# Bays, bush and penguins – by camper along the Princes Highway from Sydney to Melbourne

> From Sydney through the Royal National Park, via Kiama, Jervis Bay and the Sapphire Coast to Mallacoota, then through Gippsland to Wilsons Promontory and…

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/rf-305-sydney-melbourne-coast/

**At a glance:** 8-day road trip of about 1,174 km (730 mi) with 13 stops, from Sydney to Melbourne. About 12 h 48 min of driving in total. Best time to go: November–April. From Sydney through the Royal National Park, via Kiama, Jervis Bay and the Sapphire Coast to Mallacoota, then through Gippsland to Wilsons Promontory and via Phillip Island to Melbourne: around 1,540 kilometres of coast, eucalypt forest and sea inlets.

| | |
|---|---|
| Distance | approx. 1,174 km (730 mi) |
| Driving | 12 h 48 min |
| Suggested days | 8 |
| Stops | 13 |
| Route | Sydney → Melbourne |
| States | New South Wales, Victoria |
| Best time to go | November–April |
| Updated | September 1, 2026 |

[Download GPX file](https://camping-spirit.com/gpx/rf-305-sydney-melbourne-coast.gpx)

Practical guides for this route: [Driving the Outback safely: distances, water, road trains and emergency communication](https://camping-spirit.com/magazine/oc-outback-driving-safety/), [Hiring a campervan or motorhome in Australia: what to check](https://camping-spirit.com/magazine/oc-campervan-hire-australia/)

*From Sydney through the Royal National Park, via Kiama, Jervis Bay and the Sapphire Coast to Mallacoota, then through Gippsland to Wilsons Promontory and via Phillip Island to Melbourne: around 1,540 kilometres of coast, eucalypt forest and sea inlets.*

## The spirit of the route

Between Sydney and Melbourne lies the coast that Australians themselves choose for their holidays. The Princes Highway sweeps through dairy country and tall eucalypt forests, and every half hour a side road branches off to a bay whose water glows turquoise over white sand. In the morning kangaroos hop across the campsite; in the evening you hear kookaburras laughing and the surf in the distance. From the sliding door you look out over oyster leases in the estuary, lighthouses above granite cliffs and, in spring, the blows of migrating humpback whales. On many trunks you can still see the black bark left by the 2019/20 fires, with fresh green sprouting from buds directly on the trunk below. This route is no high-speed transfer: it calls for short days, arriving early before dusk and a willingness to throw out the schedule for penguins, fur seals and an empty beach.

## Stage-by-stage plan

### Stage 1: Sydney to Kiama (approx. 140 km)

- **The drive:** From Sydney's south on the Princes Highway (A36) to Loftus, then along Farnell Avenue to Audley and on Sir Bertram Stevens Drive right through the Royal National Park: winding, two lanes, dense forest in places, lots of cyclists at weekends. At Otford continue on the Grand Pacific Drive via Stanwell Park, the Sea Cliff Bridge and the coastal towns to Wollongong, then on the M1 motorway and the Princes Highway to Kiama. Pure driving time around 2.5 hours without city traffic; be sure to avoid Sydney's rush hour.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Royal National Park: the second-oldest national park in the world (1879). Around Audley there is boat hire and picnic lawns on the Hacking River; Wattamolla, with its lagoon and waterfall, fills up early on summer weekends and the access road is narrow – with large vehicles, come on a weekday and early.
  - Bald Hill Lookout near Stanwell Tops: views over the Illawarra escarpment coast, often with hang-gliders and paragliders overhead.
  - Sea Cliff Bridge between Clifton and Coalcliff: the curving bridge above the surf; stop at the car parks at either end and walk across on the footpath. In Kiama in the evening, the Blowhole by the lighthouse.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Kendalls on the Beach Holiday Park on the southern edge of Kiama, run by the council: right on the beach, powered sites, amenities block, kitchen, within walking distance of the centre and the Blowhole. Further council-owned parks in Kiama, at Werri Beach and at Seven Mile Beach near Gerroa. Book early for the school holidays (December/January, Easter).
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** In Greater Sydney and on the Illawarra coast, free camping is practically ruled out: in the Royal National Park camping is only allowed at the booked campgrounds, and the car parks are closed in the evening. Wollongong and Kiama prohibit sleeping in vehicles in beach and town car parks and carry out checks.
- **Insider tip for campers:** Toll roads: the Royal National Park can be reached from Sydney's south without a toll road. If you are coming from the city centre or the north, you will almost inevitably use the Harbour Bridge, a tunnel or WestConnex – all Sydney toll roads are cashless. Rental vehicles usually have an e-tag or are recorded by camera, and the toll plus a handling fee is charged later; clarify the terms at pick-up. A vehicle day fee is payable for the Royal National Park (machine or online with NSW National Parks); if you are visiting several NSW parks, work out whether the annual pass pays off.

