Your Itinerary
Five legs through goldfields, Murray River towns, wine regions and the national capital.
A
Leg 1: Melbourne – Bendigo
1 hr 30 mins drive · 150 km
The highway from Melbourne to Bendigo will lead you past idyllic Mount Macedon and through Victoria’s apple region Harcourt Valley. Arrive in the centre of Bendigo at the elaborate Alexandra Fountain. Discover the city’s rich past with a day visiting attractions. Discover gold history at Central Deborah Gold Mine, view some of Australia’s most significant artworks at Bendigo Art Gallery or wander through the historic streets admiring boom time architecture. At the Golden Dragon Museum learn about Bendigo’s rich Chinese heritage or see Australia’s oldest working pottery at Bendigo Pottery. More gold was found in Bendigo between 1850 and 1900 than anywhere else in the world. Today, art, culture, food, wine and heritage attractions are the new riches of Bendigo.
B
Leg 2: Bendigo – Yarrawonga-Mulwala
2 hrs 30 mins drive · 250 km
Today you will need to make a few stops on your journey so make an early start to be in Echuca-Moama for the first steaming of the paddle steamers. After exploring the wharf area you are on your way east following the Murray River through the Barmah Forest. Take a little time to explore this iconic area. Your trip to your evening destination of Yarrawonga-Mulwala will take you through farmland where many farms are open to the public for fruit picking, wine tasting, cheese tasting… the list goes on. Golf enthusiasts will find championship rated sand belt courses all through this area with the course at Yarrawonga offering 45 holes.
C
Leg 3: Yarrawonga-Mulwala – Albury-Wodonga
1 hr 15 mins drive · 125 km
On the short journey from Yarrawonga-Mulwala, make sure you stop at Rutherglen, home to the premier fortified wine producing area in Australia. European history in the area goes back over 180 years, when explorers Hume and Hovell crossed the Murray River in 1824. Gold fever, paddle steamers and railways all fuelled the development of Albury-Wodonga into a vital river port and customs point. Stroll through Albury’s QEII Square visiting the Albury Regional Art Gallery to see works by well-known 20th century Australian artists or the Albury Regional Museum. Cross over the Murray River into Wodonga, enjoy a leisurely drive out to the Army Museum at Bandiana or take in a ‘Migrant Experience’ at Block 19, Bonegilla.
D
Leg 4: Albury-Wodonga – Canberra
4 hrs drive · 345 km
Take the Hume Highway north to the national capital, Canberra. This well-planned city was established in 1911 to create a capital for the newly federated country of Australia. Hidden beneath Canberra’s leafy surrounds is a thriving modern city with national attractions that hold and share the treasures of the nation. At the National Gallery of Australia experience Australia through the eyes of our artists. Regular free tours will guide you through Parliament House, one of the world’s most acclaimed buildings. At Old Parliament House wander through this iconic 1920s building that was home to the Australian Parliament for 61 years. Visit the newly constructed National Portrait Gallery, which includes Ned Kelly’s death mask. At the National Museum of Australia be enthralled by the stories of unique Australians.
E
Leg 5: Canberra – Sydney
3 hrs drive · 280 km
Before leaving the Canberra region consider visiting a few vineyards. The region’s cool climate wines are now receiving recognition worldwide. There are 140 vineyards with more than 35 cellar doors in peaceful rural countryside around Canberra, and most are within 30 minutes of the city centre. From here, follow the Federal Highway to Highland Way and then onto the Western Freeway through Liverpool and into 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
150 km
Bendigo
1 hr 30 mins drive
C
250 km
Yarrawonga-Mulwala
2 hrs 30 mins drive
D
125 km
Albury-Wodonga
1 hr 15 mins drive
E
345 km
Canberra
4 hrs drive
F
280 km
Sydney
3 hrs drive
The Hume
3 - 4 Berth
From
$110
/day
★★★★★
“My hubby & I hired The Hume for a week, loved our time in it & wished we had longer! The van is set up with everything needed & was very comfortable.”
The Riverina
3 – 4 Berth
From
$100
/day
★★★★★
“Thanks for the service, friendly helpful team, they went above and beyond to show me how everything works! Vehicle was very comfortable.”
The Princes
2 – 3 Berth
From
$90
/day
★★★★★
“Rented a Princes from Calypso for 8 weeks. It was reliable for the 7000km we used it for. Pickup and return were organised really well and easy.”
The Sturt
2 – 3 Berth
From
$80
/day
★★★★★
“We rented the HiTop — Berth 2–3 — for 5 days from Melbourne and it was perfect! Everything we needed was included, with no hidden charges.”
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)