It is the drive that every Australian does at least once—the Hume.
Connecting our two biggest cities, the 880km stretch of asphalt is efficient, but let’s be honest—it can be a bit monotonous. If you try to power through in one go, you will arrive exhausted, hungry and desperate for a stretch.
The secret to conquering the Hume isn’t speed; it’s strategy. We have mapped out the essential stops to break up the journey and keep you fresh behind the wheel.
Stop 1: Glenrowan (The Ned Kelly Stop)
About 2.5 hours out of Melbourne, you will hit Ned Kelly country. It is the perfect first pitstop. Grab a coffee, stretch your legs and get a photo with the giant statue of the bushranger himself. It wakes you up before the long stretch to the border.
Stop 2: Albury (The Halfway Point)
This is the logical lunch spot. Albury sits right on the Murray River border. Instead of eating fast food at a service station, head into the town centre. The botanical gardens are beautiful for a quick walk, and there are plenty of cafes on Dean Street that serve actual food, not just servo pies.
Stop 3: Holbrook (The Submarine)
You are in the middle of sheep country, hundreds of kilometres from the ocean, and suddenly… there is a giant submarine. The HMAS Otway is parked in the middle of the park in Holbrook. It is weird, it is wonderful, and it is a great place to let the kids run around for twenty minutes.
Stop 4: The Dog on the Tuckerbox (Gundagai)
You can’t drive the Hume without saying g’day to the dog. It’s an Australian icon. It’s also roughly four hours from Sydney, making it the perfect spot for your final caffeine hit before tackling the city traffic.
Conquer the Hume
The Melbourne to Sydney run doesn’t have to be a grind. With the right car and the right stops, it is a classic Australian road trip.
Book your Melbourne car hire or Sydney car rental now and get a quote for your interstate adventure!
Drive safe!
