melbourne to sydney via princes highway map
Regardless, this is a wonderful way to see this part of Australia and the beautiful southeastern coast. Fortunes werent to last and the gold ran out and the town was slowly abandoned. 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. If you need to go faster, any of the stops could be skipped and that days drive would still be manageable. They search and compare rental prices from all major rental companies in Australia, so you can rest assured that youre getting the best possible price on your rental car. If a road trip is car plus road plus company Im well provisioned. In busy periods, Driver Reviver areas, which provide free coffee and snacks, are set up along both routes. Three or more is preferable. For breakfast, or lunch, try Croajingolong Caf where Michelle serves the most innovative food in town as well as coffee, teas, smoothies etc. Australias capital city is home to plenty of attractions, and most of them are free to visit. Holiday homes are popular for long stays, but Ill recommend some easier options here. Although its a small town, there are quite a few places to stay in Walhalla and they all come with a little bit of history. next trip! Its also best to make sure you have adequate insurance and roadside assistance when you begin your Melbourne to Sydney road trip. Dan Scott, CNN Updated 12th March 2019. Its best not to drive at night, particularly in unfamiliar areas, as kangaroos, wombats and other animals will likely be out and about. Highlights include Parliament House, The Australian War Memorial and The National Museum of Australia. Despite discriminative policies at the time, the Barellan townspeople let her play, paving the way for the first indigenous Australian to reach world number one in tennis. Cartoscope do a great touring route booklet guide for the Princes Hwy, Melb- Sydney. Best Places to Stay in Walhalla:Walhallas Star Hotel | Walhalla Wild Cherry | Walhalla Coach House. The main area in Wilsons Promontory is Tidal River, where youll find a shop and many of the camping sites (and a few other accommodation options). Best Places to Stay in Narooma:Whale Motor Inn | Coastal Comfort Motel | Horizon Apartments. Short stay or longer visit? There is, however, a very popular free camping spot. We highly recommend the Sony RX100 III. If you discount the Hume Highway, that leaves you with two main options go along the coast or go inland. SafetyWing offers travel insurance for only about $10 a week, making it a no-brainer to get. The drive time each day is also quite short in this itinerary, and thats intentional. The Bean Scene has great coffee, or you can pick up some supplies at Stellas Pantry. The coastline is quite spectacular and you can access its beaches from quite a few places off Betka Road, just south of Mallacoota. Most of the accommodation is in Mallacoota, but youll find a much quieter community nearby at Gipsy Point. As the sun sets, you will find that Australias huge array of nocturnal wildlife begins to emerge from the bush, and they wont be worrying about crossing roads. Car, plus road, plus company. I guarantee these will be the most delicious mussels you will ever eat. Im first in, followed by a Sydney couple taking a dip on her birthday. The Murramarang Holiday Park, surrounded by the national park, offers cabins and powered campsites right by the beach. Why stop here? Weve forgone the nine-hour dash up the Hume and taken the low road instead, setting out from St Kilda for the easy green folds of South Gippsland with its fat cows and glossy nags and postcard-prosperous towns. melbourne to gold coast via hume highway. The NSW Far South Coast is a popular holiday region (although, because its a long drive from Sydney or Melbourne, tends to attract longer stays, rather than weekend visits). Ive got more tips here on things to do in Walhalla. #2 Good Walking Shoes There will be a lot of walking around in Australia, so a good pair of shoes is really essential. Where is it? Learn how your comment data is processed. Alivio Tourist Park Canberra is a great overnight stop if you need one. The sheer excitement when you spot your first Koala in the wild at Raymond Island is amazing. After a long drive and a distance from Melbourne to Sydney of over 1,000 kilometers, you will find yourself in the capital of New South Wales and Australias largest city. Why stop here? It can be considered a giant "ring road" as it, except for a few shortcuts in the north, follows the entire coastline of mainland Australia. The coastal drive from Sydney to Melbourne, a distance of 1,032 km (640 miles), can be done with an overnight stop within two days, although you could probably take some time and spend at least four days on the road, with a couple of hours at each stop to thoroughly enjoy the South Coast. Tip: Just up the hill from the wharves is the Eden Smokehouse, the award-winning purveyor of smoked seafood, including those delicious mussels in several different flavours. But this means there are lots of places to stop, things to do, and towns where you can stay overnight. Ditch the Hume Highway dash for Gippsland and the Sapphire Coast. You need to leave Sydney by 6am to make good time and not get stuck in peak hour traffic. If you are taking a week to make this trip, consider stopping off at Wattamolla for a swim. The Gippsland Lakes are perfect for trying out new water sports and fishing. The peninsula is home to a national park as well as a marine reserve. Your email address will not be published. As Australias