Melbourne to Sydney Coastal Classic

On arrival, you will be met by a private driver outside customs exit and delivered to your Melbourne accommodation.

Melbourne is the coastal capital of the state of Victoria. At the city's centre is the modern Federation Square development, with shopping, bars, and restaurants by the Yarra River. In the Southbank area, the Melbourne Arts Precinct is the site of Arts Centre Melbourne and the National Gallery of Victoria, with Australian and indigenous art. As the cultural capital of Australia, Melbourne has a hidden gem around every corner - Rich history, bustling laneways, rooftop bars, and world-class restaurants are just the beginning!

Melbourne is the cool, artsy capital of the state of Victoria. Renowned for its laneway art, cafes, bars, restaurants and museums, there is no shortage of things to do, see, eat and drink. Grab a coffee in Degraves Street, see the murals on Hosier Lane or Blender Lane, pop over to St Kilda and stroll along the promenade or visit one of the many museums. For a spot of retail therapy, catch the 86 or 96 tram from the CBD to the bohemian Brunswick Street shopping district for an eclectic mix of second hand vintage and high-end boutique stores. On the opposite side of the city, the Docklands open-air entertainment precinct boasts a myriad of public artwork, family fun activities such as glow in the dark mini golf, and a variety of dining options lining the marina. Get there easily on the free City Circle tram, or wander over the Bourke Street footbridge. To make the most of your time in Melbourne, we recommend taking a city tour to get true local insight into this vibrant city.

This 4 hour small group tour of Melbourne city is all about getting you familiar with this fantastic city and what makes it tick. Melbourne is diverse in its people, culture, architecture, and pursuits. Let passionate locals show you why they love this city so much.

The Melbourne hidden bar culture is a unique part of Australia’s cultural capital. The difficult thing is just that – they’re hidden! This city makes you work to find its best bits, which is why you’ll find some of the best bars behind other venues, underneath laneways, or tucked into repurposed spaces.
Join an experienced guide and uncover four of these fascinating venues in one afternoon, and learn what makes each one special over a drink, or four. Speak with talented bartenders during this small-group experience, making sure to chat with them about what kinds of drinks you like to personalise your Melbourne Hidden Bars Tour even more.

Experience the delights of Victoria’s wine country on this Yarra Valley wine tour from Melbourne. With an informative wine guide who has extensive wine industry experience, you’ll visit four popular wineries: Balgownie Estate, Steels Gate Winery, Greenstone Vineyards, and Yering Farm. Enjoy plenty of tastings as well as a winery lunch while you learn about winemaking in Australia and admire the picturesque landscapes.

Choose a car to best suit your needs from our fantastic rental car range or ask our team for a suggestion. From compact economy to prestige SUVs. Speak to the team to learn more!

Departing Melbourne on the M1, travel through the south-eastern suburbs past Dandenong. When you reach Narre Warren, you may wish to take a detour south and visit the stunning Australian Garden celebrating the beauty of Australian landscapes, located within the Royal Botanic Gardens in Cranbourne. This is also a lovely place to have a coffee at the onsite cafe, and take a walk along one of the beautiful bush track loops. Continuing south-east, you will pass Western Port Bay which houses French Island, home to boutique wineries, national park walking tracks, and an abundance of wildlife such as echidnas and koalas. Pass through towns of Leongatha and Meeniyan before reaching your destination of Foster - gateway to Wilson's Promontory National Park.

Today's drive is a short 35 minutes to the entrance of Wilson's Promontory National Park. Be sure to fuel up in town before heading south on Foster-Promontory Road. At the entry, you may wish to park the car and step out to explore the wild sand dunes of the Big Drift. Back in the car, it is another 30 minutes to the main hub of the national park, Tidal River. Here you can stop in at the visitor centre to plan your day.

Discover the beautiful granite coastline and unique wilderness of the Wilsons Promontory National Park on the 2½ hour Wilsons Promontory Cruise. Travel in a custom-built amphibious boat, designed for cruising waters in comfort and safety. Witness iconic South Point, the southernmost tip of mainland Australia and cruise into the waters of the Bass Strait and Victoria's first marine national park.
Discover a rugged and raw coast like no other as we explore The Glennies, Anderson Islets, and Anser Island. Marvel at the prehistoric boulders of Mount Oberon situated behind the white quartz sands of Norman Beach before uncovering the iconic granite monolith that is Skull Rock. Sculpted by waves and surrounded by crystal blue waters, Skull Rock's eerie facade becomes even more mysterious as more and more skull shapes reveal themselves the closer you get.

