Alternatively, flights from Melbourne to Canberra take an hour. We drove uphill to the Cape Byron Lighthouse (note parking must be paid with cash) before leaving to meet Tims parents at our Gold Coast accommodation. (or in reverse). Australia. You get wonderful views down the hill to the coast at the large and modern Black Cockatoo Cottages. Regardless, this is a wonderful way to see this part of Australia and the beautiful southeastern coast. Is it possible to do the drive in 2 days? Advice i give you is to go easy on your car. Those keen on Ski-ing or snowboarding in winter (June - August) can exit the highway after only 2 hours and head east for another hour to Mt Buller. Should you be looking for some food, snacks or anything else for that matter, you will also find an assortment of cafes and restaurants along the main road. Im assuming that youre doing the coastal route between Melbourne and Sydney because you want to see the sights along the way, rather than just get between the two cities. Making it one of the more interesting stops along the way. By the time you stop for fuel and rest breaks, expect to allow at least 10 hours. Trippy is where Is it possible to do the drive in 2 days? Edit: If you're travelling in summer, I suggest not going via the Newell. And catch the sunset at Whisky Bay, which is only a ten minute drive from Tidal River and really worth the effort. The main street is lined with gorgeous buildings and there are plenty of boutique shops with local produce or collections of homewares. Amaroo Road (east) - to City via Hume Freeway (M31 south) 3.5: 2.2: Craigieburn Road West . ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-109307216', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Sydney. For example, here are some questions people have asked about Gold Coast. With the upgrades, the Pacific Highway now bypasses almost all the towns that used to line the route, Coffs Harbour being the notable exception. You can also find some cool day trips or get away for a weekend. You can head out to the island on a boat and watch them safely from deck or you can even jump in and swim with them, like I did. With that in mind, its worth trying to avoid arriving in Sydney during peak hour because the last stretch can get very slow with traffic. Alot of people will do this as a day trip from Melbourne though if travelling to Sydney there is . It's better to take three days under any circumstances. Port Macquarie (5 answers) Just keep in mind that the Long Track Pantry is closed on Tuesdays. The scenery along the way is beautiful! Overnight: After more than 9 hours of driving, we stopped in Goulburn and stayed the night in a 2-bedroom apartment at the Best Western hotel. If all you want to do is get between Melbourne and Sydney, then flying is both a cheaper and a faster option. But I also think its got a fantastic amount of diversity big cities and small towns, the beach and the bush, relaxation and adventure, nature and culture. 15 years ago, in December, I loaded up a Holden Commodore with the spouse, 2 young daughters and then 75 year old dad and meandered North along the Hume Highway from Melbourne to Sydney & onwards to Brisbane via the Princes Hwy. I know Moree is a long day but last year we got to Port Macquarie Day 1 and the distance is about the same.Planning on leaving about 4am, should be at Moree by 5-6pm. Apart from the trip distance, refer. Don't book ahead, watch for roadside discount signs from 4pm onwards. Also, look out for roo's on the road around twilight when you are in regional areas. Another popular drive goes inland between the coast and the Hume Highway, through the Snowy Mountains. My personal recommendation is Trappers Bakery directly across the road from the Big Merino. If you are limited for time or just aren't interested in seeing anything along the way, then the Hume highway is the best option. I know I promised a coastal drive, but you may have noticed the first days destination was Walhalla, which is very much inland. Expect a road trip driving time of just over seven hours. A road so long with not much changeable scenery can easily make one weary. Answer 1 of 11: Moving up to the Gold Coast from Melbourne at the end of June. The NSW highway patrol sat behind a young female driver for quite some time as she sat in the right lane blocking all traffic. Here, There & Gone! Although, if you are going to hit Pennant Hills Road and you are anywhere near peak hour you might want to stop before you get to Sydney. Don't use the coastal highway (Princes) from Melbourne to Sydney unless you have a spare day to kill. After stopping by the Big Banana, we were going to have lunch at the harbour but it was extremely busy and we couldnt get a park. It was a fun activity for everyone and they were all so creatively individual, Fletcher absolutely loved seeing the different designs on each Koala. Pretty much 110km/h divided road till . Don't be a hero and take the third if you need to. Entry is also astronomical, tickets are valid for two days, which I guess is how they justify it. and answers related to Gold Coast. