A road trip from Sydney to Byron Bay is one of the most popular journeys an adventurer can take – and for good reason. The chilled-out vibes, postcard-esque scenery and incredible, diverse dining experiences of Byron Bay make for a holiday to remember.
But how about making the drive from Sydney to Byron Bay in an electric vehicle? Is it possible? Are there enough charging stations along the way? What is the best route to take to make sure you get there in good time? No need to fear – if you’re asking any of these questions or similar, I’ve got all the answers for you; and I can say with confidence, that you won’t regret taking your electric vehicle for an 800 km (or more, depending on your stopovers) spin all the way to Byron.
Picture this: you’re cruising along the Pacific Coast, windows down, with the next-to-silent hum of your electric vehicle just about noticeable in the background of your favourite Spotify playlist. There’s never been a better way to soak in the charm of every iconic town between Sydney and Byron Bay. Trust me, it’s an electric trip worth taking.
Read on to learn what it’s like to road trip from Sydney to Byron Bay in an electric vehicle, with all the tips, knowledge and experience I’ve collated off the back of one of my favourite holidays to date.
Charging the EV On the Journey from Sydney to Byron Bay
The lovely SIXT team at Sydney City (at the Domain Car Park in Wooloomooloo) gave us the keys to the striking, luxurious BMW IX3 for our upcoming voyage. As soon as we left the garage and turned onto road, we knew we were in for a great experience; the car felt like a rocketship – super responsive, smooth and stable with 480 kilometres worth of charge ready to go.
After enduring some holiday season traffic, we set our sights on arriving at the NRMA Chargefox Ultra-Rapid Station in Port Macquarie, home to two ultra-fast EV chargers boasting both CCS/SAE & Type 2 ports, which was able to get us on a full charge in about 20 minutes (150kWh). Typically, getting to a full charge on a typical EV charger takes about 1 hour and 15-30 minutes, so it was great to be in and out in no time.
Note: when you hire an electric vehicle with SIXT, you’re provided with a Chargefox token to use across the entire Chargefox network, completely for free. SIXT also have E-toll tags in all of their vehicles – so feel free to jump on the motorway. How good!
We set our sights next on the NRMA charging station at Coffs Harbour to get another go on an ultra-fast charger and minimise idle time, however, upon arrival, we realised that both stations were out of order. After jumping back on PlugShare to find another station, we got halfway there only to realise it was Tesla only – so make sure you factor that into your plan too! Thankfully, we had enough charge to get to another nearby station, at Shell Tyndale, which was on the Evie Network, charging at about 50kWh.
Tip: make sure to look up your intended charging station on ‘PlugShare’ app to see if the stations are free, or if they’re in working order to save yourself time. It’s also good etiquette to use the app and report when you’re there so others can factor that into their journey.
From there, we were able to drive all the way through to our accommodation at Byron Bay. Stopping six times in total, twice to charge, twice thinking we were going to charge, and twice to stop for a bite and to stretch our legs, we were able to make the whole journey in one day, with the whole journey taking a total of 13 hours! With how comfortable the seats were in the BMW IX3, it was probably the most comfortable, enjoyable 13 hours of driving I’ve ever had.
Hotspots to Visit Along the Way & Great Places in Byron Bay
As any seasoned road-tripper knows, it’s not just about the destination – it’s about the journey. Along the way, be sure to check out these New South Wales gems when you’re in need of a rest break.
Newcastle: Take a stroll along the Newcastle Foreshore and soak in the stunning views of the coastline. If you’ve got a few hours to kill, Stockton Beach is up there with some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
Port Macquarie: Explore the iconic Port Macquarie Coastal Walk and discover the beauty of Tacking Point Lighthouse. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the time to hop on the walk, but if you plan to do the journey over a couple of days – it’s a must-do.
Coffs Harbour: Don’t miss the chance to visit the magical Dorrigo National Park and marvel at the breathtaking views from Skywalk Lookout. And don’t forget to stop at The Big Banana for a photo while you’re at it! Coffs has all the small-town charm and more; we fell in love with the place on the way back!
We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Byron Bay, with one of the highlights being taking the BMW for a spin down to Minyon Falls for a beautiful hike and waterfall swim. Of all the day trips I’ve taken – the BMW IX3 made this one of the most enjoyable, it climbed hills like they were nothing! You really notice the responsiveness of the car when you put your foot down on the pedal.
If you’re in Byron Bay for a few days, I’d also recommend visiting Casa Luna to enjoy a wine or two with scenic views and a salsa dance if you’re game. That is, if you can find the time in between bouncing from beach to beach and putting on sunscreen. Gotta indulge in the Byron lifestyle while you’re there!
Charging On the Way Back from Sydney to Byron Bay
After soaking in the beauty of Byron Bay and spending a lifetime soaking up the sun at the beach, it was time to navigate our way back home.
As one last goodbye to the place, we visited The Farm Byron Bay for a coffee & pastry – what a place! To make it even better, The Farm is home to two NRMA electric chargers, so you can power up your vehicle while you enjoy the unreal scenery of the place. They’re not ultra-fast, but will still be able to get you up to 80% capacity in an hour or so.
