Where should I stop between Melbourne and Sydney?

The best stops are Lakes Entrance, Eden, Narooma and Huskisson. To make a trip of it, spend a night in Lakes Entrance, Eden, Narooma and Huskisson. Open the drive on the map to see each stop and the drive time between them.

How far is Sydney from Melbourne?

Melbourne to Sydney is about 865 km (537 miles) by road.

How long does it take to drive from Melbourne to Sydney?

Roughly 9 hours of driving direct, before any stops.

Is Melbourne to Sydney a good road trip?

Yes — with the stops above it makes a 6-day trip. Stopful maps the whole route, drive times, where to stay, and what the trip will cost before you book.

Australia · road trip

Melbourne to Sydney by car: where to stop on the way

≈ 865 km / 537 mi · ~9 h driving · 6 stops

Melbourne to Sydney is ≈ 865 km (537 miles), about 9 hours of driving direct. The best places to stop on the way: Lakes Entrance, Eden, Narooma and Huskisson — with them it makes a relaxed 6-day road trip.

Map of the Melbourne to Sydney drive: the route via Melbourne, Lakes Entrance, Eden, Narooma, Huskisson, Sydney — The live route on Stopful — open it to edit · Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, tiles © OpenFreeMap

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The Hume Highway does it in nine inland hours. The coast road takes about four more hours of driving and is the one people remember: Gippsland's lakes, whale-watching Eden and Jervis Bay's white sand.

Where to stop between Melbourne and Sydney

1
Melbourne
East out of the city on the Princes Highway towards Gippsland.
2
Lakes Entrance
Where the Gippsland Lakes meet the sea — fish and chips on the foreshore, Ninety Mile Beach over the footbridge.
3
Eden
A whaling town turned whale-watching town on Twofold Bay, with a killer-whale museum to match.
4
Narooma
Boat trips to Montague Island's seals and penguins, and Australia Rock on the breakwall.
5
Huskisson
Jervis Bay: Hyams Beach's famously white sand and dolphins in the bay.
6
Sydney
Up the Grand Pacific Drive and over the Sea Cliff Bridge into the city.

Good to know

The coastal Princes Highway adds roughly 200 km and is slower and winding in places — give it four or five days. Eden's whale season runs about September to November.

Melbourne to Sydney — FAQ

Where should I stop between Melbourne and Sydney?: The best stops are Lakes Entrance, Eden, Narooma and Huskisson. To make a trip of it, spend a night in Lakes Entrance, Eden, Narooma and Huskisson. Open the drive on the map to see each stop and the drive time between them.
How far is Sydney from Melbourne?: Melbourne to Sydney is about 865 km (537 miles) by road.
How long does it take to drive from Melbourne to Sydney?: Roughly 9 hours of driving direct, before any stops.
Is Melbourne to Sydney a good road trip?: Yes — with the stops above it makes a 6-day trip. Stopful maps the whole route, drive times, where to stay, and what the trip will cost before you book.

More drives

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≈ 695 km · ~7.5 h drive

Sydney to Brisbane

≈ 910 km · ~10 h drive

Melbourne to Adelaide

≈ 726 km · ~8 h drive

Athens to Meteora

≈ 355 km · ~4.5 h drive

Rome to Florence

≈ 280 km · ~3 h drive

Barcelona to Madrid

≈ 620 km · ~6 h drive

Or start from a blank map and plan any drive — Stopful shows drive times and distance for every leg, finds hotels and EV chargers along the route, and estimates what the trip will cost — stays, food, fuel and tolls — before you book any of it.