1 / 5

The Great Eastern Escarpment and Southern Coast Odyssey

A comprehensive 29-day journey from Newcastle to Portland, bypassing major metros to embrace the Blue Mountains, the rugged Sapphire Coast, the Victorian High Country, and the dramatic limestone stacks of the Great Ocean Road.

29days
47stops
2234km

The route

Tap a day or a town

You sleep in Bateau Bay · Lithgow · Kiama · Batemans Bay · Narooma · Eden · Mallacoota · Lakes Entrance · Port Albert · Mansfield · Mount Buller · Bright · Seymour · Daylesford · Ballarat · Apollo Bay · Otway · Port Campbell · Princetown · Warrnambool · Port Fairy — start in Newcastle, end in Portland.

DAY01

Newcastle → Bateau Bay

70 km · 1h 19m driving · Overnight in Bateau Bay Beach
  1. 09:00
    Newcastle· start
  2. 70 km · 1h 19m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Bateau Bay Beach· overnight
DAY02

Bateau Bay → Lithgow

188 km · 2h 28m driving · Overnight in Lithgow
  1. 09:00
    Bateau Bay· start
  2. 1.6 km · 3m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Govetts Leap Lookout
  4. 186 km · 2h 25m
  5. 15:00
    Lithgow· overnight
DAY03

Lithgow → Hassan's Walls Lookout

5.6 km · 12m driving · Overnight in Hassan's Walls Lookout
  1. 09:00
    Lithgow· start
  2. 5.6 km · 12m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Hassan's Walls Lookout· overnight
DAY04

Lithgow → Kiama

234 km · 3h 15m driving · Overnight in Kiama
  1. 09:00
    Lithgow· start
  2. 5.2 km · 12m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Fitzroy Falls
  4. 229 km · 3h 3m
  5. 15:00
    Kiama· overnight
DAY05

Kiama

Overnight in Kiama Blowhole
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Kiama Blowhole
DAY06

Kiama → Batemans Bay

67 km · 59m driving · Overnight in Batemans Bay
  1. 09:00
    Kiama· start
  2. 1.3 km · 5m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Jervis Bay Marine Park
  4. 66 km · 54m
  5. 15:00
    Batemans Bay· overnight
DAY07

Batemans Bay

Overnight in Batemans Bay Waterfront
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Batemans Bay Waterfront
DAY08

Batemans Bay → Narooma

2.7 km · 4m driving · Overnight in Narooma Blue Hole
  1. 09:00
    Batemans Bay· start
  2. 2.7 km · 4m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Narooma Blue Hole· overnight
DAY09

Narooma → Eden

76 km · 59m driving · Overnight in Eden
  1. 09:00
    Narooma· start
  2. 0.8 km · 2m
  3. 12:00
    Bega Cheese Heritage Centre
  4. 76 km · 57m
  5. 15:00
    ⭐ Eden· overnight
DAY10

Eden → Mallacoota

85 km · 1h 4m driving · Overnight in Mallacoota
  1. 09:00
    Eden· start
  2. 85 km · 1h 4m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Mallacoota· overnight
DAY11

Mallacoota

Overnight in Mallacoota Foreshore
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Mallacoota Foreshore
DAY12

Mallacoota → Lakes

130 km · 1h 42m driving · Overnight in Lakes
  1. 09:00
    Mallacoota· start
  2. 1.1 km · 4m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Cape Conran Coastal Park
  4. 129 km · 1h 38m
  5. 15:00
    Lakes· overnight
DAY13

Lakes

Overnight in Lakes
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Lakes
DAY14

Lakes → Port Albert

183 km · 2h 15m driving · Overnight in Port Albert
  1. 09:00
    Lakes· start
  2. 182 km · 2h 14m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Port Albert Maritime Museum
  4. 0.9 km · 1m
  5. 15:00
    Port Albert· overnight
DAY15

Port Albert → Mansfield

303 km · 5h 20m driving · long drive · Overnight in Mansfield
  1. 09:00
    Port Albert· start
  2. 122 km · 1h 41m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Walhalla Historic Township
  4. 181 km · 3h 39m
  5. 15:00
    Mansfield· overnight
DAY16

