Travel direction

Better view via the coast, easier driving by the Newell inland.

Fuzzy logic would suggest the best view is when driving Bris - Melb as you will or should be on the left side of road and the predominat coastal view will also be on your left.

There actually aren't many places where you can see the ocean from hwy 1.

The new hwy bypassing Tugun makes Bris - Ballina a dream run. The Ballina bypass is under construction.

An alternative is to go through the border loop Kyogle and down to Grafton. This is longer (time) but very scenic.

Alan

IMO take the Newell both ways. I hate the coast road.

Go inland.

The coast road between Brisbane and Sydney is almost all freeway - great for speed and ease of travel, but your only breaks are at big name servos eating deep fried McBuzzard. None of it actually runs down the coast anymore. If you did try to follow the actual coastline it would take you about 3 days.Sydney to Melb is then the Hume its all the same as well.

At least on the inland track you pass through a small country town every 40 mins to an hour and can always find somewhere decent to stretch your legs, get a decent cuppa and look around.

Good Luck!

One variable would be the school hols. If they're on at your times, avoid the Princes south of Sydney.