Just remember if you are travelling the new england (Inland) road, you have a much greater chance of encountering wildlife on the road. (Roos, wallabys, stray cattle and even the odd pig). I have travelled these roads many many times and personally i would recommend to you (the first timer) to take one road going down and the other coming back. That way you can work out your own preference. Plan the coastal road with a bit of extra time so you can stop off somewhere if you see a place you like. But the inland is boring as hell. Drive safe mate.
Nah, I used to live in New England. Drove to Sydney every week in the middle of the night. Never saw a single bit of wildlife on the roads
As far as inland roads go, it's all pretty safe around there.
I think the quickest is easily the coastal road, but the new england is so much more fun
If you really want a drive to wake you up, head down the coast as far as Grafton, then duck inland via Armidale Road (through clouds creek). It's a bit longer, but it's a BEAUTIFUL road. Still got the old deregulated road signs up from before the days of outback speed limits