Explore the carefree south coast with a leisurely trip between Sydney and Melbourne

The Journey

Australia's got more than its fair share of spectacular road trips. The Great Ocean Road in Victoria is on every traveller's 'to do' list and the Stuart Highway, which cuts through the Red Centre, is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. But there's more to touring Australia than this and you'll find some of the greatest open road experiences where you least expect it. This route between Sydney and Melbourne is just one of them.

This journey ambles gently through the mountains and along the coastal road taking in some of the most popular highlights in New South Wales and Victoria along the way as well as some of the lesser known ones.

Accommodation options en route range from a luxury tented eco-camp and quaint mountain retreat to a modern day beach house and a secluded wildlife wonderland. It's a leisurely affair and could take up to two weeks if you had the time, but we reckon nine days should do the trick.

Trip Length

We recommend 9 days for this trip.

Price

This trip starts from AUS$1250 (US $1054) per person (based on two sharing). This includes car hire and bed and breakfast.

What to Do

...in the Blue Mountains (Days 1 - 3)

For a true Blue Mountains experience, stay at Cloudlands an old writers retreat turned country escape that's particularly cosy during winter months. Accommodation is self-contained and rates come with huge breakfast hampers.

The Blue Mountains are a favourite weekend getaway for stressed-out Sydneysiders and for good reason, life moves at a refreshingly different pace here and you can do as much or as little as you like.

That said you can't come to the Blue Mountains without visiting the Three Sisters, a stunning rock formation that turns up in every visitors' photo album. Bushwalking is a popular pastime and if you feel like learning about the area's indigenous culture then book yourself onto the Blue Mountains Aboriginal Walkabout tour (Tel: 0408 443 822). This Aboriginal-owned outfit takes visitors on a thought-provoking traditional walkabout across 8km of bush land. You'll see ancient art and ceremonial sites, hear dreamtime stories and sample bush tucker.

...in Jervis Bay (Days 3 - 5)

If you like camping but also like sleeping in a comfortable bed then you'll love Paperbark Camp. This luxury tented eco-camp has twelve tents each with its own ensuite bathroom where you'll revel in the luxury of showering under the stars.

The white-sand beaches and crystal clear waters are what draw folk to Jervis Bay. While it can get busy during the holiday periods, at other times you can be the only person on the beach for miles around.

Wildlife lovers will think they've died and gone to heaven so prolific is animal and marine life. Take a dolphin-watch cruise or go whale watching in winter months. Kangaroos can be seen on some beaches in the mornings and a colony of Australian Fur Seals inhabits a rocky ledge during the winter months. There are kilometres of bushwalking tracks to be explored or you may choose to navigate the terrain by bicycle or kayak.

...in Mallacoota (Days 5 - 7)

Ideal for groups, but equally welcoming for couples, is Karbeethong Lodge, a 12-bedroom waterfront lodge that's both fashionable and relaxing. We say opt for a bedroom with a sea view and enjoy breakfast (lunch and dinner) on the spacious veranda.

Mallacoota is the epitome of laidback beachside living. Everything is low-key and relaxed and life revolves around the ocean and the bush. The township is surrounded by the Croajingolong National Park, which encompasses 100 kilometres of coast and hinterland and supports a diverse range of flora and fauna. Rambling heathlands sit almost next door to lush rainforests and towering eucalypts and rocky coastal headlands back onto white sandy beaches. The ecosystems here are considered so valuable that UNESCO has nominated it a World Biosphere Reserve.

Gabo Island, home of Australia's oldest lighthouse, is about 16km north-east of Mallacoota and is great for a day trip. Come dusk head over to Karbeethong, an area of Mallacoota that overlooks the Bottom Lake. The name "Karbeethong" is derived from the indigenous name for "moonlight over the water" and the lake reflects some beautiful images.

...in Bairnsdale (Days 7 - 9)

If you're looking for peace and quiet then @Waterholes@ is the answer. With only three architect-designed studio suites to choose from you'll easily escape the crowds. In fact, the only things sharing your breakfast in the morning will be dozens of birds (there are over 100 different species of bird on the property).

Bairnsdale is the gateway to the Lakes and Wilderness region of Victoria. It's also famous for its place in gold rush history - the town developed rapidly after gold was discovered nearby in the 1860s. The neighbouring Buchan Caves and their spectacular stalactites and stalagmites were first discovered in 1910 and opened to the public three years later. Today, daily guided tours pass through the limestone grottoes.

