Sydney to Byron Bay: the Pacific Coast Way
The drive from Sydney to Byron Bay along the Pacific Highway is one of the great Australian road trips and is very manageable with a dog when you know the stops.
The Central Coast has good dog beach access at The Entrance and Umina Beach. Newcastle has excellent off-leash beach access at Nobbys Beach and Merewether. Port Macquarie has Town Beach dog area. Coffs Harbour has Park Beach with off-leash access. And Byron Bay at the end of the drive is one of the great dog destinations in Australia.
The key challenge on this route is that much of the spectacular coastal scenery is inside national park boundaries. Plan your stops around council-managed beaches and reserves rather than national park lookouts.
The NSW South Coast
The NSW South Coast from Wollongong to the Victorian border is one of the most underrated dog road trip routes in Australia. Less crowded than the north coast, genuinely beautiful, and with excellent dog beach access throughout.
Kiama has good foreshore walking. Jervis Bay is spectacular and Hyams Beach is one of the whitest sand beaches in the world. The dog beach access in the Shoalhaven area is good outside national park boundaries. Batemans Bay has the Corrigans Beach dog area. Bega Valley and Merimbula have good beach access. Tathra Beach is excellent.
The Blue Mountains and Highlands
The Blue Mountains is not primarily a beach destination but the towns on the escarpment edge are some of the most dog-welcoming in NSW.
Leura is the centrepiece. The main street, the gardens, the cafes. A morning in Leura with your dog is one of the great Blue Mountains experiences.
The Southern Highlands through Bowral and Moss Vale is excellent dog country. The cool temperate climate, beautiful gardens, and excellent outdoor dining make it one of the best weekend escape destinations from Sydney for dog owners.
Hunter Valley
The Hunter Valley makes an excellent day trip or weekend escape from Sydney with a dog. The dog-friendly cellar door culture, Classic Tours' dedicated dog-friendly winery experiences, and the beautiful rural landscape make it one of the most pleasant NSW destinations.
Book accommodation in or near Pokolbin as a base. The Lovedale and Broke areas have excellent dog-friendly stays and are close to the concentration of welcoming cellar doors.
New South Wales has some of the best dog road trip routes in Australia. The north coast, the south coast, and the mountains all reward slow travel with a dog. Write to us at hello@pawtrips.com.au with your NSW road trip recommendations.
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