Sydney and Melbourne are the two biggest cities in Australia and there are a number of ways to travel between the two. The quickest way is to fly between Melbourne and Sydney which takes just over an hour. But if you stay on the ground then you can take a fast or leisurely road trip between the two. Many drive the Hume Highway between Sydney and Melbourne because it is the quickest option. However, a scenic option which you can take as long as you like to drive, is to road trip along the Princes Highway, or the coast road between Melbourne and Sydney.  

In this post I am taking you on a road trip along the Princes Highway from Melbourne to Sydney. It is an Australian road trip I have done many times as I grew up in Sydney but live in Melbourne so I travel between the two regularly. 

For the purposes of writing this post we are starting in Melbourne, driving through the rolling Victorian countryside then head north along the south coast of New South Wales (NSW) and finish the trip in Sydney. When you look at a map of the route, you will notice there are many places off the Princes Highway you could visit. In this Princes Highway road trip post we are not deviating off the Princes Highway. 

If you are starting this Princes Highway road trip in Sydney, you will need to read this post backwards – haha!

Princes Highway Facts

• So how long will it take to drive the Princes Highway from Melbourne to Sydney I hear you ask? Well, the Princes Highway route between Sydney and Melbourne is around 1032km or 640 miles.
• It takes around 12 hours to drive if you drive straight along the road at the speed limit. But you can take as long as you like if you decide you want to stop and discover many of the towns along the way.
• And how did the Princes Highway get its name? if you are wondering how it got is name, it was renamed Prince’s Highway after the planned visit to Australia by the Prince of Wales in 1920. The one that later become King Edward VIII and after abdicating, the Duke of Windsor). 
• Known as M1 but becomes A1 – it is part of the M1 that traverses Australia. And the one many follow on the big lap of Australia.

Princes Highway Melbourne to Sydney?

Need to rent a car for this road trip, check out DiscoverCars where you can compare vehicles and book one.

TIP: Don’t forget to do a vehicle check before you leave.

Best Towns to Visit on the Princes Highway

Melbourne

Melbourne is where this road trip on the Princes Highway begins. There is plenty to do in Melbourne, check out my post on how to spend 7 days in Melbourne for inspiration.

Leave Melbourne and follow the highway east. You will be travelling on a mulit-lane highway passing many signs to different areas including to Phillip Island, the Mornington Peninsula, Wilsons Promontory National Park, Wonthaggi and Inverloch. It isn’t that scenic, unless you like looking at industrial estates, new housing estates and some open farming land. You will wind your way through the busy regional centres of Traralgon, Morwell, Yallourn (where you might see the Yallourn Power Station), Sale and Bairnsdale before arriving in Lakes Entrance. Lakes entrance is the first stop on this road trip along the Princes Highway.

Yallourn Power Plant can be seen in the distance driving on the Princes Highway

Lakes Entrance

Distance Melbourne to Lakes Entrance: 318km taking a little over 4 hours.

What to See and Do in Lakes Entrance

Lakes Entrance is where Australia’s largest network of waterways meets the ocean. Cover more than 400 sq km, the lakes are a network of inland waterways fed by five different rivers. If you ever wanted to have a water-based holiday with plenty of activities of swimming, surfing, boating and fishing then there are endless expanses of water in the Gippsland Lakes. 

Lakes Entrance is also a great base to discover the area. The town is located at the mouth of the Gippsland Lakes and is connected to Ninety Mile surf beach by a footbridge. This slender natural barrier divides the lakes from Bass Strait. So you can enjoy the calm waters of the lake or head to the beach.

Needing a break from water activities you can head inland to places like Buchan. This is one of Victoria’s oldest European settlements and is famous its limestone caves. There is Griffiths Sea Shell Museum and Marine Display which has one of Australia’s largest private collections of natural sea life featuring some 90,000 shells and sea creatures. Plus there are plenty of cafes and restaurants to enjoy the local produce of the water and to watch the world go by.

Lots of water for boating, fishing and swimming at Lakes Entrance

Where to Stay in Lakes Entrance

Many Victorians holiday in Lakes Entrance which means there are plenty of accommodation options available. So wether you are coasting the Princes Highway solo, in a couple, with a friend or travelling with kids and your caravan here are options for accommodation Lakes Entrance.

