suggestions are below. We stayed at a couple on our return journey.

Byron Bay
Ballina
Yamba
Coffs Harbour
Port Stephens and Nelson Bay
The Hunter Valley

The buzz of the city gave way to the leafy and quieter suburbs of Sydney and suddenly we arrived for our visit to the Blue Mountains National Park. Here are some things you absolutely need to do in the Blue Mountains.

Things you absolutely need to do in the Blue Mountains

Leura Valley

The Leura Valley is a great starting point for exploring the Blue Mountains. You’ll be greeted by plenty of nature walks and longer hiking trails providing stunning scenery and the old-world streets around the little village of Leura.

Sublime Point Lookout

One of the first things to do in the Leura Valley is to stretch your legs with a short walk to the Sublime Point Lookout. The lookout provides magnificent views across the Jamison Valley and beyond at an angle that directly contrasts the views you’ll come across from the other lookout points in the area.

Views from Sublime Point, Leura, Blue Mountains — Views from Sublime Point, Leura

For us, it was the perfect introduction to the grandeur of the National Park and how much we had to look forward to during our stay. Hint: Try to time your visit to watch the sunset.

Leura Mall and Village

One of the highlights of Leura is the charming village. It’s a favourite for both day-trippers and long-stay visitors. Offering plenty of cafes and finer dining options and surrounded by heritage buildings a whole day can be spent browsing Leura’s pretty tree-lined main street alone. Pick up a good read at the Megalong Bookstore for a browse, collect an antique or shop in one of the boutiques. If you’re a tea lover, drop into the quirky Teapot Museum. For chocolate lovers, don’t leave Leura without dropping into Josophan’s Chocolates.

Wander the backstreets of Leura

After strolling along the Mall and village, keep walking and you’ll find yourself in streets lined with quaint cottages. You’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time.

Bush walks from Leura

The Leura Cascades trail is extremely picturesque. Categorised as a relatively easy and short walk, it runs alongside Leura Falls Creek through the rainforest ending at a lookout over the Jamison Valley. The walk’s shortness in length is deceptive because it provides some of the best views you’ll find of the Blue Mountains. The walk will be accompanied by the soothing sound of the waterfalls and find you lingering over the fabulous views. Be prepared, the walk may take longer than you anticipate.

Katoomba

Katoomba township has a reputation for being the gateway to the Blue Mountains and indeed, provides easy access to most of the National Park’s hiking trails and main attractions.

The town’s art deco buildings and bohemian feel provide the perfect backdrop for visitors looking for somewhere to base themselves and discover the things you absolutely need to do in the Blue Mountains.

Echo Point

Echo Point is the main lookout over the Blue Mountains and serves as the access point to many of the walks. Drive there or take the clifftop walk to reach the lookout. Whichever way, you’ll be awestruck b the vast landscape and views of the Three Sisters (see below) from the secure cliff edge. Hint: Arrive early in the morning before the tour buses arrive. You’ll have the lookout to yourself so you can appreciate the stunning views and the atmosphere without the crowds.

The Three Sisters

An iconic landmark in the Blue Mountains is The Three Sisters (Meehni, Wimlah and Gunnedoo) rock formation.

Echo Point provides stunning views of the iconic Three Sisters. However, there is nothing better than having a look up close. You can access the Three Sisters Walk from Echo Point which provides plenty of additional lookouts with amazing views along the way. By walking down the Giant Stairway (998 steps) and across the Honeymoon Bridge to the first Sister, you can get even closer.

Scenic World

A visit to Scenic World is a fun thing to do. A Discovery Pass allows you to:

Sky Train, Blue Mountains — Riding the Sky Train, the steepest railway track in the world.

ride the steepest railway journey in the world. The 310-metre journey drops down through a cliffside tunnel to arrive in the Jamison Valley (stop by to view the original railway carriage which is displayed at the arrival area)
explore the valley floor along the boardwalks surrounded by rainforest flora and fauna along the Scenic Walkway
ride the Scenic Cableway, the steepest cableway in the Southern Hemisphere, which takes you to the valley floor at a much more leisurely pace than the railway, and
glide across the valley on the Scenic Skyway, an enclosed cable car spanning two clifftops. The ride provides breathtaking views of Katoomba Falls, the Three Sisters, Mt Solitary and Jamison Valley.

Views from the Skyway across the Jamison Valley, Blue Mountains. One of the amazing things you absolutely need to do in the Blue Mountains. — Views from the Skyway across the Jamison Valley, Blue Mountains

Views from the Skyway down to the waterfalls of the Blue Mountains — Views from above of one the waterfalls in the Blue Mountains

Hydro Majestic Hotel, Medlow Bath

Whether you intend to stay or not, dropping into the Hydro Majestic is a must if you’re visiting the Blue Mountains for the first time.

The Hydro sits on the clifftop offering breathtaking views over the Megalong Valley. The heritage-listed hotel was built in 1904 and became popular as a health retreat before it declined to rack and ruin for many decades.

Hydro Majestic Hotel, Medlow Bath, Blue Mountains — The entrance foyer of the Hydro Majestic Hotel leads to the dining room overlooking the Blue Mountains

A restoration project in the 1990s brought the hotel, casino, and other buildings on the site back to their former glory while maintaining the grandeur of the past. As you enter the foyer you’ll feel as though you’ve stepped back in time.

The hotel offers one of the largest spas in the southern hemisphere.

Evans Lookout at Blackheath

The charming town of Blackheath is known in the region for its rhododendron gardens. It’s a little off the track compared to Leura and Katoomba but in addition to the gardens the town offers many breathtaking views and bush walks.

The path through the lush rainforest on Evan's Point track, Blue Mountains — The path through the lush rainforest on Evan’s Point track,

We spent a morning walking along the well-marked trail along the clifftop ending at Evans Lookout. The Lookout offers brilliant views of the Grose Valley. There is also the option to continue following the Grand Canyon Walk leading through the rainforest towards the valley floor.

Where we stayed

We decided to treat ourselves by staying at the luxurious Fairmont Resort and Spa Blue Mountains located on the outskirts of Leura’s township.

The boutique hotel offers some magnificent views over the Jamison Valley and beyond.

Views from the entrance foyer of the Fairmont, Blue Mountains, Australia — Views from the entrance foyer of the Fairmont

One of the most sought areas for breakfast and dining in the hotel is Embers Restaurant which is accessed by a stairway from the foyer. The large windows offer uninterrupted vistas of the valley. The blue hues of the mountains were extremely prominent and looked spectacular during sunrise and sunset.

Located adjacent to the golf club and with family-friendly facilities. Spend some downtime in the billiards or reading room, take a look at the exhibits in the corridors, enjoy the basketball courts or a stroll in the gardens. We found the hotel to be the perfect place to stay in the Blue Mountains.

When is the best time to visit

Anytime is a good time to visit the Blue Mountains. However, we think the best time of the year to visit the Blue Mountains is in the autumn. The air is more relaxed than in the searing heat of summer and still warm enough to enjoy the walks and hiking trails scattered throughout the National Park. And the mountains look spectacular!

How we got there

Our love for road trips allowed us to drive from Brisbane in the sunshine state of Queensland where we live to New South Wales. Read about some of the beautiful places we stopped at on the way here.

Tag: blue mountains

The best places to stop on a road trip from Brisbane to New South Wales

Route options