Lakes National Park covers 2400 hectares of coastal bush land. In spring the area is covered in native wildflowers, including many orchids native to Australia, and is quite beautiful. Numerous walking trails will help you to explore the banksia and eucalypt woodland and Point Wilson, at the eastern tip of the mainland section of the park, is perfect for picnicking.

How to Travel

Buses do travel between Sydney and Melbourne but in order to get off the beaten track you'll have to travel by car. So rent a hybrid car in Sydney through us.

Another option is to travel via public bus. The majority of Costa Ricans don't own cars so the public transport system is very efficient and you can catch buses to almost any part of the country. It's worth remembering that many of these buses stop very frequently to pick up passengers and because of the roads some of these rides can be very bumpy indeed. We've given both travel options below.

The Route

Day 1: Drive Sydney to Katoomba, Blue Mountains, 110km

The quickest and easiest route between Sydney and Katoomba is on the M4 Motorway that starts at Strathfield and takes you through to Lapstone in the Blue Mountains. From here you can follow the Great Western Highway to Katoomba.

A far more enjoyable route, however, is via Bell's Line of Road which starts in Richmond and takes you through to Mount Tombah and Bell, and across to Mount Victoria. It's a far more scenic route and the vast Blue Mountains National Park makes for a pleasant change from the bitumen.

Day 3: Drive Katoomba to Jervis Bay, 256km

There are two ways to Jervis Bay, the coastal route or the country route. We say choose the former and enjoy the inland roads that take you from the Blue Mountains through the Southern Highlands and Kangaroo Valley before spitting you out on the sandy white beaches of Jervis Bay.

It's worth taking your time driving through the Southern Highlands. Not only is the countryside beautiful but there are a plethora of historical towns, antique stores, weekend markets and wineries to help break up the journey.

From here the winding roads lead you through the lush pasturelands of Kangaroo Valley, home to numerous country shops, quaint tea rooms and Australia's oldest suspension bridge. If you've got time, take a detour to the charming town of Berry before heading to Jervis Bay. It's the epitome of twee country towns and good for a wander.

Day 5: Drive Jervis Bay to Mallacoota, Victoria, 298km

The drive from Jervis Bay to Mallacoota is the longest in this trip but there are numerous beach towns to stop in along the way and the scenery is divine.

One of the most popular holiday's spots along the coast is Batemans Bay, which is a great spot to stop for breakfast (or brunch). Just south of here is Mogo, a quaint strip of wooden houses and shops most of which specialise in Devonshire teas. Continuing southwards you'll pass through Eurobodalla National Park, an area filled with lakes, bays and inlets and it's worth stopping off to look at the rock formations at Bingie Bingie Point.

Near the border with Victoria is Eden, a fishing port that's brilliant for whale watching. If you arrive out of season, however, there's always the Killer Whale Museum in town that was set up in 1931 to house the skeleton of Old Tom, a killer whale who reputedly helped whalers herd whales to their death. From here, it's just a short drive to Mallacoota.

Day 7: Drive Mallacoota to Bairnsdale, Victoria, 234km

This part of Victoria is home to some of the state's most isolated and spectacular national parks, Snowy River and Errinundra being just two of them. The route between Mallacoota and Bairnsdale skirts the edges of wilderness and through delightful coastal towns.

As you leave Mallacoota, stop in at Gipsy Point, a peaceful settlement that was named after the schooner Gypsy that moored here in the 19th century. The Princes Highway (A1), the main road that winds its way through the centre of the region, then passes through Cann River, a small saw-milling centre that is also the main information centre for Croajingolong National Park, and then on to Lind National Park. This small park has several walking tracks through warm-temperate rainforests and eucalypt forests and a picnic area in the centre of the park. The road then winds its way through Orbost, Nowa Nowa and past the Lakes Entrance before finishing up in Bairnsdale.

Day 9: Drive Bairnsdale to Melbourne, 281km

The most scenic route from Bairnsdale to Melbourne is along the South Gippsland Highway that follows the coast passing Wilsons Promontory National Park (one of Australia's most loved national parks) and Phillip Island along the way.

Wilsons Promontory National Park, known locally as "the Prom", covers the southernmost tip of the mainland and is surrounded on three sides by sea. There are more than 80km of walking tracks, numerous beaches perfect for swimming or surfing and an abundance of wildlife.

Penguin fans should not miss Phillip Island, a long-time holiday hot spot for Melbournians and home to the Penguin Parade. Here you can watch the smallest penguin species in the world, the fairy penguin, as they waddle their way from the sea to their nests. Not surprisingly, this cute spectacle is a hugely popular tourist attraction. Phillip Island also offers excellent beaches, great cafes and plenty of walking and cycling tracks.