8-Day Haunted Road Trip in NSW: Sydney to Spooky Destinations

Morning: It’s time to go, go, go! Get an early start on the day by picking up your campervan from our GoCheap branch in Sydney ASAP.

Known as Australia’s most haunted town, you’ll want to make Picton your first stop on your Halloween road trip in NSW. It’s only fitting that you pass by Picton’s Redbank Range tunnel (aka Mushroom Tunnel) to quickly wave at the terrifying ghost of Emily Bollard that haunts the area.

Afternoon: Continue the tunnel theme in Helensburgh with a creepily silent afternoon exploring the eerie tunnels in the area. These tunnels are a lesser-known NSW haunted destination with a rich and curious history. But it’s not just ghosts in the area, you’ll also be able to meet the gorgeous glow worms that now call the darkness their home!

Evening: Had enough for the day? Wind down your evening at the Helensburgh Hotel, which serves comforting meals in a warm atmosphere – exactly what you need to shake off any lingering chilling vibes.

Where to stay: Bulli Beach Tourist Park, 1 Farrell Rd, Bulli NSW 2516

Located right next to Bulli Beach, this is a great place to kick up your feet. Bulli Beach Tourist Park offers powered sites, an on-site café/convenience store, coin-operated laundry facilities, and a dump point.

Helensburgh Glow Worm Tunnel, Destination NSW

Morning: We hope you didn’t have any nightmares, because it’s an early start for you today! Set off from Helensburgh, with a brief stop between the Princes Highway and the South Coast railway line to explore the “Bloody Mile”. Located between the Minnamurra River and the railway station, this sinister road earned its name with ghost sightings of moaning victims from the early pioneering days.

Afternoon: It’s a long day of driving today, so give yourself a couple of hours to rest your mind with an extended lunch stop in Goulburn or Yass. At Goulburn you’ve got the iconic Big Merino to have a snoop at, whereas Yass is well known for its caves, parks, and bushwalking.

Aim to arrive in Junee by mid-late afternoon, setting yourself up at a campsite for a bit of a break if you need it.

Evening: Ready for some proper spooks? Junee is home to one of New South Wales’ most haunted spots – the Monte Cristo Homestead. You can take yourself on a self-guided tour from 10am to 3pm on Saturdays and Sundays, so if you arrive in Junee early, you’re free to go wandering solo.

Otherwise, book yourself in for a ghost tour and dinner tour to really maximise the terror factor of your trip! You’ll be guided through the halls by candlelight, hear stories of the past, and be treated to a home-cooked meal.

Where to stay: Overnight stay at Monte Cristo Homestead (booked out for 2024, must get in early) or camping at Junee Tourist Park, 2 Sunnyside Rd, Junee NSW 2663

We know this is a campervan road trip, but don’t you want to boast that you spent an entire night in a creepy haunted house? A lot of people have reported being too scared to make it through the night, so you may be thankful you’ve got your campervan nearby for a midnight escape.

Monte Cristo Homestead, Destination NSW

Morning: Shake off the previous night’s jitters with a more wholesome trip out to Junee Licorice & Chocolate Factory, making sure to fill up your campervan’s pantry with full enthusiasm, then set off towards Dubbo via the infamous Newell Highway – we’ll tell you why it’s so spooky later.

Afternoon: You’ll arrive in Dubbo by early-mid afternoon, with two top options for how you can spend the rest of the day.

The first choice is a trip to the Old Dubbo Gaol, where you can peer out from the Watch Tower, wander through the historic grounds freely, and hear all about the inmates’ failed (and successful) attempts to break out.

But, if you’d prefer to visit the gaol at night, you can’t go wrong with a trip to Taronga Western Plains Zoo, which is an open-range zoo that’s become famous for its conservation efforts.

Sidenote: Dubbo is a great place to stock your fridge, so make sure you stop by Coles or Woolworths while you’re in the area.

