Over the last few years, my husband Nigel and I have fallen hard for exploring Australia by campervan. Swapping hotel lobbies for bush tracks and room service for campfire dinners, we have managed to see some of the most beautiful corners of Australia, and our most recent adventure was no exception. This time, we decided to trade the usual coastal scene for something a bit moodier: a 5-day loop along the Rainforest Way. 

If you’ve never heard of it, the Rainforest Way is a network of touring routes that loop around the ancient Tweed Volcano caldera, weaving through some of the lushest corners of northern New South Wales and the Gold Coast hinterland. Think mossy trees, low morning mist over the hills, and those deep, cool patches of forest that make you zip your jumper right up. In this blog, I’ll walk you through our 5-day campervan itinerary  (starting and ending in Byron Bay) with a mix of short walks, waterfall stops, fishing-friendly campgrounds and classic country towns. 

By the end, you’ll have a clear 5-day campervan itinerary you can follow pretty much day-by-day or tweak to suit your family, your pace, and your idea of the perfect Queensland road trip. 

 

Trading beach crowds for the canopy

We’ve done the “classic” Byron holiday more than once: morning swims at Main Beach, brunch runs, browsing the markets, sunset at the lighthouse with a takeaway in hand. It’s always fun, but on this trip, Nigel and I wanted something quieter. Less sand-in-the-boot, more moss-underfoot. So, we booked a camper through campervan hire Brisbane, flew in, and rolled straight out of the Apollo branch with the plan to loop the Rainforest way instead of just hugging the coast. 

From Brisbane, it’s roughly a two-hour drive in a motorhome or campervan to Byron Bay. Knowing we’d be out in the hills for a few days, we decided that Byron was a good first stop to be able to do a proper food shop, grab a fresh bag of coffee and stock up on snacks.  

The Rainforest Way drive itself is a ring of touring routes that loop around the Tweed Volcano caldera (a large cauldron-shaped depression in the ground). You’re basically circling the remains of an ancient shield volcano, and for this reason, it is one of those routes that suits a campervan itinerary perfectly with its short driving days, lots of side tracks, and plenty of places to pull in for a night (or three). 

Best of all, this itinerary is incredibly simple in a camper with a campervan depot in Brisbane. You can easily collect your campervan at Apollo’s Brisbane branch, cruise down to Byron to start your loop, then retrace that same two-hour run on your final day. It keeps your flights, fuel and logistics straightforward, which is exactly what you want for a quick week-long getaway! 

 

Byron Bay to Nightcap Country: from surf to subtropical rainforests

Driving distance: 60–80 km 
Driving time: 1–1.5 hours (plus short detours) 

Our first morning started in familiar territory. We parked the Campervan near town, kicked off our shoes and took a quick stroll along Main Beach. We grabbed coffees and a simple breakfast in town, and then it was time to head inland. Within about twenty minutes, beach boho homes gave way to farmhouses, the air felt cooler, and the road snaked between rolling green hills dotted with cattle. Tiny villages popped up every so often – a general store here, a school there. 

This is a short driving day, around 60–80 kilometres all up – just enough time to get used to the bends, stop for a lookout photo, and still arrive early at camp. We aimed for the Rummery Park camping area, near Nightcap National Park and Whian Whian Conservation Area, to base ourselves close to some of the region’s best walking tracks, like Minyon Falls.   

As we made such good time, we decided to head out for a quick afternoon walk in the rainforest. What was so wild to me was that by mid-afternoon, we’d swapped salt spray for the smell of damp earth. After a short walk, we returned to our rainforest campground, backed the van into a patch of dappled light and listened to whipbirds calling while we put the kettle on. It already felt like a completely different holiday. 

 

Nightcap National Park: full day on the trails

After a slow first day, today was dedicated to being the big walking day:  the one where you tighten your boot laces properly and warn the kids there’ll be “actual hiking” involved. With the campervan still tucked into our Nightcap base, we kept the driving to a minimum and focused on exploring as much of Nightcap National Park as our legs would allow. 

For our main walk, we had two great options: the Minyon Falls area or Protesters Falls. Around Minyon Falls, you’ve got everything from short lookouts to longer circuits that can take 3–4 hours return, winding through tall brush box trees and down to the base of the falls. It’s a solid, moderate-grade hike – the kind that has enough steps and ups-and-downs to feel like a proper challenge without losing the fun. Protesters Falls is shorter and suits a mixed group really well: about 1–1.5 hours return on a formed track through dense subtropical rainforest, with a few steeper sections and rock steps to keep things interesting.  

