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Melbourne to Sydney Adventure





Travel through bushlands and along beaches up a section of Australia’s east coast
Spot native wildlife as you travel along Australia’s scenic east coast and learn about First Nations culture. On this seven-day adventure from Melbourne to Sydney, you’ll drive along the Bunurong coast to Wilsons Promontory, where you'll walk along the Lily Pilly Gully Boardwalk and visit Squeaky Beach – known for its sand that squeaks when you walk on it. Take the ferry to Raymond Island and see koalas in their natural habitat, walk the Corrigan Suspension Bridge Loop through a rainforest that dinosaurs used to roam, then unwind at Jervis Bay and learn the rich First Nations history from Traditional Custodians on the Bundian Way.
Start: Melbourne, Australia
End: Sydney, Australia
- Duration
- 7 days
- Group size
- 1 to 12
- Minimum age
- 15 years old
- Style
- Original
- Theme
Our themes categorize trips based on a common interest or activity, while showcasing the highlights of a destination.
- Explorer
- Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Why you'll love this trip
- Relax at Jervis Bay, known for its snow-coloured sand. Spend your morning swimming in this gorgeous coastal paradise.
- Travel to Wilsons Promontory – the largest national park in Victoria. Walk through the temperate rainforest and visit Squeaky Beach, known for its rounded quartz sand that squeaks when you walk on it.
- Learn about the country’s rich First Nations history from Traditional Custodians during your Bilbaan Cultural Experience – a walking trail part of the Gateway to Bundian Way.
- Spot Koalas in their natural habitat on Raymond Island. Learn about their leisurely lifestyle, their diet of eucalyptus leaves and how they communicate with one another.
- Join a guided oyster tour on Pambula Lake and see how Sydney rock oysters are sustainably farmed. Learn about the area’s geology and culture from a local oyster farmer and taste some of the fresh shellfish.
Itinerary
Welcome to Melbourne! Or Narrm in the language of the Wurundjeri people, who are the Traditional Owners of the land on which Melbourne is now located. Your adventure starts straight away with a welcome meeting at 9 am this morning. Travel to Wilsons Promontory along the Bunurong coast. When you arrive, head inland through the temperate rainforest along the Lily Pilly Gully Boardwalk. As you walk, look out for local wildlife like emus, wombats and kangaroos. Then, visit Squeaky Beach, known for its rounded quartz sand that squeaks when you walk on it! Listen for the sounds as you go and take in the surrounding granite boulders at either end of the beach. After, travel to Foster where you’ll spend the night.
- Motel (1 night)
There are no meals included on this day.
- Wilsons Promontory - Pillar Point Walk, Lilly Pilly Gully Walk & Squeaky Beach
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance and emergency contact details at this time. If you are going to be late, please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.
Your travel time today will be approximately 6 hours.
The Lilly Pilly Gully nature walk is a Grade 2 return walk that takes 1.5 hours. It’s a relatively easy flat gravel track.
This morning, walk the Corrigan Suspension Bridge Loop. Surrounded by South Gippsland wet forest and temperate rainforest, this is where the dinosaurs once roamed! You'll pass by several tall myrtle beech trees here – the descendants of the ancient gondwana beech forests dating back around 20 million years ago. Then, travel from Tarra-bulga to Rosedale, where you’ll stop for lunch. After, continue to Paynesville, where you’ll take the ferry to Raymond Island. When you arrive, follow the Raymond Island Koala Trail and see koalas in their natural habitat. Along the way, learn about their preferences for specific eucalyptus species, their leisurely lifestyle and the intriguing ways they communicate with each another.
- Motel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Tarra Bulga National Park - Corrigan Suspension Bridge Walk
- Raymond Island - Ferry & Koala Trail
Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours.
The Corrigan Suspension Bridge trail is a 2.9km loop walk that will take around 1.5 hours to complete. The path is well formed but can be slippery when wet. The Raymond Island Koala Trail is a 2km loop walk on flat ground. There is a mix of gravel, sand and paved surfaces.
Spend today exploring the Buchan Caves. When you arrive, join a guided tour through the Royal Cave with a local guide. Along the way, you’ll learn about the limestone sculptures, calcite-rimmed pools and baroque stalactites and stalagmites, which have formed through natural processes over thousands of years. This afternoon, you're free to relax at your accommodation in Eden or explore the area at your own pace.
- Cabin (1 night)
- Lunch
- Buchan Caves - Guided Tour
Your travel time today will be approximately 5.5 hours.
Today's cave tour at Buchan includes 300 steps and is around 1km in distance, and there is some stooping required. You will be underground for approximately 45 minutes and it is cool 17 degrees centigrade all year.
Connect to Country on today’s Bilbaan Cultural Experience – a trail that is part of the Gateway to the Bundian Way. Starting in Jigamy, home to the Keeping Place, you’ll walk along coastal bushland with sweeping ocean views to the Pinnacles. Guided by Country Custodians, you’ll hear about their deep connection to Country, learning about the local Aboriginal community, their cultural practices and the local plants and wildlife. The rest of today is free for you to continue exploring Eden in your own time.
