Welcome to The Wanderbug, a travel blog written for humans, by a human. I'm Genevieve, and every guide is personally written by me and based on my firsthand travel experiences.

The drive from Melbourne to Brisbane is an iconic Australian road trip, especially when you take the Pacific Coast route, along the east coast of Australia. Heading out east from Melbourne, most of this road trip is spent on the coastline of New South Wales, where you’ll find dozens of stunning beaches, sleepy beach towns, and the rolling hills of the dairy belt farmland, before reaching southeast Queensland. Below, I’ve shared my itinerary for a Melbourne to Brisbane Road trip, including approximate driving distances, recommended accommodation and detours.

We took two weeks to drive from Melbourne to Brisbane, to enjoy a slower pace and a few two-night stays along the way. You could easily cut this down to 4 or 5 days, but you’ll spend more time in the car with longer driving days. Personally, I loved being able to take our time and to have plenty of time for detours to small country towns, dairies and for scenic walks.

We did this road trip from Melbourne to Brisbane in May, which is shoulder season. We had beautiful weather for a majority of the trip, aside from a few very heavy rainy days as we drove through the North Coast of New South Wales at the end of the trip. Summer will be better weather for swimming, but naturally busier – and no guarantee of dry days on the North Coast of NSW, which typically experiences summer rains.

Melbourne to Brisbane Road Trip: 14 Day Itinerary

This 2-week itinerary for a Melbourne to Brisbane Road Trip via the East Coast allows for plenty of time to enjoy each major destination, and for local detours and sightseeing. You could do the trip in 5-7 days, by spending one night in each destination, and dropping a few overnight stays in favour of longer driving days. If you’re doing this trip as a loop, you could return along an inland route.

Each destination is approximately a 3 hour drive, there’s some extra driving time depending on what other stops and detours you make.

On our trip, we drove through Sydney without stopping, because we’ve been to Sydney several times and would rather visit Sydney for a weekend then just a couple of hours. However, if you haven’t been to Sydney before, I recommend staying in Sydney rather than Kiama, and spending 2-3 days in Sydney.

Melbourne to Brisbane Road Trip: Itinerary Summary

This overview of the itinerary gives the drive time & distance, if you didn’t make any stops or detours along the way. This is just to give an indication of the minimum hours and distance covered each day, but keep in mind that the best way to enjoy the trip is to make plenty of small detours & stops along the way!

• Day 1: Melbourne to Lakes Entrance (4 hours, 320 km)
• Day 2: Lakes Entrance to Merimbula (3 hrs 10 mins, 267km)
• Day 3: Merimbula & Surrounds
• Day 4: Merimbula to Narooma (1 hr 20 mins, 108 km)
• Day 5: Narooma & Surrounds
• Day 6: Narooma to Mollymook (2 hrs, 124km)
  • Alternative: Stay in Huskisson, in Jervis Bay, if not wanting to stay at Bannisters in Mollymook. If you stay in Mollymook, you can still visit Jervis Bay on Day 8
• Day 7: Mollymook
• Day 8: Mollymook to Kiama (1 hr 25 mins, 104km)
  • Alternative: Add a few days in Sydney, instead of staying overnight in Kiama. Kiama is still worth a stop, to see the Kiama Blowhole. 
• Day 9: Kiama to Port Stephens (3 hrs 20 mins, 320km)
  • Alternative: If not staying at Bannisters Port Stephens, stop overnight in Newcastle instead.
• Day 10: Port Stephens (or Newcastle)
• Day 11: Port Stephens to Port Macquarie
• Day 12: Port Macquarie to Byron Bay (or Gold Coast)
• Day 13: Byron Bay (or Gold Coast)
• Day 14: Byron Bay to Brisbane

There are a few places that we stayed, where I’d recommend staying somewhere else instead. 

We stayed in Wollongong for a night, but much preferred the nearby beach town of Kiama. I’d recommend staying in Kiama instead, unless you’ve never been to Sydney, in which case, stay in Sydneyl.