Eden

Distance Lakes Entrance to Eden: 241km taking around 2 hours 45 minutes.

Leave Lakes Entrance and following the highway. You will see the sign to Mallacoota but it is off the highway and worth a few days visit. Continuing you will drive through tall forests. Maybe you might want to stop at Cann River for a cuppa. Cann River is at the junction of Princes and Monaro Highway. The Monaro Highway takes you to Cooma near the Snowy Mountains and some of the best places to ski in Australia. Continuing on the Princes Highway you will cross the Victorian and NSW border without even knowing it before arriving in Eden, on the far south coast of NSW.

What to See and Do in Eden

• Check out the Whale Museum
• Do the Killer Whale Trail
• Enjoy a meal at the Eden Hotel or in one of the vibrant cafes
• Maybe see whales from shore or go on a sea life tour
• See Twofold Bay
• Discover a hike or picnic area in the Ben Boyd National Park

See ‘Old Ben’ at the Whale Museum, Eden & check out the ocean views at Twofold Bay

Where to Stay in Eden

Eden is a popular places to stop on the Princes Highway and has accommodation catering for every budget. From caravan parks to hotels with fabulous views. If needing accommodation in Eden, check out these Eden accommodation options.

Bega

Leaving Eden on this Prince Highway road trip you will pass through Pambula and Merimbula, two wonderful NSW coastal towns. From here you will see the road along the coast taking you to places such as Tathra. However, sticking to the A1 you will arrive in Bega. 

What to See and Do in Bega

I always like to stop in Bega as it has a couple of great bakeries and coffee shops. Plus it is home to the Bega Cheese Factory.

• Visit the Bega Cheese Factory and walk around its small museum discovering how cheese has been made over the years
• walk around town to check out the old buildings along the main street and maybe pop into the bakery or coffee shop

drive through small towns like Pambula on your way to Bega to visit the Bega Cheese Factory

Where to Stay in Bega

Bega is just one of the many places you could stay while driving in this part of NSW. If after accommodation in Bega, check out options here.

Batemans Bay

Distance Bega to Batemans Bay: 145km or about 2 hours

Driving north from Bega you will pass through a number of towns before reaching Batemans Bay, the next suggested stop on this Princes Highway road trip between Melbourne and Sydney.

 Batemans Bay is one of the largest towns on the NSW south coast. On the way, you could stop in towns on the Princes Highway before reaching Batemans Bay.

• Tilba Tilba – is a National Trust village with preserved 19th Century weatherboard architecture. Take a walk along the main street and step inside some interesting boutiques selling a variety of hand-make goods. Check out the Tilba Cheese Factory for some locally made cheeses.
• Narooma – built on the Wagonga Inlet, be treated with fabulous water views as you drive through.
• Mogo. Mogo was devastated in the Black Summer bushfires in 2019/2020 and is being rebuilt. Pop in to one or more of the gorgeous shops or visit the Mogo Zoo.

Mogo is a charming village to stop in on the Princes Highway, and it has a private zoo

Best Things to See and Do in Batemans Bay

Known as ‘The Bay’ to the locals, Batemans Bay is built on the Clyde River’s broad estuary. Driving across the bridge you get wonderful views over the area. 

• Go for a drive along the coast and check out the beaches
• Like golf, there is a 27-hole championship golf course for a few swings!
• Walk around the main town for some shopping and have a bite to eat in one of the cafes, or enjoy some fish and chips by the water.
• Just after the bridge is Kings Road leading to Canberra but that is for another road trip.

Batemans Bay – great views as you cross the bridge

Where to Stay in Batemans Bay

Batemans Bay has loads of accommodation from caravan parks to hotels. Check out Batemans Bay accommodation options here.

Nowra 

Distance Batemans Bay to Nowra: 117km or about 1.5 hours to drive. 

