Melbourne to Brisbane Road Trip

k-dog on 04/06/2024 - 09:40
Last edited 04/06/2024 - 10:39

Hello all, I am planning a road trip from Melbourne to Brisbane over 6 days. Any suggestion in terms of which roads to avoid or any amendments to below plan would be greatly appreciated.

This is a one-way trip, as I am moving to Brisbane permanently.
The reason for choosing frequent stop is that I am travelling with my 2year old toddler.

Any advice on road trip kids will be great too.

Mid June - 2024

Day-1. Melbourne to Albury
Day-2. Albury to Canberra
Day-3. Canberra to Paramatta
Day-4. Paramatta to Port Macquarie
Day-5. Port Macquarie to Coffs Harbour
Day-6. Coffs Harbour to Brisbane

Travel Brisbane Queensland

Comments

  • askbargain on 04/06/2024 - 09:45
    +1

    what's there to do in canberra?

    • k-dog on 04/06/2024 - 09:52
      +5

      parliament house and National museum are the main things I wanted to visit.

      • payless69 on 04/06/2024 - 10:18
        +10

        Monkeys on a hill?

        • montorola on 04/06/2024 - 11:57

          Savage, lol

      • Organised Chaos on 05/06/2024 - 10:29

        I'd also recommend Jamala wildlife lodge. It is the old Canberra zoo, but has been updated.
        It is a lot more involved than normal zoo's, well worth the time to go there for the day.

      • DazMon on 05/06/2024 - 20:09

        War Memorial is worthwhile too.

    • EightImmortals on 04/06/2024 - 12:55
      +1

      Legal weed and firecrackers?

  • pegaxs on 04/06/2024 - 09:57
    +4

    6 days?? Are you doing this to see some of the country and visit some towns on the way? Some of these drives are an hour and a bit at most.

    Maybe do an inland trip instead? Most of your drive is just freeway on the way you proposed, if you are not in any rush, take the inland route instead. Sheperton up to Dubbo, across to Tamworth, up to Glen Innis, across to Graftton and up to Byron Bay, or from Dubbo, up to Moree, Goondawindi, across to Toowoomba and into Brisbane.

    There no real "roads to avoid" as that drive is basically freeway all the way. Maybe be careful around Sydney that you dont get on a toll road without realising it.

    • k-dog on 04/06/2024 - 10:02
      +1

      thanks heaps

      • Wildberry on 05/06/2024 - 07:20

        definitely go inland road's to avoid the craziness

  • MS Paint on 04/06/2024 - 10:09
    +7

    I would avoid driving in the early morning or sunset for a few of the legs due to kangaroos.

    • k-dog on 04/06/2024 - 10:34

      thanks, good insight.

    • pegaxs on 04/06/2024 - 12:10
      +2

      Kangaroos make dents, cheers.

  • payless69 on 04/06/2024 - 10:18

    Sit in a Greyhound, relax!

  • JDMcarfan on 04/06/2024 - 10:18
    +3

    have you done many long-distance trips before? if you're experienced (i.e. can drive 6 hours in a day), I'd recommend skipping Albury as there really isn't much to see (and its just a few hours from home if you ever want to visit). Once you leave Melbourne, the stretch of highway from there to just past wagga is more or less the same stuff.

    are you doing a return trip? as other have mentioned, the inland route is unique and good to see, but the coastal (whilst now all highways) has interesting towns, could perhaps go up the inland and back down via the coastal (stopping in Canberra ideally on the way back)

    Also, would recommend Byron (anywhere that region) over Coffs, unless you have someone/something specific to see there (the banana needs like an hour top to explore around). Nothing wrong with Coffs, its a really nice coastal town, but its super close to PM. Staying in Byron overnight gives you plenty of time to drive into/out of Qld so you can explore the Gold Coast area if you wish

    • k-dog on 04/06/2024 - 10:33
      +1

      My plan is to see street arts at Benalla and then stop at Albury. I got a 2 year old, so don't want to drive for too long in 1 go. Hence choosing frequent stops.

