Ultimate Waterfall Way Scenic Drive – A 6 Day Campervan Itinerary
Day 1: Brisbane to Coffs Harbour
Distance: 395 km
Travel time: ~4 hours
Before you hit the Waterfall Way, you’ll want to pick up your vehicle from the Apollo branch that works best for your plans. Many travellers collect their campervan hire from the Brisbane branch thanks to its easy access to many great Queensland and New South Wales itineraries. If you’re starting from Queensland and heading south, it’s the most straightforward option as you can pick up your camper in Brisbane and follow the highway towards Armidale to begin your journey. Otherwise, you can choose to pick up your camper in a city close to you.
Once you’ve familiarised yourself with your camper or motorhome, make your way onto the Pacific Motorway to start the drive south. This is an easy, well-signposted route that gives you time to settle into the feel of your vehicle before you reach the more winding inland stretches of the Waterfall Way scenic drive.
Best of all, this section of the highway offers plenty of places to pause. Beaches, service centres, and coastal towns line the route, so you can stop whenever you need a break or want to stretch your legs. It’s a simple, relaxed first day, ideal for families or first-time campers easing into a road trip.
Where to stop between Brisbane and Coffs Harbour
One of the first places you’ll want to visit after arriving in town is The Big Banana Fun Park. It’s a classic Australian attraction and an easy way to break up the day, especially if you’re travelling with kids. Rides, slides, mini golf, and the giant banana make for a fun hour or two before checking into your campsite.
If you’re keen for fresh air, head to Muttonbird Island Nature Reserve. The paved walkway from the marina leads up to a lookout with wide ocean and coastline views. It’s a short but rewarding walk, and during whale season you may even spot a passing pod. Then, unwind with a gentle walk or swim at Park Beach. It’s a convenient, family-friendly spot with plenty of space to stretch out after a day of highway driving.
Where to stay in Coffs Harbour
For your first night, BIG4 Park Beach Holiday Park is a reliable and comfortable choice. The park offers powered sites, modern amenities, a resort-style pool, and an easy walk to Park Beach for sunset. Families appreciate the open layout, clean facilities, and relaxed setting after a day on the road.
Coffs Harbour also has several other campervan-friendly holiday parks near the beach and jetty precinct. These options place you close to cafés, the foreshore path, and the calm evening atmosphere by the water, which is ideal for an early night before tomorrow’s inland drive.
Image: Destination NSW
Day 2: Coffs Harbour to Dorrigo
Distance: 65 km
Drive time: 1.5 hours (plus stops)
Day two of this Waterfall Way itinerary takes you off the highway and onto the start of the Waterfall Way, one of the most scenic routes in New South Wales. Leaving Coffs Harbour, the road follows the Bellinger River through green farmland and low, forested hills. It’s a gentle and picturesque beginning, with the landscape gradually becoming more dramatic as you approach the base of the Dorrigo escarpment.
From the riverside town of Bellingen, the drive to Dorrigo becomes steeper and more winding. This section climbs through thick rainforest with tight bends, but it’s manageable for campervan and motorhome drivers who take their time. The short climb is worth the effort! At the top, you’ll find cooler temperatures, open views, and easy access to some of NSW’s best waterfalls.
Where to stop between Coffs Harbour and Dorrigo
Your first major stop should be Bellingen township, a creative and friendly riverside town known for its relaxed cafés, boutique shops, and local produce. It’s the perfect spot for brunch or a wander before heading into the rainforest.
Just outside town, Bellinger River & Lavender Bridge Park offers riverside access, shallow swimming spots, and plenty of shade, making it ideal for a picnic or a refreshing dip in the warmer months.
As you begin the climb towards Dorrigo, keep an eye out for roadside waterfalls. Both Newell Falls and Sherrard Falls cascade right beside the road, creating a dramatic scene in wet weather. There’s a marked pull-off near Newell Falls where you can safely stop for photos. Avoid stopping anywhere not designated, as this section is narrow and winding.
When you reach the plateau, Dorrigo township welcomes you with cool air and open views. A short stroll through town or a quick stop at a lookout nearby is a great way to end the day’s drive.
Where to stay in Dorrigo
Stay at Dorrigo Mountain Holiday Park, conveniently located close to Dorrigo’s cafés, shops, and most major waterfalls. The park offers powered sites, hot showers, peaceful surroundings, and an easy base for tomorrow’s day of local waterfall walks. It’s one of the best places to stay if you want to make the most of the Dorrigo area without moving your campervan between sites.
