If you have the time to take a leisurely trip around Australia, one way is to take, and follow, Highway 1.
When driving from Sydney to Melbourne you can visit most of Australia's southeastern coastal attractions by following Highway 1 which goes all around the continent.
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.
It's the scenic coastal route from Sydney to Melbourne by road.
Spectacular country
From Sydney to Melbourne and on through its circumferential route, Highway 1 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.
The coastal Sydney to Melbourne route
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 New South Wales 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
- Sydney to Melbourne
- Melbourne to Adelaide
- Adelaide to Perth
- Perth to Darwin
- Darwin to Brisbane
- Brisbane to Sydney
Sydney Sightseeing
- Sydney Walking Tour
- The Rocks
- Royal Botanic Gardens
- St Mary's Cathedral
- Kings Cross
- Darling Harbour
- Sydney Beaches
- Bents Basin
- Chipping Norton Lakes
- West from Sydney
- Blue Mountains
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