Via Canberra, that is, and possibly other spots along the way. Max time we have (including Canberra) is about 4 days.
There seems to be almost no train service. Too skeletal to be useful.
I guess that leaves coach and rental car? Obviously the rental would provide more flexibility. Would it be a help or a hindrance in Canberra (parking charges etc. - I assume there's no congestion). What's the price of petrol these days?
What route would people suggest? Key sights aside from Canberra? Thanks!
QF NB
Oct 7, 05, 11:30 pm
While I have only flown SYD-MEL and CBR-MEL looking at my maps and going from what I have head perhaps this intinerary with a rental car would be nice:
Corryong (VIC)-Cooma (NSW) is where you find some of Australia's most stunning scenery. You will past through Australia's ski fields, farming and lake country. There are various hydro electric information centres along the way and are very interesting.
While this is not using the car, REX (Regional Express) airlines have a sale from Cooma (snowy mountains) to Sydney for $99 over summer which is an excellent deal.
If you can find a good map, look for the towns I have said above and then use Google and search for example "Cooma" and you should be given all the info you need.
Just to let you know I would say that routing that I have said would be much more scenic than driving on the Hume Highway, then the Barton Highway into Canberra - this route can be rather dangerous too - one of Australia's busiest roads.
From Canberra onwards perhaps on the way to Sydney visit places like Kiama (beautiful seaside town :) ), Wollongong, Bulli etc. The Kangaroo Valley near Moss Vale (NSW) is also meant to be quite stunning.
I hope that helps. I am from Brisbane and have not been in car SYD-MEL/CBR but by going from travel shows, magazines etc, I have proposed the routing above.
Tell me what you think, or PM me and I'd be glad to help you out planning a visit to our wonderful country :D
Cheers
DI542
Oct 8, 05, 3:35 am
Via Canberra, that is, and possibly other spots along the way. Max time we have (including Canberra) is about 4 days ...
What route would people suggest? Key sights aside from Canberra? Thanks!
You don't mention the time of year but assuming it's not the middle of winter ...
Victoria is a beautiful state and I recommend you avoid the Hume Hwy in favour of more scenic routes. In order of (my) preference:
1. Take the Princes Hwy east to Bairnsdale and then the Great Alpine Road followed by Omeo Highway up through the High Country. You can then follow the Omeo Hwy up to Wodonga and then join the Hume and continue with QF NB's suggested route.
or
2. As with one but take the Alpine Road at Omeo (leaving Omeo Hwy) and continue through the high country stopping at places like Mt Beauty, Mt Buffalo and Beechworth before joining the Hume at Chiltern which is a short distance from Wodonga.
Both routes above need a couple of days at least to traverse and enjoy. If you are in more of a rush, then:
3. Leave Melbourne via the Maroondah Hwy, enjoy the Yarra Ranges and Cathedral Ranges, stopover at Mansfield for lunch and join the Hume at Benalla. A further diversion at Beechworth is highly recommended then return and continue up the Hume.
Have a great time.
prspad
Oct 8, 05, 9:46 am
I mostly agree with QF NB's thoughts for driving and his routing suggestions... Once I rented a big-assed van and spent a month in Aussie's Spring (mid Nov into mid Dec) driving with my spouse, our two daughters and my dad from Melbourne to Brisbane, meandering along mostly the same suggested route between the MEL to SYD segment. A couple suggestions from a fellow Yank who spends a lot of time in Australia (I own an apartment in SYD)...
Buy the Bill Bryson Book "In a Sunburned Country" before you go and read it for a good overview of the country and people from an American author who has spent time in that great country. It's written for a non-Australian audience with great outsider insight. The paperback ISBN is: 0-76790-3862. You can purchase the book in Australia (it was a best seller there), but the name of the editions sold there is "Down Under" and has a depiction of Uluru (Ayer's Rock) on the cover. The U.S. edition has a picture of a kangaroo with Joey in pouch in the cover.
When in Canberra try to visit the Australian War Memorial, which is one of the world's great museums. Plan a picnic at the Carillion in Canberra which is located on a small island at one end of Lake Burley Griffin. Noontime concerts used to be on Thursdays and weekends, though I don't know the present schedule. Another two unusual places for Yanks to visit in Canberra, but are very satisfying, are the Royal Australian Mint and the Royal Australian Archives. My youngest daughter (now 18) and I have visited the Archives a few times to visit exhibitions or research things like the Aboriginal "Stolen Generation," the Role of Australian Women in running the Country during WWII and the cartoon history of the late Ken Maynard, who created the great "Ettamogah Pub" characters.
