Melbourne To Sydney Road Trip: Perfect 7-Day Drive Itinerary

A Melbourne to Sydney road trip is a fantastic way to travel between Australia’s largest cities. During this journey, you will see some parts of Australia that aren’t as well-known as they should be.

One of them includes the capital Canberra, while you’ll also get the chance to visit the incredible Wilson’s Promontory National Park and have the opportunity to climb the highest point on the continent, should you wish to do so, Mt Kosciuszko.

The scenery in this part of Australia is beautiful and the trip is equally impressive in either summer or winter, as you can ski in certain national parks during the colder months.

This part of Australia isn’t the most well-travelled part of the country. It’s a far cry from the backpacker trail of the East Coast but you’ll be surprised at what you’ll find in this corner of the country.

My itinerary for a Melbourne to Sydney drive will take you to the best places on this drive and help you to save money while you do too!

Let’s get into it!

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Melbourne to Sydney Road Trip

The distance between Melbourne and Sydney is 1,605.2 km (997.4 miles). Compared to some other Australian road trips, a road trip from Melbourne to Sydney is one you could easily complete in around 9 hours without stopping if you wanted.

I don’t recommend you do the trip in one go for a multitude of reasons, the main reason being that you would miss out on some great places. Another important reason is that 9 hours is a long time to drive and raises safety implications.

My advice is to not rush the drive and take your time. It’s a route that offers a lot of beautiful sights and you’d be missing out if you’d rushed it.

Before setting off

Before you begin any road trip, and especially those in Australia, it’s vital you have everything in place before you leave. A vehicle is at the top of the list! Without one, you won’t get very far! You have two options depending on your numbers and budget.

You can either rent a car or a campervan. If you’re planning on staying in hostels and you’re in a small group, a car is best. Otherwise, a campervan is a better choice, particularly if you’re in a group of 4 to 6 people.

Important info

Driving in Australia is a challenge because of the distances involved. With journeys that can involve large distances, you are at a real risk of encountering trouble. One of the easiest ways to get into trouble is to run out of fuel in the middle of nowhere.

This is unlikely to happen on this road trip. Driving from Melbourne to Sydney is not like driving through the outback, it’s much more built up. The possibility for trouble still remains though. If you’re beginning to run low on fuel, stop at the next petrol station.

It’s easy to think you can just wait for the next one but there’s no saying when that might be. The last thing you want to do is run out of fuel!

Even on this trip, which is small by Australian standards and through a well-populated part of the country, you can still not come across a petrol station for a while. Despite a breakdown being unlikely, it’s always best to prepare for any such eventuality.

If you break down in the wrong place, you could be there for a while waiting for assistance!

One thing I remember from all the road trips I did in Australia was to look out for signs. Once you’re on the road, you’ll notice these little green signs every 5km that let you know how far away the next town is. Although they are mainly used in the Outback and underpopulated areas, you can still come across them elsewhere.

Keep an eye out for these signs. They’re a useful reference for how far the next town is which lets you know when you can stop to eat and refuel.

If you begin to feel tired while driving, stop. It doesn’t matter where you drive in Australia, even on this trip, the distances involved are large. You may want to get there as quickly as possible but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Try and stop every 4 hours for a short break. You should be stopping more often anyway due to the abundant scenery you’ll see!

Before you do any road trip in Australia, it’s important to make sure you have proper travel insurance! I use World Nomads to keep me safe on the road, it’s designed for backpackers and adventurous travelers.

You never know what can happen on the road. Keep yourself protected against all eventualities! Click here to get a quote!

Essential Items to Pack For a Melbourne to Sydney Road Trip

Before you start your trip, it’s vital you have everything you need to complete the trip in a safe manner. You may want to check out my road trip packing list before you leave.

Some items make your life easier and some are essential. A car charger and sunglasses are a godsend most of the time while ensuring you have all the correct safety equipment in case of an emergency is a requirement.

Nowhere is this truer than in Australia. With most road trips covering large distances, each trip is challenging. It’s vital you have everything you need in the event the worst-case scenario occurs and you break down in the middle of nowhere.

