Eastern odyssey: Unmissable experiences of a great Australian road trip

A road trip from Brisbane to Melbourne is not what you’d call the road less traveled, but there’s a reason it’s so popular -- the locations that line this route are spectacular.

So here is the best of a huge bunch, covering beach and bush, city and country. All you need’s a car, a map and a dash of wanderlust. 

 

Before you go

Prepare a playlist: You’re going to be spending many hours of this trip without radio coverage, so a good playlist will be your best friend.

Try to include a mix of Australiana -- Paul Kelly’s ode to Melbourne, “From St. Kilda to Kings Cross” and a Cold Chisel classic such as “Khe Sanh” -- to turn your dusty vehicle into a karaoke set.

Booking accommodation: As long as you aren’t traveling during busy periods (such as school holidays), there’s no need to book accommodation very far in advance.

But in some popular holiday spots such as Byron Bay, affordable accommodation is difficult to find. For an alternative to glitzy resorts, caravan parks and backpacker hostels, check out the Stayz website (www.stayz.com.au) to find privately owned houses and apartments.

 

Southeast Queensland

A Brisbane wildlife safari: After devastating floods swept through Queensland’s capital city earlier this year, tourist dollars are needed more than ever.

Taking a twilight boat trip to Indooroopilly Island (six kilometers from the city centre) with Batty Boat Cruises will help them out.

The three- to four-hour tours are organized by the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland who have been taking visitors to the island for more than 20 years.

Sunset is the perfect time to witness thousands of black flying foxes, gray-headed flying foxes and little red flying foxes roosting in the trees.

As the sun sinks, the flying foxes become more active and noisy, taking to the sky in huge numbers before flying off to their night-feeding spots.

The glamorous Gold Coast: Surfers Paradise may no longer be a paradise for surfers, but it is still the place where beautiful beaches have an enticing Vegas vibe.

If you have the cash to splash, a stay at the Palazzo Versace will be one to remember. 

The pool area is the place to be seen sunning yourself, and the restaurants are top-notch. If you are looking for a Versace experience without the designer price tag, head to its restaurant, Il Barocco, for a buffet dinner (heavy on delicious seafood) from Monday to Friday for only $49.

 

Unforgettable New South Wales

Dive into Byron Bay’s natural beauty: It would be a mistake to bypass beautiful Byron Bay. It is an insanely popular destination for a reason.

But if you’re looking to escape the hordes, skip the town’s humming beach bars in favor of nearby Julian Rocks, a mixed tropical and temperate dive site that attracts diverse marine life, including manta rays, turtles, dolphins and weird-looking wobbegong sharks (www.byronbaydivecentre.com.au). 

Embrace Australia's love of big things: Near the infamous Big Banana at Coffs Harbour there are a number of other big things to look out for by the side of the highway.

The Big Prawn, Big Avocado and Big Oyster not only make for a wonderful collection of cheesy holiday snaps, they also provide a good excuse to pull over and break up your drive.

Lose your inhibitions at a nudist beach: Samurai Beach in the Tomaree National Park is a secluded stretch of sand where anyone so inclined can free themselves from the restriction of their budgie smugglers and let it all hang out, only three hours north of Sydney.

Samurai Beach Bungalows is a good budget accommodation option, with Bungalows from $26 and a lovely pool area for (non-nudist) swimming and relaxation.

The climb of your life: Sydney’s Harbour Bridge hardly qualifies as one of Australia’s hidden treasures but that doesn’t change the fact that for first-time visitors to the city, or even old Sydney hands, climbing to the top with BridgeClimb Sydney is an amazing (and scenic) way to experience one of Australia’s most iconic structures.

There is now a choice of three guided climbs that take you to the summit, 134 meters above Sydney Harbour, with prices starting from around $188 for adults.

Get acquainted with The Rocks: With atmospheric pubs, art galleries, funky boutiques and markets, Sydney's historic The Rocks district is a great place to spend the day.

The area was home to Australia's first European settlers in 1788 and has slowly grown from an open-air jail into a vibrant port community.

Hear tales of years gone by on The Rocks Pub Tour, get spooked by the ghost tour or take The Rocks Walking Tour to find out more about Australia's convict history (www.therocks.com).

 

Victoria’s culture and history

A history lesson in Glenrowan: It is possible to drive the 900-kilometer Sydney-to-Melbourne leg of this trip via the Hume Freeway in a day, but if you have the time, there are some great historical sites to check out.

The small northeast Victorian town of Glenrowan is in the heart of Kelly Country and is renowned for being the site of Ned Kelly’s last stand (www.glenrowantouristcentre.com.au).

The legacy of Australia’s most famous bushranger permeates the town, with a giant statue of Kelly dominating the landscape and a slightly aged, but still mightily entertaining, sound-and-light show telling the story of the violent end of the Kelly Gang.

The best of bohemian Melbourne: Base yourself in Melbourne’s Fitzroy area to be close to some of the city’s best beer gardens. The Standard Hotel is a particular local favorite.

For food-lovers, the Basque gluten- and lactose-filled extravagance of Naked for Satan (285 Brunswick Street. +61 03 9416 2238) feels much more expensive than it actually is, and top pub grub can be had at The Napier Hotel.

If you can finish the monstrosity that is The Napier’s Bogan Burger ($17.50), you deserve a medal.

Finally, round out your night on the dancefloor of The Night Cat, one of Melbourne’s icons of live music -– with particularly groovy genres such as Afrobeat, hip-hop, reggae and funk on show.