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Sydney to Melbourne

Touring Australia on Highway 1

By Larry Rivera, About.com

Kangaroo, Pebbly Beach, New South Wales

Hopping down the New South Wales coast

© Australian Tourist Commission 1997

If you have the time to take a leisurely trip around Australia, one way is to take, and follow, Highway 1.

Highway 1, which may come under different names in various regions of Australia, takes you on a circular route, mostly along the coast, through New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, the Northern Territory, and Queensland.

Spectacular country

It passes through much spectacular country and, if you include side trips from the main highway, touches most of Australia's major attractions.

You can take the whole circular route, or take only sections of it as your time allows, or as you wish.

Down the coast from Sydney

If you start in Sydney, south-bound Highway 1 is the Princes Highway.

From the outskirts of the city the Princes Highway takes you past the Royal National Park and down the South Coast.

Just south of Nowra, you may want to take a detour to Jervis Bay, its whitest-of-white beaches, and laid-back seaside communities.

Scenic fishing region

Drive through the scenic fishing region of the Eurobodalla and Sapphire Coasts, touching base if you wish with Narooma and Bermagui, before continuing on to the Victorian border.

Entering Victoria

Coming down the eastern rim of Victoria, you then start veering west towards Melbourne.

If you wish, make a detour to Phillip Island for the penguin parade or east-northeast of Melbourne to the Yarra Valley wine region.

Next page: Melbourne to Adelaide

Around Australia on Highway 1

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