Brisbane to Melbourne: Fly or drive?
Jun 27, 2023, 6:50 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: ATL/SLC
Posts: 3,543
Brisbane to Melbourne: Fly or drive?
We have two weeks to kill, mid to late November. We need to start in Brisbane and end in Melbourne. Are there interesting stops along the way to make a one-way car rental worthwhile? Or should we just fly it and concentrate more on the cities and surrounding area?
Sydney is not in the equation this time, so we do not need to stop there.
Sydney is not in the equation this time, so we do not need to stop there.
Jun 27, 2023, 7:08 pm
#2
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
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We have two weeks to kill, mid to late November. We need to start in Brisbane and end in Melbourne. Are there interesting stops along the way to make a one-way car rental worthwhile? Or should we just fly it and concentrate more on the cities and surrounding area?
Sydney is not in the equation this time, so we do not need to stop there.
Sydney is not in the equation this time, so we do not need to stop there.
What are your interests? Cities, wildlife, hikes or ??
Driving route can be inland (e.g. Dubbo) or more coastal (e.g. via Sydney)
https://goo.gl/maps/Eq1Ydp6UzswKe8LR7
Jun 27, 2023, 10:02 pm
#3
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Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: ATL/SLC
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We like variety. We prefer doing 1-2 days in a city, then moving on to a beach day, then hiking or parks, then maybe another city. We’re also big into the arts. Mentally I had planned on ~3 days in Brisbane and Gold Coast and 4 days in Melbourne, leaving us a week to either get there via driving - or alternatively, just flying to a third destination.
Jun 27, 2023, 11:35 pm
#4
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We have two weeks to kill, mid to late November. We need to start in Brisbane and end in Melbourne. Are there interesting stops along the way to make a one-way car rental worthwhile? Or should we just fly it and concentrate more on the cities and surrounding area?
Sydney is not in the equation this time, so we do not need to stop there.
Sydney is not in the equation this time, so we do not need to stop there.
The south coast of NSW is really stunning, imo, and much less touristed than north of Sydney.
Jun 29, 2023, 4:50 pm
#5
Join Date: Jun 2023
Posts: 10
It's a fair distance, so there are plenty of places to stop along the way. Although it'll take you about six hours longer, I recommend taking the coastal route and stopping at Byron Bay, Batemans Bay, Jervis Bay and Coffs Harbour. If you're keen to find a smaller seaside town, I recommend Casuarina. If you decide to go along the inland route, you can stop at places like Toowoomba, Dubbo and Goondiwindi.
Jun 29, 2023, 5:34 pm
#6
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It's a fair distance, so there are plenty of places to stop along the way. Although it'll take you about six hours longer, I recommend taking the coastal route and stopping at Byron Bay, Batemans Bay, Jervis Bay and Coffs Harbour. If you're keen to find a smaller seaside town, I recommend Casuarina. If you decide to go along the inland route, you can stop at places like Toowoomba, Dubbo and Goondiwindi.
Jul 4, 2023, 3:42 pm
#7
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Done this drive many times, Ive also driven every inch of Australias highway system across the outback 3 different times. I agree MEL to SYD much more spectacular than SYD to BNE. Syd to Bne I do in one day and just knock it out, leave at 9am and im in Bne for dinner. Melbourne to Sydney you either take the boring but fast inland route, or take the coastal. If you take the coastal break it up and stay a night or two at some of the small towns.
Jul 5, 2023, 1:11 pm
#8
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It just depends on how much you like driving. It's an 18 hour drive at best, and 22 hours minimum if you take the coastal route. That's a lot of time behind the wheel.
I've done the coastal drive (not all at once, in parts), and it's lovely. Here are some photos from my trip (they are all geo-located if you want to see where a town is).
The album links are more reliable; the embedded photos tend to mess up and be buggy.
Newcastle to Gold Coast
I've done the coastal drive (not all at once, in parts), and it's lovely. Here are some photos from my trip (they are all geo-located if you want to see where a town is).
The album links are more reliable; the embedded photos tend to mess up and be buggy.
Newcastle to Gold Coast
Code:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14999805@N06/albums/72157714352524656/
Newcastle to Melbourne
Code:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14999805@N06/albums/72157704800563234/
The inland route through Albury is pretty boring; some spots of interest but I couldn't suggest it over the coastal route unless you really need to save the time.
Last edited by CPMaverick; Jul 5, 2023 at 1:17 pm