Looking at driving from SYD to MELB with wife and 2 kids (under 5), given we our kids fidget & can't sit still, we're going to omit the scenic drives and head str8 on the hume.
Question is, any good pit stops on the way to get out and take a breather/lunch/etc?
Just remember to stock it with tv shows/ movies and apps that don't require wifi or a decent connection just in case. Also remember to bring cables to charge them
Chloroform
Let the wife drive and you take the bus.
Don't drink and drive
Don't drink and drive
(you might spill some).
On a serious note, time your drive, maybe leave just before their nap time, that way you get an hour or two respite. Pack snacks, not sure if you have an in car DVD player but that may be handy. Break up your trip into two - three hour blocks. Let the kids have a run around, you can have a stretch. Wiggles CD, will do your head in but the kids will be entertained (I also know in the regional centres there's a kids radio station, that may help).
Thanks for that, do you know any areas between SYD and MELB where it's safe to stop, walk around, eat etc? (other than the lone diners)
Maccas, Maccas, Maccas. We never go to Maccas except on long trips, the playgrounds are a godsend, happy meal with toy, reasonably clean toilet.
Otherwise the rest stops on the way are good. It's more a chance for a break and stretch, kids get some fresh air and change of scenery.
Most major stops are fairly safe. Yass is very big, Albury/Wodonga, Holbrook. They all have a variety of different fast food outlets.
I've done this drive many times and I only stop once. It does my head in to stop more than that!
Anywhere not on the actual road, within 2m of a road, and not in Wolf Creek.
The obvious stops are the towns. It's 2 hours to Goulburn (nice park in the middle of town), almost 4 to Gundagai. 3 hours from Goulburn to Holbrook. 2.5 hrs from Gundagai to Wangaratta. 3 hrs from Holbrook to Kilmore, or 2 hrs from Wangaratta. Then into the city is another hour depending on traffic. So that's two routes. Sydney -> Gundagai -> Wangaratta -> Kilmore -> Melbourne or Sydney -> Goulburn -> Holbrook -> Kilmore -> Melbourne.
It's boring as all hell but if it's really hot the kids will be happier to be in the car with aircon than outside at the park :P at least I was.
3 x ball-in-cup
Or two girls one cup
Or one man one jar
Question is, any good pit stops on the way to get out and take a breather/lunch/etc?
In reality? No. The Hume is boring, boring, boring and there is nothing decent along the way. The road houses are usually full of truckies so be ready for your kids to learn some new works. Your best bet would be to stop at the Maccas and McCafe's along the way, or even better do the drive really early so your kids sleep through most of it.
Safety-wise it's all fine - it's a super busy route so there's no problems even at truck stops. But don't get your hopes up for any kind of fine dining experience or "fun" things to do because there's zero. The Hume is boooring (but substantially faster than other routes).
learn some new works
Could get a cheap CB and listen to the said truckies complete works, hours of family fun there
"d" and "k" aren't even near each other on the keyboard?? Possibly a Freudian slip since I should probably be doing work right now.
In reality? No. The Hume is boring, boring, boring and there is nothing decent along the way.
Oh God (sigh)
Do the trip from melb to wagga quite a bit a good place to stop is Benalla just off the highway it has a really good park / botanic gardens to stop at and let this kids run around, also has KFC, Maccas Subway, Aldi Etc. usually get a family box from KFC which works out way cheaper than stopping at Maccas at Glenrowan, then go up the road to the park and eat up there. Also the bakery at Holbrook is good and has a submarine and park for kids to play on.
Get a headphone splitter and 2 x headphones way better than listening to whatever the kids want to watch on Ipad.
ok ill keep the Benalla stop in mind
Definitely recommend Holbrook and Benalla. Your kids will love the submarine at Holbrook and the rocket in the playground at Benalla.
do this
give your kids a number, and tell them if they can remember it when you arrive at your destination, they can have maccas or something they like…. they will froth at the moth, and spend the entire trip saying the number in their head….
they get smarter
you get peace and queit
and they get maccas
will froth at the moth
Does the moth have rabies?
Beware the rabid moth plague terrorising the hume - please keep your windows shut and only exit your vehicle if absoutely necessary to do so
oops
lol good idea
The submarine at Holbrook is kinda of interesting for the kids to look at
also there is a really good "pie" cafe that is walking distance (other side of the road from cafe)…. good savoury & sweet pies
Cruise control and sit on 115km/hr
Drove past cops withing being pulled over.
What is the max speed you can drive on a 110km/hr road without getting booked?
Likely your cruise cOntrol is a few km out…id say most cops wont bother at 112km but hit 116km they'll bust you up
Thanks folks,
I was just reading about traffic fines and realized the fine for travelling no more than 10km/h = $110
If the Limit is 110, i think i should be safe at 114? (thats' extra 4km/h =)
Depends on your car - your speedo can show you a speed anywhere between 0 and 10% faster than you are actually going. It isn't allowed to show you a speed slower than you are actually going.
Thus, I'd be hesitant to state a blanket number.
For example, my Toyota 86 is 5% off at all speeds, so 63 = 60, 105 = 100 etc. This is based off the GPS in the head unit and an external GPS I have. My parents Toyota Aurion is slightly higher at about 6%
The Mazda 2 I recently hired for a trip earlier this month was literally spot on per my external GPS so after two hours of varied driving that covered all my possible speeds (40-110) I stopped using it and reverted to google maps on my phone.
