camping road trip melbourne to sydney

Melbourne to Sydney

Planning your next motorhome road trip along this iconic and popular route? Use our travel resource to be inspired and plan your next dream motorhome holiday.

Beaches, bush, culture and wildlife!

Journey the stunning coastline interspersed with delightful towns. Make it a loop and discover mountains, history and adventure. Call into the nation’s capital or make friends with a wombat – the choice is or yours.

Watch this video for a quick taste of the Melbourne to Sydney route:

Excited? Let us help make your dream motorhome holiday a reality. We bring you the best selection of motorhome, campervan and 4WD hire. Combined with our old-fashioned service and years of experience, you’ll get the very best value for money at no extra cost for booking your vehicle hire through us.

Highlights of a driving holiday from Melbourne to Sydney

Heading north.

• North east of Melbourne is the Yarra Valley wine region. It’s only about an hour out of Melbourne, and a pleasant drive. Enjoy time at the cellar doors, and indulge in the local produce.
• Phillip Island is a beautiful detour and famous for the Little Penguins and their nightly parade.
• It’s another beautiful drive south to Wilsons Promontory. You can camp in the National Park (busy over holidays and summer weekends) or there are camping areas outside of the National Park. Enjoy the stunning scenery which includes beaches, headland and mountains inside the park too. There are plenty of scenic lookouts and walks to really appreciate the park.
• Keep your eyes open for wildlife like wombats around sunrise/sunset, emus, kangaroos and other birdlife.

• Detour to the scenic South Gippsland Highway and side roads out to the coast to experience the wetlands and watch the local birdlife.
• Lakes Entrance which is another boating paradise – the scenic lookout as you’re entering town, gives a good appreciation of the area. Having both beach and lakeside activities, makes this another popular holiday destination for locals. There are some lovely walks and you’ll find that this is one of the warmest places in Victoria, which may be good to know if you’re travelling during winter.
• Eden is where you’ll get your first glimpse at the ‘sapphire coast’ and with the sun shining brilliantly; it is easy to see how it got its name. Seafood is sold everywhere, with mussels being a local delicacy. Eden still has a working port, so enjoy parking up and watching the trawlers unloading their catches while indulging in some local fish and chips, or some tasty treats you’ve prepared in your camper.
• Bega is well known with the Aussies for producing cheese, of the same name as the town. The Bega Heritage Centre gives you the opportunity to taste the product and of course purchase some of those cheeses you don’t see in the supermarket. The area around Bega is very lush and you can tell why the cheese tastes so good!
• There’s plenty of camping all along the Sapphire coast both in National Parks and commercial camps. If you have time and are interested, you’ll also find plenty of bays that offer great snorkeling and fishing.
• Central Tilba is a Historic Village. This beautiful 19th century town has been preserved in the most magnificent setting, overlooking farmland in the surrounding hills and a stunning escarpment; it’s easy to lose time here. There’s excellent coffee, two cheese shops including a 100 year old factory, fudge tasting, galleries, boutiques and much more.
• Batemans Bay – another delightful place, situated at the mouth of the Clyde River. There’s plenty to do and of course seafood to enjoy.

• Jervis Bay Village is in the Booderee National Park , which we highly recommend visiting and perhaps enjoying for at least one night, camping. There are numerous walks and beaches to explore. If you need some ‘café time’, there couldn’t be a nicer location to visit than Huskisson , overlooking a stunning waterway. Think white sand and turquoise blue water!
• Detour from the coast or call in on your return trip (if you’re doing a loop) to the nation’s capital in Canberra to discover culture and history.
• If you’re heading inland, we love Kosciuszko National Park for hiking and mountain biking. This area has some of the countries most popular snowfields in winter, and turns into an adventure playground in late spring/early summer.
• Getting closer to Sydney detour just north of Nowra to Kangaroo Valley . It’s a stunning drive up a mountain which offers spectacular views of the farmland and the coast in the distance. There is a free camp in near Kangaroo Valley (self contained vehicles).

Learn more details and useful planning tips about this route.

Grab yourself a drink, sit back and relax while you watch this 8-minute video providing more insight to help your road trip planning from Melbourne to Sydney.

Melbourne to Sydney route planning tips

• Travelling along the coast you’ll also find plenty of opportunities for some fishing , so pack a fishing rod is a must if you enjoy fishing.
• This travel route will be cold in winter , with autumn, summer and spring the most popular time to experience.
• There’s also some freedom camping opportunities and commercial grounds, with some in stunning locations.
• If you’re travelling this route during any peak holiday period or school holidays, you’ll find the campgrounds do fill up, and it would be either wise to book ahead or choose to stay in land a little away from the popular coastal areas.

7 days is a good amount of time, however if you have a few more days, it will allow you to appreciate the numerous walks and national parks that are found throughout this route.

• You can pick up your camper in Sydney or Melbourne from one of our depots, and it doesn’t really matter which direction you travel. Some of our clients include a detour firstly west of Melbourne along the Great Ocean Road, before heading to Sydney.
• Refer to the Camps Australia Wide Guide book for locations for freedom camps which can be purchased along your route at some information centres, book or camping stores. You can also purchase an app called ‘Wiki Camps’ if you use a smart phone or tablet, plus the information centres en-route are a gold mine for local information.
• See plenty of wildlife along this route also like wombats, kangaroos, wallabies, vast range of birdlife and maybe an echidna or two.

Dream motorhome holidays, created together

Gallivanting oz can assist with specific questions regarding your travel route and road trip plans..

With over a decade of experience in the motorhome hire industry and our years of exploring on the road – you can be confident we know motorhome holidays in Australia.

Choose us, either for motorhome hire or our escorted tours to get personalised service, value for money and a full range of vehicles.

It doesn’t matter, whether you’re after a motorhome, a campervan or 4WD hire, we have it all in one place.

We know every one of our vehicles inside and out, and we’re committed to creating the perfect holiday experience for you.

Save time and money – speak with us today .

Ideas & Tips to get you started for a Motorhome Holiday in Australia

Get your free dvd full of ideas and tips to get you started, valued at au$47.

• We share information on popular travel routes in Australia for inspiration on where to go
• Information on camping, including freedom camping
• Common questions/concerns about motorhome travel in Australia answered
• Overview of motorhome hire and campervan rental options which is a great starting point

Simply fill in the form below with your email and postal address and we’ll take care of the rest!

• Name * First Name(s) * Last Name *
• Phone Number
• Downloadable link
• DVD (posted)
• USB (posted)
• Address (if posted) Address Line 1 Address Line 2 City State / Province ZIP / Postal Code Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos Islands Colombia Comoros Congo Congo, Democratic Republic of the Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Curaçao Cyprus Czechia Côte d'Ivoire Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Heard Island and McDonald Islands Holy See Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macao Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Macedonia Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestine, State of Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russian Federation Rwanda Réunion Saint Barthélemy Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Sint Maarten Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Sweden Switzerland Syria Arab Republic Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania, the United Republic of Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Türkiye US Minor Outlying Islands Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Viet Nam Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, U.S. Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Åland Islands Country
• How did you find us? Google Referral Repeat Client You Tube Video Motor Caravanner NZ Motorhome Show Facebook/Instagram Other
• Any Questions?
• Email This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Special Offers

Want your holiday budget to stretch as far as possible.

There are some great ways to save money on motorhome hire with Gallivanting Oz. Let us know if you have any flexibility with your travel plans to ensure you have the very best deal available.

Sometimes there can be special deals with flipping your travel route or changing your travel dates by a few days.

Early Bird Specials – SAVE MONEY!!

The early bird catches the worm.

• Book in advance and save money
• Each partner has their own version of the early bird savings, some as low as 90 days!
• Book early and you could save 5% off the daily rate!
• Each partner has their own version of terms and conditions
• Offers subject to vehicle availability at the time of booking
• Our partners reserve the right to withdraw the offer from sale at any time

Long Hire Discount

Available for hires of 21 days or more.

Receive a discounted daily rate when you book a campervan hire or motorhome rental with us of 21 days or more.

• Subject to vehicle availability
• Long hire discounts vary depending on vehicle choice
• Long hire discount can be combined with early bird discount, but not all other special offers
• Long hire discount reduces standard daily rental rate
• Some of our partners have a second-tier long hire discount for hires of 35 days or longer – ask us for details!

More Great Deals

Contact us now for great deals from our partners.

Our partners often put together some amazing special offers which we’re excited to pass onto you.

Sometimes these special offers can coincide with a specific event, or other times, it can be because there is an oversupply of vehicles in a specific location. You’ll notice when you send us your details for us to provide you quotes for motorhome hire that we ask if there is any flexibility with your travel dates, as sometimes, by moving only a few days, or reversing the route, you can unlock some great special offers. We know how important it is for the hard-earned holiday budget to go as far as possible, so we love letting you know about any special offers that will save you money.

Get your FREE Travel Guide

Travel guide for easy campervan and motorhome travel in australia.

• Tips to choose the right vehicle for a comfortable holiday
• Helpful hints for easy exploring, camping and driving while in Australia

And your monthly subscription keeps you updated with:

• Tips that will save you time and money while on the road
• Spotlight on popular touring routes and Australian icons
• Name * First Name* Last Name*
• Country of drivers licence Select below.... Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos Islands Colombia Comoros Congo Congo, Democratic Republic of the Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Curaçao Cyprus Czechia Côte d'Ivoire Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Heard Island and McDonald Islands Holy See Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macao Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Macedonia Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestine, State of Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russian Federation Rwanda Réunion Saint Barthélemy Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Sint Maarten Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Sweden Switzerland Syria Arab Republic Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania, the United Republic of Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Türkiye US Minor Outlying Islands Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Viet Nam Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, U.S. Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Åland Islands
• Comments This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Gallivanting Oz Travel Tips subscription

Your free e-zine to gallivanting around australia.

Get your free subscription to the latest tips and travel ideas, to inspire, valued at $50.00

Complete the form below to receive your FREE e-zine

• Name This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Book A Video Chat

Thank you for requesting a video chat to start planning your motorhome holiday. Motorhome Plus is available on selected routes as noted below, however we can answer questions on large range of locations all over Australia.

" * " indicates required fields

Melbourne to Sydney drive itinerary

With stunning coastlines, epic national parks, and charming heritage towns, these are the best stops on a Melbourne to Sydney road trip.

Written by Michael Turtle

Michael Turtle is the founder of Travel Australia Today. He has been a journalist for more than 20 years and loves exploring different parts of Australia.

Michael Turtle is the founder of Travel Australia Today and has been a journalist for 20 years.

Last updated: November 22, 2023

Each day of the Melbourne to Sydney road trip

Jump down to a particular day - or keep reading for my complete Melbourne to Sydney itinerary.

• Day 1: Melbourne to Walhalla • Option: Melbourne to Wilsons Promontory • Day 2: Walhalla to Metung • Day 3: Metung to Mallacoota • Day 4: Mallacoota to Narooma • Day 5: Narooma to Jervis Bay • Day 6: Jervis Bay to Sydney

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.

There is the practical benefit – that you get between the country’s two largest cities without having to worry about the logistics of a flight. But I also think it’s got a fantastic amount of diversity – big cities and small towns, the beach and the bush, relaxation and adventure, nature and culture.

Imagine sailing on a lake one day, hanging out with kangaroos the next. Going deep inside an old gold mine one afternoon and then hiking along the coast by morning.

There are a few different routes you could take to get between Melbourne and Sydney.

The most direct way is to go straight along the Hume Highway, the main road that connects the two. That takes about ten hours of driving but it’s not particularly scenic. There aren’t too many places worth stopping that are close to the highway.

If you discount the Hume Highway, that leaves you with two main options – go along the coast or go inland. Both have their advantages and, if you have time (or are driving between Melbourne and Sydney in both directions) then you can try both routes.

In this road trip itinerary, I’ll be taking you along the Melbourne to Sydney coastal drive .

In total, this coastal route between Melbourne and Sydney is 1200 kilometres long and will take a total of about 15 hours driving . (So, it’s about 300 kilometres longer and six hours more driving than going directly up the Hume Highway.)

I’ve split the road trip into six days of driving but you can tailor it to your own needs. If you need to go faster, any of the stops could be skipped and that day’s drive would still be manageable. If you have some extra time, I would highly recommend choosing a couple of the spots for an extra day to hang out and explore.

How long does it take to drive from Melbourne to Sydney?

The shortest way to drive from Melbourne to Sydney is up the Hume Highway through Albury and Goulburn. This is about 900 kilometres long and will take just over nine hours of driving (without stops).

In this road trip itinerary, the drive goes along the coast. This route is about 1200 kilometres long and takes about 15 hours of driving.

Another popular drive goes inland between the coast and the Hume Highway, through the Snowy Mountains. This route is about 1100 kilometres and takes about 14 hours of driving.

There’s also another interesting road trip route that goes even further inland, through cities like Shepparton, Junee and Bathurst. It’s about 1000 kilometres long and takes about 13 hours of driving.

Where should I stop between Melbourne and Sydney?

Depending on which route you are driving between Melbourne and Sydney, there are lots of options for places to stop and quite often there a few interesting towns in close proximity that you can choose from.

In this coastal route from Melbourne to Sydney, I am suggesting stops at Walhalla, Metung, Gipsy Point, Narooma, and Jervis Bay. I think this itinerary offers a lovely mix of bush and beach, with national parks, wildlife experiences, and some heritage.

For the drive directly from Melbourne to Sydney on the Hume Highway, Albury or Gundagai are good places to stop overnight or just for a bit of a rest.

Is it worth driving from Melbourne to Sydney?

If you want to see the best of Queensland, then it’s definitely worth driving from Brisbane to Cairns. It’s along this stretch of coast that you’ll find most of Queensland’s natural wonders, plus the scenery between them is beautiful.

There’s also plenty of heritage and cultural attractions on the drive from Brisbane to Cairns, and you’re going to miss most of them if you just fly between the two cities, or don’t take the time to stop regularly along the way.

Is it cheaper to fly or drive from Melbourne to Sydney?

If all you want to do is get between Melbourne and Sydney, then flying is both a cheaper and a faster option. The flight will take only an hour and, even with transport to and from the airport, it’s probably only about a two hour trip, compared to nine hours of driving.

The cost of a flight between Melbourne and Sydney varies a lot throughout the year, but you can get a one way ticket for as low as $60 on a budget airline. If you were to drive, the cost of petrol would be at least double that. There are also costs like tolls, and potentially accommodation if you don’t go the whole way in one day.

However, flights can get more expensive in peak time and at the last minute. if the cheapest flight available is more than $150, then it might start to be cheaper to drive in one day.

Is there a train from Melbourne to Sydney?

Yes, there is a train from Melbourne to Sydney that connects the capital cities through stops including Wangaratta, Wagga Wagga, and Goulburn. It takes about 11 hours and the cheapest adult tickets start at $78.

The train goes twice a day in each direction. One of the trips is during the day, and the other is overnight. The train is relatively basic, though, and certainly not the standard you find with high-speed trains in Europe or Japan. (Although new trains are coming in 2023, which look much better!)

Although there are lots of places to stop along the Melbourne to Sydney drive, I’ve chosen the ones in this itinerary because they offer some of the most interesting activities, with significant national parks or iconic experiences. There’s also some diversity in these stops, rather than just going to a nice beach each day.

The drive time each day is also quite short in this itinerary, and that’s intentional. I’m assuming that you’re doing the coastal route between Melbourne and Sydney because you want to see the sights along the way, rather than just get between the two cities. But feel free to change things as you go – there are lots of other options, particularly along the NSW South Coast .

As you can see on the map above, there’s lots of ground to cover. So, with all of that introduction out of the way, let’s get into the details of this Melbourne to Sydney drive itinerary!

Melbourne – Walhalla

2h 30m of driving (180 km)

The first part of today’s drive will just be getting out of Melbourne, through the city’s southeastern suburbs. You may hit a little bit of traffic if you leave during peak hour, but the roads are quite good.

As the countryside opens up, you’ll be driving through the relatively flat agricultural lands of West Gippsland, known primarily for dairy farming but also for a burgeoning gourmet food scene.

The highway goes through some of the region’s towns and bypasses some of them, but there are plenty of quaint places to stop for a coffee along the way, including Warragul, Yarragon, and Moe.

On today’s drive…

Today’s drive is just long enough that you’ll probably want to stop somewhere to break up the journey and have a rest. The biggest town you’ll pass through is Warragul, which is full of 19th century heritage and also has an impressive collection of art galleries. The Bean Scene has great coffee, or you can pick up some supplies at Stella’s Pantry .

Although it’s quite small, another option for a break is Yarragon. I would recommend a coffee or lunch at the  Fozigobble Cafe , which has organic food and a lovely garden at the front.

Or the last option before you start climbing up the hill is the historic town of Moe, where there are some leisurely bushwalks to stretch your legs. The main attraction here is Old Gippstown , a recreation of Gippsland in the 1850s.

Today’s destination is Walhalla, an old gold mining town that was one of the richest places in Australia in the late 1880s. Thousands of people lived and worked here during the boom. Now, though, there are less than 20 permanent residents.

Walhalla is a peaceful place and it’s easy to relax – but the town has also retained the charm of its golden era and there’s plenty to see.

I would recommend a tour into Long Gully Extended Gold Mine, to get a sense of what it would have been like for the workers. It’s incredible to think that most of the passages here were painstakingly cut away by hand.

It’s also worth taking a ride on the Walhalla Goldfields Railway, a charming heritage train that crosses a series of bridges before reaching its destination 20 minutes later, before heading back. The scenery along the way is beautiful!

And you’ll also be able to spend a couple of hours wandering the streets, exploring the bushland around town, and hanging at some of the local businesses. I’ve got more tips here on things to do in Walhalla .

THE BEST ACCOMMODATION IN WALHALLA

Although it’s a small town, there are quite a few places to stay in Walhalla – and they all come with a little bit of history.

Built in 1890, Windsor House is one of the last original properties in Walhalla and offers five rooms for B&B accommodation.

SELF-CONTAINED

Although it’s been renovated, the 1896 cottage known as Walhalla Mill House is a self-contained property and can sleep up to 4 people.

On the outskirts of town, Stringer’s Cottage is a compact self-contained property that’s full of charm and authentic heritage.

The most popular option in town, Walhalla’s Star Hotel has an original facade but has been rebuilt with boutique suites and an excellent restaurant.

Melbourne – Wilsons Promontory

3 h 10m of driving (220 km)

Now, before we go on to day 2 of the itinerary, I want to give you an option for a different way to start this drive from Melbourne to Sydney.

I know I promised a coastal drive, but you may have noticed the first day’s destination was Walhalla, which is very much inland. 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 you’re visiting Victoria.

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. It is one of Australia’s best national parks and a very popular destination for people from Melbourne – particularly during school holidays.

A good place to stop on the drive from Melbourne to Wilsons Promontory is Meeniyan. If you need a meal or a coffee, make sure you check out  Moo’s at Meeniyan , which does some of the best food in town.

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 that’s open during the day where you can get food, but there’s nothing available in the evening. There’s a supermarket in Meeniyan or you could ask Marty at Moo’s to fix you up a dinner pack to cook on the barbeque (that’s what I did).

Make sure you also get petrol here or at nearby Fish Creek because there are no petrol stations at Wilsons Promontory.

Wilsons Promontory is the southernmost point of mainland Australia and it has an amazing collection of natural offerings. There are huge granite mountains, forest, beaches, and rocky outcrops. You can relax on the sand or go hiking for hours (or even days).

The main area in Wilsons Promontory is Tidal River, where you’ll find a shop and many of the camping sites (and a few other accommodation options). From here, you can explore the parts of the park that are easy to access.

If you’re only planning to stay one night, you won’t be able to access the areas that need long hikes in. I would recommend you walk to Squeaky Beach, which got its name because of the sound the sand makes when you walk on it. And catch the sunset at Whisky Bay, which is only a ten minute drive from Tidal River and really worth the effort.

You could also hike up to the top of Mount Oberon. It’s relatively steep but manageable for most people and only takes about an hour from the closest car park. The view from the top is spectacular and you can look out over most of The Prom.

For more information, I’ve got a story about things to do at Wilsons Prom .

THE BEST ACCOMMODATION AROUND WILSONS PROM

You’ll usually need to book in advance to stay at Tidal River in the national park, but you can check availability here . Otherwise, there are these options near the park’s entrance.

The cosy rooms at Prom Coast Apartments come with a full kitchenette – and are only a few minutes from the beach.

You get wonderful views down the hill to the coast at the large and modern Black Cockatoo Cottages .

There are a few different sized houses at the charming Driftwood Villas , with the largest able to sleep 12 people!

The views are incredible from Limosa Rise , plus this self-contained accommodation has a great design that makes you feel immediately at home.

Walhalla – Metung

2h 30m of driving (190 km)

Heading down from the mountains towards the coast, most of today’s drive will be through agricultural land, with the silhouettes of the hills to your left, and the ocean out of sight to the right.

The destination for today is the Gippsland Lakes, the largest navigable inland water system in Australia. It’s a perfect place for a holiday because the lakes offer plenty of opportunity for water sport, while the beach is just metres away.

If you’re looking for somewhere to stop along the way, there are two good options. The first is Sale, a former port that has an affluent heritage to it. There are a few things to see in town, and the Redd Catt restaurant is nice for a meal or a coffee.

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). Pop into the East Gippsland Art Gallery for a bit of culture and don’t miss the striking murals in St Mary’s church.

Although Lakes Entrance is the main tourist centre of this part of Gippsland Lakes, I recommend you stay instead at Metung, which offers a more charming village atmosphere. You can potter around for a quiet afternoon, or do what most people come here for – and hit the water!

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.

You can also hire a little motorboat from them and drive yourself around, pulling into the small bays, powering across the lakes, and stopping at the beach. Or tkae it more slowly in a kayak or on a stand up paddle board. You’ll be amazed at how many water birds you’ll be able to get close to.

For food in Metung, I would definitely suggest eating at the  Metung Hotel  for dinner and  Bancroft Bites  for breakfast.

THE BEST ACCOMMODATION IN METUNG

Most of the accommodation in Metung is aimed a long stays, with lots of self-contained multi-room options. But you can definitely just stay a night or two – and you may appreciate the facilities on a long road trip.

With views of the lake from most of the rooms, the Metung Waters Motel is great value for clean and comfortable rooms.

As well as the spacious apartments of different sizes, the Moorings at Metung also offer swimming pools, a tennis court, and private marina.

Just a few minutes from town, Edgewater Terraces have a serious of large waterfront properties that are perfect for families or groups.

The modern apartments at 5 Knots Metung are self-contained but feel more boutique than some of the town’s other options.

Metung – Mallacoota

2h 30m of driving (210 km)

Today’s 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.

The road is easy to drive but it has enough dips and turns to keep it interesting, and as the sun shines through the treetops, the various lighting effects create some glorious landscapes.

There aren’t many stops along the way but you’ll probably want to get to today’s destination of Croajingalong National Park early anyway, so you can make the most of your time.

As I mentioned, there aren’t many obvious places to stop along the way because this stretch of the road is the least populated of the road trip.

To break up the journey today, I suggest a stop at Cann River, which you’ll reach after about two hours. Although there isn’t much here, the Pelican Point Coffee Lounge is good for a coffee or a meal.

Welcome to the enormous Croajingalong National Park, which stretches for more than 100 kilometres along the coast. UNESCO has declared the park a World Biosphere Reserve because of the natural diversity it has within it. It’s one of the most interesting natural locations in Australia but, for some reason, gets a limited number of tourists.

Getting around Croajingalong is not easy and you won’t be able to see a lot of it in one afternoon. Unless you plan to stay longer (which would be great), I suggest you spend your time seeing a few different aspects of Croajingalong National Park. The coastline is quite spectacular and you can access its beaches from quite a few places off Betka Road, just south of Mallacoota.

Hiking up to the top of Genoa Peak gives you fantastic views and is relatively easy, taking about 30 minutes from the carpark. Many of the bushwalks inland from the coast will get you up close with some Australian wildlife (I saw some koalas on the track I took).

You should also try to get out on the water and explore the isolated beaches and bays that can’t be reached by car. I’ve got more information about all of this in my story about things to do in Croajingalong National Park .

The main town in Croajingalong National Park is Mallacoota, and you’ll find accommodation and restaurants there. Although I think the quieter community of Gipsy Point is actually a nicer place to stay, if you’re looking for something less busy.

THE BEST ACCOMMODATION IN CROAJINGALONG

There are two options for places to stay. Most of the accommodation is in Mallacoota, but you’ll find a much quieter community nearby at Gipsy Point.

HOLIDAY PARK

Set amongst bushland but with easy access to the beach, the Shady Gully Caravan Park has cabins that can sleep up to six.

Although the Wave Oasis B&B is set up like a guesthouse, each small apartment is self-contained and feels quiet and private.

With apartments of different sizes, Gowings of Mallacoota is great for families or longer-stay visitors who’ll appreciate the amenities.

Away from the main town, the luxurious villas of Gipsy Point Lakeside offer views across the water and kangaroos grazing on the grass in front.

Mallacoota – Narooma

2h 20m of driving (200 km)

Crossing the border today, you’ll now be in New South Wales for the second half of this Melbourne to Sydney drive.

After passing along the edge of the (soon to be renamed) Ben Boyd National Park, you’ll hit the first of the coastal towns, Eden. From here, the scenic drive oscillates between the coast and the bush, giving you great views of the landscapes. There’s an inland highway that is a bit faster, or take the coastal road to see the townships along the way.

The NSW Far South Coast is a popular holiday region (although, because it’s a long drive from Sydney or Melbourne, tends to attract longer stays, rather than weekend visits). But this means there are lots of places to stop, things to do, and towns where you can stay overnight.

I’ve chosen Narooma as today’s destination, but any of the other nearby towns (such as Moruya or even Batemans Bay) are also great options.

If you’re 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 Sponge’s Magical Oyster Tours .

The region is famous for its oyster industry and your guide will take you around Pambula Lake to show you the oyster farms and explain the whole process. You’ll even be able to taste a few of the local fresh oysters in a beautiful natural surrounding. You can read my story about the Pambula oyster tour .

Nearby Merimbula also makes for a lovely rest. And, just before you get to Narooma, hop out at Tilba Tilba to explore this gorgeous heritage town.