Wilsons Promontory National Park, affectionately called Wilson's Prom, is the southernmost tip of the Australian mainland. The area encompasses stunning landscapes, ranging from pristine sandy beaches adjacent towering granite cliffs to low lying bush stretching along rivers. The park offers something for everyone, including easy short walks, moderate summit treks and even overnight hikes. For those who just want to soak up the peaceful surrounds there are numerous secluded beaches to laze upon and snorkel their calm waters, such as at Picnic Bay. Alternatively you can also jump on a guided cruise to experience the beautiful coastline and islands from a different vantage point. The park is home to many species of Australian wildlife, so don't be surprised to cross paths with a wombat on a bush walk or kangaroos lazing about in the grass. Tidal River is the main visitor hub for the Prom, located half an hours drive into the park. Here you will find the visitor centre, a great place to plan your day with a chat to the rangers, and stock up on snacks and essentials at the general store.

Head north out of the national park and, if you have time, stop to check out the Little Drift track to the sand dunes. Drive along Meeniyan-Promontory Road, and turn right onto Foster-Promontory Road until you arrive at your destination of Foster.

Head east out of Foster today on the South Gippsland Highway. After passing Toora, keep an eye out for the Dog Tree on the left - an old tree stump carved into a beautiful depiction of some playful dogs. Further along, you may wish to stop and check out the heritage architecture and beautiful street art in the town of Yarram. From here you will travel through the lush farming landscapes of the Gippsland Lakes. Sale is a lovely country town to stop for a rest and some lunch before continuing on through Bairnsdale and crossing the Tambo River. Here, you can take a detour to visit the town of Metung, a charming picture-book village known for its excellent fishing spots and of course, restaurants boasting fresh seafood. This side trip is an extra 10 minutes driving each way. Once back on the Princes Highway, it is another 20 minutes to the popular holiday town of Lakes Entrance - where the Gippsland Lakes enter the Southern Ocean, and home to Australia's largest network of inland waterways.

Lakes Entrance is a popular holiday spot on the coast of the Gippsland region. It is situated on the pristine Ninety Mile Beach which is popular for surfing, and has a large network of inland waterways for kayaking and other calm water activities. There are also beautiful campgrounds in the area showcasing the wild beauty and native fauna of the Gippsland coast. Lakes Entrance is renowned as a quality seafood hotspot that you can enjoy at a number of restaurants throughout town, or try your hand at catching your own on a fishing charter. If relaxation is high on your agenda, this quaint seaside village also offers cycling trails, guided nature walks, helicopter rides, wineries, a day spa and even mystery tours.

If you haven't ventured across the footbridge to the popular Ninety Mile Beach to watch for surfers yet, this morning is a great opportunity to do so with a hot coffee in hand. It is a good idea to depart Lakes Entrance early to ensure plenty of time to stop and see the many sights along the way today. When you reach Nowa Nowa on the Princes Highway, you may choose to take a detour to visit the Buchan Caves which is a highly significant area to the Gunaikurnai Traditional owners of Krauatungalung Country. This will be an extra 25 minutes driving time each way, but also allow time to enjoy the guided cave tour.
Continue along the Princes Highway and take a right onto Marlo Road just after crossing the Snowy River, which you will follow down through Marlo, where you may wish to stop for lunch, and on to Cape Conran. The Cape Conran Coastal Park is teeming with heathlands, wild beaches and banksia woodlands that are perfect for an abundance of water activities, including swimming, diving, boating and rock pooling. Experience the park by foot on the self-guided Nature Trail or Dock Inlet and Pearl Point day walks.
Head north out of Cape Conran on Cabbage Tree-Conran Road until you return to the Princes Highway and continue on through Cann River and Genoa before crossing the border into New South Wales. Wind your way along the beautifully scenic roads of the Sapphire Coast region, through Eden, home of the Killer Whale Museum and a popular place for spotting the thousands of whales travelling along the Humpback Highway between September and November. Heading north, continue on to Pambula where you will find award-winning oysters, and cross the bridge over Boggy Creek to your destination of Merimbula.

This highly significant area on Krauatungalung Country has remarkable cultural heritage and is Victoria's largest cave system. The spectacular limestone formations were carved by an underground river nearly 400 million years ago. Today, they can only be seen on a guided tour. Following this ancient watercourse, you can descend into the Fairy Cave and Royal Cave to witness the breathtaking caverns and calcite-rimmed pools. Bookings are essential and must be made at least 24 hours in advance. After seeing the caves, take some time to explore the reserve, which is home to a number of walking trails through the gorgeous, temperate rainforest. Keep an eye out for the King Parrots and Currawongs which call the area home, and listen for the Bellbirds and Lyrebirds near the entrance to the Fairy Cave!
Note: Visitors must arrive 30-45 minutes prior to their tour commencing to check in and collect tickets.

