Hi folks - back for more info...

[71notout]

Back again!

After deciding we were trying to do too much in a short timescale, we have decided to curtail our Oz holiday in July to just Sydney and Melbourne (will be spending a lot of time in both cities catching up with family anyway!).

We have decided to take 3 days to drive each way, the first will take the Princes Highway coast road from Sydney and we have been looking at staying 2 nights in Merimbula, specifically the Capri Apartments (been recommended).

Anyone stayed either there or nearby? Any places along the route that are must-sees?

On the return journey, we plan to take the M31 and are looking at stopping over at Wangaratta for 2 nights. Again, anyone got any advice/recommendations/alternatives?

I really do appreciate you guys taking the time to gen up a couple of Scots on what to do and expect - it is much appreciated!

Many thanks,
Steven

[Colonial]

I stayed in Eden a while back. Got to go to a seafood restaurant down by the wharf and have a massive bowl of fresh mussles. Amazing. If you have the time sidetrack to Hyams Beach from Nowra. Amazing white sand and a beautiful little village.

Many good roads around there with good scenery. The drive back (I think that's the Hume Highway) will be long and tedious.

[smack]

M31 is the Hume, but best not bother with road numbers - they implemented it years ago, but it never caught on, and no one knows them/uses them. Stick to names.

Is there a reason for spending 2 nights in Wangaratta? As a town itself, it is not much...

[deviant]

Shame you dont have the time to keep heading west from Melbourne and getting on The Great Ocean Road. We went as far as Warnambool and the road out there is spectacular!!

[ajg31]

Never been on the great ocean but i have not heard anyone say a word bad about it. A definate must do if your so close to it!

[deviant]

Its just brilliant. Fantastic views to if you want to go slow for a bit.

The country Vic drivers made it a joy to use, they are very aware of people looking for an overtake and move left and slow down when appropriate. They even pull off and stop completely if there is no good overtaking spots.

[Colonial]

deviant said:

Its just brilliant. Fantastic views to if you want to go slow for a bit.

The country Vic drivers made it a joy to use, they are very aware of people looking for an overtake and move left and slow down when appropriate. They even pull off and stop completely if there is no good overtaking spots.

That's because everyone driving in Vic is paranoid about being flashed for doing 3km/h over the speed limit

The only time I've driven in Vic was heading down to Melbourne in a BMW with no number plates and driving back in an Audi with no number plates so it didn't worry me all that much

[motomk]

Might be better to stop over in Canberra, on the way back up the Hume. A little more to do there or to see anyway. War memorial and various galleries, a lake, a tower. Not sure as I don't ski, but the ski fields are not far away either.

[smack]

ajg31 said:

Never been on the great ocean but i have not heard anyone say a word bad about it. A definate must do if your so close to it!

Ok, I will.

I got busted for speeding on the way into Lorne by the local cop on a sunday afternoon, for him to say "you don't come down this way often, we are always here on a sunday afternoon..." For years I drove/ride down the GOR on average every two weeks - he hadn't been playing with his radar around there for years....

I dropped my first motorbike over around Lavers Hill, when I lost the front end as I was riding with no margin for error, and hit a patch of gravel on the road that cars had dragged from the side of the road. Riding 100km back to my mates holiday house, with a busted gearshift and no peg was not fun

During the summer the GOR gets clogged with tourists and campervans. Best time to enjoy it as a great piece of road is daybreak, or in the evening, when the day trippers have left.

In my youth, I was very silly down that road, as I knew it like the back of my hand, and had some very close calls pushing it.

[Steve-B]

A big thumbs-up from us, as UK ex-pats now living in Oz for going to stay in Eden. Fab coastal town, a very cool historic B&B there, the restaurant down at the fisherman's pier quite good as well.

Avoid Canberra at all costs -- it's the Milton Keynes of Australia!

[71notout]

smack said:

M31 is the Hume, but best not bother with road numbers - they implemented it years ago, but it never caught on, and no one knows them/uses them. Stick to names.

Is there a reason for spending 2 nights in Wangaratta? As a town itself, it is not much...

Only staying 2 nights as we couldn't see another suitable alternative along the Hume

It is looking like we should maybe go back the way we came - and maybe stay over in Eden for 2 nights on the way back?

Thanks agin for the info guys, really great stuff.

P.S. We do plan to visit Sovereign Hill in Ballarat as I was there when i was 8 (in 1980), and my wee girl will be 8 so history repeating itself

[Colonial]

Go over the Alpine Way - might be a bit burnt out but much more interesting. I only use the Hume if I need to get somewhere quick. From memory Marysville, Mansfield, Tallangatta, Khancoban, Thredbo to Jindabyne on the first day, then up to Sydney through Cooma on the second.

[AGraham]

Colonial said:

Go over the Alpine Way - might be a bit burnt out but much more interesting. I only use the Hume if I need to get somewhere quick. From memory Marysville, Mansfield, Tallangatta, Khancoban, Thredbo to Jindabyne on the first day, then up to Sydney through Cooma on the second.

Agree with the above. Go the alpine roads but be careful of where you need to carry snow chains in winter (not that there will be much snow) and if you're using a rental car there are restrictions on where you can take them (eg The Great Alpine Road is worth while but it runs across the top of Mt Hotham where you will need chains). Dont bother with Wangaratta! Bright would be a better choice.

[71notout]

Excellent help guys, very much appreciated!

I think we have decided to drive down, and back up the Princes Highway.

We have spoken to the apartments in Merimbula who cannot give us a 2 night stay on the way down due to it being during school holidays (10th/11th July) so we are looking for an alternative - is Eden nice? Is it big enough for 2 nights/1 day stay? Anywhere else instead (roughly same area - 1/2 way between Sydney and Melbourne).

We will be returning 16th/17th so will try Merimbula for those dates.

Can anyone confirm when the school hols are during July? Do they differ from state to state?

Thanks again,
Steven