Where is it? The routes we took: Sydney to Melbourne: The coastal drive via the Princes Highway. Its also best to make sure you have adequate insurance and roadside assistance when you begin your Melbourne to Sydney road trip. Leaving Melbourne, you'll see Mount Fraser and pass the beautiful Kinglake National Park before reaching Broadford. The winds here played a vital role in the history of aviation. Raymond Island is best accessed from Bairnsdale off the Princes Highway. Photographers should check out Cathedral Rocks, especially if you arrive in the early morning light. There are loads of opportunities to explore the tracks and back roads either on a guided tour or through independent exploration. Best Places to Stay in Sydney:Meriton Suites World Tower | Hyatt Regency Sydney | Great Southern Hotel Sydney. Melbourne to Sydney: The inland drive, via Hume Highway. Its a popular vacation spot and you can enjoy lots of outdoor activities, including boating, fishing and hiking. He was spot on. Off shore: Thousands of whales migrate along the NSW coast from May to November, with prime viewing spots at Eden and Jervis Bay. Imagine sailing on a lake one day, hanging out with kangaroos the next. (Although new trains are coming in 2023, which look much better!). Where is it? Just after Moruya, youll reach Mogo Wildlife Park, which is famous for its work in breeding endangered animals. So what are you waiting for? The sheer excitement when you spot your first Koala in the wild at Raymond Island is amazing. If you dont want to drive yourself, there are daily tours departing from Melbourne. Highlights include the Goulburn Courthouse, the Post Office, designed by well-known Colonial architect James Barnet, and two majestic churches with lovely stained-glass windows. Just up the road from Eden is the equally beautiful coastal town of Narooma, a place famous for the quality of its oysters. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. As a wise man once said, If you cant afford travel insurance, you cant afford to travel. So dont leave home without it. Also, be extra vigilant in areas known for kangaroos, on these drives anywhere south of Ulladulla along the coast route or Canberra on the inland road. Tip: Hop on a ferry and explore GippslandLakes. It comprises the largest towns in Gippsland; Traralgon, Moe and Morwell. Approximately 1000 kms, about 12 hours. In fact, the white sand at many of the beaches is one of the main attractions and its easy to just spend your time swimming and hanging out at the coast. Found just off the southern coast close to Melbourne, Phillip Island is famous for being a haven for local wildlife. In Moe, Old Gippstown has been a favourite of the region for decades. Except for wallabies, echidnas, a kookaburra, a hen near Sydney and the two tortoises that Lisa swears she sees while Im looking the other way. You can take your car or board as a foot passenger. Of course, turn the page upside down, and you have a Melbourne to Sydney itinerary ready to go . Melbourne to Sydney: The inland drive, via Hume Highway. A rough 3-hour drive east from Melbourne,LakesEntranceis the regions hub; home to breathtakinglakes, golden sand beaches, quaint little towns and breathtaking nature trails. As the sun sets, you will find that Australias huge array of nocturnal wildlife begins to emerge from the bush, and they wont be worrying about crossing roads. Recommendation: One day trip definitely worth doing is to the Blue Mountains. Tip: One of our favourite restaurants for Brunch is Native, with views over the pretty harbour. Now you are on the home stretch to Melbourne where all the excitement of Australias second-biggest city awaits. The inland route via the M31, the Hume Highway. There are two major routes for a Sydney to Melbourne road trip: Today we will answer the most common questions we have received in our Facebook Group to help you decide which route is best for you. Youll even be able to taste a few of the local fresh oysters in a beautiful natural surrounding. On the outskirts of town, Stringers Cottage is a compact self-contained property thats full of charm and authentic heritage. The last town on the East Coast of NSW is Eden, settled on the hillside overlooking the ocean and a beautiful harbour. But other activities include bushwalking, whale watching tours, and kayaking. SafetyWing offers travel insurance for only about $10 a week, making it a no-brainer to get. And fuel. The Murramarang Holiday Park, surrounded by the national park, offers cabins and powered campsites right by the beach. Egg and bacon roll, toasted sesame seed bun, lots of bacon, Cann River Cafe, Victoria. A detour to the Prom is always a good idea. The biggest town youll pass through today is Batemans Bay, which is certainly a good place to stop, with a large range of cafes and restaurants for lunch. Suggested stops Bowral, Goulburn, Canberra, Gundagai, Wagga Wagga, Beechworth, Glenrowan. The view from the top is spectacular and you can look out over most of The Prom. This route is about 1200 kilometres long and takes about 15 hours of driving. If you have time, take a boat across to Montague Island, a few miles off the shore, where you can find penguins and seals thriving in this protected area. Fishing and boating are