The Sapphire Coast - Sydney to Melbourne

Overview

Although little known compared to the classic Great Ocean Road between Melbourne and Adelaide, the drive from Sydney to Melbourne boasts dramatic coastal scenery and a stock of natural assets, from inland lakes and rivers to vast national parks and indigenous wildlife. Drive the 1,000km route and you’ll also tap into a rich seam of gold rush heritage and experience the region’s fine food and wine. The route will lead you through canopies of magnificent gums, beside forested mountains and over rolling green hills, the air perfumed by the tantalising scents of the Australian bush. As well as a string of delightful seaside settlements, lakes and fishing harbours, the coast alternates between towering cliffs and deserted beaches - rolling surf one minute, gentle, toddler-friendly waters the next.

Days 1 and 2 JERVIS BAY

From Sydney, much of the drive sticks to the coast, past sweeping vistas of ocean, one stunning beach followed by the next until you reach the turquoise waters of Jervis Bay and a series of sublime beaches of immaculate white sand (topped by Hyams, supposedly the whitest in the world). You’ll stay at Paperbark Camp, an eco resort modelled on African bush camps, with accommodation in stilted tents set among the 100 acres of trees - simple but perfectly comfy.

Day 3 TILBA TILBA

The highway parallels the coast and sprouts lots of spurs down to superb beaches including Pebbly Beach, which is famously the home of kangaroos who like to loaf on the beaches pretending to be tourists and are partial to a bit of gentle stroking (who isn’t?). The entire village of Central Tilba, an old gold rush town, is National Trusted, its historic houses and stores dating back to the time when the settlement - current population 30 - was a thriving gold mining centre with a library, school, court house and several businesses. Today there is a handful of interesting boutiques and cafés. You’ll overnight in nearby Green Gables, built in the 1870s as a temperance hall for the local gold miners, but now a simple, three-bedroom, caringlyrun guest house with a veranda - where breakfast is served – overlooking meadows, hills and woodlands.

Day 4 CROAJINGOLONG

Be sure to stop at the Killer Whale museum in the seafaring township of Eden (live whales can be seen along the coast any time from June to November). The Croajingolong is a 200,000 acre pristine temperate wilderness - a Unesco World Biosphere Reserve - with more than 350kms of crinkle-cut estuary and river system. Your night will be spent in one of the 10 attractive wooden one and two-bedroom Gipsy Point Luxury Lakeside Apartments overlooking the water, with boating and fishing among the range of activities. This is such a stunning area that we’d recommend extending your trip by a day or two.

Day 5 GIPPSLAND LAKES

Gippsland Lakes is another watery world, a vast 400 sq km lake (actually a lagoon, formed by a sandspit with a narrow opening to the ferocity of the Bass Straits). Because the water is completely sheltered, non tidal and without anything nasty below the surface, it’s a great place for sailing. Stay on land in a waterfront two-bedroom apartment at the Moorings in Metung. You might also consider upgrading to the new luxury 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments next door called ‘5knots’ (for an extra £40 pp) and consider renting a boat (£190 pp for a day’s sailing). Again, if you have time, this is such a lovely tranquil area you could stay longer, even charter a yacht for a few nights afloat, the sailing in these protected waters being remarkably easy (for a supplement of £170 per night).

Day 6 WALHALLA OR WILSONS PROMONTORY

Depending on your particular interests, you can choose one of two options for the next leg of the journey. Travel the inland route via the old gold mining town of Walhalla which, in the 1890s, had a population of 3,500, three breweries, 10 hotels, seven churches, a cricket pitch, a croquet lawn, a Victorian bandstand and photographic studio. Today the population is 12. One of them is Michael Leaney, a lively young lad who faithfully restored to original Victorian spec, and now runs the Star Hotel with a dozen roomy rooms, cosy lounge, restaurant and small café. Alternatively, head south to the totally unspoilt Wilsons Promontory, the southernmost point of Aussie mainland, for some bracing walks and views. You’ll stay in basic but comfortable wilderness tents in the National Park, or just outside in the Limosa Rise self catering apartments.

Day 7 MELBOURNE

If you’re driving from Wilsons Promontory you might want to stop en route to the city at Phillip Island, the setting for a nightly beach parade of little penguins, Australia’s most popular wildlife attraction – although you wouldn’t get to your hotel until late in the evening.

Your accommodation

2 nights in Jervis Bay at Paperbark Camp

1 night in Tilba Tilba at Green Gables

1 night in Gypsy Point at Gypsy Point Apartments

1 night in Gippsland Lakes at The Moorings

1 night in Walhalla at the Star Hotel

What’s included

Accommodation as above and seven days’ car hire.

Guideline price per person, based on two sharing £613 year round.

When to go: Mid October to mid April.