We decided on one of the longer Minyon Falls circuits for our main walk, knowing we had the whole day to ourselves. The track drops you into that classic Nightcap feeling: towering trunks, big tree ferns, filtered light and that constant coolness you only get in deep forest. Every now and then, a gap in the trees would show a slice of the valley, reminding us how far off the NSW road trip “main drag” we’d wandered. The falls themselves are a highlight, of course, but what stuck with me most was the time we spent on the forest floor, listening to whipbirds calling back and forth and feeling the track under our boots. 

If you’re planning your own rainforest way itinerary, allow roughly 3–4 hours for a decent Minyon Falls loop, plus breaks for snacks and photos. Most of the main tracks here are graded moderate – nothing technical, but you’ll want sturdy shoes, plenty of water, and a few layers, as it can stay cool and damp even when the coast is warm. Families with younger kids might prefer Protesters Falls instead; at roughly 1–1.5 hours return, it’s a great way to give everyone a taste of proper rainforest walking without pushing the distance too far. 

One really important practical bit for this leg of your travel itinerary: check park alerts before you go. In recent years, parts of Nightcap National Park have been impacted by storms and floods, with track closures and diversions changing from season to season. The NSW National Parks is your best friend here – it’ll tell you what’s open, where’s safe, and whether your chosen circuit is good to go.  

By late afternoon, we rolled back into the same campground, pleasantly worn out and ready for the low-effort comforts that come with camper life. While Nigel set up outside, I used the motorhome kitchen to throw together a simple dinner: pasta with veg and whatever we had left in the fridge. 

 

Nightcap to Border Ranges: into the caldera

Driving distance: ~120–150 km 
Driving time: 2.5–3 hours (with town and lookout stops) 

The next morning, we packed up early, brewed coffee in the campervan, and rolled back down out of the Nightcap hills. The road wound through farmland towards Lismore and the surrounding villages. This is a good spot to restock groceries, grab fuel and let everyone stretch their legs.  

From Lismore, we steered towards Kyogle, which feels like a classic country gateway town. There’s usually an easy place to park the campervan near the main street, grab a bakery lunch and pick up any last-minute supplies. Kyogle is also where that sense of “heading into something big” really kicks in. From here, the road climbs towards Border Ranges National Park, and you join a section of the Tweed Range Scenic Drive, which is officially part of the Rainforest Way drive and traces the rim of the ancient Tweed Volcano. 

The drive up is slow and winding in the best way. In a camper, it pays to take it easy, stop at designated pull-outs and keep an eye on the weather, as conditions can change quickly in the higher sections. But the reward is well worth it: lookouts like Pinnacle Lookout and Border Loop open up to expansive views across the caldera, with Wollumbin (Mount Warning) and the surrounding ranges anchoring the horizon. It’s the moment I realised this northern rivers road trip isn’t just about being nestled in the forest; you’re circling an entire ancient landscape! 

We made time for at least one short walk before heading to camp. Near Sheepstation Creek, the Palm Forest walking track is a lovely option – about 1 km one-way (30–60 minutes return), graded moderate, and perfect for families. The track follows an old logging route through lush subtropical rainforest, past big brush box trees, palms and mossy trunks. Another option is the Border Loop walk, a short 1.5 km circuit (around 15–45 minutes) that takes you through World Heritage-listed rainforest and out to a lookout over the valley and the looping railway line below.  

That night, we camped at Sheepstation Creek campground, tucked right inside the Gondwana rainforest of Border Ranges National Park. Bird calls gave way to a background hum of insects and frogs; the sky between the treetops turned properly dark, with only a few bright stars punching through. I found myself just standing there for a moment, mug of tea warming my hands, feeling about as far from the busy coast as you can get in a few days of campervan travel. 

 

Border Ranges to Gold Coast hinterland: Lamington or Springbrook

Driving distance: ~150–180 km 
Driving time: ~3–3.5 hours (with lots of stops) 

Leaving Border Ranges National Park, we retraced part of the Tweed Range scenic drive and began the long, winding descent back towards the valleys. This is where driving a campervan really comes into its own: big windows, slow speeds, and plenty of chances to pull over and soak up the views. As we dropped down towards Murwillumbah and the Tweed River, Wollumbin (Mount Warning) kept appearing and disappearing through gaps in the hills – a constant reminder of the volcanic story under this whole rainforest way itinerary. 

These days, access to the summit walking track is closed and, for cultural reasons, climbing Wollumbin isn’t encouraged anyway, so we treated it purely as a scenic backdrop. Lookouts and valley roads offer more than enough chances to appreciate its shape and significance from a respectful distance. 

From Murwillumbah, we crossed back into Queensland and steered the camper towards the Gold Coast hinterland. From here, you’ve got two big names to choose from: Lamington National Park and Springbrook National Park. Both are classic Queensland road trip stops, but for this particular loop we chose Springbrook – partly because it ties neatly into the Rainforest way drive, and partly because we’d been promising ourselves a proper look at Purling Brook Falls for years. 