some of the most popular activities and a local company in Metung called Riviera Nautic offers a couple of options, including a leisurely cruise around the lakes. We wander onto the wide wooden deck laden with punters and find what they might be smiling about. This coastal community is found in undeniably beautiful surroundings, and you can enjoy the best of what is known as the Sapphire Coast. We have done Melbourne to Sydney along the coast and reading this has reminded me of some of the things we did. Just a few minutes from town, Edgewater Terraces have a serious of large waterfront properties that are perfect for families or groups. Wildlife Driving at dusk and dawn brings its own dangers. Note: This itinerary is part of a much longer Adelaide to Darwin road trip. Title from title screen. And heres where a road trip is defined by the things you dont do. Just a few minutes from the beach, Horizon Apartments has modern self-contained units of different sizes. In Morwell, you will find Lake Kernot home of the Gippsland Immigration Museum. Josh Shephard, who blogs at The Lost Passport shares one of our favourite spots along this route, Murramarang. and of course, cakes. Found in the Victorian countryside, this small town was once a booming gold mining settlement in the middle of the 19th century. But keep driving to Mallacoota, a town of just 1,000 people year round that swells to 8,000 to 10,000 in the summer. Just 3 hours 30 minutes from Sydney or 223.5 km is the coastal town of Ulladulla. From here, you can explore the parts of the park that are easy to access. (CNN) While it's possible to fly from Melbourne and Sydney in an hour and even drive the 878 kilometers in a (long) day, inland via the Hume Highway . But, if you do want to stick to the coast, then the alternative option for day 1 is to drive down to Wilsons Promontory instead. Particularly if you are driving on the opposite side of the road that you are used to. You can head out to the island on a boat and watch them safely from deck or you can even jump in and swim with them, like I did. All Rights Reserved. I would suggest trying to extend for a night or two, though, and spend a whole day in at least one of the stops perhaps Metung, Mallacoota, or Jervis Bay. This route is about 1200 kilometres long and takes about 15 hours of driving. Best Places to Stay in Narooma:Whale Motor Inn | Coastal Comfort Motel | Horizon Apartments. The train is relatively basic, though, and certainly not the standard you find with high-speed trains in Europe or Japan. There is, however, a very popular free camping spot. You can read my story about the Pambula oyster tour. If you are in a hurry, a one hour flight is often a better option than the nine-hour inland drive. Michael Turtle is the founder of Travel Australia Today and has been a journalist for 20 years. The Big Merino is not just for show. One of the best road trips you can do in Australia has to be the Melbourne to Sydney drive, tracing the coastline past stunning beaches and through epic national parks. The main attraction here is Old Gippstown, a recreation of Gippsland in the 1850s. You can do the inland road in one day especially if you have two drivers. Why stop here? We do not recommend doing this if you only have two days. The modern apartments at 5 Knots Metung are self-contained but feel more boutique than some of the towns other options. Get more travel inspiration, tips and exclusive offers sent straight to your inbox. There is less accommodation in Mallacoota than some of the other stops so sort this out before you decide. Mallacoota is definitely worth an overnight stay if you enjoy the natural environment. Our itinerary will take you through the most iconic towns and cities, the rugged Phillip Island, the small town of Walhalla, the beautiful Wilsons Promontory, and onto the vast Kosciuszko National Park. We even hiked up multiple mountains/volcanoes with them. To help you plan your journey from Melbourne to Sydney by car, heres our guide to this ultimate road trip. Its a great place to end your trip, although of course, you can still carry on up the coast to Queensland if you dont want to stop. Nearby Merimbula also makes for a lovely rest. When you reach Helensburgh, pat a kangaroo and take a selfie with a koala at Symbio Wildlife Park.Make a pit-stop at Stanwell Tops - a launch spot for hang-gliders and paragliders. You need a 4-5 day trip for this. You can do the drive in a day if you leave early and dont mind the long drive. There are also rare birds, whales and dolphins waiting to be spotted. There are long beaches and turquoise waters, and youll learn about the towns former whaling history and their unusual and friendly relationship with orcas at the local museum. Sydney to Melbourne: The coastal drive via the Princes Highway. If it is not essential to drive from Melb to Sydney, then as mentioned you might want to consider flying. Closer to Metung, another good rest spot is Bairnsdale, which quite a few people actually use as a base when they visit the Gippsland Lakes (so there are lots of shops here, if you need to stock up on anything). The visitors centre is home to Ned Kellys Last Stand, a 40-minute show featuring computerised robots that is not quite high tech, but it is interesting