Narooma is a wonderful coastal town and you’ll immediately see why it’s such a popular holiday destination. Quiet and laidback, you can hang at the beach or go cycling along the coast track, and then refresh with excellent dining options like the Whale Inn and the Quarterdeck .

One of the best things to do in Narooma is a trip to Montague Island, which is home to hundreds of friendly seals. 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.

The seals are really playful and this is a wonderful experience. You can read my story about swimming with the seals at Montague Island or you can check the availability of the tours.

THE BEST ACCOMMODATION IN NAROOMA

There are quite a few longer-stay holiday homes in Narooma, but if you’re looking for somewhere easier for a night or two, these are my top suggestions.

The Surf Beach Narooma Holiday Park is comfortable and basic, but it’s got an incredible location right on the beach.

With large clean rooms, the Top of the Town Motor Inn also has a fantastic location right in the heart of all the action.

Just a few minutes from the beach, Horizon Apartments has modern self-contained units of different sizes.

The charming decor of Anchors Aweigh sets the scene for this quirky guesthouse where you’ll instantly feel right at home.

Narooma – Jervis Bay

Continuing up the New South Wales South Coast, you’ll start to go through some slightly larger towns with even more developed tourism infrastructure. But it’s all still beautifully laidback and, with the beaches and cafes, the whole region feels like a constant summer holiday.

I would suggest taking this stretch of the drive slowly and don’t be afraid to stop a few times along the way for a quick swim, a coffee, or even just a wander around town. There’s lots to see and do on the NSW South Coast .

Just after Moruya, you’ll reach Mogo Wildlife Park , which is famous for its work in breeding endangered animals. It may seem like an odd place for a zoo, but there’s an impressive collection of species here – including lions, giraffes, tamarins, gibbons, gorillas, and snow leopards.

The biggest town you’ll pass through today is Batemans Bay, which is certainly a good place to stop, with a large range of cafes and restaurants for lunch. If you’ve 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.

Ulladulla also has good food options but if you’re looking for somewhere to eat around there, I would actually suggest continuing on to Milk Haus near Milton, where you’ll find a converted farmhouse with excellent coffee and meals.

My recommendation for tonight’s stop is Jervis Bay, another very popular tourist destination with lots to offer. Within Jervis Bay, there are several towns where you can base yourself – Huskisson is the main centre, Vincentia has lots of accommodation, and Hyams Beach is small but famous for its white sand.

In fact, the white sand at many of the beaches is one of the main attractions and it’s easy to just spend your time swimming and hanging out at the coast. But other activities include bushwalking, whale watching tours, and kayaking.

A wonderful part of Jervis Bay is Booderee National Park , which is one of just a handful of national parks administered by the Federal Government (like Kakadu National Park ). It has glistening white beaches, high cliffs, and crystal clear water for swimming. It’s also home to the only Aboriginal-owned botanic gardens in the country.

I’ve got more details in my story about things to do in Jervis Bay . You’ll see why it’s such a popular destination during the school holidays.

THE BEST ACCOMMODATION IN JERVIS BAY

The Jervis Bay accommodation is quite spread out, although there’s a lot around Huskisson and Vincentia. Holiday homes are popular for long stays, but I’ll recommend some easier options here.

A large site with a pool, playground and water access, Jervis Bay Holiday Park is a perfect option for families and casual holidays.

Right in the centre of Huskisson, the Jervis Bay Motel has modern comfortable rooms with easy access to restaurants.

BUSH COTTAGES

In a relaxing site amongst the gum trees, Bay and Bush Cottages has a series of cool unique accommodation options.

BEACH COTTAGES

The series of seven cute cottages at Hyams Beach Seaside Cottages are well-equipped and right on the coast for a wonderful boutique experience.

Jervis Bay – Sydney

3 hours of driving (200 km)

The final day of driving will take you anywhere from 2.5 hours to 3.5 hours, depending on the day and the time of the day. With that in mind, it’s worth trying to avoid arriving in Sydney during peak hour because the last stretch can get very slow with traffic.

You could just power through until the end, but there are still some wonderful things to see along this stretch. For the first part of the drive, you’ll continue through charming South Coast towns and there are a few that I would recommend for rest stops (and a little exploration).

The first option is Berry, an inland town full of heritage buildings and quaint stores and cafes. The main street is lined with gorgeous buildings and there are plenty of boutique shops with local produce or collections of homewares. Down the side streets, the chocolate shop and the tea shop are both very popular.

Further up the coast, Kiama is one of the most beautiful towns in the region, with great swimming beaches, calm azure rock pools, and large grassy slopes for picnics. There’s also the famous blowhole, where waves crash through and spray up into the air. There are lots of places to eat in the main part of town or near the big rock pool.

Or, if you want to get a bit more driving in before you stop, then Thirroul is a excellent option for a stop. It’s off the main highway so doesn’t get as much traffic as some other towns – although it’s become popular in recent years.

The beaches and pools are fantastic for a swim, there are more than a dozen options for good coffee, and you can even do a bit of a hike up the Illawarra Escarpment if you feel like getting sweaty! I’ve got more details here about things to do in Thirroul .

The final stretch of highway, past the Royal National Park, will be quite fast and there are no convenient places to stop, without doing a detour. But soon you’ll reach the southern edge of Sydney and begin to make your way through the suburbs.

THE BEST ACCOMMODATION IN SYDNEY

You may find the city centre the most convenient location, but the neighbourhoods have a bit more character. For more details, see my story about where to stay in Sydney .

With views that you won’t believe belong to a hostel, the Sydney Harbour YHA in The Rocks is a pretty special hostel.

It’s quite a rare find in Sydney, but Megaboom City Hotel has great value rooms in the centre of the city – just don’t expect a large or modern space.

The incredible renovation of this pub has turned The Old Clare into one of Sydney’s coolest hotels, complete with a rooftop pool.

I think the Pullman Quay Grand is the best luxury hotel because of its harbourside location and beautiful apartments.

And that brings us to the end of the itinerary for this Melbourne to Sydney drive along the coast. 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.

If you stay in each location for just the night, it’ll be a six-day road trip from Melbourne to Sydney. 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.

Regardless, this is a wonderful way to see this part of Australia and the beautiful southeastern coast. Enjoy!

More Victoria stories

• The best places to visit in Victoria
• The top things to do in Melbourne
• The best museums in Melbourne
• Coastal itinerary for a Melbourne to Sydney drive
• The best things to do in Ballarat

Follow on facebook:

Subscribe for news and deals:.

top stories:

Melbourne to Sydney: The Ultimate 4 Day Campervan Itinerary

Entire east coast australia road trip.

Melbourne and Sydney are not only the two biggest cities in Australia but also world-famous. The stretch between the two along the Gippsland and Southern New South Wales Coast is by far not as famous as the main cities.  Having driven this stretch as part of our 18-day campervan road trip from Melbourne to Brisbane, I will present you a 4-day itinerary with the highlights along the coast. Be prepared - you are in for a real treat!

This article covers days 4-7 of our 18-day road trip itinerary along the southern East Coast of Australia . Click on the yellow 'Show Entire Route' tab on the top left, to view our in-depth guides to each stop for an even greater insight for your own road trip through Australia.

How many days should you plan for the Melbourne to Sydney Coastal drive

As always, with travel, you never have enough time to cover everything. You could spend two weeks alone between the two cities to really discover everything in depth. However,  you should plan with a minimum of four days to enjoy your stops  and not just rush through.

So here we go!

Day 1 - Melbourne to Wilsons Promontory  → 3.5 hours (233 km / 145 miles)

• Brighton Beach

Day 2 - Wilsons Promontory to Lakes Entrance  → 4 hours (332 km / 206 miles)

• 90 Mile Beach
• Raymond Island

Day 3 - Lakes Entrance to Pebbly Beach  → 6 hours (460 km / 286 miles)

Day 4 - Pebbly Beach to Sydney  → 4.5 hours (293 km / 182 miles)

• Royal National Park
• Southern Sydney

Total time and distance driving  → 18 hours - 1,318 km / 819 miles

How to use this map

• This icon will reveal the layers of the map, which are:
• Campgrounds

• Clicking on the different icons on the map will show you more information about each spot

• To view it on your phone or computer, click on the following link to open your: Google Places , where you will find the saved map.

Melbourne - the European Charmer

There is an ongoing battle between Melbourne and Sydney in terms of the favorite and most liveable city for locals and foreigners alike. Well lucky you, as you will get to experience both during this road trip. Let us know afterward in the comments, which city stole your heart!

Melbourne is the more European city, with tons of small laneways full of restaurants and street art. It also is the more athletic one, hosting multiple major sports events, such as the F1 Australian Grand Prix and the Australian Open in tennis, just to name two.

Melbourne is not located directly at the ocean; however, it has the Yarra River passing by the city center and a lot of waterfront boardwalks with restaurants. The city center is rather compact and very walkable. If you have an extra day before you start your road trip, use it to explore this city on foot.

Read more: Best of Melbourne in One Day - A Complete Walking Tour

St. Kilda & Brighton Beach - The City Getaways

Why is St. Kilda & Brighton Beach worth a stop?  To experience a different side of Melbourne and visit the cute colorful beach huts at Brighton Beach.

It is time to pick up your campervan if you haven't already and hit the road. Should you have questions regarding which campervan to rent, go ahead and read our article 'A Curated Comparison of 4 Campervan Rentals in Melbourne'.

Your first stop will be just outside the city, heading towards the Port Phillip Bay. Take a stroll along the St. Kilda promenade and the Brighton Beach to experience a different vibe of Melbourne. The colorful beach huts at Brighton Beach are a local favorite for a quick city escape and a great photo opportunity for you.

The beaches are not spectacular, so don't waste any time here to take a swim.

Wilsons Promontory - Nature's Paradise

Why is the Wilsons Promontory National Park worth a stop?  Fantastic untouched nature, wildlife, beaches, and hiking possibilities.

Your final destination for the first day is the Tidal River Campground in the Wilsons Promontory National Park - the southernmost tip of mainland Australia. While entering this National Park, also called 'The Prom', you will arrive in nature's paradise. Be ready to spot tons of wildlife, get active with some hikes, and marvel at the pristine empty beaches.

Don't miss the absolute highlight the next day: watching the sunrise from the summit of Mount Oberon!

Read more: Wilsons Promontory: One Active Day in Nature's Paradise

90 Mile Beach - Golden Bliss

Why is the 90 Mile Beach worth a stop?  It's one of the longest uninterrupted beaches in the world. Stretch your legs on the empty golden sand.

Once you leave The Prom peninsula with those views and that sunrise in your mind, it is time to hit the road again entering the Gippsland area on the Gippsland Highway, where the 90 Mile Beach along the Eastern Coast will start.

The 90 Mile Beach starts from one of the small islands near Port Albert in the south and runs until the actual entrance to the inland Gippsland Lakes in Lakes Entrance. Literally 90 miles (145 km) of one straight golden beach. That makes it one of the longest uninterrupted beaches in the world . It divides the inland Gippsland Lakes from the Bass Strait.

Be sure to make a stop at this magnificent stretch of gold. I recommend you to do so at Woodside Beach, only a 10 mins detour from the Gippsland Highway each way.

If you would like an even more in-depth experience of the 90 Mile Beach, take a longer detour of about an hour via the Honeysuckles and Golden Beach. I absolutely recommend this drive when you are traveling during Daylight Savings Time. Should you be traveling outside of Daylight Savings Time, you might rather use that hour for activities in Lakes Entrance, your final destination for the day.

Raymond Island - the Koala Island

Why is Raymond Island worth a stop?  The best spot in Australia to see wild koalas in their natural habitat.

This is a real gem, which you will not find in many other articles. Raymond Island is located within the Gippsland Lakes accessed via ferry from Paynesville. The ferry ride takes five minutes and is free for pedestrians. You can easily park your car in Paynesville close to the ferry, as you will not need it on Raymond Island.

Now, what is all the fuss about?!  Raymond Island is probably one of the best-kept secrets and hidden gems in Australia, as it is   home to about 250-300 koalas . As the island is only 6 km / 3.7 miles long and 2 km / 1.5 miles wide, your chances of spotting wild koalas have never been better.

The island became the home of a large number of koalas, to protect them from becoming extinct in the 1950s. With very few threats, the population multiplied to up to 600. Too many for the amount of available food and inhabitants. Over the years, koalas have gotten relocated to other areas across Victoria, to keep the balance and prevent koalas from suffering from starvation.

Once you walk off the ferry, you will directly see the sign for the start of the Koala Walk, taking you on a 1.2 km / 0.75 miles walking loop. Plan 30-45 minutes to stroll along the Koala Walk.

You will pass through residential areas, as well as parks and boardwalks along the waterfront. The key while strolling along is to look up to spot those grey furry balls sleeping in the trees. And I am not talking about one or two, like in the Great Otway National Park, but you will see 10 to 20 koalas, barely five to ten meters above you . Sometimes they literally sleep on a tree right above a private house.

At the end of the trail, you will hit the waterfront and will be amazed again. Seeing the Gippsland Lakes alive, with sailing crews racing (if you're lucky), black swans and pelicans on the shorelines, and the glittering sun on the calm water will allow you an entirely new perspective of Australia.

Our experience

We were amazed by the co-existence of wildlife and humans on this small island, and recommend anyone to visit spots like these over any zoo. Not only the koalas were one of our highlights, but also the entire setting of Raymond Island in the Gippsland Lakes.  A road trip along the southern East Coast of Australia is not complete without a visit to Raymond Island!

Lakes Entrance - Surrounded by Waterways

Why is Lakes Entrance worth a stop?  Coastal town flair, fresh seafood, and endless access to waterways.

After leaving Raymond Island, it will take you approx. Forty-five minutes to reach Lakes Entrance. Your final destination for day 2. Lakes Entrance marks the end of the 90 Mile Beach and offers the only water entrance to the inland Gippsland Lakes, hence the name. The entrance was built by man, to allow ocean access to the Bass Strait for the lakes system, which is considered the largest inland lake system in Australia.

Lakes Entrance is a seaside resort, popular with locals and travelers alike, as well as a fishing port in eastern Victoria. Depending on the time you arrive, take an early evening walk or morning run across the footbridge to the Lakes Entrance Beach, the continuation of the 90 Mile Beach. Follow the Entrance Walk along Lake Cunningham until the entrance and return via the beach.

My sister and her husband did the full walk, as unlike us, they traveled during daylight savings time and had longer days. Thus, the following lines are written by my sister Miriam:

If you have around 1.5 to 2 hours (the entire walk is about 5 km / 3.1 miles), you can do the full Entrance Walk. It starts at the footbridge, following along the Lake Cunningham through a small forest with bushes and trees until you reach the man-built entrance to the lakes. At the entrance, you have the chance to watch seals or even dolphins playing in the water with the waves and strong current. We took a little break directly at the tip, sitting on the stones of the fort, drinking a beer, and spotting the animals in the water. Take your way back along the Lakes Entrance Beach until you reach the footbridge again. We did the walk in the early evening, having the sun set directly behind us. It was a fantastic scenery.

If you are into shrimp, this is your best shot at getting a fresh catch straight from the fisher's boat . Make sure you reach Lakes Entrance before 4 pm and stop by the Esplanade of Princess Highway. You will find a pier with fisher boats just after passing by Mc Donalds.

Look for the signs for fresh seafood and fresh prawns on the boats and get yourself your fresh dinner. The shrimp are usually cooked already and tastes even better when you extra grill them.

Conveniently, your campground for the night is just around the corner. We recommend you to stay at the Lakes Entrance Recreation Reserve . A campground on the grounds of the local rugby field. Prices vary between AU$25 in offseason to AU$50 in high season. We had reserved our spot in advance and had a prime location right next to the water.

The location is perfect, set right on the North Arm, where you can go for a dip if you like or watch the locals at rugby practice. Also, within walking distance, you will find a Woolworth and Liquor Store to stock up your supplies.

In case you are campfire lovers like us, this will be your chance to light a fire if permitted at your time of visit.

For us, it was permitted, and for the first time in Australia, we enjoyed a gorgeous campfire after we had devoured our shrimp, right next to the water with a beautiful sunset. You can rent the campfire pit and wood from the campground.

The following day is mainly a driving day, with a total of six hours. If you haven't crossed the footbridge yet, it is your chance to do so at sunrise before you hit the road.

Eden - the Whale-Watching Mecca

Why is Eden worth a stop?  Fisherman's town, with great views over the bay and a nice picnic spot.

Welcome to New South Wales! After three hours of driving, it is time to take a break in Eden. It is a small coastal town on the South Coast of New South Wales with beautiful views over Twofold Bay. Should you pass by in winter, this is the best spot for a whale-watching tour.

On this itinerary, we will only stop for stretching our legs at the Eden Lookout and Rotary Park. If you like to prepare your own food on a campervan road trip like us, this is the perfect spot for making and enjoying some sandwiches. Should you prefer to eat out, head back down the hill to park at the Eden Wharf with multiple restaurants and cafes.

Pebbly Beach - the Untouched Kangaroo Beach

Why is Pebbly Beach worth a stop?  The best chance to observe wild kangaroos in its natural habitat (on the beach!) and spend a night off-grid on a remote campground.

After about another three hour drive, you will leave the Princess Highway to the right and enter the Murramarang National Park. The further into the forest you drive, the smaller the road will get. Continue the road all the way down to the shore, where you will reach the Pebbly Beach campground.

Together with Raymond Island, this will be your absolute highlight on this road trip!  Again, you will not find this information on many travel blogs, so we are proud to share this gem with you.

Pebbly Beach is known for its natural population of wild kangaroos. Yes, you have read that right, kangaroos living on the beach! In summer, we got told, they even take a dip into the ocean sometimes!

Be sure to book your spot at Pebbly Beach Campground in advance as there is no reception or check-in and only 23 total campsites. You will find a piece of paper with your reservation on the number pole for your campsite. There is a large amount of tent only campsites and a few for campervans. We don't recommend large RVs to stay here, as the road itself is quite narrow, and the campsites are quite small as well.

This campground is off-grid, so be sure to bring everything you need with you. I am talking about water, drinks, and food. You will also have no cell or internet reception. Also, be sure not to leave any food outside or unattended as you are surrounded by wildlife. The fee is AU$24 for two people per night, and there is an extra AU$8 National Park entry fee, which you should pay on-site at a coin machine.

After parking your campervan, head down to the beach to spot the kangaroos eating in peace on the grassy areas. In the early evening hours, you will only have a few other campers with you on the beach, making it a very private experience. Observe this unique animal in its natural habitat. Some might be curious and hop closer to you. Watch out though, as their claws are 2-5 cm long and could potentially harm you, so respect them and don't provoke or feed them.

Be prepared for a cozy night surrounded by the forest and no external light source. Campfires are not allowed in National Parks in Australia. So it is the perfect evening for some games and storytelling. Head to bed early, to wake up before sunrise, and join the resident kangaroos again on their beach to observe them waking up, scratching themselves, and maybe getting into a friendly fistfight. 😆

Instead of having your breakfast next to your van, consider having it on the wooden plateau overlooking the beach, to take in the views, peacefulness, and serenity.

After breakfast, it is time to say good-bye to your new friends and head back up to the Princess Highway.

Jervis Bay - White Beaches anyone?

Why is Jervis Bay worth a stop?  The whites beaches on the entire East Coast and great seafood for lunch.

Start your day with a 1.5-hour drive to Jervis Bay, a 102 square-kilometer (39 sq mi) oceanic bay, with several towns on its coast. On this itinerary, you will be visiting two of them,  Hyams Beach and Huskisson .

You will first stop at  Hyams Beach  in the southern section of Jervis Bay. In case you had no clue so far -  Hyams Beach is supposed to be the beach with the whitest sand in the world!  Don't believe it? Visit it! We can confirm that compared to all other beaches along the southern East Coast of Australia, this one is whiiiite! Complemented with pristine turquoise water, this is a picture and dip perfect stop.

The mentioned store is the Hyams Beach Store & Cafe along the main road, selling delicious coffee, light food, and souvenirs.

Hyams Beach is very popular for vacation homes and mansions for richies from Sydney and equivalent. Its actual population in 2016 was only counted with 112 people!

Hyams Beach is the largest beach in southern Jervis Bay, followed by some smaller, but also very nice beaches heading north (Chinamans, Greenfield, Blenheim, and Nelsons Beach). They are all connected and you can do a small walk ( the White Sands Walk ) to discover all or some of them. The trail between the beaches will take you through some beautiful forests with a few lookouts, and it is fascinating to see the little differences between the beaches.

Huskisson , also called Huski is a 15-minute drive north along Jervis Bay and is equally famous for its white beaches, although not as fine as at Hyams Beach. This coastal town is bustling a lot more than the smaller Hyams Beach. Find a parking spot along Hawke Street and take a stroll along Hawke and Owen Street. You will find surf & beach shops, galleries, and restaurants.

Have a snack at the World Famous Fish N Chips . You can pick your favorite seafood, and they prepare it for you. Yummy!

Kiama - the Ocean Blowhole Town

Why is Kiama worth a stop?  Watch and feel nature splurge up 25m (82 ft) fountains at the largest blowhole in the world.

Your next stop, Kiama, is an hour's drive further up north, and it is  famous for its blowholes . Natural rock formations that great strong vertical water blows, once the strong waves crash into them.

The large blowhole is located on a small peninsula behind a cute lighthouse. The entire peninsula is worth a stroll, and you will also pass by its lighthouse and one of the many famous rock pools along the East Coast of Australia. Since the blowholes are dependent on the force of nature, there is no guarantee to witness them. We were unlucky, as the day we passed by had relatively small waves.

Other than the blowhole, the town of  Kiama is also absolutely worth a visit, especially its wooden terraces on Collins Street . They are two blocks of wooden houses from the 1870 and 1880 that have been registered as New South Wales State Heritage. They host cute shops, cafes, and restaurants.

Royal National Park - the Oldest Australian National Park

Why is the Royal National Park worth a drive?  The road itself, the nature surrounding it, makes it simply a gorgeous drive - way better than the highway.

Keep heading north along the coastal road, as you pass through more coastal towns and cross the famous Sea Cliff Bridge between the towns of Clifton and Coalcliff. You will find the best viewpoint after crossing the bridge and passing Stanwell Park at the Bald Hill Lookout.

Next, keep heading for the Royal National Park, Australia's oldest National Park and a favorite day-trip or weekend escape for Sydneysiders (people living in Sydney), just one hour south of Sydney.

On this itinerary, you, unfortunately, won't have the time for a hike through the lush forest or a dip at the famous Figure 8 pools. However, you have the chance to grasp the beauty of this National Park by driving through it.

It will only take you 20 minutes longer than taking the highway towards southern Sydney. And believe me, it is worth the drive. It will provide you 40 minutes of road tripping bliss along narrow winding roads through lush forest, past different landscapes, crossing rivers, and creeks. Turn off the music for this stretch and listen to the sounds of the forest.

During summer, public holidays, and weekends there will be more traffic, though, so be sure to check Google Maps or  www.livetraffic.com .

Southern Sydney - the Unknown Surprise

Why is Southern Sydney worth a stop?  Convenient location with less expensive accommodation. Discover not so famous, yet cute areas of the city.

Just a ten-minute drive from the exit of the Royal National Park, you will find the Sydney Tourist Park , your campground for the night. I know I know - Tourist Park - seriously? Well, accommodation in Sydney is expensive, and you will not find campgrounds of any sort in the city center, which is why we rented an Airbnb in the city center and spent the night before our city escape in the suburbs. One night at the Tourist Park is AU$52.

The experience was a lot better than it sounds. Well, don't expect much from the Tourist Caravan Park, it is like a trailer park and really just use it for sleeping there. After checking in, head back out to the Cronulla peninsula and take a stroll through its park and past its rock pool. Take in the hip atmosphere by walking through the neighborhood center lined with restaurants and shops.

It is time to skip self-made campervan meals and treat yourself to dining out. We can recommend C C Babcoq , a delicious rotisserie shop & bar with outside dining.

That's it - 4 days of road tripping between Melbourne and Sydney, discovering the Gippsland and southern New South Wales Coast. Should you be on a longer road trip, take some time to explore Sydney next. Below I will give you a short introduction.

Read more: The 4 Best Approaches to Stay in a City With Your Campervan Rental

Sydney - The Breathtaking Allrounder

Sydney is the largest city in Australia and world-famous for its Opera House, Harbour Bridge, and its Harbour in general. The city alone has over 70 beaches, which are sparkling clean, more than any other city in the world.

Due to its many peninsulas, coves, and smaller harbors, it is by far not as walkable as Melbourne. That being said, you can easily navigate the area around the Royal Botanic Garden, the Opera House, and one of the oldest and most historic neighborhoods The Rocks. Here you will also find laneways with the oldest pubs of Sydney with live music and small galleries.

There is so much to do and see in Sydney, that we have dedicated three full days on our road trip to explore this marvelous city .

Read more: 6 Active Must-Do Outdoor Activities in Sydney

‍ What stop do you look forward to the most? Let us know your questions in the comments, we are happy to help you plan.

Discovering Different Neighborhoods on Foot

Swim in the famous icebergs pool at bondi beach, doing the coogee to bondi coastal walk, taking the ferry to manly and walking to shelly beach, kayaking sydney harbour at sunrise, drive to watsons bay and walk to the hornby lighthouse.

Keep on campervannin' 

Reasons to Join the RTE Mail List:

Instant access to your editable Google Sheet with: itinerary, activities, campgrounds, costs, and a bonus!

Hot Tips delivered directly to you to help you prepare for your next campervan adventure.

No spam. We hate spam as much as you do. We promise you'll only hear from us when we have something we think you'll want to hear about.

Download your East Coast Australia Editable Itinerary & Join our Newsletter

About the Author

I am a sport and travel enthusiast and love to combine both while being outdoors. At Road Trip Explorers, I am the travel planner and main content creator. On the road, I am the navigator and DJ. I have been fortunate enough to have already visited 96 countries. When not writing for RTE or campervanning, I am training for my next triathlon.

• Sydney to Melbourne

Sydney to Melbourne Drive (Coastal)

14 day tour, 1,300 km | 18 hr drive time.

We list some stunning places for campervan travellers to camp and it's all mapped! There is so much to do on this road trip -– summit climbs, large Buddhist temple, cheese tasting, beach camping, kayaking, hikes, beach swims, surfing, wildlife encounters, wineries, hot springs, hedge mazes and gardens –  that your daily drive time is minimal.

