Sydney to Melbourne coast, Australia Travel Information

The Sydney-Melbourne Coastal Drive is a fabulous way to explore south eastern Victoria. Stretching from Port Phillip in the west to the beautiful wilderness coastline of Croajingolong National Park at the eastern tip of the state is a touring route rich in diversity, landscape and experience.

Link to accommodation, cottages & bed and breakfasts on the Far South Coast of New South Wales

Visit such popular tourists spots on the Drive such as the Mornington Peninsula, Phillip Island with its fairy penguins and Wilsons Promontory, as well as travelling through a vast array of national parks, seaside villages and Australia’s largest waterway system, the Gippsland Lakes.

Beginning its life as the Princes Highway, the Sydney-Melbourne Coastal Drive turns into the South Gippsland Freeway at the small fishing village of Tooradin and continues on to the Bass Highway to take you to Phillip Island. At Sale, the Drive rejoins the Princes Highway to lead you to the New South Wales border. With 517 kilometres of road, the Sydney-Melbourne Coastal Drive covers an amazing range of landscapes, communities and attractions making it a wonderful way to explore South Eastern Victoria.

Mornington Peninsula

Link to accommodation, cottages & bed and breakfasts on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria

Just over an hour from Melbourne’s CBD, the Mornington Peninsula’s fabulous ocean beaches have for generations made it a favourite, seaside escape. Departing the South Gippsland Highway at Cranbourne, take the circuit drive that hugs both sides of the Peninsula’s coastline and affords mesmerising views of fertile green farmlands contrasted with the vivid blue of the ocean.

Along the way be tempted by the many wineries, cafes and fine restaurants. Red Hill, in the geographic centre of the Peninsula, has the majority of the area’s 30 plus wineries and an excellent wine trail you can drive around – it would be easy to spend several days here alone just sampling the local vintage.

For those keen to try the region’s cuisine, stylish Sorrento is the epicurean centre of the Mornington Peninsula. There are terrific bakeries, delicatessens and cafes that spill out onto the plaza-like, paved walkways of the main street. At Sorrento you will also find a ferry service that runs to Queenscliff located on the other side of Port Phillip Bay. Accommodating both cars and passengers, it is a pleasant way to bypass the traffic of Melbourne and connect with the eastern end of the Great Ocean Road.

Another attraction of the Mornington Peninsula is its unique history. A must-do for history-buffs is the Briars Historic Park where you can tour the circa 1840 property of Captain James Reid.

Fronting the wilds of Bass Strait, Cape Schanck Light Station has stood unchanged for over 140 years – a reminder of the rugged coastline’s treachery. Under the care of National Parks, there are regular tours through the lighthouse as well as a myriad of cliff walks and bush tracks that crisscross the headland.

Phillip Island and West Gippsland

Phillip Island is often described as Victoria's natural attraction. Home to the famous nightly Fairy Penguin Parade – the state’s most popular tourist attraction – it also boasts Australia’s largest colony of Fur Seals.

At the Koala Conservation Centre, observe koalas living in their natural habitat through a treetop boardwalk.

There are also excellent surf beaches along the Island’s coast and the well-serviced village towns of Cowes, Rhyll, Newhaven and San Remo.

The largest town on Phillip Island is Cowes, where there is a lovely long pier for walking or fishing from and an excellent variety of fine dining restaurants – many looking out over the sea.

Back on the mainland, a little further to the east, is the part of West Gippsland known as Bass Coast. Stretching from Grantville to Inverloch, it is a region rich in heritage and beauty. Here you’ll find the striking Bunurong Marine Coastal Park with its own scenic drive and a piece of coastline, mysteriously named the Undiscovered Coast.

Link to accommodation, cottages & bed and breakfasts on the Gippsland-South East Coast, Victoria including Phillip Island

West Gippsland is also known as ‘Gourmet Deli’ country because of its fine local delicacies such as smoked trout, farm cheeses and honeys. The green pastures also grow show-quality fruit and vegetables, many grown organically such as near the town of Drouin where there you will find a number of organic cheese factories and fruit farms. With so much coast, as you might expect, fresh seafood abounds.

The historic township of Walhalla is an interesting stop and will take you back in time to the days when gold fever gripped Gippsland – one of the richest gold-bearing reefs in Australia was found here. Today the abandoned houses and hotels have been lovingly restored and are fascinating to wander through. So too at Port Albert, once a thriving transport centre, there is plenty to learn of Australian history. During its heyday it was an official port of entry into Australia receiving ships and cargo directly from London, but now the buildings lie near-deserted and are fascinating to roam through.

At Wilsons Promontory National Park is the southern-most point of the Australian mainland where apart from the breathtaking views, you will find an abundance of unique flora and fauna. Over 140 different species of birds live in this national park and there are many wombats, koalas and wallabies to be encountered on any of the 30 walks in the park.

East Gippsland

At the Gippsland Lakes five rivers end their journey to the sea and in so doing create Australia’s largest waterway. A paradise for boaters and fishermen, it is the perfect place to break your tour and take to the water.

Most of the lakeside towns such as Paynesville, Hollands Landing and even the smaller ones such as Nicholson or Johnsonville have boats for hire. Exploring the various waterways is great fun – navigate your way around Lake King, Lake Victoria or Lake Wellington, just to name a few. Lake Tyers, the most eastern lake in the system is bordered by ocean and state forests and meandering along it as it moves inland to Nowa Nowa is a real adventure.

For those with land legs, there is plenty to do in the cosmopolitan towns of Metung or Lakes Entrance that are full of cafes, shops and craft.

Take a 2-hour cruise around Bancroft Bay and Shaving Point, enjoy the scenic drives, bushwalks, and have a fish. There are many walks around Lake King, Tambo Bluff and Chinaman’s Creek.

Immediately fronting the coast beyond the Gippsland Lakes is the Ninety Mile Beach with its deep, golden sands that stretch from north of Yarram to Lakes Entrance. It is perfect for swimming, fishing and sand dune sliding!

To the north-east lies the Buchan Caves and at the state’s eastern tip is the majestic wilderness coastline of the Croajingolong National Park – many believe it to be the jewel in the crown of Victorian National Parks. This UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve has diverse eco systems which remain as pristine as they were when Australia’s first people inhabited this area. Magnificent beaches, dramatic rocky coastlines and a wonderful array of flora and fauna are to be found here.

The charming lakeside town of Mallacoota is nestled in the park and from nearby Cann River, visitors can access areas such as Point Hicks with its sand dunes, lighthouse, walks and camping areas.

Next time you are travelling from Sydney to Melbourne or Canberra to Melbourne take the time to explore South Eastern Gippsland. Tourism Vict-oria suggests six days as the ideal length for the Syd-ney-Melbourne Coastal Drive and has devised an itinerary that takes in the main highlights.

To find out more, contact the Victorian Visit-or Information Centre on 132842 or visit their website at www.visitmelbourne.com