We stayed at Bannisters By the Sea in Mollymook, which is beautiful but a splurge. Unless you’re staying at the hotel, I’d recommend swapping this stay for a night in Huskisson, the main town in Jervis Bay.

We stayed at Bannisters Port Stephens, and really enjoyed the Tomaree Head Summit Walk, but if you’re not planning to do the hike or stay at the hotel, I’d recommend staying overnight in vibrant Newcastle instead. I didn’t know what to expect of Newcastle, but really liked it and wished we’d had more time here!

We stayed in Coffs Harbour, and had a great Air BnB, but I would recommend staying in Byron Bay instead. Byron Bay is a 4-hour drive from Port Macquarie, the previous destination. You could also stay on the Gold Coast instead of Byron Bay. You’ll have more hotel options on the Gold Coast, but it’s large city rather than a walkable beach town.

Day-by-Day Itinerary Melbourne-Brisbane Coastal Route (14 Days)

Day 1: Melbourne to Lakes Entrance

Where to stay: The Esplanade Resort & Spa

The first day of your Melbourne to Brisbane road trip takes you through Gippsland in eastern Victoria. Stop for coffee & to stretch your legs in leafy Warrigal, and make time for a spectacular lunch at the Tinamba Hotel, a highly-awarded regional gastropub.

Lakes Entrance is a popular, waterfront holiday town in Gippsland. If time allows, take a scenic wildlife cruise (check the schedule in advance). For dinner, make a reservation at Sodafish, one of Victoria’s best regional seafood restaurants. It’s rare that I’d recommend a destination lunch and dinner booking in the same day, but it’s the best use of time in this itinerary, and both restaurants are worth your while.

If you want to extend your trip, you could add 2 nights in Wilsons Promontory National Park, before driving to Lakes Entrance. Wilsons Prom is a significant detour, so this only makes sense if you’re unlikely to return to this part of Victoria another time.

Day 2: Lakes Entrance to Merimbula

Where to stay: NRMA Beach Holiday Resort – we stayed in a Safari Tent with ocean views, but there are also standard cabins available. This was one of my favourite accommodations of the trip!

On the second day of your road trip, you’ll cross the state border from Victoria into New South Wales. In the morning, if you want to make a detour, peel off the highway at Orbost and head to the scenic lookouts at Marlo and Cape Conran, before returning to the highway and heading towards the Sapphire Coast in New South Wales.

The former whaling town of Eden is a pretty place to stop, and if you’ve got time you could check out the Eden Killer Whale Museum. The Pinnacles Loop walking track is a short and easy bush walk, that leads to a great view of the orange and white cliffs of The Pinnacles.

End the day in Merimbula, the largest coastal town on the Sapphire Coast. Head into town for dinner. Dulcie’s Cottage has a cozy, nostalgic vibe, often has live music, and serves burgers.

Day 3: Merimbula  

Day 3 is a low-driving day. If staying at NRMA Beach Holiday Resort, start your day with a coffee by the ocean, from the coffee van overlooking Short Point Beach at the back of the property.

You could drive into the charming country village of Candelo for breakfast or coffee, or spend the day exploring Merimbula’s beautiful beaches. If visiting between May-November, book a whale watching cruise!

You could make a detour into Bega if you wanted to visit the Bega Heritage Centre, which is a small museum, but it’s not a must-see.

Day 4: Merimbula to Narooma

Where to stay: Surf Beach Narooma Holiday Park

Leave the Sapphire Coast today, and drive to beautiful Narooma. Make stops at the pretty seaside towns of Tathra and Bermagui.

Tathra has a historic wharf, which has a cafe (check the opening hours before visiting), and a short headland walk with lovely ocean views.

Bermagui is a small beach town, with a beautiful beach called Horseshoe Bay Beach, and the Bermagui Blue Pool, which is a public sea bath. Standing on the headland near the Blue Pool, we spotted our first pod of seals of the trip, splashing in the ocean!