Day 3: Dorrigo to Dangar Falls
Distance: Local driving only
Travel time: ~30 minutes
Today is all about slowly exploring the waterfalls. With Dorrigo as your base, you can take short, relaxed drives to the area’s best lookouts, walking tracks, and waterfalls. This gives you plenty of time to wander through the rainforest, take photos, and enjoy the green plateau landscape without rushing between stops. Because the distances are small, it’s one of the easiest days of the Waterfall Way itinerary, letting you explore comfortably in your campervan.
Where to stop between Dorrigo and Dangar Falls
Start your morning at the Dorrigo Rainforest Centre & Skywalk. The centre offers great information about the national park, and the elevated Skywalk extends out over the escarpment with sweeping views across the World Heritage-listed rainforest all the way towards the coast.
Next, stretch your legs on the Crystal Shower Falls walk. This is one of Dorrigo National Park’s most popular tracks, taking you through lush forest to a waterfall you can walk behind via a short tunnel. The suspension bridge adds another great vantage point, and the walk can be adapted to suit how much time you’d like to spend on the trail.
Finish the afternoon with a visit to Dangar Falls, just a few minutes north of Dorrigo township. This classic 30-metre waterfall is easy to access, with a viewing platform near the car park, a short walking track to the base, and a peaceful riverside picnic area. It’s a great spot to relax before returning to town.
Where to stay in Dorrigo
Stay a second night at Dorrigo Mountain Holiday Park. Keeping the same base means you can end the day close to hot showers, laundry facilities, and Dorrigo’s cafés and pubs, which is a welcome comfort after a full day of waterfall walks. This is one of the most convenient places to stay when exploring multiple Dorrigo waterfalls.
Day 4: Dorrigo to Armidale
Distance: 150–260 km
Travel time: 2.5–3 hours (plus stops)
Today’s drive is one of the most varied sections of the Waterfall Way scenic drive. Leaving Dorrigo, you’ll transition from dense rainforest to the wide-open New England Tablelands. As the altitude rises, the scenery changes to granite outcrops, open grasslands, and cool high-country air. A detour into Cathedral Rock National Park gives you the chance to explore granite tors and quiet bushland before the road continues west through gorge country towards Wollomombi Falls and the regional centre of Armidale.
Where to stop between Dorrigo and Armidale
Begin with a stop at Ebor Falls. This visitor area has several short paths leading to viewpoints over the double-tiered waterfall as it drops into the Guy Fawkes River gorge. It’s an excellent place for morning tea with plenty of room for kids to stretch their legs.
Continue west into Cathedral Rock National Park, where you’ll find granite formations, snow gums, and high-country vegetation unique to this part of New South Wales. Walking tracks begin directly from the campground, making it a convenient stop even if you only have a short time.
For confident hikers with suitable footwear and extra time, the Cathedral Rock circuit takes around three hours return. The track includes some rock scrambling near the summit, but the panoramic views over the national park make the effort worthwhile.
Finish your waterfall day at Wollomombi Falls in Oxley Wild Rivers National Park. Short tracks lead to multiple lookouts over the dramatic Wollomombi and Chandler gorges, home to one of Australia’s tallest waterfalls. Longer gorge-rim walks are available if you’re keen to explore further.
Where to stay in Armidale
End the day at Armidale Tourist Park, a well-equipped holiday park offering powered and unpowered sites, ensuite options, and family-friendly spaces. After a full day of waterfalls, tablelands, and national parks, this comfortable base is a welcome place to relax before tomorrow’s journey north.
Day 5: Armidale to Stanthorpe
Distance: ~285–300 km
Travel time: 3.5–4 hours
Today’s leg of the Waterfall Way itinerary blends one last waterfall with a scenic run north into Queensland. Before leaving the region, you’ll visit one more dramatic gorge system near Armidale, then continue along the New England Highway through high-country farmland and heritage towns. As you cross into Queensland, the landscape shifts again, and rolling hills give way to granite boulders and vineyards as you enter the Granite Belt and approach Stanthorpe.
Where to stop between Armidale and Stanthorpe
Begin with a short detour to Dangars Falls & Dangars Gorge in Oxley Wild Rivers National Park (not to be confused with the Dangar Falls near Dorrigo). This 120-metre waterfall drops into a deep gorge system visible from several lookouts, and the picnic tables make it an ideal stop for morning tea before heading north.
