Melbourne to Newcastle road trip: Best stops, distance & time
Melbourne to Newcastle drive: Glenrowan to Albury
Next up is Glenrowan, scene of Ned Kelly’s last stand. The interpretive displays on Siege Street tell the tale of the shoot-out.
You might also want to make a short detour to the King Valley wineries around Milawa on the short drive from Glenrowan to regional hub Wangaratta.
Things to do in Wangaratta include swimming in the Ovens River from the Northern Beaches and admiring Aboriginal sculptures on the Bullawah Cultural Trail.
For Wangaratta accommodation, try the riverside Big4 Wangaratta North Cedars Holiday Park and the well kitted-out Quest apartments.
On the way from Wangaratta to Albury, the Chiltern Motor Museum in Chiltern should quench the thirsts of ardent petrolheads. You can also stretch your legs at the Barnawartha Scenic Reserve next to the highway.
Albury to Jugiong
Albury-Wodonga is the biggest city before reaching Sydney, even though it’s really two towns on either side of the Murray River.
Things to do in Albury include kayaking along the Murray, seeing Aboriginal art of the Yindyamarra Sculpture Walk and getting a fascinating insight into Australian immigration history at the Bonegilla Migrant Experience.
Best Albury accommodation picks
The best places to stay in Albury are:
- For a heated pool and spa in a gorgeous location next to a riverside park: Best Western Plus Hovell Tree Inn.
- For apartments with kitchenettes in a central location: Mantra Albury.
- For a good quality motel next to the train station: Winsor Park Motor Inn.
- For a holiday park with lots of facilities for the kids: Big4 Albury Tourist Park.
- For a motel with cheap rates and fairly central location: Allawa Motor Inn.
Near Albury on the New South Wales side of the border, Woomargama National Park provides a pleasant diversion if you’re in search of wildlife and walking trails.
Jugiong on the Murrumbidgee River is the perfect lunch stop, with several good places to eat – most notably the Long Track Pantry.
Click through to the next section: Gundagai to Yass.