Australia Newcastle to Makay: Info-Tips anyone?

[Perfusser]

I am from Newcastle, and I concur with Jim- get the guides. Newcastle is a great city, with excellent beaches, restaurants, a beautiful lake and world class vineyards nearby. If you can wrangle it, I would recommend staying a few days to have a look around. If you plan on being here for the weekend, give me a PM, I might be able to show you around.
cheers
Craig

[Wanderlust]

Originally Posted by EngNate

..... I'm interested in what's along the route, where I should be sure to stick my head out kinda thing,......

Still not sure if you mean that literally and will not be stopping and just cruising past. If stopping and you are into night life, the Gold Coast would be good. For the opposite, Lady Musgrave Island is a coral cay lagoon about 30 miles off the mainland and would be my "don't miss it" recommendation.

I like the unspoiled islands between there and Mackay for stopovers. Get Noel Patricks Curtis Coast for a guide to this area. If there is an option for a detour, the Whitsundays are about 50 miles further on past Mackay.

[44'cruisingcat]

There's loads of worthwhile places to stop on the way. Many of the ports and rivers in NSW have barred entrances. You can check bar conditions on most of them by live webcams.

Web cameras - Using waterways - Maritime - Roads and Maritime Services