Witness the coastal beauty of Australia in this epic Melbourne to Gold Coast road trip
I feel there’s nothing more relaxing than taking a road trip with your loved ones! Be it any place, a country, or a region, every road trip has its purpose and ultimately gives you a “life-seeking-moment.”
Having said that, Australia is a country that is filled with classic road trips. Each particular state has its own peculiarity in terms of offering the best road trip experience of all time. As you venture from one place to another, you’ll be greeted with glistening beaches, native rainforests, rugged landscapes, deep red outback, local communities, and acclaimed vineyards. All these characteristics make Australian road trips fun!
In this article, we’ve rounded up a list of some of the best places to stop between Melbourne and Gold Coast. Along with the detailed stops, we’ve added a map, curated an itinerary, and mentioned a few BONUS places to see along the road trip. We also share some essential tips, lesser-known suggestions, and recommendations to help you nail a perfect road trip around Australia.
About the Melbourne to Gold Coast Drive
Honestly, Melbourne and Gold Coast need no introduction. Both these cities have been driving massive tourists annually to boost Australia’s tourism. With abundant attractions and experiences to discover, there’s literally no shortage of places to explore within.
From exploring the beaches of Byron Bay and Coffs Harbour to visiting the landmarks of Canberra and Sydney, there are a plethora of experiential activities to see and do between Melbourne and Gold Coast.
To reach either of the destinations, you can take the Newell Highway (inland route) or the Pacific Highway (coastal route). Not many visitors often take the inland route, as its less scenic. Even, for our Melbourne to Gold Coast road trip itinerary, we will be exploring the places via the Pacific Coast. On this route, you’ll find much more places to visit, including Sydney and Canberra.
Planning Tips for Melbourne to Gold Coast Road Trip
Now that you know what Melbourne to Gold Coast tour has to offer, let’s dig deeper into the finer details of planning a perfect road trip. In this section, we’ve provided a detailed map, suggested driving routes, listed down places to see, and much more.
Driving Times for Melbourne to Gold Coast
The drive from Melbourne to Gold Coast is a total of 1704kms. If you drive non-stop, it would approximately take 17hr 50mins to reach via the Pacific Highway. However, a direct journey is not recommended, and it’s best to include stops throughout your entire road trip. To span out your journey, plan your Melbourne to Gold Coast road trip for 5-6 days. These are the minimum days required to get the most out of this trip.
Here’s a quick glance at suggested & alternative routes & their times:
Via the Newell Highway/A39: 19hr 24mins (1720kms) – alternative driving route for Melbourne to Gold Coast.
Via the Pacific Highway/A1: 17hr 50mins (1704kms) – the recommended route.
Recommended | 4 Easy Ways to Travel from Melbourne to Gold Coast
How to Rent a Car in Australia
Choosing the right vehicle for your road trip is as important as planning your entire journey. You’d want to make sure the vehicle you’ve hired/booked is in a safe condition. Ideally, visitors who tour Australia book their cars from Rentalcars.com. I had used their service plenty of times, and I honestly find it pretty reasonable compared to other rental companies. You can definitely place your bets on getting affordable rates for whichever vehicle you select.
Melbourne to Gold Coast Road Trip Map
Take a look at the drivable route mentioned in the map below. The one highlighted in blue is the Pacific Coastal Road for Melbourne to Gold Coast route.
The Best Melbourne to Gold Coast Road Trip Stops
Let’s get to know the best places to visit between Melbourne and Gold Coast.
Wagga Wagga
Just under five hours from Melbourne and Sydney, Wagga Wagga is one of the best places to visit on our Melbourne to Gold Coast road trip. Usually, when we think of Australian cities – we often imagine the beauty of its coastal towns and beaches. However, the country’s inland doesn’t go around disappointing you in terms of its tourism opportunities. And there’s no better destination than Wagga Wagga to spend some time relaxing, unwinding, and soaking in the town’s charming atmosphere.
