Tour of the Capital Cities

[jamesmp]

Over the holiday period in 2011/12, I'm planning a three week/5,000km odd drive from Brisbane to Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. I've currently penciled in a visit to the Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo, Royal Flying Doctor Service in Broken Hill, Barossa Valley in South Australia and Great Ocean Road in Victoria. Is there any attractions along/near the proposed route you think would be worth visiting? I don't really have any preferences at the moment and am open to all ideas!

I have done a bit of maths and have worked average costs on my VE SV6 using 11.25L/100km (I know it will probably drop to around 8.5L/100 on the highway) and $1.60/L for V-Power. That means it will cost around $650 each for my mate and me if you also include 'wear and tear' costs. It does not include any additional driving around the towns and cities.

Thanks in advance!

[Reaper]

Do yourself a favor and drive the great ocean road on the way to Geelong. Well worth the short detour. When you get to Adelaide you'll find the road out will be it's most appealing feature. Also, perhaps consider going around the long way on the coast from Melb - Syd if time permits - way way way more interesting than the hume which is as boring as batshit.

Reaper

[alpha_au]

Do yourself a favor and drive the great ocean road on the way to Geelong. Well worth the short detour. When you get to Adelaide you'll find the road out will be it's most appealing feature. Also, perhaps consider going around the long way on the coast from Melb - Syd if time permits - way way way more interesting than the hume which is as boring as batshit.

Reaper

Thats a bit harsh mate, the barossa is a nice place and so is the victor harbor area

[Reaper]

Thats a bit harsh mate, the barossa is a nice place and so is the victor harbor area

Neither of them are in Adelaide.

Reaper

[Dr HaxZaw]

yeah if your doing a tour use the back road as much as you can between syndey and melbourne cause that road is about as entertaining as falling asleep

[philba]

yeah if your doing a tour use the back road as much as you can between syndey and melbourne cause that road is about as entertaining as falling asleep

which is likely to happen if you take the hume

[greenacc]

For me Cpaital cities are boring, but most of the coast between adelaide and Coffs Harbour is great. ( past coffs just gets to close to QLD lol )
Phillip Island, Wilsons Prom but pack your lunch, Lakes enterance, Eden is a really great place to relax, Bega cheese factory if you need a calcium hit, mystery bay cottages, tilba tilba if you need more cheese , Northern beaches of Sydney, Elizabeth beach Forster, great trip in a commo.

[piston_broke]

If i was heading in the direction you mentioned, e.g. Broken Hill, i'd be taking a slight detour to Lake Eyre, as i believe it's pretty full at the moment and would be worth seeing.

[Drawnnite]

while on the great ocean road check out whats left of the 12 apostles before they are all gone.

also as it appears you will be driving the Hume Highway.
now if you want to do the typical way of driving it you can just plod along and miss all the old towns.
now for school we had to read a book about the hume "Bypass: The Story of a Road"
there are some "interesting" places along the way if your willing to go through these towns such as glenrowan for ned kelly stuff. the dog on the tuckerbox

[Dr HaxZaw]

which is likely to happen if you take the hume

i usually try and drive it at night otherwise i have trouble staying awake lol

[Troy711]

It's hardly a capital city road trip if you don't go to the capital city of the country

[jamesmp]

Thanks for the suggestions so far guys.

I will definitely be going along the Great Ocean Road to see the now 11 Apostles. I would also like to see some of the smaller towns along the way, such as Ned Kelly history in Glenrowan and the Jenolan Caves in Lowther.

Unfortunately, Lake Eyre is a bit too far out of the way for this trip.

[Drawnnite]

I will definitely be going along the Great Ocean Road to see the now 11 Apostles.

i think its down to about 7 now as some have been hit for 6 (old mark knight cartoon when last one fell over)

[ari666]

seems off topic, but its not. stay the hell away from V-power. only use BP ultimate 98 or mobil 2000-whatever the hell its called.

much better fuels, and will get you more k's

[Calaber]

How much time do you intend spending in Sydney and what sort of sights interest you?

[jamesmp]

At the moment, I'm only going to stop in briefly to see my grandparents because I visit Sydney about four times a year. That said, I may visit the Southern Highlands, South Coast and Hunter Valley. Have you got any suggestions in those areas?

[Calaber]

Not an expert on the highlands or southern coast, although Bowral is a beautiful town. Don Bradman museum if you are a cricket fan. Hunter valley - well, not really much up there unless you want to tour wineries. You're probably familiar with Sydney so I won't waste your time.

[jamesmp]

My mate is a cricket fan so he'd appreciate going to the Bradman Museum. I'm a rail fan and the Hunter Valley is crawling with trains so there should be a few potential shots!

[Calaber]

My mate is a cricket fan so he'd appreciate going to the Bradman Museum. I'm a rail fan and the Hunter Valley is crawling with trains so there should be a few potential shots!

If he is travelling with you and he hasn't seen the Bradman museum, you will have to make the effort to get there, even if only for his sake. Even for non-fans, it's a superb museum and the town is a delightful stop-over.

As for trains in the Hunter, most of them are coal trains. Half the railways up there have shut down over the years and there is only the occasional coal train servicing the major mines. There is, however, a tourist steam train still running at Richmond Vale, just south of Kurri Kurri. Check Google under Richmond Vale railway for operating times. I haven't been into the complex, but it uses part of one of the old coal mine lines running old steam engines from the mines. Kurri Kurri is not out of the way as you head north - just about 20 minutes off the F3, turning off at the Freemans Waterholes junction. After visiting there, you head back across to the Highway at Hexham to head north.

[Drawnnite]

if its not outta your way what about a visit to bathurst.
the museum at the bottom of the mountain has some pretty cool cars and stuff in there

[kuzman89]

seems off topic, but its not. stay the hell away from V-power. only use BP ultimate 98 or mobil 2000-whatever the hell its called.

much better fuels, and will get you more k's

you do know that Shell supplies most of the car fuel companies in Victoria?? Including BP....

[minux]

you do know that Shell supplies most of the car fuel companies in Victoria?? Including BP....

For regular unleaded they do. Not for premium fuels. Nothing like a good piece of misinformation in the morning!!! V-Power is independant of BP Ultimate, Mobil 8000 however is a hybrid blend base of BP ultimate.
OP, make sure you do Alpine Way, seriously, one of the best roads in Australia.

[Dr HaxZaw]

there is only the occasional coal train servicing the major mines

lol my dads a train fan and i can tell you its more than the occasional coal train... they're running them flat chat through there at the moment lol

[kuzman89]

For regular unleaded they do. Not for premium fuels. Nothing like a good piece of misinformation in the morning!!! V-Power is independant of BP Ultimate, Mobil 8000 however is a hybrid blend base of BP ultimate.
OP, make sure you do Alpine Way, seriously, one of the best roads in Australia.

I heard they supply all the fuel in vic, you got a source by any chance? I believe ya just want to make sure!

Cheers

[minux]

I heard they supply all the fuel in vic, you got a source by any chance? I believe ya just want to make sure!

Cheers

My source is a CFO within Shell lol. I also have family who work at Geelong refinery.