Kayaking and oysters, enjoy the two best experiences on Yuin Country in this four hour guided tour on the Pambula river. Kayak through Beowa National Park from Pambula and float past wildlife and natural features before a stop at Broadwater Oysters. Here you will learn how to shuck the Sydney Rock Oyster followed by an oyster tasting. This tour provides a great opportunity to learn about the ecology, history and culture of the region with a professional kayaking guide.

Depart Merimbula to the north on Sapphire Coast Drive for a stunning journey through the Bournda National Park. At the road end, take a right into the town of Tathra. Here you can also visit the heritage-listed Tathra Wharf, which is prime whale-spotting location in the spring months. This is also a good opportunity to have a look around the Tathra Wharf Museum, and grab a delicious coffee from the cafe next door. Back on Tathra-Bermagui Road, continue north over the Bega River as you enter into the stunning Mimosa Rocks National Park full old growth trees, rocky coves and crystal clear lagoons.
Pass the stunning Cuttagee surf beach before arriving in the small village of Bermagui. Well worth a stop is the Blue Pool, where you can swim in a man-made pool next to the ocean that fills with fresh sea water. The waters are crystal clear and are perfect for snorkelling to look for marine life that has made itself at home. Grab a fish and chip lunch on the Bermagui Wharf before returning to the road, and continuing on past the Bermagui River. As you reach the Wallaga Lake township, you may wish to stop at the Camel Rock Beach Carpark and take the walk down to the shore to see the striking, photographer's dream rock formation 'Horse Head Rock' which, as you may have guessed, looks like a towering horse head over the ocean. Continue over the Wallaga Lake causeway and keep an eye out for the black swans dancing on the water. Turn onto the Princes Highway at the road end until you reach the turnoff to Central Tilba, where you may wish to take a detour to visit a gourmet cheese factory, and walk up to the start of the Bellbrook Loop Track for an awe-inspiring view of Gualaga, the Mother Mountain (Mt Dromedary), an important ceremonial site for the women of the Yuin people.
20 minutes on from Tilba, you will come to the town of Narooma on the Wagonga Inlet. Here you can jump on a wildlife watching cruise that takes you over to Montague Island conservation area 11 kilometres offshore, or simply take a stroll along the Mill Bay Boardwalk to look out over Bar Beach.
Finally, continue north through Bodalla State Forest, crossing the Moruya River, through the small artsy settlement of Mogo, and on to the beach resort town of Bateman's Bay.

Mogo boasts Australia’s largest private collection of exotic animals and primates. Located just 10 minutes south of stunning Batemans Bay. You will get a close-up look at animals including tigers, lions, and meerkats. Also, for an additional cost there is the opportunity to feed Giraffe, which is interactive and fun.  Free, informative keeper talks are held throughout the day.

Your drive to Canberra today is a short 2 hour journey, so you may like to have a slow start to the day with a coffee and walk along the waterfront of the Clyde River. If you are in town on the first or third Sunday of the month, here you'll find the Bateman's Bay Sunday Market. The first part of your drive takes you up into the Southern Tablelands through several national parks and state forests, bursting with lush flora and trickling creeks. The town of Braidwood marks a great half way point for a rest stop and some cafe treats. Braidwood is a National Trust-classified town with charming colonial buildings, rustic streetscapes and perhaps most notably, incredible antique stores. If you prefer to get some fresh air amongst nature, Deua National Park has picnic tables and bushwalks through beautiful forest, limestone caves and waterfalls. Cross the Great Dividing Range and between Bungendore and Queanbeyan, you will find yourself amongst an abundance of cool climate wineries boasting fantastic restaurants and cellar doors. Cross the border into the Australian Capital Territory and keep an eye out for Parliament House before crossing the bridge over Lake Burley Griffin into the CBD.

With museums and galleries for all tastes, it's easy to spend the day exploring Australian culture and history in Canberra. A fantastic place to start is the National Museum of Australia, which has interactive exhibits covering the history of Australia from its Indigenous peoples through to the present day.
Also highly recommended are the National Gallery, Old Parliament House, New Parliament House and the Australian War Memorial. If you'd like to head outdoors, you can take a stroll through the Botanic Gardens, or up to Red Hill or Mount Ainslie lookout for a birdseye view over the city.