### Stage 2: Kiama to Jervis Bay (Booderee) (approx. 90 km)

- **The drive:** On the well-built Princes Highway (A1) with bypasses of Gerringong and Berry through green pastures with dairy cows, across the Shoalhaven River at Nowra and then on minor roads to Huskisson and into Booderee National Park. Pure driving time just over an hour – plenty of time for the beach and a walk.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Booderee National Park: jointly managed by Parks Australia and the Aboriginal community of Wreck Bay. Murrays Beach with crystal-clear water, the ruins of the Cape St George Lighthouse and the Booderee Botanic Gardens with plants of the south coast.
  - Huskisson: a small harbour with dolphin and (from about May to November) whale-watching trips on Jervis Bay.
  - Hyams Beach with very white sand – the village is small and parking is scarce in summer; leave motorhomes outside and reach the beach on the White Sands Walk from Vincentia. Shoalhaven City Council is considering paid parking for visitors; check the signs on site.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Green Patch in Booderee National Park: a campground in a sheltered bay in the forest, sites for tents, campervans and smaller caravans, all unpowered, toilets, hot showers, water; book online through Parks Australia, sites are allocated in order of booking. The park fee is included in the camping price; print your booking confirmation and place it behind the windscreen. Pets are not allowed in the park. With power: Shoalhaven City Council's Holiday Haven parks in Huskisson.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** Around Jervis Bay and throughout the Shoalhaven City Council area, sleeping in vehicles on public roads and in beach and town car parks is prohibited; rangers issue fines, especially in peak season. In Booderee National Park, only at the booked campgrounds.
- **Insider tip for campers:** Nowra has large supermarkets and cheap petrol stations – stock up here for the next few days, as there are no shops in the national park. At Green Patch, possums and cockatoos are bold: never leave food out, put the cool box in the vehicle, and don't feed the animals.

### Stage 3: Jervis Bay to Narooma (approx. 220 km)

- **The drive:** Back to the Princes Highway and via Sussex Inlet, Lake Conjola and Milton to Ulladulla, then on through eucalypt forest past Burrill Lake and Lake Tabourie to Batemans Bay with its new bridge over the Clyde River. From Batemans Bay the coastal road George Bass Drive via Broulee to Moruya is worthwhile, then back on the highway to Narooma. Many sections are two-lane with overtaking lanes; pure driving time around 3.5 hours. This coast was hit hard by the Currowan fire in the summer of 2019/20 – Lake Conjola, Mogo and parts of Malua Bay burned.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Ulladulla: a fishing harbour with views of the flat-topped Pigeon House Mountain (Didthul); the track to the summit in Morton National Park is a demanding half-day walk with ladders at the end.
  - Murramarang National Park: Pebbly Beach, where eastern grey kangaroos graze on the beach. The access via Mount Agony Road is sealed, only the final stretch along Pebbly Beach Road is gravel; according to NSW National Parks, the campground has only a few sites for small caravans (under about 4.5 m), so larger vehicles are better off at Depot Beach; check first with the office at Depot Beach. A vehicle day fee applies in the park.
  - Mogo: a small town with galleries and a zoo, rebuilt after the 2019/20 fires. In Moruya, the bridge over the Moruya River and oysters from the region.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Mystery Bay Campground south of Narooma: a simple campground between coastal forest and rocky coves, unpowered, with basic facilities (part of the Kui Parks network since late 2025, bookable online), popular with anglers and snorkellers. In Narooma itself, several holiday parks with power and dump points on Wagonga Inlet and at Surf Beach.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** Eurobodalla Shire (Batemans Bay to Narooma) only allows camping at approved sites; staying overnight at beaches, lookouts and in towns is prohibited. At some highway rest areas a rest break to recover is tolerated unless signed otherwise – no camping behaviour, move on after the night.
- **Insider tip for campers:** The section between Ulladulla and Batemans Bay is one of the highway's worst accident spots – stay patient at the overtaking lanes and let slower vehicles past. In Batemans Bay, compare the cheapest fuel prices on the route (the NSW Government's FuelCheck app).

