Between the gold-rush grandeur of Melbourne and the glittering harbour of Sydney lies a ribbon of road that threads beaches, bush, and blowholes. This 7-day itinerary blends city culture and coastal adventure: laneway art and espresso, ocean-sculpted cliffs and wildlife, then skyline sunsets and surf.

Melbourne grew wealthy on 1850s gold and now glows with creativity—heritage arcades, cutting-edge galleries, and a coffee scene so exacting baristas weigh grinds to the tenth of a gram. Sydney began as a convict colony and became a global icon; its Opera House sails and Harbour Bridge steel span a harbour studded with ferries and beaches.

Practical notes: Australia drives on the left; tolls in Sydney are cashless (add a temporary e-pass). Summer sun is fierce—pack SPF 50+. Bushfire season can affect parks and roads; check local advisories before day trips. Wildlife is most active at dawn and dusk—slow down on rural roads.

Melbourne

Australia’s cultural capital is a city of secrets revealed slowly: duck into a laneway and find a mural, a jazz bar, or a next-level croissant. The CBD’s 19th‑century arcades meet striking modern design, while trams knit together neighbourhoods like Fitzroy (bohemian), Collingwood (creative), and Southbank (riverside arts).

• Top sights: National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), State Library Dome, Federation Square, Shrine of Remembrance, Royal Botanic Gardens, Queen Victoria Market, Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
• Eat & drink: Lune Croissanterie (precision pastries), Hardware Société (brunch classics with flair), Embla (natural-wine bar and wood-fired plates), Tipo 00 (pasta), ShanDong MaMa (handmade mackerel dumplings).
• Fun facts: Melbourne consumes more coffee per capita than any other Australian city; its laneway art helped launch global street-art stars.

Where to stay (Melbourne): For sweeping river views and a spa day, book Crown Towers Melbourne. For old-school elegance and a prime Southbank location, consider The Langham, Melbourne. For boutique budgets, Ibis Budget Melbourne CBD keeps you central; social travelers love Space Hotel. Browse more stays on VRBO Melbourne and Hotels.com Melbourne.

Sydney

Built around one of the world’s great natural harbours, Sydney dazzles with sandstone headlands, iconic architecture, and an outdoor lifestyle that blends ocean swims and rooftop sundowners. Each neighbourhood has its beat—from heritage lanes in The Rocks to Bondi’s surf culture.

• Top sights: Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge Pylon Lookout, The Rocks, Royal Botanic Garden, Barangaroo Reserve, Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk, Manly by ferry, Taronga Zoo.
• Eat & drink: Single O (benchmark coffee), Bills (ricotta hotcakes), Bar Totti’s (wood-fired bread and antipasti), Mr. Wong (Cantonese banquets), Quay (fine dining with harbour views), Maybe Sammy (award-winning cocktails).
• Fun facts: The Opera House’s tiles are self-cleaning; Bondi’s Icebergs pool dates to 1929 and was designed for winter swimmers.

Where to stay (Sydney): Base near Circular Quay for easy ferries and sights, or Bondi if beach time beckons. Compare options on VRBO Sydney and Hotels.com Sydney.

Getting there & getting around: Fly into Melbourne (MEL). Compare fares on Trip.com flights and Kiwi.com flights. Driving Melbourne→Sydney via the coastal Princes Highway (A1) is ~12–14 hours total; we split it over two days. As an alternative, a nonstop flight MEL–SYD takes ~1h30m and often costs about US$70–180—search on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Day 1: Arrive Melbourne + Laneways, Art, and the Yarra

Afternoon: Touch down and settle into your hotel. Begin with a gentle wander through Degraves Street and Centre Place—espresso bars, stencil art, and hole‑in‑the‑wall bites. Pop into the Block Arcade for a snapshot of 1890s elegance and a treat at Hopetoun Tea Rooms’ successor patisserie counter.

Evening: Stroll Southbank’s river promenade at golden hour. For dinner, try Gimlet at Cavendish House (wood-fire meets grand dining room), or head to Chin Chin for lively Thai-inspired plates; book ahead or be prepared to queue. Nightcap at Eau de Vie (speakeasy theatrics) or Arbery Afloat when in season for a riverside spritz.

Day 2: Coffee, Culture, and Hidden History

Morning: Start at Lune Croissanterie CBD (go early for a kouign-amann), then continue with a specialty flat white at Patricia Coffee Brewers. Walk to the State Library’s La Trobe Reading Room for a breathtaking dome, then swing by Queen Victoria Market to snack on a hot jam doughnut from the American Doughnut Kitchen van.

Afternoon: Dive deeper with a guided laneways and history walk: Ultimate Melbourne Walking Tour: History, Laneways & Culture—a passionate local covers stories you won’t find on signs (includes coffee and a pub drink).

Evening: Visit NGV International (open late on select nights) or catch sunset from the Shrine of Remembrance balcony. Dinner in Chinatown: order xiao long bao at Hutong Dumpling Bar or hand-pulled noodles and seaweed salad at Shanghai Street. Dessert? Black Star Pastry’s strawberry watermelon cake.

