Category Archives: road trip

Best coffee stops along the Hume Highway

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coffee-shops-on-hume-highway

Ahh, the Hume Highway. Travelling the 880km between Melbourne and Sydney on the inland highway is a summer pilgrimage for many travellers. But even those who enjoy the drive would have to agree that after a while the scenery gets a little bit … well, monotonous. And a bit … well, boring. Trust us, you’re going to need coffee or two (or three). Here are the best places to get that reviving cup of joe along the highway.

The Proprietor, 459 Townsend St, Albury

As you look around at the white-tiled counter, big timber tables, black-and-white flooring and hanging Art Deco lamps in the revamped old butchers’ shop, you might need to remind yourself that this is Albury, not Melbourne – particularly when you realise the beans behind the seriously excellent coffee you’re drinking are from East Brunswick’s own Padre. Try the food, too; the lamb salad is a particular winner.

The Proprieter, Albury

The Proprieter, Albury

J&B’s Gourmet Cafe, 143 Albury Rd, Holbrook

We know you want to see the famous submarine, but stop at J & B’s Gourmet Cafe first for some classic Australian food with classically good Aussie coffee. The staff here can not only pump out your flat white, but your long black and macchiato, too. And they also make the best beef pies along the Hume Highway.

J&B's Gourmet Cafe by Tripadvisor John E

J&B’s Gourmet Cafe by Tripadvisor John E

The Long Track Pantry, Riverside Dr, Jugiong

Factor in a long lunch at Long Track Pantry in Jugiong – in fact, we’d move in if the owners would let us. Let’s just tick off everything you’ll find at LTP: great coffee, tick; friendly service, yes; delicious food, sorted; take-home gourmet goodies, of course; rustic and welcoming decor, nailed it.

The Long Track Pantry

The Long Track Pantry

Barneys of Bookham, 30 Fagan Dr, Bookham

Follow the cars ducking off the highway just before Yass on the way to Sydney; they’ll be heading towards Barney’s at Bookham, a cute little locally owned cafe that has managed to fly under the traffic radar. Well, secret’s out – this cafe will give you the fuel (coffee and burgers) to drive those remaining kilometres.

Barneys by Tripadvisor user AustraliaFamilyMan

Barneys by Tripadvisor user AustraliaFamilyMan

The Old Hume Cafe, 78 Yass St, Gunning

The owners of the Old Hume Cafe know that if it’s not broke, don’t fix it … which is why the kitchen sends out delicious home cooking (think burgers, toasties and classic cakes) with old-fashioned friendly service. Oh, and the coffee is great.

Old Hume Cafe

Old Hume Cafe

Grit Cafe, 5/1-3 Sowerby St, Goulburn

You’ll feel sheepish if you miss Grit Cafe, situated just off the highway near the Big Merino in Goulburn. The coffee is delicious – definitely a step up from McCafe – and the menu is well-rounded, with sandwiches, soups, muesli, and brekky plates. The cafe itself is cute, with indoor and outdoor seating.

Grit Cafe by Tripadvosor user Twoaussies_13

Grit Cafe by Tripadvisor user Twoaussies_13

     

Driving holiday along the south coast of New South Wales

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Grand Pacific Drive

Grand Pacific Drive

The November it’s-been-too-long-since-the-summer-holidays blues driving you up the wall? Get in the car and take a short trip with Lee Atkinson, author of Driving Holidays around Australia. Today Lee reveals her tips for driving the south coast of New South Wales.

Southern Highlands and Grand Pacific Drive, New South Wales

Combine mountain and coastal scenery on this drive through the Southern Highlands south of Sydney and along Grand Pacific Drive, a cliff-hugging, breathtakingly scenic coastal route. Most people do the cliff section of the drive heading south, but in the spirit of saving the best to last, and because the views are better heading north, we’ve approached the bridge from the opposite direction.