- Cabin (1 night)
There are no meals included on this day.
- Eden - Bilbaan Cultural Experience
Your walking distance today will be approximately 3 km.
The Bundian Way Trail is a Grade 3, 3.8km loop walk. The terrain is gently undulating and is a mix of gravel and sand.
Begin today with an oyster tour on Pambula Lake near Merimbula. Here, you’ll see how Sydney rock oysters are sustainably farmed using modern aquaculture techniques and learn about the area’s geology from a local oyster farmer. After, you can taste some of the fresh shellfish caught along the way! Stop for lunch at the Merimbula Wharf Restaurant before continuing to Bermagui Blue Hole. When you arrive, walk down the cliff to the 50 m long seawater swimming hole, known for its sapphire-blue water and marine life, like sea stars, crabs and marine snails. Maybe dive into the pool or walk to the viewing platform and soak in the views over the pool and surrounding coast. Continue to your overnight accommodation in Jervis Bay.
- Motel (1 night)
There are no meals included on this day.
- Merimbula - Captain Sponge Oyster Tour on Pambula Lake
Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours.
This morning, explore the famous white sand beaches of Jervis Bay. Start with a visit to Murrays Beach, world-renowned for its sands and calm, turquoise waters, then embark on the Governors Head walk to a lookout for stunning panoramic views of the bay and Bowen Island. Later, travel from Jervis Bay to Sydney. This is a bit of a long drive, so it's a good idea to get stuck into your book or watch the scenery pass you by. You’ll travel along the famous Sea Cliff Bridge – a 665 m long bridge that extends over the ocean. When you arrive in Sydney tonight, perhaps head out for dinner with your fellow travellers.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Lunch
- Jervis Bay - Murrays Beach & Governers Head Walk
Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours.
The Governors Head Trail is a 2.3 return walk that will take around 1.5 hours. The terrain has a gentle gradient and is a mix of gravel and sand.
After breakfast, your trip will come to an end. If you’d like to stay longer, just talk to your booking agent ahead of time.
There are no meals included on this day.
This trip ends after breakfast this morning. If you would like to continue your travels along Australia's East Coast please have a look at our 'Sydney to Brisbane Adventure' (trip code PZSB) and 'Sydney to Cairns Adventure' (trip code PZSPC). Both trips seamlessly connect on select dates.
Inclusions and activities
Destinations
AustraliaMeals
1 breakfast, 2 lunches
Transport
Private vehicle
Accommodation
Motel (3 nights), Cabins (2 nights), Hotel (1 night)
Included activities
- Wilsons Promontory - Pillar Point Walk, Lilly Pilly Gully Walk & Squeaky Beach
- Tarra Bulga National Park - Corrigan Suspension Bridge Walk
- Raymond Island - Ferry & Koala Trail
- Buchan Caves - Guided Tour
- Eden - Bilbaan Cultural Experience
- Merimbula - Captain Sponge Oyster Tour on Pambula Lake
- Jervis Bay - Murrays Beach & Governers Head Walk
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Before you book you should know
- If you want to explore more of Australia on other classic road trips, check out our Sydney to Brisbane Adventure or Sydney to Cairns Adventure. These trips can be combined with the Melbourne to Sydney Adventure on select dates. See trip codes PZSOC & PZSNC on our website.
- This trip covers around 1000 km (620 miles) over seven days. There are some long travelling days but it’s all part of the adventure and a great way to get to know your fellow travellers.
START POINT LOCATION & TIME
The trip starts in Melbourne with a pick up at 9am on Day 1 from our joining point. Please read the joining point instructions in your trip notes for more details. The trip finishes in Sydney in the morning of on Day 7 after breakfast at our finish point hotel. You are free to depart at any time on this day. Accommodation is not included on this day but can be booked on request subject to availability.
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
A Single Supplement can be booked if you'd prefer not to share a room on this trip, subject to availability.
Visa information is provided by Sherpa, a third-party. The "Add connection" feature shows transit visa requirements only and does not include full entry visa needs. Please note, additional service fees apply if you choose to purchase a visa through Sherpa.
Travel and visa requirements
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
National Gallery of Victoria (NGV International)
180 St Kilda Road
In front of the main entrance to the NGV facing St Kilda Road
Melbourne
AUSTRALIA
Instructions
Please meet your leader and the vehicle on the footpath outside the main entrance to the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV). There is a bus parking zone which is where the bus will be stopping to pick you up.
The National Gallery of Victoria is located about 500 metres south of Flinders Street Station and Federation Square (approx 10 minutes on foot). Alternatively multiple tram lines travel from the city along St Kilda Road. Please get off at tram stop 14 'Arts Precinct/St Kilda Road'. Please note that this stop is outside of the free tram zone.
From Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (airport code MEL), your best option is to take the Skybus to Southern Cross railway station. The bus journey takes about 25 minutes and departs frequently. Southern Cross railway station is located at the south-western corner of Melbourne's CBD, from where you can catch free trams within the CBD. Alternatively, you can take a taxi or Uber from the airport.
Dates and prices
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