Day 3: Great Ocean Road—The 12 Apostles and Wild Coast

Full-day small-group adventure along one of the world’s most scenic drives. Beat the crowds with a reverse itinerary: start near the 12 Apostles and work back through rainforest and surf towns. Expect koala sightings, shipwreck lore, and sea-spray panoramas.

Great Ocean Road Reverse Itinerary PREMIUM Tour - Max 11 Guests

Post-tour dinner back in the city: Embla for wood-fired vegetables and a clever wine list, or Tipo 00 for silky tagliolini al nero and tiramisu.

Day 4: Phillip Island—Koalas and the Penguin Parade

Another Victorian classic: cuddle the nature vibes at a koala reserve, then witness hundreds of little penguins waddle ashore at dusk. Upgrade to the Penguins Plus platform for closer views with fewer people.

Phillip Island Day Trip from Melbourne with Penguin Plus Viewing Platform

If you prefer a night on the river, swap to this Yarra experience: Spirit of Melbourne Dinner Cruise on the Yarra River—three hours of city lights and multicourse dining.

Day 5: Drive Melbourne → Lakes Entrance (Gippsland Lakes)

Morning: Pick up your rental car after breakfast at Industry Beans Fitzroy (try the coffee bubble-cup and chilli-scramble). Aim east on the M1/A1; stop for a classic country bakery pie in Yarragon or a sit-down farm-to-table lunch at Tinamba Hotel (short detour, award-winning regional produce).

Afternoon: Stretch your legs at Sale Common Wetlands Boardwalk, then continue to Lakes Entrance (approx. 3.5–4 hours drive from Melbourne, excluding stops). Walk the footbridge to Ninety Mile Beach for a breezy shoreline stroll and dune views.

Evening: Eat waterfront at Sodafish (local prawns, Lakes Entrance gummy shark, seasonal oysters) or The Boathouse for modern seafood and Gippsland wines. Overnight in town—browse Hotels.com Lakes Entrance or VRBO Lakes Entrance for cottages and apartments near the water.

Road tip: Watch for wombats and roos near dusk; reduce speed accordingly. EV drivers will find fast chargers in Traralgon, Bairnsdale, and Lakes Entrance; plan with a buffer.

Day 6: Lakes Entrance → Sydney via the Sapphire Coast

Morning: Depart early. Coffee at Albert & Co before you roll. Optional food stop at Wild Rye’s Baking Co in Pambula (sourdough, lamingtons). Quick scenic pause at Eden Lookout or the Killer Whale Museum precinct for maritime history.

Afternoon: Continue to Bermagui’s Blue Pool for a photogenic ocean dip, or detour to Narooma’s Bar Rock Lookout to spot seals on the breakwater. If time allows, swing by Kiama Blowhole for thundering plumes (best on a swell). Total driving today is long—about 8.5–10 hours with scenic stops—so keep breaks frequent.

Evening: Arrive Sydney, return the car, and celebrate with fresh burrata and wood-fired bread at Bar Totti’s or Cantonese feasting at Mr. Wong (don’t miss the honey prawns and mapo tofu). Nightcap at Maybe Sammy (martinis as theatre) or Opera Bar for harbour views.

Tolls: Sydney’s urban motorways are cashless; set up a short-term pass or confirm your rental includes an e-tag to avoid fees.

Day 7: Sydney Icons, Coastal Walks, and Departure

Morning: Breakfast at Single O (filter flight or flat white) or Bills (sweetcorn fritters, ricotta hotcakes). Explore the Opera House up close, then wander The Rocks’ sandstone lanes to the Harbour Bridge Pylon Lookout for a panoramic harbour photo without the full bridge climb.

Afternoon: If you have time before your flight, do the most Sydney thing there is: the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk (you can shorten to Bondi–Bronte). Swim at Bronte Baths or Bondi Icebergs if conditions allow. Grab a scoop at Gelato Messina (pistachio praline or a rotating special), then head to the airport.

Evening: Departure day—safe travels! If you’re staying another night, book a table at Quay for Peter Gilmore’s White Coral dessert and peerless harbour theatre.

Optional Add-ons or Swaps

• Trade Day 4 for a Yarra Valley tasting day: Yarra Valley Wine, Gin, Whisky and Chocolate Tour for cellar doors, distilleries, and sweet finishes.

Arrival/flight alternatives: Prefer to fly between cities? Nonstop MEL–SYD flights run frequently (~1h30m, often US$70–180). Compare on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Final food notes (local gems to try): In Melbourne, grab cannoli at Brunetti Oro or a market picnic from Maker & Monger’s toasted cheese. In Sydney, hit The Grounds of the City for a vintage‑style café experience, or order a sunrise bacon-and-egg roll from a Bondi kiosk and eat it on the sand.

Trip recap: In a week you’ve sampled Melbourne’s coffee-fueled culture, stood at the 12 Apostles, watched penguins parade at dusk, traced a spectacular coast, and finished with Sydney’s sails and surf. It’s a snapshot of southeastern Australia that balances icons with insider flavor.