The inland self-drive route from Sydney to Melbourne is the road to national discovery, along which the Australian pioneer spirit is brought to life in the villages and towns built by the early settlers, the river traders and gold miners who created this nation. You can stroll down old cobbled streets lined with beautifully preserved buildings, and moments of the gold rush years and the elegant Victorian era that followed. Then enjoy uncovering the stories of our colonial men and women in the towns’ museums, book shops and galleries and their historical sites.

This road through Australia’s history starts in Sydney, where European settlement began, and where much of its original colonial architecture can still be seen in the Rocks, sitting under the famous Harbour Bridge and across the quay from the iconic Sydney Opera House. The route also takes in the national capital of Canberra, where you can visit national institutions, museums and galleries that present our history, country, people and culture.