Springbrook is a compact park with several standout walks that suit a family-friendly campervan itinerary. On this leg, we tackled the Purling Brook Falls circuit – about 4 km return and roughly a two-hour moderate walk through dense forest, down past the base of the falls and back up to the plateau. The track is best walked clockwise, and you’ll want good shoes, plenty of water and a rain jacket if the clouds are hanging low over the plateau. Swimming at the base may be restricted for safety and conservation reasons, so pay attention to signs and stick to the formed track. 

In the afternoon, with tired legs, we went for a couple of shorter walks instead of another big circuit. Best of All Lookout is a short 600 m return track (about 30 minutes), leading you through cool Antarctic beech forest to a platform with sweeping views across the Tweed Valley and towards Wollumbin. When the cloud lifts, it’s one of those spots where everyone goes quiet for a second. Later, we ducked down to the Natural Bridge section – an easy 1 km loop that takes about an hour, leading to a rock arch and waterfall that glows with tiny lights after dark thanks to the resident glowworms. 

Because it was such a full day on the trails, we chose a comfortable campground or holiday park close to Springbrook National Park for the night – somewhere we could plug in the motorhome, get hot showers and let everyone reset. Spots like Mt Nimmel Lodge or Sharp Park River Bend put you close enough to the action while still giving you that “by the river” feel many fishing fans love. There’s something unbeatable about cooking dinner in the campervan kitchen with the windows open, hearing a nearby creek and knowing you could be down there with a fishing rod at first light. 

 

Hinterland to Byron Bay: last forest walk & back to the coast

Driving distance: 90–130 km   

Driving time: 2–2.5 hours  

We woke up in the Gold Coast hinterland with that pleasant mix of tired legs and clear heads you get after a couple of solid walking days. Before pointing the campervan back towards the coast, we gave ourselves one last hit of rainforest – a short loop from the nearest day-use area. Nothing huge, just a 30–60 minute track through cool trees to a lookout, enough to feel that damp soil under our boots and hear the morning bird calls one more time. If your legs are entirely done by this point in your rainforest way itinerary, you could just grab a coffee, sit at a lookout and let the view do the work instead. 

From there, we took a slow, easy drive down out of the hills. The road wound back towards the valleys and the Tweed, then we slid south across the border into NSW, retracing part of the Hinterland Way scenic drive and joining the familiar route towards Byron. It’s only about 90–130 km back to town, roughly 2–2.5 hours depending on where you’ve stayed in Springbrook National Park or Lamington National Park, but we padded in time for bakery stops, and a quick wander through a roadside produce stand. That’s the nice thing about building a campervan itinerary like this: you’re never racing the clock. 

For our final night, we decided to come full circle and head back to the coast, checking into Broken Head Holiday Park just south of Byron. After days under the canopy, rolling into a seaside campground felt strangely fresh. We parked the camper, slid open the side door and were hit by that salty air – a sharp contrast to the cooler, leaf-scented air we’d become used to. Byron felt different arriving from the rainforest rather than straight off a flight; we were quieter, more settled, and not in any rush to do anything except stroll the sand and watch the waves. 

We walked along the beach in the late afternoon, then came back to the motorhome to cook a simple dinner, using up whatever was left in the fridge. One of the perks of travelling in a camper is exactly this – no pressure for a final-night restaurant booking unless you really want to. Just you, your tiny rolling home and the choice between a beach walk or an early night. 

The next morning, we pointed the nose of the campervan north and cruised the highway back to Brisbane. It’s a straightforward two-hour drive back to the Apollo branch – short enough that you don’t need a big early start, but long enough to replay the highlights of your Rainforest way loop as the kilometres tick by. Drop off the keys, grab your bags, and suddenly you’re back in city mode, wondering how you can possibly be the same person who was listening to frogs outside the van door 24 hours earlier. 

 

Final tips for planning your Rainforest Way campervan itinerary

By the time we rolled back into Brisbane, we’d figured out a few things that made our Rainforest way drive work so well for us as a couple. If you’re planning your own NSW road trip or Queensland road trip around these ancient rainforests, here are the big questions we’d ask ourselves before booking our next campervan hire. 

How many days do you need for the Rainforest Way?

You technically can sample the Rainforest way in a quick 2–3 day loop. If you’re short on time, you could pick one base in the Byron Bay hinterland or near Border Ranges National Park, do a couple of short walks and still get that dense, green rainforest fix. For us, though, 5 days felt perfect. As an active couple who like walking as much as driving, having five days meant: 

• Short driving stints – usually 1–3 hours max in the Campervan each day. 

