Route advice - Sydney to Gold Coast

Guys

doing a family trip over the summer from Sydney to the Gold Coast via Port Macquarie.

Freeways are great for getting to a destination but this one is superbly boring. Already planned to stop over for a night at Port Macquarie on the way up and on the way back.

So.... what suggestions for some freeway and non-freeway routes from Sydney > Port Macquarie > Gold Coast and return? I'm happy to do part freeway / off-freeway. There will be 3 cars driving up together, mainly adults and also a couple of under 10s -
325i (the nominated luggage mule)
118d vert (for the posers)
190E 2.5 Cosworth (the MB that wishes it was an E30 M3. Still a very awesome car)

Not everyone enjoys driving for the sake of driving if you know what I mean

I've just started planning the route and this is what I had in mind so far:
- Sydney to Warnervale via F3
- Warnervale to Newcastle via Sparks road / Central Coast hwy / Budgewoi rd / Pacific hwy / Newcastle bypass
- Newcastle to Port Macquarie via Pacific hwy (freeway)

After that I'm kinda lost for ideas. I've done the run to Coffs a few times on the freeway (if you can call it that) and I'm wary of the road and conditions especially at this time of year.

I want to keep it scenic and interesting enough without it getting drawn out or boring (remember the non-drivers and the kids!).

Ideas and suggestions welcome!


Cheers guys