      No not return trip, moving to Brisbane permanently. I am skipping Byron/Gold coast as I can visit there later, given I am moving to Brisbane.

      • JDMcarfan on 04/06/2024 - 10:38

        yep fair enough on both. would just echo the not staying in albury advice.
        If you have a kid, maybe a suitable farmstay property in the riverina region would be nice

      • Whensday on 04/06/2024 - 12:21

        Don't forget the rocket ship at the park in Benalla.

      • morse on 05/06/2024 - 02:50

        Coffs is actually great with kids. Lots of resorts/parks with playgrounds. Big banana, major shopping centres etc. only thing to be wary of, is that in some resorts where your vehicle is parked away from your accommodation, car break ins aren’t uncommon. This pretty much goes for anywhere on your journey unfortunately so we now stay in places where the car is parked close to the room after seeing victims of this. I’ve commented below more general road trip with toddler advice.

    • WT on 05/06/2024 - 10:37

      can confirm melb to wagga is fnk boring, last trip I did we were in a van carrying a lot of bikes coming back from PI and the most interesting thing was trying to get the van up the hills without slowing too much

      unfortunately the only way is to build speed before the hill and watch the speedo go down slowly while going up the hill and foot to the floor

      Nothing to see out the window, straight and boring drive. Make sure you have plenty of entertainment for the toddler and music/ebooks/podcasts etc for yourself

  • boomramada on 04/06/2024 - 10:35
    +3

    You can skip Albury, and add two days in Canberra

  • bazingaa on 04/06/2024 - 10:37

    how are you going to return back ?

    • Gdsamp on 04/06/2024 - 11:08
      +4

      They'ren't

      • bazingaa on 04/06/2024 - 11:18

        ah just saw that, I was sleepy o.O

  • battler on 04/06/2024 - 10:39
    +2

    Parramatta? Why?

    • k-dog on 04/06/2024 - 10:41

      wanted to avoid areas around Sydney CBD and Parramatta is kinda on my way.
      do u suggest anywhere else ?

      • randomusername2017 on 04/06/2024 - 10:55
        +1

        A32
        Skip Sydney.

        • battler on 04/06/2024 - 11:06
          +1

          A32? That is to Bathurst. You mean A28 Cumberland Hwy?

          Either way I wouldn't suggest. Pay the tolls and use M7/M2/M1. Time is of the essence when travelling with a 2yo.

          • randomusername2017 on 04/06/2024 - 11:50

            @battler: Sorry was thinking of Mitchell hwy after Barton hwy… wouldn't go near Sydney if it's only a couple of days.

      • battler on 04/06/2024 - 11:02
        +2

        If you have no significant reason to stop in Syd area, then bypass suburbia altogether.
        It is approx 3 hours Canberra to Parra and 4 hours Parra to Port.
        I would suggest staying on the ring road (M7/M2/NorthConnex - 3x toll) and push through to outskirts of Syd (eg. Mt Kuring-Gai) or through to Kariong/Gosford.
        Will be cheaper than Parra too.
        Will turn your trip into more of a 3.5/3.5 or 4/3 split rather than a 3/4 split as planned.

      • JDMcarfan on 04/06/2024 - 12:33
        +1

        if youre not looking at anything in Syd, why not skip and stop on the Central Coast. Just an hour past Sydney and much more laid back.
        Plus if you're planning to leave Parra in the morning the next day to head up be ready to get stuck in traffic everywhere

  • sumyungguy on 04/06/2024 - 10:47
    +1

    As a relocation trip I'd suggest the coastal route but you'll have to skip Benalla. Head east via Bairnsdale, Eden, Sapphire Coast, Bateman's Bay, Canberra. I love our capital and would gladly spend a few days there. Head up through the Southern Highlands (plenty of good bakeries) to Woollongong and drive the Sea Cliff Bridge. Then up through Sydney taking the M1 to Brisbane. If you're foodies you could visit Rick Stein Restaurant at both Mollymook and Port Stephens.