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Theres also some diversity in these stops, rather than just going to a nice beach each day. My Dad bought Fletch a little Big Banana as well as a jar each of banana butter and banana Jam from the gift store. Although its quite small, another option for a break is Yarragon. Depending on the vehicle you choose to travel, you can calculate the amount of CO2 emissions from your vehicle and assess the environment impact. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Find the best spots to stop on the Hume Highway, including the towns of Goulburn, Gundagai, Holbrook, Albury and Glenrown. We wondered if we had made a terrible mistake but it all turned out fine and everyone had a fun holiday. Ive spent the better part of the last several of years travelling between Sydney and Melbourne. There are lots of places to eat in the main part of town or near the big rock pool. Breathtaking Grand Canyon Track Blue Mountains. Or maybe you are planning a significant road trip around Australia? There are 6 ways to get from Hume Highway Reserve, Hume Hwy to Gold Coast by train, plane, tram, bus or car. Depending on which route you are driving between Melbourne and Sydney, there are lots of options for places to stop and quite often there a few interesting towns in close proximity that you can choose from. If you start to get tired, just stop for a bit and have a power nap. Most people probably do it in 11 hours assuming pennant hills road doesn't block them (because you probably don't want to stop in Sydney, it's expensive). Kangaroos are the main wild life and can cause some serious damage. David Howard, 30, was found dead on Sydney's Hume Highway on October 12. I would recommend a coffee or lunch at theFozigobble Cafe,which has organic food and a lovely garden at the front. it's roughly 9 hours to Sydney from Melbs. Things have changed a lot. The bakery is open from 5:30am and its a great place to get some breakfast and a coffee to get you started in the morning. Roughly two hours drive south of Sydney, the Big Merino is the first big thing on the drive down to Melbourne. The front was located at the end of the street. Earlier this year, at the start of March, we drove from Melbourne to the Gold Coast. Ive got more information about all of this in my story about things to do in Croajingalong National Park. Ballina (Australia) (3 answers). Want to plan the trip back? The coastline is quite spectacular and you can access its beaches from quite a few places off Betka Road, just south of Mallacoota. Restaurants reservations by destination. Closer to Metung, another good rest spot is Bairnsdale, which quite a few people actually use as a base when they visit the Gippsland Lakes (so there are lots of shops here, if you need to stock up on anything). Known by locals as Rambo, it features a wool exhibition on the second floor, while the ground floor is a gift shop selling souvenirs and locally made products. With apartments of different sizes, Gowings of Mallacoota is great for families or longer-stay visitors wholl appreciate the amenities. The overtaking system in NSW and QLD might weird you out a bit. Its a pretty simple rule, only enter the right lane if you plan to overtake a slower moving vehicle. A coastal town with a hippie-chic vibe, Byron Bay is Australias Easternmost town. p.parentNode.insertBefore(s,p);
Because of that, we normally take the Newel Highway. Alternative is to take Hume/Pacific and turn off just south of Coffs onto the Orara Way. Here's a sample itinerary for a drive from Melbourne to Gold Coast. We will be driving Melbourne to Gold Coast late October. We stopped for a brief rest and toilet break and to eat our packed lunch. But, if you do want to stick to the coast, then the alternative option for day 1 is to drive down to Wilsons Promontory instead. The flight will take only an hour and, even with transport to and from the airport, its probably only about a two hour trip, compared to nine hours of driving. While I often fly between the two cities, there have many times that have required me to drive, so Ive racked up my fair share of kilometres on the Hume Highway (also referred to at the M31) driving between the two. Melbourne to Brisbane via the main "coast" highways won't go near Canberra, and will go around most of the Sydney traffic via the toll roads - M7, M2, and NorthConnex. The series of seven cute cottages at Hyams Beach Seaside Cottages are well-equipped and right on the coast for a wonderful boutique experience. To estimate the travel cost, find the. Yes, its about 10-12 hours in the car (depending on stops) taking the Hume Highway route, but it is a fairly easy drive. Enjoy! The shortest way to drive from Melbourne to Sydney is up the Hume Highway through Albury and Goulburn. Thousands of people lived and worked here during the boom. The