Wagga Wagga is fringed by jagged mountains, rolling hills, and the beautiful Murrumbidgee River. Being one of the cultural towns of Australia, Wagga Wagga proudly boasts its serene countryside scenes, incredible diversity, pretty gardens, hiking trails, and excellent food & wine culture. For a moment, the city feels too good to be true. But, when you visit, you literally sense the energetic vibes of the city’s bustling environment.
What makes Wagga Wagga a perfect weekend destination is its central location. Many day-trippers often take a backpacking tour to this lively town to spend a relaxing holiday. Even if you give two full days, you’ll be sure of experiencing the absolute best of Wagga Wagga.
These are some of the best things to do in Wagga Wagga, NSW –
Take a leisurely stroll at Wollundry Lagoon
Located right in the city center, Wollundry Lagoon is one of the best places to take a stroll and picnic. This relaxing lagoon makes an ideal spot for you to seek the tranquility of the place. During specific seasons, many events and cultural shows take place for tourists to engage and explore.
Explore Native Wildlife at Livingstone National Park
There’s nothing more interesting than exploring a national park close to the city. A 40-minute drive from the city center takes you to one of Australia’s most friendly natural settings of, Livingstone National Park. Based inside the Wiradjuri Country, the entire park is vital to the Aboriginal community. If you allow yourselves a day trip, expect to see and do plenty of things. These include picnicking, horse riding, bush-walking, and bird-watching. Oh, and expect to spot wallabies and kangaroos during your hike.
Wagga Wagga Botanical Gardens
Filled with gorgeous parks and botanic gardens, the Wagga Wagga Botanical Gardens is surely the perfect place to unwind. The entire area beautifully brims with plants and trees, surrounded by different gardens such as native flora, camellia, and bamboo.
Canberra
Canberra needs no introduction when it comes to exploring the city. Being the capital city of Australia, the place mesmerizes me with its history and rich culture. It’s a place that doesn’t really house many natural attractions but feels good to see such institutional places of high importance.
As you dig deeper into your exploration, you’ll find Canberra bustling with museums, historical sites, hidden gems, and family-friendly attractions. I visited Canberra multiple times, and honestly, I never really got bored of visiting such cultural places. Well, if you’re a history buff, you’d love Canberra! For non-history lovers, you could try it, and maybe there’s something around the corner that might interest you.
From my point of view, Canberra isn’t a glamourous city like Melbourne & Sydney are. If you expect that, then probably you’d be disappointed. But, I think the capital city balances out the hipness that other cities proudly boast. If you really admire the local Aboriginal community and its stories, you’d fall in love with the tales Canberra has to portray. From guided city tours to local museum exploration, plenty of experiential activities help you understand Australia’s past timelines. Give it a go, and you’d find it much more interesting.
For starters, let’s look at the top things to do in Canberra city –
Visit the National Gallery of Australia (NGA)
Let’s say you have time to visit only one place in Canberra, then try making the National Gallery of Australia (NGA) your highest priority. The gallery is known to house many collections of indigenous art and precious artifacts that display the rich history of Australia. Some must-see works include Sidney Nolan’s Ned Kelly paintings and artwork done by Warhol, Monet, and Albert Namatjira. On many occasions, the gallery lightens up with exhibition events and shows, and this makes it interesting for families and kids to learn Australia’s diverse story.
Australian War Memorial
The Australian War Memorial in Canberra is one of the country’s most prestigious sites. Dedicated to the war fatalities, this memorial site was inaugurated during WWII. Today, the place features a vast museum, library, and art gallery for tourists to explore. One interesting thing about the war memorial is that the exhibits constantly evolve, depicting varied Australian themes. Especially for kids, these exhibits make it more interactive for them to learn and engage. The Discovery Zone section is too packed with many exciting displays and stories. The other interesting fact is that your entry fee to this memorial is free.
Take a Leisure Walk Around Lake Burley Griffin
Lake Burley Griffin is another prime attraction of Canberra. Many tourists and locals bike around the waterfront paths, picnic in the lush-green parks, fish, paddle, and cruise on this beautiful lake. What makes this place a popular attraction is its proximity to other Canberra landmarks, and places like National Library, National Museum, and National Gallery are nearby.
