dianne

DAUGHTER WILL BE AT U. MELBOURNE THIS TERM, AND WE ARE GOING TO VISIT. WE NEED TO RENT A CAR TO TAKE SIX PEOPLE FROM MELBOURNE TO SYDNEY. DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW LONG OF A DRIVE IT WOULD BE AND WHAT THE BEST RENTAL CAR AGENCY (FOR BEST PRICE) WOULD BE? HOW FAR IS IT FROM SYDNEY TO GREAT BARRIER? DRIVEABLE? ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR CUTE AND QUAINT LODGING AT A GREAT PRICE IN SYDNEY OR MELBOURNE?

liz

I know that you have just seen the night train from Melb - Syd and someone will tell you what website to go to for that.
As far as driving goes it would take about 10 hours most probably and depending when you are going it would be a nice drive made even better if you could take a couple of days and spend some time sight-seeing.
Cute, quaint lodging? There is a lovely boutique hotel in Victoria Street Potts Point Sydney which is a restored Victorian style home with back views over Wooloomooloo - I think its called "something Victoria" but the address is 122 Victoria Street. If you do a search of accommodation in Sydney it should come up. In Melbourne I always like The Windsor Hotel because its a bit like The Sir Francis Drake hotel in San Fran with its high tea etc. Also some of the other Sydney B&Bs are really lovely too - in and around Paddington, Glebe, Surry Hills, Woolahra area. For hotels Alan is the expert on this site and I am sure he will chip in with some ideas for you.
Sydney is driveable from the GBR but it would be a long, long drive and because you would have several nights accommodation in that you may as well get an e-ticket on a plane because it would work out cheaper I think. There should be a few specials at present for a Sydney - Hamilton Island or Sydney - Prosepine flight. The latter would give you more flexibility in places to stay I think that Hamilton Island. If you wanted you could go to Port Douglas but you would make Cairns your stop off town then. Check out www.qantas.com.au and www.virginblue.com.au
Have fun planning
Liz
PS Hugs and kisses xx( I am having to do that now so that people won't think I am terse in the wording of the posts anymore)

liz

thank you so much!! i have a lot of research to do!! dianne

Graeme

Hi.Sydney to Melbourne is similar in distance from New York to Memphis.The Great Barrier Reef is even further from Sydney in the opposite direction.A rental car for 6 would be around $US50 to $US70 per day.The best route from Sydney to Melbourne is along the coast.You could do it in a day but should allow 2days to a week.Good luck.

marg

I agree with Graeme that the best route is along the coast but you will need to allow more than one day. You can drive Melbourne to Sydney along the Hume Freeway (inland) in about 10 hours. The coastal road is much more scenic but allow at least two days - more if you want to spend some time relaxing on some of the beautiful beaches you will see.
Definitely fly Sydney to Cairns for the Barrier Reef. The drive is long, reasonably interesting but if you have limited time, best to fly. You could also consider flying to Prosperine and going out to one of the islands in the Whitsundays instead.
You haven't mentioned when you will be in Australia. A lot of the hotel chains in Sydney and Melbourne have discounted rates during January. You could check out www.visitvictoria.com.au and www.visitnsw.com.au for information.

Scott

The coast road is much longer than the inland route along the Hume. The coast route has its moments, but the sections from Melbourne to Bairnsdale and from Batemans Bay to Sydney are pretty deadly - and the latter is increasingly slow and winding on a two-lane road.

If you do the Hume you come within 45 minutes of Canberra the national capital, which is well worth a day of your trip.

Enjoy Australia!