Cities & Coast

Day 1 - Sydney to Canberra (300 kms)

Pick up your Avis intermediate automatic sedan rental car at the Sydney City Depot and commence your drive to Canberra.

Canberra is the Capital of Australia and is situated in the Australian Capital Territory, in the southern tablelands of New South Wales. The best way to gain an appreciation of Canberra is to visit any of the lookouts on the surrounding hills. On the summit of Mt. Pleasant are memorials to the Australian Artillery and Armoured Corps, while Red Hill overlooks Parliament House, southern Canberra and the Woden Valley. From Mt. Ainslie the visitor can see central Canberra and Lake Burley Griffin. The three most popular tourist attractions in Canberra are Parliament House, the War Memorial and the National Library and well worth a visit.

Hotel: Mercure Canberra (Standard) or Hotel Kurrajong Canberra (Deluxe).

Day 2 - Canberra to Eden (280 kms)

Depart Canberra and travel south on the Monaro Highway and Snowy Mountains Highway before arriving at Eden.

Eden has a population of around 4000 people and is situated on Twofold Bay. A former whaling station, it is now a deep water fishing port, and the fishing and timber industries are of the utmost importance to the survival of the town. The town’s Killer Whale Museum gives an overview of Eden’s history. The Ben Boyd National Park flanks Twofold Bay to the north with its famous Red Cliffs, and to the south bordering historic Boyd’s Tower.

Hotel: Coachman’s Eden (Standard) or Gipsy Point Lakeside (Deluxe).

Day 3 - Eden to Lakes Entrance (243 kms)

Depart Eden rejoining the Princes Highway and travel via the towns of Bellbird Creek, Orbost and Nowa Nowa to arrive at your overnight accommodation in Lakes Entrance.

Lakes Entrance is at the entrance to the Gippsland Lakes, Australia’s largest inland water system. It is a popular holiday destination with wonderful beaches as well as a spectacular hinterland with mountains, rivers and forests. Wildlife in the area includes dolphins, water birds, kangaroos, wombats and koalas. A short walk across the footbridge brings you to the Entrance and Bass Strait, with Ninety Mile Beach stretching away into the distance.

Hotel: Comfort Inn & Suites Emmanuel (Standard) or Lakes Entrance Waverley House Cottages (Deluxe).

Day 4 - Lakes Entrance to Phillip Island (330 kms)

This morning may be spent exploring the scenic Lakes District and Wilson’s Promontory before beginning your journey to the picturesque Phillip Island, home to the famous resident penguins.

Phillip Island is the home of the Fairy Penguins. At dusk, they emerge from the surf, completely ignoring the thousands of curious onlookers. The island has a major wildlife reserve where you can see koalas, fur seals, pelicans, mutton-birds and various other sea birds. Ask your consultant to add the Penguin Parade

Hotel:  Kaloha Resort Phillip Island (Standard) or Glen Isla House (Deluxe).

Day 5 - Phillip Island to Melbourne (140 kms)

Depart Phillip Island via the Bass Highway through the town of Cranbourne. Continue to the town of Lyndhurst, where you join the Princes Highway to arrive at Melbourne.

An alternative scenic route to take is to travel via the Bass Highway to the town of Koo-wee-rup, where you turn left and continue to the Mornington Peninsula. Here you travel south again to visit the scenic coastal resort towns of Sorrento and Portsea. This detour would add approximately 3 hours to your journey back to Melbourne. Return your vehicle to the Melbourne Airport depot or Melbourne city Avis Depot.