Below are a few items I recommend you take on your Melbourne to Sydney self-drive, to make the drive that little bit easier!

• Road survival kit
• Car charger
• Portable charger
• Water containers
• Eco water bottle
• Toilet roll
• Bluetooth/Wireless hands-free kit
• Sunglasses
• Trtl Travel Pillow

Why You Should Go On a Melbourne to Sydney Road Trip

The simple answer to this is that road trips are awesome! I believe they are the best way to travel and offer you the freedom to dictate your own pace.

This is often a part of Australia that is overlooked. The easy thing to do would be to fly from Melbourne to Sydney or vice versa, instead of driving there. This is due to the assumption that there isn’t much to see in between.

This would be a mistake.

Sure there are plenty of things to do in Melbourne and Sydney is fantastic but there are a lot of great places to see between these two cities too.

Wilson’s Promontory is one of the most beautiful national parks in the country, while a 90-mile beach in the Gippsland Lakes is an incredible place to visit.

You can also check out the capital, Canberra, which has to be the most overlooked place in the whole of Australia!

What I found while travelling around Australia was that the lesser-known spots were often the most interesting. Yes, the big cities were fantastic but visiting places that I hadn’t heard of before was amazing. I was blown away by a lot of them.

You’ll find plenty of such places on this trip and it’s one reason why it’s a trip you should do if you’re considering moving from Sydney to Melbourne or vice versa.

Plus, once you’ve reached the end of the trip, you can set off the East Coast on a Sydney to Brisbane drive to see more amazing sights!

Where to Stay Between Melbourne and Sydney

One of the best things about this road trip is that there are plenty of places to stay along the way. Unlike an Adelaide to Darwin road trip, you don’t need to drive for hours to find somewhere to stay!

You’ll find places all along and even in Wilson’s Promontory and the surrounding area, there will be accommodation.

There are plenty of hostels along the coast which will help you save money. They are much cheaper than staying at hotels.

If you decide to do your trip in a campervan, you won’t need to worry about this. The campervan will be your home for the duration of the road trip. If you’re doing the drive in a car, I’ve listed some of the best places to stay along the way below.

Accommodation	Location	Description	Link
The Mansion Melbourne	Melbourne	A nice hostel in a great central location with modern facilities.	Book Now
Mad Monkey Coogee Beach	Sydney	Bit outside of the city centre, but it’s a nice, modern hostel not far from Coogee Beach.	Book Now
Wollongong Backpackers	Wollongong	Hostel that has clean and comfortable rooms in the heart of Wollongong.	Book Now
The Village Canberra	Canberra	A nice hostel that has an onsite games room and outdoor BBQ which is close to the centre of the city.	Book Now

Places to Visit On a Melbourne to Sydney Road Trip

Despite not being one of the most well-known parts of Australia, there are still a lot of places to see in this part of the country. I decided not to include Melbourne or Sydney below because you’ll visit them before or after the trip.

It goes without saying that you should check both cities out. They are the two most popular cities in Australia and there is a lot to see in both of them. Spending 3 days in Melbourne and Sydney is a good amount of time to see either city and get a feel for what they are like.

Here are some of my recommendations for places to check out during a Melbourne to Sydney drive.

Canberra

Canberra is the capital of Australia but not a lot of people realise this. I’ve had conversations with many people who thought it was either Melbourne or Sydney. This is understandable given how well-known the two cities are.

As a result, Canberra is often neglected when it comes to backpacking in Australia. I remember hearing stories of how boring it was by travellers who had gone there.

Look, it may not be as cosmopolitan as Melbourne or as exciting as Sydney but it’s still a cool place. If you’re a culture vulture you’ll love it.

You can visit the parliament buildings, and check out the National Library and Gallery of Australia. It’s an interesting city and one with a lot of sights.

With all the museums in the city, it’s an ideal place to learn about the history of Australia. This makes Canberra as good a place as any to stop for a day or two while you’re on the way to Sydney!

Wilson’s Promontory

Wilson’s Promontory is one of the lesser-known places in Australia but it’s also one of the best. This national park is beautiful and a must-visit during this road trip.

It’s a good three-hour drive from Melbourne but it’s worth it because the scenery is amazing. As the southernmost point on mainland Australia, it’s not the most visited part of the country.

