Sydney to Brisbane – Two Lighthouses and One Very Long Day!
After a fairly big day of travelling, we were up bright and early, leaving the motel at 5:50 am. Nothing like an early start to get the kilometres under your belt, although getting out of bed at that hour on holiday should probably earn you some sort of medal!
Thankfully, our GPS decided to redeem itself. It gave us clear, easy directions out of Sydney, which was a pleasant surprise after the interesting little adventure it put us through when we arrived. Perhaps it had finally realised we weren’t impressed with its previous efforts!
As we headed north, we were quickly reminded that Sydney traffic operates at a pace of its own. Everyone seemed to be in a tremendous hurry, and we were left wondering whether we’d accidentally entered a city-wide race. We were happy to find our way out in one piece and settle into the day’s drive.
Our destination was Brisbane, with two major sightseeing stops planned along the way: Tacking Point Lighthouse near Port Macquarie and Cape Byron Lighthouse at Byron Bay.
First Stop – Tacking Point Lighthouse
Our first lighthouse stop was Tacking Point Lighthouse, overlooking the coastline near Port Macquarie.
It’s a beautiful spot to stretch the legs, take a few photos and enjoy the coastal scenery. After spending time exploring Sydney on foot, it was good to get out of the car and enjoy another of Australia’s picturesque coastal locations.
Of course, we weren’t simply racing north to Brisbane. We had lighthouses to tick off the list, and we weren’t about to drive straight past them just to save a bit of time!
With photos taken and the scenery admired, we climbed back into the car and continued north.
Next Up – Cape Byron Lighthouse
Our second major stop was Cape Byron Lighthouse, at Byron Bay.
Situated at Australia’s easternmost mainland point, it’s a spectacular location with sweeping coastal views. It’s also a fitting place to stop on a long drive, although by this stage we still had a fair way to go before reaching Brisbane.
We spent some time checking out the lighthouse and taking photos and video before getting back on the road.
Two lighthouses in one day? Tick!
Plenty more kilometres to go? Unfortunately, also tick!
The Long Haul to Brisbane
While the two lighthouse stops made the journey more interesting, this was a seriously long day behind the wheel.
Between sightseeing, rest breaks, lunch and a fuel stop, the kilometres soon added up. We eventually arrived at the Oaks Aurora in Brisbane at 6:20 pm.
That’s a day stretching from a 5:50 am departure to an early evening arrival, and we were certainly ready to call it quits!
Would I do the Sydney-to-Brisbane drive in one day again, with sightseeing stops included? Probably not! It’s certainly achievable, but it makes for a long stint on the road, especially when you want to stop and explore along the way rather than simply blast through the kilometres.
Sometimes the destination is worth the effort, but next time I’d seriously consider breaking the trip up a little more.
The Pig and Whistle – Beers, Food and a Well-Earned Rest
Once we’d checked in, unpacked and made ourselves comfortable, there was just one thing left to do: find some food and a refreshing beverage.
We took a short walk to The Pig and Whistle Riverside for a couple of beers and a bite to eat.
After a day spent driving, stopping at lighthouses and generally covering a ridiculous number of kilometres, sitting down with a cold beer was a very welcome reward.
But wait, there’s more!
You might think that after such a big day we’d simply head back to the room and collapse into bed. Oh no, not us. We had one final holiday activity to tackle.
Laundry!
Yep, nothing says glamorous touring holiday quite like spending the evening washing clothes. We really know how to live it up!
Still, clean clothes don’t magically appear in the suitcase, and when you’re travelling for a while, these jobs have to be done eventually. We like to think we’re pretty hardcore holidaymakers, tackling the sights, the pubs and the washing all in one hit!
With Brisbane reached, two lighthouses ticked off and the washing underway, it was time to recharge before the next part of our adventure.
Stay tuned – there are still more Brisbane adventures to come!
#TheThirstyTourists #TouringIsThirstyWork #SydneyToBrisbane #TackingPointLighthouse #CapeByronLighthouse #RoadTripAustralia
