This coastal road trip between Melbourne and Sydney is popular, stunning and full of beaches. It’s not just popular with backpackers, but also families, grey nomads and other travellers. This is a road trip that opened up my perspective of Australia’s coast, its diversity and natural beauty.
Prior to doing this road trip, I had only done the Great Ocean Road, and multiple inland road trips. This includes inland through regional Victoria and Sydney to Melbourne.
It can seem daunting that this road trip spans so far, it’s not a cute weekend trip. This is a proper week-long road trip through Australia’s south coast.
What’s special about this road trip is that it goes through so many different types of beaches, to get a unique view of Australia. It goes through a plethora of popular national parks for hikes and camping. Stops along the way balance between well-known areas to those lesser-known.
This coastal road trip itinerary from Melbourne to Sydney is specially curated towards backpackers, or other people looking for a first-hand perspective on the drive. It includes free campgrounds in the area to stay at, and has suggestions for hikes, how to see wildlife, and why each place is special. All of the free campgrounds included in this article have toilets.
For non-camping accommodation options, check out the link below for deals along this road trip.
Table of Contents
Road Trip: Melbourne to Sydney Coastal Route
Total Drive Time: 15 hours and 25 minutes
Recommended Minimum Days: 8 days
Day 1: Melbourne to Wilsons Promontory National Park, VIC
Drive time: Two hours and 45 minutes
Start this road trip off right by visiting one of Victoria’s most well-known coastal national parks: Wilsons Promontory National Park. This park is known for diverse landscape and feeling totally immersed in nature. There’s hikes galore of all types and even a local sand dune: Big Drift.
Whether you like the outdoors or not, Wilsons Promontory is sure to amaze all visitors. For what to do in the park depends on your time, skill level and interests. Most weekend visitors enjoy spending time at Squeaky Beach, a beach that actually squeaks beneath your feet.
For a short hike, and 360-degree views of the park, head towards Big Drift near the entrance to the park. Mark your track once on the sand dune to prevent getting lost or disorientated.
If you’re interested in a more in-depth experience in the park, check out overnight hikes such as the three-day Wilsons Promontory south circuit.
All the details on this and more can be found in my full guide for Wilsons Promontory National Park.
Free Campsites
Wilsons Promontory may be a paradise for nature lovers and hiking adventurers, but not for free campers. There’s only one free campsite in the area of this park and it’s located about half an hour away, Franklin River Reserve. Otherwise there’s a few other campgrounds that aren’t very close, but still free.
- Franklin River Reserve
- Meeniyan Reserve Campsite (by donation)
- Minneha’ha Falls
Day 2: Wilsons Promontory National Park to Sale, VIC
Drive time: Two hours
Whenever the time is right and you’ve had your fill of Wilsons Promontory, head north towards Sale, VIC. There wasn’t anything specific that attracted me to Sale, aside from well-priced service stations, but it’s close to a lake-side free campground by Lake Wellington.
The drive from Wilsons Promontory is stunning and relaxing. It goes past small vintage towns and lush pastures. This is a big change from the Sydney to Melbourne inland route, which has a lot more dry river beds.
For a break from driving, stop in at Agnes Falls by Hazel Park, VIC. It’s a sweet waterfall with multiple lookouts. It also has washrooms and picnic tables to sit for lunch.
Free Campsites
A huge reason to stop around Sale, VIC is because of the plethora of campgrounds in the area. There’s so many I won’t name them all, just those that are closest to the town. The campground next to Lake Wellington is Marlay Point Foreshore Reserve, it’s facilities aren’t the best, but it’s a beautiful area and worth stopping at.
- Marlay Point Foreshore Reserve
- Rosedale Willow Park
- Nambrok Hall
- Holey Plains State Park
- Holey Hill Campground
- Providence Ponds
Day 3: Sale to Cann River, VIC
Drive time: Two hours and 40 minutes
This is the day of koalas. Leaving Sale, head towards Paynesville, VIC. This is right where Raymond Island is located, and that’s where you’re going to find a gazillion cute koalas in the wild.
Even if you’ve already seen koalas, the amount on Raymond Island can’t be overlooked. It’s a special place. Park somewhere in Paynesville and take the ferry across the water to the island, which is free for pedestrians and cyclists. Then follow The Koala Trail through the island to spot the wildlife!