Recommended: If you’re spending one or two days in Canberra, consider visiting Questacon, the National Portrait Gallery of Australia, Mount Ainslie Lookout, and the Australian National Botanic Gardens. The best idea to tour these attractions is to book a full-day guided tour.
Sydney
As you journey towards Sydney, you’ll soon find a plethora of things to see and do. Honestly, the entire stretch of the Canberra to Sydney route is filled with amazing landscape, quaint inland towns, and local cafes & restaurants. The closer you get to Sydney, you’ll be overwhelmed with things to explore & experience.
For me, Sydney is one of the best places to stop during the Melbourne to Gold Coast road trip. It’s an adventure in itself to explore major Australian landmarks, iconic beaches, acclaimed wine regions, award-wining restaurants, rooftop bars, and energetic nightlife scenes. No matter your preference or how you visit them – you can sense the Australian flair to everything you do in Sydney.
And while you’re here, I highly recommend spending a minimum of 2 days exploring the city. This way, you won’t miss out on experiencing some of the fine things. On the other hand, if you want to hurry up your drive towards Gold Coast, then make it a point to at least visit the below-suggested places.
Bondi to Coogee Walk
One of the best things to do in Sydney is to walk along the extensive coastline of Bondi to Coogee. I honestly cannot describe in words how beautiful the views are! As you traverse the path, you will face some of the city’s shining sandy beaches. During the peak season, especially on weekends, the Bondi to Coogee can get overcrowded. As an alternative, I suggest taking the Split-to-Manly walk.
Enjoy nightlife scenes at King’s Cross
A visit to Sydney is incomplete without attending its spirited nightlife. Suppose you want to party hard and get inexpensive beer, head to King’s Cross. This is where you meet tourists from all over the world as they come to experience Sydney’s most lively scenes. My personal favorite is the World Bar at King’s Cross. For a toned-down version, head to The Rocks or Manly.
Attend the Markets
One of the best things to do in Sydney is exploring its varied markets. Depending on your travel season, different markets will have seasonal products to sell. Plus, it’s really easy to wander off these markets on your own, to explore and purchase your favorite items. Some of my recommendations include Paddington Markets, Bondi Farmers Market, and Glebe Market. If you’re a fan of antiques, then I suggest taking a visit to Rozelle Collectors Market.
Explore the Hunter Valley
To not visit Australia’s most acclaimed wine region would be a sin. The Hunter Valley in Sydney is one of the best places to tour amazing wineries. From cherishing its local wines to hogging local delicious food, you could go all-out in the region’s abundant activities. There are day tours to Hunter Valley from Sydney and can get pretty much affordable if you club with other tours.
Note: If you’re exploring the Hunter Valley on this road trip, then I suggest booking a hotel somewhere near Newcastle or Cessnock. Moreover, it’s best to spend overnight to get the full experience of this amazing place.
Palm Beach
I specifically included Palm Beach on our road trip stops because I absolutely loved the place. Initially, it wasn’t on my list to explore, but considering last-minute changes, I needed something off-beat to escape Sydney’s bustling routine. Palm Beach, or ‘Palmy’ commonly called by locals, is one of Sydney’s most northern beaches. Located at the end of a peninsula, the beach has been a favorite home-stay point for wealthy business people and celebrities.
When you’re here, do not forget to visit the peninsula’s famous points – Palm Beach, Mona Vale Beach, Bigola Beach, and Whale Beach. Of course, if you’re short on time, you wouldn’t get to visit all its beaches. But consider exploring Mona Vale Beach first. For the past few years, this spot has become an Instagram sensation. It features a rock pool overlooking jaw-dropping views of the ocean.
Next on your list should be the famous Barrenjoey Lighthouse. From far-away scenes, the hike looks a bit strenuous to complete; however, it’s only a 15-minute uphill walk from your car park. Given that you provide at least 2 hours for this stretch, you’d be in a treat to soak in panoramic coastal views of the ocean.
Port Macquarie
Located 394kms from Sydney, Port Macquarie is one of NSW’s best year-round destinations. Port Macquarie was my favorite place to stop during the Melbourne to Gold Coast drive, hosting multiple wineries, amazing waterfront areas, and a generous collection of award-winning restaurants.
