Melbourne and sydney in June?
 

Hi,
My friends and I are planning a trip to Australia, Melbourne and Sydney, this coming June.

We are not sure if it is advisable to drive from Melbourne to Sydney in June as it is winter time and we are not experience in driving during winter season. And we would like to know what route would be advisable to take as well.

Thanks!

If you're worried about snow and ice, you have absolutely nothing to worry about. Australian winters are mild, with snow only in the high country - the Snowy Mts, Brindabella Ranges, etc - a relatively small area.

If you need to do the trip quickly, take the Hume Hwy, the main 4-lane road, which is quite unexciting. Otherwise you could take your time following the coastal road (Princes Hwy) most of the way, which is more scenic and interesting. Or you could take an alternative inland route, say via the scenic Southern Highlands, Canberra (worth a visit!), and Cooma, joining the Princes Hwy at Cann River.

Thanks a lot.

It's our first trip in Australia so we will need some advise on our trip.

If we are taking the coastal road (princes hwy), could you advise some places where we can visit and a place to stop for a night or 2?

Welcome to my back yard. There are plenty of places to stop and visit along the way.

Merimbula and Eden in NSW are coastal towns but will still be lovely in the winter.

Mallacoota and Croajingalong National Park are great as well.

The Gippsland Lakes around Lakes entrance are a delight especially for bird watchers.

The Latrobe Valley near Traralgon and Morwell is where to coal mines and power stations are. Nearby Tarr Bulga NAtional park is rainforest and lovely.

If this is your first trip, have you considered going to the more usual tourist attractions such as the Red Centre, Kakadu, the Great Barrier Reef, the wilderness in Tasmania?

Driving between Sydney and Melbourne is more like my idea of hell, than a holiday. Have you thought about flying or are you keen to drive and see the small towns along the way? There are certainly great national parks, as Peter points out, if you are keen bushwalkers.

I don't think driving somewhere from Sydney is a bad idea at all. However, In June, you might consider heading north towards Brisbane. It will be warmer there, and there are great places to visit along the way, especially in northern New South Wales and southern Queensland.

Melbourne to Sydney is an 8 to 9 hour drive. I have done it as I absolutely have to. There are just paddocks and paddocks of cows and sheep in some places. A bit montonous.