My first long drive: the coastal road to the Gold Coast
Six days with Susmita, coastal stops on the way north, a visit to Brisbane, and a Coffs Harbour sunset on the way home.
From 15 to 20 September 2026, Susmita and I took a road trip from Kogarah to the Gold Coast. It was my first drive this long, and it turned out to be a very fun experience.
The itinerary gave us a route: head north with an overnight stop in Port Macquarie, spend some time on the Gold Coast, visit Brisbane, and return through Coffs Harbour. But the stops along the way were a big part of what made the trip worth doing.
Taking our time on the way north
We stopped at Caves Beach, the Newcastle memorial, South West Rocks, and Byron Bay on the way to the Gold Coast.
Breaking up the drive with those places made the journey feel like a holiday in its own right. There was another stretch of coast to see and another reason to get out of the car, rather than only thinking about how far we still had to go.
For a first long drive, that was a good way to do it. The destination gave us a direction, and the stops gave us something to enjoy along the way.
Arriving on the Gold Coast
Getting to the Gold Coast was a milestone for me. A trip that had started as an itinerary was now something I had actually driven.
We took a photo together under the Surfers Paradise sign, with the beach behind us. It is a simple holiday photo, but it holds a little of that feeling of having made it there.
A change of scene in Brisbane
Brisbane was part of the trip too. After the coastal stops and the Gold Coast, it gave us a different backdrop: the city skyline and the colourful Brisbane sign.
I liked having that variety in the same holiday. We had set out for the Gold Coast, but there was room for more than one place in the story.
Coffs Harbour on the way home
On the return journey, we stopped in Coffs Harbour. The sunset photo from there is one I wanted to keep with this post: warm light over the hills and water, with the boardwalk winding towards the lookout.
Looking back, I am glad the trip included the journey in both directions. Caves Beach, Newcastle, South West Rocks, Byron Bay, the Gold Coast, Brisbane, and Coffs Harbour all became part of the same memory.
My first drive this long gave me a new experience and a lot of fun along the way. I came home with photos, a few more places I had finally seen, and a road trip I am happy to have done with Susmita.
