Your Itinerary
Seven scenic legs of gourmet stops, cellar doors, fresh seafood and coastal scenery.
A
Leg 1: Melbourne – Mornington Peninsula
1 hr 30 mins drive · 90 km
Just an hour drive and you’ll feel you’re a world away from the city. And you’re never far from a bay or coastal beach for a stroll freshened by sea breezes. There are two coastal routes, so drive the Nepean Highway along Port Phillip Bay, through seaside villages to Rosebud. Take the C777 through the hinterland to spectacular Cape Schanck, then to peaceful Flinders on Western Port Bay. Join the Frankston Flinders Highway for beaches, villages and vineyards and, if you have time, detour to Red Hill’s food and wine.
B
Leg 2: Mornington Peninsula – Sale
3 hrs 10 mins drive · 225 km
Start your day with a thrilling horse ride along the beach or swim with dolphins before leaving the Peninsula. Take the South Gippsland Hwy via Korumburra and continue on to the quaint, food-lover’s village of Koonwarra. Enjoy a gourmet lunch. The scenic Strzelecki Highway winds its way through the ranges and offers stunning panoramas, joining the Princes Highway at Morwell, where the Latrobe Regional Gallery is a must for art-lovers. If nature is more your thing, take a detour through Tarra Bulga National Park, a cool climate rainforest with scenic walks and picnic areas. Sale is home to some great regional restaurants.
C
Leg 3: Sale – Gipsy Point
3 hrs 40 mins drive · 290 km
Raymond Island, east of Bairnsdale, has a large population of koalas easily spotted around the island. Lakes Entrance offers over 400 square kilometres of lakes, rivers, lagoons and islands to explore. If a subterranean adventure is appealing, detour inland from Nowa Nowa to Buchan Caves, to see spectacular limestone formations. From Orbost, take the turnoff to Marlo, where the Snowy River meets Bass Strait. Spend the afternoon exploring the turquoise waters of the Mallacoota inlet and the shimmering lakes and rivers of Croajingolong National Park.
D
Leg 4: Gipsy Point – Narooma
2 hrs 40 mins drive · 205 km
Cross the border into NSW and travel via Eden. Pambula is a quaint town by the sea with some heritage architecture. Tathra is a popular beach with a historic wharf. Continue north and visit the many galleries on the coastal road, inspired by the unspoilt beauty of this area. Bermagui is an excellent fishing spot, known as the birthplace of game fishing. Narooma is also popular for game fishing charters as well as waterfront restaurants and cafes.
E
Leg 5: Narooma – Ulladulla
1 hr 40 mins drive · 120 km
Take a walk through Moruya. Take the short coastal loop via Broulee’s sheltered surf beach before rejoining the highway at Mogo. Mogo Zoo is dedicated to the preservation of endangered species. Next stop Batemans Bay, a bustling seaside holiday town, famous for its oysters from the Clyde River. Take a sea kayaking tour with an expert guide or join a river cruise on a fully enclosed river boat. If the bush is calling, a 4WD tour will take you into the remote wilderness behind the bay. Continue to Ulladulla and the town’s pretty harbour.
F
Leg 6: Ulladulla – Wollongong
2 hrs 10 mins drive · 145 km
Milton is a National Trust classified village boasting excellent providores and curio shops. Jervis Bay is reputed to have the whitest sand in the world. Take a drive into Booderee National Park and visit the serene Murrays Beach. Visit Booderee Botanic Gardens and learn about Aboriginal bush tucker and medicinal uses of plants. The Illawarra Fly Tree Top Walk is one of Australia’s newest attractions. Travel into Wollongong where a choice of cosmopolitan dining experiences awaits you.
F
Leg 7: Wollongong – Sydney
1 hr 25 mins drive · 90 km
Spend the morning exploring Wollongong then follow Grand Pacific Drive through quaint coastal villages and enjoy spectacular driving scenery with close proximity to sheer cliffs. Travel across the Sea Cliff Bridge. Stop at the parking zone and take the pedestrian walkway or join a Harley Tour. Continue to Bald Hill lookout at Stanwell Tops, before heading back to Sydney.
Distances Between Cities (km)
Handy for planning longer Australian road trips.
| Distance /km | Adelaide | Brisbane | Cairns | Canberra | Darwin | Hobart | Melbourne | Perth | Sydney |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide | – | 2127 | 2845 | 1212 | 3225 | 1007 | 755 | 2713 | 1422 |
| Alice Springs | 1693 | 3064 | 2435 | 2905 | 1532 | 2700 | 2448 | 3772 | 2960 |
| Brisbane | 2127 | – | 1826 | 1331 | 3582 | 1927 | 1675 | 4427 | 1027 |
| Cairns | 2845 | 1826 | – | 3157 | 2953 | 3753 | 3501 | 4727 | 2853 |
| Canberra | 1212 | 1331 | 3157 | – | 4233 | 903 | 651 | 3925 | 304 |
| Darwin | 3225 | 3582 | 2953 | 4233 | – | 4232 | 3580 | 4283 | 4095 |
| Hobart | 1007 | 1927 | 3753 | 903 | 4232 | – | 252 | 3720 | 1145 |
| Melbourne | 755 | 1675 | 3501 | 651 | 3580 | 252 | – | 3468 | 893 |
| Perth | 2713 | 4427 | 4727 | 3925 | 4283 | 3720 | 3468 | – | 4135 |
| Sydney | 1422 | 1027 | 2853 | 304 | 4095 | 1145 | 893 | 4135 | – |
A
Melbourne
Start of the journey
B
90 km
Mornington Peninsula
1 hr 30 mins drive
C
225 km
Sale
3 hrs 10 mins drive
D
290 km
Gipsy Point
3 hrs 40 mins drive
E
205 km
Narooma
2 hrs 40 mins drive
F
120 km
Ulladulla
1 hr 40 mins drive
G
145 km
Wollongong
2 hrs 10 mins drive
H
90 km
Sydney
1 hr 25 mins drive
The Hume
3 - 4 Berth
From
$110
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3 – 4 Berth
From
$100
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The Princes
2 – 3 Berth
From
$90
/day
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2 – 3 Berth
From
$80
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Things you need to know
Australians drive on the left . However, it does take only a small amount of time to adjust – just remember, passenger on the kerb side! Observe the law and drive safely
You must be licensed and carry your licence with you when you are driving in Australia, or you will incur an on-the-spot fi ne. If your licence is not in English, you must carry an English translation.
All passengers must use seatbelts at all times. Baby capsules or child restraints must be used for all children.
You must not drive at a speed over the posted limit (check signs along the roads). In most towns the limit is 50 km per hour and on freeways it will vary between 60-110km.
For fully licensed car drivers the legal limit is 0.05 g/100ml. Australian Police are authorised to stop any vehicle and breath test the driver at any time
It is illegal to drive or ride a vehicle while using a hand-held mobile phone. It is also illegal to perform these activities when your vehicle is stopped but not parked, such as when you are waiting at traffi c lights. Th e penalty is a signifi cant fi ne.
It is recommended that for every two hours of driving you stop and rest for 15 minutes – distances between towns and cities may be far greaterthan you are accustomed.
Constantly be on the alert for dangerous situations and drive at a speed that suits the conditions. Watch for:
- Potholes and rough surfaces
- Soft or broken road edges
- Single lane bridges
- Road surfaces changing without notice
- Livestock or wildlife crossing the road (particularly near sunrise or near sunset)
- Very large trucks (road trains)