### Stage 4: Narooma to Eden (approx. 145 km)

- **The drive:** Shortly after Narooma take the Tilba loop through Central Tilba below Gulaga mountain, then on minor roads via Bermagui and the Tathra-Bermagui Road through Mimosa Rocks National Park to Tathra and via Merimbula and Pambula to Eden. Quiet roads, a few tight bends and timber bridges, hardly any lorries. Pure driving time around 2.5 hours. If you want to save time, stay on the highway via Cobargo and Bega – Cobargo was hit hard in the 2019/20 fire and has since been rebuilt.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Montague Island (Barunguba): boat trip from Narooma to the island with its lighthouse, Australian fur seals and little penguins; guided island tours only with NPWS rangers. In spring, humpback whales along the way – best done in the morning before the day's drive.
  - Central Tilba: a heritage-listed village of timber houses with a cheese factory and views of Gulaga, the sacred mountain of the Yuin.
  - Bermagui Blue Pool: an ocean pool in the rocks; in town, the fishing fleet, and at Tathra the old timber jetty (Tathra Wharf) above the sea.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Eden Beachfront Holiday Park at Aslings Beach north of the centre: powered sites, amenities, views over the lagoon; other holiday parks in Eden and on Twofold Bay as well. Quieter: the Bittangabee and Saltwater Creek campgrounds in Beowa National Park south of Eden, unpowered, book through NSW National Parks, access via unsealed roads.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** Bega Valley Shire only allows sleeping in vehicles at designated areas; it is prohibited on the coast and in towns. In Beowa and Mimosa Rocks National Parks, only at the booked campgrounds.
- **Insider tip for campers:** In Eden, visit the Killer Whale Museum: it tells the story of the orcas that hunted here alongside the whalers until the 1920s. From late October to early November Eden celebrates the Whale Festival – the town is full then, so book ahead. The vehicle entry fee for Beowa National Park is paid on site or online.

### Stage 5: Eden to Mallacoota (approx. 95 km)

- **The drive:** South on the Princes Highway through long stretches of forest without towns, crossing the border into Victoria at Timbillica and turning onto Mallacoota Road at Genoa, around 23 kilometres to Mallacoota Inlet. Little traffic, lots of forest, wildlife crossing; driving time under 1.5 hours. If you plan the detour to Green Cape Lighthouse in Beowa National Park, allow an extra two to three hours in the morning (partly gravel).
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Green Cape Lighthouse in Beowa National Park: a lighthouse above the cliffs, a whale-watching spot in spring; plus Boyds Tower at the southern end of Twofold Bay.
  - Mallacoota Inlet: boat hire and kayaks on the branching arms of the lakes, pelicans, sea eagles and evening light over the water.
  - Bastion Point and Betka Beach: a coastal walk with views of Gabo Island, the lighthouse island off the border.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** East Gippsland Shire's Mallacoota Foreshore Holiday Park right on the shore of the inlet: a large, spread-out park with powered and unpowered sites, amenities blocks and a dump point. On New Year's Eve 2019/20 thousands of people took refuge here before the Navy evacuated them. Book for holidays and long weekends.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** In Victoria, councils, Parks Victoria and the forestry authority regulate camping separately. In Croajingolong National Park, only at the booked campgrounds (such as Thurra River, Mueller Inlet, Wingan Inlet), which are reached on unsealed tracks. East Gippsland Shire prohibits overnight stays on foreshore and town land.
- **Insider tip for campers:** Mallacoota is at the end of a dead-end road – fill up in Eden, as the choice in Mallacoota is limited. If you want to camp in Croajingolong National Park: the access roads are gravel and muddy after rain; check your rental conditions, as many campervans are only allowed on short unsealed access roads to campgrounds.