This charming seaside town has been a long-time favored destination to escape city life. Cometh any season, and you’ll find locals and tourists traversing from different parts of the world to enjoy what Port Macquarie offers. From secluded beaches and harbor towns to national parks and rainforests, this NSW town has just got the right Australian laidback vibes.
I would highly recommend spending an overnight stay at Port Macquarie. To know what things to do here, check out my top suggestions below –
Explore Port Macquarie’s wineries
Visiting wineries in Port Macquarie must be on your ‘to-do list.’ The Cassegrain Wines is one of the most visited wineries in the region, which is also known for its excellent crafted French wines. As you indulge in the rich taste of this French collection, do not forget to wander the estate gardens and vineyards of the Cassegrain. Those who seek a quieter side to Port Macquarie can head to Little Fish Cafe and Vineyard. Known for its amazing local produce, you can fill yourselves with enriching cuisine of all types.
Learn some Surfing
If you’re a pro-surfer, then the beaches of Port Macquarie would be an excellent spot to get those moves going. Most of the beaches located here are well-known for their consistent waves. Thus, it offers a great opportunity for both – seasoned and beginner levelers – to learn and improve their surfing skills. You can even take lessons from a qualified instructor to up your confidence.
Hit the Pristine Beaches
If there’s one thing you shouldn’t miss in Port Macquarie, then it’s the pristine secluded beaches. I think describing these beaches as’ gorgeous’ would be an understatement in itself. To know what they really are, you have to visit them! Dotted along the coastline, Pilot Beach is one of my favorites to visit. Its best suited for families traveling with kids. Furthermore, you can head to Flynn’s Beach if you’re interested in taking surf lessons. The rip tides offer some of the best waves to surf.
Coffs Harbour
Coffs Harbour is one of the best places to visit between Melbourne and Gold Coast. Ironically, ask any localite about visiting Coffs Harbour, and they’d instantly say, ‘Oh, don’t miss the giant yellow banana”. ‘ ” The big banana” has become a visual stop-point for any tourist bypassing the coastal route. And yes, no trip to Coffs Harbour is truly complete without paying a visit to this classic stop.
However, there’s more to Coffs Harbour than just stopping by and admiring some spots. It’s a little paradisical town boasting all sorts of entertainment you and your children would love. From the thrills of skydiving and scuba-dive to cute dolphin shows and amusement parks, there’s no limit to what you can do in Coffs Harbour.
While you’re here, do not forget to visit its two famous attractions – Big Banana Fun Park and TreeTops Coffs Harbour. If you’re short on time, then maybe explore its beaches – Park Beach and Boambee Beach.
Byron Bay
Byron Bay is one of Australia’s coastal paradises. It’s a friendly town featuring nothing but simply sun, sand, and surf. Yes! That’s what Byron Bay is all about. I often feel that once you spend some time here, there’s no going back. You wouldn’t feel like venturing to other places because of the relaxing Australian laid-back vibes.
Byron’s hippie history stands apart from what Melbourne and Sydney are known for. Yes, the town isn’t well-loaded with attractions like major cities in Australia are, but Byron Bay does offer luxurious bay resorts, award-winning restaurants, craft breweries, and exciting cuisine.
I feel even if you wander off the streets, doing nothing – you’d still feel as if you’ve done a lot in a day.
Byron Bay has been a long-time favorite of mine. The amount of things you can do in this tiny-sized coastal town is immense. Below are some of my suggestions (which you should definitely give a go)
Visit the Iconic Lighthouse
Byron Bay is known to house some of the country’s most beautiful lighthouses. Out of all, Cape Byron Lighthouse is the one you shouldn’t miss! Perched atop the hill, this particular lighthouse has been a symbolic landmark of Byron Bay. Moreover, the place isn’t only popular for its history and great panoramic views. You can head to the top of the hill near the lighthouse to view the nature and marine life of the area.
