This epic road trip gives you the chance to see the best of what Australia as to offer from world famous beaches and wine countries, past a giant banana, the opera house and the home of the Australian Parliament. It’s designed for travellers who are planning to spend a couple of weeks on the road.
Melbourne to Falls Creek
Stop 1
Approx drive time: 4 hours 45 minutes
Distance: 386 km
It’s time to leave the cool café culture, alleyways and hip bars of Melbourne behind, hire a campervan in Melbourne, fill it with supplies and snacks and hit the road. Head north on the M31 for the road trip adventure of a lifetime.
First stop Falls Creek, a resort town in northeastern Victoria. It’s known as an alpine and cross-country ski center. There are things to here all year round – from skiing in the winter to fishing, kayaking, mountain biking and hiking in the summer.
Falls Creek to Canberra
Stop 2
Approx drive time: 5 hours 15 minutes
Distance: 457 km
From one extreme to the other, leave the action packed adrenaline filled Falls Creek and head to Canberra, the nation’s capital and a cultural hotspot. Rest and recover in Canberra with a trip to Parliament House, the National Portrait Gallery and National Gallery of Australia – where you are guaranteed to some world-class exhibitions.  Â
Canberra to Sydney via the Southern Highlands
Stop 3 & 4
Approx drive time: 3 hours 45 minutes
Distance: 286 km
Hop back into the campervan and take the route north towards Sydney via the traditional country towns of Berrima, Bowral and Mittagong. Pull in for a coffee stop or lunch at one of the local restaurants. Â
The Southern Highlands is also home to waterfalls and spectacular lookouts in national park wilderness. Visit Fitzroy Falls in Morton National Park, hike in the Bangadilly National park or pull up the campervan and picnic for looking out over Kangaroo Valley. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for  wallabies, wombats, kangaroos and myriad bird species when you’re driving.
Sydney to Port Macquarie via Port Stephens
Stop 5 & 6
Approx drive time: 5 – 6 hours
Distance: 300 km
You’ll probably want to spend a couple of days exploring Sydney – there’s so much to see here. If you’re sticking to a budget then check out our guide on the best free things to do in Sydney here.
If you’re looking for places to park up your campervan for a couple of nights then here are some suggestions of places to stay.
When you’ve had your fill of the city and are craving some time at the beach then hit the road and head North. A couple of hours of driving will take you to the Central Coast, home to some great beaches such as Ettalong Beach, Avoca Beach, Terrigal Beach and Forresters.
Break up this leg of the trip by spending the night at Port Stephens. There are heaps of campsites around this area, as well as coffee shops and places to pick up supplies.
Port Macquarie is a beautiful coastal destination known for its beaches and wildlife. If you’re stopping here then make sure you visit Lighthouse Beach, Sea Acres National Park and one of the many classic Aussie cafés for a great flat white.
Port Macquarie to Byron via Coffs Harbour
Stop 7 & 8
Approx drive time: 4 hour 45 minutes
Distance: 380 km
From Port Macquarie you’re going to make your way to Coffs Harbour, another great place to stop and hang out at the beach. Try; Gallows, Park Beach, Sapphire, Emerald and Sawtell Beach. Other things to do in and around Coffs Harbour include; the Forest Sky Pier, Coffs Harbour Butterfly House, a segway tour or kayaking.
Head to the famous Byron Bay via the laid back beach towns of Yamba and Grafton. Spend a day or two here, soaking up the chilled out vibes and Aussie beach culture. Byron is a great spot for surfing, café culture and finding some zen with a few yoga classes.
Byron to Brisbane
Stop 9
Approx drive time: 2 hours
Distance: 160 km
When you’re feeling suitably relaxed complete the final leg of your trip by driving from Byron to Brisbane, get onto the M1. If you aren’t ready to let go of the beach then make a quick detour to other great beaches on the Gold Coast.
For more ideas on free things to do while you’re in Brisbane read our top tips here.
Explore other popular road trips around Melbourne
Check out some of our other popular road trips from Melbourne.
- See Our Melbourne to Canberra Road Trip Itinerary
- See Our Melbourne to Perth Road Trip Itinerary
- See Our Melbourne to Cairns Road Trip Itinerary
- See Our Melbourne to Darwin Road Trip Itinerary
- See Our Melbourne to Sydney Country Side Road Trip Itinerary
- See Our Melbourne to Adelaide Road Trip Itinerary
Looking for more? Check out other Melbourne road trips. Find a huge range of different routes and road trip itineraries across Australia.
Get the cheapest rates on Campervan hire in Melbourne for your next road trip
Road-tripping from Melbourne soon? Lock down cheap campervan hire in Melbourne before demand rises, giving you a smooth and affordable start to your travels.
FAQs about Melbourne to Brisbane road trip
Travelling from Melbourne to Brisbane is a 2100km journey depending on the route you take. This would take you roughly 20 hours to do without stops, making it an extremely long drive. To make it more manageable and enjoyable, we recommend splitting the journey into a 8-day road trip, allowing you to take it easy and enjoy the stops along the way.
Yes, there are a variety of great stops along the way for you to take a break and enjoy. From fishing and kayaking at Falls Creek to enjoying some of the world-class art in Canberra, these are two stops during the first half of your trip. From there, taking a trip via the Southern Highlands will expose you to some of the country towns that you can pull into for a coffee stop. The likes of Port Stephens, Port Macquarie, and Byron Bay offer some amazing beaches that can keep you entertained all the way to Brisbane.
Yes, you can fetch your campervan from our facility in Melbourne and drop it off at our facility in Brisbane.
The route from Melbourne to Brisbane is filled with free campsites for you to explore if that’s the adventure you’re looking for. Here are some of our free camping guides near Melbourne, Shepparton, Albury, Canberra, Sydney, Newcastle, Coffs Harbour, Byron Bay, and Brisbane.
Autumn and Spring are usually the best seasons to travel from Melbourne to Brisbane. During these seasons, the temperature is cooler, with lighter winds and less rain along the east coast. This would make your trip a lot more comfortable and enjoyable.
Yes, booking your campervan in advance is a wise choice. You’ll often find better prices during the less busy travel seasons, and it takes one thing off your to-do list. Knowing your van is taken care of makes planning the rest of your trip much easier and less stressful.
You’ll face some tolls around Melbourne when you begin, and then again as you enter Brisbane, roads like the Gateway or Logan Motorways might be part of your route. But between the two cities, it’s all free. The main highways connecting them don’t have any tolls.
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