Mansfield → Mount Buller

48 km · 46m driving · Overnight in Mount Buller Village
  1. 09:00
    Mansfield· start
  2. 48 km · 46m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Mount Buller Village· overnight
DAY17

Mount Buller

Overnight in Mount Buller Summit Lookout
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Mount Buller Summit Lookout
DAY18

Mount Buller → Bright

3 km · 9m driving · Overnight in Bright
  1. 09:00
    Mount Buller· start
  2. 3 km · 9m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Bright· overnight
DAY19

Bright → Seymour

214 km · 2h 26m driving · Overnight in Seymour
  1. 09:00
    Bright· start
  2. 110 km · 1h 21m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Benalla Street Art
  4. 103 km · 1h 5m
  5. 15:00
    Seymour· overnight
DAY20

Seymour → Daylesford

132 km · 1h 42m driving · Overnight in Daylesford
  1. 09:00
    Seymour· start
  2. 85 km · 1h 1m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Hanging Rock
  4. 48 km · 41m
  5. 15:00
    Daylesford· overnight
DAY21

Lake Daylesford

Overnight in Lake Daylesford
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Lake Daylesford
DAY22

Daylesford → Ballarat

45 km · 40m driving · Overnight in Ballarat
  1. 09:00
    Daylesford· start
  2. 1.3 km · 4m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Sovereign Hill
  4. 44 km · 36m
  5. 15:00
    Ballarat· overnight
DAY23

Ballarat → Apollo Bay

172 km · 2h 25m driving · Overnight in Apollo Bay
  1. 09:00
    Ballarat· start
  2. 101 km · 1h 19m
  3. 12:00
    Colac
  4. 70 km · 1h 6m
  5. 15:00
    ⭐ Apollo Bay· overnight
DAY24

Mait's Rest Rainforest Walk

Overnight in Mait's Rest Rainforest Walk
  1. 09:0011:00
    ⭐ Mait's Rest Rainforest Walk
DAY25

Apollo Bay → Port Campbell

101 km · 1h 36m driving · Overnight in Port Campbell
  1. 09:00
    Apollo Bay· start
  2. 17 km · 17m
  3. 12:00
    Gibson Steps
  4. 84 km · 1h 19m
  5. 15:00
    ⭐ Port Campbell· overnight
DAY26

Twelve Apostles

Overnight in Twelve Apostles
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Twelve Apostles
DAY27

Port Campbell → Warrnambool

88 km · 1h 17m driving · Overnight in Warrnambool
  1. 09:00
    Port Campbell· start
  2. 11 km · 11m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve
  4. 76 km · 1h 6m
  5. 15:00
    Warrnambool· overnight
DAY28

Griffiths Island

Overnight in Griffiths Island
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Griffiths Island
DAY29

Port Fairy → Portland

86 km · 1h 5m driving
  1. 09:00
    Port Fairy· start
  2. 2.2 km · 4m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Cape Nelson Lighthouse
  4. 84 km · 1h 1m
  5. 15:00
    Portland
Booking timeline
Book these before you go
  1. Day 1Stay in Bateau Bay · Night 1
  2. Days 2–3Stay in Lithgow · Nights 2-3
  3. Days 4–5Stay in Kiama · Nights 4-5
  4. Days 6–7Stay in Batemans Bay · Nights 6-7
  5. Day 8Stay in Narooma · Night 8
  6. Day 9Stay in Eden · Night 9
  7. Days 10–11Stay in Mallacoota · Nights 10-11
  8. Days 12–13Stay in Lakes Entrance · Nights 12-13
Heads Up
  • Day 15: 5h 20m driving — plan rest stops
  • Check seasonal road closures for Mount Buller, especially if traveling outside the winter ski season.
  • Book ferry crossings and popular national park campsites in advance during school holiday periods.
  • Avoid driving at dawn or dusk in rural Victoria and NSW due to high wildlife activity on the roads.
  • Ensure your vehicle is prepared for steep gradients in the Blue Mountains and Victorian Alps.