I am in the process of planning my Australia trip come late February 2011. I am a 33 year old male traveling with my good female friend who is 29 years old. We are landing in Melbourne, gonna spend a few days there and eventually take a short flight up to Sydney. See Sydney for 4 days then she really wants to rent a car and drive back to Melbourne over 3 days rather than fly. Is this coast between Sydney and Melbourne worth the 3 days? Any suggestions on a route or stops along the way both along the coast or inland. We are both active and I would like to explore the real Australia wherever possible. Thanks!

Is this coast between Sydney and Melbourne worth the 3 days?

Yes, as you'll see if you get to study maps a bit more closely - your lady-friend's idea is a good one. There are lots and lots of nice places along the way. Three days might not be enough, you'll have to do some serious driving, but it'll allow you to stop by mid-afternoon in places where you'll stay the night, and enjoy the late evenings that are so beautiful in February.

Among other resources I can recommend the big Sydney newspaper www.smh.com.au - click on the Travel link (top right on the opening page) and go from there. It also links to its sister publication the Melbourne Age where you find more good info.

Try to go along the ocean at least some of the time. While I have not driven from Sydney to Melbourne, there is lots of spectacular coastal scenery in Australia.

On that route there is Phillip Island for the wild life and penguins, Wilsons Prom. for great scenery, the small Lakes town of Metung ( off the main highway and good for a stopover) Eden or Merimbula (good for stopovers) you can then detour via Canberra, but that takes you away from the coast, or stick to the highway and travel through Bega and consider Uladulla or Nowra for another stopover. All these places should have websites for you to check, but it is a route that takes you through some great Aussie countryside and is worth doing.
http://www.sapphirecoast.com.au/
www.visitvictoria.com

I should add, and I certainly don't want to scare you off, but watch out for Kangaroos on some of those inland roads. They are not tame animals and only last week a friend of mine's car was hit by a Kangaroo as they were driving from Canberra. They escaped injury ( thank goodness) but the car was a total write off!

watch out for Kangaroos...

No worse than deer and such in many regions of the US for example.

Thanks for the tips! I grew up in the mountains of Santa Cruz California and although most people think of Californians as pretty city folk but I actually grew up in the high redwood country. I have hit many animals with my vehicle, including a head on with a doe - an inevitable collision. So I will be looking out for the roo for sure... thanks again for the warning!

Hi,

Closer to Sydney I would recommend stops in Ulladulla / Milton / Mollymook (nice beach at Mollymook), would skip Nowra as it doesn't have much charm, but would then go for Berry (cute atmosphere, nice shops, good food). Take the coast road to Gerroa and make sure you get the full view of Seven Mile Beach from the cliffs there. Then via Gerringong onto Kiama (the blowhole is worth a trip), then Wollongong's northern beaches. Make sure you fit in a meal and a beer at the Scarborough Hotel:

http://www.scarboroughhotel.com.au/

From here the trip leads to the Sea Cliff Bridge.
http://www.mynrma.com.au/cps/rde/xch...ific_drive.htm


Then to Stanwell Park, Stanwell Tops (hang gliding, anyone?) into the Royal National Park. From there, into Sydney.

Lavandula

WOW! Thanks for all those great places to look into closer to
Sydney Lavandula! Do you live in Australia? So much to look into, I am sure more questions will arise. Thanks again!

I think you'd get more "bang" per mile by driving the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne. Absolutely spectacular. Then return to Melbourne and fly to Sydney.

See my trip report "The GREAT Ocean Road ..."

We did the coastal Sydney-Melbourne route quite a long time ago. The main road (the Princes Hwy) doesn't hug water all that much so you will have to detour here and there for coastal scenery. Had we known about it at the time, we definitely would have taken the side trip to see Wilson's Promontory Nat'l Park, which by all accounts is beautiful. Closer to Sydney the Royal Nat'l Park and Stanwell Tops are definitely worth a stop, as is the spectacular Sublime Point Lookout at Bulli, just north of Woolongong.

On out trip in 1982 we had to make a memorable unscheduled overnight stop in Orbost, Victoria. We needed petrol but the stations had closed in the early evening. Business hours may have changed since then, but it's something to be mindful of in the more remote parts of Australia. Anyway, in Orbost the only motel in town was full so we ended up staying at the pub. Here it is, the second night of our honeymoon, and we're in single beds staring up a one bare lightbulb hanging from the ceiling! Communal bathrooms down the hall. It was fun drinking with the locals though.

I am driving the Great Ocean Road earlier in our 3 week trip. We just thought it would be neat to fly one way to Sydney and drive back by car to Melbourne. Our base city is Melbourne and I am still putting the itinerary together. I have really enjoyed all the great ideas from this forum so far!

My itinerary as of now is this:

Fly into Melbourne February 26th. Stay in Melbourne at my friends house (free stay) and check out the city for 6 days.

Thursday March 3rd Australia International Air Show in Geelong for day trip.

Friday March 4th start driving to Sydney for 3 days.

March 7,8,9 in Sydney then fly back to Melbourne Wednesday night.