HOW LONG? An easy day drive from Sydney, or you can make a weekend of it driving through forgotten hinterland valleys and exploring the back roads of the Southern Highlands. For a shorter trip, drive straight to Wollongong via the Sea Cliff Bridge.

WHEN TO GO Any time of year is a good time to do this drive, although the Southern Highlands can be cold in winter: during spring and autumn the Southern Highlands’ parks and gardens are beautiful.

NEED TO KNOW Several sections of this drive are narrow and winding, particularly the drive down Barrengarry Mountain into Kangaroo Valley. If you suffer from travel sickness, take some medication before you set off.

SYDNEY TO BERRY, VIA THE SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS

From Sydney, head south along the Hume Motorway (M31), turn off at Mittagong and wind your way through the highland towns of Bowral and Moss Vale, stopping to browse the galleries, bookshops and antique stores.

From Moss Vale take the Nowra Road up through the mountains to Fitzroy Falls in Morton National Park. Here you can stretch your legs on the short walk to the lookout above the dramatic waterfall that tumbles 82m to the floor of the ravine below. Continuing south, follow the sign to Manning Lookout to enjoy spectacular views over Kangaroo Valley, one of the state’s prettiest valleys.

The road then descends through wild bushland, following a series of twists and turns down Barrengarry Mountain to reach the valley floor, before crossing historic Hampden Bridge. Stop for a swim at Flat Rock, at the end of Upper Kangaroo River Road, or have a picnic on the riverbank near the old hall in the village centre.

It’s not far from here to Berry, home to countless B&Bs, guesthouses, boutiques, antique shops and cafes.

BERRY TO WOLLONGONG

Continue east to hit the coast at Kiama and check out the blowhole in the rocky point below the lighthouse. Wollongong, the third largest city in New South Wales and a major coal, iron and steel producer is, despite all that heavy industry, a very attractive place to spend a night. Explore thehorseshoe-shaped cove of Wollongong Harbour, with its lighthouse, fishing fleet, fish markets and wonderful city beaches. Linger over coffee in one of the many cafes along the foreshore or stockpile some inner harmony at the eight-storey Nan Tien Buddhist Temple – the largest Buddhist temple in the Southern Hemisphere (180 Berkeley Rd, Berkeley; (02) 4272 0600; open Tues–Sun 9am–5pm; www.nantien.org.au).

WOLLONGONG TO SYDNEY, VIA GRAND PACIFIC DRIVE

The Illawarra Escarpment tumbles into the sea just north of Wollongong and marks the beginning of the signposted section of Grand Pacific Drive, as the road follows the coastline north through a succession of seaside suburbs and villages. Grand Pacific Drive crosses the famous Sea Cliff Bridge between Clifton and Coalcliff.

Beyond the bridge, the road climbs through ferny forest above the beach to Stanwell Tops, high on the edge of the escarpment. Paragliders and hang-gliders soar on the thermals rising from the ocean below. On a clear day, you can see as far south as Wollongong and enjoy a great view of the route, over the Sea Cliff Bridge and the beaches beyond.

Soon after Stanwell Tops, Lawrence Hargrave Drive turns west to join the Princes Motorway, which leads north to Sydney, but you should veer off to the right along Lady Wakehurst Drive.

This winding, narrow road will take you through the heart of Royal National Park, the world’s second oldest national park, founded in 1879 (Yellowstone in the United States is seven years older). En route to Sydney’s southern suburb of Waterfall, the road winds through eucalypt forests, over windswept heathland and across low-level river weirs. Sidetracks spear off to beaches and lookouts and there are dozens of great picnic and swimming spots along the way.

Being so close to Sydney, the park is a popular place on sunny weekends, when traffic snarls can be frustrating, but if you can time your drive for a weekday, you’ll pretty much have it to yourself.

     

Top 4 winter road trips

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Sunset, Greg Snell/Tourism Australia

Sunset, Greg Snell/Tourism Australia

Sure, you could spend winter relaxing in front of an open fire, with a good red and a good book – or you could hop in your car and get out on roads that are best explored in winter.