Break up the drive along the New England Highway with pauses in towns like Glen Innes and Tenterfield. These characterful towns have heritage streetscapes, cafés, bakeries, and easy parking for motorhomes and campervans, making them convenient places to refuel both yourself and your vehicle.
As you approach Stanthorpe, you’ll notice the shift into classic Granite Belt scenery, large granite boulders, farm gates, orchards, and vineyards. If timing allows, you may like to visit a local cellar door or produce shop for a taste of the region before checking in for the night.
Where to stay in Stanthorpe
Stay at Stanthorpe Holiday Park, which offers powered sites, ranch-style cabins, hot showers, an on-site café and dog-friendly facilities. It’s an ideal final-night stop that breaks up the return to Brisbane into two manageable drive days while giving you access to local shops, wineries, and attractions around Stanthorpe.
Day 6: Stanthorpe to Brisbane
Distance: ~230 km
Travel time: ~3 hours
Your final day on the road for this iconic Waterfall Way itinerary is a relaxed run north from Stanthorpe back to Brisbane. The drive follows the New England and Cunningham Highways through the Southern Downs, where open farmland and wide plains give way to the foothills of the Scenic Rim. It’s an easy final stretch for families travelling in a campervan or motorhome, with smooth roads and plenty of places to pause before descending towards Brisbane to complete your Waterfall Way road trip.
Where to stop between Stanthorpe and Brisbane
Start your morning slowly with a stroll along Quart Pot Creek or a café breakfast in town. Stanthorpe’s cool-climate mornings are crisp and refreshing, making it a nice moment to enjoy the Granite Belt one last time before driving north.
We highly recommend using Warwick or Aratula as a final coffee break and fuel stop. Both towns have straightforward highway access and easy parking for larger vehicles, making them convenient places to stretch your legs before continuing towards the city.
As you approach Brisbane, the scenery gradually shifts from open rural views to the rolling foothills of the Scenic Rim, before the skyline comes into sight. Allow a little extra time for traffic around the outer suburbs as you complete the last section of your journey.
As your six-day journey wraps up, you can return your motorhome to the Brisbane branch or continue your holiday by linking onto another Apollo itinerary. If you’re planning to extend your travels during school holidays or want a taste of luxury touring, it’s worth checking out Apollo’s inspiration hub, including itineraries like the Ultimate Indulgence Trail. But if today marks the end of your trip and you have time to squeeze in a few last final highlights, you can explore what the city has to offer with Apollo’s guide to things to do in Brisbane.
Image: Tourism and Events Queensland
Quick answers
Where to stop on Waterfall Way, NSW?
As you can see, there are plenty of places to pause along this itinerary route, including Coffs Harbour, Bellingen, the Dorrigo Rainforest Centre & Skywalk, Dangar Falls, Ebor Falls, Cathedral Rock National Park, Wollomombi Falls, and Armidale. These stops offer a mix of waterfalls, lookouts, rainforest walks and high-country landscapes that this region has become famous for.
Where is the Waterfall Way?
The Waterfall Way is a scenic driving route in northern New South Wales, connecting Coffs Harbour on the Pacific coast with Armidale on the Northern Tablelands. It crosses the Great Dividing Range and is considered one of NSW’s most scenic inland drives.
Is Waterfall Way, NSW, suitable for campervans?
Yes, campervans and motorhomes regularly travel the route. The climb between Bellingen and Dorrigo is the steepest section, with gradients around 6–10% and tight curves, so drivers should use lower gears, take their time, and check current conditions before setting off.
How long is the Waterfall Way scenic drive?
The full Waterfall Way scenic drive covers roughly 185 km between Coffs Harbour and Armidale. Without stopping, it takes around 2 hours and 30 minutes, though most travellers choose to spread it over several days to enjoy the natural highlights.
Is the Waterfall Way steep?
Only the section between Bellingen and Dorrigo is notably steep. This part has winding curves and noticeable gradients, so it’s the main area where drivers of larger vehicles should take extra care and drive according to the conditions.
If you’re looking for more helpful tips and tricks for planning your campervan adventure, be sure to check out the thlRoadtrip App. This is an invaluable resource in planning accommodation, mapping out routes, and so much more. Ready to start planning your own adventure, you can book your Apollo motorhome online through Apollo Camper and pick it up from a convenient Apollo branch before beginning your journey along the Waterfall Way.