We drove the 282km from Byron to Macksville, where we spent the night in order to avoid another 13-hour journey home. We charged the car at BP Macksville, which took about an hour or so over a morning coffee before setting off for the final leg home. We made sure to get our car up to full charge so we could make the 277km journey over to BP Karuah for the final stop before returning the car to Sydney. Quite the popular station, it seemed, as we waited 40 minutes or so for the line to clear up before we could charge.
On that note, let’s talk about how you can best plan an electric vehicle road trip to make the journey as stress-free and time-efficient as possible.
How to Best Plan an Electric Vehicle Road Trip
Planning an electric road trip requires a bit more foresight, but trust me, it’s well worth the effort (and money savings). To put it into perspective, we spent about $150 total across the whole journey from Sydney to Byron Bay and back charging our car, whereas filling up your car with petrol at $2 a litre for the 1500 or so KM round trip is sure to cost you quite a bit more.
In the end, our route from Sydney to Byron Bay in terms of charging went like this:
- NRMA Chargefox Ultra-Rapid Charging Station, Port Macquarie
- Shell, Tyndale
- The Farm, Byron Bay
- BP, Macksville
- BP, Karuah
We were also able to top up a touch here and there at different spots around Byron Bay, such as Elements of Byron Bay Car Park, and I’d recommend visiting the NRMA Chargefox Ultra-Rapid Station at Coffs Harbour for maximum time efficiency on the way to Byron.
Here are a few tips off the back of my experience to ensure smooth sailing on your next electric vehicle road trip.
- Use apps like PlugShare and Chargefox to map out your route and locate charging stations along the way.
- Always have a backup plan in case a charging station is out of service or unavailable.
- Be conservative with your driving range and plan your stops accordingly, especially in remote areas. Make sure you have at least 50km or so left when visiting a planned station in case it doesn’t work, so you have a bit of breathing room to find a different one.
- Remember to factor in additional charging time, as it takes much longer than a traditional petrol-based vehicle. When visiting a typical EV charger, getting to full charge can take anywhere from 45 – 90 minutes, depending on the charger speed & how much you want to fill it up. The last 20% of your charge takes longer than the first 80%
- NRMA Chargefox chargers are much, much quicker than your standard EV charger, filling your vehicle up at anywhere from 125kWh to 150kWh from my experience, which takes about 20-30 minutes total. Try to plan your trip so that you visit the Chargefox fast charging stations as much as possible – you’ll save a bunch of time!
More Tips for Your Next Electric Vehicle Road Trip
Taking an electric vehicle on a long-haul road trip like the one from Sydney to Byron Bay is a bit of a different experience from what you’d be used to with a petrol-powered vehicle. With this being said, here are a few final tips to keep in mind:
- Be mindful of your energy usage, especially when using air conditioning or other electronic devices in the car, as these soak power.
- Time your charging stops with lunch or coffee breaks to kill two birds with one stone.
- Prepare yourself for waiting times at charging stations, especially in more remote areas off of motorways. If you arrive and are met with a queue, you’ll not only be waiting while you charge your own car, but while others charge theirs, and this can easily keep you off the road for about 2 hours.
- Free chargers typically have big queues, and time is money. If you’ve got somewhere to be, it can often be better to cough up a bit of cash so you can get in and out of a station as fast as possible. Charging your electric vehicle is much cheaper than fuelling a car at a petrol station.
Would I take an Electric Vehicle on a Road Trip Again?
In short – absolutely! With the proper planning and preparation, taking an electric vehicle like the BMW IX3 on a long-haul drive is not only a hugely enjoyable driving experience, but you’ll save considerably compared to fuel, remain eco-conscious and even get to strike up some good conversations with other travellers at rest stops along the way. As someone who’s been looking at buying my own electric vehicle, it was great to try before I buy as well.
While it may take you a little longer to get from Sydney to Byron Bay as you wait for the car to charge, it’s well worth it given the above advantages.
Hiring an Electric Vehicle with SIXT
If you’re thinking about renting an electric vehicle for your next adventure, SIXT Car Hire Australia currently has seven EVs available for hire. There are various models in all states, with availability varying based on location.
Currently, SIXT has the following electric vehicles on its roster: the BYD Atto 3, the Tesla Model 3, the Tesla Model Y, the upmarket BMW IX3, the Hyundai Kona, the Hyundai Ioniq and the sporty Kia EV6.
When you hire with SIXT, you receive free charging via Chargefox and NRMA roadside assistance for added peace of mind. You can also return the car on low battery, so there’s no need to charge the car before dropping it back off.
All auto club members can save up to 20% on premium and electric vehicle members thanks to an exclusive partnership with SIXT. And if you rent with SIXT, you can access a MyNRMA membership at no cost for 12 months.
SIXT is committed to growing the largest, most wide-ranging EV fleet for hire, with plans to convert half of its 16,000 nationwide rental fleet to electric in the coming years to help deliver on the nation’s net zero emissions target.
Hit the road in style while reducing your carbon footprint, thanks to SIXT Australia.
