Leave Brisbane after an early coffee and breakfast — try Artisan Coffee Project or John Mills Himself — and head south along the M1 toward the Gold Coast. Stop at Burleigh Heads for a quick beach walk through Burleigh Head National Park and take in the coastal views and morning surfers; if time allows, detour to the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary for a short wildlife encounter and friendly lorikeet feed.
Continue the coastal drive, passing Coolangatta and the spectacular Tweed Coast, and make a relaxed lunch stop in Kingscliff or Cabarita Beach — sample fresh seafood at a waterfront café like Fishheads or The Nook. If you're feeling adventurous, extend the trip to Byron Bay: stroll the iconic Byron Bay Lighthouse walking track for panoramic headland views, watch for dolphins, and enjoy a late-afternoon smoothie bowl in town at Soullica or Bayleaf Café.
If you stay in Byron Bay, unwind with dinner on Jonson Street or a beachfront meal at The Beach Hotel as the sun sets over the Pacific; otherwise, return to the Gold Coast for dinner at Broadbeach’s Oracle Boulevard. Cap the night with a relaxed walk along Surfers Paradise or a cold drink at a rooftop bar, letting the coastal breeze set the tone for the longer drives ahead tomorrow.
Leave Byron Bay after a relaxed breakfast—try Top Shop for a famous egg and bacon roll or Bayleaf for a vibrant smoothie bowl—and head south on the Pacific Motorway, soaking up the lush coastal hinterland. Pause at Ballina for a stretch and a coffee at The Little Green Bean, then detour to the Broadwater or Lennox Head for a short beach walk or to watch local surfers carve the morning waves.
Continue toward Coffs Harbour with a scenic stop at Yamba for a waterfront lunch at Pacific Hotel or The River Café, sampling fresh prawns or fish and chips before crossing the Clarence River. In Coffs, explore the Big Banana precinct for a quirky photo op and, if time allows, take a quick rainforest walk at the Coffs Harbour Botanic Garden or a calming stroll along Muttonbird Island to look for migrating whales (seasonal).
Drive on to Port Macquarie for an easy evening arrival and choose between dinner on the waterfront at The Stunned Mullet or a relaxed meal at Bills Fishhouse + Bar, enjoying local seafood and river views. If you're staying overnight, wander the breakwall to spot sea life under the sunset glow, or unwind with a nightcap at a riverside bar before an early night to recharge for tomorrow’s inland push toward Geelong.
Leave Port Macquarie after an early breakfast at The Stunned Mullet or Cafe 25 and set off south along the Pacific Highway, stopping in Newcastle for a brisk walk along Nobbys Beach and a coffee at Three Beans on Darby to break up the drive. Stretch your legs with a quick climb up to Nobbys Headland or a wander through Newcastle’s Honeysuckle waterfront before continuing inland toward the M1 and the faster Hume Motorway link south.
Pass through the outskirts of Sydney with a brief transit past the Harbour — consider a short detour for a scenic lunch at Pyrmont’s Fish Market if timing allows — then join the M31 Hume Motorway for the long inland leg; stop in the Southern Highlands at Mittagong or Bowral for afternoon tea and a stroll in Corbett Gardens. Keep an eye out for rolling farmland as you press on through Victoria, with a late-afternoon coffee and refuel in Ballarat to break the final stretch and take in a quick heritage walk around the historic town centre.
Arrive in Geelong in the early evening and celebrate the end of the road trip with fish and chips on the Eastern Beach foreshore or a relaxed dinner at Little Creatures Brewery overlooking the waterfront. Cap the night with a sunset walk along the Geelong Promenade or a drink at a local bar on Moorabool Street, soaking up the relaxed coastal-city vibe after three days of scenic driving.