Holidays to Australia with Escape Worldwide

Your holiday starts here

Call 020 8989 0970

Or Contact Us by email

We’ve been, we know - just call!

Popular

Quick Links

Maldives

Mauritius

Sri Lanka

India

Kenya Safaris

Tanzania Safaris

Mombasa & Zanzibar

South Africa

Thailand

Vietnam

Cambodia

China

Australia

Dubai

Caribbean

USA

Malaysia

Singapore

Hong Kong

Bali

HOME > Australia > Fly-Drives > Sydney to Melbourne

SUGGESTED ITINERARY

Day 1 - UK to Sydney

Fly from London to Sydney, arriving the next day.

Days 2-4 - Sydney

On arrival make your way to your chosen hotel, for a three night stay - we have a range of hotels to choose from, and your length of stay in Sydney is flexible. Spend the next few days exploring Sydney - the hop-on hop-off buses are a great way to take in the main sights of the city, including Bondi Beach.

Day 5 - Sydney to Canberra

Collect your rental car from the Sydney depot, and head towards Canberra. Travelling the long way round via the Blue Mountains (approx 450 km / 5 hours, plus stops) will add to your journey time but adds some truly spectacular scenery to your journey. On arrival in to Canberra check in to your hotel for a two night stay.

Day 6 - Canberra

Spend today in the nation’s capital Canberra - sights such as the Australian War Memorial and the National Gallery of Australia should be on any itinerary, while Parliament House can also be explored.

Day 7 - Canberra to Merimbula

We’d suggest travelling from Canberra to Merimbula via the Eurobodalla Coast (approx 325 km / 4 hours 15 mins, plus stops). As you hit the coast Bateman’s Bay offers good beaches and clear waters, while pretty villages such as Mogo and Moruya dot the area. As the Eurobodalla Coast becomes the Sapphire Coast, keep an eye out for Tibla Tilba and Central Tilba with their well-preserved buildings, while national parks such as Mimosa Rocks and Bournda offer quiet beaches and surfing. Merimbula makes a great overnight stop - on arrival check in to your hotel for an overnight stay.

Day 8 - Merimbula to Lakes Entrance

Today drive in to Victoria and we’d suggest hugging the coast via Eden and Croajingolong on the way to Lakes Entrance (approx 350 km / 4 hours 30 mins, plus stops). Eden is said to be one of the best places in Australia for whale-spotting (best October & November), while nearby Ben Boyd National Park is dotted with lighthouses, towers and follies. Cross the Victoria border and pop in to Croajingolong National Park, one of the countries best coastal wilderness parks - Mallacoota is a bit of a gem. On arrival in to Lakes Entrance check in to your hotel for a two night stay.

Day 9 - Lakes Entrance

Lakes Entrance marks the start of the Gippsland Lakes, the largest inland waterway system in Australia with three main interconnecting lakes. Spend today exploring Lakes Entrance itself or enjoying a cruise in the Lake District.

Day 10 - Lakes Entrance to Traralgon

Today drive west towards Traralgon, and we’d really recommend a detour to the famous Ninety Mile Beach (approx 250 km / 3 hours 15 mins, plus stops), an isolated and spectacular beach that’s pretty much unbroken for 90 miles - come off the highway at Sale and head to Golden Beach, follow the beach to Seaspray and head back inland to Sale and onwards to Traralgon. Traralgon itself is a handy stopover point through Gippsland. On arrival check in to your hotel for an overnight stay.

Day 11 - Traralgon to Ballarat

Today we’d recommend heading to Ballarat via the most southerly point of mainland Australia at Wilson's Promontory (approx 480 km / 6 hours, plus stops). This is a spectacular national park of hiking trails, coastal scenery and white sand beaches, and well worth the detour. Continue to Ballarat, where gold was discovered in 1851 making it one of the wealthiest towns in Australia, and the architecture reflects this. On arrival check in to your hotel for an overnight stay.

Day 12 - Ballarat to the Grampians National Park

Today is an easy drive from Ballarat to Halls Gap in the Grampians National Park (approx 140 km / 1 hour 45 mins, plus stops), so we’d recommend visiting Ballarat’s Sovereign Hill, a recreation of an 1860’s gold mining township. On arrival in to Halls Gap check in to your hotel for a two night stay.

Day 13 - Grampians National Park

The Grampians rise above to plains of Victoria and are amongst the most beautiful landscapes in the state - criss-crossed by hiking trails and with unique rock formations, aboriginal art and a plethora of fauna & flora, spend the day taking in this wonderful region.

Day 14 - Grampians National Park to Warrnambool

Today travel through the Grampians to Dunkeld and on to the coast at Warrnambool - we’d suggest going a little out of your way to take in Cape Bridgewater and Port Fairy (approx 325 km / 4 hours, plus stops). Cape Bridgewater offers a stunning 4 km long beach, while nearby Cape Duquesne has a spectacular blowhole and a seal colony an hours walk away. Head along the Great Ocean Road via Portland with its historic waterfront, and Port Fairy’s whitewashed cottages, to Warrnambool, an important stop on the Great Ocean Road. On arrival check in to your hotel for an overnight stay.

Day 15 - Warrnambool to Lorne

Today is a spectacular drive along the Great Ocean Road to Lorne (approx 230 km / 3 hours 45 mins, plus stops). Take your time to take in the sheer beauty of this region, and make plenty of stops - the Twelve Apostles in Port Campbell National Park are the most iconic landmark but there are a host of vistas - Cape Otway offers a dramatic, rugged shoreline, while Apollo Bay has a community feel and superb beach. On arrival in to Lorne check in to your hotel for a two night stay.

Day 16 - Lorne

Lorne is one of the most beautiful spots on the Great Ocean Road, and makes a great base to spend a day - head out of town to explore the coastline, or take in the beachside swimming pool or the nearby Erskine Falls.

Day 17 - Lorne to Melbourne

Finish your driving with an easy run in to Melbourne (approx 140 km / 2 hours, plus stops). It’s all about surfing on this stretch of coast, so pop in to Torquay, home of surf brands Rip Curl and Quicksilver, and iconic Bells Beach, one of the most famous surf beaches in the world. On arrival in to Melbourne drop off your car at the depot and check in to your hotel for a three night stay.

Days 18-19 - Melbourne

Spend a few days exploring cosmopolitan Melbourne - head to Fed Square for the buzz of the city (and some excellent drinking spots) or the banks of the Yarra River for great views - we’d suggest finishing off at the Eureka Skydeck, the highest vantage point in the Southern Hemisphere and a great place to see all the locations you’ve just been to.

Day 20 - Return

Make your way to Melbourne airport for your return flight to the UK, arriving the next day.

Sydney to Melbourne via the Great Ocean Road Fly-Drive Holiday

Combine the classic coastal route from Sydney via Canberra to Melbourne with Victoria’s stunning Great Ocean Road and the beautiful Grampians for an incredible 1,800 km fly-drive holiday packed with amazing scenery & experiences.

Sydney to Melbourne fly-drive ideas

Make an Enquiry

2022 fly-drive package holidays to Australia Prices are per person based on two sharing, including flights, accommodation and car hire, and are subject to availability.

Flights from Heathrow - other departure airports also available, call for details. Holiday ref T0917W.