Australia is not just a country but a continent. Road trips in this country are long drives because distances are large as in the United States. In two weeks, we could see just a small slice of it!

We chose to drive from Sydney to Melbourne, a lovely inland-cum-coast drive that fitted perfectly with our preference for mountains, lakes and sea coasts. Here’s our route.

Route map for driving

Sydney

This is where we started our journey but this city had to be explored on foot! We walked and walked, starting from the picturesque Darling Harbour, taking in Hyde Park and the Archibald fountain, to the Opera House and the Harbour bridge.

Climbing the 200 stairs to the Pylon lookout was well worth it for a good workout and for enjoying  the breathtaking views from the Harbour bridge.

In the Botanical Gardens we took a shuttle ride followed by a long walk to Lady Macquarie’s chair, a lovely lookout point.

There was more than enough to see in just two days.

View of Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge
Archibald Fountain in Sydney, Australia
Pyrmont Bridge, Darling Harbour, Sydney

On the third day we rented a Toyota Rav-4 and set off on our trip. Australian roads are excellent.  We avoided the motorways and drove largely on B and C roads where traffic is quite sparse and speed limits are generous, but careful – speeding fines are heavy. There are warning signs about wildlife and we frequently saw dead wombats and kangaroos by the roadside. If you hit one of them at speed you are sure to kill it, and your car will be damaged too.

Drive or Stop?
Our Wheels - Toyota Rav-4
Down to the valley roads

Blue Mountains

First stop – Katoomba in the Blue Mountains. Two days are barely enough to see the Three Sisters, three sandstone ribs standing in a row against the vast background of the Jamison valley, and many other beautiful spots.  The mountains are truly blue due to a faint haze of eucalyptus oil in the air and early mornings and dusk are particularly enchanting. There are many hiking trails of various degrees of difficulty. Blue Mountains is the perfect weekend getaway for busy Sydneyites.

Australia's Blue Mountains
Three Sisters at Echo Point in Blue Mountains, Australia
View from Reid Plateau in Blue Mountains, AUS

Canberra

Our next stop was Canberra, the capital. We were not enamored by the city, but its design is charming.

The best sights are from the top of a hill – Mount Ainslie – from where you can get a 360-degree view and understand why the city has been laid out the way it is.

After a day in Canberra we drove out south towards Namadgi National Park to see the hidden gems – the beautiful Gibraltar falls and Corin Dam. The climbing hill road leads to almost a dead end, and the drive was enjoyable.

View of Canberra from Mount Ainslie lookout
Gibraltar falls, Canberra, Australia

Snowy Mountains

In Jindabyne (Snowy Mountains) our hotel was by the lake side. It was really relaxing to sit on the open verandah in the evening, watching the colors slowly change at dusk on the Jindabyne lake and the surrounding hills.

We took the hilly drive to Perisher, so named because the intrepid explorer who first ventured there nearly perished. The road up the mountain offers great views of the valleys and lakes around. We had to rent snow chains, due to unseasonal snowfall. Skiers and chair-cars were fully in action at Snowy mountains in Spring!

View of Jindabyne Lake, Snowy Mountains, AUS
Glimpse of snow at Perisher, NSW, AUS
Skiiers and chair lifts at Snowy Mountains in Spring

Lakes Entrance

Our next stop was Lakes Entrance, a coastal town besides the Gippsland Lakes, overlooking a vast system of inland waterways full of stunning beaches, glistening lakes, and water sports and fishing opportunities. The Lakes are separated from the ocean by coastal dunes known as Ninety Mile Beach. We crossed the long footbridge to the Ninety Mile beach and enjoyed long walks.

The lakes can also be explored in a kayak or a paddle-boat, or on a boat cruise. Black swans and pelicans abound making it a beautiful place to visit.

Lakes Entrance is renowned as a seafood capital due to the fishing trawlers operating in the area. There is a big choice of fresh catches in the seafood shops around town.

Lakes entrance is a great getaway location for residents of Canberra or even Melbourne.

The footbridge at Lakes Entrance, Australia
Black swans in Gippsland Lakes. Australia
Gulls at St Kilda beach, Victoria, Australia

We started our drive out of Lakes Entrance and detoured from the Melbourne Road to reach Agnes falls. It is a hidden gem with few visitors because of its remoteness, and the walk to the falls was very pleasant.  The cascade waterfall itself is truly worth visiting!

View of Toora Wind farm area, Australia
Agnes Falls, Victoria
Beautiful road near Toora, Victoria

Phillip Island

Next stop was Phillip island – a holiday destination with some lovely views, just a 90-minute drive from Melbourne.

Here we saw glimpses of Australian wildlife amongst spectacular landscapes and enjoyed the popular ‘penguin parade’ experience. The Koala Conservation Centre let us come face-to-face with koalas in their natural habitat. The magnificent headland at the Nobbies Centre has views that stretch forever, panoramic coastal views from the boardwalks and a virtual ‘Antarctic Journey’ at the Nobbies centre that showcases the landscape and stunning wildlife through large multimedia installations.

A Koala on the tree
Emu in Phillip Island, Australia
Views from The Nobbies boardwalk in Phllip Island, Australia
Kangaroo or Wallaby

Mornington Peninsula

Sorrentoat the tip of the Mornington peninsula, was our last destination before Melbourne. We took a long walk at the Sorrento pier and foreshore area. At nearby Portsea we found a grand view of unusual rock formations and a panoramic view of the sea from the ‘London Bridge lookout’.

There is a lot to see and do at Point Nepean National Park.

Fort Nepean is one of the fortifications that protected Melbourne during World War I and II. Located at the very tip of the Mornington Peninsula is an extensive tunnel complex which connects the historic gun emplacements.

We walked from the Quarantine Station to Fort Nepean, via the beach at Observatory Point and Gunners Cottage – these pretty much covered the many historical highlights of this unique place.

This national park also has several coastal trails with expansive views of Port Phillip Bay.

Fancy a walk on the Pier, Sorrento, Australia
London Bridge lookout at Sorrento, Australia
Silver gulls in Phillip Island, Australia

Melbourne

Our last stop was Melbournethe cultural capital of Australia with the best in museums, parks, art galleries and of course, eclectic dining experiences. South Yarra and Kilda are picturesque tourist places to roam about.

Another unique experience would be the Great Ocean Road trip over a weekend or longer from Melbourne.

We had to drop off our car here after a lovely 2-week drive of 2500 kms.

We stayed here for two days before starting our next adventure in Tasmania.

Sydney and Sorrento in Australia
South east Australia sights

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Sydney Opera House, Australia
Route map for driving
View of Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge
Archibald Fountain in Sydney, Australia
Pyrmont Bridge, Darling Harbour, Sydney
Drive or Stop?
Our Wheels - Toyota Rav-4
Down to the valley roads
Australia's Blue Mountains
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View from Reid Plateau in Blue Mountains, AUS
View of Canberra from Mount Ainslie lookout
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View of Jindabyne Lake, Snowy Mountains, AUS
Glimpse of snow at Perisher, NSW, AUS
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The footbridge at Lakes Entrance, Australia
Black swans in Gippsland Lakes. Australia
Gulls at St Kilda beach, Victoria, Australia
View of Toora Wind farm area, Australia
Agnes Falls, Victoria
Beautiful road near Toora, Victoria
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Views from The Nobbies boardwalk in Phllip Island, Australia
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