Melbourne to Queensland road trip? The easy stop is Mittagong, Southern Highlands, New South Wales.
Victoria to Queensland road trip: why the Southern Highlands New South Wales is the perfect stopover
If you’re driving from Victoria up to Queensland, you already know the real trick: don’t push through exhausted. Build in a proper reset. A couple of nights in Mittagong, Southern Highlands New South Wales gives you that sweet spot, easy off the highway, fresh air, good food, wineries, and the kind of calm that makes the rest of the drive feel lighter.
Driving from Victoria to Queensland , broken into easy days, a simple driving plan
Day 1: Melbourne → Albury/Wodonga
This is the classic overnight for anyone who doesn’t want a huge first day. It’s a big regional centre with plenty of accommodation, parking, and simple meal choices.
Day 2: Albury/Wodonga → Mittagong (Southern Highlands NSW)
Arrive Mittagong in the afternoon, check in, and let the trip stop being a trip.
Why two nights? Because one night is often just “arrive late, leave early”. Two nights gives you one full day to enjoy the area — and you’ll drive better afterwards.
Day 3: Stay in Mittagong (two-night stop at Fitzroy Inn Historic Retreat)
This is your proper rest day: waterfalls, wineries, Bowral, slow lunches, garden wandering.
Day 4: Mittagong → Port Macquarie
A popular coastal overnight that keeps the day manageable and the vibe relaxed.
Day 5: Port Macquarie → South East Queensland (Gold Coast / Brisbane)
A comfortable final run into QLD, with enough in the tank to arrive safely and settle in.
Where to stay in Mittagong: Fitzroy Inn Historic Retreat
If you’re searching for accommodation Southern Highlands that feels special (not generic), Fitzroy Inn is the kind of place that makes people exhale as soon as they pull in.
It’s a historic retreat in Mittagong with:
Restored suites in a heritage setting
Daily continental breakfast (very “bed and breakfast” energy, without fuss)
Five acres of gardens to wander, sit, and properly unwind
A peaceful, old-world atmosphere that suits travellers who prefer calm over crowds
Pet friendly accomodation in the Southern Highlands
If you need southern highlands pet friendly accommodation (or you’re searching exactly “pet friendly accommodation Southern Highlands NSW”), Fitzroy Inn is a genuine yes.
Your dog/s stays with you, and the gardens give everyone space to stretch out and relax.
The Southern Highlands does seasons properly.
Summer: leafy shade, green outlooks, slow afternoons outside.
Winter: crisp air, cosy rooms, open fires and that calm Highlands vibe.
The Fitzroy Inn gardens are beautiful year-round - they’re not an “extra”, they’re part of why you stop.
A relaxed 2-day itinerary: Mittagong + Bowral + Fitzroy Falls + wineries
Day 1: Settle in + Mittagong wander + garden time
Morning / early arvo
Arrive, check in, let the trip leave your shoulders.
Take a slow wander through the 5 acres of gardens.
Afternoon: Bowral
Bowral is a great “wander town”: boutique shopping, galleries, cafés, and plenty of reasons to stretch your legs. Visit NSW sums it up well—there’s always something on, plus wineries and food woven in.
Day 2: Fitzroy Falls + winery
Morning: Fitzroy Falls
Fitzroy Falls is one of those spots that resets your brain fast—waterfall views, walking tracks, and classic Southern Highlands scenery.
Afternoon: cellar doors / local wine
The Southern Highlands is a cool-climate wine region with plenty of cellar doors. Destination Southern Highlands notes over 60 vineyards and around 17 cellar doors across the region.
Breakfast at Fitzroy Inn in Mittagong
A leasurely Breakfast with us before you leave.
Why this stopover works so well on a VIC → QLD drive
Because it’s not just a sleep. It’s a real break:
You get heritage, space, and quiet (not fluorescent lights and traffic noise).
You can do a proper nature hit (Fitzroy Falls), a wine/food day, and a town wander—then continue north feeling human again.
If you’ve got a dog, you don’t have to compromise. Fitzroy Inn is set up for pet friendly accommodation Southern Highlands NSW travellers.
If you’re travelling from Victoria to Queensland and want a smarter, calmer journey, break the drive with a two-night stop in Mittagong, Southern Highlands New South Wales. Stay at Fitzroy Inn Historic Retreat for heritage charm, garden wandering, and pet friendly accommodation Southern Highlands NSW — then continue north feeling genuinely rested.
