Next up in our Great Ocean Road to Great Barrier Reef series is the Mid-North Coast of New South Wales from the Hunter Valley to Nambucca Heads.
Now you could easily make this four-hour drive in one stint but stopping at Ingenia Holiday Parks along the way, makes it more of a holiday, and a road trip to remember.
Did someone say wine tasting?
Whether you’re visiting the Hunter Valley as an add-on to part 2 in this series, or as the starting point for your next adventure, you’re sure to enjoy wandering through the vineyards, sampling at cellar doors and stocking up on wine for the trip ahead (or home as the case may be). As drinking and driving is a definite no-no, settle in at Ingenia Holidays Hunter Valley and join one of the popular wine tasting tours in the Hunter Valley, that way no one needs to be the designated driver!
Stay: Ingenia Holidays Hunter Valley
Get in on the action in Port Stephens
Holidays aren’t meant to mean hours and hours of driving, and road trips don’t have to either. A little over an hour from the Hunter Valley, you can explore the delights of Port Stephens during a stay at Ingenia Holidays Middle Rock. You’ll find most attractions within a 10-minute drive of the park, and the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary is right next door! In fact, there’s so much to see and do you’ll want to spend a few days here. A dolphin-watching cruise is a must, as is sandboarding at Stockton Beach, which has the largest sand dunes in the southern hemisphere. Surfing, snorkelling, quad biking and camel rides on the beach are all options for an action-packed stay here.
Stay: Ingenia Holidays Middle Rock
Relax at the beach in Bonny Hills
A 2.5-hour drive north from Port Stephens, the next stop on our itinerary is Ingenia Holidays Bonny Hills. It’s the perfect spot to kick back and relax. After all, simple pleasures are sometimes the most rewarding. The only thing between our park and beautiful Rainbow Beach is a few shady trees, so play on the beach by day and fall asleep to the sound of waves at night, or hop in the heated pool, play a round of mini golf and enjoy our onsite amenities before heading off to the last stop on this itinerary.
Stay: Ingenia Holidays Bonny Hills
The Mid-North Coast is a-maze-ing
Last, but by no means least, is beautiful Nambucca Heads. It’s an hour and a half north of Bonny Hills, but we recommend heading inland first. Treat the kids to a fun activity at the Bago Maze and Winery. While they blow off some steam racing between the hedges you can sit back with a wine tasting and charcuterie platter. It’s a win for everyone! Then head to Ingenia Holidays White Albatross. Set right on the waterfront and with its own private lagoon it’s a dream destination. Be sure to try one of the seafood sensations served up with unbeatable water views at the onsite restaurant.
Stay: Ingenia Holidays White Albatross
The last leg of our journey to the Great Barrier Reef will be up soon. In the meantime, catch up on parts 1 and 2 if you haven’t already. These itineraries are all designed to be enjoyed on their own but can easily be blended together to create the ultimate East Coast road trip.
Plan your perfect road trip with Ingenia Holiday Parks today.
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