first inland city, Goulburn has a rich history dating back to 1885, with many Victorian Italianate, Art dco and Edwardian-style buildings. The beaches and accommodation are bustling during the school holidays, but you can find them relatively deserted at other times of the year. From car insurance and emergency roadside assistance to money-saving fuel apps and vehicle safety, here's what to check before you leave on a road trip. Michael Turtle is the founder of Travel Australia Today and has been a journalist for 20 years. After visiting the Museum, continue on down the road to the wharves. If youre looking for somewhere to stop along the way, there are two good options. Cost Go! Its relatively steep but manageable for most people and only takes about an hour from the closest car park. The Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen works just as well as a regular sunscreen but without all the harmful chemicals. There is the aboriginal cultural walk known as the Coome Nujunga track where while you wander down the bush track you can enjoy local aboriginal paintings painted on tree branches and scenic views. I think this itinerary offers a lovely mix of bush and beach, with national parks, wildlife experiences, and some heritage. For those looking for some retail therapy, Traralgon is the place, with a large retail precinct dominated by the Stockland Shopping Centre. To help you plan your journey from Melbourne to Sydney by car, heres our guide to this ultimate road trip. Where is it? Sure is, if you have enough time to stop and smell the roses. UNESCO has declared the park a World Biosphere Reserve because of the natural diversity it has within it. Its about a 2.5-hour drive from Sydney and a perfect place for a break when travelling along the Hume Highway to Melbourne. A short visit or overnight? 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. As well as being longer, your average speed is way lower as the highway is one lane basically all the way from Melbourne to Sydney, and most of the trip is winding through forests and hills, with little opportunity to overtake. Its around here that Lisa spots her second tortoise on theroadso we stop for coffee at theCannRiverCaf,where they dont do runny eggs in their egg and bacon roll, just how we like it. Todays drive is just long enough that youll probably want to stop somewhere to break up the journey and have a rest. Why stop here? 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. At many times in the year, you might just find that you are the only person on the beach. With stunning coastlines, epic national parks, and charming heritage towns, these are the best stops on a Melbourne to Sydney road trip. For more information on road safety in Australia check out this article. The arc of the South Gippsland Highway takes us up to Sale via Koonwarra and Port Albert, on to the Princes and through Lakes Entrance, paddocks yellowing with drought. The views are incredible from Limosa Rise, plus this self-contained accommodation has a great design that makes you feel immediately at home. This is about 900 kilometres long and will take just over nine hours of driving (without stops). On the outskirts of town, Stringers Cottage is a compact self-contained property thats full of charm and authentic heritage. Photo: Lisa Luscombe. You may also need to pick up some supplies here in Meeniyan for your overnight stay in the national park because Wilsons Promontory has a shop thats open during the day where you can get food, but theres nothing available in the evening. To find the map for the driving distance from Melbourne to Sydney via Princess highway, please enter the source and destination and then select the driving mode. Our friend Mark who hails from Gippsland and runs a site Travels in Gippsland recommends a quick break to visit Raymond Island. In the southeast you dont need to worry about sticky, unbearable humidity or the threat of dangerous cyclones. Todays destination is Walhalla, an old gold mining town that was one of the richest places in Australia in the late 1880s. Our full disclosure policy is here. Its also home to the only Aboriginal-owned botanic gardens in the country. Fish tacos with Lakes Entrance whiting, avocado, greens and chipotle mayo, Marlo Hotel, Victoria. Now with that out of the way, lets get this Melbourne to Sydney itinerary on the road already (pun intended)! Take a detour inland from the coastal road to visit the dramatic surrounding of Kosciuszko National Park, one of the most beautiful national parks in Australia. 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. For much of the year the weather is incredibly pleasant, and in summer you can enjoy scorching, hot days that are perfect for beach lovers. Locally caught flathead fillets, Bluewave Seafood, Bermagui Fishermens Wharf, NSW. The most picturesque option is to combine the two to create an encompassing itinerary where youll cover well over 1,000 kilometers or 620 miles by car, but that will ensure you see the best that southeast Australia has to offer. [1] History [ edit] Heading down from the mountains towards the coast, most of todays drive will be through agricultural land, with the silhouettes of the hills to your left, and the ocean out of sight to the right. 