Most law enforcement have a small tolerance (e.g. in VIC is 2kmh or 2%, whichever is greater). This is meant to cover variances in things like differing tyre wear and tyre pressures.
It's 110. Max 110. My friend was done for going 115 for all of three minutes while trying to overtake someone.
Also, in Victoria I believe they have timed cameras (but not sure if it's for normal cars or just trucks). So they take a pic of you at Point A and if you arrive at Point B faster than you would doing 110, you'll get done.
115km alleged speed should mean he was detected at 118km+?
Ie: a mobile cop radar may have read a detected of 115km and alleged at 112 or 113km. I was not fined.
Yes, point to point cameras do not have tolerances.
Im ozbargain spirit… opportunity cost of arriving earlier doesnt make it worth while to speed.
Get the family there safely.
I remember him going less than 120, but definitely more than 110 so I'm calling it 115.
It was a very early Saturday morning in a quiet area just outside of Sydney and the cop must have been bored. We went exactly 110 for the rest of the trip.
My speedo pretty close (for the moment)
Gps
Android app
Speedtrap test points near bridges
Car behind me
All show 115km/hr.
Tollerance of at least 2km/hr.
Should be 2% of detected speed.
Worked for me.
Safe travels please.
This is all very interesting…
I've been driving over 20 years across various long drives and I always sit on 120km/hr in the 110 zones and I've never been booked, this is across various cars and I have gone past several police radar units in my time as you would.
Thought they must have a 10% tolerance and as such 10km/hr over in 110 zone is fine given also the fact that your speedo is showing a bit higher than it should as discussed.
Very interesting…
Just did it with a 3 and 5 yr old. Stopped in gundegai town which is not the dog on tucker box exit or maccas exit but is an actual Town, 2 mins off the Hume with parks, libraries, pubs, pie shops, supermarkets, and a pretty little river that has bread eating ducks
I also recommend the town of Gundagai it's only just off the road and had some old fashioned shops and pubs and has a country town vibe that's actually interesting more than most.
Good counter meals at both pubs.
A change from maccas
Good stops south-bound include the Gundagai Hungry Jacks (next to Shell servo at town exit). The HJs has an arcade machine room at the back which is often quiet. Good for little kids to walk around see the flashing lights, sit in the cars and steer… The room also has a box of old building bricks and playmat. Next to toilet too.
The Gundagai truck stop (just north of Gundagai town) has a new healthy food place which apparently is a good alternative to the drive throughs. You may see the "do you want beans with that" billboard as you near it. Apparently it's not the cheapest and serving sizes aren't huge, but they claim since it's wholesome food you won't be hungry in an hour like fast food.
Closer to Melbourne there's Violet Town - you can time your travel to arrive during their (monthly?) farmers market just off the Hume.
Watch for multiple fixed speed cameras as you get within 150km of Melbourne. I suspect their tolerances are not as generous as police radars.
Took 10 hours for me to drive from Melbourne cbd to Sydney cbd last Easter….. Enjoyed the ride…. Please ensure to take break when you feel sleepy….don't stress…. Just Enjoy. Gd luck
Edit-i Used curse option in my car and was less stressed ☺
10 hours? pretty slow, should be able to do it in 8 hours easily, last time i did it in a car i did newcastle - Melb (which is almost 1000km exactly) in just over 10 hours.
120kmh set on the cruise, and had a good run along the PH carpark.
It drive over 900km as i opted NO Toll. Yeah i drove 110km with 3 breaks.
Why? all your doing is wasting time and fuel by going up the Hume through Sydney, far easier and more cost effective to hammer up the M5 or M4 depending on where you need to go to, easier on the equipment, less fuel consumed and cuts signifcant time from the trip if taken outside of peak hours.
All I remember from my trip Mel-Bne was the Big Merino (giant ram statue) in Goulburn. Kids will like it I think. Plenty of HJs along the way.
We did this 2 years ago (kids were 1 & 3). Cant remember which towns we stopped at, but it was generally Maccas, Maccas & Maccas. They are generally (but not always) cleaner than other rest stops. In saying that, I've always been one of those people that likes to leave really early in the morning to avoid traffic. We ended up leaving at midnight (carried kids to car in pj's), so the first 6 hours approx, the kids were asleep. You dont have to give the kids ipads. We played games. I-spy is a good one for that age (we are starting that now). Or make a checklist of different vehicles (ambos, fire engines, police cars, etc) & animals or anything really, and see how many the kids can tick off before you get there. Coloring-in books are good too. It seems daunting with kids, but if you plan well (which it sounds like you are trying to do), you should be fine. Good luck.
ok folks, so just got back from Melbourne.
All I can say was that it was a very tiring drive, ~10 hours all up with 3-4 (10-15 min) pit stops are maccaz.
I can safely say that taking the 1:20 duration flight is easier and probably cheaper.
1.) I got done by a high-way patrol car which was signalled by some "Ariel Speed Enforcement" bullshit
2.) I paid ~ $50 worth of junk food each way from Coles to keep the kids entertained.
3.) As everyone else said above, the drive was 90% boring with the occasional really nice valley.
4.) Spent a great deal of time dodging dead Kangaroo carcass
On the way back, I was doing 112km/h (ON THE GPS) which showed 120km/h on the speedo of the car..no fine (so far)
make sure bring enough ipads or tablets for each kid. nowadays just give those to kids and they can sit without disturbing parents while driving