Here are four winter road trips that will warm your car engine and your cockles.

Gibb River Road, Western Australia

Although you can only drive on Gibb River Road in the dry season (generally most of winter), the trip is anything but dry, with river crossings, spectacular waterfalls and gorges.

Gibb River Road starts in Derby and continues for over 600km through the Kimberley to Kununurra, which is the gateway to Bungle Bungles. It’s an epic journey, although maybe not as epic as you think (it’s certainly no Burke and Wills expedition), because some of the road is covered in bitumen and regular maintenance work is carried out in peak season to make sure it stays in good condition.

Having said that, it’s a (mainly) dirt road through one of the most remote areas in Australia, so you’ll earn your adventure badge after completing the drive. And once you get to Kununurra, you still have to work out how to get home.

Stuart Highway, South Australia and Northern Territory

Start in the cold and end in the warmth as you drive the Stuart Highway from Adelaide to Darwin. Unlike many other winter treks, the Stuart Highway is all-vehicle accessible, from a push bike up to the biggest road trains in the country. At over 3000km long, you’ll be glad of the good road conditions by the end of your drive.

So, what will you see if you travel this section of Highway 1? Be prepared for long stretches of similar landscape, spiced up by some of the best roadside attractions in the world, from Karlu Karlu (Devils Marbles) to the thermal springs at Mataranka, to the Red Centre itself (and its centre, Alice Springs).

The Savannah Way, Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia

The Bungle Bungles. Lake Argyle. Katherine Gorge. Bitter Springs. The Lost City. Lawn Hill Gorge. Undara Lava Tubes. Atherton Tablelands. These are only some of the attractions you’ll come across on the whopping 3700km Savannah Way. This is some of the most remote and wild country in Australia, with all the spectacular beauty you’d expect of a route passing through Arnhem Land and the Kimberley.

Connecting Cairns and Broome, the Savannah Way is a series of connecting highways and roads. It’s mainly 2WD-accessible, except for the stretch connecting Queensland to the Northern Territory which is a serious dirt road with river crossings – just what you need to spice up the trip.

Murray River, Victoria

Although not quite as dramatic as the rivers on the Savannah Way, the Murray is the steady brown heart line of the southern states. Starting in the alpine region, it meanders its way along the border of Victoria and New South Wales before crossing into South Australia.

Just like the Murray River, you should take your time enjoying this stretch of country. Start in the booming town of Wodonga or across the river in pretty Albury (the more famous of the twin towns), pass through Rutherglen and sample some famous port before heading portside in Echuca (make sure you take a ride on Echuca’s famous paddlesteamers). Continue your current alongside the river all the way to the major town of Mildura in the north-west of the Victoria.

For more information on road trips, take a look at our Complete Motoring Atlas.

     

Camping along the Stuart Highway

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Devils Marbles camping area Devils Marbles, Raelene Woods

Devils Marbles camping area Devils Marbles, Raelene Woods

If John McDouall Stuart, the great explorer who was the first European to forge a path through Australia’s interior, saw the route from Adelaide to Darwin today, he wouldn’t recognise it.

For one thing, the road is covered in bitumen. And for another, there are some fantastic designated camping areas lining the route – a luxury he wouldn’t have conceived of.

Here are the best places to spend the night along one of Australia’s great drives. 

1. Ranges View rest area

View by name, view by nature – Ranges View rest area has a panoramic view of the surrounding countryside. As it’s only a short drive out of Port Augusta, you probably won’t need to spend the night here.

2. Bon Bon rest area

Around two hours south of famous mining town Coober Pedy, Bon Bon rest area is an opal of an overnight stop, with great facilities and plenty of space space.

3. Ingomar rest area

Good amenities and a great view – and all at the hefty sum of zero dollars a night.

4. Desert Oaks rest area

Desert Oaks rest area is one camping area you can take at face value. The rest area is shaded and has good facilities.

