Road Trip for Runners - Melbourne to Sydney: 7-Days Motorhome
Coastal Victoria & the NSW South Coast - shorter itinerary
Short on time but still want ocean views, solid training kilometres and easy driving days?
This 7-day coastal road trip is built around iconic 10–12km runs, manageable distances between stops and holiday parks that actually work for motorhome travellers.
Travelling with non-runners? Every route below doubles as a scenic coastal walk, with lookouts, beaches and café stops along the way.
Pick up your motorhome in Melbourne, head east along Victoria’s coast and finish in Sydney.
🚐 Day 1 – Pick Up Melbourne → Phillip Island
Drive: ~2 hours (plus stops)
Realistically, you won’t leave the depot before 10:30am. Allow time for vehicle handover and a supermarket stop before heading southeast.
Arrive mid-afternoon, stretch your legs and settle in.
🏕 Stay: NRMA Phillip Island Beachfront Holiday Park
BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Phillip Island
🌏 Tourism Information: Visit Phillip Island
Traditional Custodians: Bunurong people.
Credit: Visit Victoria
🏃 Cape Woolamai Coastal Loop (10–12km)
Clifftop views, rolling terrain and serious coastal scenery.
Run Time: 60–80 minutes
Walking Time: 2.5–3 hours
Start Point: Cape Woolamai Car Park
📍 -38.52778, 145.33694
Open in Google Maps
🚐 Day 2 – Phillip Island → Lakes Entrance
Drive: ~3.5–4 hours
Your longest drive of the week. Start early and take a break en route.
Lakes Entrance sits between the Gippsland Lakes and Ninety Mile Beach, making it perfect for flat coastal kilometres.
🏕 Stay: NRMA Eastern Beach Holiday Park
BIG4 Whiters Holiday Village
🌏 Tourism Information: Visit East Gippsland
Traditional Custodians: Gunaikurnai people.
🏃 Lakes Entrance Footbridge & Beach Run (10–12km)
Flat, breezy and easy on the legs.
Run Time: 60–75 minutes
Walking Time: 2.5 hours
Start Point: Lakes Entrance Footbridge
📍 -37.87997, 147.99373
Open in Google Maps
🚐 Day 3 – Lakes Entrance → Mallacoota
Drive: ~2.5–3 hours
Remote, quiet and beautifully coastal.
🏕 Stay: Mallacoota Foreshore Holiday Park
🌏 Tourism Information: Visit East Gippsland – Mallacoota
Traditional Custodians: Gunaikurnai people (regional acknowledgement).
🏃 Mallacoota Inlet & Headland Loop (10–12km)
A relaxed coastal mix of inlet paths and headland sections.
Run Time: 60–85 minutes
Walking Time: 2.5–3.5 hours
Start Point: Mallacoota Foreshore
Open in Google Maps
🚐 Day 4 – Mallacoota → Merimbula
Drive: ~2 hours
Welcome to the Sapphire Coast.
🏕 Stay: Reflections Holiday Parks Merimbula
🌏 Tourism Information: Visit NSW – Merimbula & Sapphire Coast
Traditional Custodians: Yuin Nation.
🏃 Bar Beach to Short Point Loop (10–12km)
Rolling coastal sections with beach access and lookout views.
Run Time: 60–80 minutes
Walking Time: 2.5–3 hours
Start Point: Merimbula Main Beach
Open in Google Maps
🚐 Day 5 – Merimbula → Jervis Bay
Drive: ~3–3.5 hours
Another longer drive day, but Jervis Bay makes it worthwhile.
🏕 Stay: NRMA Jervis Bay Beachfront Holiday Park
Jervis Bay Holiday Park
🌏 Tourism Information: Visit NSW – Jervis Bay & Shoalhaven
Traditional Custodians: Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community.
🏃 White Sands Coastal Run (10–12km)
Clear water, white sand and calm coastal paths.
Run Time: 65–90 minutes
Walking Time: ~3 hours
Start Point: Greenfield Beach
Open in Google Maps
🚐 Day 6 – Jervis Bay → Kiama
Drive: ~1.5–2 hours
Clifftop tracks and ocean views.
🏕 Stay: BIG4 Easts Beach Holiday Park
Kendalls on the Beach Holiday Park
🌏 Tourism Information: Destination Kiama
Traditional Custodians: Wodi Wodi people of the Dharawal Nation.
Jervis Bay is just as glorious in winter as summer
🏃 Kiama Coast Walk Highlights (10–12km)
Ocean pools, headlands and the famous blowhole section.
Run Time: 60–85 minutes
Walking Time: ~3 hours
🚐 Day 7 – Kiama → Sydney (Vehicle Return)
Drive: ~1.5 hours
Refuel before drop-off and allow time for vehicle inspection.
Coffee near the airport is highly recommended.
🧭 Runner Road Trip Tips
• Sunrise is your best window for exposed coastal routes
• Download maps offline in national park areas
• Build recovery swims into longer run days
• Walkers can comfortably do partial sections of every listed route
🚐 Planning Your Motorhome
When you’re running most mornings, space matters. Easy storage, a proper fridge and comfortable bedding make a big difference.
Compare motorhomes and campervans for this route at:
https://www.drivenow.com.au
Book early for best vehicle choice, especially during school holiday periods.
