Sydney to Melbourne Coastal Drive

Leg 4: Mallacoota to Sydney
570 km / 354 miles, 6 hr

On the final leg to Australia's largest city, take in the New South Wales south coast, an area of significant beauty that includes 10 national and marine parks.

Just over the Victorian border discover Mimosa Rocks National Park, 5,230 hectares of forests, beaches, sea caves, headlands and lagoons. Nearby Central Tilba is a charming village, entirely classified by the National Trust for its historical significance.

The south coast is a great place to see wildlife. Take a dolphin-watching cruise from Jervis Bay or explore the waters surrounding Montague Island Nature Reserve, just off Narooma, a favourite place for seals, dolphins, turtles, and home to a colony of penguins. Further south, Eden, once the whaling capital of Australia, still attracts many whales during their northward migration. Call in at the Killer Whale Museum to discover their importance to the town’s history.

Head to the resort town of Merimbula for great beaches and local seafood and stop off at Berry to browse the art galleries and antique shops. Batemans Bay is a great place for water sports, with a number of beaches suited to surfing, swimming, snorkelling, boating and fishing. The fishing village of Kiama, 90 minutes south of Sydney, is home to the famous blowhole, where the force of waves hitting the cliffs sends a spout of water into the air.