Sydney to Melbourne Self Drive Itinerary

Day 1: Royal National Park  –  12 km | 17 min (from Camperman Sydney) Day 2: Sea Cliff Bridge and Nan Tien Temple  –  93 km | 1 h 25 min Day 3 & 4: Booderee National Park  –  88 km | 1 hr 25 min Day 5: Pigeon House Mountain climb and 4 National Parks  –  210 km | 3.5 hrs Day 6 & 7: Merimbula to Mallacoota and Croajingolong National Park  –  260 km | 3.5 hrs Day 8: Gippsland Lakes  –  350 km | 4 hr 40 min Day 9 & 10: Wilsons Prom  –  227 km | 3 hrs Day 11 & 12: Phillip Island  –  135 km | 2 hrs Day 13 & 14: Mornington Peninsula  –  144 km | 2 hr Mornington Peninsula is just 76 km (1 hr) from Melbourne.

Melbourne to Sydney Self Drive Itinerary

Day 1 & 2: Mornington Peninsula  – 76 km | 1 h 10 Day 3 & 4: Phillip Island   – 144 km | 2 hr    Day 5 & 6: Wilsons Prom  –   135 km | 2 hrs  Day 7: Gippsland Lakes  –  227 km | 3 hrs  Day 8 & 9: Mallacoota, Croajingolong National Park, Merimbula   – 350 km | 4 hr 40 min   Day 10: Pigeon House Mountain climb and 4 coastal national parks   – 260 km | 3.5 hrs    Day 11 & 12: Booderee National Park     – 210 km | 3.5 hrs   Day 13: Sea Cliff Bridge and Nan Tien Temple     – 88 km | 1 hr 25 min    Day 14: Royal National Park   – 93 km | 1 h 25 min    The Royal National Park is just 12 km (17 min) from the Camperman Sydney campervan hire depot.

* An alternate Sydney to Melbourne route is the  Alpine and Coastal route  which visits Australia's capital city Canberra with its world class museums, the Mount Kosciuszko National Park and the Alpine Scenic Drive through quaint mountain towns such as Bright which are particularly pretty in autumn (April/May). 

Description

Day 1: Royal National Park   12 km | 17 min from the Camperman depot The Royal National Park is a nature lovers playground full of coastal hikes, secluded beaches, rental boats for exploring the river, rock pools and a pretty and affordable campground on the water.

Day 2: Sea Cliff Bridge, Nan Tien Buddhist Temple and Killalea Beach Camping 93 km | 1 h 25 min  Drive along the famous Sea Cliff Bridge that veers out over the ocean, explore the largest Buddhist temple in the southern hemisphere and sample their vegetarian food, then camp at gorgeous Killalea Beach.

Day 3 & 4: Booderee National Park   88 km | 1 hr 25 min Some of the most beautiful white sand beaches in Australia can be found in Booderee National Park. Camp amongst the friendly wildlife to the sound of the ocean under a firmament of stars. Spend the day exploring on one of the many hikes. Day 5: Pigeon House Mountain climb and 4 National Parks   210 km | 3.5 hrs Climb to the summit of Pigeon House Mountain for a taste of the Australian Bush and be rewarded with stunning 360 degree views. Then choose one of the national parks to the south to explore, swim, fish, surf. They all have beach camping and excellent hikes. Day 6 & 7: Merimbula to Mallacoota and Croajingolong National Park   260 km | 3.5 hrs Sand dunes, rivers, inlets, beaches, wildlife and wilderness define this stretch of pristine coastline. Stock up in Merimbula before hitting the remote Croajingolong National Park.

Day 8: Gipsland Lakes 350 km | 4 hr 40 min Go fishing or enjoy the a local catch at a restaurant, feed the pelicans, explore the towns, and enjoy the serenity and beauty of being on the water.

Day 9 & 10: Wilsons Prom 227 km | 3 hrs Stunning landscapes, unforgettable hikes, empty beaches and a thriving population of wildlife including emus, kangaroos, wombats, echidnas and parrots.

Day 11 & 12: Phillip Island 135 km | 2 hrs Another hotspot for wildlife, especially birdlife and marine life coastal walks, pristine landscapes and the local stars - penguins!

Day 13 & 14: Mornington Peninsula 144 km | 2 hr   Just an hour and a half from Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula has white sand beaches and calm turquoise waters, art, cafes, local food, historic mansions, hot springs, golf courses, and wineries.

Melbourne 105 km | 1 hr 25 min  Melbourne has a lot to offer so plan to spend a few days here exploring her cultural attractions, live music scene, funky laneways with hole-in-the-wall restaurants and dumpling dens, shopping and art.

With Camperman, you can  hire a campervan from Sydney  and drop it off in  Melbourne  (or the other way around) and you won't be charged a one-way fee.

  Hire a Campervan

  Campervan Hire Sydney

  Sightsee Sydney

  Day Trips from Sydney Tips

  Sydney to Melbourne Alpine Coastal Drive

Sign up for amazing offers exclusive access for offers and promotions

Campervan hire depots, airlie beach.

Heart of Reef Shuttles, 48-50 Carlo Drive, Cannonvale, Queensland 4802 Phone: 1800 216 223

20 Noble Avenue, North Gate, Queensland 4013 Phone: 1800 216 223

440 Sheridan Street, Cairns, Queensland 4870 Phone: 1800 216 223

273 Elizabeth Street, Coburg, Victoria 3058 Phone: 1800 216 223

23-25 Erskine Rd, Caringbah, Sydney, NSW 2229 Phone: 1800 216 223

Do you have any questions or need additional information?

• maui Motorhomes
• Mighty Campers
• Britz New Zealand
• Roadbear RV Rentals
• El Monte RV
• Buy a Campervan
• Self Check-In
• Contact Us 24/7
• Customer Care
• Britz Price Match

Travel Australia By Campervan

12 Breathtaking Road Trip Stops Between Sydney And Melbourne

A road trip from Sydney to Melbourne is one of the best ways to explore the southeast coast of Australia. No matter what your preferred style of road trip is, this itinerary has something for everyone - making  choosing a campervan itinerary for your upcoming road trip simple!

Join thousands of fellow campervan travellers

Sign up for our Britz newsletter to receive inspirational travel content and awesome deals, and we'll send you a copy of our Ultimate RV guide!

Britz is committed to protecting your privacy and information security. Your information will be used in accordance with any application privacy law, our internal policies, and our Privacy Policy , and will be held securely.

Please confirm subscription in your email.

Winding its way through 800km of mountain ranges, national parks, wondrous forests, stunning coastal waterways and bushlands, this route offers breathtaking views at every turn. Simply pick up your camper rental from a Britz campervan branch in  Sydney or  Melbourne and hit the road. To help you make the most of your Aussie campervan holiday, we’ve compiled a list of the top 12 stops along the way you won’t want to miss!

Is driving between Sydney and Melbourne easy?

Driving between Sydney and Melbourne is around 878 km and takes around 8 hr 48 minutes if you were making a direct trip. The roads are all sealed and well-marked, making for a very easy drive. However, we recommend taking a longer scenic route so you can fully enjoy the road trip experience. It is also safer to break your trip up and take stops. These simple  road safety precautions will ensure you and your group arrive at your destination safe and sound. Taking lots of breaks is also important when  planning a family campervan holiday to keep little travellers happy.

What’s the best driving route between Sydney and Melbourne?

The  Sydney-Melbourne coastal road trip offers exceptional views and plenty of great places to stop along the way. Getting there via campervan means you can stop as often as you like for as long as you like. There is also a range of campsites and  free camping options to make stops along the way simple, convenient and cost-effective. There are so many reasons to hire a campervan to travel Australia ’s southeast coast!

12 of the best stops between Sydney and Melbourne

1. the royal national park.

Located around 50km south of Sydney is the Royal National Park . The park is home to koalas, kangaroos and wallabies, and over 1,000 plant species making it a great place to take in Australian nature and wildlife. Here you’ll also find the famous Wattamolla Lagoon (a popular swimming spot amongst Sydney locals) and plenty of opportunities for hiking along the many walking tracks through the park.

Another top attraction is the figure eight rockpools - a series of stunning oceanside rockpools scattered along a rock shelf in the park. Just be aware of  staying safe in the water and checking the tides before planning your visit.

Kiama  is a small coastal town located on the South Coast of New South Wales. Kiama’s most famous landmark is its blowhole - a geyser that spouts water up to 10 meters high off an exposed rock face south of town. But there are plenty more reasons to stop by this relaxed seaside village. While in town, be sure to check out the Gumaraa Aboriginal Experience . This tour offers guided walks through the rainforest and indigenous artwork demonstrations by local artists and is easily one of the best Aboriginal Experiences in Australia . Another must-do is a stroll along Cathedral Rocks Beach for views of limestone formations jutting out into the ocean, stunning doesn’t even begin to describe it.

3. Jervis Bay

Jervis Bay  is an easy drive from Sydney and Melbourne and makes for an amazing day trip or weekend getaway! You can easily spend several days exploring this beautiful area. Whether you want to relax on the beach, go scouting for dolphins or whales, hike along a coastal walkway, adventure out on the short but scenic  White Sands Walk or have a picnic by the sea, there are so many activities to choose from.

4. Ulladulla

If you’re interested in the history of Australia, then  Ulladulla is the place for you. Located on the South Coast of New South Wales, Ulladulla is a town that boasts an impressive array of historical sites to visit and things to do. From museums and galleries to history walks and fossil trails, there’s plenty here! The top things in town include the Gondwana Coast Fossil Walk , which takes you through some amazing coastal scenery as you get some hands-on experience with the fossils.  The Alley Gallery is also well worth stopping in at for a glimpse into this coast's history and culture.

Narooma  is a small town on the far south coast of New South Wales, an hour south of Batemans Bay. It's easy to see why it's such a popular destination for travellers passing along this route. Spend your time exploring national parks and nature reserves (the most popular being Narooma Nature Reserve), visiting local attractions like Handkerchief Beach and Montague Island Tourist Park or having a picnic at one of its many picturesque picnic areas.

6. Central Tilba

Central Tilba  is a village tucked away on the south coast hinterland of New South Wales, known for its history in the dairy industry. The rich volcanic soil is the secret sauce to the success of the thriving local dairy farms and has helped them cultivate world famous cheese! While in town, some of the top things to do include going snorkelling at Mystery Bay , experiencing the local flavours on a Taste of Town and Country Tour, and enjoying the local flora and fauna on the Bellbrook Farm Loop Walk .

7. Bermagui

Bermagui  is a small coastal town in New South Wales, Australia, known for its spectacular harbour and lakes, perfect for summer adventures. While you’re in Bermagui, rent a kayak or SUP and explore Wallaga Lake. Alternatively, head to the incredible saltwater ocean  Blue Pools for a day of seaside relaxation.  Camel Rock is another popular attraction for geology enthusiasts and photographers looking to capture this ancient formation.

8. Croajingolong National Park

Croajingolong National Park  is said to be one of the most beautiful national parks in Australia, with dramatic coastal scenery and abundant wildlife. The park draws its name from two Aboriginal words that mean "long stretch of water". Its description doesn’t lie. The wilderness coast takes you along 30 km of spectacular Victorian coastline with vistas across rugged cliffs, sandy beaches and rocky headlands.

If you love birdwatching, then this is your perfect road trip stop! Visit Point Hicks Lightstation, where more than 230 species have been recorded. Or choose to explore the wildlife in the waterways on a kayak over to the Tamboon, Mallacoota and Wingan Inlets.

9. Lakes Entrance

If you’re looking for a place to stop between Sydney and Melbourne that is beautiful, scenic and peaceful,  Lakes Entrance is the perfect destination. Located in Victoria on the shores of Lake Entrance, this town is a tourist destination known for its warm climate and pristine beaches.

Here you will find plenty of restaurants to dine at while watching boats sail past, or if you prefer something more casual, why not enjoy a short drive and have a drink or meal at one of Lake Tyers beachside cafes? If you want to get out into nature and experience the abundance of wildlife, there are also lots of great bushwalking trails in Lake Tyers.

10. Buchan Caves

Buchan Caves  is tucked away in the far east corner of Victoria, Australia and is home to Victoria’s largest cave system. There are several caves that are open for guided tours so that you can experience this remarkable cave system for yourself! Wander through spectacular caves, vast open caverns as well as an ancient flowing stream on this experience to remember.

11. Wilsons Promontory

Wilson's Promontory  is the most southerly point of the Australian mainland. It’s home to many rare and endangered species as well as scenic hiking trails and beaches to explore. This is the perfect road trip stop for nature lovers.

One of the top things to do in this island paradise is swim at Normans Beach, which sits between Cape Liptrap and Cape Pillar. Prefer to work up a sweat? Climb Mount Oberon or Mount Bishop for panoramic views of Wilsons Promontory National Park; keep your eyes out for wombats, kangaroos and emus as you hike through the bushland for unparalleled views of this region.

12. Phillip Island

Nestled on the edge of Bass Strait,  Phillip Island is a great place to visit for its beaches, wildlife, food and wine. The town itself has a small-town vibe with local shops and cafes scattered throughout the island. If you're looking for some family-friendly fun, then head to  A Maze'N Things or join one of many  whale discovery trail experiences around the island.

Best of all, for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, head out in search of our famous penguins at the  Penguin Parade at Phillip Island Nature Park. Here you'll see hundreds coming ashore each evening during the summer months from October to March.

Experience Australian culture in a Britz Campervan

If you're looking for an opportunity to see some of southeast Australia's most breathtaking and unique natural landscapes, a drive from Sydney to Melbourne is it. There's no better way to see all these amazing sights than in the comfort of your own vehicle. This is especially important if you are travelling in a campervan with young kids . Booking a campervan hire means you can stop whenever they want (or need), rather than having to stay on a schedule set by tour guides or bus drivers. And since there are so many attractions along the way between Sydney and Melbourne, a campervan hire makes planning your trip (and adjusting as you go) super easy!

Ready to hit the road to experience Australian culture in a Britz campervan?  Book a campervan with Britz today. We have a range of campers from the compact  Britz Venturer to our spacious  Britz Frontier - there is something for every group size and budget. For more information on renting a Britz campervan ,  choosing the right campervan as well as  tips for family campervan holidays and more, check out our blog.

Campervan Hire Australia

International Numbers

• Australia 1300 738 087​​​ Call
• New Zealand ​​​0800 081 032​​​ Call
• UK 00 800 200 80 801 Call
• Germany 00 800 200 80 801 Call
• France 00 800 200 80 801 Call
• Netherlands 00 800 200 80 801 Call
• Switzerland 00 800 200 80 801 Call
• USA (from landline only) 011 800 200 80 801 (from landline only) Call
• Canada 011 800 200 80 801 Call
• View our contact page
• Questions? Talk to us now

• Skip to primary navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to footer

Gab Travelling | Travel Blog

Road Trip Guide: Melbourne to Sydney Coastal Route

This coastal road trip between Melbourne and Sydney is popular, stunning and full of beaches. It’s not just popular with backpackers, but also families, grey nomads and other travellers. This is a road trip that opened up my perspective of Australia’s coast, its diversity and natural beauty.

Prior to doing this road trip, I had only done the Great Ocean Road, and multiple inland road trips. This includes inland through regional Victoria and Sydney to Melbourne .

It can seem daunting that this road trip spans so far, it’s not a cute weekend trip. This is a proper week-long road trip through Australia’s south coast.

What’s special about this road trip is that it goes through so many different types of beaches, to get a unique view of Australia. It goes through a plethora of popular national parks for hikes and camping. Stops along the way balance between well-known areas to those lesser-known.

This coastal road trip itinerary from Melbourne to Sydney is specially curated towards backpackers, or other people looking for a first-hand perspective on the drive. It includes free campgrounds in the area to stay at, and has suggestions for hikes, how to see wildlife, and why each place is special. All of the free campgrounds included in this article have toilets.

For non-camping accommodation options, check out the link below for deals along this road trip.

Table of Contents

Road Trip: Melbourne to Sydney Coastal Route

Total drive time: 15 hours and 25 minutes, recommended minimum days: 8 days.

Day 1: Melbourne to Wilsons Promontory National Park , VIC

Drive time: two hours and 45 minutes.

Start this road trip off right by visiting one of Victoria’s most well-known coastal national parks: Wilsons Promontory National Park. This park is known for diverse landscape and feeling totally immersed in nature. There’s hikes galore of all types and even a local sand dune: Big Drift.

Whether you like the outdoors or not, Wilsons Promontory is sure to amaze all visitors. For what to do in the park depends on your time, skill level and interests. Most weekend visitors enjoy spending time at Squeaky Beach , a beach that actually squeaks beneath your feet.

For a short hike, and 360-degree views of the park, head towards Big Drift near the entrance to the park. Mark your track once on the sand dune to prevent getting lost or disorientated.

If you’re interested in a more in-depth experience in the park, check out overnight hikes such as the three-day Wilsons Promontory south circuit .

All the details on this and more can be found in my full guide for Wilsons Promontory National Park .

Free Campsites

Wilsons Promontory may be a paradise for nature lovers and hiking adventurers, but not for free campers. There’s only one free campsite in the area of this park and it’s located about half an hour away, Franklin River Reserve. Otherwise there’s a few other campgrounds that aren’t very close, but still free.

• Franklin River Reserve
• Meeniyan Reserve Campsite (by donation)
• Minneha’ha Falls

Day 2: Wilsons Promontory National Park to Sale, VIC

Drive time: two hours.

Whenever the time is right and you’ve had your fill of Wilsons Promontory, head north towards Sale, VIC. There wasn’t anything specific that attracted me to Sale, aside from well-priced service stations, but it’s close to a lake-side free campground by Lake Wellington.

The drive from Wilsons Promontory is stunning and relaxing. It goes past small vintage towns and lush pastures. This is a big change from the Sydney to Melbourne inland route, which has a lot more dry river beds.

For a break from driving, stop in at Agnes Falls by Hazel Park, VIC. It’s a sweet waterfall with multiple lookouts. It also has washrooms and picnic tables to sit for lunch.

A huge reason to stop around Sale, VIC is because of the plethora of campgrounds in the area. There’s so many I won’t name them all, just those that are closest to the town. The campground next to Lake Wellington is Marlay Point Foreshore Reserve, it’s facilities aren’t the best, but it’s a beautiful area and worth stopping at.

• Marlay Point Foreshore Reserve
• Rosedale Willow Park
• Nambrok Hall
• Holey Plains State Park
• Holey Hill Campground
• Providence Ponds

Day 3: Sale to Cann River, VIC

Drive time: two hours and 40 minutes.

This is the day of koalas. Leaving Sale, head towards Paynesville, VIC. This is right where Raymond Island is located, and that’s where you’re going to find a gazillion cute koalas in the wild .

Even if you’ve already seen koalas, the amount on Raymond Island can’t be overlooked. It’s a special place. Park somewhere in Paynesville and take the ferry across the water to the island, which is free for pedestrians and cyclists. Then follow The Koala Trail through the island to spot the wildlife!

For a full guide on seeing koalas at Raymond Island, check out this article .

Either before or after, take advantage of a free hot shower in Paynesville Lions Club Park, by the beach. There’s also electric barbecues and picnic tables to have lunch at.

After leaving Paynesville, check out the view at Lakes Entrance Lookout, just off the A1.

A good place to stop this lag of the coastal road trip between Melbourne to Sydney is in Cann River, VIC

Free Campgrounds

Aside from camping close to the highway, another good reason to stay around Cann River is because it’s surrounded by lush forest. It’s an area that feels cozy whilst around many free campgrounds at the same time. Make sure to double check if these campsites are open, as many areas here were damaged from the bush fires in the summer of 2019/2020.

• Cann River Caravan Park
• Drummer Rest Area
• Choof Choof Campsite
• Genoa Rest Area

Day 4: Cann River to Eden, NSW

Drive time: one hour and 15 minutes.

It’s a short drive to head towards Eden, NSW but for good reasons. There’s multiple stops to break up this journey leaving Victoria and heading into New South Wales. Particularly an enduring but short hike in Croajingolong National Park, to Genoa Peak .

The hike to Genoa Peak is right after Cann River—heading north—and up an unsealed road before reaching a small parking lot. The hike goes up to the peak atop a platform with 360-degree views of the surrounding area. It shouldn’t be missed on this road trip!

Next, head towards Ben Boyd National Park , NSW. This park is split between to areas, the north and south.

Ben Boyd National Park is known for its European history as much as its wilderness. This includes colourful rocky cliffs blended with the sparkling blue ocean.

Starting at the southern end of the park, Green Cape, a popular photo op spot is Multi-Purpose Warf . You can walk to the end of the warf or even go fishing, but there’s no beach access here to the picturesque beaches around.

For some historic vibes, check out Boyds Tower also in the south end of the park. A daily parks pass of A$8 a day per vehicle must be purchased to park here. The tower was commissioned to be a lighthouse, but ended up having a different purpose.

On the northern end of the park, Pambula-Haycock, check out The Pinnacles loop walking track . The Pinnacles is a unique rock formation known for its bright colours. On the loop walking track it can be seen from above at two different spot. Haycock Point is another gem to stop at in the northern end of the park.

For everything there is to do and see in Ben Boyd National Park, check out this guide .

Free Campground

Northern from the Victoria and New South Wales border, free campsites are harder to come by. If this trip isn’t too spontaneous, consider booking campsites in advance to save on booking fees. These are a few of the free campgrounds around the area of Eden and Ben Boyd National Park.

• Scrubby Creek Picnic Area
• East Ben Boyd Forest Rest Area

Day 5: Eden to Bodalla, NSW

Drive time: two hours.

Driving out of Eden, there’s an amazing oyster spot, Broadwater Oysters . It’s not over-priced, and the oysters are fresh and delicious. They shuck them as you order—not like other places that have opened oysters covered in plastic-wrap on a plastic plate. This place was recommended by locals in Eden, and I’m so happy I went to check it out.

The next place to stop at is the famous, Horse Head Rock , north of Haywards Beach in Wallaga Lake, NSW. To clarify, this horse-head-shaped-rock is a big tourist attraction for the area, but you have to use your imagination a bit to see the horse. Also, double-check the tide times depending on how you’re getting to see the rock.

It’s not possible to walk along the beach north of Haywards Beach to see the Horse Head Rock with high tide. Instead, during high tide, skip the beach and follow the path from Camel Rock car park instead. This path also goes through the grass to see the horse rock. Aside from the animal-shaped rocks, other rocks around the beach are also wild and unique—it’s a good place to stop.

To end a day of exploring head further north towards Bodalla, it’s a good mid point towards Jervis Bay for the next day.

There’s not a huge amount of free campgrounds around Bodalla, but Brou Lake Campground in Eurobodalla National Park is a popular escape from the highway. This is the same spot I began running to free camp locals. Either way it’s a great spot to stay for the night, check out the lake side and ocean side through different bush walk trails around the campground.

• Brou Lake Campground
• Bodalla Park Forest Rest Area

Day 6: Bodalla to Jervis Bay, NSW

Continuing up Australia’s coast from Melbourne to Sydney, you’ll notice a difference in the beaches—again. Pebbly Beach is a small paradise for wildlife on the beach in Murramarang National Park. To park here, you must purchase and display an A$8 parking permit for the day. Permits can be purchased through machines with exact change only.

Close to Pebbly Beach is barbecues and picnic tables to stop for food, or just enjoy the beauty of the national park. There’s also bush walks in the area, or continue driving around the park for other bush walks.

Next up is an area with some of the whitest sand beaches in Australia—or at least it was at some point— Jervis Bay, NSW . Most of the beaches in Jervis Bay look similar, they all have white sand and clear blue water. Because it’s in a bay, it’s easy and safer to swim than without because there’s less strong currents.

Beaches with towns nearby for grocery shopping and restaurants include Huskisson, Vincentia and Callala Bay. Hyams Beach is a touristy spot because it was once named the whitest sand beach.

No visit to Jervis Bay is complete without heading to Booderee National Park , though. This national park has some of the best beaches, bush walks and overall wilderness to discover.

Finish the day by spending an evening at Jervis Bay Brewing Co. , the best craft brewery in the area located in Huskisson. Whenever this brewery isn’t impressing crowds with its own beer, it brings in tastes from other local breweries to show support for the industry.

For a complete guide on everything there is to do and see, check out this guide to Booderee National Park .

As expected, Jervis Bay area is known for its stunning beaches, not an abundance of free campgrounds. There’s two rest areas where it’s possible to stay at overnight, but with the noise it might be smart to stay elsewhere. Booderee’s campgrounds are affordable and most have hot showers for a relaxing stay.

• Jerrawangla Rest Area
• Bewong Rest Area

Day 7: Jervis Bay to Kangaroo Valley, NSW

Drive time: 45 minutes.

This is nearly the last lag of the coastal road trip from Melbourne to Sydney and it does not disappoint. Whether this day is a point to spend more time in Jervis Bay or not, there’s only a short drive to discover Kangaroo Valley.

Where Raymond Island is the place to see an abundance of koalas in the wild, Kangaroo Valley is a place to see just about every other wild Australian animal in the wild. This wildlife paradise is known as Australia’s most beautiful valley.

Before heading there, take the time to gander around Nowra for some delicious eats and drinks. Locals say the organic coffee roaster, Hyper Hyper Coffee is one of the best in Australia. Same goes for the amazing Thai food at Silver Spoon Thai Restaurant .

Driving in from Jervis Bay, the road to Kangaroo Valley going goes over Cambewarra Mountain. My first time doing this road was a bit stressful because I didn’t realize the elevation gain, and my old van likes to take it slow. Check out Cambewarra lookout at the top of the mountain for panoramic views of the area you just came from.

The free campground in Kangaroo Valley, Bendeela Camping Reserve, is the best place to stay and get close to wildlife. There’s fields full of wombats, kangaroos and wallabies. Other wildlife in Kangaroo Valley include: wild goats, deer, platypus, echidnas, wild dogs, feral pigs, flying foxes, foxes and more.

Spending some time in the valley? Check out the bush walks: Drawing Room Rocks and The Three Views Walk to see more of the area.

Free campgrounds

The one and only free campground in Kangaroo Valley is Bendeela Camping Reserve , up Bendeela Road. This the the final stop before reaching Sydney on this road trip from Melbourne, and it’s the most pleasant and relaxing place to stay. Don’t mind the wombats rubbing against your vehicle in the middle of the night!