Just north of Bermagui, check out Camel Rock at Camel Rock Beach. Horse Head Rock is also in the vicinity, but when we visited we couldn’t find a walking track to reach it – it seems to have closed.

Day 5: Narooma

Narooma is a stunning coastal town, and our favourite destination on this road trip! Narooma is known for its top-quality rock oysters, so make sure to try some while you’re in town. The best place to enjoy them is the The Oyster Farmer’s Daughter, an open-air restaurant along the banks of the Wagonga Inlet. It’s such a peaceful setting, and the full menu is fresh and delicious.

While in Narooma, spot seals at Seal Rock, book a whale watching tour if you’re in town during whale watching season, and make a reservation at Quarterdeck, a Mexican and Caribbean-inspired waterfront restaurant.

Take the short drive into the charming, historic town of Central Tilba, which is a National Trust town and is home to the Tilba Dairy. You can’t tour the dairy, but you can visit the farm shop for cheese & milkshakes!

For more ideas, check out my post about the best things to do in Narooma.

Day 6: Narooma to Mollymook

Where to stay: Bannisters by the Sea or Bannisters Pavillion, or stay in Huskisson in Jervis Bay

Today’s itinerary takes you from Narooma into the Shoalhaven region. Start by stopping into Bodalla Dairy, a historic dairy with a new lease on life, where you can do a cheese tasting, feed poddy calves & get the most delicious ice cream.

Heading north, detour to some beautiful, isolated beaches like North Durras Beach and Depot Beach, before arriving in Mollymook.

We stayed at Bannisters by the Sea in Mollymook, a well-known destination hotel. However, if you aren’t going to stay at Bannisters, I’d recommend staying in Huskisson in Jervis Bay. Jervis Bay beach-hopping is on Day 9 of this itinerary.

On the way to Mollymook, stop in at Hayden’s Pies in Ulladulla for the best meat pie you’ll ever find. We ate ours while taking in the view from the Ulladulla lighthouse.

Day 7: Mollymook

Unwind by the pool at Bannisters in the morning, before hopping in the car again for the short drive to Cupitt’s Estate. This is a gorgeous winery that looks like it was plucked straight from the Tuscan countryside. Start with a wine tasting, followed by lunch in the garden restaurant.

Rick Stein is a destination seafood restaurant at Bannisters, but you could also have dinner at the Bannisters Rooftop Restaurant, or drive to Milton, a charming village with a handful of high quality restaurants.

Day 8: Mollymook to Kiama

Where to stay: The Sebel Kiama or this Coastal Villa

As I mentioned above, we stayed in Wollongong on Day 8, but I’d recommend skipping Wollongong and staying in beautiful Kiama instead.

Drive from Mollymook to Jervis Bay, and spend the day beach hopping. Hyam’s Beach is the main drawcard to Jervis Bay and is considered one of the best beaches in Australia, with its powdery white sand and crystal clear water. We spent most of our time at Hyam’s Beach, but also liked Little Hyam’s Beach and Greenfields Beach. 

On your way to Kiama, make a detour into the charming country town of Berry. I highly recommend joining the queue at Milkwood Bakery, and picking up some fresh, hot donuts from the Berry Donut Van to take with you on your next drive.

Kiama is a beautiful seaside town, best known for the Kiama Blowhole. The blowhole is the largest ocean blowhole in the Southern Hemisphere, so even if you’re not staying overnight in Kiama, it’s worth stopping for a look!

Day 9: Kiama to Port Stephens

Where to stay: Bannisters Port Stephens

Either way, on your way out from Kiama to your next destination, head to the Seacliff Bridge just outside Wollongong for one of the most scenic stretches of highway in Australia, and make a stop in the beautiful beach town of Terrigal, which is north of Sydney. 

We drove straight through Sydney, but if you haven’t been before, spend a day or two here! You could stay in Sydney for two nights instead of Kiama, and stay in Newcastle for one night, rather than spending two nights in Port Stephens.