charming decor of Anchors Aweigh sets the scene for this quirky guesthouse where youll instantly feel right at home. Pretty manageable, especially if you enjoy the drive. Scuba Certification; Private Scuba Lessons; Scuba Refresher for Certified Divers; Try Scuba Diving; Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox) How to find the return map from Melbourne to Gold Coast via Newell Highway, Gunnedah? We'd stop at Coonabarabran for the night and arrive later the next day. The park also features a small museum and a few other Naval displays. To find the map from Melbourne to Gold Coast via Newell Highway, Gunnedah, start by entering start and end locations in calculator control and select the Show Map option. You can book your motels online via phone but try and do it by 4 pm once you've made up your mind about which town you'll reasonably get to by tea time or so: I got away with booking at 6 pm or later sometimes on my trip but that was in early November, early January with school holidays might be a different story. Or tkae it more slowly in a kayak or on a stand up paddle board. We will be driving Melbourne to Gold Coast late October. If you're planning a road trip to Gold Coast, you can research locations to stop along the way. Map from Melbourne to New York , United States, Map from Melbourne to Canberra via Albury NSW 2640, Map from Melbourne to Canberra via Albury New South Wales, Map from Melbourne to Canberra via Orbost. -updated August 2019- Melbourne to Gold Coast Map You could do, reasonably, Gold Coast to outer Sydney/Newcastle in a day easily, but driving the Hume is very tiring, as it is dual carriageway all the way. A dusty corner on the internet where you can chew the fat about Australia and Australians. Driving from Melbourne to Sydney by car is not the most scenic route either. Melbourne, the capital of Victoria, and the Gold Coast in southern Queensland, are 1076 miles (1733 km) apart, but it's quite easy to travel between them. But soon youll reach the southern edge of Sydney and begin to make your way through the suburbs. The routes we took. Further up the coast, Kiama is one of the most beautiful towns in the region, with great swimming beaches, calm azure rock pools, and large grassy slopes for picnics. Just a few meters down from the monument is a much more modern complex with a service station (another Shell) as well as a couple of fast-food restaurants (KFC, Subway and a couple of local vendors). By Air Duration: 2 hours For the Newell run, we stopped at Dubbo, then hit GC second night. What are fun things to do with a family on Australia's Gold Coast? if the cheapest flight available is more than $150, then it might start to be cheaper to drive in one day. Then via G'windi, Warwick & Logan Motorway. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Although I think the quieter community of Gipsy Point is actually a nicer place to stay, if youre looking for something less busy. This section could be endless, so rather than trying to 45 mins), FAQ about Map from Melbourne to Gold Coast. Have done overnighters at Goulburn, Campbelltown, Newcastle on the first night. But you can definitely just stay a night or two and you may appreciate the facilities on a long road trip. Melbourne to Sydney: The inland drive, via Hume Highway. It's a lot of driving. I'd stop at Goulburn, and Nambucca Heads. While on the Wodonga side Twin City Motor Inn and Stagecoach Motel are both great options to get back on the Hume Highway quickly to continue your road trip. The biggest town youll pass through is Warragul, which is full of 19th century heritage and also has an impressive collection of art galleries. Gold Coast airport to Brisbane cruise terminal, We are 2 pensioner couples looking for an apartment, Small layover before international flight, Accommodation with good block out blinds & late checkout, What's a good hotel near Metricon Stadium. The Cape Byron Lighthouse sits close to the countrys Easternmost point. Just outside of Melbourne youll pass many cameras calculating your speed from one marker to the another. Gold Coast to Melbourne drive driving / 3 days Gold Coast to Melbourne road trip planner Here's a sample itinerary for a drive from Gold Coast to Melbourne. The Dog on the Tucker Box has been an icon of the road trip since 1926. Some towns have fuel stations that you will find without getting lost or diverted too far. Wagga Wagga (4 answers) There is the practical benefit that you get between the countrys two largest cities without having to worry about the logistics of a flight. Is Coast road as quick and which town would you recommend overnighting in for a 1 night stop. If you want to see the best of Queensland, then its definitely worth driving from Brisbane to Cairns. However dont fret if you do need to stop, for petrol or food. You can read my story about swimming with the seals at Montague Island or you can check the availability of the tours. Google does say going via (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Things have changed a lot. We had no timetable and took a leisurly 6 weeks to travel. Key was to get up reasonably early, around 7ish, get driving not too long after that. The first part of todays drive will just be getting out of Melbourne, through the citys southeastern suburbs. Check our. We drove up to the summit of North Brother Mountain to see the scenic views from the three lookout platforms. In fact, once you are on Sydneys motorway network, the speed limit only slows below 100km/h once around the La Trobe University campus at Wodonga, and there is only one set of traffic lights between the two cities. In terms of intercity drives, the Hume Highway is the easiest one in Australia. Now, before we go on to day 2 of the itinerary, I want to give you an option for a different way to start this drive from Melbourne to Sydney. Report inappropriate content Beach8um Bald Knob, Australia Destination Expert Caravaners will give you the shits. Ive never gone the inland way, only the coastal way though. I'm moving to the GC and taking my car and everything with me. 54.7 km. It's technically quicker to go from Melbourne to GC via Sydney but you can lose any savings simply because Sydney can be shit. It was a multi-generational road trip, I was about 4 months pregnant and we were meeting my husbands parents on the Gold Coast, where we would all be staying in the same house. With stunning coastlines, epic national parks, and charming heritage towns, these are the best stops on a Melbourne to Sydney road trip. FAQ => How do I get from Brisbane to the Gold Coast? He has been a journalist for more than 20 years and loves exploring different parts of Australia. The highway goes through some of the regions towns and bypasses some of them, but there are plenty of quaint places to stop for a coffee along the way, including Warragul, Yarragon, and Moe. Goulburn is probably the nicest stop. Narooma is a wonderful coastal town and youll immediately see why its such a popular holiday destination. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. It has glistening white beaches, high cliffs, and crystal clear water for swimming. Coffs Harbour (7 answers) Built in 1985 and later moved to its current location, it is one of Australias many big things. Maybe stay somewhere on the outskirts of Sydney, near the motorway, or around Gosford. The final day of driving will take you anywhere from 2.5 hours to 3.5 hours, depending on the day and the time of the day. As I mentioned, there arent many obvious places to stop along the way because this stretch of the road is the least populated of the road trip. Weekend getaways in Victoria- beaches and nature. If youve got a bit of time, you could do for a bushwalk in the Clyde River National Park, or rent a kayak for a paddle up the Clyde River. It's definitely doable in two days, but be careful if you have never done long-haul drives before. Guides and resources. You're probably already aware, but just in case you aren't: this is an incredibly boring drive. The old Hume Highway route, also known as Sydney Road (State Route 55), takes you all the way into the city. most talked about places recommended by Trippy members. Yes, all in the one (in-adequately sized) car. 24 mins), (7 hrs With all the stops it adds up to 2,600 km. Best Jenolan Caves- Orient and River Caves. My mum would drive for about an hour in the first afternoon while he had a nap.
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Just definitely don't stop in Moree when you go via the Newell, lol. Continuing up the New South Wales South Coast, youll start to go through some slightly larger towns with even more developed tourism infrastructure. There were way more rest stops than fuel stops. I have done both but for a leisurely trip also done the Princes to Sydney. Trip Itinerary - Newell Highway Drive from Melbourne to Brisbane Day 1 Total Travel = 6 hours 25 minutes Day 2 Total Travel = 7 hours Day 3 Total Travel = 5 hours 25 minutes Trip Highlights - Newell Highway Drive from Melbourne to Brisbane Earlier this year, at the start of March, we drove from Melbourne to the Gold Coast. I preferred the road on the Hume/Pacific as there is more dual lanes so less chance getting stuck behind a truck for some time, around Coffs was the only semi annoying part. I can remember the cruise control would be set to 125 the whole way, just enough not to lose your licence. Our next stop was a coffee break in Holbrook, where we saw the HMAS Otway Submarine. Going deep inside an old gold mine one afternoon and then hiking along the coast by morning. There are 24 hr fuel stations just out of Melbourne and Sydney where you can fill up to begin your trip. These roadside toilet stops were frequent in many areas. This is about 900 kilometres long and will take just over nine hours of driving (without stops). Although the Wave Oasis B&B is set up like a guesthouse, each small apartment is self-contained and feels quiet and private. Imagine