• A full “on the trails” day in Nightcap National Park. 

• Time to enjoy both the rim drives in Border Ranges National Park and the highlights in Springbrook National Park. 

• Enough flex for slow mornings, café stops, and the occasional detour on the Tweed Range Scenic Drive or Hinterland Way Scenic Drive. 

If you’ve got more time, you could easily stretch this travel itinerary into a week, adding extra nights in one or two of your favourite spots, or tagging on a coastal leg to turn it into a bigger northern rivers road trip or Byron Bay road trip. 

Best walks & lookouts on this Rainforest Way route

On this particular rainforest way itinerary, a few tracks and viewpoints really stood out for us: 

• Nightcap National Park 

• A longer Minyon Falls circuit (around 3–4 hours, moderate grade) – deep forest, big trees and a proper leg workout. 

• A shorter option like Protesters Falls if you prefer a gentler day, but still want that ‘ancient rainforest’ feeling. 
   

• Border Ranges National Park 

• Palm Forest walking track – a short but lush forest walk with palms, mossy trunks and a real sense of being tucked into Gondwana rainforest. 

• Brindle Creek (if open when you visit) – longer and a bit more involved, but packed with creek crossings and dense greenery. 

• Pinnacle Lookout and Border Loop lookouts – easy walks from the car and some of the best caldera views on the whole Rainforest way. 
   

• Gold Coast hinterland / Springbrook 
   

• Purling Brook Falls circuit – a 4 km loop that gives you both forest walking and waterfall views. 

• Best of All Lookout – short, sharp and very rewarding, especially on a clear afternoon. 

• Natural Bridge – a loop that’s great in the day and has the added bonus of glowworms at night. 

You don’t need to do all of these in one go. Pick a mix that matches your fitness, your schedule and the weather, and remember that even the short walks can be memorable when you build them into a relaxed road trip. 

Packing tips for active couples

After a few campervan adventures in this region, we’ve honed our packing list down to a pretty reliable kit that was perfect for this active rainforest way drive: 

• Lightweight hiking gear that dries quickly – shirts, shorts or leggings that can handle a bit of drizzle. 

• A decent pair of trail shoes with good grip; the tracks around Nightcap National Park, Border Ranges National Park, and Springbrook National Park can be muddy and slick. 

• Compact rain jackets – the kind you can stuff into a daypack and forget about until the clouds roll in. 

• Head torches – handy for late returns to camp or checking gear around the Camper after dark. 

• Insect repellent – this is the rainforest, after all. 

• A small, comfortable daypack for snacks, water and layers on longer hikes. 

• Reusable water bottles or a hydration pack; we always carry more water than we think we’ll need. 

• One or two ‘nicer’ outfits for a meal at a hinterland pub or a cosy dinner out before heading back to your motorhome for the night. 

If someone in your duo is keen on fishing, consider a compact travel rod and a small tackle box. We used this region as a base to scout future fishing-focused NSW road trip ideas, especially where rivers and creeks run close to campgrounds. We will certainly be back for more soon! 

Best time of year to drive the Rainforest Way

We’ve found that the mild seasons (autumn and spring) work best for this kind of road trip. Daytime temperatures are usually comfortable for hiking, the humidity is manageable, and you can enjoy both the coast and the hills without feeling like you’re melting. The forest still feels lush, and you’re less likely to be dodging the most intense heat of the year. 

That said, summer can still work if you’re heat-tolerant and smart about your timing. On hotter trips, we’ve stuck to shady rainforest tracks, started longer walks early in the morning, and saved shorter lookouts for later in the day. A campervan makes it easy to carry plenty of cold water and duck back for a break when you need it. 

Whatever time of year you choose, we can’t stress this enough: always check park alerts before you go. Storms, heavy rain, and landslides can close tracks in Nightcap National Park, Border Ranges National Park, Lamington National Park, and Springbrook National Park, and conditions can change quickly in these areas. A quick check of the official park websites before you set off (and again during your trip) can save you a lot of backtracking. 

 

Ready to follow the Rainforest Way?

Looking back on this loop, what I remember most isn’t one single waterfall or lookout – it’s the feeling of moving through a whole landscape all from our cosy little camper. If you’re keen to swap a standard beach holiday for something greener, this 5-day Rainforest way loop is a brilliant place to start – tweak it, stretch it, or weave it into a bigger NSW road trip or Queensland road trip. 

If you’re curious to start mapping out your own itinerary, definitely check out Apollo’s range of camper and motorhome options, from compact couples’ vans to roomier setups. Whether you’re following the Rainforest way drive or branching off to something like the Ultimate Indulgence Trail, having the right home-on-wheels makes a huge difference.