This means it’s free of the mass of tourists you would find on an Adelaide to Melbourne drive along the Great Ocean Road. You can enjoy the scenery much more and take everything in.

A few places you should check out while you’re there are Squeaky Beach and Whiskey Bay. The beach is referred to as squeaky because walking on the sand results in a squeaking noise.

Whiskey Bay is a beautiful bay that is bookended by giant boulders at either end of the beach and is just stunning. That’s without mentioning the numerous hikes you can do in the park too!

Gippsland Lakes

The Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park is another brilliant place to visit during your Melbourne to Sydney itinerary. As the name suggests, it’s full of lakes that meet up with the ocean.

You’ll also find some great beaches here. One of them is Golden Beach, which is located just before you reach the park.

Much like Wilson’s Promontory, you’ll find plenty of things to do outdoors here. You can go hiking and enjoy the beautiful scenery, or hop on a boat to explore some of the lakes.

Or if that stands too exhilarating, you can always relax on one of the numerous beaches in the park instead!

Kosciuszko National Park

The Kosciuszko National Park is another lesser-known part of Australia. Despite this, it’s an interesting place to visit, especially if you love hiking.

The park is home to the highest point in Australia, Mt Kosciuszko. The mountain is part of the seven summits, a challenge whereby you climb the highest points on each continent. If you’re a keen hiker, it’s something you should look into doing.

Due to the elevation of the park, snow is common in winter. You’ll find multiple ski resorts in the park and a trip there is recommended if you’re a lover of snowsports!

During the summer, there are multiple hikes you can do, excluding Mt Kosciuszko, during which you may see some of the rare species that inhabit the park.

Wollongong

Wollongong is a seaside city located 80km south of Sydney. It’s an interesting place that has its fair share of attractions.

As is the case with most places in this part of Australia, Wollongong has some fantastic beaches. If the weather’s good, you can stop and relax at the beach or hit the waves on your surfboard. 

You can also take a walk in a temperate rainforest on the Illawarra Escarpment at Mount Keira and Mount Kembla. There are numerous tracks and you’ll get to see some beautiful scenery while you’re exploring the area.

A quirky thing to see while you’re in Wollongong is the largest Buddhist temple in the Southern Hemisphere, the Nan Tien Temple. It’s an impressive building and worth a visit if you want to learn more about Buddhism.

If you’re spending 3 days in Sydney or longer once the road trip is over, you can always hop on the train and head back there for a day out if you feel you didn’t see enough while you were there.

Things To Do On a Melbourne to Sydney Road Trip

The good thing about this road trip is that there are plenty of things to do along the way. A lot of them involve being out and about due to the nature of the area.

The closer you get to Sydney, the more opportunity you will find for good surf. Wollongong has some great surf and Tamarama and Coogee are not just some of Australia’s best beaches, but some of the best spots for surfing too!

This trip is a lot of fun and offers you lots of activities to do. Here are a few of my recommendations.

Hiking

You will find plenty of opportunities to go hiking during a Melbourne to Sydney road trip. Arguably the best place to go hiking is the Kosciuszko National Park.

If you fancy yourself as a hiker and mountaineer, you’ll be chomping at the bit to bag this peak. The highest on the continent, it’s a decent hike in the summer and not easiest during the snow in winter.

You’ll also find many more hikes in places such as Wilson’s Promontory and the Gippsland Lakes. One particular hike in Wilson’s Prom takes you right to the bottom of mainland Australia. It’s not for the faint-hearted and takes a day to complete.

Less hardcore hikers will be pleased to know that there are many shorter and less arduous hikes all the way up the coast on this drive!

Relax at the beach

Australia is renowned for its beaches and this part of the country is no different. You’ll find plenty of fantastic beaches on the drive up the coast.

Wollongong has some great beaches as I mentioned above, while there are some fantastic spots close to Eden such as Pinnacles Beach and Pambula Beach.

Both Sydney and Melbourne have some brilliant beaches, although I’d argue the ones in Sydney are better than Melbourne.

