Sydney to Byron Bay road trip
Take two American girls, one 19-year-old Saab convertible, add a few too many bags of kettle chips, plus the Christmas holidays and what do you get? A spontaneous Sydney to Byron Bay road trip, of course. This popular beach town is well-loved by locals and backpackers for its surf beaches, cafes and bars, and its ability to completely embrace the Australian beach and surf culture.
Australia takes Christmas and New Year as their unofficial summer vacation, and most businesses shut down for the two-week period from late December and early January. (It’s also summer break for the schools, who usually don’t go back until late January, after the Australia Day holiday.)
This is completely fantastic and I wish something the US would pick up on. Having two weeks off is the perfect time to relax and de-stress after a busy year, spend time with friends and family, or to do some travel.
A girlfriend and I found ourselves with nowhere to be and nowhere to go over Christmas this year, and decided to drive up to Byron Bay for a few days in the sun, taking on the traditional Aussie beach Christmas. Yes, we even took Santa hats to the beach on Christmas Day- but so did everyone else, so it wasn’t that weird. I’ve written previously about ocean kayaking with dolphins in Byron, which is one of the best things I did on the trip.
The drive time on a Sydney to Byron Bay road trip takes about nine hours. What are you likely to come across on the drive? Gorgeous beaches, cute holiday towns, a few kangaroos perhaps? Yes, of course- but it wouldn’t be a road trip without a few stories to tell…I am always on the lookout for differences between the US and Aus, and there are also some small details that differ between Australian and US road trips also (besides the obvious one of driving on opposite sides of the road, that is.)
Roadside pit stops
America has really nailed it when it comes to highway rest stops. They are well marked, easy to find, clean, and they tell you in advance via road signs what to expect in terms of food, motels, gas stations, etc. You see these on rare occasion in Australia, but the concept hasn’t really caught on fully.
Generally, on Australian road trips, I end up pulling off on random exits and trying to find the exit’s gas stations and food. Sometimes it works, sometimes you drive in a loop, give up, and head back to the highway. Which is disappointing, because sometimes on a road trip, all you want is some McDonalds and an icy-cold Coke.
Although, for what it’s worth, Saabs don’t have cup holders.
There’s also basic highway road stops, overseen by the Roads and Maritime Services, which contain bathrooms and picnic tables, maybe a vending machine, and they are at least handy for taking a break and stretching your legs. On weekends and public holidays, there is often free coffee and tea set up for drivers, which I think is incredible-certainly not something you would see in the states.
The Big Banana
Australia is known for its ‘big things’, or kitschy roadside attractions. Sort of like South Carolina’s South of the Border, but without the bad Mexican food and souvenir shops. In Coffs Harbour, about 5 ½ hours Sydney, the Big Banana can be found. This gloriously over the top tourist attraction is an homage to the area’s history of banana farming. It’s billed as an amusement park, which is somewhat of an ambitious statement.
Initial impressions- this big banana is not actually that big. I’ve been to the Big Merino, in Goulburn, but the banana can’t hold a candle to the merino. The banana is set within a boardwalk deck, ostensibly for photo taking purposes, and is laying on its side, but the whole set-up seems to dwarf its impressiveness. I suppose I had set my expectations too high on this one, or perhaps the banana just didn’t a-peel to me (sorry).
Pop in, use the bathroom, take a photo with the banana, and then get back on the road. Although, if you’re feeling adventurous, Coffs Harbour’s premier amusement park also contains a candy making factory, a reptile zoo, and laser tag.
If you do spend some time in Coffs, it does have beautiful beaches and is a popular holiday town.
Petrol stations with no petrol
Petrol stations over summer holidays should have two things, at a bare minimum- petrol and bathrooms. This doesn’t seem like too much to ask. We pulled into a gas station somewhere around Ballina, after being caught up in nonstop (non-start?) traffic and I was disappointed to see that they were out of all petrol except 98- the most expensive option. I usually go for 95, but what the hell, I can treat my old car for the holidays.
As we waited in line, with several cars ahead of us, to get to the one operational pump, my travel buddy popped out of the car to go to the bathroom. I really had to go too, but patience is a virtue, I suppose.
Interestingly, there was a handwritten sign on both restrooms saying ‘restrooms out of order, public restrooms available 100m in either direction’. Odd. Caitlin went inside to inquire. Begrudgingly, they then gave her a key to unlock the bathrooms. Apparently, the sign was to deter potential bathroom users from actually using the bathroom. No need to call Dickens, we’ve definitely found Australia’s biggest scrooge right here in Ballina.
Nonetheless, I was still waiting to fill up, but was heartened by the discovery of a working bathroom. I should also mention that behind me in line to fill up was an actual bikie, or member of an Australian outlaw motorcycle gang. (Not mentioning names here.) He looked pretty impatient. It was finally time to fill up, which I did as quickly as I could, namely because the two wheels behind me looked pretty intimidating, as did its leather-clad rider. Probably cowardly, but in the end I gave up my aim of going to the bathroom, and just held it in, for risk of taking too long and making the guy behind me angry. I am sure he was completely lovely, but I panicked anyway and drove off.
All in all, it was the most unusual experience I’ve ever had when just trying to get some gas.
A useful tidbit for American drivers- you can’t pay at the pump in Australia, you always have to go inside the shop. I don’t know why.
Sydney to Byron traffic
This is where the kettle chips come into play. Have you ever sat in traffic so standstill that you literally just turn off your car and wait? I have. This is also a good time to eat your frustrations through copious amounts of potato chips. Calories don’t count on holiday anyway.
Traffic can happen anywhere, but construction on a major new highway, much needed, in Northern NSW has been causing a lot of delays. It was the only hiccup in an otherwise smooth journey, but it’s certainly depressing.
…
Let’s just say that well-earned beer at the Beach Hotel in Byron tasted pretty damn good after over ten hours of driving. Thanks also to my beloved Saab 9-3 for pulling its weight on its first long road trip (with me). We made it home intact also, so it must’ve been happy with that premium fuel.
Have you ever had any strange/awesome/funny road trip experience? (Luckily, NSW is chock full of unique towns to visit on road trips!)
Would love to hear your stories in the comments below?
Note: If you’re from overseas and looking to buy a car, I’ve also written a guide to buying a second-hand car in Australia. They can be a pain sometimes but are definitely fun for road trips!