One of my great family memories is the day we spent picnicing, listening to music, reading and lazing about when in Albury in a park alongside the "Mighty Murray River" on a beautiful, warm and sunny day. We picked up some local grub and used the waterside BBQ's to cook. We interacted with a number of local families also enjoying the day and I learned more Australian slang from our new-found friends than ever before... The "Coldies" flowed as the "Esky's" emptied, etc. etc... I watched a number of Blokes playing "Two-up," and learned that a "Cockatoo" was the guy who watched out for the police while the game was in progress! There was some paddlewheel and other boat traffic on the river... That day made for some great memories. ^
valve bouncer
Oct 8, 05, 1:29 pm
I mostly agree with QF NB's thoughts for driving and his routing suggestions... Once I rented a big-assed van and spent a month in Aussie's Spring (mid Nov into mid Dec) driving with my spouse, our two daughters and my dad from Melbourne to Brisbane, meandering along mostly the same suggested route between the MEL to SYD segment. A couple suggestions from a fellow Yank who spends a lot of time in Australia (I own an apartment in SYD)...
Buy the Bill Bryson Book "In a Sunburned Country" before you go and read it for a good overview of the country and people from an American author who has spent time in that great country. It's written for a non-Australian audience with great outsider insight. The paperback ISBN is: 0-76790-3862. You can purchase the book in Australia (it was a best seller there), but the name of the editions sold there is "Down Under" and has a depiction of Uluru (Ayer's Rock) on the cover. The U.S. edition has a picture of a kangaroo with Joey in pouch in the cover.
When in Canberra try to visit the Australian War Memorial, which is one of the world's great museums. Plan a picnic at the Carillion in Canberra which is located on a small island at one end of Lake Burley Griffin. Noontime concerts used to be on Thursdays and weekends, though I don't know the present schedule. Another two unusual places for Yanks to visit in Canberra, but are very satisfying, are the Royal Australian Mint and the Royal Australian Archives. My youngest daughter (now 18) and I have visited the Archives a few times to visit exhibitions or research things like the Aboriginal "Stolen Generation," the Role of Australian Women in running the Country during WWII and the cartoon history of the late Ken Maynard, who created the great "Ettamogah Pub" characters.
One of my great family memories is the day we spent picnicing, listening to music, reading and lazing about when in Albury in a park alongside the "Mighty Murray River" on a beautiful, warm and sunny day. We picked up some local grub and used the waterside BBQ's to cook. We interacted with a number of local families also enjoying the day and I learned more Australian slang from our new-found friends than ever before... The "Coldies" flowed as the "Esky's" emptied, etc. etc... I watched a number of Blokes playing "Two-up," and learned that a "Cockatoo" was the guy who watched out for the police while the game was in progress! There was some paddlewheel and other boat traffic on the river... That day made for some great memories. ^
Sounds like you had a great trip mate. ^ Canberra is generally regarded as a place "to be missed" ;) but I quite like it. The war memorial and the mint are great. I'd also suggest a visit to parliament house, a magnificent building despite the occupants. :D Take the alpine route, arguably the most spectacular scenery in Australia.
serfty
Oct 9, 05, 9:53 pm
Via Canberra, that is, and possibly other spots along the way. Max time we have (including Canberra) is about 4 days.
There seems to be almost no train service. Too skeletal to be useful.
I guess that leaves coach and rental car? Obviously the rental would provide more flexibility. Would it be a help or a hindrance in Canberra (parking charges etc. - I assume there's no congestion). What's the price of petrol these days?
What route would people suggest? Key sights aside from Canberra? Thanks!Agree with the other posts about what to do in Canberra; A car there is really essential whether you rent it there or arrange it one way SYD-MEL.
Bus SYD to CBR starts around AU$37 pp (3½ hours) and CBR to MEL (~8 Hours) from AU$77.
There's more trains to/from Goulburn, a ½ hour drive from Canberra. Train to Sydney to Goulburn $35 and Goulburn to Melbourne $95
4 Day car hire SYD-MEL may be had for about AU$420 for a large car (FCAR); there's vehicle drop fees included of around AU$110.
If Nov-Mar, I'd hire a car and go
Day 1) Sydney to Canberra,
Day 2) Canberra Touring
then:
If you like The Coast/Beaches:
Day 3) Canberra to Cooma to Merimbula to Eden
Day 4) Eden to Lakes Entrance to Melbourne
or,
if you like Summer Alpine regions
Day 3) Canberra to Cooma to Jindabyne to Thredbo
Day 4) Threadbo to Corryong to Albury to Melbourne.