The Bondi to Bronte to Coastal walk is a must when you’re in Sydney. Checking out St Kilda and heading to the Mornington Peninsula are essential during a trip to Melbourne.

Example Melbourne to Sydney Road Trip Itinerary

This is an example itinerary and by no means the only route you should take, It is just a recommendation if you want to skip some places or take a quicker route, then you can!

Day 1 – Melbourne to Wilson’s Promontory

The first leg of the drive sees you head out from Melbourne to the southernmost part of mainland Australia, Wilson’s Promontory.

Hopefully, you explored the city during your trip to Melbourne. It’s an incredible city and it would be a shame to go there without seeing it properly.

The drive to Wilson’s Promontory takes about 3 hours depending on traffic. It’s a nice drive and one that has a lot of scenery. Leongatha is a good place to stop before you get to Wilson’s Prom if you need to get something to eat or take a break.

Once you get to Wilson’s Prom, you will find one of the most beautiful national parks in Australia. This place blew me away when I visited, especially as I had never heard of it before I went!

Whiskey Bay and Squeaky Beach are incredible beaches. They are picture-postcard perfect. You’ll find a lot of wildlife in the park too.

One thing that blew me away was how scenic the park was. No matter where you looked, there was something amazing to see. This is a part of Australia that is undervalued and one you’ll fall in love with.

My advice is to get there as soon as you can to make the most of the park before you leave. We only spent part of the day there but it wasn’t enough. A whole day doesn’t do the park justice but it’s better than a few hours!

Day 2 – Wilson’s Promontory to Gippsland Lakes

The second part of the drive sees you go from Wilson’s Prom up the coast of Victoria to Gippsland Lakes. Depending on whether you spent the night close to Wilson’s Prom or in Leongatha, it should take just under three hours.

The drive is a nice one and you’ll find a few places to stop along the way such as Agnes and Port Albert. If you want to make the most of your time at Gippsland Lakes though, it might be a good idea to make any stops brief.

The three-hour drive means you won’t have all day there and with a lot of activities you can do there, it’s worth making the most of your time at Gippsland.

With fantastic scenery and a lot of things to do at Gippsland, it’s best to get there as quickly as you can. There are multiple hikes you can do in the area, as well as some incredible beaches.

You can hop on a boat too and explore some of the lakes or go for a spot of fishing if you want something a bit more laid back.

Day 3 – Gippsland Lakes to Eden

The third day of driving is a long one. It takes just under five hours to get from Gippsland Lakes to Eden. This will also mark the end of your travels in Victoria, as you hop over the border into New South Wales.

Due to the length of the drive, there are two ways you can approach it. The first option is to leave early and keep stops to a minimum. this will give you more time in Eden once you get there.

The other option is to stop at some spots along the way and not worry about what time you arrive in Eden. What you do depends on your circumstance and what you prefer to do.

There aren’t many places worth stopping along the way, so I would be inclined to stop once or twice for a break and some food. This way you’ll get more time in Eden and be able to see the sights before the day’s out.

This is a beautiful part of Australia and there are plenty of trails you can walk along to enjoy the scenery. You’ll find some great beaches too, where you can relax and enjoy the sun.

Day 4 – Eden to Kosciuszko National Park

Eden to Kosciuszko National Park is around a two-and-a-half-hour drive. You’re making your way from the coast of New South Wales to the interior.

This drive isn’t the most exciting and there are minimal places to stop along the way. It’s probably best to get to Kosciuszko as quickly as you can.

Depending on what time f the year you visit, you’ll find a park either covered in snow or not. Bear in mind that if you visit during the winter, you’ll be able to go skiing but it might not be the best time to go hiking.

While if you go in the summer, you won’t be able to ski but you’ll be able to walk the numerous trails and attempt to climb the highest point in Australia, Mt Kosciuszko.

Day 5 – Kosciuszko National Park to Canberra

The drive from Kosciuszko to Canberra takes around two hours and sixteen minutes. Again, it’s not the most exciting drive and it’s probably best to do it one go so you have more time to explore Canberra.

This isn’t the most populated part of Australia and although there’s some interesting scenery around, there isn’t much to do.

It’s much better to leave early and spend as much time as you can in Canberra.

