Start your Australia adventure with three nights in Victoria’s lively capital of Melbourne. This impressive city of tree lined boulevards, grand buildings and well-tended parks and gardens is also Australia’s sporting capital, hosting its Grand Prix and Open Tennis Tournament, plus everything from Ashes cricket to Aussie Rules football.

Melbourne’s markets and laneways are fun to explore or try out the riverside cafés, bars and even the casino along the city’s colourful Southbank. A short ride on Melbourne’s famous trams to St Kilda means you are never too far from a beach.

Your chosen Melbourne hotel

Pick up your car this morning for a leisurely drive to Phillip Island. This jewel of the south coast is home to a colony of fur seals at Seal Rock and a superb Koala Conservation Centre, where you can get up close to these unique marsupials.

Most amazing of all, however is the Fairy Penguin Parade, where these delightful little creature waddle up the beach to their burrows each night. Make sure you are there in the early evening to witness the spectacle.

Melbourne > Phillip Island | 145 kms

Standard: Kaloha Resort Phillip Island

Deluxe: Genesta House

Cross the island’s bridge to the mainland for a drive eastwards through the rolling landscapes and rural communities of Victoria. There is a superb heritage centre at Moe, en route, or detour to the fascinating old gold mining town of Walhalla.

The pretty coastal resort of Lakes Entrance is one of Victoria’s favourite holiday spots and you have a two night stop here. Explore the natural saltwater lakes, great for wildlife and popular with fishermen, or maybe head to a secluded beach for some sun or sea bathing of your own.

Phillip Island > Lakes Entrance | 310 kms

Standard & Deluxe: Waverley House Cottages

Enjoy stunning forest scenery today as you head towards New South Wales. The Coastal Drive travels inland a little before it returns to the ocean at the pretty seaside town of Eden.

Your stop for the night is the nearby resort of Merimbula, popular with both holidaymakers and surfers. There are some delightful coastal walks here, plus an excellent wildlife sanctuary and aquarium.

Lakes Entrance > Merimbula | 260 kms

Standard: Fairway Motor Inn

Deluxe: Hotel Australasia, Eden

Pick up the Snowy Mountain Highway as you travel through the mountains to Australia’s capital of Canberra. This beautifully laid out city is the seat of the country’s national government and has several fine galleries and monuments. There are also plenty of parks and gardens, including Mount Ainslie Lookout and the National Arboretum.

The large war memorial and museum is also impressive, or you can take a free tour of the grass covered Parliament Building itself.

Merimbula > Canberra | 245 kms

Standard: Rydges Canberra

Deluxe: Hotel Kurrajong Canberra

The highway will take you to Sydney in about three hours but, for a more scenic drive, drop down to Wollongong and follow the coastal route via the Sea Cliff Bridge and Royal National Park.

Your three nights in Sydney give you plenty of time to explore this world famous city. You can take a cruise around the Harbour, visit the Opera House and Botanical Gardens or even climb the iconic Bridge. Outside of the city centre are the beaches of Bondi, Coogee and Manly or use the car for a drive to the beautiful Blue Mountains. Your FREEDOM consultant will be pleased to prebook some Sydney experiences for you.

Standard: Park Royal Darling Harbour

Deluxe: Amora Jamison

Leave the bustle of Sydney behind as you drive north over the Harbour Bridge towards the Hawkesbury River. The region is a favourite weekend playground for Sydneysiders and the scenery is spectacular.

As you leave the main highway for the tranquil Hunter Valley, more and more vineyards will come into view on the hillsides. This is the origin of some of the best wines in Australia and many wineries offer cellar door tasting and excellent food.

Sydney > Hunter Valley | 180 kms

Standard: Hunter Valley Resort

Deluxe: Rydges Resort Hunter Valley

Head back to the coast and the town of Newcastle, the second biggest port in New South Wales. You will get a 360 degree view of the city and ocean from the 170-year-old Nobby’s Head Lighthouse.

Just north of Newcastle is the gorgeous Port Stephens area, with quiet, dune sheltered beaches and hidden coves. Around an enormous natural harbour are several small fishing towns and communities, many of which offer leisure cruises to see the local, wild bottlenose dolphins that live in the waters.

Hunter Valley > Port Stephens | 160 kms

Standard: Anchorage Port Stephens

Deluxe: Oaks Pacific Blue

Drive north this morning for a scenic journey to Port Macquarie, once one of the most feared and cruel penal colonies in the new lands of Australia. You will pass many dairy farms and fruit and nut orchards on the way, or if you take the Scenic Lakes Way, you can enjoy spectacular forest, lakes and ocean views.

The friendly seaside town of Port Macquarie has a wildlife park and a Koala Hospital, as well as several pristine swimming beaches.

Port Stephens > Port Macquarie | 220 kms

Standard: Country Comfort Port Macquarie Waters Edge

Deluxe: Rydges Port Macquarie

This part of New South Wales was first settled by Europeans in the mid 1800s and is now one of Australia’s principal fruit-growing regions. Nestled between the ocean and the forested mountains of the interior, there are many historic towns and rural communities to discover on your drive to Coffs Harbour.

Coffs, as it is known locally, is a popular, year-round tourist destination with a busy marina and fine beaches. There are also botanical gardens and guided nature walks.

Port Macquarie > Coffs Harbour | 155 kms

Standard: Best Western Parkside Motor Inn

Deluxe: Breakfree Aanuka Beach

The drive through northern New South Wales offers some dramatic forest and mountain scenery and there are many interesting stopping points on the way.

Your home for the next two nights is laid-back Byron Bay, the most easterly point of mainland Australia. This easy-going holiday town is famed for its golden beaches and surfing culture. There is a lovely coastal walk to Cape Byron Lighthouse or soak up the sunshine and colourful lifestyle around the town’s open-air, cafés, bars and eateries.

Coffs Harbour > Byron Bay | 240 kms

Standard: Eco Beach

Deluxe: Crystalbrook Byron

From the relaxed charm of Byron Bay, head to Queensland’s neon-lit Gold Coast. There are several theme parks here, as well as the shops, arcades and golden sands of famous Surfers Paradise.

Stop and explore, before heading on to Brisbane for your final two night stay. This vibrant city is the capital and cultural heart of Queensland, with many museums and fine historical buildings. Set along the banks of the Storey River are the pleasant gardens, walks and open-air cafés of the city’s South Bank.

You can extend your stay in Australia or return your car at the airport when you fly out.

Byron Bay > Brisbane | 165 kms

Your chosen Brisbane hotel