Day 8: Kangaroo Valley to Sydney, NSW

Leaving Kangaroo Valley might feel devastating, but it’s the last part of this coastal road trip from Melbourne to Sydney. There’s a few different ways to head to Sydney. Depending on traffic routes and tolls, consult your favourite driving directions app for more information.

For an optional break, or something to do around Sydney area, check out the Figure 8 Pools in the Royal National Park. I recommend doing the coastal hike version of the Figure 8 Pools for even more ocean views!

Check out what to do in Sydney for a week for tips on where to go, what to see and where to eat!

This isn’t the only road trip to spend you time in Australia. Check out the these road trips: Sydney to Melbourne inland route , regional Victoria and the Great Ocean Road !

Share this:

Site Navigation

• About Gab Travelling
• About Gabrielle
• Let’s Work Together
• Privacy Policy

@gabtravelling

• Work With Me

Melbourne to Sydney Drive Itinerary: Amazing Coastal Road Trip

by Lisa Bull | Last updated Jun 29, 2023 | Road Trips Australia

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more details.

Passing through beautiful Victoria and South Coast NSW, this Melbourne to Sydney coastal drive itinerary will take you on one of Australia’s most iconic road trips.

The Princes Highway (A1) route is packed with scenic drive stops and detours to picturesque holiday towns. Highlights include a Jervis Bay dolphin cruise or Phillip Island eco tour .

I travelled the 1,123 km from Melbourne to Sydney by car on a 1-week trip , but 2 weeks would have been ideal. If you have less time, you could easily plan your Melbourne to Sydney coastal drive to take 4 or 5 days, or even 2 or 3 days if necessary.

This Sydney to Melbourne road trip planner includes the best places to stop and stay overnight and the top attractions that I would recommend from my trip, whether you’re driving from Melbourne to Sydney or vice versa.

Melbourne to Sydney Drive Itinerary Overview

Here are my recommended destinations to add to your Sydney to Melbourne drive itinerary, along with the time I’d recommend staying at each place. To skip straight to a destination, just click on the links below.

Melbourne to Sydney Drive FAQs

• 1. Melbourne: 3 days to 2 weeks
• 2. Phillip Island: 1 day
• 3. Wilsons Promontory National Park: 1 day
• 4. Lakes Entrance: 1 day
• 5. Eden: 1-2 days
• 6. Batemans Bay: 2 days
• 7. Jervis Bay: 2 days
• 8. Wollongong: 1 day
• 9. Sydney: 3 days to 2 weeks

Sydney to Melbourne Car Hire

Make sure you find the best price for car hire in Sydney or Melbourne by using Kayak as a starting point. They compare hundreds of car hire sites to save you hours of research.

>> Click here to compare car hire prices and book your rental car <<

The coastline between Melbourne and Sydney is packed with stunning scenery, so it is well worth the drive. Highlights include kangaroos on the beach in stunning Murramarang National Park, sea lions basking in the sun in pretty Eden and the gorgeous Grand Pacific Drive. The Jervis Bay region in South Coast NSW is mind-blowingly scenic too.

The direct Melbourne to Sydney drive time is 14.5 hours along the coastal A1 route, and the total driving distance is 1,123 km . I spent a week on my Melbourne to Sydney self drive, but you can do the coastal journey in 2 or 3 days if necessary. I would recommend at least 4 days on your Melbourne to Adelaide road trip to make the most of the journey.

If you want to get from Melbourne to Sydney in a day, the inland route along the Hume Highway is quickest, at a distance of 879 km and a drive time of around 9 hours .

In my experience, the coastal route between Sydney and Melbourne is more scenic than the inland route via the M31, even though the journey is 150 km longer.

If you’re taking the coastal route between Sydney and Melbourne, Eden would be a lovely place for an overnight stop that is approximately halfway along your journey.

My 7-day Melbourne to Sydney road trip cost $589 in total. This breaks down into $226 for petrol (scale this up to around $365 for 2023 prices), $268 for accommodation, $70 on food and $25 for a tour.

A self-driven trip from Melbourne to Sydney or vice versa is extremely easy. The roads are sealed and there are many populated towns along the way to pick up supplies, such as Lakes Entrance, Batemans Bay and Eden.

For a detailed cost breakdown of all the Australian road trips I have taken, including Sydney to Melbourne, read my blog post on the cost of backpacking Australia .

1. Melbourne

Melbourne’s a very cool, cosmopolitan city with lots of street art and quirky cafés . I’d spend at least 7 days in Melbourne if possible.

Top things to do in Melbourne include sweeping views at Melbourne Skydeck, funky Hosier Lane street art and fun at St Kilda Beach.

B est T hings to Do in Melbourne

• Discover over 10,000 types of aquatic animals at the SEA LIFE Aquarium in Melbourne , as well as enjoy interactive experiences like feeding fish and sitting with penguins.
• My all-time favourite Melbourne attraction was Melbourne Skydeck, which has phenomenal views across the city from the 88th floor of Eureka Tower! This fun Melbourne Skydeck experience includes entry to the Skydeck plus a choice between stepping out onto The Edge, a glass-bottom cube projected out of the building, or a virtual reality film in the Melbourne Skydeck Voyager Theatre. Click here to check prices .
• Enjoy the best of Melbourne’s secret cafes, hidden shops and funky, off-the-beaten-track galleries with this 2.5-hour, wheelchair-accessible Guided Melbourne Laneways Tour .

Melbourne Accommodation

If you’re looking for places to stay in Melbourne at the start or end of your Sydney to Melbourne road trip, here are some of your best accommodation options.

Be aware that Melbourne accommodation gets booked up heavily during summer and school holidays, so make sure you book in advance. I almost spent a night in my car when I arrived, as I hadn’t booked in advance!

MELBOURNE HOUSE SITS

My favourite type of travel accommodation by far is house sitting, especially as Australia is such an expensive country.

House sitting is when you stay in a local person’s home for free while they’re on holiday in return for looking after their pets and home.

I house sat in Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne on my road trip, and now house sit full time in Sydney without needing my own place! Here are my recommended sites to join.

• If you want to house sit in Australia only, Aussie House Sitters is a great option. They’re one of the largest pet-sitting sites in the country, and I got plenty of jobs through them on my travels.
• To have the option of house sitting worldwide, click here to get 20% off an annual membership with Trusted Housesitters . They have jobs in over 130 countries and offer really unique perks, such as sit-cancellation compensation.

Check out my blog post on how to become a house sitter if you fancy free luxury accommodation instead of forking out for hostels.

MELBOURNE HOTELS

Use the search box below to search for Melbourne hotels, apartments and hostels.

MELBOURNE HOSTELS

I’ve personally stayed at the Melbourne hostels below and would recommend both of them!

• HabitatHQ , St Kilda, Melbourne : I stayed at this modern, beachside hostel , which has won awards for sustainability. The dorm beds are cheap, and the location is great.
• The Nunnery , Fitzroy, Melbourne : I also stayed at this quirky, converted nunnery and thought it was really unique. The hostel has dorm beds as well as private rooms, and lots of nearby bars, funky cafes and street art.

2. Phillip Island

If you haven’t already visited Phillip Island on a day trip from Melbourne, do add it onto your Melbourne to Sydney road trip itinerary. 

It’s a beautiful, rugged place home to over 32,000 little penguins , and the Phillip Island Penguin Parade is a well-known, nightly event where you can watch the little penguins waddle in from the ocean at sunset to set up camp for the night. I’d definitely recommend it!

Phillip Island Attractions

• Book tickets to watch the Little Penguins waddle in at sunset on the famous Phillip Island Penguin Parade !
• This 1-hour Cape Woolamai Nature Cruise lets you enjoy Phillip Island’s spectacular scenery from the water. You’ll also hear commentary about the local marine life and sea birds and watch the daily pelican feeding in San Remo at the end.
• See native Australian wildlife at the Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park on this Phillip Island Eco Wildlife Tour . The trip also stops at the colourful Brighton Beach bathing boxes, The Nobbies, Point Grant and Seal Rocks before finishing up at the Penguin Island on this 12-hour tour. Click here to learn more .

Distance and Drive Time

• Melbourne to Phillip Island distance: 145 kilometres
• Melbourne to Phillip Island drive time: 2 hours 15 minutes

Phillip Island Accommodation

• BIG4 Phillip Island Caravan Park : This family-friendly holiday par k at Newhaven Beach has all the great facilities of BIG4 accommodation. There’s an on-site games room, playground, jumping pillow, camp kitchen and volleyball and basketball courts. In the summer there’s also an outdoor cinema.
• The Island Accommodation – Hostel : A modern eco-friendly hostel with private rooms and dorms from $30 per person per night. I was really impressed with this place.
• North Pier Hotel : This 3* hotel opposite Cowes Beach has a swimming pool, on-site restaurant and bar plus free Wi-Fi and parking.

3. Wilsons Promontory National Park

Wilsons Prom, as it’s known to the locals, is a great place to spend a day or two, with plenty of great walks and beaches .

The top attractions in Wilsons Promontory National Park include iconic Squeaky Beach , with its turquoise water, squeaky sand and granite boulders. For accommodation in Wilsons Prom, try township  Tidal River , which has camping and beautiful walking tracks.

Wilsons Promontory Tour

• This fun Wilsons Promontory Day Tour from Melbourne includes a choice of hikes as well as a visit to Squeaky Beach and transport to and from Melbourne. Click here to learn more.
• Philip Island to Foster distance: 104 kilometres
• Philip Island to Foster drive time: 1 hour 25 minutes
• Melbourne to Foster distance: 178 kilometres
• Melbourne to Foster drive time: 2 hours 50 minutes

Wilsons Promontory Accommodation

• Prom Central Caravan Park : This caravan park in Foster has camping sites and bungalows as well as a laundry and free parking.
• Wilsons Promontory Motel : All rooms at this 3* motel in Foster have fridges, flat-screen TVs, coffee makers, free Wi-Fi and furnished patios. There’s also an on-site restaurant and bar.
• Tidal River Campground : Camping sites from $57 per site per night. (I didn’t stay here and must say I’ve never seen a campsite so expensive!)

4. Lakes Entrance

Lakes Entrance is a very popular coastal holiday town at the northern end of the Gippsland Lakes area and makes a good base if you want to explore East Gippsland.

I only spent one night here – it was pretty cold and windy in the winter – but there are plenty of walks, cycling tracks and water activities such as kayaking available if you want to stay for longer.

Drive Stops on the way to Lakes Entrance

• Sale : This is a nice city to stop at if you need a coffee break. The Wild Honey Café was lovely!
• Shoreline Drive : I took a detour down to the beach at Seaspray and drove along the coastal road to Golden Beach and 90 Mile Beach before heading back inland to head east.
• Eagle Point & Paynesville: For another scenic detour, check out the views from Eagle Point and the pretty little seaside town of Paynesville before carrying on to Lakes Entrance.

• Foster to Lakes Entrance distance: 226 kilometres
• Foster to Lakes Entrance drive time: 2 hours 50 minutes

Lakes Entrance Accommodation

• Koonwarra Holiday Park : I enjoyed my stay in a cabin at this pet-friendly 4* caravan park . There’s a seasonal outdoor pool, free Wi-Fi and camp kitchen. As well as camp sites you can book budget cabins with one, two or three bedrooms.
• The Esplanade Motel : This centrally located motel has rooms starting at $85. The ground-floor rooms have air-con, fridges, en-suite bathrooms, TVs, kettles and even electric blankets!
• The Esplanade Resort & Spa : If you’re on a higher budget, this 4* resort has a choice of hotel rooms and apartments, a large swimming pool, tennis court, restaurant and spa.

Eden was one of my absolute favourite places to stay on the Sydney to Melbourne drive, and I wish I could have spent 2 days or longer there.

Top attractions in Eden include beautiful Lake Curalo and wonderfully serene Aslings Beach . Make sure you check out the lookouts on the Eden Rotary Walk too.

Places to Stop on the Way

• Cann River:   A lovely little town for a lunch break, and the gateway to Croajingalong National Park if this is on your itinerary.
• Mallacoota:  A small holiday town that’s worth exploring. Head to Panoramic Drive (the coastal road off Allan Drive) for beautiful ocean views; you might even spot a seal basking in the sun like I did! The beach at Bastion Point is great to stroll along too.

• Lakes Entrance to Eden distance: 242 kilometres
• Lakes Entrance to Eden drive time: 2 hours 45 minutes

Eden Accommodation

• Eden Gateway Holiday Park : You can either camp or stay in a self-contained studio or villa at this holiday park just a 15-minute walk from Aslings Beach. The park has an outdoor swimming pool, free Wi-Fi, children’s playground and camp kitchen.
• Eden Nimo Motel : There aren’t any hostels in Eden, but I stayed at this very cheap motel , which has has double and twin rooms starting from $55.
• Eagle Heights Holiday Units : Each of these modern, clifftop apartments has a fully equipped kitchen, air-con, TV and DVD player. There’s also a garden overlooking the ocean, hot tub and barbecue facilities on site.

6. Batemans Bay

The drive from Eden to Batemans Bay is particularly scenic, and there’s lots of great things to do in Batemans Bay ; I ended up spending two nights here as the driving had burnt me out, and I’m really glad I did.

The town of Batemans Bay is lovely, and set on the entrance to the Clyde River on Australia’s Oyster Coast with beautiful views from the waterside cafes. It also makes a great base to explore the Eurobodalla region.

I’d thoroughly recommend exploring Murramarang National Park to the north of the town; it’s packed with beautiful beaches.

An absolute must-see is Pebbly Beach : it’s not only extremely pretty with the grassy area behind it, but lots of wild kangaroos live there and it’s full of Rainbow Lorikeets and Australian King Parrots. One even landed on my arm!

Durras North Beach was particularly beautiful too, with enviable beachside houses where kangaroos lazed around in the front gardens!

• Ben Boyd National Park : make sure you check out this national park just north of Eden. The stripy cliffs at the Pinnacles are stunning!

• Tathra: for a scenic coastal detour on your Melbourne to Sydney road trip, leave the Princes Highway and take the Sapphire Coast Drive through the forest instead, starting in Merimbula. Stop by at the Tathra Wharf Lookout for pretty views across Boulder Bay.
• Cuttagee Lake: heading north on the Tathra-Bermgui Road, you’ll wind through forest and come to the bridge at Cuttagee Lake. There’s lots of parking spaces here, and it’s a pretty spot to get out and take a few photos.

• Bermagui: after a few more bridges you’ll drive right along the coastline for a while before reaching Bermagui, which is lovely around the Fishermen’s Wharf at the mouth of the river.
• Narooma: pass by the pretty Wallaga Lake and the road will rejoin the Princes Highway and take you up to Narooma, a popular holiday town in the Eurobodalla region known for its clear blue water.
• Eden to Batemans Bay distance: 197 kilometres
• Eden to Batemans Bay drive time: 2 hours 30 minutes

Batemans Bay Accommodation

• Batemans Bay YHA & Holiday Park : I stayed at this basic, fairly retro  YHA hostel with dorms and an adjoining camping and caravan park.
• Mariners on the Waterfront : This lovely 4* waterfront hotel has an outdoor swimming pool, on-site restaurant and free Wi-Fi. Most rooms have balconies overlooking the Clyde River, and the accommodation is only a 2-minute walk into town.

7. Jervis Bay

Jervis Bay is my absolute favourite Melbourne to Sydney drive stopover. There are so many beautiful attractions in Jervis Bay , and famous Hyams Beach is said to have the whitest sand in the world.

I was lucky enough to return here a few times on house sits after my road trip, and I can’t recommend it enough.

Jervis Bay Attractions

• This Jervis Bay 1.5-Hour Dolphin Cruise takes you sailing through clear, sparkling water to admire stunning white beaches and natural scenery while you spot local dolphins.
• This 2-Hour Cruise of Jervis Bay Passage from Huskisson passes Point Perpendicular cliffs and Hyams Beach, said to have the whitest sand in the world. Keep an eye out for dolphins and local birdlife.
• Batemans Bay to Jervis Bay distance: 108 kilometres
• Batemans Bay to Jervis Bay drive time: 1 hours 25 minutes

Jervis Bay Accommodation

There’s very little backpacker accommodation in Jervis Bay unless you’re camping. The cheap Airbnb I stayed in is no longer running, and it’s mostly pricey holiday cottages and hotels there.

• Jervis Bay Holiday Park : This holiday park in Huskisson has budget cabins starting at $90 which would be quite cheap between a few of you.
• The Huskisson : For a central location close to shops and restaurant, The Huskisson pub and restaurant has beachfront hotel rooms with air-con, flat screen TVs, private bathrooms, desks and free Wi-Fi
• Huskisson Beach Motel : This modern motel near the beach has an on-site restaurants and bar, air-conditioned rooms with fridges, kettles and toasters and renovated private bathrooms.

8. Wollongong

Wollongong is the t hird-largest city in New South Wales and has fantastic beaches, plenty of restaurants and a beautiful mountainous backdrop. It’s a busy city with a big university and plenty to do, so makes great overnight stop between Sydney and Melbourne.

Places to See on the way

• I’d recommend a drive stop in pretty Kiama . This lovely seaside town has beautiful beaches and walks, lots of green scenery and a very famous blowhole!

Wollongong Attractions

• This Tandem Beach Skydive will award you with coastal views all the way to Jervis Bay from 15,000 feet above Wollongong!
• Jervis Bay to Wollongong distance: 102 kilometres
• Jervis Bay to Wollongong drive time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Wollongong Accommodation

• Keiraleagh Backpackers : This is the only hostel in Wollongong now (the YHA closed down), and I’ve stayed there a couple of times. It does have a certain charm and the staff are friendly, but parts of it are quite run down. It’s well located though and the garden is lovely.
• Helensburgh Hotel : If you don’t mind staying outside of the city, this hotel in Helensburgh has great reviews. There’s a garden, bar and free WI-Fi too.
• Wollongong Serviced Apartments : These self-contained 4* apartments with balconies are right in Wollongong city centre, and with fully equipped kitchens, great for those who want to prepare their own food.

The final place to stop on your Melbourne to Sydney road trip is Sydney, Australia’s biggest city!

There are so many amazing attractions in Sydney , including over 100 beaches. I fell in love with the city the first time I visited back in 2001 and moved here permanently in 2016!

I’d schedule in some time to see the iconic Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, and try a few of the many beautiful Sydney walks .

Places to Stop on the Way to Sydney from Melbourne:

Grand pacific drive and sea cliff bridge.

Make sure you take the coastal route north of Wollongong so you don’t miss the iconic Sea Cliff Bridge on the Grand Pacific Drive . This 665m bridge between Clifton and Coalcliff snakes around the coastline and overhangs the ocean!

If you want to walk across Sea Cliff Bridge, there are a few parking spaces on the ocean side of the road at Clifton, or a road leading to a carpark at Coalcliff (signed “Sea Cliff Bridge Parking”). You’ll need to walk to Paterson Road and past Leeder Park and Coalcliff rock pool from the car park.

Bald Hill lookout at Stanwell Tops is also a must on the Grand Pacific Drive.

Royal National Park

There are plenty of great walks in the Royal National Park if you have the time to stop, but the area is easily accessible as a day trip from Sydney.

There’s a car park at the Otford Lookout on Lady Wakehurst Drive where you can get onto the start of the Royal Coast Walk and head down to Werrong Beach.

• Wollongong to Sydney distance: 86 kilometres
• Wollongong to Sydney drive time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Sydney Accommodation

If you’re not sure where to stay in Sydney, make sure you read my guide on the best places to stay in Sydney . I runs through the best areas to stay in and the best accommodation options.

SYDNEY HOUSE SITS

Just like with Melbourne, my top tip to save money on accommodation in Sydney is to house sit. It’s so in demand here that I’ve been house sitting in Sydney since 2016 and have saved over $70k in rent so far.

If you’re visiting Sydney around Christmas and New Year, that’s the most popular time for locals to go on holiday and need a house sitter. Remember summer is at Christmastime in Australia, so the kids are off school for the long holidays!

My favourite house-sitting websites are Aussie House Sitters , the largest pet-sitting site in Australia, and Trusted Housesitters, which operates in over 130 countries.

Click here to get 20% off an annual membership with Trusted Housesitters.

SYDNEY HOSTELS, HOTELS AND APARTMENTS

Browse through Sydney hotels, apartments and hostels using the search box below.

Here are a few of my recommended accommodation options in Sydney.

LUXURY – Park Hyatt Sydney . This 5-star luxury hotel is conveniently located in The Rocks , between Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House. Amenities include spa treatments, a rooftop swimming pool and a 24-hour gym.

MIDRANGE – The Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel . Situated at Millers Point , this 3-star hotel is only a short stroll from Barangaroo restaurants and The Rocks at Circular Quay. The accommodation consists of beautiful, individually decorated rooms in a quirky heritage building with an onsite bar and restaurant.

BUDGET – Wake Up! Sydney Central , Sydney CBD . I stayed here years ago, when I did my working holiday. It’s a large, modern hostel with a bar and nightclub, so great if you want to party. It’s also right in the city and has dorm beds as well as private rooms.

BUDGET – Sydney Harbour YHA , The Rocks, Sydney . This amazing hostel has a rooftop terrace looking right out across Sydney Harbour! You can also walk to the city and all the sights like the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House. I’m a big fan of YHAs in general; the standards always seem to be pretty high compared to other hostels.

I hope you have an amazing time on your Melbourne to Sydney road trip! Happy travels!

Lisa Bull, founder of Dreaming of Down Under, has been living in Australia as a British expat since 2015. After travelling to every state and territory in Australia and living in Perth, Brisbane and Sydney, Lisa knows from first-hand experience the best destinations to visit in Australia and the best budget travel tips. Her guides on this blog have been read by over 700k readers and helped thousands of people achieve their dream of living in or travelling Australia.

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Hi, I'm Lisa, a British expat living in Sydney. I've travelled almost the whole Australian coastline and love sharing detailed travel and migration guides to inspire other adventurous souls to travel or move to Australia. Read more about me!

Road Trip From Melbourne To Sydney

A road trip from Melbourne to Sydney is one of Australia's most fabled drives. Transporting you between Australia's two largest cities, you can choose to drive along the spectacular coastline of Victoria and New South Wales, or visit some of the country's most picturesque, significant and quaint towns during a stunning countryside journey.

These are just a few of must-see points along this unforgettable journey. With two main routes to choose from - and hundreds of sights and attractions at your disposal - you'll want to read on for our ultimate guide on where to go, where to stay and the best time to complete this world-famous trip.

How far is Sydney from Melbourne and how long will the road trip take?

A road trip from Melbourne to Sydney is one you can easily complete in a day. However as you have the opportunity to see so many interesting towns, and areas of outstanding natural beauty, you might want to take a couple of extra days to complete the journey.

The quickest and most direct way of driving between the two destinations is via the M31 route. This will take you through the heart of country Victoria and New South Wales and will provide you with a fascinating insight of what life is like away from the hurly-burly of city life.

If you would rather explore the coastline between both cities, driving the M1 and A1 route will give you plenty of opportunities to hit the beach. It will take you longer to complete this route than it would the M31, but you'll get to see some truly mesmerising stretches of shoreline and get the opportunity to ride some fantastic surf breaks as well.

Best road trip route from Melbourne to Sydney

Regardless of which route you take, however, you would be well advised to spread out your journey over the course of at least a couple of days. Doing so will afford you the time to check out some of the many fabulous towns and sights of interest along the way in more detail, which will, in turn, really enrich your journey.

Both of these routes are easy to navigate and also provide frequent opportunities to fill up your gas, take a restroom break, or get some food at any of the small rural or coastal towns you pass through.

The M31 Route

This route will take you most of the way from Melbourne to Sydney. Joining it from Melbourne, one of your first stops should be at the delightful foodie destination of Shepparton, which showcases an excellent range of hip cafes and restaurants that champion local produce.

You'll also pass the pleasant small towns of Wodonga and Albury, which lie on the scenic banks of the Murray River, and the Kosciuszko National Park, home to the breathtaking Snowy Mountains.

Wagga Wagga, which is also known as the ‘city of good sports' and Australia's first inland city, Goulburn, are other notable places you will course through en route to Sydney. As is the nation's capital of Canberra, which is somewhere else you should definitely consider visiting.

The M1 & A1 Route

This is a great route for those who love driving along the coast. From Melbourne you really should detour to Paynesville, which is the boating capital of the Gippsland region. There are lots of great vessels you can catch a ride on (or simply gaze at with envy from the shore!).

Continuing past the foot of Victoria, expect to see exceptional views of immense natural beauty at Cape Conran, the Snowy River National Park and the wonderful Croajingolong National Park.

You may also want to experience the bucket-list activity of whale watching at Eden, which is located on the spectacular southern coast of New South Wales.

Joining the M1, places like the Sussex Inlet, Jervis Bay, Shell Harbour and Wollongong, (which is the last main stop of interest before Sydney), offer a collection of sensational beaches to visit - all of which are perfect for activities like kayaking, surfing, fishing, swimming and jet-skiing.

Best places to stop between Melbourne to Sydney

As the drive from Melbourne to Sydney is quite long, you will definitely have to stopover for at least one night during your road trip. We'd recommend making two or more stops, however, to make the trip as comfortable as possible and get as most out of the itinerary.

Whichever route you opt to drive, there are a number of locations you can choose to stay at. Below are some of our favourites:

Enjoy the charms of Albury & Wodonga

Situated roughly halfway between Melbourne and Sydney, on the picturesque banks of the Murray River, Albury and Wodonga are splendid options for a pit stop if you are taking the M31 Route, inland.

Close to the Snowy Mountains and the Rutherglen Wine region, the Quality Resort Siesta is a fantastic option if luxury and pampering is on your agenda as you make the most of this beautiful area.

The rooms are spacious and well appointed, with two-room suites for those such as families who want group accommodation. Guests frequently describe the hotel as feeling "like an island resort". With its lush vegetation, indoor and outdoor pools, sauna, on-site restaurants and cocktail bar, it's easy to see why!

While it would be easy to spend the duration of your stay on-site at this resort, you will in fact only be 100 yards from local restaurants, cafes and shops.