sailing on a lake one day, hanging out with kangaroos the next. we do this trip every 2 years and take the route you are about to we do Melbourne to Dubbo then Dubbo to Gold coast/Brissy :) both days around the 1,000 km mark each, we start at 5am when there is light and finish up around 430pm or when leaving vic whatever time the boat arrives from tassie LOL, Much nicer drive IMHO and you can call into "The Dish" WOO HOO :):). Also, its never nice to accidentally injure or kill an animal. I don't mind driving either, I have a huge tolerance for patience. There were a few road side stalls selling fresh fruit along the way and the car parks were full. From M5 you get onto M7. This route will be significantly slower if you are travelling before the end of the school holidays in early February. You can travel from the Northern NSW border to Melbourne without striking a single traffic light. Two very solid days of driving. Fishing and boating are some of the most popular activities and a local company in Metung called Riviera Nautic offers a couple of options, including a leisurely cruise around the lakes. Newel Highway 2 days: If you choose to do the Newel Highway over two days stay at Dubbo or Narrabri. If youd like to get more information to help plan your trip to and around AustraliaCheck out the rest of my blog posts. The drive from Melbourne to Canberra is 663km, mostly along the horribly dull Hume Highway. I cant recommend an audio book more than for a long drive. As well as the spacious apartments of different sizes, the Moorings at Metung also offer swimming pools, a tennis court, and private marina. I've normally got 4x4, kids, and a caravan, 10+ hours in the car kills me. Its located at the Shell service (petrol) station and in close proximity to a couple of fast food outlets (McDonalds, Olivers and Subway). The beaches and pools are fantastic for a swim, there are more than a dozen options for good coffee, and you can even do a bit of a hike up the Illawarra Escarpment if you feel like getting sweaty! Thats a massive drive and in those days (70's) we didn't have much to occupy us except counting Mac vs Kenworth trucks. If drive time is tight, the absolute quickest route is via the Hume Highway which runs north out of Melbourne briefly, then turns north-east until about Yass where it then heads almost due east for about 100km to Goulburn before turning north-east again and entering Sydney's metro area . Continue onto Hume Highway, M31 0h3mn. stay for about 1 hour and leave at 4:47 pmdrive for about 1.5 hours, Rachael asked:Driving from Gold Coast to Melbourne (0 answers), Jay asked:Help me plan my trip (0 answers), Benalla (3 answers) Read about the structures, view a gallery and see the trail map on the Hello Koalas website. Have also done 2 nights, 1st night Newcastle, 2nd night Kempsey and Coffs. stay for about 1 hour and leave at 1:10 pmdrive for about 2.5 hours, 3:47 pm Ballina (Australia) trip dates & more! Find the best hotels, restaurants, and attractions based on the Ive split the road trip into six days of driving but you can tailor it to your own needs. Or the last option before you start climbing up the hill is the historic town of Moe, where there are some leisurely bushwalks to stretch your legs. Although Lakes Entrance is the main tourist centre of this part of Gippsland Lakes, I recommend you stay instead at Metung, which offers a more charming village atmosphere. Make sure you check road conditions There are fifty-one, 1 mitre high fibreglass koala sculptures dotted around the area. Don't go through Sydney. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Driving Melbourne to Gold Coast The total drive time was around 21 hours each way. The main town in Croajingalong National Park is Mallacoota, and youll find accommodation and restaurants there. Ive got more tips here on things to do in Walhalla. Although its been renovated, the 1896 cottage known as Walhalla Mill House is a self-contained property and can sleep up to 4 people. Its one of the most interesting natural locations in Australia but, for some reason, gets a limited number of tourists. The drive time each day is also quite short in this itinerary, and thats intentional. There are many different areas to the fun park, such as ice skating, mini-golf, laser tag and a water park. Two days solid days isnt too hard. Travel questions & answers. I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Backpack vs Suitcase | Which Is Better For Your Travels. A good place to stop on the drive from Melbourne to Wilsons Promontory is Meeniyan. Off shore: Thousands of whales migrate along the NSW coast from May to November, with prime viewing spots at Eden and Jervis Bay. It had 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a pool, trampoline and kids toys. We only ever really stopped for lunch and the occasional toilet or fruit stall break. Best of all you can sit down on the terrace and see the Spider Monkeys and Lemurs on the Savannah Lake.