### Stage 6: Mallacoota to Lakes Entrance (approx. 230 km)

- **The drive:** Back to Genoa and through sparsely populated East Gippsland via Cann River to Orbost: long forest sections, many bends over mountain saddles, logging trucks. Before Orbost, the loop via Cabbage Tree-Conran Road to Cape Conran and to Marlo at the mouth of the Snowy River is worthwhile, then back via Orbost onto the highway to Lakes Entrance. Around 3 hours pure driving time. The forests east of Orbost burned extensively in 2019/20; Cape Conran has reopened.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Cape Conran Coastal Park: granite rocks, coastal heath and beach, with the Yeerung River and a loop walk along the coast.
  - Marlo: a small town at the mouth of the Snowy River, pelicans on the sandbanks.
  - Lakes Entrance: the footbridge across the lake water to Ninety Mile Beach, fishing boats in the harbour and fresh prawns from the wharf.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Lakes Entrance has numerous holiday parks along the Esplanade and on the eastern edge of town, almost all with power, amenities and a dump point; outside the summer holidays you can usually find a spot without booking. On the way: the Cape Conran campgrounds (such as Banksia Bluff) run by Parks Victoria, quiet between coastal forest and beach.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** In Victoria's state forests, camping is generally allowed free of charge and without booking unless signed otherwise – there are such sites around Orbost, often reached on gravel. Parks Victoria's period of free campgrounds ended in mid-2025; in national parks and coastal parks you book and pay again, at half price for two years since July 2025. In Lakes Entrance itself, overnight stays on public land are prohibited.
- **Insider tip for campers:** There are hardly any petrol stations between Genoa, Cann River and Orbost – refuel in Mallacoota or Cann River before the gauge drops to a quarter. Cann River has a petrol station with a takeaway that is used by truck drivers. Kangaroos and wombats are common on this section at dusk – arrive before sunset.

### Stage 7: Lakes Entrance to Wilsons Promontory (Tidal River) (approx. 310 km)

- **The drive:** On the Princes Highway via Bairnsdale to Sale, then on the South Gippsland Highway (A440) via Yarram to Foster and through Yanakie into Wilsons Promontory National Park as far as Tidal River. Wide pastures, rows of eucalypts and, from Foster, the granite mountains of the Prom on the horizon. Around 4 hours pure driving time; the road in the national park is winding, speed-limited, with wildlife crossing. From 31 August to 20 November 2026, roadworks with traffic control have been announced at the park entrance.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Squeaky Beach: quartz sand that squeaks underfoot, between orange granite boulders – a short walk from Tidal River.
  - Mount Oberon Summit Walk from Telegraph Saddle: around 3.4 kilometres each way on a wide track, with views over the whole peninsula at the top; in peak season a shuttle runs because the car park is small.
  - Wildlife Walk at the northern end of the park: emus, kangaroos and wombats at dusk. Big Drift and the Stockyard car park are currently closed because of works on the Prom Sanctuary fence.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Tidal River Campground run by Parks Victoria: the large campground between river and beach with amenities, showers, communal kitchens and the General Store, which is currently being rebuilt: until the new shop opens (planned for the start of summer in December 2026) there is a temporary shop with takeaway food, drinks and the essentials. Book online; at Easter, on Labour Day and in the summer holidays it fills quickly. The number of vehicles per site is limited – check the conditions when booking.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** In the national park, camping is strictly prohibited outside Tidal River and the hike-in campgrounds. Stockyard Campground in the north is closed until further notice. During deer control operations, including from the air, Parks Victoria temporarily closes areas such as Stockyard and Big Drift, sometimes in the evening and at night; check current closures on the Parks Victoria website before you arrive.
- **Insider tip for campers:** Tidal River has neither fuel nor charging stations – fill up in Foster, Fish Creek or Yanakie. Possum and wombat activity on the campground is lively at night: lock away rubbish, and ravens steal unattended food during the day.

### Stage 8: Wilsons Promontory to Melbourne (via Phillip Island) (approx. 310 km)

- **The drive:** Best over two days: from Tidal River via Fish Creek and Inverloch, on the coast road via Cape Paterson to Wonthaggi and on to San Remo, across the bridge onto Phillip Island as far as Cowes (around 170 kilometres, 2.5 hours). The next morning, via the Bass Highway and the Monash Freeway (M1), around 140 kilometres to Melbourne. Within the city the Monash Freeway becomes the tolled CityLink – if you want to stay toll-free, leave the freeway before that.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Penguin Parade at Phillip Island Nature Parks: at sunset little penguins come ashore and waddle to their burrows; timed entry, book ahead in holiday periods. Photography is prohibited at the parade.
  - The Nobbies and Seal Rocks at the western end of the island: boardwalks above the cliffs; offshore lives a large fur seal colony.
  - Eagles Nest near Inverloch: a rock stack and rock platforms on the Bunurong coast, to explore at low tide.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** On Phillip Island, several holiday parks in Cowes, such as Anchor Belle Holiday Park, with power, amenities and a dump point – located away from the main road and a short drive to the Penguin Parade in the west. In Melbourne itself campgrounds are scarce and on the outskirts; before returning the vehicle, you are better off staying overnight on Phillip Island or in the Mornington Peninsula region.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** Bass Coast Shire (Phillip Island, Inverloch, Wonthaggi) prohibits sleeping in vehicles on public land; the island roads are patrolled. The Penguin Parade car park closes after the event.
- **Insider tip for campers:** After the Penguin Parade, drive slowly in the dark on the way back to Cowes and look under the vehicle before driving off: penguins cross the roads, and the car parks have their own signs about this. In Melbourne's city centre, “hook turns” apply – turning right from the left lane because of the trams – and on CityLink the toll is collected cashless, as in Sydney (pass or later payment via Linkt within a few days).