Revel in the magnificence of Batemans Bay

Around 3 hours 40 minutes' drive from Sydney, Batemans Bay is a sensible option for a refreshing pit stop before you reach your destination (along the coastal M1 & A1 Route).

A relatively unspoilt natural haven, Batemans Bay is known for its fresh seafood and pristine beaches, so if you are looking for peace and tranquility before hitting the bustle of Sydney, this could be the place for you.

We'd recommend taking a day or two to explore the magnificent local wildlife, making sure you include an aquatic adventure on the Batemans Bay Snorkelling Trail. This amazing underwater paradise is said to contain rocks dating back 510 million years.

If staying on land is more your scene, grab your binoculars and observe over 100 species of native birds in their glorious natural habitat. And after all that fresh air and activity, we'd heartily recommend a stay at Lincoln Downs Resort, Batemans Bay BW Signature Collection. This luxury hotel is set alongside a picture-perfect private lake, making a great spot to relax at the end of the day.

Be dazzled by the brilliant white sand of Jervis Bay

All along the A1 route is long stretches of beautiful sand, the whitest shade of which can be found at Jervis Bay.

Closer to Sydney than Bateman's Bay, Jervis Bay lies just under 200km south of your destination, meaning you have an easy day of driving ahead of you if you choose this as your penultimate stop.

A beautiful area of lush native bushland, stunning azure waters and fabulous marine life, Jervis Bay is a stunning place to refresh and recharge before hitting the buzzing metropolis that is Sydney.

If you choose to drop anchor in Jervis Bay, then a stay at The Huskisson is a convenient and stylish hotel option. Located on the beachfront - 150 yards from Shark Net Beach - The Huskisson is a great base for a range of activities from hiking to cycling. Of course, you can always choose to decline any form of activity altogether. The hotel's bar, terrace and highly-rated restaurant all cater perfectly to the traveller eager to relax, unwind and enjoy the gorgeous view of Jervis Bay and its wildlife.

Things to see on a road trip from Melbourne to Sydney

There are plenty of places to visit during your road trip from Melbourne to Sydney. You won't necessarily be able to see them all on the one journey, but there are definitely some places you should prioritize a visit too. These include the following:

• Paynesville - Take to the stunning waters around the Gippsland region - Victoria's ‘boating capital'.
• Snowy River National Park - Spectacular National Park that features huge gorges, dense forest, gorgeous waterfalls and tranquil river views. A lovely spot for rafting, bush walking, canoeing, camping and four-wheel driving.
• Croajingolong National Park - Hike, kayak, canoe or boat through a captivating environment of prehistoric forests, enchanting inlets, huge sand dunes and varied wildlife within the remote coast of far-east Victoria.
• Kosciuszko National Park - Enjoy the wonders of the Snowy Mountains, where you can scale Australia's highest mountain, check out some intriguing caves, or go hiking, mountain biking, camping and do other snow pursuits.
• Canberra - Discover the delights of the nation's capital. Marvel at its impressive architecture, enjoy its fabulous restaurant scene and check out its world class museums.
• Goulburn - Visit Australia's first inland city, a charming place that offers fantastic recreational outdoor activities like caving, rock climbing and abseiling, as well as a number of terrific museums and art galleries.
• Eden - Experience the thrill of whale watching on the phenomenal southern coast of New South Wales.
• Bateman's Bay - Bordered by breathtaking national park, this superb coastal locations features idyllic aquamarine waters, stunning stretches of sand and a genteel ambience.
• Jervis Bay - Check out the incredible expanse of coastline that showcases the whitest sand in the world.
• Sussex Inlet - Comely seaside area which is a renowned spot for boating, fishing, kayaking, canoeing and a range of other water sports.
• Kiama - Quaint town best known for the incredible Kiama Blowhole. Situated deep within volcanic rocks, this cavern-like fissure regularly squalls rip-roaring ' blasts' of water.
• Shell Harbour - Dive, snorkel and surf exceptional waves at one of Australia's best and only National Surfing Reserves.
• Royal National Park - Tour around the second oldest national park in the world and experience the wonder of its rugged coastal cliffs, isolated beaches and lush eucalyptus bushland.

Best time to go on a road trip from Melbourne to Sydney

A road trip from Sydney to Melbourne is one you can do at any time of the year, although you may wish to avoid the height of summer (December to February) due to peak tourist volumes and prices.

During the summer months, and particularly in the school holidays and at weekends, you are likely to experience higher levels of traffic. Hotel rates are likely to be at a premium too and you can also expect longer queuing times at most of the major tourist attractions.

If you plan to drive the M1 and A1 route to see as much of the coastline as you can, then the best time to do this is between February and April, and September to November. This is the period outside of the storm and winter season when the beaches are usually at their best.

You might want to consider making the trip to Sydney during winter, however, as temperatures are still relatively mild (compared to the US and Europe) and there are a number of great events and festivals scheduled between May and August. Sydney Film Festival falls in June and the Australian International Music Festival takes place in July.

There is literally something for all tastes scattered across the year if you're taking a trip from Melbourne to Sydney - and the stunning scenery on this iconic trip is great at any time!

Join our email list!

By joining our email list, you give LazyTrips permission to use your email for sending you newsletters, emails and updates including for marketing purposes. Your email will not be provided to third parties.

Related posts

Melbourne To Sydney Road Trip: 2 Epic Scenic Driving Routes

Melbourne and Sydney are Australia’s two biggest cities. So, if you are planning a trip Down Under, it makes sense to try and visit them both.

While a 90-minute flight is the quickest way to get between the two destinations, the more scenic option – if time permits – is to hire a car and drive to Sydney from Melbourne.

One of Australia’s classic road trips, the two world-class cities are separated by incredible sights and attractions. Depending on which way you go, you can enjoy scenic drives that present amazing beaches and coastal landscapes or charming towns and picturesque countryside that reside inland.

Sound exciting? Then keep reading as we showcase all the main highlights you’ll see on a Melbourne to Sydney road trip.

What Is The Distance Between Melbourne And Sydney?

How long is the drive from melbourne to sydney, best time of year to drive from melbourne to sydney, m31 route melbourne to sydney – inland on the hume highway, m1/a1 route – coastal drive from melbourne to sydney, more tips for road tripping melbourne to sydney, where to next more classic aussie road tips.

If you embark on a road trip from Melbourne to Sydney, the most direct driving route is the M31 (aka Hume Highway). The distance from the CBD in both cities is about 875 km (544 miles) and should take about 9.5 hours to complete if you drive non-stop – highly city traffic dependent!

Going this way will take you inland, through the beating heart of rural Victoria and New South Wales, enabling you to gain an excellent insight into what life is like in the countryside, away from the major cities.

For those who prefer to go from Melbourne to Sydney driving along the coastline, the M1/A1 route covers a distance of around 1000 km (621 miles). It may take a little longer depending on how many detours you take, but will give you plenty of chances to hit the beach to top up your suntan and take in the wonder of the coastal scenery. 

If you were to drive from Melbourne to Sydney via the M31, you could set off after breakfast at Federation Square and easily arrive in time for a sunset dinner by the Sydney Opera House – if you didn’t stop. But where would the fun be in that?

With so much to see and do along the way, it would be a missed opportunity if you didn’t take the time to visit some of the more notable destinations on the M31 or M1/A1 route.

Therefore, we recommend taking 2 to 4 days to complete the journey, depending on your available time and what you want to see.

Route 1 – M31 Hume Highway Inland

Route 2- a1/m1 princes highway coastal drive.

You can undertake a Melbourne to Sydney road trip at any time of year.

However, as it is a bustling route that regularly experiences heavy traffic, you might find the best time to do so will be during the school term. In particular, the autumn months of March to May (outside of Easter) and the spring months of September to November are good options, as traffic on the roads at non-rush hour times and not during the Sydney school holidays should be free-flowing.

During autumn, the weather is mild and comfortable, making it an ideal time to enjoy the outdoor attractions along the way, such as national parks, beaches, and wineries. The crowds at these places are usually thinner than during the peak summer season so you can enjoy them in a more relaxed and peaceful way.

Spring is also an excellent time to take this road trip. The weather is mild and comfortable, and the countryside comes to life with blooming flowers and lush greenery. If you are into nature and photography, this is also a terrific time to see and capture stunning landscapes.

If you don’t mind the crowds, the summer months of December to February are also a great time to undertake a Melbourne to Sydney road trip. There is usually plenty of sunshine around, which provides excellent conditions for beach activities and water sports. Remember that accommodation prices are much higher during Australian school holidays than during the shoulder seasons.

The winter period of June to August is generally not the best time to drive from Melbourne to Sydney, as it can be cold and rainy, particularly in the mountainous areas. However, winter can be great for skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts taking the inland route, as there are several ski resorts in the Snowy Mountains along the way.

Driving the Great Alpine Road Victoria

Perth to Exmouth Road Itinerary: 2024 Driving Guide

Epic Eyre Peninsula Road Trip Itinerary Exploring South…

Best Stops On A Melbourne To Sydney Road Trip

Embarking on a road trip from Melbourne to Sydney presents a chance to immerse yourself in Australia’s diverse and stunning landscapes away from the big cities.

Depending on your route, this journey will lead you through the heart of the country or coastal Victoria and New South Wales.

Along the way, you will see thriving small towns that house ‘ridgy didge’ true-blue Aussies, eat food that showcases the best local produce, and witness some of the most incredible scenery you could ever wish to see.

Below are some of the most notable locations to visit.

• Make sure you’ve made your way through our list of Melbourne family highlights before you hit the road

Here are some great places to visit if you decide to take the inland M31 route, with some mustn’t-miss side detours we recommend from the Hume Highway:

Albury/Wodonga, Victoria/NSW (1 night)

Albury/Wodonga are twin cities that straddle the border of New South Wales and Victoria. Located about a 3.5-hour drive from Melbourne, they are good places for your first stop after leaving it. Both are known for being vibrant regional hubs with rich cultural heritages and stunning natural surroundings.

The Murray River runs through the area, which makes them top spots for fishing, boating, and water skiing. If you stop here, you can also explore the nearby Lake Hume , which offers a range of water activities and scenic walking trails.

In addition, the region possesses some impressive historic buildings, including the Albury Railway Station , a national heritage site. There are also a range of museums and galleries in the area, such as the Albury Regional Art Gallery and the Bonegilla Migrant Experience .

Both towns also have an excellent selection of dining and shopping options and are particularly known for their coffee culture (Campos coffee!)

Kosciuszko National Park, NSW (1-2 nights)

The Snowy Mountains are arguably the major highlight of the M31 route, so they’re worth checking out to see the magnificent landscape.

To do that, you must stop at Kosciuszko National Park , about a 6.5-hour drive from the Melbourne CBD.

Residing in New South Wales, it is named after the very Insta-worthy Mount Kosciuszko , Australia’s highest mountain. Even if you don’t intend to scale the 2,228 metres (7,310 feet), there’s plenty to see and do across the seasons.

Overall, the park covers an area of 6,900 square kilometres and is home to a stunning alpine landscape and a diverse population of fauna, including kangaroos, wallabies, and wombats.

It is also a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, offering a range of activities such as hiking, camping, fishing, and skiing. The latter takes place within the park at The Snowy Mountains, which provides some of Australia’s best skiing and snowboarding during the winter months (yes, you can go skiing in Australia!)

For those who want to stay the night, plenty of accommodation is available to suit all tastes and budgets; try the towns of Thredbo for lodge accommodation or Jindabyne offers several tourist park options, including onsite cabins great for road trippers.

Want to include the “ Dog on the Tuckerbox ” on your Melbourne to Sydney road trip? This small but utterly iconic Aussie landmark statue can be found just north of Gundagai on the M31. It only takes a few minutes at this road stop, or stop in at the tea rooms and gift shop!

(A perfect pee stop, too if you’re skipping Kosciuszko and heading straight through to Canberra)

Canberra, Australian Capital Territory (1 – 3 nights)

Canberra is the capital city of Australia, so it is well worth scheduling a stop there during your journey.

Located in the Australian Capital Territory , the city is known for its stunning architecture, world-class museums, and picturesque natural surroundings.

One of the main attractions in Canberra is the Australian War Memorial , which houses a museum and commemorates the country’s involvement in various conflicts throughout history.

Other famous museums in the city include the National Museum of Australia , the National Gallery of Australia , and the Questacon Science Museum is a must with kids.

Canberra also offers a range of outdoor activities, such as hiking, biking, and kayaking, in its many parks and nature reserves. Visitors can explore the beautiful Lake Burley Griffin in the heart of the city or take a scenic drive through the surrounding countryside, the National Arboretum is another must!.

In addition to its cultural and natural attractions, Canberra is known for its world-class food and wine scene. It currently has over 20 hatted restaurants, so it has an excellent pedigree as a foodies’ destination.

• Bookmark our complete family guide to Canberra for more tips on where to stay and how to navigate your way around the city’s top attractions

The Canberra to Sydney Drive

From Canberra, you can head directly to Sydney in just over 3 hours, but we’d add in a few more fun roadside stops with the kids, including getting your picture with the Big Merino in Goulburn (yes Aussies are obsessed with “ Big Things “), or for a quintessential little Aussie town, make a playground and snack stop at Berrima.

• We cover the inland route from Canberra to Sydney in much more detail here

If you don’t mind the slightly longer drive, there are some simple superb places to stop along the M1/A1 (Princes Highway) coastal route from Melbourne to Sydney.

You could wizz through them all in two days of fairly intense driving, or take a week or two to enjoy these beautiful Australian coastal towns.

Lakes Entrance, Victoria (1-2 Nights)

Situated on the edge of the Gippsland Lakes , the largest inland waterway system in Australia, the scenic town of Lakes Entrance is a paradise for water lovers. Lakes Entrance is a haven for recreational enthusiasts with its breathtaking beaches, crystal-clear lakes, and charming waterways. The place offers a plethora of activities for everyone, including swimming, fishing, boating, and kayaking.

The town’s main attraction is the Ninety Mile Beach , a breathtaking stretch of golden sand that invites visitors to take long walks, soak up the sun, or simply relax by the azure waters. For a unique experience, take a cruise on the Gippsland Lakes and immerse yourself in the tranquillity of country Victoria.

Lakes Entrance is also known for its fresh seafood. Indulge in delectable fish and chips or savour locally caught prawns and oysters at the waterfront eateries. It’s the perfect first stopping point on your Melbourne to Sydney road trip.

Croajingolong National Park, Victoria (1-2 nights)

If you love taking in incredible scenery and venturing into the great outdoors, you’ll want to visit Croajingolong National Park .

Situated about a 6-hour drive from Melbourne, this UNESCO Biosphere Reserve resides in the far-eastern corner of Victoria and is a terrific base for an overnight stay.

Spanning over 100 kilometers of unspoiled coastline and covering an area of 87,500 hectares, the park is notable for its diverse range of ecosystems. They include pristine beaches, towering eucalyptus forests, and freshwater lakes.

It is also home to rare and endangered wildlife species, including the wonderfully named long-nosed potoroo and eastern bristlebird. 

Visitors to Croajingolong National Park can enjoy various outdoor activities, such as hiking, fishing, birdwatching, and camping. The park’s walking trails also offer stunning coastline views, leading to secluded beaches and scenic lookouts, which you will probably have to yourself.

In addition, Croajingolong National Park is significant for its cultural heritage, with evidence of indigenous occupation dating back over 4,000 years. The park contains many sites of spiritual significance to the local Aboriginal communities, which are worth checking out.

Camping within the park is popular, particularly in the summer months. On a family road trip to Sydney, though, you may find more accommodation options in nearby Mallacoota , just before the NSW border.

There are several small towns you could stop in along the southern NSW coast, including Eden, Merimbula, and Wallaga Lake. At the very least, we’d plan on a play park pitstop at each of these smaller towns to break up the journey north along the East Coast.

Batemans Bay, NSW (1-2 nights)

Situated on the banks of the Clyde River, Batemans Bay is a charming coastal town located in the South Coast region of New South Wales. It is a popular holiday destination for Aussies because of its beautiful beaches, shimmering turquoise waters, and abundant marine life.

Reached via a 4.5-hour drive from Croajingolong National Park, it is a place you can enjoy a few hours at or, indeed, stay overnight.

The likes of swimming, fishing, and water sports are very popular here. At the same time, visitors can also take a scenic cruise along the Clyde River to explore the town’s natural beauty and spot dolphins and seals along the way.

In addition to its natural attractions, Batemans Bay has a vibrant arts and cultural scene. Plenty of accommodation, dining, and shopping options are also available, with various restaurants, cafes, hotels, and boutique stores in the town center. So, overall, it is an excellent place to eat, shop and stock up for the remainder of your road trip to Sydney. 

Jervis Bay (1 to 2 nights)

If you visit only one place on the M1/A1 route, make sure it is Jervis Bay . A stunning coastal region in the Shoalhaven region of New South Wales, it is known for its immaculate beaches and abundant marine life, including dolphins, whales, and seals.

The highlight of Jervis Bay is its famous white sand beaches, including Hyams Beach , which holds the Guinness World Record for having the whitest sand in the world. (Make sure you have your sunglasses, as it’s dazzling!)

Visitors can enjoy swimming, surfing, kayaking, and snorkeling, which is a great way to get active after a long drive . Alternatively, you can relax on the beach and enjoy the breathtaking views.

Jervis Bay is also home to Booderee National Park , which allows visitors to explore the area’s natural beauty and cultural heritage. The park features a range of walking trails, scenic lookouts, camping facilities, and important cultural sites of the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community that should be of interest.

Final Drive to Sydney

You easily break this journey up further with stops between Jervis Bay and Sydney, including Shoalhaven Heads, Lake Illawarra and Wollongong.

Whichever route you take, you’re bound to see some of the most dramatic countryside the country has to offer.

• If you’d like to spend a little longer meandering your way up the NSW coast, we cover the South Coast of NSW in much more detail in this itinerary
• And for where to stay and what to do in Sydney, jump on over next to our Sydney Family Holiday Guide

Don’t miss our complete collection of Aussie city guides for families:

ADELAIDE | BRISBANE | CAIRNS | CANBERRA | DARWIN | GOLD COAST | MELBOURNE | PERTH | SYDNEY

• If undertaking a road trip outside of the summer months, take a selection of clothes with you for all weather conditions. Temperatures can vary markedly between places and even within the space of a couple of hours.
• Book your accommodation in advance, especially if you are planning on staying in a rural/country area of Australia, to avoid disappointment.
• While you may want to switch off and enjoy the journey, it’s important to stay connected for safety reasons. Make sure you have a fully charged mobile phone before you set off, and don’t forget to bring your charger with you, which you can plug into the car’s USB ports as you drive.
• Throughout Victoria and New South Wales, free Wi-Fi is available at all public libraries. You should also be able to get it at some shopping centres, some cafes, and most fast food outlets like McDonald’s and Hungry Jacks (Burger King).
• Treat these as scenic driving routes, not a race; speed limits in Australia are strictly enforced, and penalties are stiff if you break the rules.
• Find more of our fabulous tips for road tripping Australia with your family over here.

Continue your journey around Australia further with these driving itinerary suggestions:

• You can make a round trip of the southeast corner of Australia; starting from Sydney, you can follow this detailed itinerary from Sydney to Adelaide , via Canberra; then road trip Adelaide to Melbourne via the Great Ocean Road and complete your journey with this Melbourne to Sydney itinerary – we’d allow at least three weeks for this trip.
• There are plenty of great destinations that can be explored from Sydney by car – we pick out 8 short driving itineraries to try.
• Experience the very best of the New South Wales coast with this Sydney to Byron Bay itinerary , capturing many of Australia’s most popular beach towns – add a further week to 10 days.
• Drive the highlights of the East Coast – Sydney to Cairns along Highway 1 , or detour inland to experience the New England Highway and more regional areas of NSW before heading to Far North Queensland – add at least two weeks.
• One of the most epic drives, roaming Sydney to the Red Centre – Uluru, will give you a true taste of Australiana and life in the outback – we would only attempt this trip if you have at least a month on your Australian itinerary as there will be a lot of long driving days.

© Family Road Trip

Epic Eyre Peninsula Road Trip Itinerary Exploring South Australia

Sensational South Coast NSW Road Trip Itinerary

• Explore Australia
• Photography Tips
• Travel Resources

• New South Wales

Melbourne to Sydney – a 7 day roadtrip

Melbourne to sydney for a 7 day roadtrip.

Do you want to see gorgeous beaches, beautiful national parks and unique Australian wildlife?  Now is the perfect time to take a 7 day roadtrip from Melbourne to Sydney.

The coastline between Sydney and Melbourne is some of the most spectacular in Australia.  With tranquil coves, long golden beaches and rocky shorelines you can swim, surf, sail and snorkel along the way.  You won’t forget this roadtrip.

Expect to take about 7 days to wind your way north towards Sydney but don’t rush it.  Take the time to enjoy the beautiful coastal towns along the way.

Your Melbourne to Sydney 7 day roadtrip

The journey is approximately 1,100 kilometres (680 miles) travelling through dozens of small towns, seaside villages and some of Australia’s famous beaches.

See dolphins, whales and penguins on this picturesque roadtrip between Melbourne to Sydney.  Pack a picnic lunch and find yourself a lookout to enjoy the spectacular views along the way.  Stop in at one of the cosy little beaches for a swim or laze your morning away enjoying the tranquility.

Things to do in Melbourne City

Start your adventure from Melbourne with a few suggestions of things to do before you start your roadtrip north to Sydney.

Melbourne is full of trendy little laneways with cafes, bars and quirky boutiques. There’s plenty of museums, galleries and street art that are worth checking out.  Make sure you explore the Street Art in Hosier Lane.

Take in a show, treat yourself to high tea at the Windsor or find a quaint little roof top bar to spend the afternoon.  There is always plenty to do in Melbourne city.

Read next:  Best Things to do in Melbourne

Day 1: Melbourne to Phillip Island – 2.5 hours drive time

The Peninsula is regarded as one of the region’s finest vineyards. You will find boutique cellar door wine tastings of cool climate varieties such as pinot noir, sauvignon blanc, pinot gris and tempranillo.

Overnight at Phillip Island , the home to little penguins, fur seals and koalas which can be often seen in the trees.

Be sure to go to Summerland Beach for the penguin parade at dusk when the penguins waddle up the beaches to their burrows.  Doing a penguin tour was one of our Phillip Island highlights.

Day 2:  Phillip Island to Wilsons Promontory – 1.75 hours drive time

While you’re at Phillip Island, take a wildlife cruise out to the Seal Rocks fur seal colony and be greeted by these inquisitive creatures. Get up close with furry friends along the boardwalks of the Koala Conservation Centre .

Explore the island’s wetlands with migratory birds, before heading towards the impressive granite cliffs and golden beaches of Cape Woolamai .

Enjoy a feast of fresh fish and chips while you take in the spectacular coastline of this seaside town, a popular stopover on the drive to Wilsons Promontory .

Wilsons Promontory is one of Victoria’s most picturesque national parks. Dramatic landscapes, deserted surf beaches and the pristine waterways of the Gippsland Lakes showcase this stunning part of Australia.

There are a number of accommodation options, luxury accommodation or safari-style tent or bring your own camping gear.

Day 3: Wilsons Promontory to Metung – 3.5 hours drive time

Wilsons Promontory National Park , is 50 thousand hectares of eucalypt forests, secluded coves, white sand beaches and granite outcrops.  Short drives and walks within the park lead to the many pristine beaches of this southern most tip of mainland Australia.

Walk to Squeaky Beach to experience the white quartz sand. Hear the sand squeak underfoot as you walk towards the maze of rock formations at the end of the beach.

Stop for a lunch in Foster , a small town surrounded by rolling hills, before continuing on to Yarram to see the heritage architecture from past days.

Lush farming landscapes continue on your way to Metung the gateway to the Gippsland Lakes region . Close to the ocean, this vast expanse of safe, protected inland lakes and rivers are ideal for fishing, boating and all kinds of watersports.

Metung has a friendly village atmosphere and the perfect spot to indulge in a night of waterfront luxury accommodation.

Day 4: Metung to Mallacoota – about 2.75 hours drive

Take a cruise through myriad lakes and rivers in Australia’s largest group of inland waterways.  Get close to native birds and watch the kangaroos grazing by the water’s edge.

Hire one of the small powered boats and try out the local fishing. Local species like bream, tailor, flathead and King George whiting are delicious and great fun to catch.

One of my favourite places on this roadtrip between Melbourne and Sydney is Lakes Entrance where the Gippsland Lakes enters the Southern Ocean.

Explore the spectacular Ninety Mile Beach and if you’re a seafood lover, it’s the perfect place to buy fresh seafood from the local fishing boats and take a picnic lunch at Cape Conran Coastal Park , an hour’s drive away.  Cape Conran Coastal Park is a beautiful camping and bushwalking area and home to kangaroos, koalas and emus.

Stop in at  Croajingolong National Park to explore the diversity of one of Victoria’s most spectacular national parks.

Spend the night at Gipsy Point Lakeside Resort , located on the banks of the Mallacoota Inlet.   It’s the perfect location to sit back, relax and listen to the sounds of the bush.

Day 5: Mallacoota to Narooma – 3 hours drive time

Take an early morning swim at Mallacoota’s popular Betka Beach or head off for an early  morning walk along the Narrows Walk before continuing north towards New South Wales.

Follow the spectacular Sapphire Coast and stop at Pambula to sample award-winning fresh oysters or enjoy freshly caught fish and chips along the foreshore.  Check out the popular surf beach at Tathra Beach .

This coastal strip features scenic rocky coves, bluffs and inlets as you head into Mimosa Rocks National Park . Take the opportunity to stop for a swim in the pure lagoons.

About an hour north is Tilba Tilba , a heritage town that has retained it’s character from 1890s gold rush era.  It’s a great place to stop and taste some of the region’s delicious cheeses.

Narooma is the perfect place for an overnight stopover and with Montague Island just 11 kilometres off-shore it’s an opportunity to visit the state’s only known colony of Australian fur seals. Take a cruise to the island for the chance to spot seals, sea eagles, little penguins, mutton birds, hawks, terns, silver gulls, harriers and peregrine falcons.

Day 6: Narooma to Jervis Bay – 2.5 hours drive time

Slip down to  Narooma’s Surf Beach for an early morning swim and check out the Glasshouse Rocks, ancient rock formations at southern end of the beach.