Experience the wellness culture
Byron Bay is not only full of beaches and coastal paradises but also a place known for wellness retreats. If you seek nourishment after a long hectic holiday, this is the town where you can book a couple of wellness stay packages. Even before modern age practices, Byron Bay was considered a sacred healing ground for Aboriginals. Since then, its development began, and today we see the town full of wellness retreats & spas.
Explore Byron Bay’s beaches
I’m sure by now you must’ve seen loads of beaches. But that’s the exciting part, right? You can never get enough of the beaches this country boasts. Similar to other coastal towns, Byron Bay does have excellent pristine beaches to swim, surf, and kayak. If you haven’t tried out any water-based activities, this might be your last chance to give it a go! Some must-visit beaches in Byron Bay include Main Beach, Little Wategos Beach, Tallow Beach, and Clarkes Beach.
Read Next | Byron Bay Itinerary: How to Spend 2 Days in Byron Bay
How to Plan Melbourne to Gold Coast Itinerary
By now, you might have a good idea about the places to visit on the Melbourne to Gold Coast route. But, the hassle of planning a road trip itinerary can be really challenging. It gets trickier, especially when you can’t link the above-suggested places on day-wise schedule. To make your work easier, we have curated a perfect Melbourne to Gold Coast itinerary (listing the abovementioned places, tours, and excursions).
Melbourne to Gold Coast Itinerary
Day 1
Depart from Melbourne
Melbourne to Wagga Wagga (4hr 49mins)
Explore the beautiful town of Wagga Wagga
Overnight at Wagga Wagga
Day 2
Wagga Wagga to Canberra (2hr 50mins)
Explore Canberra and its historical sites
Overnight in Canberra
Day 3
Canberra to Sydney (3hr 18mins)
Explore Sydney’s landmarks, beaches & local sites
Sydney to Palm Beach (52mins)
Overnight in Sydney
Day 4
Sydney to Port Macquarie (4hr 33mins)
Port Macquarie to Coffs Harbour (1hr 42mins)
Overnight at Coffs Harbour
Day 5
Coffs Harbour to Byron Bay (2hr 26mins)
Explore Byron Bay
Byron Bay to Gold Coast (1hr 8mins)
The above 5-day Melbourne to Gold Coast drive is a much more relaxed journey. You can tour most of the places in 4 days; however, I wouldn’t suggest crunching your schedule by cramping it too much. It’s best to rather appreciate each city in your own place, in a leisurely manner. Furthermore, I suggest adding an extra day between Canberra and Sydney to explore more of its landmarks.
No matter how you spend your time on this epic coastal road trip, give yourself a minimum of 5 days to enjoy Melbourne to Gold Coast road trip.
Where to Stay
The best part about the legendary Pacific coastal route is that there’s no shortage of accommodation options. No matter which town/city you choose, you’ll find a great bunch of varietals to choose from. Be it budgeted rooms, luxury apartments, beachfront villas, or private cabins, you’d find your preferenec as per your budget and style.
I recommend using Booking.com as your platform to book hotels throughout your hotel. I find it more useful because the rates are always more cheaper when compared to other booking engines. Moreover, if you book pre-season, you might get good discounts depending on the hotel selections and offers.
Popular Melbourne to Gold Coast Guided Tours
These are some of the popular guided tours of Australia. To make your Melbourne to Gold Coast itinerary more unique, add some of these local tour experiences and niche activities.
Further Readings & Resources
Love Australian road trips? Here’s a couple of in-depth guides:
Great Ocean Road: The Ultimate Great Ocean Road Itinerary for 2 Days
Melbourne to Coober Pedy: 9 Sensational Melbourne to Coober Pedy Road Trip Stops
Yarra Valley: Yarra Valley 3 Day Itinerary : Ultimate Guide (+Map & Tips)
Whitsundays: Whitsundays Itinerary 7 Days: Ultimate Guide (+ Sailing Ideas, Tips)
Explore Fleurieu Peninsula with us:
Experiences: Best Things to Do in the Fleurieu Peninsula of South Australia
Where to Stay: 10 Gorgeous Places to Stay on the Fleurieu Peninsula
Coastal Towns: 10 Unique Places to Visit on the Fleurieu Peninsula of South Australia