    • 2esc on 05/06/2024 - 14:23

      Don't tell him that!

      Being selfish here i want Gippsland and the Sapphire Coast to stay off peoples radar in the last few years that areas getting heaps of tourism affecting price and vacancies.

      Go the Benalla route more direct save time.

      • sumyungguy on 05/06/2024 - 14:33

        Totally get what you're saying… I only recommended Sapphire Coast because it's mid-winter. I don't think OP would find anywhere to stay in summer.

  • apple2016 on 04/06/2024 - 11:10
    +3

    With two stops to Sydney, I would do the coastal route. Melbourne -> lakes entrance -> bega -> sydney

    • JDMcarfan on 04/06/2024 - 12:35

      and if you still want to see CBR, then lakes entrance -> cooma/surrounds (take the B23 route) -> CBR

  • montorola on 04/06/2024 - 11:59
    +1

    Personally, instead of just 6 days, why don't you halve it to 3 days?

    • EightImmortals on 04/06/2024 - 12:58
      +1

      This. Depends on how your 2 year old travels I guess. Ours were pretty good and only had problems on windy roads (car sickness). Otherwise I'd be getting it over with asap. Melbourne to Brisbane 2 days, easy, 3-4 if you're a city driver..

    • 2esc on 05/06/2024 - 14:26

      Other option take 3 months so much to see.

  • Benoffie on 04/06/2024 - 13:09
    +1

    Id avoid Sydney. Canberra is great but food can be pricey. Love Yass, great bakery, worth the stop.

    I would go interior - Yass, Cowra, Bathurst, Mudgee, Tamworth, Armidale, Glen Innes, Stanthorpe, Ipswich > BNE.

    Driven it heaps from Adelaide. Nice drive.

  • Caped Baldy on 04/06/2024 - 13:42

    As a Sydneysider, I'd avoid Parramatta. There's not too much free unlimited parking.

  • Tobias on 04/06/2024 - 22:23

    For 2yr old, try adding into your itinerary playgrounds as the last thing before departing a town. Aim to get your child tired before driving unless you like non-stop crying. If you must stop for toilet etc., replicate waiting at traffic lights to reduce the risk of your child waking.

  • morse on 05/06/2024 - 02:41
    +1

    Travel by night! I do a regularish 7hr drive with my now 4.5yo but have done it since they were 1. Get them ready for bed have dinner etc then get in the car and drive. This usually puts them to sleep. We either do it in stints, like 3hrs 8pm-11pm then stay over night somewhere or 5pm-7pm, have dinner on the road then drive the rest of the way whilst the kid is asleep. For day driving I’d probably look at an iPad with their favourite shows. I have never done this because I was scared of them getting travel sickness but most friends I know do the ipad for road trips. We also have one adult in the back with the child, and one driver, but we only have one kid. If you haven’t already turned their car seat around I’d keep it rear facing, as it’s more reclined and easier to sleep, as well as being safer in an accident. Lots of snacks too.

    Other than that at age two, I don’t think they care too much as long as there are parks or somewhere to run about. I recommend not venturing too far off the hwy as it just adds to your drive time unless you are looking for enjoyable family time as well.

    Stay in places that have playgrounds. Holiday parks like big4 etc are great for this, they usually have cabins as options. Otherwise resorts with the same. Also shopping centres are great for getting supplies and stretching the legs especially if it’s raining. Many will have a kids play area, but mine used to like just running in the big spaces at that age. There’s a few wildlife parks on your route, most 2yos love these, or look up if there are any miniature train rides or similar. Beaches are always a hit too, a bit cold for swimming but they love playing in the sand, so perhaps being some sand toys.

    Your itinerary looks pretty good. Have a fun and safe trip!

    • WT on 05/06/2024 - 10:43

      good point, test for car sickness. I still get motion sickness looking down. Putting on the dash is ok but not legal if the driver can see the screen

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