Travel Specials > Australia > Australia Independent Packages and Tours > Breathtaking Sydney to Melbourne Drive

7 Day Drive: Sydney to Melbourne

7 Day / 6 Nights from $959
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Package Name

Breathtaking Sydney to Melbourne Self-Drive

Duration

6 Nights / 7 Days

Description

This is a great way to discover the southeast corner of Australia that is quiet, rural and loaded with tons of character and history to learn about.  You will drive the S Western Motorway/Freeway out of Sydney and connect to the Hume Highway all the way to Melbourne.  A road trip is a fantastic way to marvel in the beauty of this part of the country.  If you want to talk about places in Australia only the locals know about, this is a great trip option for you. Roll the windows down, buckle up and hit the road for a trip to remember forever!

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Sydney – Drive to Canberra (186 Miles/3 hrs)

Upon arrival at the Sydney Airport, you will be met by a helpful agent to assist in picking up your rental car.  Settle in behind the wheel and get started on your drive to Canberra, the capital city of Australia.  On route, take a break by visiting the town of Berrima, name derived from an Aboriginal word meaning either ‘southward’ or ‘black swan’.  A unique historic town, it was built in five years mostly by prisoners.  Another great stop is the city of Goulburn where the landmark of the Big Merino stands tall and the cathedral is magnificent.  As you coast into Canberra, kick back and relax in your accommodations: Crowne Plaza Canberra (standard) or Avalanche Homestead (B&B)

Day 2: Canberra – Albury (220 miles/4 hrs)

Awake in the land downunder and hop on the Barton Highway for a short drive to the town of Yass known for its amazing 19^th century well-preserved verandah buildings.  At this juncture, you will venture onto the Hume Highway in route to your destination for the day: Albury.  A good stop along the way is the town of Gundagai located along the Murrumbidgee River with the Muniong and Yambla Mountain Ranges in the distant.  The town of Holbrook known for its production of wool, wheat and other grains is another excellent choice for a pit stop.  Stop and see the hull of the HMAS Otway, a decommissioned Oberon class submarine.  Accommodations for the evening in Albury: Quality Hotel Olive (standard) or Country Comfort (B&B)

Day 3: Albury – Metung (223 miles/4 hrs)

Spend some time in the morning taking in the beauty of Albury.  It is home to lovely botanical gardens and Lake Hume.  The town sits on the northern side of the Murray River and is the second largest inland city in New South Wales.  Along the Great Alpine Road today, stop in the historic town of Omeo, an Aboriginal word meaning ‘mountains’.  Here you can take in the rolling hills full of hay bales and scenic views.  As you head south along your journey, you will come to the rural community of Swifts Creek.  If you are there at the right moment, you may see a large Eastern Grey Kangaroo roaming through the town.  Bigger than the traditional kangaroo, the Aboriginals named the town Bun Jirrah Gingee Munjie meaning ‘big kangaroos go to that place’.  Find a way to get up into the hills and you will be blessed with some amazing views of the valley. Your rest stop for the evening in Metung: The Moorings at Metung (standard) or Clovely House (B&B)

Day 4: Metung – Foster (137 miles/2 1/2 hrs)

The quaint, fishing town of Metung is on a small peninsula just south-east of the larger town, Bairnsdale.  Great place to take some walks and stretch out the legs for the next part of the journey.  The Princes Highway and the South Gippsland Highway are your travel partners for the day as you meander through Bairnsdale, Sale, and Yarram to your final destination for the day, Foster.  Accommodations in Foster: Comfort Inn Foster (standard) or Larkrise House (B&B) for 2 nights

Day 5: Wilsons Promontory at Leisure

This is a fantastic spot to explore for the next two days.  Wilsons Promontory is a National Park containing the largest coastal wilderness area in Victoria.  The area is full of intertidal mudflats, sandy beaches and sheltered coves, granite cliffs, coastal dunes and swamps; marsupials and native birds including Koalas, Emus and Wombats.  Hike up Mount Oberon to behold the Southern most tip of Australia.  Absolutely majestic!  You will be glad you had two days.

Day 6: Foster – Phillip Island (62 miles/1 hrs)

There is more! With a mere gaunt down the road you will adventure onto Phillip Island known for the Penguin Parade.  The Little Penguin burrows on the island and come ashore every night seeking safety from the surf.  There are hundreds of them and such a treat to see this unusual animal.  A visit to the Koala Conservation Centre takes you up to a tree-top adventure on the board walk viewing Koalas and other animals in their natural habitat.  Phillip Island is also home to Seal Rocks, host of the largest colony of fur seals in Australia.  After so much wonderful wild-life, you will enjoy your accommodations on Phillip Island: Anchor and Waves Apartments (standard) or Glen Isla House (B&B)

Day 7: Phillip Island – Melbourne (87 miles/1 1/2 hrs)

As you head out for your final destination, you will feel much satisfaction in choosing this trip.  In route to Melbourne, stop in the city of Cranbourne, home to the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Red Sand Garden; a must see as it’s quite a phenomenon.  Before you venture into the city, take in one last small village, Lyndhurst.  It’s simple and has a lot of history as the main supplier to the nearby working mine of Junction Reefs Goldfields.

Congratulations you have chosen a tour many people only see from the air. This journey from Sydney to Melbourne will be a restful awe inspiring trip that few can say they’ve experienced. On arrival in Melbourne you will have all the options in the world to choose what to do next including heading west on the Great Ocean Road to Adelaide.  Talk with our agents at 1.800.788.0829 and they can help you set up this tour and beyond.

Prices Start At:

Standard Accommodations for Two	$959	Single	$1895
Hotels with Bed and Breakfast for Two	$1375	Single	$2519

                          

Airfare, One-Way Car Rental Drop Fee and Mandatory 3^rd Party Insurance are not included

Good through 31 March 2009