Spend the day exploring the world's most comprehensive display of living Australian native plants at the Australian National Botanic Gardens. With over 4,500 species, these gardens are the perfect location to breath in the fresh air, listen to birds and disconnect from the rush of city life. The Australian National Botanic Gardens cultivates threatened plants to create a tranquil environment which is both enjoyable and educational to wander through.

Heading north out of Canberra, the capital city of Australia, on the M23 and passing Lake George on your right, join onto the M31 towards Campbelltown. When the M31 ends, join onto the M5 which later becomes the M1 by Sydney Airport. This road will then lead you into Sydney city centre. This drive should take you just over three hours if traffic is running smoothly.

Cruise like a local, aboard a 52-foot motor yacht for an amazing 4-hour experience touring around the Sydney hotspots. Spend the afternoon listening to your captain sharing the history of the harbor- as your tour passes the famous sights such as the harbor bridge, opera house, bay of Coves, and many other amazing sights! Sit back and relax as you enjoy a yummy 3 course BBQ meal paired with beautiful local beers and wines! After lunch immerse yourself in the onboard activities that the private vessel has to offer Swim, fish, or kayak- or spend your time relaxing out on the sunbed and taking in the sights and surroundings!

Often mistaken as Australia's capital city, Sydney is a vibrant coastal city with plenty to see and do. Starting in Circular Quay you will catch your first views of the two big icons, Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. From here you can catch one of the quintessential harbour ferries over to Manly Beach or Taronga Zoo, catching a glimpse of Kirribilli House, the Prime Minister's official Sydney residence, on the way over. Kirribilli is also home to one of Sydney's oldest markets at the Kirribilli Neighbourhood Centre twice a month. It is known for its stalls of vintage clothing, arts, delicious street food and its lively community atmosphere - so if you are in town on a market day, you can't miss it. For a relaxing end to your day of exploration, your dinner options are aplenty. From high-end restaurants around Circular Quay that offer amazing views, to the Chinatown food courts and a broad range of eateries at Barangaroo, you will be spoiled for choice.

Experience the excitement of Australia’s famous Harbour City aboard the Big Bus Sydney and Bondi Beach open-top double-decker buses. This tour is the perfect introduction to Sydney, showcasing iconic landmarks such as the impressive Sydney Harbour Bridge, the magnificent Sydney Opera House, and the sparkling waters of Sydney and Darling Harbour. Along the way, you’ll pass vibrant shops, restaurants, and attractions nestled among Colonial, Victorian, and modern architecture.

Be touched by the most ancient human culture on earth in a 90-minute leisurely walkabout with an Aboriginal guide in The Rocks, and journey into DreamTime, the culture of Aboriginal People. Get inspired as you discover the oldest ecology, conservation, sustainability, astrology and spiritual beliefs on earth today. Connect with Australian skies, lands and waters, and the experiences of 'always walking Country'. Feel empowered by learning how to teach others to navigate Dreamtime pathways, whenever, in the city or out in the bush.

Want to discover a side to Taronga Zoo Sydney you’ve never seen before? This guided sunset walk through Taronga Zoo is your chance to experience twilight at one of the world's finest zoological gardens. Follow your guide through the zoo's endemic Australian animal displays. The Australian Walkabout Tour includes a visit to the kangaroos, koalas, wombats, echidnas and Australian birds.

The Blue Mountains National Park is one of seven national parks that make up the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. This wonderland of sandstone outcrops, deep ravines and hazy blue eucalypt forests boasts luxury retreats and stunning views. This guided day tour will take you off the beaten track to visit remote lookout locations and discuss the history, flora, and fauna of this magnificent region.

Hunter Valley Wine Tasting is a chance to relax, get away from the city, and enjoy some fabulous food and wine in Australia’s oldest wine-growing region. Just two hours north of Sydney, the Hunter Valley combines world-renowned wines, local produce & stunning countryside, all the makings for a great, relaxing day. With over 90 Cellar Doors in the Hunter Valley, this tour focuses on the boutique wineries, where the passion of the wine-makers is obvious. With this small group, your flexible itinerary gives you access to a range of excellent wineries, learning about the wine origins, and sometimes even meeting the winemakers. Enjoy a delicious cafe lunch in a relaxed atmosphere with hot and cold options and accompanied by a glass of wine. Learn about local cheese making in an exclusive cheese tasting experience. A fabulous day out of Sydney enjoying the delights of Australian produce and beautiful countryside.

Explore more of Sydney before dropping your rental car at the airport depot and continuing your onward journey.