If staying in Port Stephens, still make time to stop in Newcastle on the way. Newcastle is a vibrant seaside town, formerly best known for the coal industry, and increasingly becoming known for its vibrant cultural scene.

Day 10: Port Stephens (or Newcastle)

We stayed at Bannisters Port Stephens for two nights, and used our full day in Port Stephens to have plenty of time to do the Tomaree Head Summit Walk. I really enjoyed our stay here, but unless you’re planning to do the walk and to stay at Bannisters, I’d recommend swapping this stop for a night in Newcastle instead.

Day 11: Port Stephens to Port Macquarie

Where to stay: Rydges Port Macquarie

On the drive to Port Macquarie today, make time to stop in Forster, an idyllic coastal town situated on a land spit between Wallis Lake and the Pacific Ocean. There are a number of cafes and restaurants in the heart of town, making it a good spot to stop for lunch and a stroll along the waterfront.

Port Macquarie is a pretty beach town on the Mid North Coast, at the mouth of the Hastings River. It’s one of the largest towns on this road trip, with plenty of accommodation options. It rained nearly the whole time we were in Port Macquarie, but the weather cleared just long enough for us to walk along The Breakwall, a waterfront walking trail lined with a rainbow row of rocks painted by the community, and to have dinner at Little Shack, which I highly recommend for a casual, al fresco dinner in a beautiful setting.

Day 12: Port Macquarie to Byron Bay

Where to stay: Hotel Marvel

On our road trip, we stayed in Coffs Harbour for a night before reaching Byron Bay, but I’d recommend bypassing Coffs in favour of an extra night in Byron Bay.

On your way from Port Macquarie to Byron Bay, make a detour inland to visit pretty Bellingen, a vibrant village near Waterfall Way. Stop in at Hyde for coffee & to browse carefully curated homewares, and don’t miss the gorgeous Alternatives Bookshop.

Sawtell, a pretty village that is 10km south of Coffs Harbour, is also worth a brief stop – even if just to pick up something for lunch at Hearthfire Bakery.

Coffs Harbour is home to the Big Banana, one of Australia’s many “Big” things (See also: The Big Pineapple, the Big Mango, and the Big Prawn – the latter you’ll be able to detour to see later today). We drove past the Big Banana but decided not to stop in, because it’s a “fun park” (laser tag, toboggans, etc).

We did, however, detour into Ballina to see the Big Prawn, which is located just outside a Bunnings. Best view is from the Bunnings carpark.

End the day in Byron Bay, the most famous beach town in Australia. Make sure to head down to Main Beach at sunset.

Alternatively, you could add an hour’s drive to your trip and stay on the Gold Coast instead.

Day 13: Byron Bay

Spend the day relaxing in Byron Bay. Start with watching the sunrise over the ocean, from the Byron Bay Lighthouse, before spending the day on the beach, at Main Beach.

If you don’t mind hopping in the car again, you could drive into Bangalow, or have lunch at Three Blue Ducks, a restaurant set on a picturesque, 80-acre farm. Reservations are essential! 

Day 14: Byron Bay to Brisbane

Where to stay: Best hotels in Brisbane

For your last day of the trip, leave Byron Bay after breakfast and spend most of the day on the Gold Coast. The Gold Coast is an hour’s drive from Byron Bay.

Surfers Paradise is the most famous neighbourhood on the Gold Coast, but I’d recommend spending your time in Coolangatta, Burleigh Heads or Broadbeach instead. All have beautiful patrolled beaches. For a swim without the surf, head to Currumbin Alley, which is where Currumbin Creek meets the sea. The current can still be strong here, and sharks have been spotted in the area, so only swim when it’s patrolled and between the flags. Check out my Gold Coast travel guide for more ideas.

Near the end of the day, make the hour’s drive to Brisbane. If you’re spending a few days in Brisbane, check out my Brisbane Travel Guide or Itinerary for 3 Days in Brisbane.

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