| Leg | Destination | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Melbourne to Bendigo | ||
| 2 | Bendigo to Yarrawonga-Mulwala | ||
| 3 | Yarrawonga-Mulwala to Albury-Wodonga | ||
| 4 | Albury-Wodonga to Canberra | ||
| 5 | Canberra to Sydney |
Melbourne to Bendigo
Melbourne to Bendigo
Leave Melbourne and head north-east to the historic gold rush town of Bendigo. Along the way see heritage gardens, lookouts and villages.
| The first leg of the Sydney-Melbourne Heritage Drive heads out of Melbourne north-east to the regional city of Bendigo. The towns and villages between Melbourne and Bendigo are renowned for their antique and bric-a-brac shops.
Wind your way through the tree-lined streets and magnificent gardens of Mount Macedon. At the summit of the mountain, take the short walk from the car park to the Memorial Cross and several lookouts, from which you can see as far as Melbourne on a clear day. Next stop is Woodend, a town with an historic streetscape featuring a number of heritage buildings and a clock tower. Nearby Hanging Rock was the haunting backdrop to the Picnic at Hanging Rock book and film. Today it is the setting for the popular celebration of local food and wine at the annual Harvest Picnic. In Kyneton see the mineral springs and 19th-century botanic gardens, plus the Kyneton Provender bookshop-cafe. Call in at Malmsbury for sweet treats at the bakery. Visit the historic home Buda in Castlemaine to discover 19-century antiques, furnishings and artwoks. The legacy of the gold rush is present in the historic buildings throughout Castlemaine, and the National Trust-listed streetscape in the tiny town of Maldon. Find out about life on the world's richest alluvial goldfields at the historic Market Building and view major Australian artworks of the late 19th and early 20th centuries at the Castlemaine Art Gallery and Museum. Pick your own fresh apples in Harcourt. Arrive in Bendigo, a city with a variety of places for a quick snack or great meal. Enjoy local produce and the region's famous Shiraz dining at one of the many cafes and quality restaurants like the award-winning Ristorante Bazzani ITALIANO. Book your place on ninesevensix, Bendigo's restaurant on a vintage tramcar. There is a diverse range of accommodation to suit all styles, needs and budgets. Choose from historic homes and grand manors that house some of the city's best boutique hotels, self-contained cottages and luxury B&Bs, as well as quality motels, caravan parks, and self-contained cottages. The majestic Shamrock Hotel (1860) is a well-known Bendigo landmark. It presides over the heart of Bendigo and stands as a testament to the extreme wealth of the region's gold fields. |
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