Sydney To Melbourne Coastal Drive

Hanging 40 metres over the turquoise waters of the Pacific, this serpentine marvel is arguably one of the world’s most photogenic roads. Driving it is an epic experience as it arcs around the coastline and some awesome driving shots can be taken here if you’re documenting your journey.

But at just 456 meters long it’s a short-lived, so Roadtrippers top tip is to park at one of the carparks found on the southern side and walk the bridge to fully appreciate the view below. On good days dolphins and manta rays can be seen in the waters underneath the bridge. Expect to go nuts with selfies and scenery photos.

Segways are an excellent, crazy fun way to cover ground quickly. Segway Tours South Coast have a range of tours, ranging from 30 minutes to two hours and a couple of the tours include winery tours as well. These chunky-wheeled off-road Segway’s are surprisingly easy to ride and all the necessary training and equipment is provided to ensure you’ll be belting around like a character from the Jetsons in no time.

If you love heights and physical activity all in one hit then Trees Adventure Park, (inside Shoalhaven Zoo) is the ideal place to get your vertigo fix while pretty much having a full body workout at the same time. With over 80 challenges suspended off the ground and no less than 15 huge flying foxes, there’s something here for everyone, even little ones. What’s more it is all in tranquil bush and riverside setting, so definitely a different way to take in the scenery.

And if budget and time allow, book yourself into one of the 12 canvas safari style tents nestled amongst the eucalypt and paperbark forest at Paper Bark Camp, an Advanced Eco Accredited eco lodge. It’s the perfect place to see the amazing wild life and to visit all of the glorious beaches of Jervis Bay.

Road trips can’t all be fuelled by convenience store pies. Indeed, a stop at the Cupitt Family business will ruin any future convenience store snacking for sure. The menu is “elegant rustic” with French and English inspirations and the expertly crafted wine is well bodied, aromatic and lingering. But wait there’s more, the Cupitt brewery boasts a delicious portfolio of 10 seasonal brews and no less than 5 styles of goat and cow’s cheese are available from the Fromagerie. Honestly, foodie heaven is an understatement. Make suitable plans to stay awhile in order to really satisfy your hunger and thirst. Accommodation in their boutique cottage is available too - but you will need to book well in advance as this is a popular spot.

Wineries, galleries and sightseeing is great, but at some point you may want to inject more adrenalin into your road trip. And if you’re hankering to carve some gnarly tubes then there’s no shortage of surf spots up and down the coast, however Nelson is a fairly consistent beach break with good shelter from northerly and southerly winds. It’s a 100 meter walk from the carpark to the golden sands of the beach and even if it’s not pumping it’s a great spot for swimming or fishing too.

Providing visitors access to 60 kilometres of isolated beaches and natural coastal bushlands, the Cape Conran Coastal Cabins and Campgrounds offer a range of surfing, scuba diving, cycling and environmental tours to give all visitors a guided start in some of the country’s most popular recreational activities whilst introducing them to the ecological work that has been done since the area was trialed as a wildlife protection area 14 years ago. (You may even be asked to assist with collecting data for wildlife research). After all the physical activity, the wellness and retreat services here are a little more glamping than camping, with luxury services like restorative and therapeutic massage available in the privacy of your own cabin. Whatever your mind or body needs this campground has it all.

If you haven’t succumbed to the temptation of fishing up until now, stopping off to visit the owners at Snowy River Tackle and Café in Marlo will have you reconsidering for sure. These guys are full of local knowledge, know the difference between a Flutter Bug and a Squidwing and are only too happy to help anglers new to the area maximise their time. If you make your stay at the Marlo Caravan Park and Hotel, you can also snap up accommodation with full kitchen facilities to make sure your catch of the day is freshly served and cooked exactly how you like it.

If ethical and organic food and produce is an important to you - or even if it’s not - then this cafe offers some of the tastiest local organic produce whipped into delicious meals and tasty, nutritious smoothies in the area. They also host open mic nights every third sunday each month so you can be entertained by local musicians too. However, the cafe is often closed over winter, so do check before turning up.