The Pacific highway route is about an hour shorter than the inland route.

1,050 kilometres taking HIGHWAY 1 - BRISBANE.

distance melbourne to ballina on newell higthway

Travelling via the Pacific Highway is quicker.

From Sydney to the Gold Coast via the Pacific Highway is a distance of 851km, with a driving time of around 11 hours (without breaks). Although one is more likely to encounter roadworks on this route, new bypasses that take a traveller around some towns have continued to improve travel time along the Pacific Highway.

From Sydney to the Gold Coast via the New England Highway (taking in the towns of Warwick and Armidale) is a distance of 1001km, with a driving time of around 13.5 hours (without breaks).

Highway 20