Brisbane to Yamba: A self-drive itinerary

Pick up your van in Brisbane and drive south to Queensland’s most iconic beach strip – the Gold Coast. Try a surf lesson, take a stand-up paddleboard out on Currumbin Creek or drive up into the hinterland to explore the rainforests and waterfalls of Springbrook National Park.

Continue over the NSW border to Byron Bay, one of Australia’s best-loved coastal towns. Byron offers incredible food, boutique shopping, outstanding beaches and world-renowned surf breaks. Enjoy the views from Cape Byron lighthouse, visit Julian Rocks by sea kayak or just unwind on Byron’s blissful yellow sands.

Inspiration:

• Hang ten with a surf lesson
• Go stand-up paddle-boarding on Currumbin Creek
• Wander Springbrook’s walking tracks
• Relax with a Byron Bay massage or spa treatment
• Enjoy fresh, sustainable produce at the Farm
• Browse Byron’s vibrant markets

Drive further down the coast, stopping for a swim at Evans Head or a secluded beach walk in Bundjalung National Park. Just south of Woodburn, the New Italy museum tells the fascinating story of 40 Italian families who survived a disastrous sea voyage before settling in the area.

Continue to Yamba, where you can go fishing or kayaking on the Clarence River, watch migrating whales from May to November, or plant yourself on the beach – just watch out for the town’s beach-dwelling emus!

Inspiration:

• Find your own private beach in Bundjalung National Park
• Discover an untold Australian story at the New Italy Museum
• Swim in the seemingly bottomless Angourie Blue Pool
• Watch whales and dolphins swim offshore
• Learn to surf with a former Australian champion at the Yamba-Angourie Surf School

Take the inland road back to Brisbane, ducking into Casino to visit the Jambama Gallery and spot native and migratory birds in the Jabiru Geneebeinga Wetlands. Continue north to the magnificent Border Ranges National Park, where the 44km Tweed Range Scenic Drive lets you experience ancient Gondwana rainforests and breathtaking views down to the coast.

You’ll still be buzzing from the natural high when you drop your Cosy Camper back in Brisbane.

Inspiration:

• Admire artworks from the Bundjalung Nation at Jambama Gallery
• Step back in time among Border Ranges National Park’s 80-million-year-old rainforests