On your way north again, you’ll pass through lush forest until you reach the popular holiday spot of Batemans Bay . The area is renowned for its sublime coastline, amazing coves, gorgeous beaches and immaculate waters.

About 14 kilometres north of Batemans Bay, turn onto Mt Agony Road for an exceptional wildlife experience at Pebbly Beach . It’s likely you’ll meet friendly kangaroos as they hop along the beach. Generally quite tame, they are happy to be patted and if you’re lucky you might manage to get one to pose with you for a photo.

The next stop takes you into the coastal town of Ulladulla .  It’s a perfect place for a late lunch stop.

The calm waters and white sand of Jervis Bay lie just an hour north of Ulladulla. There’s an opportunity to join a Dolphin Watch Cruise for a truly unforgettable experience. Mingle with dolphins, penguins and humpback whales within the protected waters of the Jervis Bay Marine Park.  Check out the variety of accommodation in this beautiful little town.

Day 7: Jervis Bay to Sydney – 2.75 hours drive time

Spend the morning amid nature’s wonders in Jervis Bay National Park . With sensational coastal views, this birdwatching paradise takes you along the White Sands Walk from Greenfield Beach to Hyams Beach . The full loop is an easy 2.5 kilometres (roughly an hour).

Feel nature’s force on the cliffs at Blowhole Point . Waves surge into an underground cavity, forcing upward to explode with great drama and noise into the air.

Consider taking an inland detour (approximately 25 minutes) to Kiama’s award-winning Illawarra Fly Treetop Walk . This incredible experience leads you 1500 metres through lush, temperate rainforest at up to 30 metres above ground, through the treetops.

The grand finale is the final leg into Sydney, touring along the winding and scenic Grand Pacific Drive .  Enjoy gorgeous views of the rocky coastline and stunning beaches as you drive along the winding Sea Cliff Bridge . This is one of the most beautiful drives of all!

Arriving in Sydney

There are plenty of things to see and do in Sydney so see as much as you can while visiting this amazing city.

Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge and tour the Sydney Opera House which is recognised as a 20th-century architectural masterpiece and classified as a World Heritage site.

Check out the historic precincts of Sydney, such as The Rocks or take a ferry across the Harbour to the Manly beach.  Day trip up into the Blue Mountains or visit Taronga Park Zoo to see some of Australia’s most unusual critters and enjoy the buzz of this vibrant city.

Read next:  Guide to Sydney – Australia’s most vibrant city  

Where to stay?

Australia is surrounded by some of the best beaches in the world.  Its no wonder they call Australia ‘the lucky country’!

So, what are you waiting for? 

A roadtrip from melbourne to sydney is one of my most favourite drives.  pack your bag and hit the road for an roadtrip experience of a lifetime   have you had taken any other roadtrips throughout australia  , related articles more from author.

Drive Adelaide to Darwin – the Photo Essay

Driving from Brisbane to Cairns in 21 days

A Guide to Sydney – Australia’s most Vibrant City

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Log in to leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

A travel website sharing Australian travel adventures, jaw-dropping photos and no-nonsense travel tips and advice.

(c) 2021 Aussie Mob | Travel & Photography Blog

Popular Articles

Off the beaten track day trips from darwin, explore outback queensland, roadtrip to the best top end national parks, popular topics.

• Northern Territory 35
• Australia 21
• Photography 19
• Queensland 18
• Roadtrips 13
• Travel Smart 9

Stay in Touch

Enjoying my content .

Get the latest about our latest adventures, new travel ideas and inspiration, photography tips and other cool stuff. No spam ever, I promise.

You must be logged in to post a comment.

No products in the basket.

A Melbourne to Sydney road trip: the places you cannot miss!

Updated On 7th February, 2024

Road trips are simply the best, particularly when they are drenched in sunshine, freedom and Australian beaches.

Whilst I haven’t done this exact road trip myself, it starts and ends in my two favourite places in Australia (Sydney and Melbourne) and is a road trip I will most certainly be taking on when I next find myself down under.

• See my  guide to Sydney here .
• See my  guide to Melbourne here.

The details of this road trip come from the gorgeous Helena ( see Helena’s blog here) , our lovely and first ever guest contributor who is currently on the East Coast of Australia and has just completed this dream adventure with her boyfriend.

Over to you Helena…

A Melbourne to Sydney 4-day road trip itinerary…

Renting a camper and road trip planning….

After a week in Melbourne in early March, it was time to make our way up to Sydney. Needless to say we were very excited to be in the presence of the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. Before we hit the seaside come city destination, we had heard that there were lots of amazing places to see en route. We had rented our campervan from  RatPack Travel  and picked it up Melbourne, we were travelling all the way from Melbourne to Cairns! One of the benefits of hiring a campervan is that you can visit all the hidden gems that you probably otherwise wouldn’t visit on a tour/organised trip.

My good friend Sammy owns  RatPack Travel  (a discounted booking platform for Australia and New Zealand Travels). The team at RatPack are ready to help you plan and book all your trips and transport, including camper vans, for your adventure down under.

Click here  to send RatPack a WhatsApp message ( +61 490 149 348 ) and start planning your trip today.

Don’t forget you can use my code  MOLLIE10  for 10% off any trip or transport booking you make.

BOOK YOUR CAMPER VAN HERE

The journey from Melbourne to Sydney was  going to take around 11 hours , so we decided to split this into  4 days with 4 stops along the way . The journey times are pretty long, so we split them out by stopping for food halfway, and some of the journeys we did in the evening so that we could wake up in our destination the next day with a full day of adventuring ahead. We did our research both online and by talking to the locals and managed to find the perfect 4-day itinerary which didn’t disappoint one bit.

The itinerary…

Day 1: melbourne – phillip island (journey time: 1 hr 45 minutes).

Phillip Island was on my list of must do’s due to the  nightly penguin parade  which they host on the island every evening at dusk. It’s a very friendly island, we met some locals who we chatted to for hours who gave us so much great advice for the rest of our trip. The Penguin Parade was cute, the fairy penguins all come up out of the ocean at dusk after hunting for the day to head back to their burrows. They all start appearing in groups and waddle up the beach and it’s pretty amazing to see such large volumes of them. Unfortunately  you aren’t allowed to take flash photos , so these were the best I could get without flash!

We managed to find a pretty basic but 5 dollar campsite called Dalyston Recreation Reserve just off of Phillip Island to stay for the night, which was  a bargain  as all the campsites on the island were pretty expensive.

Overnight stay at Dalyston Recreation Reserve

Day 2: Phillip Island – Lakes Entrance (Journey time: 3 hrs 45 minutes)

Lakes Entrance looks  like something you would see on a postcard . The views are great and the water is  pristine turquoise . As you drive into Lakes Entrance, there is a beautiful photo spot in the layby of the main road. You will probably spot it as there will be loads of tourists turning round and pulling up there, it makes for the perfect spot to take photos of where the lakes meet the ocean. Once you park up, be sure to take a walk through the lakes and onto the long stretch of beach.

Overnight stay at Lakes Entrance Tourist Park

Day 3: Lakes entrance – Bermagui Blue pool (Journey time: 4 hours)

We loved it here!  It’s free , and kind of like the Bondi swimming pool but not as many people know about it and it’s not so manmade. The pool is filled with saltwater that has spilled over where the waves are so large. There’s a larger pool, and also a smaller pool if you just fancy a little dip. We went for a swim and even saw  an Octopus climbing up the stairs!  It was also amazing just to sit and watch the waves crash against the rocks. After about half an hour of swimming we were in need of food so we found a cute cafe with good wifi called  ‘The River rock cafe’  – a great place to eat, drink milkshakes and upload your impressive photos.

Overnight stay at Bermagui South Coast Holiday Park

Day 4: Bermagui blue pool – Jervis Bay (Journey time: 2 hours 50 minutes)

Jervis Bay may have topped my list as the nicest beach I have ever been to. The sand is  powder white  and the water was really clear, a lot of the beaches in Australia which we have been to so far have yellowy sand, so this one was a treat! It is surrounded by a national park so we had to pay 11 dollars for a pass to get in, but it’s definitely worth it! There are plenty of barbeques in and around the national park, so we took a trip to Woolworths and stocked up on kebabs and burgers and whipped up our own barbie food in true Aussie style!

We found a free campsite called ‘Kevin Walsh Oval’ in a place called Jamberoo 1 hour north of Jervis Bay, which broke up the journey meaning we didn’t have so long to get to Sydney in the morning!

Overnight stay at Kevin Walsh Oval

Top tip:  check out my  Jervis Bay day roadtrip from Sydney here !

Final leg: Jervis Bay – Sydney (Journey time: 2 hours 50 minutes)

Welcome to Sydney !

Top tip:  Whilst you’ve got your car consider extending your road trip and exploring the  Blue Mountains  / the  Hunter Valley wine region.

Top tips for a Melbourne to Sydney road trip…

• Some of the  best tips  and hotspots will come from the locals when you get there!
• Complete this roadtrip in  4 days without rushing, but a week would be ideal if you have the time.
• The Waves at Lakes Entrance were great so  we took body boards !
• For Jervis Bay grab some picnic/BBQ bits beforehand and  utilise one of the many BBQ’s available  around the national park.
• You could also add  Canberra  (the capital of Australia) to the road trip which is about halfway between Melbourne and Sydney.
• Get your  road trip playlist at the ready  as it’s a long drive!
• An  in-car phone charger  is so handy for charging phones/GoPros on the go!
• Make sure you get your phone unlocked so that you can  grab a sim card and access data for GPS.

Have you been to Australia ?

What were your favourite spots? I’d love to know!?

Love as always and happy adventuring,

IT’S LOVELY TO MEET YOU

I’M MOLLIE AND I STARTED THIS BLOG BACK IN 2013 WHEN I HEADED OUT ON MY FIRST BACKPACKING ADVENTURE. 

I’D LOVE TO SHARE THE JOURNEY WITH YOU, WE’VE GROWN A LOT SINCE THEN!

Shop the google map legends

Search by adventure type, active travel, backpacking, budget travel, love and relationships, once in a lifetime, packing tips, solo travel, weekend getaways, where's mollie newsletter, travel shop, search by destination, other posts that you may like....

The best day trips from London, UK

Paddleboarding, beach bonfire and fresh steaks ♡ Westport, New Zealand

11 benefits of counselling and reasons to be proud of going

A day trip from london to windsor: things to do and see.

48 hours in Kuala Lumpur: The best things to do, see and eat

A 1-day Byron Bay road trip ft. Mount Warning at Sunrise and Lennox Head

A guide to planning a British Columbia road trip, Canada

Review: Ibis hotel, Canning Town

UPDATE: Jetlag in China + my next month of adventure

Privacy overview.

The Outdoor Lovers' Guide To Beautiful Places

• Work With Katiesaway
• Destinations

australia , Road Trip · May 28, 2020

Sydney To Melbourne Road Trip – A Unique Inland Drive Itinerary

Discover the beautiful south coast of new south wales and the unique nature of the snowy mountains with this 5 day sydney to melbourne road trip itinerary.

Driving from Sydney to Melbourne is an iconic road trip, whether you choose to take the Great Ocean Road or the Inland route via the snowy mountains that I will be talking about in this blog post! Being only a short distance, compared with other Australian road trips , the drive from Sydney to Melbourne gives you the opportunity to slow down and spend a little more time exploring each destination along the way! This trip is perfect for a long weekend or week long break and is best done during the summer time!

This Sydney to Melbourne road trip guide includes

• The road trip itinerary
• Road trip tips
• Where to stay along the way
• The best places to visit between Sydney and Melbourne

Our 5 Day Sydney to Melbourne Road Trip Itinerary

Sydney to durras, durras to lakes entrance, lakes entrance to bright, bright to melbourne, tips for australian road trips:, great apps to use:.

• Camper Mate – Shows all the camping spots and what type of vehicle you can take there, the cost and the facilities
• NSW Parks – A great app to discover the national parks of NSW
• All Trails – A hiking app with descriptions or walks and places to visit

Best things to pack on an Australian camping road trip

• A tent – We bought ours really cheaply from K-Mart and it was perfect
• A portable charger – Most free campsites don’t have power!
• Outdoor chairs and/or a picnic mat
• A torch and a light to hang from the tent
• Toilet paper, baby wipes, sanitiser etc.
• 2 Towels (if you have space) – one for the beach and one for a shower
• Blow up beds and duvets instead of mats and sleeping bags if you are diving and have space in the car!

Where to Stay on the Sydney to Melbourne drive

We decided that on the drive from Sydney to Melbourne, we wanted to make our road trip as close to nature as we could. This meant stopping at all the natural wonders, swimming in lakes and waterfalls, and camping. This meant that we could drive into the bush and stay in the National Parks in the Snow Mountains and along the beach in Durras! Below are the campsites we stayed at!

Campsites between Sydney and Melbourne:

Durras lake north holiday park, durras.

$33 a night for an unpowered camp site This was quite an expensive campsite but it was the only one open at the time of year we were travelling (late March). It was located just 100m from Durras North Beach, a beautiful plane of golden sand. The amenities were all really nice (although you did have to pay extra for the shower) and there was a BBQ and picnic area!

Goongerah Camping Ground, Lakes Entrance

Free campsite This was a free campsite that we found through the CamperMate App. It was on an off road track, which we drove in a 2WD and it was ok, but i would not necessarily recommend it! The road was about 10 minutes long, down a big hill. At the bottom was the most incredible little campsite next to the river! You could swim here in the river and it is a great place for kids!

The campground has a toilet and each site has its own fire pit!

The best places to visit on your Sydney and Melbourne road trip

This drive takes around 4 hours without including stops! There are so many places you can stop on this part of the drive, and I would recommend spending a night along the way maybe in Jervis Bay if you have time! There are some great campsites in the bush and secret beaches to go and see!

Seacliff Bridge

You have probably seen so many pictures of this bridge! It is on Lawrence Hargrave Drive just south of Clifton. When you arrive there is a 10 minute hike up to this amazing lookout! This is a great spot to put the drone up too!

Kiama is a super beautiful seaside town 2 hours south of Sydney. It is known to be a place most people go for weekends away to escape from the city so can be quite busy on weekend! If you stop here you have to stop at the Kiama Blow Hole . It is a big blowhole on the cliff that you can walk down to and have a look at!

An hour further south of Kiama is Jervis Bay. This is a big bushland area with national parks, seaside towns and beautiful beaches! I would recommend staying one or two nights here, either camping in the national park at somewhere like Green Patch , glamping at The Woods Farm , or staying in a hotel in Huskison .

Places to visit in Jervis Bay:

• To Eat: Kanpai Japanese
• Honeymoon Bay
• Hyams Beach
• Murrays Beach
• Scottish Rocks
• Steamers Beach

Durras is known for having a beautiful long beach that captures the sunset perfectly! There is little in the town itself so I would recommend bring your own food here to cook at the campsite or eat as a picnic on the Durras North beach!

Mallacoota beach

This is probably one of the most beautiful and photogenic beaches I have been to! When you arrive in the car park the part of the beach you see doesn’t look so great but if you walk down to the right, past all the rocks and around the corner, you reach this amazing little rock pool area with crystal clear blue water and big rock formations! We spent hours here swimming around, snorkelling with fish and exploring the rock pools!

Joop’s Jetty

Joop’s Jetty is a crater that was man made as the dismantle site of a gold digging dredge. It is said to be 40m deep at its deepest part! It was such a beautiful swimming spot. There is a jetty to jump off, a floating barge to swim to, and if you swim across to the other side there is a rope swing that you can jump off! It is a beautiful place to stop and swim, or even just have a picnic!

Sinclair’s Waterhole

Sinclair’s waterhole is a part of the river that passes over rocks and forms this amazing pool. The top of the swimming hole is many rocks forming small waterfalls you can sit in, almost like a natural spa! It is not so busy here and a great place to spend the afternoon swimming!

Chinamen’s Waterhole

This is more of a big lake with a beach entry. Its a really beautiful place to swim too but there is less fun aspects to it that the others that are more waterfalls!

Mount Buffalo

Mount Buffalo National Park covers the whole bushland mountain area next to Bright. It has so many waterfalls, hikes and trails you can follow, as well as ski fields in the winter! The Horn at Mount Buffalo is a great walking track, around 45 minutes, to the highest point in the mountain ranges, where you can see a view of the whole landscape! Its amazing!

Ovens River Swimming Pool

This is the main swimming area in Bright, located in the centre of the town by a little park. This area gets incredibly busy, but there is still a lot of space around to find a place to set up and feel like you are by yourself in the water! There are a lot of families around here so it’s a great place to bring kids for a swim!

Lady Bath Falls

These are located in Mount Buffalo National Park. There is a beautiful small waterfall, surrounded by flat rocks and shallow rock pools, so you can sit and enjoy the water flowing down the river! This is probably my favourite of the waterfalls we saw, especially as it was so quiet and there was hardly anyone there! From here, there is a track to 2 other waterfalls, but these are both just view points and neither of them can be swum in!

Rollasons Falls Track

This is a 3km bush track that ends in the most beautiful waterfall! It is very easy walking, although it is all down hill (and then up hill on your way back). The waterfall itself has so many layers and different pools to swim in! The main waterfall has a small pool half way down, and then a larger pool at the bottom (as you can see in the photos below). The water then continues to flow down smaller waterfalls, through rocks pools, to another waterfall further down. It is again, like a natural spa!

From Bright to Melbourne it is about a 3.5 hours drive. You could split this up and make stops along the way as the whole area to the south is made up of different national parks! We were on a tight schedule and had to drive back straight from Bright unfortunately!

Save this Sydney to Melbourne road trip post to Pinterest!

You may also enjoy these posts!

You’ll Also Love

ways you can support Katiesaway

Buy me a coffee

Follow me on Instagram

Purchase my West Sweden Map

west sweden

Recent posts

• The Best One Day Stockholm Itinerary for First Time Visitors
• 10 Day Scandinavia Itinerary – The Perfect Norway, Sweden and Denmark Trip
• 15 Places To Visit During Summer in Sweden (2024)
• Mölle and Kullaberg Nature Reserve: A Guide To This Unique Place To Visit

• Privacy Policy
• Copyright Notice
• Disclosure Policy
• West Sweden Map
• Terms and Conditions
• Cookie Policy

Copyright © 2024 Katiesaway · Theme by 17th Avenue

Winter is here! Check out the winter wonderlands at these 5 amazing winter destinations in Montana

• Travel Guide

Australia Road Trip: Where To Stop Between Melbourne & Sydney

Published: August 20, 2023

Modified: December 27, 2023

by Meg Funderburk

• Australia & South Pacific
• Plan Your Trip
• Travel Destinations
• Travel Tips

Introduction

Embarking on a road trip between Melbourne and Sydney is an unforgettable adventure that allows you to experience the breathtaking beauty of the Australian coastline. As you journey along this iconic route, you will encounter stunning landscapes, charming coastal towns, and an array of unique attractions. Whether you’re a nature lover, a history enthusiast, or a foodie, this road trip has something for everyone.

Spanning a distance of approximately 900 kilometers, the route from Melbourne to Sydney offers the perfect balance between urban exploration and natural wonders. From the bustling streets of Melbourne to the iconic landmarks of Sydney, you will traverse through diverse landscapes, including pristine beaches, national parks, and charming seaside villages.

One of the highlights of this road trip is the opportunity to explore the Gippsland region, renowned for its stunning coastline and abundant wildlife. This region offers a multitude of natural attractions, including the famous Ninety Mile Beach, Cape Conran Coastal Park, and the enchanting Lakes Entrance. Further along the route, you will also have the chance to discover hidden gems such as Mallacoota, Genoa, and Eden, each offering their own unique allure.

This road trip is not just about reaching the final destination; it’s about the journey itself. You’ll have the flexibility to stop and explore at your own pace, creating memories and experiences that will last a lifetime. Whether you choose to delve into the local cuisine, hike through ancient forests, or simply soak in the breathtaking scenery, this road trip promises to be an adventure filled with incredible sights and unforgettable moments.

In this guide, we will take you through a comprehensive itinerary, highlighting some of the must-visit destinations and attractions along the way. So buckle up, prepare your camera, and get ready to embark on an epic road trip from Melbourne to Sydney.

Day 1: Departure from Melbourne

Your Melbourne to Sydney road trip begins with an exciting departure from the vibrant city of Melbourne. After fueling up your vehicle and loading it with snacks and drinks for the journey, hit the road and head east towards your first stop.

As you leave Melbourne behind, you’ll soon find yourself surrounded by rolling green hills and picturesque countryside. Take in the scenic beauty of the region as you drive towards your first destination, Wilsons Promontory National Park.

Wilsons Promontory, also known as “The Prom,” is a nature lover’s paradise. This national park is renowned for its stunning pristine beaches, rugged coastal landscapes, and diverse wildlife. Spend the day exploring the park’s numerous walking trails, such as the popular for lovers of bird watching.

After a day of adventure in Wilsons Promontory, continue your journey east towards Lakes Entrance, a vibrant coastal town nestled on the edge of the Gippsland Lakes. When you arrive, take a walk along the waterfront, breathe in the fresh sea air, and indulge in some delicious seafood at one of the town’s fantastic restaurants.

If time allows, consider taking a boat tour on the Gippsland Lakes, where you can spot dolphins, seals, and a variety of bird species. Alternatively, you can hire a kayak or paddleboard and explore the calm waters at your own pace.

After a day filled with exploration and relaxation, settle in for the night at one of the waterfront accommodations in Lakes Entrance, enjoying the sound of waves lulling you to sleep.

Day 1 of your Melbourne to Sydney road trip will leave you feeling rejuvenated and excited for the adventures that lie ahead. Get a good night’s rest and prepare for an incredible journey along the Australian coastline.

Day 2: Wilsons Promontory National Park

On Day 2 of your Melbourne to Sydney road trip, immerse yourself in the natural wonders of Wilsons Promontory National Park. This iconic park, affectionately known as “The Prom,” is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers.

Start your day bright and early to make the most of your visit to this breathtaking park. Lace up your hiking boots and embark on one of the many walking trails that traverse the rugged terrain. One of the must-do hikes is the Mount Oberon Summit Walk, a 6-kilometer round trip that rewards you with jaw-dropping panoramic views of the park and the surrounding coastline.

As you explore Wilsons Promontory, keep your eyes peeled for native wildlife. The park is home to a diverse range of animals, including kangaroos, emus, wombats, and a variety of bird species. Don’t forget to bring your camera to capture these unforgettable encounters.

If you’re a beach lover, Wilsons Promontory won’t disappoint. Squeaky Beach is one of the park’s most famous beaches, known for its unique quartz sand that squeaks underfoot. Take a stroll along the pristine shores, dip your toes in the crystal-clear water, and feel the stress melt away.

For those seeking a more immersive experience, consider camping overnight in the park. Tidal River Campground offers a range of camping options, from powered sites to bush camping. Fall asleep to the tranquil sounds of nature and wake up to the chorus of native birds.

After a day filled with adventure and natural beauty, retreat to your campsite or accommodation to relax and reflect on the wonders you’ve witnessed. Wilsons Promontory National Park is an absolute gem and a testament to the natural splendor of Australia.

As you bid farewell to this remarkable park, get ready for the next leg of your journey as you continue on the Melbourne to Sydney road trip. With memories of Wilsons Promontory etched in your mind, you’ll be eager to see what other incredible destinations await you along the way.

Day 3: Lakes Entrance

As your Melbourne to Sydney road trip continues, Day 3 takes you to the charming coastal town of Lakes Entrance. Located on the edge of the Gippsland Lakes, Lakes Entrance offers a perfect blend of natural beauty, outdoor activities, and relaxed seaside vibes.

Begin your day by exploring the iconic Entrance, where the Gippsland Lakes meets the Southern Ocean. Marvel at the impressive footbridge that spans the entrance and take in the stunning views of the pristine lakes against the backdrop of the azure ocean.

For fishing enthusiasts, Lakes Entrance is a paradise. Consider joining a fishing charter to try your luck in catching some of the abundant fish species that inhabit these waters. Alternatively, you can cast a line off the wharf or simply stroll along the waterfront, soaking in the peaceful atmosphere.

Be sure to visit the Griffiths’ Sea Shell Museum and Marine Display, where you can discover an extensive collection of beautiful seashells from around the world. Learn about marine life and the natural history of the region, providing insight into the unique ecosystem of Lakes Entrance.

For a scenic experience, hop on a paddle steamer cruise and explore the waterways of the Gippsland Lakes. Cruise along the tranquil canals, soak in the stunning scenery, and keep an eye out for dolphins frolicking in the waters. It’s a relaxing way to truly appreciate the beauty of this coastal gem.

As the day draws to a close, indulge in the local cuisine at one of the many fantastic seafood restaurants. From freshly caught fish and chips to delectable seafood platters, Lakes Entrance offers a mouthwatering dining experience for all seafood lovers.

Wrap up your day by taking a leisurely stroll along the Ninety Mile Beach, located just a short drive from Lakes Entrance. This expansive stretch of golden sand is perfect for an evening walk, witnessing a stunning sunset that blankets the horizon.

Lakes Entrance is a destination that truly captures the essence of a coastal getaway. With its natural beauty, abundant marine life, and relaxed atmosphere, it’s a perfect stop on your Melbourne to Sydney road trip.

Day 4: Ninety Mile Beach

On Day 4 of your Melbourne to Sydney road trip, prepare to be amazed as you make your way to the magnificent Ninety Mile Beach. Stretching along the southeastern coast of Australia for, you guessed it, ninety miles (144 kilometers), this pristine beach is a true natural wonder.

Start your day by driving to the western end of Ninety Mile Beach, where you’ll find the town of Golden Beach. This sleepy coastal town serves as the gateway to the expansive beach and offers a peaceful starting point for your exploration.

As you set foot on the golden sand, take a moment to savor the vastness of Ninety Mile Beach. With its wide expanse of shoreline and sparkling turquoise waters, it’s a sight to behold. The beach is also known for its tall sand dunes, providing opportunities for thrilling sandboarding adventures.

Feel the sand between your toes as you stroll along the beach, breathe in the fresh sea breeze, and listen to the crashing waves. Take some time to relax, soak up the sun, and dip your toes in the inviting waters. It’s the perfect place to unwind and appreciate the beauty of the Australian coastline.

