Driving Sydney to Melbourne: top 5 stops on the way

I knew my father would be the perfect author for this article, not only because he has just returned from a trip to Melbourne, but because I have so many childhood memories of being folded into the middle seat of our family sedan between two bored and gangly brothers on road trips that could last 15 hours. My father knows the roads from Sydney to Melbourne.

And so, without further ado, I present to you my father, and his favourite stops on a road trip between Sydney and Melbourne.

Sydney – where the fun started

Sydney is such a beautiful city, with a variety of nearby natural wonders to explore, as well as the more well-known tourist sites. I was on my way to drive to Melbourne to visit my second-born son. But before leaving Sydney I ran through my checklist. The route I decided to take requires a Linkt tag for your vehicle to cover the tolls, and having a navigation aid or GPS is also very useful. Traffic in Sydney can be very slow depending on the time you set off though, so if you are towing a caravan, or driving a larger SUV like I was, it could pay to time your departure outside of peak times.

Once out of Sydney, the traffic cleared and I was able to travel freely at the 110 km/ per hour  speed limit. I love the Sydney suburbs that I drive through on this route, with their names reminding me of my childhood history lessons, with early settlers travelling by wagon to Parramatta and Macarthur pioneering the wool industry in Australia and establishing himself in Camden. You can drive along the coast, but I prefer taking the inland highway as it is the most direct option. It has spectacular bushland, rock cliff faces and rivers along the way.

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Stop 1 – Yass

I chose to make a slight diversion from the direct route to allow for a stop in Yass, which is approximately three hours from Sydney. I think this town is worth a stop, and not just for its now-hip name, think Yass Queen!

The town has an interesting main street and beautiful and impressive buildings that were established during the town’s prosperous times in the 19th century. There’s a fascinating mix of grand old homesteads and workers’ cottages from a bygone era, combined with an increasing number of modern homes. There’s also affordable accommodation and great choices for travellers looking for a feed.

Thyme To Taste Café is currently rated the best stop for breakfast in Yass on Tripadvisor, or there is the option for a quick coffee stop at the well-reviewed Six8 Coffee Roasters.

Stop 2 – Canberra

This stop is a little more off the direct track, but if you have not been before it presents a great opportunity to check out the nation’s capital. It’s only about an hour from Yass. Not only are there well-known sites like the War Memorial, Parliament House and the National Gallery of Australia, but there is also an abundance of natural beauty including a number of lakes, Mount Ainslie Lookout, Commonwealth Park and Black Mountain. I do have a particular fondness for Canberra as we lived here for many years with our young family including trips to Questacon and Lake Ginninderra.

Stop 3 – Gundagai

While Gundagai doesn’t require a large amount of time to visit, the road trip from Sydney to Melbourne wouldn’t be complete without saying g’day to the historical Dog on the Tuckerbox. This iconic statue, inspired by the 1857 doggerel poem, “Bullocky Bill”, depicts a dog protecting its master’s tuckerbox –an old Australian word for lunchbox. It is located at Snake Gully (about 8 km from central Gundagai). The town itself has featured in a number of poems and stories over the years, with legendary Australian authors such as Banjo Paterson, Henry Lawson and Miles Franklin all mentioning it in their work. There’s a garden precinct and café serving hot and cold refreshments that is also worth a visit.

Stop 4 – Albury-Wodonga

Jumping back in the car and then less than two hours later, you’ve reached the border to Victoria and can stop off at Albury-Wodonga. Albury is located on the New South Wales side of the Murray River, and Wodonga on the Victorian side. Here you can see magnificent Victorian-era buildings (such as Albury Station), stroll through one of the many parks or relax by the Murray River. We chose to enjoy our lunch alfresco near the river, with the opportunity to stretch our legs with a short walk while enjoying the beautiful, lush surroundings.

Stop 5 – Glenrowan

My final stop on the way to Melbourne is Glenrowan; which history buffs will know as Ned Kelly country. In 1880, Ned Kelly was captured at the Glenrowan Inn after a gunfight with law enforcement, bringing an end to the Kelly gang. You can see the statue of Ned Kelly as you enter the town and visit Kate’s Cottage and Kellyland museum, which document the tales of his life.

Melbourne – where the road trip ends

Once you have had your fill of bushranger history, Melbourne is around a three-hour drive from Glenrowan, with traffic lanes notably wider than in Sydney. You may come across tram lines, and the infamous hook turns as you near the city centre. It is a good idea to brush up on the road rules on co-existing with them. Again, the Linkt toll tag comes in handy when navigating the roads to your final destination.

Where should you stop between Sydney and Melbourne?

This marks the end of my road trip from Sydney to Melbourne, with my favourite stops in:

1. Yass (Sydney to Yass: 281 km (175 miles) – Approx 3 1/2 hrs)
2. Canberra (Yass to Canberra: 61 km (38 miles) – Approx 1 hr)
3. Gundagai (Canberra to Gundagai: 160 km (99 miles) – Approx 1 3/4 hr)
4. Albury-Wodonga (Gundagai to Albury-Wodonga: 179 km (111 miles) – Approx 1 3/4 hr)
5. Glenrowan (Albury-Wodonga to Glenrowan: 93 km (58 miles) – Approx 1 hr)
6. Melbourne (Glenrowan-Melbourne: 236 km (147 miles) – Approx 2 1/2 hrs)

How long does it take to drive from Sydney to Melbourne?

The drive from Sydney to Melbourne can be done in around 10 hours, not including rest stops. The inland route that I drove took around 11.5 hours, again, not including stops. It can be a good idea to give yourself at least two days for this drive to allow yourself time in each of the places listed – or to go at a slower pace and stay at a few overnight.

Is driving between Sydney and Melbourne easy?

Getting in and out of the city is often the most difficult part, due to general traffic congestion. Overall, driving directly from Sydney to Melbourne is about 878 km. The drive itself is relatively easy as the roads are all sealed and well-marked. Taking a more scenic route, like the one I took, often delivers the most enjoyable road trip experience.

About David Waraker

David (pictured with his daughter, Shay) is a retired project manager who shares his time between tending his property and travelling in Australia or internationally. He has lived throughout Australia and has always been a regular road tripper. He thought it was a good idea to feed his children curried egg sandwiches during the drive from Canberra to Brisbane… he clearly wasn’t the one in the middle seat.

Additional reporting by Nick Whiting

Cover image source: Taras Vyshnya/Shutterstock.com.