Leaving Batemans Bay head north passing through many towns:

• Ulladulla is the largest commercial and tourist town in southern Shoalhaven. Check out the main street with its surf shops, boutiques and cafes. Maybe has some fish and chips down by the boat harbour.
• Milton is the birthplace of Australian poet Henry Kendall. Dating back to 1859 this quaint historic village is classified by the National Trust for its Gothic-style architecture. Many of which you see driving through the town. Stop in and discover a diverse range of arts and crafts, jewellery, collectables and yummy cuisines. 
• Pigeon House Mountain – inland from Milton you will see Pigeon House Mountain, you would have to deviate off the Princes Highway if you wanted to climb this impressive mountain. If you do, you will be treated to 360 degree panoramic views. I would budget a day to do this though!
• Sussex Inlet and Jervis Bay. These aren’t towns but areas in the Shoalhaven that are very popular holiday spots. And you need to deviate off the Princes Highway to visit them.

Nowra, meaning black cockatoo is the commercial and administrative hub of the Shoalhaven region. It is built on the southern shore of the Shoalhaven River with its twin city, Bomaderry built on the northern shore.

What to See and Do in Nowra

• Walk the 5.5 km return Bens Walk and discover the Shoalhaven River.
• Visit Werninck Craft Cottage on Plunkett Street.
• Enjoy shopping on Berry Street, Nowra’s main street.
• Visit the Fleet Air Arm Museum at HMAS Albatross. I always know when I’ve arrived in Nowra as there is a naval helicopter near the Information Centre.
• Use Nowra as a base to visit local Berry, Kangaroo Valley, and Jervis Bay.
• Discover the local produce including many wineries such as Coolangatta Estate and Three Figs Winery.
• Nowra is the end, or beginning of the Grand Pacific Drive which takes you to/from Sydney along the coast road taking in beautiful seaside towns of Gerroa, Gerringong, Kiama, Thirroul on your way to Wollongong.

Naval Helicopter as you arrive in Nowra and one of the many wineries to enjoy

Where to Stay in Nowra

Nowra has plenty of accommodation options ranging from caravan parks, hotels to resorts. So if you decide to stay in Nowra or surrounds, there are plenty of accommodation options. Check out Nowra accommodation options only.

Wollongong

Distance Nowra to Wollongong: 83kms or just over an hour or so to drive.

Best Things to See and Do in Wollongong

The City of Wollongong or ‘The Gong’ is an hour or so north of Nowra and about the same south of Sydney. It is a hub of the Illawarra region. Being NSW’s 3rd largest city you will find it between the Illawarra escarpment and the Pacific Ocean.

• Being a coastal area there are plenty of beaches and ocean rock pools to enjoy. 
• Enjoy the cosmopolitan lifestyle of Wollongong and shop till you drop along the Crown Street Mall.
• Visit the Nan Tien Temple, the largest Buddhist Temple in the Southern Hemisphere.
• Drive through the industrial area passing the Port Kembla Steel Works.

Where to Stay in Wollongong

If stopping in Wollongong for a night or two there is plenty of accommodation available. Check out Wollongong accommodation options here.

Sydney

Distance Wollongong to Sydney CBD: 90kms or about 1.5 hours to drive depending on the traffic and where in Sydney you plan to go. On the way up to Sydney, stop at Sublime Point for fabulous views over Wollongong and the surrounding region. Mt Keira Lookout also provides sweeping views from the escarpment to the ocean.  Alternatively, drive the Grand Pacific Drive.

Suggested Princes Highway Itinerary

If you have a week or so to spare, turn this 12 hour road trip into a road trip holiday. Here is a suggested itinerary

Days

1 – Leave Melbourne and drive to Lakes Entrance
2 – Explore Lakes Entrance having lunch at Metung Pub
3 – Drive to Eden
4 – Explore Eden and surrounds
5 – Drive to Batemans Bay stopping in Mogo and visiting Mogo Zoo for the afternoon
6 – Explore Batemans Bay
7 – Drive to Nowra
8 – Explore Nowra and Jervis Bay
9 – Drive to Sydney via Wollongong

Princes Highway Road Trip – Melbourne to Sydney

By the time you reach Sydney you will be dusting out the sand from your car from taking the often by-passed Princes Highway road trip in favour of a speedy transit along the Hume Highway. But I’m sure you are glad you took the slower scenic option! And so ends this Princes Highway road trip. Have you driven the Princes Highway Melbourne to Sydney road trip?