Holiday Overview
You can drive between Melbourne and Sydney in one day. But what fun would that be? In between Australia's two largest cities on this epic Sydney to Melbourne trip, take in the dreamy landscapes of the Southern Highlands, the country's cool little capital on Canberra guided tours, and historic gold rush towns. With plenty of time for fun-fuel adventures, like a Melbourne laneway tour or Phillip Island penguin tour, of course.
2025 | Prices From |
Feb-06 | £24105pp Twin Adult / £3100pp Single |
Mar-20 | £2189pp Twin Adult / £2810pp Single |
Apr-10 | £1799pp Twin Adult / £2312pp Single |
Aug-28 | £1799pp Twin Adult / £2312pp Single |
Oct-16 | £1799pp Twin Adult / £2312pp Single |
Nov-20 | £1871pp Twin Adult / £2410pp Single |
2026 | Prices From |
Feb-05, 19 | £1871pp Twin Adult / £2410pp Single |
Mar-19 | £1871pp Twin Adult / £2410pp Single |
Southern Capitals Escorted Tour includes:
- Specialist Guides
- 4 Breakfast, 1 Dinner with wine and 1 Be My Guest Lunch
- Private transfers to and from airport
- Tour of Canberra Parliment House
Day 1 - Arrive in Sydney
Arrive into Sydney day prior to tour starting, check into the Vibe Hotel spending the rest of day at leisure.
Featured accommodation
Vibe Hotel Sydney
Day 2 - Sydney - Canberra
It’s hard to believe that just 1.5 hours from Sydney lies a patch of countryside that could have been transplanted straight from the English Cotswolds. This is Berrima, the oldest Georgian village in Australia. Think atmospheric villages amid rolling hills of grape vines – the Southern Highlands is the closest wine region to Australia’s largest city, after all. And then there are the grand gardens and emerald farms, one of which you’ll visit to meet Craig Starr and his family. Their 400-hectare Gold Creek Station farm is your backdrop for a Be My Guest BBQ lunch and tales about life on the land.
This is your start of your Sydney to Melbourne trip, and the entrée to the country’s cool little capital of Canberra, home to Parliament House, where you’ll go behind the political scenes, as well as the Australian War Memorial. Hearing the Last Post is a moving experience, and this Canberra guided tour will linger long after you leave the capital.
Hotel - Crowne Plaza
Meals Included - Be My Guest Lunch and Dinner with Wine
Day 3 - Canberra - Wangaratta
Thanks to architect Walter Burley Griffin, Canberra is an urban planner’s delight – the city is that well laid out, as you’ll discover when you head to the summit of Mt. Ainslie for panoramic views on a Canberra guided tour. You won’t yet be able to see the mighty Murray River, but you’ll soon cross it en route to Beechworth. From Australia’s longest river to Victoria’s best-preserved gold rush town, Beechworth saw an influx of fortune-seekers from all over the world during the 1850s.
Your Travel Director will give you the Beechworth lowdown, then set you on your way to further explore character-filled antiques stores, galleries, leafy parks and gardens, and museums at your leisure. There are plenty of charming cafés and restaurants to refuel in as well, before Wangaratta’s cathedrals beckon.
Hotel - Quality Hotel, Wangaratta
Meals Included - Breakfast
Day 4 - Wangaratta - Melbourne
Meandering south toward historic Glenrowan, you’re well and truly in Ned Kelly country – this is where the infamous bushranger and his gang were finally captured in 1880. The story is remembered on pretty much every city corner, whether in enormous statues or at the town’s well-curated museum. We’ll tell you all the tales – some of them true, many of them hearsay. All of them entertaining. Then we’ll tell you a bit more about Melbourne, like how it’s the home of Aussie rules football, covets some of the country’s best arts institutions, and has a swag of stellar restaurants, cafés and bars. Small wonder it’s known as Australia’s cultural, culinary and sporting capital.
Once you have your bearings after a city and Melbourne laneway tour, head off to explore. Forget your map – one of the joys of being in Melbourne is getting lost. Discovering a hidden jazz bar. Stumbling upon a hole-in-the-wall restaurant. Finding a gallery that catches your eye. Spending too much in that independent boutique. Enjoy!
Hotel - Crowne Plaza, Melbourne
Meals - Breakfast
Day 5 - Melbourne Free Time
You could spend weeks exploring Melbourne and its surrounds and not tire of the attractions. But you just have today, so make the most of it. We wouldn’t hold it against you if all you want to do is jump on a tram and ride the rails to the city’s character-filled neighbourhoods. Perhaps bohemian Brunswick, or seaside St. Kilda for Polish cakes along Acland Street. But if you want to explore further afield, we’ve got you covered on an optional experience. For a bird’s-eye view of the bay, sign up to scale the Eureka Skydeck, offering dizzying vistas in every direction from almost 300 metres above the street.
If you’re an animal lover, then you’ll want to venture to Phillip Island to see hundreds of little penguins pad from the sea along the sand en route to their burrows. It’s a nightly attraction. Want to get back to nature? Chug through the lush Dandenong Ranges on the Puffing Billy Steam Train, followed by a sip or two of wine in the Yarra Valley. The flight of cool-climate drops enjoyed here is all you need to ease into the evening. The choice is yours.
Hotel - Crowne Plaza, Melbourne
Meals Included - Breakfast
Day 6 - Goodbye Melbourne
Wait, how did you just pack so much action into a working week? Cities, countryside, farms, wineries, islands… this Sydney to Melbourne trip has been quite the adventure.
Meals Included - Breakfast
Image Gallery
Harbour Bridge
Canberra
Canberra Parliament Building
Great Ocean Road, Melbourne
Kangroo, Phillip Island
Bondi Beach, Sydney
Sydney
Darling Harbour, Sydney
Melbourne
Melbourne
Penguins, Phillip Island
Kangroo, Phillip Island
Canberra
Canberra Parliament Building
Phillip Island
Melbourne
Australia Stopovers
Australia is on the other side of the world, making it really easy to include stopovers as part of your perfect itinerary. Stopover experiences can enhance or contrast with your Australian journey, so if you are looking to see the delights of Dubai, the shops of Singapore, the bustle of Bangkok, the neon of New York or the cuisine of Capetown, just let us know...
Alternative Holidays That May Interest You
Below you will find a small selection of 2024, 2025 holidays that may interest you. Remember, we tailor-make each holiday to your exact needs, so please call us on 0800 270 0069 and let one of our Holiday experts design the perfect trip for you
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