Evening: The Pastoral Hotel is a great spot for a casual dinner (served with a side of ghost stories). Of course, we all know why you’re here, this is a haunted road trip in NSW after all. Book yourself in for the Twilight Tour at the Old Dubbo Gaol for spine-tingling tales of death, punishment, and darkness.

Their Beyond the Grave Experience is marketed as a 16+ experience, so we really mean business with this one!

Where to stay: Dubbo Midstate Caravan Park, 21 Bourke St, Dubbo NSW 2830

With free wifi, level concrete slabs, a top-notch cleaning schedule, and easy access, Dubbo Midstate Caravan Park is an uncomplicated place to spend the night.

Old Dubbo Gaol, Destination NSW

Morning: Today is all about spooky highways! Remember Newell Highway? Well you’ll be passing through its most haunted section today between Coonabarabran and Narrabri. Take a moment to research the tale of the Pilliga Princess and her gruesome end, and thank your lucky stars that you’re not driving at night through here – though the spookiness lingers even during the day.

Afternoon: You’ll be spending the night in Narrabri, so take your time exploring the spook-filled area! You can visit the Old Narrabri Gaol, or arrange a tour of the town (starting or ending with a visit to the museum) hosted by the members of the Historical Society.

Scary in an existential way, we recommend that you take a trip out to Wee Waa for the scientific marvels found at the CSIRO Australia Telescope Compact Array.

When you’re done wondering why the universe is so big, visit another unexplained wonder—this time of the natural variety. Yarrie Lake, a three-kilometre saucer-shaped expanse of water on the very edge of the Pilliga Forest, is thought to have been formed by a falling meteor many thousands of years ago. Cool, right?

Evening: Yarrie Lake, just 30 minutes out of Narrabri, is also a great spot for campervans, with powered sites and unpowered sites available. The road is sealed from Narrabri up to one kilometre from the amenities block, so be careful on your way up.

When you’re ready to call it a day, treat yourself to a home-cooked meal. With your fully stocked campervan, you’ll be perfectly set to enjoy nature, relax, and get rest up for a big day of driving tomorrow.

Where to stay: Yarrie Lake, Lake Circuit, Narrabri, New South Wales

This is a popular first-come, first-served camping destination. Despite the powered sites and homely amenities, it has a back-to-nature feel. We recommend contacting the caretaker for more details on staying the night here.

CSIRO Telescope Compact Array, Narrabri Shire Council

Morning: You’ll arrive in Port Macquarie by early or late afternoon depending on when you left Narrabri. The area is not known for anything particularly spooky, but it’s a great place to stretch your legs and try out some more relaxing activities! Your heart deserves a break too y’know.

If you’re on a tight schedule dedicated to chasing the best NSW horrors, you can head straight for Newcastle, bypassing Port Macquarie through Tamworth instead. Make sure you check out King George Avenue on the way, which is one of New South Wales’ most haunted roads and known for the local “Ghost Car.”

Afternoon: There’s so much to do in Port Mac that you could easily spend a few days here if you’ve got some time up your sleeve and need a break from all the long days of driving you’ve been doing. From its seemingly endless choices of National Parks, beaches, and activities, you’ll have your pick of the crop so the choice is yours!

For something on the historic trail, you can try the Port Macquarie Hastings Heritage walking tours, such as Uncovering Our Past Tour, or Grave Tales Tour – all of which provide an insight into Port Macquarie’s dark convict history.

Evening: Settle in for dinner, either from the comfort of your campervan or dine out amongst the locals. If you’ve got energy left, drop by Stoney Park! Yes, you heard us, it’s a water park, at night!

But, we’re not going swimming. Currently, Stoney Park is offering an Astronomy Nights attraction that’ll bring you up close and personal with Staturn’s rings and the Moon’s craters. Stoney Park has the darkest skies on the Mid Coast, making it the best place for a slightly eerie stellar adventure!

