Victoria Holidays

Road Trip on the Hume

Road trips reawaken your sense of adventure, especially in the North-East of Victoria where there is so much to discover.

Whether departing Melbourne or Sydney, the road systems are easy to use and clearly sign-posted. The Rutherglen wine region is a quick dash up the Hume Highway, a swift 3.5 hours. From Sydney the drive is twice as long, which gives you twice as much opportunity to explore new things along the way.

South of Sydney, signs to Canberra may entice you for a quick visit to the nation’s capital – but don’t be tempted just yet! Canberra is best saved for a time when you have a weekend or three days to spare. There is so much to see and do in the Australian capital, including visits to important national monuments like Parliament House and the National War Memorial. Added to those are some fantastic museums, including Questacon, the awesome Science and Technology interactive museum, and The National Australian Museum. Like so many of Canberra’s world class museums, these buildings are architectural wonders, perched on the soothing shores of Lake Burley-Griffin. There is so much to see in Canberra, an atmospheric city which is so different from the other “city in the bush”, Albury.

South of Canberra, and only 2 hours away from the major city Albury, you will find a small town called Gundagai. The majority of motorists travelling the Hume Highway may not be aware that this unimpressive seeming truck-stop is the site of an Australian legend – the dog on the tuckerbox. This lovely monument was established in honour of a famous story about a famous pioneer, Bullocky Bill and the loyal dog who guarded his master’s lunchbox. A festival takes place at the site of The Dog on the Tuckerbox every year.

The Hume Highway continues to Albury, a major town of about 50 000 people. You’ll find night-life, restaurants, bars and best of all, a gateway to the mysterious south-west of New South Wales and also the Snowy Mountains. Albury was built on the banks of the mighty Murray River, which forms the natural boundary between New South Wales and Victoria. Now is a good time to get out of the car and stretch your legs at one of many parks on the riverbanks. On the northern side in Albury, enjoy a rest stop at Noreuil Park. Alternatively, if you cross over the border in Victoria, you can hop out at Belvoir Park on Huon Street.

Deciding where to visit can be difficult with so many exciting destinations just a short drive from Albury. A recent trip to Rutherglen proved to be amazing. It is a tiny, peaceful country town at the centre of a beautiful wine region, famous for its fortified and sweet wines.

A great place to stay in Rutherglen is the Hotel Victoria. Boasting an ancient pedigree of 142 years in the hotel business, “The Vic”, as it is affectionately known, has been renovated by Sean Pilgrim and Sarah Morris, previously employed with the Intercontinental Hotel group. Together they have established a famous restaurant in the fine old billiard room of the hotel called Mrs Browns, and designed a range of great accommodation deals including a package deal for cyclists.

Whether you are cycling, snowboarding or motoring your way down to North-Eastern Victoria, you will be entranced by the sights, sounds and tastes of this unique region.