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. Best Places to Stay in Sydney:Meriton Suites World Tower | Hyatt Regency Sydney | Great Southern Hotel Sydney. The choice is yours, but dont miss visiting the majestic Blue Mountains. For the first part of the drive, youll continue through charming South Coast towns and there are a few that I would recommend for rest stops (and a little exploration). Ninety Mile Beach is a must, and as the name implies, its a 90-mile long stretch of soft sand that separates GippslandLakesfrom the Bass Strait. Photo: Lisa Luscombe. Should you do this drive in one day? The flight will take only an hour and, even with transport to and from the airport, its probably only about a two hour trip, compared to nine hours of driving. Barellan is 1.5 hours northwest of Wagga Wagga; 2.5 hours north of Albury. Getting around Croajingalong is not easy and you wont be able to see a lot of it in one afternoon. Report inappropriate content Beach8um Banana, Australia Destination Expert And catch the sunset at Whisky Bay, which is only a ten minute drive from Tidal River and really worth the effort. Wherever you decide to stay, Murramarung National Park should be on your list! Mallacoota is blessed not just with the lake system but also with beautiful beaches, visit the Main Beach at Bastion Point but also take a drive out to walk on Betka Beach, Quarry Beach or Secret Beach. melbourne to mansfield via hume highway. Now, though, there are less than 20 permanent residents. Head out of Sydney and into the Royal National Park. The most popular option in town, Walhallas Star Hotel has an original facade but has been rebuilt with boutique suites and an excellent restaurant. If it is not essential to drive from Melb to Sydney, then as mentioned you might want to consider flying. There are loads of opportunities to explore the tracks and back roads either on a guided tour or through independent exploration. Related: Check out our recent road trip to Canberra for ideas. One of the trips is during the day, and the other is overnight. You could just power through until the end, but there are still some wonderful things to see along this stretch. After all, thousands of people road trip around Australia every year. First published 1/12/2020 Updated 12/3/23. Sydney to Melbourne drive via the coast road in 2-5 days, Travel Times and Distances on the Coast Road from Sydney to Melbourne, Two days from Sydney to Melbourne via the inland route, Travel Times on the Inland Road to Melbourne, Find Walks in Your LGA in Sydney: 60+ great ideas. There arent many stops along the way but youll probably want to get to todays destination of Croajingalong National Park early anyway, so you can make the most of your time. For a fuller review, go to racv.com.au/carreviews, Additional photos: Getty Images, Leon Sidik. Travel writer Christina Pfeiffer from Travel2next suggests your first stop out of Sydney should be in Goulburn. After a night at Marlo we carry on east, rock-hopping atCape Conrans Sailors Grave Beachthen adding a 20-minute leg-stretch around theboardwalkedand swing-bridgedMcKenzie River Rainforest Walk, a little loop of sultry air and screaming cicadas just off the highway. We also have a map, plastered with sticky-note pit-stop recommendations from anyone with something to say. Not all maps in this archived site have been captured. The road follows the coast at least half of the way as you head south. Klean Kanteen Classic Stainless Steel Water Bottle, most beautiful national parks in Australia, 15 Best Things to Do in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, 15 Reasons Why You Should Hire People Who Love to Travel, 25 Harry Potter Destinations You Can Visit in Real Life. Right in the centre of Huskisson, the Jervis Bay Motel has modern comfortable rooms with easy access to restaurants. If you want to see the best of Queensland, then its definitely worth driving from Brisbane to Cairns. What is the best driving route from Sydney to Melbourne? Approximately 1000 kms, about 12 hours. Although there are lots of places to stop along the Melbourne to Sydney drive, Ive chosen the ones in this itinerary because they offer some of the most interesting activities, with significant national parks or iconic experiences. Check out our detailed guide to the area if you have time to stop off for a bit. 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. There are electric car charging stations at the Goulburn Visitor Information Centre at 201 Sloan Street. A short visit or overnight? This route is about 1200 kilometres long and takes about 15 hours of driving. And that brings us to the end of the itinerary for this Melbourne to Sydney drive along the coast. Some of these beaches are accessible by car, others only by walking track. The most direct way is to go straight along the Hume Highway, the main road that connects the two. In this road trip itinerary, Ill be taking you along the Melbourne to Sydney coastal drive. enable JavaScript in your browser. Its a perfect place for a holiday because the lakes offer plenty of opportunity for water sport, while the beach is just metres away. The shortest way to drive from Melbourne to Sydney is up the Hume Highway through Albury and Goulburn. The most direct way is to go straight along the Hume Highway, the main road that connects the two. Just note the coast road via Eden, Sale is about 13 hours driving (not 8 hours in post 4) - it can be done but most people would fly that route. For lovers of the outdoors, its the perfect stop close to Melbourne. You can do the drive in a day if you leave early and dont mind the long drive. You couldnt find a spot which sums up travelling Australia any better! Take a detour here onto the C311 and head to Hanging Rock, renowned for its incredible prehistoric rock formations .