For a full guide on seeing koalas at Raymond Island, check out this article.
Either before or after, take advantage of a free hot shower in Paynesville Lions Club Park, by the beach. There’s also electric barbecues and picnic tables to have lunch at.
After leaving Paynesville, check out the view at Lakes Entrance Lookout, just off the A1.
A good place to stop this lag of the coastal road trip between Melbourne to Sydney is in Cann River, VIC
Free Campgrounds
Aside from camping close to the highway, another good reason to stay around Cann River is because it’s surrounded by lush forest. It’s an area that feels cozy whilst around many free campgrounds at the same time. Make sure to double check if these campsites are open, as many areas here were damaged from the bush fires in the summer of 2019/2020.
- Cann River Caravan Park
- Drummer Rest Area
- Choof Choof Campsite
- Genoa Rest Area
Day 4: Cann River to Eden, NSW
Drive Time: One hour and 15 minutes
It’s a short drive to head towards Eden, NSW but for good reasons. There’s multiple stops to break up this journey leaving Victoria and heading into New South Wales. Particularly an enduring but short hike in Croajingolong National Park, to Genoa Peak.
The hike to Genoa Peak is right after Cann River—heading north—and up an unsealed road before reaching a small parking lot. The hike goes up to the peak atop a platform with 360-degree views of the surrounding area. It shouldn’t be missed on this road trip!
Next, head towards Ben Boyd National Park, NSW. This park is split between to areas, the north and south.
What To Do
Ben Boyd National Park is known for its European history as much as its wilderness. This includes colourful rocky cliffs blended with the sparkling blue ocean.
Starting at the southern end of the park, Green Cape, a popular photo op spot is Multi-Purpose Warf. You can walk to the end of the warf or even go fishing, but there’s no beach access here to the picturesque beaches around.
For some historic vibes, check out Boyds Tower also in the south end of the park. A daily parks pass of A$8 a day per vehicle must be purchased to park here. The tower was commissioned to be a lighthouse, but ended up having a different purpose.
On the northern end of the park, Pambula-Haycock, check out The Pinnacles loop walking track. The Pinnacles is a unique rock formation known for its bright colours. On the loop walking track it can be seen from above at two different spot. Haycock Point is another gem to stop at in the northern end of the park.
For everything there is to do and see in Ben Boyd National Park, check out this guide.
Free Campground
Northern from the Victoria and New South Wales border, free campsites are harder to come by. If this trip isn’t too spontaneous, consider booking campsites in advance to save on booking fees. These are a few of the free campgrounds around the area of Eden and Ben Boyd National Park.
- Scrubby Creek Picnic Area
- East Ben Boyd Forest Rest Area
Day 5: Eden to Bodalla, NSW
Drive Time: Two hours
Driving out of Eden, there’s an amazing oyster spot, Broadwater Oysters. It’s not over-priced, and the oysters are fresh and delicious. They shuck them as you order—not like other places that have opened oysters covered in plastic-wrap on a plastic plate. This place was recommended by locals in Eden, and I’m so happy I went to check it out.
The next place to stop at is the famous, Horse Head Rock, north of Haywards Beach in Wallaga Lake, NSW. To clarify, this horse-head-shaped-rock is a big tourist attraction for the area, but you have to use your imagination a bit to see the horse. Also, double-check the tide times depending on how you’re getting to see the rock.
It’s not possible to walk along the beach north of Haywards Beach to see the Horse Head Rock with high tide. Instead, during high tide, skip the beach and follow the path from Camel Rock car park instead. This path also goes through the grass to see the horse rock. Aside from the animal-shaped rocks, other rocks around the beach are also wild and unique—it’s a good place to stop.
To end a day of exploring head further north towards Bodalla, it’s a good mid point towards Jervis Bay for the next day.
Free Campgrounds
There’s not a huge amount of free campgrounds around Bodalla, but Brou Lake Campground in Eurobodalla National Park is a popular escape from the highway. This is the same spot I began running to free camp locals. Either way it’s a great spot to stay for the night, check out the lake side and ocean side through different bush walk trails around the campground.
