Sydney Sydney Surrounds North Coast South Coast Snowy Mountains Heart of Country Outback Lord Howe Island The Tweed and Surrounds Ballina, Byron and Surrounds Lismore and Surrounds Clarence Coast and Country Coffs Coast and Surrounds Port Macquarie, Kempsey, Taree and Surrounds Barrington Tops Port Stephens, Forster and Surrounds Newcastle Hunter Valley Lake Macquarie and Surrounds Central Coast
North Coast

Cape Byron Headland Reserve, Byron Bay – Australia's easternmost pointBallina, Byron and Surrounds A lush hinterland with sparkling beaches, full of natural wonders.

Views over Barrington Tops Barrington Tops Over 1,200 sq km of unspoilt wilderness, from subtropical rainforest to...

Birdie Beach, Munmorah State Recreation Area (Photo: H. Lund/Tourism NSW) Central Coast Pristine beaches backed by a lush hinterland.

Clarence River in Clarence Coast and CountryGrafton and Surrounds Grafton is set on the banks of the Clarence River

Serenity Bay, Emerald Beach, Coffs Coast (Photo: Coffs Coast Marketing)Coffs Coast and Surrounds The Great Dividing Range meets the sea on the Coffs Coast.

Cruickshanks Vineyards, Callatoota Estate, Wybong, Upper Hunter (Photo: P. Quirk/Wildlight) Hunter Valley World-class wines complemented by superb cuisine and boutique accommodation.

Yachts moored on Lake Macquarie (Paul Foley's Lightmoods P/L)Lake Macquarie and Surrounds A vast aquatic playground four times the size of Sydney Harbour.

Admiring the beauty of Border Ranges National Park, Northern Rivers (Photo: M. Newling/Tourism NSW) Lismore and Surrounds A hidden jewel between the rainforest and the sea.

Nobbys Lighthouse and Beach, Newcastle (Photo: M. Lauder) Newcastle A vibrant cosmopolitan city perched between a working harbour and beautiful beaches.

Port Macquarie at dusk, Mid-North CoastPort Macquarie, Kempsey, Taree and Surrounds A region of national parks, surf beaches, coastline

Tomaree National Park, Port Stephens, Mid-North Coast (Photo: Hamilton Lund / Tourism NSW).Port Stephens, Forster and Surrounds Golden beaches, a picturesque bay and inlets

Fishing in the Tweed River, The Tweed. The Tweed and Surrounds An unspoilt coastline and a subtropical climate make this...



Coastal cruiser by train

Fast facts

  • A train journey from Sydney along the North Coast of New South Wales
  • Stop at Taree, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Grafton, Byron Bay, Tweed Heads, 831 km north-west of Sydney

Why go there

The New South Wales North Coast is lined with magnificent beaches and edged by pristine lakes, extinct volcanoes, lush rainforests and extensive national parks. Along the way you can stop off at pleasant seaside and hinterland towns, and experience everything from a giant-sized banana to migrating humpback whales.

Using Countrylink’s East Coast Discovery Pass, you can travel in one direction up or down the east coast of Australia, from Melbourne to Sydney to Cairns, with unlimited stopovers. You’ve got six months to explore this fabulous coastline at a leisurely pace by train, with coach services available to extend your travels.

Don’t miss

  • Looking out for dolphins, as well as humpback and southern right whales, with Imagine Cruises based in Port Stephens
  • Motoring out of Port Macquarie and up the Hastings River for a barbeque in the park with Port Venture
  • Stepping back in time to the age of the early settlers at Timber Town near Port Macquarie
  • Discovering the rainforest on horseback, with Valery Trails near Coffs Harbour, or by bicycle with Mountain Bike Tours in Byron Bay
  • A drink or two at the historic Pub With No Beer at Tailors Arms near Kempsey
  • Hot air balloon flights over the Byron Bay and the Mt Warning hinterland with Byron Bay Ballooning
Indian Pacific

Journeys