Sydney to Melbourne - a 21 day adventure
Sydney is a wonderful place, but get ready for a great adventure as we hug the coastline on our adventure from Sydney to Melbourne on the Pacific Highway. This trip can easily take months, but in our opinion we would recommend at least three weeks to explore this area, as there are so many side trips you can do and they are all so tempting!
This area of NSW coastline is often overlooked by many after the excitement of Sydney and the draw of Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef. If you choose this route, you will be treated to a more authentic trip down under passing through many beautiful places and it has 35 National Parks and Nature Reserves.
There are an amazing amount of unspoiled beaches and stunning coastal scenery all within easy driving distances of each other, so this means you can do more active and exciting things rather than being behind the wheels of your campervan for hours and hours!
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In a snapshot, on this trip you will love travelling through the beautiful coastal region of New South Wales south of Sydney and wandering through interesting and quirky small towns and national parks, before arriving in the wonderfully vibrant city of Melbourne which is such a contrast to Sydney. |
Travel Wheels Tour Itinerary
STARTING POINT 1: Sydney to Jervis Bay
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Our tip is to not rush this section, let's make the actual journey a part of the adventure as there are lots of great things to see and do and most of them are FREE!!
Our first tip is to leave Sydney early in the morning to miss the morning traffic and then to travel south on the Pacific Highway towards the beautiful coastal region of NSW which is situated on the shores of the Tasman Sea.
This is no ordinary drive, we will be heading out on the GRAND PACIFICDRIVE - this encompasses over 140 kms of some of New South Wales's most spectacular scenery and coastline, and it's all for FREE!
First of all, we Head south and travel through the wonderful Royal National Park and then the route takes you through beautiful coastal rainforests and spectacular driving scenery such as the newly opened Sea View Bridge which literally sits on top of sheer cliffs and has the ocean below, remember to keep your eyes on the road!
For more information, checkout http://www.grandpacificdrive.com.au for lots of useful maps and great hints and tips on where to go, so let's get started!
The first point of Interest you will want to explore is Botany Bay and the Royal National Park. Why not jump out of the car (instead of whizzing past) and take a walk and admire the views and the sheer beauty right on the doorstep of Sydney.
Captain Cook first landed here in 1770 in an area which is now known as "Kurnell", and there are some great short walks such as the Monument track (1km) or the coastal walk to Bailey Lighthouse.
For more information see the NPWS Botany Bay National Park Discovery Centre.
Next door is the Royal National Park - which is Australia's first ever national park back in 1879.
There are some great beaches here, and it's a wonderful place for walking tracks as many have fantastic ocean views and all this is just outside of Sydney. The main visitor centre is locted in Audley and the NPWS Royal National Park Visitors Centre has lots of useful information for free.
Once you are back in your campervan why not stop at beautiful Stanwell Park?
This is where you can see the famous SeaView Bridge and heaps of paragliders having fun in the skies above. Make sure you stop at the Lookout for amazing views which is located just outside of the exit of the Royal National Park, before the Nan Tien Temple.
Further down the coast you will pass the Nan Tien Temple (also known as "Southern Paradise" which is the largest Buddhist temple in the Southern Hemisphere ) The web site address is http://www.nantien.org.au
Next stop is the Kiama Blowhole - it was discovered over 100 years ago by George Bass when he anchored his whale boat in Kiama harbour back in December 1797, why not stop and see if you can get wet seeing the blowhole erupting high up into the sky!
By this time you might be hungry, or thirsty, and a great place to stop for mid morning tea is in the historic town called Berry, which is known as the 'town of trees'. It is set amongst rolling green hills with the backdrop of the stunning Cambewarra range. Berry is famous for its cafés, antiques and boutique shopping, and is a great place to stop for an hour or four and chill out before all the excitement begins!
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The next stop is the jewel in the crown, Jervis Bay. This is when the fun begins and your chance to see the dolphins and the beautiful beaches up close. |
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Dolphin watch tours start from approximately $20 for a two hour boat trip on the calm crystal waters of Jervis Bay. Make sure you bring your camera or video camera to film those playful dolphins as nature intended. |
Other interesting things to do whilst in this beautiful area include the following:
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HUSKINSON - which is situated on the western shore of Jervis Bay and it is a fantastic area for scuba-diving with crystal clear calm waters and of course the inquisitive wildlife in the sea! This is the second most popular dive spot in Australia after the Great Barrier Reef! |
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BOODEREE NATIONAL PARK - Fancy visiting a national park with rugged cliffs facing the sea? Well then pay Booderee National Park a visit for fantastic white sandy beaches, and crystal clear waters. There are lots of free things to do such as snorkelling in the park and you might even see some of the famous marine life such as Sting Rays or Dolphins and there is even a Penguin Colony near Bowen Island. www.booderee.np.gov.au |
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