Two Routes, Two Experiences
The Sydney to Melbourne road trip offers two very different experiences. The inland Hume Highway gets you there in about 9 hours — efficient but dull. The coastal Princes Highway takes longer but delivers some of southeastern Australia's most spectacular scenery. This guide focuses on the coastal route, which is vastly superior for campervan travellers.
Inland Route: ~880 km via Hume Highway | 1 day (9 hours straight)
Days 1–2: Sydney to Jervis Bay
Distance: 180 km | Drive Time: 2.5 hours
Head south from Sydney through the Royal National Park — stop at Wattamolla for a swim and the coastal track to Wedding Cake Rock. Continue through Wollongong and Kiama (famous for its blowhole) to Jervis Bay.
Jervis Bay has some of the whitest sand beaches in the world. Hyams Beach is the famous one, but Murrays Beach and Green Patch in the Booderee National Park are equally stunning and less crowded. The water is crystal clear and dolphins are commonly spotted from shore.
Where to camp: Green Patch Campground in Booderee National Park (book well ahead, it's incredibly popular). Alternatively, Huskisson Beach Tourist Resort has powered sites near town.
Days 3–4: Jervis Bay to Narooma
Distance: 220 km | Drive Time: 3 hours
Continue south through Ulladulla (great fish and chips at the harbour) and Batemans Bay to Narooma. This stretch of the NSW South Coast is genuinely beautiful — turquoise water, forested headlands, and uncrowded beaches.
At Narooma, book a Montague Island tour — you'll snorkel with Australian fur seals in crystal-clear water. It's one of the most incredible wildlife encounters on the NSW coast. The island also has a penguin colony and historic lighthouse.
Where to camp: NRMA Narooma Easts Holiday Park overlooks the coast. Surf Beach Holiday Park is closer to town.
Days 5–6: Eden to Lakes Entrance
Distance: 250 km | Drive Time: 3 hours
Cross into Victoria via Eden, a historic whaling town turned whale-watching destination. The Killer Whale Museum tells the extraordinary story of the orcas that once herded whales into Twofold Bay for local whalers. Between September and November, whale watching cruises depart from Eden's wharf.
Enter Victoria's Gippsland Lakes — the largest inland waterway system in Australia. Lakes Entrance is a charming lakeside town where the ocean meets the lakes. Walk across the footbridge to Ninety Mile Beach for an empty ocean beach that stretches to the horizon.
Where to camp: BIG4 Whiters Holiday Village in Lakes Entrance. Eastern Beach Tourist Park is also well-located.
Days 7–8: Wilsons Promontory to Melbourne
Distance: 350 km | Drive Time: 4.5 hours (with Prom detour)
Detour to Wilsons Promontory National Park — the southernmost point of mainland Australia and arguably Victoria's most beautiful national park. The walks here are world-class: Squeaky Beach (quartz sand that squeaks underfoot), Tidal River to Oberon Bay, and the epic overnight hike to the lighthouse.
Wild wombats, kangaroos, and emus are commonly seen at dusk around Tidal River campground. This is the kind of place that makes you understand why people fall in love with Australia.
From the Prom, it's about 2.5 hours to Melbourne. Arrive and return your campervan, or continue on to the Great Ocean Road.
Where to camp: Tidal River campground in Wilsons Promontory (book months in advance for peak season).
Campervan Recommendations
This route is suited to any campervan. For couples, a 2-berth campervan from Sydney is perfect. Families should consider a 4-berth motorhome for the extra space needed on a week-long trip.