and breaks up the drive. Not all maps in this archived site have been captured. Why stop here? Where do you stop when driving from Sydney to Melbourne? The choice is yours, but dont miss visiting the majestic Blue Mountains. The coastal route adds at least 2-4 hours on top of the driving time of the inland route, compounded by the road being single lane in each direction. Seaside towns Broulee and South Durras miss the cut, as do the Mogo Zoo and Kiama, and Arthur Boyds artist retreat at Bundanon. The planned city is easy to travel around, and you can visit the powerful ANZAC Museum to learn more about the countrys involvement in world wars before touring the national parliament and visiting the impressive national museum. Our full disclosure policy is here. I did it this way because there are going to be plenty of beaches and water from now on, and a little bit of Gold Rush heritage is important when youre visiting Victoria. The Koala walk is signposted, and you can also pick up a small guidebook for a gold coin donation. The trip is best enjoyed over 4-5 days, although you could do it in 3 at a push or easily spread it over a week or longer to make the most of the natural beauty and wildlife of the region. I hope you can see why these are my suggested stops between Melbourne and Sydney, because I think each has its own special reasons to visit. Ideally, allow two days for the inland road and three days or more for the coast road. Overnight stops are marked with a star; squares are suggested rest stops or detours. As well as the spacious apartments of different sizes, the Moorings at Metung also offer swimming pools, a tennis court, and private marina. Driving from Sydney to Melbourne: The Ultimate Guide, Easy to follow itineraries for a Sydney to Melbourne drive, Frequently asked questions about driving from Sydney to Melbourne. The scenery along the way is beautiful! if the cheapest flight available is more than $150, then it might start to be cheaper to drive in one day. Best Places to Stay near Wilsons Promontory:Prom Coast Apartments | Prom Gate Getaway | Driftwood Villas. But it makes an excellent stopover for those on a road trip travelling the Hume Hwy between Melbourne and Sydney. I want emails from Road Affair with travel updates and marketing. Today we answer all your questions about driving between Australias two biggest cities. No, not unless you start early and stop and rest at least two or three times or have two drivers. These are the key places in the region that attract visitors. The wildlife Off shore: Thousands of whales migrate along the NSW coast from May to November, with prime viewing spots at Eden and Jervis Bay. Why stop here? Three or more is preferable. Travel writer Christina Pfeiffer from Travel2next suggests your first stop out of Sydney should be in Goulburn. The most direct way is to go straight along the Hume Highway, the main road that connects the two. There are huge granite mountains, forest, beaches, and rocky outcrops. You need to leave Sydney by 6am to make good time and not get stuck in peak hour traffic. First published 1/12/2020 Updated 12/3/23. The Coastal Route from Sydney to Melbourne. The first is Sale, a former port that has an affluent heritage to it. Mallacoota sits on the beautiful Mallacoota Inlet, and getting out on the water here is a truly delightful experience. Other interesting buildings include the 1850s Telegraph Station, the Chinese Burning Towers, and the Lunatic Asylum (Yep, thats what its called) that will send chills down your spine. (This is the one I'm posting about today) How long does a Sydney to Melbourne road trip take? However, taking this option means you miss out on everything in between. If youre looking for more than just a rest stop on this stretch of the drive, I would recommend heading to Pambula in time for one of Captain Sponges Magical Oyster Tours. Stopping at Ulladulla, Murramarang, Eden, Lakes Entrance, La Trobe Valley, Raymond Island and Wilsons Promontory. Cartoscope do a great touring route booklet guide for the Princes Hwy, Melb- Sydney. Todays drive is just long enough that youll probably want to stop somewhere to break up the journey and have a rest. In busy periods, Driver Reviver areas, which provide free coffee and snacks, are set up along both routes. If you need to go faster, any of the stops could be skipped and that days drive would still be manageable. On the Princes Hwy there is no possibility of doing it in one day. The Jervis Bay accommodation is quite spread out, although theres a lot around Huskisson and Vincentia. 