fromthetoon

Hi, we're driving to Melbourne from Brisbane over the Christmas holiday period and l'm wondering if anyone can recommend places to stay on the way down. We would like accommodation for 1 night only so that we can break up the journey regularly and experience some nice places (have three young children), although I appreciate that we may need to book for 2 nights.
Coffs Harbour, Newcastle and Wollongong look geographically OK (done Sydney). Good beaches or fun places for kids would be helpful please.
Thanks

Alfresco

I'm sure this question has come up before. Anyway I hope some good replies come your way soon.

Good luck.

roaringmouse

If you're driving between Brisbane and Melbourne then the inland Newell Highway is the normal way to go. On this route, Dubbo is a place to look at staying (it's pretty much half way) and there is the Western Plains Zoo if you have the time (we spent 2 nights in Dubbo on our last trip for this with kids) - your kids might enjoy that. Also there is "the Dish" near Parkes if you're interested in that kind of thing, won't take more than an hour but could be a good break from driving.

fromthetoon

Much appreciated, thanks

KJCherokee

Melbourne to Brisbane doesn't need to go anywhere near Sydney or the Pacific coast - as roaring mouse said, use the Newell through Albury, Wagga, Dubbo, Narrabri and Goondawindi, then either through Warwick or Toowoomba to Ipswich and into Brisbane.

How many days do you want to be on the road? With young children you probably don't want more than 5-6 hours driving time each day, which would make it a 3-4 day journey.

roaringmouse

The few times I've driven the route we didn't go through Albury and Wagga Wagga, we went past Shepparton - basically following the 39/A39 all the way between Toowoomba and where it meets the Hume Freeway outside of Melbourne. Much easier if you haven't driven it before, and when my father-in-law took that route once instead of his normal way via Albury that you mention, he said it was a bit quicker.

fish.01

If I was doing the trip for the journey, rather than the destination I would totally avoid the Newell and take the pacific or new england highways.