• Driving Time: 12 hours by the coast, 9 hours inland
• Duration: 5 to 7 Days

There are a number of ways to get from Sydney to Melbourne (and vice-versa) – by plane with Virgin Blue or Qantas, by rail with Country Link, by coach or by car. By car you have a choice of the coast road, inland, or a combination of both.

Don’t listen to people who say it’s a boring trip by road… although it certainly can be, if you stick to the Hume Highway and do it in 9 hours, only taking time out to refuel, some fast food and a toilet stop. You have to get off that expressway and explore!

Head to Canberra. This is a 3-hour drive, so you have plenty of time to discover the delightful Southern Highlands. Get off the expressway at Mittagong, take a side trip to Berrima, then head down through Bowral, Moss Vale and Sutton Forest and through Goulburn. Enjoy the ‘English’ countryside, art and craft shops, antiques, tea rooms etc.

Accommodation suggestion: Canberra

Explore the national capital – Old and New Parliament House, the War Memorial, the National Art Gallery, the Australian Museum, Questacon, the Kamberra Wine Complex – there’s a ton to see and do.

Accommodation suggestion: Canberra

If taking the coast, take a leisurely route to Batemans Bay – it’s a bit over 3 hours from Sydney, 2 hours from Mittagong and an hour and 20 mins from Nowra. From Canberra, you can head to the coast via Braidwood to Batemans Bay (2 hours driving) and have most of the day on the coast …

Or head south have a look at some country towns before heading to the coast – Yass, then Gundagai for some history (less than 2 hours driving from Canberra) – the Dog on the Tuckerbox, Rusconi’s Marble Masterpiece, the cemetery, the heritage bridges, the Gabriel Gallery etc and then travel on another half an hour to Tumut, a very pretty spot.

Or, from Gundagai, continue south through Holbrook (there’s a submarine in the main street) to the border (Albury-Wodonga on the Murray River) and to charming Beechworth (about 2 hours 40mins driving time from Gundagai).

Accommodation suggestion: Batemans Bay, Tumut or Beechworth

If taking the coast, have another night in Batemans Bay or continue down the coast to Eden – there are lovely spots on the way like Tuross Head, Tilba Tilba, Merimbula, Pambula (2 hours driving time Batemans Bay to Eden)

Or to Lakes Entrance (From Batemans Bay, a bit under 5 hours, from Eden less than 3 hours).

Or, from Beechworth, spend the day visiting the nearby wineries of Rutherglen (or the scenery around Bright).

Accommodation suggestion: Lakes Entrance or Beechworth

From Lakes Entrance, plan to get to Phillip Island by late afternoon for the arrival of the Little Penguins at dusk. It’s a four and a bit hours driving time through places like Sale and Traralgon.

Or, from Beechworth, to Ballarat – this is also your longest drive (about 3 and a half hours driving time) – stop on the way in Glenrowan for a quick look at ‘Kelly Country’ – In the afternoon, have a look around the goldfield city of Ballarat – perhaps take in the Eureka night show at Sovereign Hill.

Accommodation suggestion: Phillip Island or Ballarat

From Phillip Island you have choices – it’s less than 2 hours into Melbourne but you have a couple of great options close by – Mornington Peninsula (bit over an hour and a half) or up to the Yarra Valley for the wineries and Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary.

In Ballarat, you can have a most rewarding full day at Sovereign Hill – it’s a great attraction – or head to Spa Country (Daylesford, Hepburn Springs etc), historic Castlemaine and Maldon and maybe Bendigo (about an hour 40 from Ballarat).

Accommodation suggestion: Ballarat, Mornington or Yarra Valley (or Melbourne)

After staying over, perhaps a bit more exploring before heading to Melbourne – you’ve got all day… it’s an hour and a quarter from Ballarat, and an hour from Mornington or Healesville.

Return To Itineraries