Planning a roadtrip from Melbourne to South Coast, New South Wales

Bush and Bay Cottage, Erowal Bay, South Coast, NSW

This is what I will probably be doing next week. We have decided to leave on a holiday for the next 2 weeks after Australia Day on 26 Jan.

This time we are planning to drive up to New South Wales along the coast on the Princes Highway. It's good to get a few tips from friends who have been there before as it is difficult to trawl through hundreds of websites. Most people are willing to tell you what they like and what they don't like on their trips and why. We would usually confirm these information with our own research.

We would set up a table on an excel worksheet (we are quite organised when it comes to trip planning) detailing the places to see and the things we want to do. After this stage we determine the driving times between these towns, adjusting to ensure it is reasonable drive times whilst catering for ample rest and recreation. Typically 6-8 hours drive with occasional stops for bio-break and town browsing is comfortable driving.

Some of the things we are hoping to do:

- Coastal and bush walks on the Booderee National Park and Seven Miles Beach National Park. There are altogether 30 national parks within NSW South Coast region to choose from.

- A game of golf

- Sea kayaking or canoeing in Kangaroo River.

- Hunting for seafood gourmet in St Georges Basin

- Wander around Hampden Bridge which the oldest suspension bridge in Australia in the Kangaroo Valley

- Browsing in antique and local crafts shops

- Cooking and enjoying fresh organic produce from the region

I'm looking forward to putting up my feet up on a hammock and throw myself into juicy novels and perhaps some photography books.

Now we just need to find out where we are staying.

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