Road Trip From Melbourne to Sydney in Rental Car

Road trip from Melbourne to Sydney – A brief overview

Melbourne and Sydney are the two of the most iconic cities in Australia and planning a road trip from one city to another is one of the wish lists of several leisure tourists. Your Melbourne to Sydney road trip will cover a varied landscape, including metropolitan cities, small towns, beaches, and amazing wildlife. In this blog, we will share all the information related to car rental Melbourne to Sydney, including car hire companies that offer 1-way deals, rental car pick-up and drop-off details, and a list of places that you can explore on the way. Rent a car in Australia to enjoy this epic road trip, which is full of awe-inspiring sights.

Road trip details
Starting poiht Melbourne
Ending point Sydney
Distance 1,638 km (1,018 miles)
Recommended duration 5 – 7 days
Transportation Rental car

Suppliers offering Melbourne to Sydney one-way car hire deals

Aerodrive Car Rental, Atlas Car & Truck Rental, National Car Rental, Keddy, and Europcar offer one way car rental Melbourne to Sydney deals.

  • Aerodrive Car RentalAerodrive Car Rental
  • Atlas Car RentalAtlas Car Rental
  • National Car RentalNational Car Rental
  • EuropcarEuropcar

Melbourne to Sydney road trip route

Covering more than 1,600 km, this road trip will include Southeast Australia’s best picturesque sites – Melbourne, Walhalla, Wilsons Promontory, Gippsland Lakes, Croajingolong National Park, Narooma, Canberra, and Sydney. Keep aside a minimum of 7 days to comfortably explore the places where you will stay during the road trip. Please have a look at the road map to plan your ultimate road trip from Melbourne to Sydney.

Melbourne

Melbourne

Melbourne, the capital of Australia’s Victoria State, is spread across 803.1 sq mi. The city is largely settled on the Port Phillip’s coastline and spread further toward the Macedon and Dandenong ranges. One of the most liveable cities in the world, Melbourne features a long list of worth seeing places such as Melbourne City Center, National Gallery of Australia, Flinders Street, and Royal Exhibition Building – a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to name a few.

Walhalla

Walhalla

A small town in Victoria, Walhalla was founded in 1862. A former gold-mining community, Walhalla is famous for its holiday properties and a beautiful collection of vintage houses. Besides enjoying your stay in the peaceful town setting, you can also plan a day trip to the nearby Baw Baw National Park. Points of interest in Walhalla include – Walhalla Goldfields Railway and Long Gully Extended Gold Mine.

Melbourne to Walhalla
Distance 184.9 km (114.8 miles)
Route via M1
Time About 3 hours

Wilsons Promontory

Wilsons Promontory

Wilsons Promontory, Australia’s southernmost part, is a peninsula in Victoria. Most of the peninsular area is protected by Wilsons Promontory Marine National Park and Wilsons Promontory National Park. A perfect vacation destination, the park area is known for Squeaky Beach and Mount Oberon. Plan your hill hike at the crack of dawn if you are a photography enthusiast as it the best time to capture the pastel colors.

Walhalla to Wilsons Promontory
Distance 183.8 km (114.2 miles)
Route via C444
Time About 2 hours and 30 minutes

Gippsland Lakes

Gippsland Lakes

Spread across 354 square kilometers, the Gippsland Lakes are a network of lagoons, marshes, and lakes. Lake King, Lake Victoria, and Lake Wellington are larger lakes and popular among the leisure tourists. An ideal spot for outdoor activities like boating, fishing, and hiking, the lake area is the best place to spend your day amid perfect natural settings. You can plan your stay at the nearby human settlements namely, Lake Entrance, Metung, and Paynesville.

Wilsons Promontory to Gippsland Lakes
Distance 233.7 km (145.2 miles)
Route via S Gippsland Hwy/A440
Time About 3 hours

Croajingolong National Park

Croajingolong National Park

A coastal nature reserve situated in the East Gippsland region, Croajingolong National Park is spread across 88,355 hectares. Croajingolong National Park in Victoria, along with Nadgee Nature Reserve in New South Wales, form one of the 12 biosphere areas of the country. A UNESCO-nominated World Biosphere Reserve, the wilderness reserve is home to more than 1,000 and 300 species of plants and animals respectively. Check out our guide to Australia’s top 10 national parks for an exclusive road trip in densely forested areas.

Gippsland Lakes to Croajingolong National Park
Distance 283.2 km (175.9 miles)
Route via Princes Hwy/A1
Time About 3 hours and 30 minutes

Narooma

Narooma

A beautiful town in New South Wales, Narooma lies on the Princes Highway. Besides the serene beaches, the place is known for its Australia Rock. The large rock with a natural gap resembling the shape of Australia is unique. Narooma’s other attractions include – Central Tilba heritage town, The Uniting Church, and the Montague Island, a protected area where you can see hundreds of seals and penguins.

Croajingolong National Park to Narooma
Distance 194.5 km (120.8 miles)
Route via Princes Hwy/A1
Time About 2 hours and 22 minutes

Canberra

Canberra

Australia’s capital city is a major constituting block in the Australian Capital Territory. One of the most elaborately planned cities in entire Oceania, Canberra is about 280 km (170 miles) southwest of Sydney. Owing to great city planning, the place is pleasingly comfortable to explore in a rental car. As a country’s capital, Canberra is home to several notable attractions such as Old Parliament House, New Parliament House, Australian War Memorial, National Gallery of Australia, and the Canberra–Nara Park.

Narooma to Canberra
Distance 219.8 km (136.5 miles)
Route via Princes Hwy/A1 and Kings Hwy/B52
Time About 2 hours and 49 minutes

Sydney

Sydney

The capital of New South Wales is a bubbling metropolitan city settled on the east coast of Australia. Ranked among the world’s top 15 most visited cities, Sydney is best known for its eclectic mix of art and culture and magnificent landmarks. The city’s not to be missed attractions include – Sydney Harbor, Hyde Park, Royal Botanical Garden, Royal National Park, and the Sydney Opera House – a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Canberra to Sydney
Distance 286 km (177.7 miles)
Route via M31
Time About 3 hours and 10 minutes

Driving around Australia is one of the best ways to explore this gigantic continent. While driving from Melbourne to Sydney, you’ll come across numerous attractions, both man-made and natural, which are unique to this route only. Using Australia Rent Car’s free comparison tool, you can select a rental vehicle of your choice and drive from Melbourne to Sydney on your terms, while enjoying your stay at cities and towns falling on your way. Whether you are planning a road trip with a group of friends or with a family, Australia Rent Car can help you make the most of your journey. Read our guide to car hire in Australia if you are looking forward to some useful information on rental car requirements and other tips.