Bendigo to Sydney road trip: Distance, drive time & best stops

Bendigo to Sydney drive: Goulburn and Bowral

The best place to stop on a Bendigo to Sydney road trip, however, is the Southern Highlands. Almost everyone stops at the Sutton Forest East Service Centre on the way, although Sutton Forest Estate Wines is a more amiable spot for a journey break.

Once in the Southern Highlands, the highway skirts the edge of Mittagong and Berrima, but the best base is Bowral.

Top Mittagong accommodation

The best places to stay in Mittagong are:

For heritage in an 1836 sandstone building: Fitzroy Inn Historic Retreat.
For kid-friendly facilities: Mittagong Caravan Park.
For a relatively cheap, decent motel: Mittagong Motel.

5 great Southern Highlands experiences to boost your visit

Personalised private Southern Highlands wine and attractions tours – tailored to your tastes.
Tutored wine-tasting and canapes experience.
Beekeeping experience – learn how honey is made.
Guided wine-tasting at the Mill – with tasting notes procided.
Behind the scenes tour of a sustainable winery in Berrima.

In Bowral, you’ll find character-packed accommodation such as the Berida Hotel and Milton Park, plus innovative wineries such as Centennial Vineyards. Cricket fans will lap up the Bradman Museum, while Fitzroy Falls or Belmore Falls in the nearby Morton National Park cater to nature-lovers.

From Bowral, it’s not much of a drive until you reach the south-western fringes of Sydney’s suburbia.

What to do in Sydney

Sydney is one of the most beautiful cities on earth, and there is loads to do. The following suggestions for things to do in Sydney are just a fraction of the total offering.

13 brilliant experiences in Sydney you should book

The Three Sisters in the Blue Mountains.

(💲Great value 💲) Tick off several bucket list items on a highlights-packed Blue Mountains day tour.
Get perfect views of the world’s most beautiful city on a Sydney Harbour helicopter tour.
Save money with a multi-attraction pass.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Enjoy the romance of a tall ship cruise on Sydney Harbour.
Eat all you can at the Skyfeast at the top of Sydney Tower.
See migrating humpbacks – on a whale-watching cruise.
(Highly recommended ✅) Go behind the scenes of Australia’s most famous building on an Opera House tour.
Dine as the city lights up on sunset dinner cruise around the harbour.
Combine beers and stories on a historic pubs tour through the convict-era Rocks district.
Stand on your board and catch waves during Bondi Beach surfing lessons.
Go to wombat and kangaroo-spotting hotspots on a Southern Highlands tour.
Enjoy Sydney’s wild side on a Manly snorkelling & nature walk.
(🥇Top choice in Sydney) And, best of all, paddle to hidden beaches on a harbour kayaking adventure.

Fly over Sydney Harbour in a helicopter.
See the animals in their prime harbourside homes at Taronga Zoo.
Take a guided tour of the Sydney Opera House.
In the winter months, go on a whale-watching cruise.
Take a sunset dinner cruise on a tall ship.
Go on a street art and food walking tour through Sydney’s cultural Inner West.
Learn to surf at Bondi Beach.
Tick off the city’s highlight on a bike tour.
Go on a pub crawl around the historic pubs in the Rocks.
Do the Skywalk at the top of the Sydney Tower.

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Skip the queues – and get the best prices – with mobile-friendly advance tickets for these top Sydney attractions.

Taronga Zoo – the zoo with harbour views (and plenty of cute Aussie animals)
Sydney Opera House – official walking tour. See behind the scenes!
Wild Life Sydney – Aussie animal favourites in convenient Darling Harbour location. Perfect if on limited time.
Sydney Cricket Ground – behind the scenes secrets tour.
Sydney Tower Eye – 360 degree views from 250 metres above the city.

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