## Camping practice & local rules

### Wild camping & overnight parking

- Australia has no uniform freedom camping law: responsibility lies, state by state, with the national park services (NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Parks Victoria, and Parks Australia in Booderee National Park), the forestry authorities and, for council land, the councils. Along this coast – Shoalhaven, Eurobodalla, Bega Valley, East Gippsland, Bass Coast – overnight stays in beach, lookout and town car parks are prohibited practically everywhere; rangers issue fines.
- New South Wales: in national parks only at booked campgrounds, and many parks also charge vehicle day fees (Royal, Murramarang, Beowa); an annual pass for all NSW parks pays off if you visit several. Highway rest areas are intended for fatigue breaks; where not prohibited, a short night's rest is tolerated, camping behaviour is not.
- Victoria: the free Parks Victoria campgrounds of 2023–2025 no longer exist; sites in national parks are booked and paid for online (at half price until mid-2027). In state forests, camping is generally allowed without booking unless signed otherwise. Rest areas only where overnight stays are expressly permitted.
- Bushfires: from about October/November to March/April, Fire Danger Periods apply. On Total Fire Ban days open fires are prohibited, and gas stoves are allowed only under conditions. The Hazards Near Me (NSW) and VicEmergency apps show warnings and closures; at “Catastrophic”, leave the region or stay in a town, and do not camp in the forest.
- Apps: WikiCamps and CamperMate are standard, with campgrounds, rest areas, dump points, water points and user reports on enforcement. Book national parks directly via the NSW National Parks, Parks Victoria and Parks Australia websites.

### Waste disposal & supplies

- Dump points (disposal stations for cassettes and grey water) are found at almost all holiday parks; public stations exist only in a few towns, such as Bairnsdale – check current locations in WikiCamps or in the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia's directory. Never empty cassettes into public toilets or drains.
- Tap water in towns is safe; at national park campgrounds there is sometimes only rainwater or untreated water – boil it if in doubt. Carry at least 20 litres in reserve.
- Gas: Australian cylinders have a POL fitting; empty cylinders are swapped in exchange schemes at petrol stations and hardware stores or refilled at gas refill stations, provided the test date is valid. European cylinders are not refilled – rental campervans come with their own cylinder.
- Fuel: as far as Batemans Bay the network is dense. Between Eden and Orbost (via Genoa and Cann River) the distances are long, and there is no fuel on Wilsons Promontory (nearest pumps in Yanakie, Fish Creek, Foster). Compare prices in NSW with the FuelCheck app; in Victoria, apps such as Petrol Spy show prices.
- Shopping: large supermarkets in Nowra, Ulladulla, Batemans Bay, Bega, Merimbula, Bairnsdale, Sale and Wonthaggi – in between only small shops with high prices.

### Vehicle size & traffic rules

- Driving on the left: overtake on the right, and at intersections take particular care with oncoming traffic when turning right. Roundabouts run clockwise, with priority for vehicles already on the roundabout. In Melbourne's city centre, hook turns at marked intersections.
- Speed: 50 km/h in towns, generally 100 km/h outside towns, up to 110 km/h on motorways where signed. In school zones on school days, 40 km/h at the times shown. In NSW and Victoria, 40 km/h applies when passing stationary emergency vehicles with flashing lights. Many speed, average-speed and mobile phone cameras; do not hold your phone in your hand while driving.
- Tolls: all toll roads in Sydney and Melbourne are cashless (e-tag, pass or later payment). Without a tag in NSW, pay within 72 hours, otherwise a notice goes to the registered owner; since July 2026 it is no longer possible in NSW to nominate another driver – the costs land with the rental company and are passed on with a surcharge. The Princes Highway itself is toll-free.
- Animals: kangaroos, wallabies and wombats are the greatest danger at dusk and at night; do not swerve for animals if that means veering into oncoming traffic. Some rental conditions advise against driving at night outside towns or restrict insurance cover for animal collisions – read the conditions beforehand.
- Rental campervans: driving on unsealed roads is usually excluded or only permitted on short access roads to campgrounds; underbody, roof and glass damage is often not insured. Know your vehicle's height – car parks and underpasses in the cities are low.
- Driving licence and alcohol: with a German driving licence, an International Driving Permit or a translation is required in NSW and Victoria. Blood alcohol limit 0.5 per mille, 0.0 for novice drivers; breath tests are frequent.

