StuQ

Hi again. I have a question about driving. A bit of background--flying into Sydney on March 21 from NYC. Staying in Sydney until Thursday. Flying to Melbourne. After 1 or 2 days in Melbourne, was going to rent a car and drive the Great Ocean Road. Initially, I was going to do that, and then drive back to Sydney over the course of 2-4 days, stopping at little towns along the way.

Is that not a best use of time? Am I better off only using the car for the GOR and Philips Island, and then flying back to Sydney? Is there anything of real interest were I to drive to Sydney? Will it give me a different flavor of Australia being away from 2 large cities?
I leve Sydney for NYC on Saturday April 3

Bokhara2

Will it give me a different flavor of Australia being away from 2 large cities?

Yes, absolutely. Chalk & cheese. It's a totally different experience and, although more people live in cities than rural areas; those cities no more define all that is Australia than do say, New York & San Francisco exemplify the whole of the US.

The Melbourne-Sydney drive offers a very different experience from the Great Ocean Road. If you stay off the Hume, taking either the Gippsland & Princes Hwys all the way or incorporating a detour through the High Country and coming in through Canberra, as I and others have suggested, you will indeed have an opportunity of a much broader & richer view of our beautiful country. And one that people who stay in the cities will never have.

Is there anything of real interest for you? Depends entirely on your interests, Stu. If you're interested in nature, like to wander off the beaten tracks a little; to slow down now & then & just soak in the quiet beside a river or beach; stay in an old country pub & eat today's fish catch or a steak that hasn't travelled more than 50kms from paddock to plate ....

There's National Parks, heartstoppingly beautiful scenery, places of historical significance, little towns & villages, big prosperous towns, all sorts of people & things to surprise and perhaps enchant you. I've lost count of the times I've done that drive, and I find something fresh every single time.

Just a thought ... here's the way I'd do the trip back to Sydney if I had 3 or 4 days. It's just one idea - others will be able to improve on it. And, of course, you can always change your mind en-route. That's the beauty of driving and solo travel!


From the Great Ocean Road ... Queenscliff to Sorrento car ferry, then to Phillip Island ...
http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=d&s...91&ie=UTF8&z=6

Someone else please help me out - is it better to head to Cooma at Cann River, or go on to Bega & turn left there?

Stu, if you visit the www.visitvictoria.com.au site, you can view the various regions, Mornington Peninsula,Phillip Island, Gippsland, High Country etc., and see some of the attractions of each.

Bokhara2

Lest I've given the impression of a countryside stalled in the 1950's, I should also add that there are some very good B & Bs, and places to sample some excellent regional food.

DownUnder

Your plan involves much driving, but it is a great way to see OZ. Follow your itinerary and fly to Sydney and then fly on to Melbourne. Hire a car and drive the GOR with overnight stops at either Apollo Bay or Port Campbell. Return through Colac and then onto Queenscliff where you may want to overnight as it is a lovely town and worth a visit. Catch the car ferry to Sorrento and drive through the Mornigton Penisular to Phillip Island. This requires an overnight if you want to see the Penguins. Then onto perhaps Merimbula for another overnight and then turn left at Bega for the Monaro Highway and Canberra for another overnight. if you are short of time you could drive from Phillip Island to Canberra in a day, but that would give you less time to explore the Capital. Sydney is then about 2 hours away.
This is a long drive and although the roads are good there is very little Freeway on this route. However it is the most scenic as the main Hume Highway between Melbourne and Sydney is dull and boring and although quick, it should not be considered if you want to explore our great country. There is plenty of accomodation at all the towns I mention including Bed & Breakfats ( a great way of connrecting with dinkum Aussies.)
http://www.searoad.com.au/
http://www.sapphirecoast.com.au/

JohnFitz

I certainly second Bokhara.

I just went from Sorrento to Queenscliff on the ferry last Friday . It was so superb - I cannot tell you how much we enjoyed it. Queenscliff is the loveliest town .And then we had a gourmet lunch at Loam in Drysdale eating and drinking largely local produce and wine .

And insofar as travel between the cities is concerned , if that seems daunting then even a trip to the Southern Highlands of NSW ( Bowral , Berrimah ) from Sydney is easily done in a day . It is about 1.5 hours drive on highway and a really lovely spot at anytime of year .

RalphR

I can't imagine a trip to Australia without getting well out of the cities to enjoy the sights and smells of the "bush"

With 3-4 days from Melbourne, I'd be tempted to drive the Great Ocean Rd as least as far as Warrnambool and then head inland to the beautiful Grampian Ranges Nat'l Park (between Hamilton and Horsham). From there, you could either drive back to Melbourne and fly to Sydney OR continue on to Adelaide, flying to Sydney from there.

Driving to Sydney is also a reasonable option as DownUnder has outlined. I agree: dont go via the Hume Hwy. You could do the coast road the whole way or cut inland to Cooma/Canberra as DownUnder suggests. I love the South Coast and the Southern Highlands, which can be seen en route. (Note, the coast road does not hug the water most of the time.)