Where to stay: NRMA Port Macquarie Breakwall, 1 Munster St, Port Macquarie NSW 2444

Classic camping right on the water’s edge, it doesn’t get more uncomplicated than this. The park offers powered sites, a swimming pool, a café/bar, and a dump point.

Tamworth Scenic Drive, Destination NSW

Morning: You’re headed out of Port Macquarie with a detour via the Lemon Tree Passage, known for the mysterious lights that are said to appear at night. This area is so haunted they even made a movie about it!

Travellers here get the sense that they’re being followed by the ghost of a motorcyclist who met an untimely fate whilst speeding in the area – perhaps it’s for the best that you’re travelling this way with the sunshine to keep you safe.

Afternoon: Whilst Port Macquarie was your safe haven from all things spooky, Newcastle is decidedly less so – it’s time to put on a brave face because today we’re straight back into your haunted Australian road trip! If you do a quick search online you’ll find that there’s no shortage of haunted locations in Newcastle – seriously, this place is full of ghosts and terrifying tales.

What could be more iconic on a haunted itinerary than a place literally named the Bogey Hole? Google it; this place just screams, “Ancient spirits live here!”.

If you’re keen to jump on a tour instead of wandering solo, the Newcastle Ghost Tours offers plenty of day tours – as well as night tours if you’re hungry for that feeling of goosebumps creeping up your neck.

Evening: Moving away from ghosts and mayhem for the evening, our top pick for your night tour would have to be the Newcastle: True Crime Guided Tour. You’ll hear fascinating anecdotes about true crime stories, spend your evening wandering medieval castles, and find the secrets lurking in Quayside. Unmissable!

Where to stay: Belmont Lakeside Holiday Park, 24 Paley Cres, Belmont South NSW 2280

Lake-view slab or grass site, the choice is all yours! Accessibility is the park’s forte, with concrete paths all around the site and everything you can think of to accommodate any guest.

The Bogey Hole, Destination NSW

DAY ONE

Morning: Time for a short road trip to Sydney! This next destination is a big one. Wakehurst Parkway is known as Sydney’s most haunted road – which is unusual for a busy road north of the city. But, there have been plenty of reports of “Kelly”, the ghost, terrifying hundreds of motorists over the past five decades, even sometimes appearing in the backseats of people’s vehicles.

This stretch of road goes from Narrabeen down to Seaforth and is well worth driving through on your way to St James’ Station, where you can hunt for the eerie underground ghost tunnels.

Afternoon: How you spend your afternoon is entirely up to you, though we recommend finding something to calm the mind ahead of tonight’s adventures. You’ll find tours around The Rocks, Sydney Opera House, and a gorgeous heritage walk around Old Great North Road.

Evening: We still have one more ghost tour in mind for your evening – not one to be missed we assure you! Head over to Cockatoo Island for an 18+ journey into the darkness from Sydney Harbour around Cockatoo Island’s former convict prison and dockyard.

Where to stay: Discovery Parks Lane Cove, 13 Plassey Rd, Macquarie Park NSW 2113

Backing onto the nearby National Park, this is another no-fuss camping experience and an easy train ride into the city if you’re not comfortable driving in Sydney.

DAY TWO

Morning: Wrap up your haunted NSW road trip with a final day down at Q Station, which has a range of tours for all hours. If you’re done with the hauntings, you can enjoy the waters down at Quarantine Beach, swim, snorkel, kayak, or simply relax before choosing from a range of activities like the Visitor Centre and Museum, wildlife explorer tour, or history tour.

But, if you’re hanging out for more scary things do to in Sydney, we’ve got you covered! Download this itinerary from their website and take yourself on a self-guided tour to some of the more unusual destinations, learn about the haunting history of the Quarantine Station and the diseased bodies that reside deep within the burial grounds.

Afternoon: That’s officially the end of your campervan adventures! Head on over to the GoCheap branch in Sydney to drop off your campervan.

Q Station, Destination NSW