5. Finke River rest area

This rest area is on the banks of the Finke River, a famous river that has its source inthe West MacDonnells.

6. Prowse Gap rest area

The scenery here might not equal that at the previous stop, but it has good facilities and a large space suitable for all sorts of rigs.

7. Devils Marbles camping area

A camping area in close proximity to one of the best rock formations in Australia? No, you haven’t lost your marbles, you’ve found them again at Devils Marbles camping area, with a seriously good view and facilities.

8. Banka Banka Homestead camping area

A large, grassy, shaded, dog-friendly camping area near the highway – yes, please!

9. Twelve Mile Yards camping area

Twelve kilometres off the highway on the banks of the Roper River, you’ll be ropeable if you miss out on a night at this fantastic camping area.

10. Edith Falls camping area

Gorge yourself on the views from Nitmiluk National Park’s famous gorges after spending the night at Edith Falls camping area, next to a waterhole 19 kilometres off the highway.

11. Adelaide River park area

Sometimes simple accommodation is best – how about this large, shaded rest area in Adelaide River?

12. Berry Springs park area

Some stops are worth travelling off the highway for – like this park area near the famous pools at Berry Springs.

 

     

Welcome to Marble Bar, the hottest town in Australia

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Chinaman's Pool, Marble Bar, Tourism Western Australia

Chinaman’s Pool, Marble Bar, Tourism Western Australia

If all the towns in Australia entered a ‘Hot or Not’ competition, Marble Bar would definitely be hot.

Its reputation for being the hottest town in Australia comes from early in the twentieth century, when Marble Bar recorded temperatures of over 38 degrees for 161 consecutive days. Things have cooled down a bit since then – while the town regularly reaches 45 degrees in summer, the locals normally have a day or two of relief in between.

Marble Bar is itself a relief, an oasis of modern amenities in the middle of a particularly sparse stretch of the Pilbara. It is, of course, a mining town. But it is nowhere near the scale of the major mining towns in this region like Port Hedland or Karratha, and is, quite frankly, charming, from its heritage-listed buildings to the native-tree nursery on the outskirts of town.

Iron Clad Hotel, Marble Bar, Tourism Western Australia

Iron Clad Hotel, Marble Bar, Tourism Western Australia

There’s even a heritage-listed pub, built during the gold rush. The Iron Clad Hotel is over 120 years old, although luckily the cool beverages it sells aren’t quite the same age. Unlike gold-rush-era buildings on the east coast of Australia, for instance the spectacular hotels in Ballarat and Bendigo, the Iron Clad Hotel is built on a smaller scale. Imagine an outback pub on a dusty outback road, whack a few corrugated iron panels on it and you’ll have something close to the Iron Clad Hotel.

But if a drink is not cutting it and you need full body immersion to escape the heat, Marble Bar has a few ridiculously scenic swimming holes. Marble Bar Pool and its neighbouring Chinaman’s Pool are only 4 kilometres from town. You’ll also find jasper bar at the Marble Bar Pool. The town was named after the bar, as the jasper was originally thought to be marble. Splash some water on the bar to bring out the colours, but don’t take any – the bar is protected.

Somewhere that wasn’t quite as protected as jasper bar was Comet Gold Mine, which operated from 1936 to 1955. It’s now a museum, and you can take underground tours daily. Another, less well-known historical site near Marble Bar is an old WW II airbase. It’s not operational anymore, so you can visit and wander around at your leisure.

If you do visit Marble Bar in winter, hoping to soak up some of those 45 degree days, you’ll probably be disappointed. The town has quite a mild winter.

You might not find marble when you visit Marble Bar, but you will feel like you’ve struck gold.

Winter is the best time to visit Western Australia’s hot and dusty Pilbara region. Find out more about visiting Marble Bar here. And if you’re visiting the region, don’t forget to visit one of the best national parks in Australia: Karijini National Park.