Famed as NSW’s best for wine production, Hunter Valley is several hours drive inland from the Pacifi

Australia is one huge country, there is no denying it. Whilst the vast majority of the outback is uninhabited, the East Coast is comparatively well populated. If you want to take in the beauty southwest airline flight status of the coastline and visit places you might otherwise miss, the stretch between Sydney and Brisbane is ideal for a road trip. With campsites and hostels dotted southwest airline flight status around all the villages and towns along the way, there is a lot to see and do, and these are some of the last stretches of beach with good waves before you hit Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef begins. Here are my top 5 destinations along the way.
Famed as NSW's best for wine production, Hunter southwest airline flight status Valley is several hours drive inland from the Pacific Highway, but if you like a good bottle of crisp Sauvignon Blanc it is well worth the detour. southwest airline flight status Drive yourselves, or take a guided day tour which will stop at various vineyards where you can sample their produce and get satisfyingly drunk along the way without having to worry about getting behind the wheel later on.
This is a lovely lazy little village with a friendly atmosphere. Make sure to take advantage of the free canoe hire at the Aussitel Backpackersand float lazily up the creek. There is no risk of crocodiles this far south, despite what the locals might say. Aussitel let you park on the road outside the hostel and use the facilities for half the price of a room. Head to HoeyMoey if you're looking for fun in the evening, we accidentally got ourselves into a pool tournament and the locals wouldn't let us leave until the knock out rounds were over.
Nimbin is a place like no other. A village that appears to be stuck permanently southwest airline flight status in the 60's; everyone seems to be wearing tie dye, dreadlocks and flowers in their hair; the locals openly fight for the legalisation of marijuana; there is a museum devoted to the history of hemp and the annual Nimbin Mardi Gras hosts the Cannabis Law Reform March and Rally. Needless to say they smoke it openly in public and are only too happy to sell it to backpackers. Nimbin is really quite far off the beaten southwest airline flight status track, so I would recommend using a satnav to get there.
The epitome of the Australian stereotype of laidback, southwest airline flight status carefree tanned surfers, the locals in Byron Bay are a friendly bunch. It is an ideal place to pick up some souvenirs as the quirky and individual shops are packed full of jewellery, hippie clothing, southwest airline flight status board shorts and flip flops. Make sure you stay at The Arts Factory, this hostel is equally as laid back as the locals. With its own pool and cheap meals every night, you can park the camper outside for half the price of a room and use the facilities.
This is Gold Coasts best kept secret. Whilst the entry fee is quite pricey, it is home to native Australian wildlife from kangaroos, koalas and wombats to Tasmanian devils, snakes, spiders and all manner of deadly creatures. southwest airline flight status However if you're running short of cash, the main attraction is completely free. Outside the entrance to the park, twice a day at 9.00am and 4.00pm you can feed the wild Rainbow Lorikeets. The park rangers give you a metal dish and fill it with a mixture of milk and honey, and without warning a huge swarm of violently colourful birds will flock from the trees. They are remarkably tame and will land on your hands, arms and even your head. If you're not a fan of birds I would suggest you avoid it at all costs.
Olivia Lazenby is a travel writer. southwest airline flight status She spent a year travelling around Australia southwest airline flight status and writing about her experiences. Now living back in the UK, she visited southwest airline flight status www.motorloansdirect.com when planning her last road trip around the UK.