Road trip: Brisbane to Melbourne Road Trip Itinerary

Time: 2 hours

Distance: 160 km

Pick up your campervan or car hire out of Brisbane and hit the road. Get ready to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and hit the beach at Byron via the Gold Coast.

Byron is Australia’s easternmost town, famous for its great surfing and scuba diving spots, excellent beaches, lush rainforests, great regional dining and new-age retreats. You won’t want to leave.  

Time: 4 hour 40 mins drive time

Distance: 380 km

However, leave you must – but don’t worry there are plenty more amazing beaches waiting for you! Head south down the coast in the direction of Port Macquarie. This large coastal town is a great to place to stock up on essentials and park up for a few nights.

From here make your way down the coast via the coastal city of Coffs Harbour, another great beach destination. Check out the Big Banana monument and amusement park or visit Solitary Islands Marine Park located in the waters of Coffs Harbour, it’s home to abundant wildlife, seasonal whales and coral reefs.

Time:  5 – 6 hours

Distance: 300 km

The drive down to Sydney via the Central Coast is an easy one. If you want to stop off on the way then consider pulling off the highway to visit some of the local beaches towns such as Avoca, Terrigal and The Entrance.

When you arrive in Sydney there is lots to do – so find your nearest campsite and park up.

Here are some suggestions of places to stay that are close to the city. If you’re looking for a true Sydneysider experience check out our guide on how to explore the city like a local here.

Approx drive time: 3 hours 50 minutes

Distance: 286 km  

The traffic heading south out of the city can be heavy so avoid travelling onwards at peak times. As the buildings thin out and you start to see more green settle back into the journey as you travel through the beautiful southern highlands.

Some of the best places to stop in this area are the quaint traditional country towns of Berrima, Bowral and Mittagong. But there’s more to the Southern Highland than antique shops and coffee shops. The Southern Highlands is also home to some stunning natural landscapes and things to see, like the Fitzroy Falls, Kangaroo Valley, Wombeyan Caves and the Carrington Falls. There’s also lots of wildlife around so keep your eyes open for kangaroos and wallabies.

Plan to spend a day or two in Canberra soaking up the culture at one of the many national galeries, or book yourself on a tour of Parliament House.

Approx drive time: 5 hours 14 minutes

Distance: 457 km

The next stop after Canberra is Falls Creek. This alpine town in North Eastern Victoria is located in the Alpine National Park and offers visitors an activity packed stay all year round. There’s skiing and snowsports in the winter, or mountain biking, kayaking, hiking in the summer.

There are lots of campgrounds in this area with a variety of facilities – however, they do get booked up in summer if you can try to book in advance.

Approx drive time: 4 hours 41 minutes

Distance: 386 km

The M31 Highway will take you to your final destination on this trip, Melbourne. The coastal capital of Victoria does not disappoint. Melbourne has been voted as the world’s most livable city multiple times, so make sure you plan in some time when you arrive to discover its combination of world-class dining, art galleries, home grown fashion and sports events.  

For more information on hiring a campervan in Brisbane or Melbourne speak to the Travellers Autobarn Team or get a free online quote today! 

If you want to read more of our Brisbane adventures, come and explore the dedicated Brisbane Road Trips. Happy Exploring!