## CampingSpirit packing & preparation checklist

- Insect repellent with DEET or picaridin and long clothing for dusk: sandflies at inlets and lagoons, ticks in the coastal forest.
- Torch with red light: for the walk to the penguins, and for wombats and possums on the campground, without dazzling the animals.
- Binoculars for whales, fur seals and sea eagles – from September to November humpback whales migrate along the coast.
- Collapsible water container (20 litres): many national park campgrounds have only untreated water or none at all.
- Snorkelling gear and wetsuit: Jervis Bay, Mystery Bay and the rock platforms of the Sapphire Coast – the water stays cool even in summer.
- Local SIM with good regional coverage: there are dead spots between Eden and Orbost and on the Prom; warning apps and bookings need reception.

_As of 2026-09. Closures, fees and booking rules change: check official sources before you go._

## Sources

- [Service NSW – Pay a toll notice (72-Stunden-Frist, keine Fahrerbenennung ab Juli 2026)](https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/guide/pay-toll-notice)
- [Parks Victoria – Tidal River Campground (Alerts: Parkeinfahrt-Bauarbeiten, Hirschbekämpfung, Stockyard, Big Drift)](https://sitecore-prd.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/sites/tidal-river-campground)
- [Parks Victoria – New operator set to improve Tidal River General Store (Juni 2026)](https://sitecore-prd.parks.vic.gov.au/news/2026/06/18/00/21/new-operator-set-to-improve-tidal-river-general-store)
- [Parks Victoria – Half-price camping is back for the next two years (Mai 2025)](https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/news/2025/05/20/05/06/Half-price-camping-is-back-for-the-next-two-years)
- [Booderee National Park – Camping at Booderee](https://booderee.gov.au/camping/camping-booderee/)
- [Parks Australia – Booderee: Park passes and permits](https://parksaustralia.gov.au/booderee/plan/park-passes)
- [NSW National Parks – Pebbly Beach picnic area, visitor info](https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/picnic-areas/pebbly-beach-picnic-area/visitor-info)
- [Ulladulla Times – Shoalhaven Council targets Hyams Beach with paid parking plans (Juni 2026)](https://www.ulladullatimes.com.au/story/9277722/shoalhaven-council-targets-hyams-beach-with-paid-parking-plans/)
- [What's Up Downunder – Three new Kui Parks campgrounds open on the Eurobodalla coast (Dez. 2025)](https://whatsupdownunder.com.au/research/news/three-new-kui-parks-campgrounds-open-on-the-eurobodalla-coast/)
- [CMCA – Dump point directory](https://members.cmca.net.au/content/dumppoint)

## Which stops are on the route from Sydney to Melbourne?

1. **Sydney** (New South Wales)
2. **Royal National Park** (New South Wales)
3. **Kiama** (New South Wales)
4. **Huskisson** (New South Wales)
5. **Ulladulla** (New South Wales)
6. **Batemans Bay** (New South Wales)
7. **Narooma** (New South Wales)
8. **Eden** (New South Wales)
9. **Mallacoota** (Victoria)
10. **Lakes Entrance** (Victoria)
11. **Tidal River** (Victoria)
12. **Cowes** (Victoria)
13. **Melbourne** (Victoria)

## When is the best time for the route from Sydney to Melbourne?

The most pleasant months are usually November–April. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and September–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 Bays, bush and penguins – by camper along the Princes Highway from Sydney to Melbourne?**
8-day road trip of about 1,174 km (730 mi) with 13 stops, from Sydney to Melbourne. About 12 h 48 min of driving in total.

**How many days do you need for Bays, bush and penguins – by camper along the Princes Highway from Sydney to Melbourne?**
We suggest 8 days: about 12 h 48 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.

**Where does Bays, bush and penguins – by camper along the Princes Highway from Sydney to Melbourne start and end?**
It starts in Sydney and ends in Melbourne.

**Which states does Bays, bush and penguins – by camper along the Princes Highway from Sydney to Melbourne pass through?**
New South Wales and Victoria.