4 places to stop on your road trip from Melbourne to Sydney

There are two options when deciding how to get from Melbourne to Sydney – flying or driving – but there’s only one real winner.

By hiring a car with East Coast Car Rentals, you not only eliminate worry about the logistics of a flight, you also get to take your time stopping off at some incredible places along the way.

Here are four places to stop on your road trip from Melbourne to Sydney!

1. Fowles Winery

After reaching the start of the Hume Highway from Melbourne CBD, there’s an impressive 880 kilometres separating you and Sydney.

After driving for an hour and a half, stop off at Fowles Winery, located just off the Hume Highway near Avenel. As the name suggests, there’s no shortage of award-winning wines at this Victoria vineyard, however, Fowles also serve up incredible, Tuscan-inspired food at their cellar door cafe.

Whilst overlooking the dramatic Strathbogie Ranges from the outdoor courtyard, feast upon a brunch of antipasti, caprese salad and deli bites before departing for the next leg of your road trip to Sydney. And remember to choose a designated driver.

2. Wangaratta

Just 125 km north of Fowles Winery, it won’t take long for you and your road trip companions to reach Wangaratta – a regional city in north-east Victoria. This is the perfect place to stop off and stretch those legs, as there’s so much to see and do.

From art galleries to festivals, incredible eateries and parks, you’ll have to tear yourself away from this thriving city.

It’s also the central hub for nearby towns and villages. Here are three worth checking out:

• Eldorado – This small township is brimming with history and character. Just 25-minutes away from Wangaratta, visitors can learn about this authentic goldrush settlement, hire bikes and cycle the Woolshed valley, and even pan for gold and take a pottery class!
• Milawa – Just 18 km south-east of Wangatta, located in one of Australia’s oldest gourmet regions is Milawa. This small town is an epicentre for exquisite food and wine, providing visitors with ample choice of incredible places to eat and drink. From vineyards to cheese factories, mustard stores to bakeries, there’s no limit to creating the perfect packed lunch for your next stop off.
• Glenrowan – Explore the site of the final siege and capture of Ned Kelly at Glenrowan, just 14 km from Wangaratta. Visit the local museum and embark on a historic walk around the town, learning about the infamous bushranger as you go.

3. Albury

Officially in New South Wales territory, Albury is a stunning stop off worth making.

Put your feet up in the beautiful 19th century botanic gardens. Meandering pathways lead you through the extensive gardens, giving you the chance to relax away from the roadside.

There’s also the incredible Yindyamarra Sculpture Walk which runs along the length of the Murray River. Here, visitors can marvel at 13 impressive sculptures by designed by local Aboriginal artists and learn about the Indigenous history surrounding the Albury area.

4. Goulburn

Get a large chunk of the drive out of the way by making your last official stop off at Goulburn – around three and a half hours from Albury and two hours from Sydney.

Goulburn is Australia’s first inland city and a hub for the surrounding area’s agriculture. What makes this city such a popular stop off point is perhaps the 97-tonne and 15-metre high monument of a big sheep! Visitors can capture selfies with the ‘Big Merino’ and learn more about what Goulburn has to offer.

Before you know it, you’ll be driving through Sydney’s CBD. For more incredible road trip stop off ideas and things to do, check out the rest of our blog.