Sydney to Melbourne: the Princes coast out, the Hume home
A loop between Australia's two biggest cities: about 1,030 km on the coastal Princes Highway south, then about 880 km back on the faster inland Hume Highway, with Big Things and historic stops.
- Distance
- 1,669 km (1,037 mi)
- Driving
- 18 h 11 min
- Suggested days
- 6
- Stops
- 11
- States
- New South Wales, Victoria
- Updated
- April 24, 2026
At a glance: 6-day road trip of about 1,669 km (1,037 mi) with 11 stops, from Sydney to Big Merino. About 18 h 11 min of driving in total.
More road trips in New South Wales, Victoria · More road trips from Sydney
Route description
Day 1: Sydney to the south coast, about 300 km. Take the Princes Highway through Wollongong to Kiama, where the blowhole is best around high tide with a swell, then continue past Batemans Bay towards Narooma. Coastal traffic is heavy on summer holiday weekends, so leave Sydney early. Expect long stretches of single carriageway with limited overtaking.
Day 2: Narooma to Eden, about 190 km. Take a guided boat trip to Montague Island, a nature reserve with seals, little penguins and a historic lighthouse, if weather allows. The road then passes Bega cheese country and arrives in Eden, a former whaling port, where the Killer Whale Museum is the highlight. Humpback whales pass offshore roughly from September to November.
Day 3: Eden to Melbourne, about 550 km, a long day through East Gippsland forests and the Gippsland Lakes. Fuel and meal stops are frequent, but sections are slow with trucks and tourist traffic. Consider splitting at Lakes Entrance if you prefer shorter days. Reaching Melbourne in the afternoon keeps you out of peak-hour traffic.
Days 4 to 6: Melbourne to Sydney by the Hume Highway, about 880 km. Melbourne to Albury is about 320 km, passing Glenrowan's Big Ned Kelly statue about 100 km out of Albury; Holbrook's submarine is 60 km north, and the Dog on the Tuckerbox stands near Gundagai. Goulburn's Big Merino marks the last stretch to Sydney, about 195 km further. The Hume is a divided motorway for most of its length, so fuel and rest stops are easy.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Sydney
New South Wales - 2114 km
Kiama Blowhole
NatureKiama, New South WalesA natural blowhole in the rocks by Blowhole Point that shoots seawater high into the air when a large swell arrives. A short walk from the main street, it is most impressive in a strong swell.
- 3222 km
Montague Island (Barunguba)
NatureNarooma, New South WalesA small nature reserve off Narooma with a historic lighthouse, fur seals and a little penguin colony. Access is by guided boat tour from Narooma, weather permitting; the island has Aboriginal cultural significance.
- 4114 km
Eden
New South Wales - 50 km
Eden Killer Whale Museum
HistoryEden, New South WalesA museum telling Eden's whaling past, built around the skeleton of Old Tom, an orca said to have helped whalers. Humpback whales pass offshore in migration season, roughly September to November.
- 6533 km
Melbourne
Victoria - 7225 km
Glenrowan and the Big Ned Kelly
OdditiesGlenrowan, VictoriaGlenrowan was the scene of the Kelly Gang's last stand in 1880, and a giant statue of Ned Kelly in his armour greets visitors beside the Hume Highway. A quick roadside stop with a museum and cafes nearby.
- 889 km
Albury
New South Wales - 963 km
Holbrook Submarine Park
OdditiesHolbrook, New South WalesA 90 m former Royal Australian Navy submarine, HMAS Otway, displayed in a park hundreds of kilometres from the sea. The town was renamed Holbrook after a WWI submariner, which explains the ship.
- 10130 km
Dog on the Tuckerbox
OdditiesGundagai, New South WalesA bronze dog sitting on a tuckerbox, unveiled in 1932 and inspired by a bush poem. It stands on the old Hume Highway route about 8 km north of Gundagai and has a small park and cafe.
- 11178 km
Big Merino
OdditiesGoulburn, New South WalesA concrete merino ram about 15 m tall beside the Hume Highway at Goulburn, a classic Big Thing from 1985. Goulburn is in wool country, and the ram is a quick, free leg-stretch on the Sydney–Melbourne run.
Suggested stages and overnight stops
6 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Sydney → Montague Island (Barunguba) · 336 km · 3 h 39 minOn the way: Kiama Blowhole.
- Day 2: Montague Island (Barunguba) → Eden Killer Whale Museum · 114 km · 1 h 15 minOn the way: Eden.
- Day 3: Eden Killer Whale Museum → Melbourne · 533 km · 5 h 49 min
- Day 4: Melbourne → Glenrowan and the Big Ned Kelly · 225 km · 2 h 27 min
- Day 5: Glenrowan and the Big Ned Kelly → Holbrook Submarine Park · 153 km · 1 h 40 minOn the way: Albury.
- Day 6: Holbrook Submarine Park → Big Merino · 308 km · 3 h 21 minOn the way: Dog on the Tuckerbox.
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually November–April. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and October. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
FAQs
How long is Sydney to Melbourne: the Princes coast out, the Hume home?
6-day road trip of about 1,669 km (1,037 mi) with 11 stops, from Sydney to Big Merino. About 18 h 11 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Sydney to Melbourne: the Princes coast out, the Hume home?
We suggest 6 days: about 18 h 11 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Sydney to Melbourne: the Princes coast out, the Hume home start and end?
It starts in Sydney and ends in Big Merino.
Which states does Sydney to Melbourne: the Princes coast out, the Hume home pass through?
New South Wales and Victoria.
When is the best time for Sydney to Melbourne: the Princes coast out, the Hume home?
The most pleasant months are usually November–April. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