For those seeking more adventure, consider joining a fishing excursion to try your hand at beach or surf fishing. Ninety Mile Beach is known for its excellent fishing opportunities, with popular catches including salmon, tailor, and flathead. Cast your line and see if you can reel in a big catch.

If you’re a nature enthusiast, keep an eye out for the diverse birdlife that calls Ninety Mile Beach home. The beach is a haven for migratory birds, and you might spot pelicans, swans, and even the elusive hooded plovers.

As the day draws to a close, don’t miss the opportunity to witness a breathtaking sunset over the ocean. Find a comfortable spot on the beach, watch as the vibrant colors fill the sky, and let the serenity of the moment wash over you.

Ninety Mile Beach is a true gem along the Melbourne to Sydney road trip, offering a sense of tranquility and awe-inspiring natural beauty. As you bid farewell to this remarkable beach, get ready to continue your journey and discover the wonders that lie ahead.

Day 5: Cape Conran Coastal Park

On Day 5 of your Melbourne to Sydney road trip, venture into the stunning Cape Conran Coastal Park, a nature lover’s paradise situated along the southeastern coast of Australia. This pristine coastal park offers a perfect blend of rugged landscapes, secluded beaches, and abundant wildlife.

Start your day by exploring the park’s extensive network of walking trails. The Cape Conran Nature Walk is a must-do, taking you through a diverse range of habitats including coastal heathlands, eucalypt forests, and tranquil wetlands. Keep your eyes peeled for native wildlife along the way, as the park is home to kangaroos, emus, koalas, and numerous bird species.

Head to West Cape Beach, one of the park’s highlight destinations. This secluded beach stretches as far as the eye can see, with sparkling turquoise waters and pristine white sand. Take a leisurely walk along the shoreline, soak up the sun, and relish in the tranquility of this unspoiled coastal paradise.

If you’re a water sports enthusiast, Cape Conran offers excellent opportunities for swimming, snorkeling, and surfing. Discover the vibrant underwater world as you snorkel along the coastline, or catch some waves on your surfboard in the designated surf zones. The park is known for its consistent surf breaks, making it a favorite among surfers of all levels.

For a unique perspective of the park, consider hiring a kayak or canoe and exploring the tranquil waters of Yeerung River. Paddle through the peaceful estuary, surrounded by towering eucalypt forests and mangrove-lined shores. It’s a fantastic way to immerse yourself in the serenity of the natural environment.

As the day comes to a close, find a scenic spot to witness the breathtaking sunset over the ocean. The rugged cliffs and panoramic views at Cape Conran offer the perfect backdrop for a truly awe-inspiring sunset experience.

Cape Conran Coastal Park is a hidden gem along the Melbourne to Sydney road trip, offering a remarkable blend of natural beauty, outdoor adventures, and serene tranquility. Immerse yourself in this coastal paradise and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Day 6: Mallacoota

As you continue your Melbourne to Sydney road trip, Day 6 brings you to the charming coastal town of Mallacoota. Nestled on the far eastern edge of Victoria, Mallacoota is a hidden gem known for its pristine waters, untouched wilderness, and serene beauty.

Start your day by heading to Bastion Point, a popular vantage point that offers breathtaking panoramic views of the Mallacoota Inlet and the surrounding coastal landscapes. Take a moment to soak in the beauty of the azure waters, lush greenery, and the rugged coastline stretching as far as the eye can see.

For nature lovers, Mallacoota offers numerous outdoor activities to enjoy. Explore the Croajingolong National Park, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve that boasts an incredible diversity of ecosystems. Choose from a range of scenic walking trails that wind through coastal heathlands, pristine forests, and tranquil lakes.

Don’t miss the opportunity to venture out into the Mallacoota Inlet, known for its exceptional fishing and boating opportunities. Hire a boat or join a guided tour to explore the waterways, drop a line in search of Australian salmon or bream, or simply cruise along, enjoying the peaceful ambiance of this aquatic wonderland.

If you’re a bird enthusiast, Mallacoota is a birdwatcher’s paradise. The area is teeming with birdlife, from colorful rainbow lorikeets to majestic eagles. Spend some time at Gipsy Point and Karbeethong Jetty, where you can spot a wide variety of bird species in their natural habitat.

For a relaxing day at the beach, venture to Secret Beach, tucked away in the Cape Howe Marine National Park. This secluded spot offers pristine white sand, crystal-clear waters, and a sense of seclusion amidst nature. Unwind, swim, and bask in the tranquility of this hidden coastal gem.

As the day draws to a close, make your way to Mallacoota’s main town center and indulge in some fresh seafood at one of the local eateries. From fish and chips to oysters and prawns, the culinary delights of Mallacoota will satisfy even the most discerning seafood lover.

Mallacoota is a destination that showcases the unspoiled beauty of the Australian coastline. With its diverse natural landscapes, abundant wildlife, and tranquil beaches, it’s a perfect stop on your Melbourne to Sydney road trip.

Day 7: Genoa

On Day 7 of your Melbourne to Sydney road trip, make your way to the picturesque town of Genoa. Located in East Gippsland, Genoa is a hidden gem that offers a stunning combination of natural beauty, rich history, and warm hospitality.

Start your day by venturing into Croajingolong National Park, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve that encompasses a diverse range of ecosystems. Explore the ancient rainforests, hike through rugged coastal landscapes, and marvel at the breathtaking views from vantage points such as Betka Beach Lookout and Shipwreck Creek.

Genoa is also renowned for its historical significance. Discover the heritage-listed Genoa Bridge, one of Australia’s oldest timber truss bridges that has stood the test of time since the 1920s. Take a moment to appreciate the engineering marvel and the beautiful surrounding scenery.

For nature lovers, a visit to Genoa Peak is a must. Embark on a scenic drive or hike to the summit, where you will be rewarded with panoramic views of the surrounding forests, mountains, and the sparkling waters of Mallacoota Inlet. It’s a perfect spot for nature photography and a chance to immerse yourself in the tranquility of the wilderness.

If you’re looking for a unique experience, consider visiting the Wingan Inlet. This remote coastal lagoon is only accessible by foot and offers a peaceful sanctuary where you can spot a variety of bird species, indulge in picnic delights, and swim in the pristine waters.

As the day winds down, make your way back to the township of Genoa and enjoy a quiet evening in the charming town. Savor a meal at a local café or restaurant, where you can taste delicious and fresh regional produce.

Genoa may be a small town, but it offers a wealth of natural beauty and historical charm. With its scenic landscapes, hidden treasures, and warm community spirit, it’s a delightful stop on your Melbourne to Sydney road trip.

Day 8: Ben Boyd National Park

Prepare for an exciting day of exploration as you make your way to Ben Boyd National Park on Day 8 of your Melbourne to Sydney road trip. Located along the stunning Sapphire Coast, this national park boasts dramatic coastal cliffs, secluded beaches, and a fascinating history.

Start your day by visiting one of the park’s most iconic attractions, the Pinnacles. These towering red and white sandstone cliffs are a sight to behold, rising dramatically from the turquoise waters of the Pacific Ocean. Take a walk along the Pinnacles Boardwalk, savoring the breathtaking views and taking in the sounds of the crashing waves.

Next, head to Boyd Tower, a historic lighthouse perched on a cliff overlooking the coastline. Climb to the top for panoramic views and learn about the tower’s fascinating past. The tower is named after Ben Boyd, a prominent figure in the area’s maritime history.

Embark on a scenic coastal walk along the Light to Light Track, which stretches for 31 kilometers from Boyd Tower to Green Cape Lighthouse. This multi-day hike offers unparalleled views of the rugged coastline, secluded beaches, and lush forests. If you’re short on time, opt for a shorter section of the track and explore the unique landscapes at your own pace.

For a beach experience like no other, make your way to the pristine Saltwater Creek Beach. This secluded gem is often overlooked by visitors, offering tranquility and natural beauty away from the crowds. Take a dip in the crystal-clear waters, explore the rock pools, or simply relax on the soft sand.

As you wander through the park, keep an eye out for native wildlife, including kangaroos, wallabies, and a variety of bird species. This area is known for its diverse birdlife, making it a paradise for birdwatching enthusiasts.

Wrap up your day by visiting the Green Cape Lighthouse, the southernmost lighthouse in New South Wales. Explore the heritage-listed lighthouse and enjoy the stunning vistas from its vantage point. Marvel at the rugged coastline and the rolling waves that stretch out before you.

Ben Boyd National Park is a true gem along the Melbourne to Sydney road trip, offering a blend of natural beauty, fascinating history, and outdoor adventures. Take your time to immerse yourself in the enchanting landscapes and create lasting memories.

Day 9: Eden

On Day 9 of your Melbourne to Sydney road trip, make your way to the charming coastal town of Eden, a place of natural beauty, maritime history, and fascinating wildlife encounters. Located on the stunning Sapphire Coast, Eden offers a perfect blend of serene beaches, picturesque landscapes, and captivating attractions.

Start your day by visiting the Eden Killer Whale Museum, a must-visit destination for history buffs and marine life enthusiasts. Discover the captivating stories of the region’s whaling history and learn about the unique relationship between the local orcas and the whalers. Explore the museum’s exhibits, which include artifacts, photographs, and interactive displays.

Take a stroll along the beautiful Aslings Beach and enjoy the stunning coastal views. This pristine stretch of sand is perfect for beachcombing, swimming, or simply basking in the sun. Keen surfers can catch some waves at Cocora Beach or enjoy a scenic walk along the nearby coastal paths.

For an unforgettable experience, take a cruise out to sea and witness the majesty of the humpback whales during their annual migration. These magnificent creatures can often be seen from June to November as they make their way along the coast. The sight of a breaching whale or the sounds of their melodic song will leave you in awe.

Explore the rugged beauty of Ben Boyd National Park, located just south of Eden. Marvel at the towering sea cliffs, spot native wildlife, and take in the panoramic views from the Green Cape Lookout. Don’t forget to visit the historic Davidson Whaling Station, once a bustling whaling station that offers a glimpse into Australia’s past.

For a unique and immersive experience, consider joining a sea kayaking tour. Paddle through the crystal-clear waters, explore hidden coves and sea caves, and witness the abundant marine life that calls this area home.

As the day comes to a close, indulge in some fresh seafood at one of the local eateries. Eden is renowned for its delicious oysters, prawns, and fish. Enjoy a seafood feast while overlooking the picturesque harbour, savoring the flavors of the sea.

Eden is a coastal town that encapsulates the beauty of the Sapphire Coast. With its rich history, incredible wildlife encounters, and stunning landscapes, it’s a destination that will leave you with lasting memories of your Melbourne to Sydney road trip.

Day 10: Merimbula

On Day 10 of your Melbourne to Sydney road trip, make your way to the vibrant and picturesque coastal town of Merimbula. Located on the beautiful Sapphire Coast, Merimbula is known for its pristine beaches, sparkling lakes, and a wide array of outdoor activities.

Start your day by exploring the Main Beach, a popular destination for swimming, sunbathing, and beachside picnics. Enjoy the crystal-clear waters, lounge on the soft sand, and take in the panoramic views of the coastline.

For water enthusiasts, Merimbula offers abundant opportunities for fishing, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding. Hire a kayak or SUP and venture out onto the tranquil waters of Merimbula Lake, where you can explore hidden coves, observe wildlife, and soak in the scenic surroundings.

For a unique experience, visit the Merimbula Aquarium and Wharf. Discover the fascinating marine life of the Sapphire Coast, including tropical fish, seahorses, and stingrays. Take a stroll along the wharf and observe the local fishermen as they bring in their catch of the day.

If you’re a nature lover, explore the Merimbula Boardwalk, a scenic path that winds through the surrounding wetlands and showcases the area’s rich biodiversity. Keep an eye out for native bird species, such as pelicans and black swans, as well as the occasional kangaroo or wallaby.

Take a break from outdoor activities and visit the charming boutiques, art galleries, and cafes in Merimbula’s town center. Shop for unique souvenirs, browse local artwork, and treat yourself to a delicious meal or coffee at one of the waterfront cafes.

As the day winds down, make your way to the nearby Tura Beach to witness a stunning sunset over the ocean. With its golden hues reflecting on the water, it’s a peaceful and picturesque end to your day in Merimbula.

Merimbula offers a perfect combination of natural beauty, outdoor adventures, and a laid-back coastal charm. With its stunning beaches, pristine lakes, and unique attractions, it’s a destination that will capture your heart along the Melbourne to Sydney road trip.

Day 11: Bermagui

On Day 11 of your Melbourne to Sydney road trip, venture to the idyllic coastal town of Bermagui. Nestled along the Sapphire Coast, Bermagui offers a tranquil and picturesque getaway with its pristine beaches, charming local attractions, and a strong connection to the sea.

Start your day by visiting Blue Pool, a natural rock pool perched on the edge of the ocean. The pool’s vivid blue water contrasts beautifully with the surrounding rocks and is perfect for swimming or simply taking in the stunning views. Don’t forget your camera to capture the mesmerizing beauty of this unique coastal formation.

Make your way to the Bermagui Fishermen’s Wharf and soak up the harbor atmosphere. Watch as the local fishing fleet unloads their catch of the day, and even sample some freshly caught seafood from one of the waterfront seafood restaurants. Indulge in a plate of delicious fish and chips or savor the flavors of local oysters.

For nature enthusiasts, a visit to the Bermagui National Park is a must. Hike along the scenic walking trails that wind through the park, offering panoramic views of the coastline and the surrounding forests. Keep an eye out for native wildlife, such as kangaroos, wallabies, and a variety of bird species.

Head to Camel Rock, a geological formation that resembles a reclining camel. This unique landmark is a great spot for photography and offers beautiful views of the ocean. Take a leisurely walk along the sandy shore or simply sit and admire the natural beauty of the coastline.

For those interested in Aboriginal heritage, explore the Wallaga Lake area, which holds significant cultural importance for the Yuin people. Learn about their rich history and connection to the land, visit the Wallaga Lake Cultural Centre, and take a leisurely stroll along the lake’s shores.

End your day by witnessing a mesmerizing sunset at Cuttagee Beach. The golden hues reflecting on the water and the peaceful ambiance make it a perfect spot to unwind and reflect on your journey along the Melbourne to Sydney road trip.

Bermagui is a hidden gem on the Sapphire Coast, offering a harmonious blend of natural beauty, coastal charm, and a strong sense of community. Immerse yourself in the serene atmosphere and enjoy the delights that this coastal town has to offer.

Day 12: Narooma

On Day 12 of your Melbourne to Sydney road trip, make your way to the stunning coastal town of Narooma. Located on the South Coast of New South Wales, Narooma is renowned for its pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, and incredible wildlife encounters.

Start your day by visiting the iconic Montague Island, located just off the coast of Narooma. Take a guided tour or hop on a boat to reach the island, where you can witness an incredible abundance of wildlife. Spot seals lazing on the rocks, observe penguins waddling along the shore, and marvel at the majestic whales during their migration season.

Back on the mainland, head to Narooma Golf Course, known as one of the most picturesque courses in Australia. Even if you’re not an avid golfer, take a stroll along the course and enjoy the breathtaking coastal views. If you’re up for a challenge, enjoy a round of golf surrounded by the stunning natural beauty.

For a unique experience, rent a kayak or stand-up paddleboard and explore the sparkling waters of Wagonga Inlet. This tranquil estuary is perfect for water sports enthusiasts of all levels. Paddle along the peaceful waterways, admire the lush mangroves, and keep an eye out for the abundant birdlife.

For those seeking a beach escape, head to Narooma’s Main Beach and soak up the sun on its golden sands. Take a refreshing swim in the clear waters or simply relax and enjoy the coastal beauty. Nearby, you’ll also find the popular Surf Beach, perfect for catching some waves or enjoying a beachside picnic.

Don’t miss the chance to visit Australia Rock, an iconic rock formation located near Bar Beach. Its unique shape resembles the outline of the Australian continent and is a great spot for photos and admiring the natural wonders of the coastline.

As the day draws to a close, make your way to the Narooma Bridge that spans over Wagonga Inlet. From this vantage point, you can witness a breathtaking sunset that paints the sky in vibrant hues, casting a magical glow over the tranquil waters.

Narooma is a coastal paradise that offers an incredible mix of natural beauty, wildlife encounters, and a relaxed seaside atmosphere. Immerse yourself in the charm of this town, and let the wonders of Narooma leave a lasting impression on your Melbourne to Sydney road trip.

Day 13: Batemans Bay

On Day 13 of your Melbourne to Sydney road trip, make your way to the beautiful coastal town of Batemans Bay. Situated on the South Coast of New South Wales, Batemans Bay is known for its stunning beaches, thriving food scene, and an abundance of outdoor activities.

Start your day by exploring the pristine beaches that Batemans Bay has to offer. Surf Beach is a popular spot for swimming, surfing, and sunbathing, while the more secluded but equally breathtaking beaches like Long Beach and Denhams Beach offer tranquility and natural beauty.

Visit the Batemans Bay Bridge, an iconic landmark that overlooks the beautiful Clyde River. Take a leisurely stroll along the bridge and enjoy panoramic views of the river, while observing the boats and wildlife that frequent the area.

For a unique wildlife experience, head to Mogo Wildlife Park, located just a short drive from Batemans Bay. Explore the park and get up close and personal with a wide variety of exotic animals, including lions, giraffes, and meerkats. Don’t miss the opportunity to hand-feed kangaroos and have a close encounter with friendly lemurs.

If you’re a food lover, Batemans Bay won’t disappoint. Sample some of the region’s freshest seafood at local restaurants, indulge in fish and chips by the waterfront, or head to the weekly farmers market to taste locally sourced produce. Don’t forget to try the famous Clyde River oysters, known for their unbeatable flavor.

For adventure enthusiasts, explore the Eurobodalla National Park and immerse yourself in a world of natural wonders. Go hiking through lush rainforests, discover hidden waterfalls, and take in breathtaking coastal views. Ellery Creek Big Hole and Pebbly Beach are also worth visiting, offering unique landscapes and the opportunity to spot friendly kangaroos.

As the day comes to a close, take a sunset cruise on the Clyde River and witness the sky transform into a palette of vibrant colors. Marvel at the beauty of the river as you glide along the water, taking in the serenity of the moment.

Batemans Bay is a coastal gem that will captivate you with its stunning beaches, incredible wildlife encounters, and delectable cuisine. Uncover the charm of this beautiful town and create unforgettable memories on your Melbourne to Sydney road trip.

Day 14: Murramarang National Park

On Day 14 of your Melbourne to Sydney road trip, immerse yourself in the natural wonders of Murramarang National Park. Located along the stunning South Coast of New South Wales, this national park is known for its pristine beaches, rich biodiversity, and rugged coastal landscapes.

Start your day by exploring the park’s picturesque beaches. Depot Beach offers a tranquil setting with crystal-clear waters, perfect for swimming and snorkeling. Enjoy a leisurely walk along the beach and take in the beauty of the surrounding native bushland.

Continue your adventure by embarking on one of the park’s scenic hiking trails. The popular Durras Lake Discovery Trail offers a gentle and family-friendly walk, where you can spot native wildlife and enjoy stunning views of the serene Durras Lake.

For a more challenging hike, tackle the Mount Durras Track, a steep track that rewards you with panoramic views overlooking the coastline. Admire the sweeping vistas and feel a sense of accomplishment as you reach the summit.

No journey through Murramarang National Park would be complete without a visit to Pebbly Beach. This iconic beach is famous for its resident kangaroos, which are often seen sunbathing or grazing on the beach. Be sure to have your camera ready to capture these unforgettable encounters.

If you’re a bird lover, head to Pretty Point Bay and observe the multitude of bird species that inhabit the area. Binoculars in hand, you can spot colorful parrots, lorikeets, and sea eagles soaring above the shoreline.

Experience the park’s marine diversity by snorkeling or diving in the rocky reefs of Murramarang. Discover a vibrant underwater world teeming with colorful fish, intricate coral formations, and curious marine creatures.

As the day winds down, relish in the serenity of the park by enjoying a peaceful picnic amidst the natural beauty. Choose a spot overlooking a beach or find a secluded spot along one of the hiking trails.

Murramarang National Park offers an escape into nature, where you can be surrounded by the beauty of the South Coast. Take your time to appreciate the pristine beaches, diverse wildlife, and breathtaking landscapes that make this park a true gem.

Day 15: Jervis Bay

On Day 15 of your Melbourne to Sydney road trip, set your sights on the stunning Jervis Bay. Located along the South Coast of New South Wales, Jervis Bay is renowned for its pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, and abundant marine life.

Begin your day by visiting Hyams Beach, famous for having some of the whitest sand in the world. Take a leisurely stroll along the shore, feel the soft sand between your toes, and soak in the beauty of the turquoise waters. It’s a perfect spot for swimming, sunbathing, and beachside picnics.

Next, embark on a dolphin and whale watching tour to witness these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat. Jervis Bay is home to a resident pod of bottlenose dolphins, and during certain times of the year, you may have the opportunity to witness the annual migration of humpback whales along the coastline.

For those seeking adventure, explore Booderee National Park, a place of natural beauty and cultural significance. Enjoy scenic coastal walks, discover serene beaches like Greenpatch and Murrays Beach, and witness the stunning views from Cape St George Lighthouse.

Snorkel or dive in the crystal-clear waters of Jervis Bay to discover an underwater world brimming with colorful fish, vibrant coral formations, and playful sea turtles. The diversity and clarity of the marine life make it a paradise for underwater enthusiasts.

Indulge in a cruise along the pristine waters of Jervis Bay, taking in the breathtaking coastal scenery. Cruise past towering cliffs, explore secluded coves, and keep an eye out for seals basking on the rocks.

As the day comes to a close, watch the sun set over the horizon at Callala Beach, another beautiful stretch of shoreline in Jervis Bay. Witness the sky transform into hues of pink and orange, casting a magical glow over the tranquil ocean.

Jervis Bay is a coastal gem that offers a perfect blend of natural beauty, wildlife encounters, and unforgettable experiences. It is a place where you can truly connect with nature and create memories that will last a lifetime on your Melbourne to Sydney road trip.

Day 16: Arrival in Sydney

On the final day of your Melbourne to Sydney road trip, you will arrive in the vibrant city of Sydney. After an incredible journey along the coast, embrace the energy and excitement of this iconic Australian metropolis.

As you approach Sydney, take in the magnificent sight of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the iconic Sydney Opera House. These world-famous landmarks are a testament to the city’s rich history and architectural brilliance.

Spend the day exploring the bustling streets of Sydney, starting with a visit to the Sydney Opera House. Take a guided tour or simply admire the unique design and stunning waterfront location. Enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of Circular Quay and soak in the views of the harbor and skyline.

Embark on a scenic ferry ride from Circular Quay to Manly, soaking in the breathtaking views of the Sydney Harbour along the way. Explore the charming seaside town of Manly, with its golden beaches, trendy cafes, and boutique shops. Take a dip in the crystal-clear waters or enjoy a leisurely stroll along the promenade.

For panoramic views of the city skyline, visit the Sydney Tower Eye. Take an elevator ride to the observation deck and marvel at the sweeping vistas that stretch as far as the eye can see. It’s a perfect opportunity to capture memorable photos of Sydney from above.

If time allows, immerse yourself in the vibrant culture and shopping scene of Sydney by exploring the bustling neighborhoods such as The Rocks, Darling Harbour, or Paddington. Indulge in a delicious meal at one of the city’s renowned restaurants or sample street food at one of the bustling food markets.

End your Melbourne to Sydney road trip on a high note by experiencing the vibrant nightlife that Sydney has to offer. Enjoy a drink at one of the trendy bars in Darlinghurst or venture to Kings Cross for a night of entertainment. Dance the night away or simply relax and reflect on the incredible journey you’ve had.

Sydney is a city that will capture your heart with its iconic landmarks, stunning harbor, and vibrant atmosphere. Reflect on the memories and adventures of your Melbourne to Sydney road trip, and savor the excitement and energy that Sydney has to offer.

As your Melbourne to Sydney road trip comes to an end, reflect on the incredible journey you’ve had along the picturesque Australian coastline. From the vibrant streets of Melbourne to the iconic landmarks of Sydney, this road trip has taken you on an adventure filled with breathtaking landscapes, charming coastal towns, and unforgettable experiences.

Throughout your journey, you’ve encountered diverse natural wonders, such as the pristine beaches of Wilsons Promontory and Jervis Bay, the rugged cliffs of Cape Conran and Ben Boyd National Parks, and the remarkable wildlife encounters in Narooma and Jervis Bay. Each stop along the way has showcased the unique beauty and allure of the Australian coastal landscape.

Along the road, you’ve delved into the rich history and cultural significance of the region, visiting museums that shed light on the maritime heritage and connection to the land. You’ve tasted the fresh flavors of the sea by indulging in delicious seafood at local restaurants and experiencing the local cuisine in each town.

Your road trip has allowed you to immerse yourself in the vibrant communities and small-town charm of the coastal destinations. From the friendly locals to the welcoming atmosphere, you’ve experienced the warmth and hospitality that make these towns special.

As you arrive in Sydney, you’re greeted by the iconic landmarks that symbolize the city’s allure. The Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge serve as a reminder of the vibrant cosmopolitan hub that Sydney is, offering countless opportunities for exploration and entertainment.

Reflect on the memories made along the way – the breathtaking sunsets witnessed, the wildlife encounters, the exhilarating hikes, and the peaceful moments spent on pristine beaches. The Melbourne to Sydney road trip has offered a glimpse into the natural wonders, cultural richness, and unique experiences that make Australia a dream destination.

Whether it’s the thrill of adventure, the tranquility of nature, or the vibrant cityscape, this road trip has touched on every aspect of an unforgettable Australian journey. As you bid farewell to the coastal towns and pristine landscapes, carry the memories and experiences with you, and let them inspire your future explorations of this vast and diverse country.

• Privacy Overview
• Strictly Necessary Cookies

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

Ultimate Sydney to Melbourne Road Trip Itinerary

Taking the Sydney to Melbourne drive is the best way to travel between two of Australia’s best east coast cities. It’s also one of the best road trips in Australia.

Why fly when you can drive through the most beautiful outdoor scenery and visit the best destinations that Victoria and New South Wales have to offer?

Road trip along the spectacular southeastern coastline, calling in at national parks and small towns along the way.

