| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Sydney to Melbourne Road Trip | |
| Posted by: | David Marles | |
| Date/Time: | 10/12/14 09:43:00 |
| This subject is very close to my heart as I have family about halfway between Sydney and Melbourne and have done quite a lot of touring during the last thirty years. I would start by driving West from Sydney to the Blue Mountains where you could certainly find enough to do for a couple of days, visiting Katoomba, the Jenolan Caves and bush walking. Then to Bathurst which has very interesting architecture and the famous car racing track which you may be able to drive on. If you don't mind a bit of a detour you can then drive via Orange to Parkes Observatory, which was instrumental in transmitting the Moon landing pictures in 1969. Turning South you could drop into Cowra which has an interesting history vis-a-vis Japanese prisoners-of-war in WWII - great Japanese garden. Thence by any route you like to Griffith which has a lot of art deco buildings (like Napier in NZ?) and is in a very interesting irrigation area for growing a range of crops. Cross from New South Wales into Victoria and visit Echuca for its Murray paddlesteamers and museums, then Bendigo (gold rush town) and finally Ballarat - scene of the Eureka Stockade, a fabulous art gallery and beautiful botanic gardens. If you have time left over from your allocated days, I would also recommend a visit to the Grampians which are a little bit to the west. More details of all these places are on the internet, of course, but I would be very happy to lend you an excellent touring book I use - send me a message. The driving would all be on good/empty roads and would give a varied experience of rural (but not outback) Australia. Country motels may be a little basic but they are usually clean and the natives are friendly! Local food and wines are to be highly recommended. |