Ten Essentials for a Road Trip Along the Pacific Highway

There's a particular kind of freedom that comes with a drive up the Pacific Highway — ocean on one side, headland lookouts on the other, and a motel bed waiting somewhere down the road. Whether you're chasing surf breaks near Byron or working your way back toward Sydney, a little preparation goes a long way. Here's what we tell every guest who asks us what to pack before setting off.

Before You Leave

Long coastal stretches mean patchy phone reception in places, so it pays to plan your fuel and food stops in advance rather than relying on searching as you go.

• A physical map or downloaded offline map, for the stretches where signal drops out

• A full tank before you leave the last major town — servos thin out between coastal stops

• Snacks and water for the car, especially over the warmer months

For the Drive Itself

Comfort on Long Stretches

A cushion or lumbar support makes a real difference over a four-hour stretch, and swapping drivers every couple of hours keeps everyone sharper for the twistier sections near the escarpment.

Keeping Everyone Entertained

Podcasts and playlists downloaded ahead of time save you from hunting for radio signal through the national park sections, where reception can disappear for twenty minutes at a stretch.

What to Pack for the Stay

• A reusable water bottle — most of our rooms have a bar fridge to keep it cold

• A light jacket, even in summer — coastal evenings cool down quickly

• Swimwear and a towel, since most stops along this route are close to a beach or river

However far you're headed, we always tell guests the same thing: build in more time than the map suggests. The best parts of a Pacific Highway trip are rarely the destination — they're the lookout you almost drove past, or the bakery you stopped at on a whim.