- Brou Lake Campground
- Bodalla Park Forest Rest Area
Day 6: Bodalla to Jervis Bay, NSW
Drive Time: Two hours
Continuing up Australia’s coast from Melbourne to Sydney, you’ll notice a difference in the beaches—again. Pebbly Beach is a small paradise for wildlife on the beach in Murramarang National Park. To park here, you must purchase and display an A$8 parking permit for the day. Permits can be purchased through machines with exact change only.
Close to Pebbly Beach is barbecues and picnic tables to stop for food, or just enjoy the beauty of the national park. There’s also bush walks in the area, or continue driving around the park for other bush walks.
Next up is an area with some of the whitest sand beaches in Australia—or at least it was at some point—Jervis Bay, NSW. Most of the beaches in Jervis Bay look similar, they all have white sand and clear blue water. Because it’s in a bay, it’s easy and safer to swim than without because there’s less strong currents.
Beaches with towns nearby for grocery shopping and restaurants include Huskisson, Vincentia and Callala Bay. Hyams Beach is a touristy spot because it was once named the whitest sand beach.
No visit to Jervis Bay is complete without heading to Booderee National Park, though. This national park has some of the best beaches, bush walks and overall wilderness to discover.
Finish the day by spending an evening at Jervis Bay Brewing Co., the best craft brewery in the area located in Huskisson. Whenever this brewery isn’t impressing crowds with its own beer, it brings in tastes from other local breweries to show support for the industry.
For a complete guide on everything there is to do and see, check out this guide to Booderee National Park.
Free Campgrounds
As expected, Jervis Bay area is known for its stunning beaches, not an abundance of free campgrounds. There’s two rest areas where it’s possible to stay at overnight, but with the noise it might be smart to stay elsewhere. Booderee’s campgrounds are affordable and most have hot showers for a relaxing stay.
- Jerrawangla Rest Area
- Bewong Rest Area
Day 7: Jervis Bay to Kangaroo Valley, NSW
Drive Time: 45 minutes
This is nearly the last lag of the coastal road trip from Melbourne to Sydney and it does not disappoint. Whether this day is a point to spend more time in Jervis Bay or not, there’s only a short drive to discover Kangaroo Valley.
Where Raymond Island is the place to see an abundance of koalas in the wild, Kangaroo Valley is a place to see just about every other wild Australian animal in the wild. This wildlife paradise is known as Australia’s most beautiful valley.
Before heading there, take the time to gander around Nowra for some delicious eats and drinks. Locals say the organic coffee roaster, Hyper Hyper Coffee is one of the best in Australia. Same goes for the amazing Thai food at Silver Spoon Thai Restaurant.
Driving in from Jervis Bay, the road to Kangaroo Valley going goes over Cambewarra Mountain. My first time doing this road was a bit stressful because I didn’t realize the elevation gain, and my old van likes to take it slow. Check out Cambewarra lookout at the top of the mountain for panoramic views of the area you just came from.
The free campground in Kangaroo Valley, Bendeela Camping Reserve, is the best place to stay and get close to wildlife. There’s fields full of wombats, kangaroos and wallabies. Other wildlife in Kangaroo Valley include: wild goats, deer, platypus, echidnas, wild dogs, feral pigs, flying foxes, foxes and more.
Spending some time in the valley? Check out the bush walks: Drawing Room Rocks and The Three Views Walk to see more of the area.
Free campgrounds
The one and only free campground in Kangaroo Valley is Bendeela Camping Reserve, up Bendeela Road. This the the final stop before reaching Sydney on this road trip from Melbourne, and it’s the most pleasant and relaxing place to stay. Don’t mind the wombats rubbing against your vehicle in the middle of the night!
Day 8: Kangaroo Valley to Sydney, NSW
Drive Time: Two hours
Leaving Kangaroo Valley might feel devastating, but it’s the last part of this coastal road trip from Melbourne to Sydney. There’s a few different ways to head to Sydney. Depending on traffic routes and tolls, consult your favourite driving directions app for more information.
For an optional break, or something to do around Sydney area, check out the Figure 8 Pools in the Royal National Park. I recommend doing the coastal hike version of the Figure 8 Pools for even more ocean views!
Check out what to do in Sydney for a week for tips on where to go, what to see and where to eat!
This isn’t the only road trip to spend you time in Australia. Check out the these road trips: Sydney to Melbourne inland route, regional Victoria and the Great Ocean Road!
