Sydney to Melbourne Coastal Road Trip

Day One: Sydney to Berry: 140 km
Highlights: Kiama Blowhole, Kangaroo Valley

Day Two: Berry to Batemans Bay: 140 km
Highlights: Dolphin watching, Visit Hyam Beach which has the whitest sand in the world, see kangaroos on the beach at Pebble Beach

Day Three: Batemans Bay to Narooma: 70 km
Highlights: Mogo Zoo, Montague Island Lighthouse

Day Four: Narooma to Eden: 140 km
Highlights: Narooma Golf Club, ABC Cheese Factory

Day Five: Eden to Melbourne: 565 km
Highlights: The Eden Killer Whale Museum, The International Cricket Hall of Fame

Day One: Sydney to Berry: 140 km
Take the Princes Highway and head south toward the sweeping ocean views of Wollongong. Then it's on to Shellharbour, so named for the large numbers of shells washed up on its beaches. It's a great place for bikes with many cycleways to follow around town. "Kiarama-a" means "where the sea makes a noise", and this describes the famous Kiama Blowhole to a tee. It's just one of several spectacular blowholes you'll find along this part of the South Coast. Berry is a charming little town with a thriving crafts and antique trade. Pack a picnic hamper and take a short scenic drive inland to beautiful Kangaroo Valley with its towering gums and lush green tree ferns.

Day Two:  Berry to Batemans Bay: 140 km
The next stop after Berry is Nowra, Australia's newest up-and-coming wine region. Coolangatta Estate and Cambewarra Estate Winery are just two of the new boutique wineries open for tastings. Off the highway, the seaside town of Huskisson on Jervis Bay is a great stop for dolphin sightings. Cast your fishing line at the nearby fishing mecca, Sussex Inlet. Back on the highway to Ulladulla, be sure to visit Laddie Timbery's Aboriginal Arts and Crafts Centre and the quaint little galleries and antique shops in Milton. It's true, kangaroos really do surf – and if you're lucky, you'll catch them at it on Pebbly Beach on the way to Batemans Bay. Even if the surf's not up, you can still feast on divine local seafood at one of the stunning waterfront restaurants and cafés.

Day Three: Batemans Bay to Narooma: 70 km
Drive down to the gold rush village of Mogo, where today, the miner's cottages house arts and crafts, antiques and delicious treats. On the banks of the beautiful Moruya River, Moruya is a classic country town with an easy, relaxed style. Continue on to Narooma for a good night's sleep.

Day Four:  Narooma to Eden: 140 km
Travel on to Central Tilba, home of the 100-year-old ABC Cheese Factory and the award-winning 'Foxgloves Spires' gardens. At Cobargo you can pick out artworks from the local studios or pick your own berries at the Cobargo Berry farm. Anyone familiar with Aussie cheese will have heard of the town of Bega. Try their specialty cheeses at the Cheese Heritage store, the perfect compliment to the crisp chardonnays and summer reds made by local winemakers. Pambula is an authentic 1850s goldrush town and you can get a feel for its history on a guided town walk. Then move on to the picturesque holiday town of Eden for excellent fishing and whale-watching during October and November.

Day Five: Eden to Melbourne: 565 km
Depart for Melbourne, and on the way, drive through Boyd Town, an 1840s whaling settlement on the shores of Twofold Bay. Further south, if you're lucky, you can see dolphins frolicking in Wonboyn Lake. Travel on to Melbourne via Lakes Entrance and Ninety Mile Beach.