246: 3: 0 |aFrom Melbourne to Sydney via Princes Highway : |bstrip maps and route onformation: 255 |aNot drawn to scale |c(E 1443500--E 1512200/S 335200--S 380800). Wander the streets searching for street art, visit the many museums and art galleries to soak in a bit of culture then head down to St Kilda to enjoy the beach life and soak up some sun on the coast. Try some water-skiing or tubing with the family, or learn how to stand-up paddle board in the breathtaking . You may also need to pick up some supplies here in Meeniyan for your overnight stay in the national park because Wilsons Promontory has a shop thats open during the day where you can get food, but theres nothing available in the evening. Although I think the quieter community of Gipsy Point is actually a nicer place to stay, if youre looking for something less busy. You can potter around for a quiet afternoon, or do what most people come here for and hit the water! East Lynne Store steak and mushroom pie. Recommendation: If you are renting a car for this Melbourne to Sydney road trip, make sure to check out Rentalcars.com. There they are just sitting in the tree sleeping or eating, not a fence around them, not a zookeeper in sight. There are quite a few longer-stay holiday homes in Narooma, but if youre looking for somewhere easier for a night or two, these are my top suggestions. This is a popular hang gliding spot and a great place to get some photos of the coast and the famous bridge in the distance. Todays drive is one of the prettiest of the whole trip, with lush Australian bush along both sides of the road for most of the way, as you cut through national parks and state forests. If you discount the Hume Highway, that leaves you with two main options go along the coast or go inland. Where is it? Jane and Duncan from To Travel Too have shared why they think you should make a stop in Ulladulla. If youve got a bit of time, you could do for a bushwalk in the Clyde River National Park, or rent a kayak for a paddle up the Clyde River. In this coastal route from Melbourne to Sydney, I am suggesting stops at Walhalla, Metung, Gipsy Point, Narooma, and Jervis Bay. Its a small town with a country pub and a museum of local history run by amateur historians, all at volley distance from the oversized racquet. Sydney to Melbourne 7 days From the cosmopolitan splendour of Sydney this ride takes in the intricate New South Wales coast, epic Snowy Mountains, Victoria Highlands, Grampians National Park and ends on a high with a ride along the world famous Great Ocean Road. Tip: Just up the hill from the wharves is the Eden Smokehouse, the award-winning purveyor of smoked seafood, including those delicious mussels in several different flavours. Oysters have been the bounty here for thousands of years you can see the leftovers in metre-high Aboriginal middens around Pambula Lake. Best Places to Stay in Canberra:Little National Hotel | Crowne Plaza Canberra | Canberra Rex Hotel. Is the best the fastest, most scenic, easiest drive? #2 Good Walking Shoes There will be a lot of walking around in Australia, so a good pair of shoes is really essential. Jump down to a particular day - or keep reading for my complete Melbourne to Sydney itinerary. But if you ask for my highlight its the raspberry pie. The Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen works just as well as a regular sunscreen but without all the harmful chemicals. Best Places to Stay in Melbourne:Atlantis Hotel Melbourne | The Victoria Hotel | Great Southern Hotel Melbourne. Hopefully one day to Melbourne to Sydney too! Next ATL closure is." If you were to drive, the cost of petrol would be at least double that. For food in Metung, I would definitely suggest eating at theMetung Hotelfor dinner andBancroft Bitesfor breakfast. Keep following the coastal road and youll cross the border from Victoria into New South Wales before reaching the town of Eden, a destination thats as blissful as its name suggests. Where is it? The bridge is a result of regular rock falls damaging cars and causing road closures. Hiking up to the top of Genoa Peak gives you fantastic views and is relatively easy, taking about 30 minutes from the carpark. The Surf Beach Narooma Holiday Park is comfortable and basic, but its got an incredible location right on the beach. Re: Melbourne To Sydney Via Princes Highway. Related: Check out our recent road trip to Canberra for ideas. Along the coast to the east of Melbourne are the beautiful landscapes of Wilsons Promontory. Recommendation: One place you definitely have to visit is the Great Ocean Road and the 12 Apostles. Walhalla is one of the most intriguing stops on the route from Melbourne to Sydney. The charming decor of Anchors Aweigh sets the scene for this quirky guesthouse where youll instantly feel right at home. The Australian states of Victoria and New South Wales cover enormous areas of land and are incredibly diverse in their landscapes, towns and cities. New South Wales and Victoria are both fairly built up states, being the first areas to really be colonized by Europeans. Now, though, there are less than 20 permanent residents. Pop into the East Gippsland Art Gallery for a bit of culture and dont miss the striking murals in St Marys church. Well, we have come up with two different itineraries and have listed suggested brief breaks and overnight stops and even a couple of detours en route. For more information, Ive got a story about things to do at Wilsons Prom. Check out our detailed guide to the area if you have time to stop off for a bit. The Gippsland Lakes are perfect for trying out new water sports and fishing. The coastal drive from Sydney to Melbourne, a distance of 1,032 km (640 miles), can be done with an overnight stop within two days, although you could probably take some time and spend at least four days on the road, with a couple of hours at each stop to thoroughly enjoy the South Coast.

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