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Grand South East Coastal and Outback Odyssey

A 14-day journey traversing the lush Pacific Coast, the rugged Great Dividing Range, and the vast semi-arid plains of the outback, connecting the iconic Sydney harbor to the sophisticated streets of Adelaide.

14days
30stops
2729km

The route

Tap a day or a town

You sleep in The Entrance · Nelson Bay · Port Macquarie · Armidale · Dubbo · Forbes · Hay · Balranald · Mildura · Renmark · Hahndorf — start in Sydney, end in Adelaide.

DAY01

Circular Quay → The

153 km · 2h 46m driving · Overnight in The
  1. 09:00
    Circular Quay· start
  2. 43 km · 1h
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Palm Beach
  4. 110 km · 1h 46m
  5. 15:00
    The· overnight
DAY02

The → Nelson Bay

119 km · 1h 52m driving · Overnight in Nelson Bay
  1. 09:00
    The· start
  2. 74 km · 1h 16m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Stockton Sand Dunes
  4. 45 km · 36m
  5. 15:00
    Nelson Bay· overnight
DAY03

Nelson Bay → Port Macquarie

283 km · 3h 20m driving · Overnight in Port Macquarie
  1. 09:00
    Nelson Bay· start
  2. 170 km · 1h 59m
  3. 12:00
    Forster-Tuncurry
  4. 113 km · 1h 21m
  5. 15:00
    ⭐ Port Macquarie· overnight
DAY04

Koala Hospital → Port Macquarie

8.1 km · 13m driving · Overnight in Port Macquarie
  1. 09:00
    Koala Hospital· start
  2. 3.4 km · 6m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Tacking Point Lighthouse
  4. 4.8 km · 7m
  5. 15:00
    Port Macquarie· overnight
DAY05

Port Macquarie → Armidale

301 km · 3h 36m driving · Overnight in Armidale
  1. 09:00
    Port Macquarie· start
  2. 170 km · 2h
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Dorrigo National Park
  4. 131 km · 1h 36m
  5. 15:00
    Armidale· overnight
DAY06

Armidale → Dubbo

421 km · 4h 54m driving · Overnight in Dubbo
  1. 09:00
    Armidale· start
  2. 111 km · 1h 23m
  3. 12:00
    Tamworth
  4. 310 km · 3h 31m
  5. 15:00
    ⭐ Dubbo· overnight
DAY07

Taronga Western Plains Zoo → Dubbo

10 km · 17m driving · Overnight in Dubbo
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Taronga Western Plains Zoo· start
  2. 5.6 km · 9m
  3. 12:00
    Old Dubbo Gaol
  4. 4.8 km · 8m
  5. 15:00
    Dubbo· overnight
DAY08

Dubbo → Forbes

165 km · 1h 53m driving · Overnight in Forbes
  1. 09:00
    Dubbo· start
  2. 107 km · 1h 13m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ CSIRO Parkes Observatory
  4. 57 km · 40m
  5. 15:00
    Forbes· overnight
DAY09

Forbes → Hay

406 km · 4h 26m driving · Overnight in Hay
  1. 09:00
    Forbes· start
  2. 259 km · 2h 51m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Griffith
  4. 146 km · 1h 35m
  5. 15:00
    Hay· overnight
DAY10

Hay → Balranald

133 km · 1h 25m driving · Overnight in Balranald
  1. 09:00
    Hay· start
  2. 2.5 km · 4m
  3. 12:00
    Shear Outback
  4. 130 km · 1h 21m
  5. 15:00
    ⭐ Balranald· overnight
DAY11

Balranald → Mildura

297 km · 3h 41m driving · Overnight in Mildura
  1. 09:00
    Balranald· start
  2. 157 km · 1h 52m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Mungo National Park
  4. 141 km · 1h 49m
  5. 15:00
    Mildura· overnight
DAY12

Mildura → Renmark

146 km · 1h 47m driving · Overnight in Renmark
  1. 09:00
    Mildura· start
  2. 4.5 km · 8m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Murray River Paddlesteamers
  4. 142 km · 1h 39m
  5. 15:00
    Renmark· overnight
DAY13

Renmark → Adelaide Hills

254 km · 3h 9m driving · Overnight in Adelaide Hills
  1. 09:00
    Renmark· start
  2. 185 km · 2h 5m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Tanunda
  4. 68 km · 1h 4m
  5. 15:00
    Adelaide Hills· overnight
DAY14

Hahndorf → Adelaide

33 km · 40m driving
  1. 09:00
    Hahndorf· start
  2. 15 km · 15m
  3. 12:00
    Mount Lofty Summit
  4. 18 km · 25m
  5. 15:00
    ⭐ Adelaide City Center
Booking timeline
Book these before you go
  1. Day 1Stay in The Entrance · Night 1
  2. Day 2Stay in Nelson Bay · Night 2
  3. Days 3–4Stay in Port Macquarie · Nights 3-4
  4. Day 5Stay in Armidale · Night 5
  5. Days 6–7Stay in Dubbo · Nights 6-7
  6. Day 8Stay in Forbes · Night 8
  7. Day 9Stay in Hay · Night 9
  8. Day 10Stay in Balranald · Night 10
Heads Up
  • Check road conditions when entering Mungo National Park as unsealed roads can become impassable after rain.
  • Ensure your vehicle is well-maintained for long outback stretches between Hay and Mildura where services are limited.
  • Pre-book your Dubbo Zoo tickets and Mungo National Park tours to ensure availability during peak travel months.
  • Be mindful of wildlife, especially kangaroos and emus, when driving at dawn or dusk in regional areas.