Start your journey after exploring all the best sights and beaches of Sydney and end your road trip in Melbourne’s cool cafes!

To inspire your next Aussie adventure, here’s our guide to planning a Sydney to Melbourne road trip!

Don’t leave home without: Lonely Planet Australia (Travel Guide)

Sydney to Melbourne Drive: Ultimate Road Trip Guide

Table of Contents

How Long is a Sydney to Melbourne Road Trip?

Distances in Australia are pretty vast. This is a huge country, and it’s not quick driving between any major cities. Sydney to Melbourne is one of the faster routes you can drive along the east coast.

The quickest way to travel by road is just over 500 miles, but this cuts straight through the outback and makes for a monotonous road trip. If you’re in a hurry, you could drive this in a long day, though!

A better Sydney to Melbourne road trip will take you along the coast, giving you plenty of opportunities to enjoy the region’s incredible natural and tourist attractions.

This is a longer route, covering around 700 miles. To really appreciate the stops, we’d recommend taking a week for the road trip, that way you’re never driving for more than a few hours a day.

Quick Info:

• Sydney to Melbourne: 1109 kilometers – 690 miles on A1 (coastal drive) or 878 kilometers – 546 miles on M31.
• How long is a Sydney to Melbourne road trip: 13 hours and 29 minutes on A1 or 8 h 54 min on M31.
• How many days should a road trip from Sydney to Melbourne take? Average Sydney to Melbourne road trip takes 4-7 days depending on your stops, You can drive it in one day without stopping.
• What is the halfway point between Sydney to Melbourne? Canberra, Australia

Best Stops Along the Sydney to Melbourne Drive

This road trip itinerary predominantly sticks to the coast, where the best attractions are. After leaving Sydney, though, you have the chance to visit Canberra, the nation’s capital.

However, this will add on a few extra miles as you’ll need to head inland, then back to the coast. 

While you’re road tripping, you’ll quickly realize that there are plenty more great stops you might want to visit, too, so it’s great to stay flexible on the way from Sydney to Melbourne!

Your journey begins in Sydney, one of Australia’s most iconic destinations. Before heading out on the road, take a few days to explore the city, especially if it’s your first time in Australia.

Sydney has so much to offer, with a bustling city center packed full of attractions waiting to be explored.

Visit the Sydney Opera House before taking on the adrenaline-inducing Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb for epic views over the harbor area.

Make sure you head out to the coast before you start your Sydney to Melbourne road trip. This is a city built by the ocean, and some of the country’s favorite beaches are just a short drive from the center.

Visit Bondi Beach if you’re into surfing and take a ferry across the harbor to Manly Beach to enjoy the sun, sea, and sand!

Stay awhile and truly feel the Sydney area:

• Park Hyatt Sydney – Luxury
• The Mercantile Hotel – Midrange
• Sydney Harbour YHA – Budget

Top 5 things to do in Sydney:

• Ultimate Sydney Arrival Package
• The Rocks Walking Tour: the Original Guided Walking Tour of The Rocks
• Sydney by Night | The Original Luxury Private Night Tour | 3 Hours
• Journey Beyond Cruise Sydney Harbour – Lunch Cruise
• Sydney Opera House VIP Tour, Opera Ticket & Dinner Package

Blue Mountains

The first stop on your Sydney to Melbourne road trip should be a slight detour into the Blue Mountains.

This spectacular area of natural beauty is located just an hour away from the city, so you can always make this a day trip from Sydney before setting off south.

The Blue Mountains National Park is a spectacular place for hiking. Visit Katoomba, where you’ll be greeted by epic clifftop walks and unique rock formations, such as the Three Sisters.

There are small mountain towns, a scenic cable car ride, and plenty more outdoor sights!

Stay awhile and truly feel the Blue Mountains area:

• Lilianfels  – Luxury
• Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains – MGallery – Midrange
• Metropole Katoomba Guesthouse – Budget

Top 5 things to do in the Blue Mountains:

• Sunset Blue Mountains Wilderness & Wildlife Tour (Without the Crowds)
• Blue Mountains Unique Small-Group Day Adventure with BBQ Lunch
• Blue Mountains Private Tour of Scenic World and Featherdale
• Canyoning at Stunning Empress Canyon
• Blue Mountains Hanging Rock Self-Guided Mountain Bike Tour

Take the highway south from Sydney, and your first stop on the road trip will be Jervis Bay . This beautiful seaside community is home to what the locals claim is one of Australia’s best beaches.

That’s a huge claim, but when you see the beach for the first time, you might just agree. Spend your day relaxing on the soft sands or get active and enjoy the snorkeling because the water here is crystal clear.

Stay awhile and truly feel the Jervis Bay area:

• Dolphin Sands – Luxury
• Dolphin Shores – Midrange
• Huskisson Beach Bed and Breakfast – Budget

Top 5 things to do in Jervis Bay:

• Jervis Bay Whale Watching Cruise
• Jervis Bay Dolphin Watch Cruise
• Hiking The Castle in the spectacular Budawang Mountain Range
• Jervis Bay Passage Cruise
• Fishermans Paradise Eco-walk

Canberra (Detour)

From Jervis Bay, you can take a detour inland to visit the nation’s capital. It’s a two-hour drive away from the coast, but it’s worth spending a full day to explore Canberra’s museums.

The city is very underrated when it comes to tourism, and most travelers miss out on the capital.

Yes, it’s purpose-built, but Canberra is where you’ll find the country’s best museums, as well as the Australian parliament building.

You can take a guided tour of the parliament to learn more about Aussie history and politics!

Stay awhile and truly feel the Canberra area:

• Jamala Wildlife Lodge – Luxury (Amazing for wildlife lovers)
• Novotel Canberra – Midrange
• Canberra City YHA – Budget

Top 5 things to do in Canberra that you simply must do!

• Cockington Green Gardens General Entry Ticket
• Skip the Line: Telstra Tower Observation Deck Ticket
• The best of Canberra Walking Tour
• Twilight Animal Tour
• Batemans Bay Overnight Kayak Camping Tour from Canberra – All Inclusive

From Jervis Bay or Canberra, you now need to drive south, because your next stop is the aptly named town of Eden. This is the most southerly town in New South Wales, so after this, you’ll be driving into the state of Victoria.

Visit the local museum, where you can learn about the town’s whaling history, before heading to the beach to admire the spectacular coastline.

In the right season, you can join a whale-watching trip to see how the locals transitioned from whaling to whale watching!

Stay awhile and truly feel the Eden area:

• Coast Resort Merimbula – Luxury
• Seahorse Inn – Midrange
• Eden Gateway Holiday Park – Budget

Drive south into Victoria and make your way to Gippsland, where you can find the glorious Gippsland Lakes.

This coastal community is a popular holiday destination for Australians because the area is known for its delicious seafood and excellent wines.

Enjoy the lakes, take a boating trip, and enjoy the great food and great wine as you relax in Gippsland.

Stay awhile and truly feel the Gippsland area:

• Astra Lodge Falls Creek – Luxury
• Gebi’s Apartments – Midrange
• Riverview Caravan Park – Budget

Your next stop in Victoria needs to be Walhalla, an old gold mining town where you can learn more about Victoria’s gold mining history.

The town has just 20 residents but sees many more thousands of visitors each year. There’s some dramatic scenery nearby, including forests and gorges.

The town itself has been preserved much as it would have looked in the mid-1800s when it was founded during the gold rush era.

Stay awhile and truly feel the Walhalla area:

• Walhalla’s Star Hotel – Midrange
• Mountain Rivers Tourist Park – Rawson – Budget

Wilson’s Promontory

One of the best stops on your Sydney to Melbourne road trip is Wilson’s Promontory.

This small peninsula juts out from the mainland and offers exceptional views over the ocean and all along the windswept southern coastline.

The national park is home to some excellent beaches, but it’s the hiking that will draw you into this protected area, and keep you for longer than you were planning.

You can find some great campsites around the area to get closer to nature and to give you the chance to take as much time as you want to enjoy this beautiful part of Australia!

Stay awhile and truly feel the Wilson’s Promontory area:

• Wilsons Promontory Wilderness Retreat – Luxury
• Tidal River Cabins Wilsons Promontory – Midrange
• Prom Gate Getaway – Budget

Top tours that includes Wilson’s Promontory.

• Wilsons Promontory Day Trip from Melbourne
• 2-Day Phillip Island and Wilsons Promontory Tour from Melbourne

Phillip Island

You’re almost in Melbourne, but you’ve got a few great stops left still. For nature lovers, a trip to Phillip Island is a must, because this small, rugged, windswept island is home to thousands of friendly penguins.

If you can stay until the evening, you’ll be able to witness the world-famous Penguin Parade, when the penguins return in vast numbers from the ocean where they’ve been fishing all day, to spend the night on Phillip Island.

Stay awhile and truly feel Phillip Island:

• The Castle – Villa by the Sea – Luxury
• Phillip Island Cottages – Midrange
• North Pier Hotel – Budget

Top recommended tours for visiting Phillip Island:

• Half Day Phillip Island and Penguins Tour from Phillip Island
• Private Tour: Phillip Island, Penguin Parade and Moonlit Sanctuary Conservation Park from Melbourne
• Phillip Island Helicopter Tour
• Phillip Island Whale Watching Tour
• Phillip Island Twilight Cruise

Before you head into Melbourne itself, take a stop at St Kilda, where you’ll find the city’s best beach and most happening community.

St Kilda is popular amongst backpackers and travelers, and you might end up staying a lot longer than you anticipated!

Enjoy the beach and the markets, or take a trip to Luna Park, Australia’s most famous amusement park. If you’re a backpacker, why not check into a hostel and have a night out in St Kilda too?

Stay awhile and truly feel the St Kilda area:

• Pan Pacific – Luxury
• Adara St Kilda – Budget
• St Kilda Hostel – Budget

Top recommended tours in St Kilda, Australia:

• Nightlife in Melbourne: St Kilda
• Kiteboarding Lessons
• Food Tour Melbourne – St Kilda
• Meet the Artists on a Art Wine Tour in St Kilda

After several hundred miles of driving, you’ve made it to the end of your Sydney to Melbourne road trip! Take a few days to enjoy Australia’s capital of coffee and all things cool.

Take a street art tour of Melbourne to see the city’s artistic side, before visiting Queen Victoria Market, the botanic gardens, and the Old Gaol Museum.

If you’ve still got a few days at the end of your road trip, you could consider extending the itinerary to drive the Great Ocean Road.

This starts just outside of Melbourne in Torquay, and it’s often named one of the best road trips in the world!

There are many awesome things to do in Melbourne , so be sure to plan in a few extra days on the end of your road trip to hit at least the highlights.

Top 3 places to stay in Melbourne:

• The Hotel Windsor – Luxury
• Milano Serviced Apartments – Budget

Top 5 things to do in Melbourne that you simply must do!

• Melbourne Complete Walking Tour
• Yarra Valley Wine Tasting Tours
• Premium Phillip Island Penguin Express Tour from Melbourne
• Melbourne Balloon Flight at Sunrise
• Melbourne City Sights Kayak Tour

Add On the Great Ocean Road

If you have more time in Australia and have seen the best that Melbourne has to offer, consider adding the Great Ocean Road drive to your itinerary.

This is one of the most iconic and scenic drives in all of Oceania , so if you have the time you do not want to miss it.

Doing A Melbourne to Sydney Drive Instead

Alternatively, it is possible to reverse this whole route by taking a Melbourne to Sydney road trip instead.

This will depend on if you can find cheap flights to Melbourne or Sydney when you arrive. There really is no right or wrong way to make this drive, so plan it in the direction that suits your plans best.

Road Safety in Australia

In Australia, you need to drive on the left-hand side of the road, but there are a few other things you might need to get used to on your Sydney to Melbourne road trip.

Once you’re out of Sydney, you’ll start to encounter wildlife in rural areas. You might be itching to see a kangaroo, but you don’t want to meet them on the roads!

Kangaroos are a serious danger when you’re driving along the highway, so try to avoid driving at dawn or dusk and after dark. This is when kangaroos are found bounding across the roads.

For a Sydney to Melbourne road trip, you really don’t need a fancy four by four. Roads here are great, but do remember to get breakdown cover and insurance – you don’t want to be stuck miles from the nearest town!

Supplies and Accommodation between Sydney and Melbourne

Compared to other parts of Australia, where things are much more remote and rural, the great thing about a Sydney to Melbourne road trip is that you don’t need to plan too much.

There are always gas stations and supermarkets within easy reach.

As with anywhere in Australia, though, it’s good practice to keep your gas tank full and stash a few supplies, especially water, in the car.

You’ll find lots of accommodation along the route – from guesthouses and hotels in tourist destinations to campsites along the coast and in national parks.

A great way to explore the east coast is by campervan; you’ll find these are welcome in caravan parks and campsites all the way from Sydney to Melbourne!

More on Australia:

• 25 Top Things to Do in Australia (On Your First Visit!)
• 28 Great Things To Do in Queensland, Australia
• 11 Best Things to Do in Darwin, Australia
• 10 Spectacular Things to Do on Fraser Island
• Should I Rent a Jucy Campervan in Australia?
• Oceania Travel Guide

Did you like this story? Share it!

Travel planning resources, about lina stock.

Lina is an award-winning photographer and writer that has been exploring the world since 2001. She has traveled to 100 countries on all 7 continents. Member: SATW, NATJA, ATTA, ITWA

1 thought on “Ultimate Sydney to Melbourne Road Trip Itinerary”

We did the Sydney to Brisbane trip a few years ago. This looks amazing! We’ll have to go back for this one.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

• Britz Australia
• maui Motorhomes
• Mighty Campers
• Britz New Zealand
• Roadbear RV Rentals
• El Monte RV
• Buy a Campervan
• Self Check-In

Ultimate Budget-Friendly Sydney to Melbourne Road Trip

Looking for ways to stretch your travel budget while experiencing the very best of the east coast of Australia? Why not try this ultimate budget-friendly Sydney to Melbourne road trip?

It’s easy to see why Sydney to Melbourne has become one of the most popular road trip routes in Australia. With only a ten-hour drive between these two major cities and 1300 km of stunning landscapes to explore, this 9-day road trip has it all. Best of all, if you are looking for a budget-friendly road trip, there are plenty of budget-friendly attractions and activities along the way - from leisurely beach days, wildlife watching, hiking and more. Renting a campervan will also give you the flexibility to stop anywhere you like so that you can take advantage of the best free camping and low-cost accommodations en route.

Tips for road trips on a budget

Road trips are the best way to explore a new country, and the best part is they don't have to be pricey! If you are hiring a campervan for your Australian road trip, then you are off to a good start. A campervan hire means you can take everything you'll need with you in your car from place to place - no need for extra luggage fees. You can also see the highlights of each city in a day or two, instead of spending your money on tours and transport to every attraction. Here are some of our top tips for saving money on the road:

• Look out for deals that can save you money
• Enjoy takeaways or meals out in moderation and make use of your campervan kitchen
• Fill your trip with mainly free attractions like hiking and natural attractions or museums and monuments
• Keep an eye on the latest Mighty campervan deals and snag a great value deal on your campervan hire
• Plan your trip and route beforehand using an app like the thl Roadtrip App , and use your GPS during your trip to avoid any unnecessary detours
• Pack some electricity-free games , such as cards or travel board games
• When planning where to stay , include a mix of free camping and paid camping. While this isn’t always possible, it pays to check your route for low-cost options
• When it comes to transportation when travelling through cities, don't forget about public transportation. This can help you save on gas for those big inner-city adventure days or hefty inner-city parking fees
• Use a road-trip budget calculator to plan out your costs and budget

Sydney to Melbourne

Best Time of the Year

Any time of year

• Hyams Beach
• Narooma Bar Beach
• Lakes Entrance
• Wilsons Promontory

The Journey

Day 1 Sydney to Wollongong

Distance 85km - driving time 1 hour 23 minutes.

Kick off your east coast Australia road trip by picking your motorhome up from Mighty Sydney campervan hire . After getting yourself settled in and stocking up the campervan kitchen cupboards, it's time to get exploring.

Start your journey by exploring the city of Sydney. This vibrant city, with its sweeping harbour and bustling CBD, has plenty on offer. We recommend making your way to the city centre to grab some lunch at one of the restaurants at Circular Quay, overlooking the stunning architecture of the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. If you fancy, grab a drink at the Opera Bar, and take a stroll around the cobblestone alleys of The Rocks - Sydney’s oldest streets.

Once you have soaked up all that Sydney has to offer, it's time to begin the journey south. Take the scenic route via the Sea Cliff Bridge - you will not be disappointed! This stunning bridge is famous for jutting out over the ocean, providing a surreal experience of driving over the ocean.

Once you arrive in Wollongong, spend the afternoon visiting the Nan Tien Temple , trekking the Illawarra Escarpment , and stopping by the Science Centre and Planetarium.

Where to stay when you arrive: Wollongong City Tourist Park .

Destination NSW Content Library

Day 2 Wollongong to Jervis Bay

Distance 119km - driving time 1 hour 38 minutes.

On day two of your Australian campervan holiday, you'll visit two beautiful coastal towns in New South Wales - Wollongong and Jervis Bay. Between the two of them, there are a ton of activities to do, making them the perfect addition to a Sydney-to-Melbourne adventure. In Wollongong, check out the local cafes, and if you’re feeling adventurous, plan a few hours at Jamberoo Action Park - NSW’s largest water theme park.

Once you arrive in Jervis Bay, enjoy swimming in the warm ocean, chilling out at the beach, and checking out the local shops. If you are looking to get into nature, venture down to the beautiful Hyams Beach and embark on the White Sands Walk . For those who are looking to learn a little about the local history, be sure to plan your trip to include a visit to the Jervis Bay Maritime Museum . Here you can explore their collection of maritime artefacts and navigational instruments. There is also a large recreation area with native gardens and a mangrove boardwalk to explore.

Where to stay when you arrive: Jervis Bay Holiday Park .

Day 3 Jervis Bay to Batemans Bay

Distance 113km - driving time 1 hour 30 minutes.

On day three of the road trip, it's time to hop from one stunning beach town to another. While Jervis Bay is known for its beautiful long beaches, Batemans Bay is home to both stunning beaches and the idle waters of the Clyde River. When you arrive in Batemans Bay, make sure to walk around the Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Gardens and relax on one of the many sandy beaches. If you are feeling like getting active, be sure to plan your trip to include a swim along the Batemans Bay snorkelling trail .

With so much fresh seafood in the area, we recommend heading out to enjoy some delicious food and drinks in one of the many restaurants in the area. Alternatively, head to the closest fish market and grab a few pieces to cook up in your campervan!

Where to stay when you arrive: Batemans Bay Holiday Park .

Day 4 Batemans Bay to Narooma

Distance 77km - driving time 1 hour 9 minutes.

Begin the day by saying farewell to Batemans Bay and head south towards Narooma for lunch and some relaxation time on the beachfront. Handkerchief Bay is a great place to enjoy a picnic, and Narooma Bar Beach is the perfect spot for a sheltered swim. Once you have finished cooking up your campervan-friendly meal and enjoyed a swim, spend the afternoon wildlife watching along Mills Bay Boardwalk and exploring Australia Rock and the Bar Rock Lookout.

Where to stay when you arrive: BIG4 Narooma East's Holiday Park.

Day 5 Narooma to Merimbula

Distance 113km - driving time 1 hour 24 minutes.

The drive from Narooma to Merimbula is around 112 km of stunning views of the coast. You may just be tempted to stop at several spots along the way to take in the scenery. Once you arrive in Merimbula, it's time to enjoy a slower pace of life. This town is known for its tranquil coastal lakes, rugged beaches and whale watching. Some of the top-rated things to do in the town include a visit to Merimbula Aquarium , relaxing at Bar Beach , and heading to Short Point for whale watching and an afternoon picnic.

Where to stay when you arrive: Tween Waters Holiday Park .

Visit Victoria Content Hub

Day 6 Merimbula to Lakes Entrance

Distance 268km - driving time 3 hours 8 minutes.

Today marks an exciting day in the journey: crossing the border into Victoria. This three-hour drive will take you away from the NSW coast, inland toward Victorian Lakes Entrance. This Gippsland destination boasts Australia’s largest inland network of waterways and is the perfect mix of seaside charm and lakeside living. When arriving at Lakes Entrance, plan a stop by the Lakes Entrance Beaches and peruse the Griffiths' Sea Shell Museum & Marine Display . For the history buffs in the group, be sure to check out the Nyerimilang Heritage Park . Here you can discover a historic homestead and the surrounding beauty of this 180-hectare property.

Where to stay when you arrive: Koonwarra Family Holiday Park.

Day 7 Lakes Entance to Wilsons Promontory

Distance 271km - driving time 3 hours 17 minutes.

Make use of your campervan kitchen and whip up a coffee or your favourite morning pick-me-up and get an early start on today’s three-and-a-half-hour drive to Wilsons Promontory. Simply referred to as Wilsons Prom, this national park marks the southernmost tip of mainland Australia. This national park offers a stunning array of mountainous landscapes, coastal bushland, and pristine beaches to explore. While in the park, we recommend hiking to the summit of Mt Oberon , going wildlife watching on the Loo Errn Boardwalk track , and relaxing on the quiet beaches at Sealers Cove.

Where to stay when you arrive: Tidal River Campground.

Day 8 Wilsons Promontory to Phillip Island

Distance 142km - driving time 1 hour 57 minutes.

Next up on the itinerary is a visit to Phillip Island. While named an Island, it is still attached to the mainland and can be accessed easily via campervan. When you arrive, head to watch pelicans being fed at San Remo Beach , take a photo at Cadillac Canyon and visit Churchill Island Heritage Farm . In addition to all the natural beauty, this Island is known as being home to the largest Little Penguin colony in the world. As such, there is no better way to end a day on Phillip Island than with a stop by the famed Penguin Parade . Here you will experience the magic of watching these huddles of penguins as they surf their way to shore and head into their burrows for the evening. While this is a paid experience, this is by far one of the best wildlife experiences and things to do in Australia.

Where to stay when you arrive: Phillip Island Holiday & Caravan Park .

Day 9 Phillip Island to Melbourne

Distance 142km - driving time 1 hour 55 minutes.

Today marks the final day of this ultimate budget-friendly Sydney to Melbourne road trip. After driving the final two hours into the heart of Melbourne, it’s time to explore all the delights this city has to offer. No trip to Melbourne would be complete without trying the best coffee in Melbourne (debatably in Australia!). So after you are sufficiently caffeinated, head to the Melbourne Museum , wander through the Royal Botanic Gardens , and marvel at the artistic flair of the National Gallery Victoria.

Once you have finished exploring the city, it's time to bring the trip to a close and return your camper to Mighty Melbourne campervan holiday hire.

Want to try this road trip itinerary?

Sydney to Melbourne is an east coast Australia road trip dream! With endless pristine beaches, mountains and hinterlands to explore. Best of all, with so many natural attractions, national parks and low-cost activities along the way, there are plenty of ways to extend your travel budget with a campervan holiday hire road trip.

Want to try this road trip itinerary for yourself? Book your Mighty campervan today . Looking for more travel tips for backpacking in a campervan or tips for a cheap campervan trip, check out the Mighty blog .

• Questions? Talk to us now

Little Green Nomad

For travelers who love our planet and want to explore it sustainably..

Beach Camping Sydney to Melbourne

One of the best road trips Australia has to offer is the coastal drive between Sydney and Melbourne. Not only do you take in Australia’s two largest cities, but the stretch of coast between the two is a diverse and stunning mosaic of forests, inlets, river systems, crystal clear lakes, charismatic wildlife, charming coastal towns and white unspoiled beaches. It’s easy to fall in love with the region’s natural beauty and to slip into the gentle rhythm of its lifestyle.

If you hire a campervan , this road trip need not be an expensive one. To help you explore this region at a leisurely pace, I’ve created a list of the best beach campsites. Some are included because they are right on the beach, surrounded by coastal forests where you can feel a million miles away. Others win the people’s vote on Trip Advisor as being the best place to stay with great facilities (Let’s face it, we all need to shower and do laundry from time to time.)

Below I’ve mapped every campsite.

• Click on the dot to bring up a link to its blog or,
• Read the full list  of beach camping in New South Wales.
• Read the full list of beach camping in Victoria .

If you need to hire a camper van in Australia, check my price comparison of the major campervan hire companies in Australia . By the time sneaky fees are added, the cheapest turns out to be Camperman Australia with their all-inclusive pricing.

Next >>

If you enjoyed this, please share.

Leave a comment cancel reply.

• Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
• Subscribe Subscribed
• Copy shortlink
• Report this content
• View post in Reader
• Manage subscriptions
• Collapse this bar

Road trip from Melbourne to Sydney in January 2024 Mobility Access Australia

• Places & Travel

In this episode I talk about my experience at a hotel in Haymarket in Sydney where it wasn’t really accessible outside of the hotel on the street including the restaurants in the nearby areas as well. I stayed at the APEX World Square in Haymarket previous year but they put the price up by a lot plus had to pay $50 a day for parking for the 3 nights I was there but I’m not going to stay there again next time I visit Sydney again.

• Episode Website
• More Episodes
• Clint Deverson

Anzac Day trading hours 2024: What's open and when

Your quick guide to what's open and closed on the anzac day public holiday..

Anzac Day is marked on 25 April every year. Source: AAP / Darren England

What does ANZAC Day mean to migrants?

When can shops open on Anzac Day?

When can you buy alcohol on anzac day.

SBS translates Ode of Remembrance into 45 languages for Anzac Day

Share this with family and friends

Recommended for you

Who we are: Code switching - What is it and why do we do it?

Molly, Queensland's internet-famous magpie, to be reunited with Peggy the Bull Terrier

Thousands of Australians use medicinal cannabis. Some say drug testing hasn't caught up

Social media star Molly the magpie reunited with carers and dog friends

Israeli military intelligence chief resigns over 7 October attack failures

Military and defence

Cross-carrying alleged rioter helping Wakeley investigation after police release 12 photos

Police Inquiry

Police make first arrest over riots that followed Sydney church stabbing

Wayne almost had to bury 3,000 of his sheep. This is the desperate situation farmers face

Get sbs news daily and direct to your inbox, sign up now for the latest news from australia and around the world direct to your inbox..

Morning (Mon–Fri)

Afternoon (Mon–Fri)

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

SBS World News