If road trips are what you enjoy, and if you have a week’s time to explore and travel, then there can be no destination more fascinating than Australia. Opt for a car rental and drive through Australia in as much as a week! Here’s how.
Sydney to Canberra
The drive from Sydney to Canberra covers a distance of 285kms in nearly 3 hours. The Southern Highlands are home to villages like Moss Vale, Bowral and Berrima - great spots for antique shopping. Goulburn, that comes a little ahead, is home to one of the very few privately owned motor racing circuits in the country and is a favourite among adventure lovers. While driving on to the Federal Highway towards Canberra, you can make a visit to the hamlet of Collector, home to the infamous Bushranger Hotel. A small detour will take you to the historic village of Gundaroo on the banks of the Yass River for a unique gastronomic experience of exotic wine and a meal comprising the region’s best produce.
Canberra to Melbourne
A distance of 647kms seems to pass like a dream when you drive from Canberra to Melbourne. Driving on to the Hume Highway, you can make your first stop at the historic town of Beechworth before heading on towards Oxley. The Sam Miranda Wines from an in-house setup and restaurant here offer a dining experience like no other. Foodies are in for a treat on this route with the Milawa Food and Gormet regions that fall en route to Wangarratta. The Milawa Mustard and Milawa Cheese Company are particularly famous, and make for a compulsive visit. Driving towards Melbourne, you will visit charming cities and towns like Ballarat, Bendigo and Benalla, where you can even stay overnight at a comfortable motel.
Melbourne to Adelaide
The 728kms route from Melbourne to Adelaide is best covered along the stunning Great Ocean Road. The drive from Melbourne towards Torquay has an enigmatic landscape, and leads to Lorne – a seaside town of uncompromised beauty. A pleasant walk to the Erskine Falls, an overnight stay and a swim in its glorious beaches is sure to leave you spellbound!
As you drive into Apollo Bay, the Great Otway National Park gradually gives way to the limestone towers of the Twelve Apostles that claim their right for a stop. The subsequent drive takes you along the infamous Shipwreck Coast to the whale-inhabited Warnambool, a charming town of Port Fairy and the European settlement of Portland. Heading north, the Sellicks and Aldinga beaches along the Gulf St. Vincent Coast deserve a stop and swim. The valleys of Mount Compass and the McLaren Wine Region are popular for their orchards and quaint stores of cheese, olives and almonds. Adelaide qualifies as a glorious destination with dreamy walkways, calm waterfronts and serene parklands.
