Melbourne to Lakes Entrance
Day 1
☕ Coffee in hand, no freeway shortcuts, full coastal detour energy.
We rolled out of Melbourne around 9:00 AM on the 20th, coffees locked in the cup holders and the car packed to the brim 🚗. We also made the call to skip the direct freeway to soak in the views.
Our first real pit stop was Traralgon, and instead of pulling into a predictable KFC or Macca’s drive-thru, we wandered into a local Malaysian joint called Malaios. It was a random Tuesday, but the place was absolutely packed out; honestly, I don’t think even the staff expected that kind of crowd to descend on them out of nowhere. The service was slow, but you couldn’t even be mad because the food was amazing. The claypot chicken entered my life and set a high baseline, tender, juicy chicken bursting with flavor, served steaming hot.
With our bellies ballooned, we took a lazy stroll through town to let gravity do its thing before hitting the bitumen again, finally rolling into Lakes Entrance around 4:00 PM. We checked in, called dibs on the rooms, and unpacked. I changed into fresh clothes, laced up my shoes, and headed straight for the town.
The beach was a 15-minute walk from the hotel, and I was SO ready. The weather was decidedly gloomy, moody, grey, and atmospheric. But standing there facing the Tasman Sea was a pure perspective shift 🌊. There is nothing quite like looking out at a vast, endless expanse of water under a heavy sky to remind you of how tiny you are in this massive universe, while simultaneously making you feel entirely alive and free. Just as the sky was about to weep, I turned back to the hotel for dinner and some rest, ready for the next day.
The next morning brought a persistent drizzle, but it takes more than a grey sky to dampen our spirits because it’s CRUISE day 🛳️. We had breakfast at a local cafe, super chill and savory food. I got myself a sub packed as well.
Next, it was time to board and we were ready to navigate the intricate, winding waterways where the lakes twist and turn to meet the ocean, creating this beautiful labyrinth of creeks and bays with our trusty ride. We caught sight of seals lounging around, heavy cranes, wild birds cutting through the mist, and even caught sight of some Kangaroos on a nearby island 🦘. Due to the rain, spotting the local dolphins proved elusive, but a proper highlight which I didn’t expect was being baked in the lower deck: scones. They were served hot out of the oven with whipped cream and strawberries on top, and hot flavored tea of your choice on the side. The serving size was insane, proper American style, massive and brilliant. It was a splendid way to wrap up our time at Lakes Entrance before the next leg of the journey took us across the border into New South Wales.
New South Wales Leg
Eden to Batemans Bay
🌊 Ocean lookouts, dumpling surprises, and the first real stretch north.
Our first real stop in NSW was Eden. We walked down to the lookout point at the very end of Imlay Street, watching the ocean crash against the rocks, before hunting down some lunch. We stumbled onto Goodenia Dumplings, which had literally only been open for a week. It was my first time at a restaurant where you have to grab your own cutlery, chopsticks, and mix your own balance of sauces from a central station. The standout was the chicken wonton soup 🥟. The broth had this incredible, rich depth to it, and the wontons were perfectly cooked, hitting that ideal sweet spot between savory meat and delicate wrapper.
By 4:00 PM, we hit Batemans Bay. I immediately headed out for a long walk to check out the town, looking into local stores like the IGA and wandering down to the quiet beach as the day slowly traded places with the night. The next morning, the universe finally turned the sun on. We climbed to the observation lookout for some sprawling, panoramic views that actually justified the phone storage space! We spent the late afternoon walking around a bit and then finally returning back. It was a long walk, but well worth the effort to clear our heads before the main event: Sydney.
Sydney Arc
Harbour ferries, city loops, and iconic landmarks
🌆 Where the road trip shifts from coastline calm to city-scale spectacle.
Driving into Sydney the next morning, we hit the Sea Cliff Bridge in Clifton, a marvelous piece of architecture that curves dramatically out over the ocean, suspended between the cliffs and the sea like a highway floating in mid-air 🌉. We stopped at a cute cafe in Wollongong for lunch, where I had a funny little interaction and I’m not going to forget that one anytime soon ;P I met Shelly, a top-tier Cavoodle, and her owners entirely mistook me for a local who lived right across the street. The lovely Australian accent gave it the perfect touch. It was highly amusing and strangely flattering; I guess I just fit the coastal vibe perfectly 🤪
We reached Sydney exactly at 3:43 PM. Yes, I know, it is too precise to be true, but trust me, when I am pumped I’m a precision fiend. Once we unpacked and changed, I quickly realized their public transport is elegant engineering, you just tap your credit card for trains, trams, buses, and ferries 🚉. Way too easy. By 6:00 PM, we were on a ferry cutting through the harbor toward Manly Beach, culminating in a fun dinner at Felons, where the grilled chicken salad became my personal favorite.
The next day was a two-hour drive out of the city and into the blue haze of the Blue Mountains ⛰️. Fuel was acquired via a Vietnamese bakery, a crisp, fresh, salad-heavy sub, before we tackled the network of Skyways and cableways. They have a scenic railway boasting a 52-degree incline, and looking at it, you expect a vertical drop into the abyss, a true test of gravity. In reality, the actual experience wasn’t steep at all, but it was still an awesome day.
For dinner, the original plan was Harris Park for North Indian cuisine, but my internal radar was craving Mediterranean instead. I overrode the itinerary and chose a Lebanese spot right adjacent to our hotel called Bon Pollo. The grilled chicken burger and a sharp, beautifully acidic salad delivered exactly what was required. By the time we finished, our engines were totally spent, and we dropped straight to sleep.
We headed to Taronga Zoo next 🐾. The weather was crisp and cool which got me famished, so I fueled up with a chicken slaw wrap at the entrance before diving into the trails. It was loaded and quite filling. Added some bbq sauce and it absolutely slapped.
The seal show was an absolute joy, Cisco, Nala, Pepper, and Coby were super cute, and we spent hours moving past lions, giraffes framed against the city skyline, rhinos, zebras, chimpanzees, and the immersive Tiger Trek. By 4:00 PM, we returned to the urban core to get up close and personal with the Opera House. Standing right beneath those monumental white sails, you can’t help but admire the sheer engineering of it all. From there, we took the tram to the city center, covering the QVB, Town Hall, and the Sydney Tower Eye, all while on a side quest roaming around looking for an Apple Strudel. Unfortunately, we faced absolute defeat on the pastry front, no luck anywhere. I compensated for the loss with an oat mocha (officially locked in as my new favorite beverage and go-to coffee order). The day concluded with heavy retail operations: picking up some souvenirs and securing a gift-wrapped bottle of Chanel Coco Mademoiselle for Mom 😌
The descent back to Melbourne began the next day, bringing us to Albury by evening. We spent the twilight hours walking through the quiet botanical gardens down to the edge of the Murray River, right next to our stay at the Atura Albury. We wrapped up the trip with a relaxed, low-stakes Japanese family dinner, just enjoying the feeling of free roaming so easily, without a single care in the world.
On the 28th, we finally crossed back into Melbourne in the evening 🏁. Exhausted and tired, but full of memories, experiences, and views locked in our minds. We unpacked, had some good laughs about the trip over dinner, and called it a night. Honestly, it was a 10/10 trip. A massive thanks to my aunt and uncle for making it happen. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
If you’ve done a road trip, what’s one small moment you still remember?
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