In short
- Ask first. Rentzy's rental terms (clause 7.2) say the car can't leave Queensland without our written consent, and Byron Bay is in New South Wales. Get the yes in writing before you book the trip.
- The drive is about 170 km from Hendra, almost all of it on the Gateway and Pacific motorways (M1), with one possible toll: the Gateway Bridges.[1][2]
- NSW uses mobile phone detection cameras day and night; the fine is A$434 and 5 demerit points at the time of writing, and demerits double in NSW holiday periods.[4]
- From 4 October 2026 to 4 April 2027, NSW is an hour ahead of Queensland, which doesn't use daylight saving.[6]
- Central Byron Bay has council pay parking: A$5 an hour, capped at A$25 a day, 9am to 6 in the evening every day.[7]
Can you take a Rentzy car to Byron Bay?
Only with our written consent. Clause 7.2 of the rental terms lists taking the vehicle outside Queensland without written consent among the things a hirer must not do. It isn't a formality: under clause 9.3, the excess cap doesn't apply to loss arising from a breach of clause 7.2, so damage on an unapproved interstate trip could leave you liable for the full amount, and clause 11 lets us end the rental early.
- Ask before you go, ideally when you book: call 0413 479 606 or email info@rentzy.com.au with your dates and where you're heading.
- Get the answer in writing (an email is fine) and keep it on your phone for the trip.
- If the answer is no, or you don't hear back before you leave, keep the car in Queensland. The Gold Coast is the nearest coast without crossing the border: see Brisbane to the Gold Coast.
How do you drive from Brisbane to Byron Bay?
OpenStreetMap's car routing from 238 Nudgee Road takes Kingsford Smith Drive and Southern Cross Way onto the Gateway Motorway south, crosses the river on the Gateway Bridges, then joins the Pacific Motorway (M1) for about 141 km, past the Gold Coast and over the border. It leaves the motorway at Ewingsdale Road and follows it into Byron Bay, reaching the centre on Shirley Street. The whole trip is about 170 km, a little over two hours in the router's estimate before traffic or stops.[1]
The Gateway Bridges toll is A$6.02 for a car at the time of writing (October 2026).[2] To avoid it, cross the river in the city and join the Pacific Motorway there; tolls in Brisbane covers the options. For the Queensland half of the drive, QLDTraffic shows crashes, roadworks and congestion before you set off.[3]
Unlimited kilometres: no kilometre limit and no charge per kilometre. The trip there and back is long enough to plan a break each way; long drives and fatigue explains why.
Which NSW road rules catch Queensland drivers?
Most rules are national, but enforcement differs. Two Transport for NSW points are worth knowing before you cross the border:
Mobile phone detection cameras
NSW runs fixed and transportable mobile phone detection cameras anywhere in the state, day and night and in all weather. Suspected offences are checked by people before Revenue NSW issues a fine. At the time of writing, illegal phone use costs A$434 (more in a school zone) and 5 demerit points, and the same cameras have enforced seatbelt offences since 1 July 2024.[4]
For a full licence holder, a phone in a cradle fixed to the car may be touched only to make or take a call, for audio, or for navigation; anything else, such as texting, needs the car parked out of the line of traffic.[4] Set your map before you leave Hendra.
Double demerits in holiday periods
NSW doubles the demerit points for speeding, mobile phone, seatbelt and motorcycle helmet offences during holiday periods, and the doubling also applies to school-zone offences in those periods.[5] The phone offence, for example, rises from 5 to 10 points.[4] Long weekends are exactly when a Byron trip is likely, so check the NSW Government's list of upcoming double demerit periods.[5]
Fines from the trip are still yours under clause 10; how a camera fine reaches a renter is covered in fuel, parking and fines. Queensland rules for the drive home are in road rules for visitors.
Does the time change when you cross the border?
Between October and April, yes. NSW moved its clocks forward an hour on Sunday 4 October 2026 and moves them back on Sunday 4 April 2027; Queensland doesn't observe daylight saving.[6] So in summer, 10am in Brisbane is 11am in Byron Bay.
- Bookings in Byron (restaurants, tours, parking sessions) run on NSW time.
- Your return to Rentzy runs on Brisbane time. The terms set opening hours as Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 17:00, Brisbane time (clause 6.2).
- Pick one clock. Before you head home, check whether your phone and the car's clock are showing NSW or Queensland time.
How does parking work in Byron Bay?
Byron Shire Council charges for parking in the Byron Bay town centre, in council-operated car parks and in parts of Wategos. At the time of writing (October 2026) it's A$5 an hour, capped at A$25 for the day, from 9am until 6 in the evening, seven days a week, public holidays included.[7]
- Paying. Meters take cards, payWave or QR codes and, at some machines, coins; or use the PayStay app with the 8-digit zone number printed on the parking sign.[7]
- Get the details right. The session only counts if the registration and zone number are correct, so note the rental car's plate before you park.[7]
- The Pass and the Lighthouse are National Parks car parks with their own separate fees.[7]
Beach access is on foot from these car parks. Clause 7.2 of the terms doesn't allow driving on beaches, off-road or on unsealed roads beyond reasonable access, in either state.
Sources
- OpenStreetMap (OSRM routing): Directions: 238 Nudgee Road, Hendra to Byron Bay (car) (read 23 October 2026)
- Linkt (Transurban): Toll pricing (read 23 October 2026)
- Queensland Government — Department of Transport and Main Roads: QLDTraffic (read 23 October 2026)
- Transport for NSW: Mobile phones (read 23 October 2026)
- NSW Government: How demerit points work (read 23 October 2026)
- NSW Government: Daylight saving (read 23 October 2026)
- Byron Shire Council: Pay Parking in Byron Shire (read 23 October 2026)
Written by the Rentzy team at Rentzy Car Rentals. Rentzy prices, fees and rules in this guide come from our published terms and update with them; rules set by others (roads, tolls, licences, transport) are from the official pages above, as read on the dates shown. Something out of date? Tell us.