Contrary to popular opinion, Canberra isn’t a boring city. You’ll find lots of things to do. It’s the Australian capital, after all, it’s not like it’s a backwater!

The parliament buildings are fascinating and the National Gallery, Library and Museum are all worth a visit. 

Canberra often gets overlooked during any itinerary of Australia but I think you’ll be surprised by what you find when you visit.

Day 6 – Canberra to Wollongong

Going from Canberra to Wollongong takes around two hours and forty-five minutes. Again, it’s not the most exciting drive and it might be best to get to Wollongong in one go.

You’ll find some small towns along the way, such as one with an intriguing name, Collector. You won’t find much to do in these places but they can be quirky places and worth a stop if you want a break.

One unusual thing you’ll see on your drive is the Big Merino. This is a giant statue of a sheep that you’ll find just after Collector. Big statues are common in Australia and they are a surreal sight as you’re driving past.

During this drive, you’re moving back from the interior of New South Wales to the coast. Beaches will come back into view and you can get your fix of sunning and surfing again!

Day 7 – Wollongong to Sydney

The last leg of the road takes you from Wollongong to the biggest city in Australia, Sydney. This is the shortest drive on the trip at one hour and seventeen minutes.

Due to the short nature of the drive, you can either stay in Wollongong and set off later, or leave early and spend more time in Sydney.

This depends on what you want to do and how long you’re staying in Sydney after you arrive. It might be worth spending more time in Wollongong if you’re going to be in Sydney for a while after the end of the trip.

It’s a nice city and you can spend half the day relaxing without worrying about a long drive.

Alternatively, you can head up the coast and stop at a few places along the way such as Cronulla. The beaches in this part of the world are incredible and you could even drive to Bondi if you wanted and spend the majority of the day there.

This is the beauty of road trips, you get to dictate what you do and when. Either option is a good one but if I had to pick I’d lean towards heading up to Sydney and stopping by some beaches along the way.

How Much Does a Melbourne to Sydney Road Trip Cost?

Compared to some other road trips in Australia this is one of the shorter ones you can do.

Despite this, it won’t necessarily be a cheap trip. You’ll still need to hire a car, pay for accommodation and get all your food and drink. While this shouldn’t be overly expensive, it can add up.

One way to keep the costs down is to do the trip in a group. If you have 4 or 6 of you on the trip, the cost per person comes down a lot. This makes it a much more affordable trip for everyone involved.

If you have a campervan, it’s much easier to do this. You can get 6 people in campervans and this cuts out the need to pay for accommodation. You can still keep costs down with 4 people, however. Although if you’re in a car, you will need to pay for somewhere to sleep. 

Here’s a link to a fuel cost calculator, which should come in handy for your trip. Using the fuel price data from a Google search for “petrol prices Australia”, input the figure into the calculator and you’re set.

The price I got was $1.18 per litre, driving the distance with a campervan led to a quote of $115.10. If you’re doing the trip in a group of four, the price for fuel will come to $28.77 per person.

If there are only two of you doing the trip, it’s still a cheap fuel bill considering the distance. Considering the price of renting a campervan, which is around $49 per day, and the price for food and drink, the trip should cost about $150-200 per person.

That represents excellent value considering the distance involved and what you will see along the way!

Need a Rental Car?

I use Rentalcars.com whenever I need to rent a car. They offer the most comprehensive listings of rental cars on the web. Plus, their deals are often cheaper than if you went straight to the supplier!

Concluding Thoughts

I believe a Melbourne to Sydney road trip is one of the best in Australia. It takes you to some lesser-known spots and is a great way of breaking up the journey between the two cities!

Have you done a Melbourne to Sydney drive before? Did you do an itinerary similar to mine?

Leave me a comment below, I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Looking For More Road Trips?

Perth to Broome Road Trip – A trip up Australia’s beautiful west coast.

Brisbane to Cairns Road Trip – Discover Australia’s east coast with this amazing drive!

Perth to Darwin Road Trip – A drive from the west coast to Australia’s Top End you’ll remember forever!

Adelaide to Perth Road Trip – A beautiful drive along some of the amazing coastlines in the country!

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