Melbourne to Sydney 3 Day Drive

Melbourne to Sydney or vice versa - 3 days

A short itinerary for those with limited time, but still keen on experiencing the scenic hightlight between Melbourne to Sydney.

Daily itinerary

Day 1 –Melbourne to Lakes Entrance

Leaving Melbourne, drive along Princes Highway to Traralgon; stop for a coffee and stretch your legs in Victory Park; complete with its marble sculpture Lars Compatalis, historic band rotunda and beautiful gardens. Carry on to Bairnsdale; the commercial centre for the local wool, dairy, agricultural and timber industries, here pick up a brochure from the information centre and drive along the Twin Rivers Food and Wine Trail stopping along the way. Onto Lakes Entrance; a much loved Victorian holiday spot which is in a spectacular position on the edge of Ninety Mile Beach where the Gippsland Lakes meet the Southern Ocean. Take it easy and enjoy a boat cruise on the Gippsland Lakes, the largest inland network of waterways in Australia, walk over the footbridge to Ninety Mile Beach or indulge in one of the many fresh seafood shops. Overnight.

Day 2 – Lakes Entrance to Batemans Bay

Heard about the ‘Man from Snowy River’, this iconic poem was written about a man and horse based in the Snowy Mountains. The foothills of Snowy River Country are only 56km (35 miles) from Lakes Entrance. Whatever your idea of the outdoors is - horseriding, abseiling, quad biking, snow shoe tours, hiking through rugged terrain or charging down the slopes on a mountain bike this is the place to do it! After your adventure drive to Eden; founded as a whaling station in the early 1800s; now an important fishing village on the South Coast. You may be lucky to see the migrating whales venture up or down the coast. Be sure to stop at Merimbula; famous for its oysters and prawns, Narooma: for a trip to Montague Island to view a large colony of Little Penguins and Mogo; famous for its zoo dedicated to the conservation of exotic animals including Nepalese red pandas, snow leopards and Syrian brown bears. Overnight either in Batemans Bay and enjoy the restaurants serving fresh seafood and pubs for entertainment.

Day 3 – Batemans Bay to Sydney

If detouring to Canberra be sure to visit Murramarang National Park before you leave. It is located 10km north of Bateman’s Bay. The highlight is the kangaroos at Pebbly Beach not to forget the wonderful beaches and stunning headlands, a great place for a swim. Drive along the windy road for approx 2 hours to Canberra; the capital of Australia, this is the city that Federation created. Australia's national government sits here, as does the highest court of Australia. Some of the attractions include the Australian War Memorial, Parliament House, the National Gallery of Australia and Canberra's newest attraction, the National Museum of Australia. Spend the day exploring the city then drive the 300 kilometres to Sydney. Or if continuing along the coast road; stop at Jervis Bay; famous for the whitest sand in the world, and its crystal clear waters. It is a naturalist delight, bounded with pristine beaches within the Booderee National Park, ideal for all activities. The bay is 15km long and 10kim wide with little villages, bay beaches and surf beaches galore. This area is a must do however if time is limited fit in a bay cruise to see the resident blue nose dolphins. Carrying along, stretch your legs at Kiama; famous for the “Blow Hole”, which spouts water high into the air then pass through Wollongong before arriving in Sydney.

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