Melbourne for 2 days to get refreshed and ready for next road trip.

March 12 fly to Adelaide and attend WOMAdeliade festival.

March 13 ferry to Kangaroo island.

March 14 Kangaroo island tour.

March 15, 16, 17 Great Ocean Drive back to Melbourne.

March 18 fly home.

This is an early part of the planning so things will probably change. I may fly to Sydney and drive back so I am in Sydney on the weekend rather than the middle of the week. All suggestions are welcome!

Good idea to take your time on the Great Ocean Road. It is great only in stretches, just like all coastal drives it also veers away from the coast and runs for long stretches through forests and such. The road is mostly one lane in each direction and the speed limit is 100 km/h. Nice road, just not always "spectacular".

Stop and go check out the "harbour" in quaint Port Fairy (that's because you actually begin the GOR), and stock up on cheese (you'll see the signs from the road) just east of Warrnambool.

The 12 apostles are no more, I think it's down to seven or so, and the London Bridge long ago fell, leaving some tourists stranded... But it still has a certain allure, bring your camera and take the billionth picture...

Take your time on the way back, there are little sidetrips you can do from the main drag, to waterfalls, beaches, etc. It's a nice drive overall.

About the drive Melbourne-Sydney: There are lots and lots of places where you could stop - one of them is Berri - head on out to the ocean and you have miles and miles of beach to yourselves. And the pie shop on the main drag has some yummy goodies - you'll see it (don't blink or you've passed the town...).

I have 3 days to adventure to Tasmania or Kangaroo Island by ferry. Decisions decisions.

Hi Denver,

I do live in Australia - I'm based in Sydney but travel to the South Coast (i.e. the NSW south coast) for family reasons quite often, so I know the route very well. Don't get much of a chance to do it slowly nowadays but it's got some great stops. It's close enough to Sydney to get quite a few tourists but I wouldn't say it was spoilt by them either.

Lavandula

"...Tasmania or Kangaroo Island..."

Apples and oranges, the two don't compare (except that they're both islands...)

The ferry from Melbourne to Tasmania (Devonport) goes overnight, 8PM to 7AM, same timetable going back. Tasmania is a state - if you really have three full days to spend on land it's worth going over there.

Better by ferry than by plane because of the overnight trips: Take the ferry on the night before the first day, then spend three days/two nights on land, and take the ferry after day 3.

Rent a car on arrival and set out. You have all kinds of choices - for example, driving the A10 around Cradle Mountain to Hobart (great scenery along the way, and worthy places to stop - do your research). Stay the night.

Day 2: Port Arthur and then head up the coast to Swansea or thereabouts. Take a late dip... Stay the night.

Day Three; Back to Devonport via Launceston.

A bit brutal, but if three days is all you have...

Kangaroo Island is a different deal, look it up.

I really like the South Coast - Melbourne drive; have done it several times & have a couple of favourite spots. Will jot down a few notes for you later today, DenverDooner.

I was in Tasmania in July for 4 nights. I did Port Arthur, the Salamanca market in Hobart and the Bruny Island Wildlife Tour. I never got out of that area.

I hope to get a home exchange in Tasmania some day.

There is a thread on Kangaroo Island.

Three days in either would be very brief. But, they are both lovely for different reasons. Tasmania would be easier to get to in the available time.

Plenty to see on the coast route. You will even come through my town. Not much to see here as it is an administrative town. But look up and you might see the Air Force display team practising. The lake in town and the port is pretty for a walk and there are world class wetlands just out of town.

The Swing bridge is world class and unique. It rotates to allow river traffic. It is about ten minutes out of Sale.

The Latrobe Valley (Morwell/Traralgon/Moe) is a major coal mining area and power station with tours.

Walhalla is an old gold mining area and worth a visit. It is about an hour north of the Latrobe Valley.

Near Lakes Entrance is an old Trestle bridgeworth the hlaf hour detour.

Tarra/Bulga National Park is a pretty rain forest with tree ferns and Lyrebirds.

Lakes Entrance is pretty and has a great ice cream shop.

Stop in Bairnsdale at the Catholic Church in the main street. It has a fantastic painted ceiling. Not quite the Sistine but impressive none the less. The Mitchell river silt jetties are the largest in the world.

The gippsland lakes are great. Hire a boat from Bulls Cruisers and spenda few days exploring them and the rivers. Might be better than going to Tas or KI.
http://www.bullscruisers.com.au/

You can hire boats at Lakes Entrance for a few hours or a day as well.

Good spots to star gaze along this route as well.

Do you want the star book copied?

Go inland from Sydney to Melbourne try a couple of diversions - southern highlands between Syd/Can and then visit some of the smaller towns along the way off the highway. When you come over the border at Albury, venture down to Yarrawonga or visit Rutherglen, great winery area or just a 20 minute drive off the freeway try Beechworth which recently was voted in the top ten places to visit in Australia. Bright is a little furhter away but a pleasant place to visit.

I live just off the freeway and to be honest there are not many kangaroos, it is only when you get out and about and especially the minor roads that you will see them and most times they will get out of your way.