Road trip! Drive from Melbourne to Sydney in Style

One word. Bioluminescence. Yes, the glow has lessened a little since the 2008 peak, but that doesn’t stop an ethereal glow appearing around your feet during a late–night paddle. Even if lightly agitated glowing bacteria doesn’t float your boat, these lakes are a gorgeous spot for a campout, kayak or yachting break during your road trip. 

It’s a full 6.5 hour drive here on the A1 from Gippsland Lakes, so you may want to break up the journey a little – but we’ll leave you to your spontaneous selves for that one. Not because there’s little to see, rather there’s SO much. Not least the three or four national parks you’ll pass through. Wherever you stop, you’ll do well. But don’t miss Batemans Bay. Things have been pretty coastal so far, but here you get to follow the estuary inland. A big spot for game fishing – if that’s your thing – or just feast on the catch. Oysters are the dish du jour, though admittedly, they’re not for everyone. You’ve got yet another marine sanctuary to explore, but perhaps the biggest joy – yet more ‘unspoilt’ landscapes. These come with a more than decent town to revel in, if you’re missing urban life. 

Surfing kangaroos. Not something you’ll see every day. Pebbly Beach’s most famous residents aren’t exactly hopping on a surfboard – but they are often pictured ‘in the surf’. Definitely the ultimate Aussie sight. We love the wild mix on offer in this spot. Bush walks, camping near the beach and sea eagles swooping overhead. Stop here for the chance to skip among wildflowers while watching for dolphins breaching – no doubt hoping to catch a glimpse of those surfing roos. 

This is a tricky one. A brief Google leads you to believe this beach is a Guinness World Record holder. Spoiler alert: It isn’t. That said, the sands here are brilliantly white. Which is reason to visit, perhaps. Just don’t be fooled by the many, many articles spawned by an entrepreneurial store owner looking to big up the local beach. If you are in the market for a stop off before you reach Wollongong – might we suggest Mermaid Inlet Cliffs instead? Few know about these epic cliffs – probably because they are a good 30–minute walk from the nearest car park (in Beecroft Parade). Make the trek and you’ll be treated to a lighthouse, a shipwreck and possibly a few bemused locals who rarely see explorers in these parts.  

This is what the Melbourne to Sydney drive has all been building up to. Yes, the coastal towns, glorious beaches and wildlife spots have been memorable, but it’s all in danger of being blown out of the water by THIS drive. Starting in the Royal National Park, you’ll pass through more seaside villages – but there’s rainforest to gawp at too. Really though, this is all prepping you for the Sea Cliff Bridge. But before you zoom across it – consider taking the footbridge path too. You’ll rarely get the chance to experience a bridge like it elsewhere. Look down and you might just spot a ray sweeping through the waters below. Pretty cool. Sweeping views aren’t easily photographed from a moving car so we can’t recommend parking up strongly enough. 

Australia very much shows its mixed bag of attractions off in Kiama. The natural wonder is the big deal. Entitled Kiama’s blowhole, it’s a hole in the cliffs that funnels up around 80ft of water, when conditions are just right. Worth stopping for, but do take care – spectators have met a grisly end when trying to get a little too close. And then there’s another of Australia’s big things. And there really is no delicate way to put this, it’s a 5 metre long sculpture of a poo. You’ll find it handily placed next to the welcome to Kiama sign. No one can accuse Aussie’s of not having a sense of humour – but, even if you are trying to collect all 150 ‘big things’ – maybe pass on this one?