The Hume Highway between Melbourne and Sydney is not one of my favourite road trips. As the major thoroughfare between Australia’s largest cities there has been a trade in – charm for speed and efficiency. Much of this is due to the large separated multi lane highway that bypasses most towns on the route. There are some great places to break the trip with kids along the Hume though – having them in mind as you set out will help keep the kids happy on the Hume.
Benalla
We love this tidy town a short detour off the Hume. In nice weather the Benalla Botanical Gardens is a gorgeous place to stop. Strolling around the rose garden is the perfect antidote to the road trip cramps. They also have a sweet playground with a giant rocketship which little kids love.
The Benalla Costume and Kelly Museum
This small museum is a good option on wet days. There are some historical Ned Kelly displays however I really can’t understand Australia’s fascination with the Kelly gang of thugs. Instead we opted to focus on their display of toys from eras past in the exhibition “Playthings Prior to Plasma” and their fashion display “Lovely in Lace”. The museum could really improve its interactivity – it is all look and no touch. It was however diverting enough that the kids felt they had an interesting outing. The Benalla Costume and Kelly Museum is locatedat 14 Mair Street Benalla. Entry is also via a small charge $5 for adults and $1 for kids.
Adjacent to the Benalla Costume and Kelly Museum (which is co-located with the Visitor Centre) is a Gaudi inspired rotunda – perfect for wet weather picnics.
It is worth looking at the Benalla Art Gallery’s site before you depart as the gallery offers occasional free Little Art Lovers sessions for kids. They also run school holiday programs (which may have a charge). You would need to be more organised than most but breaking your road trip at the right time to have the kids join in with a great art program is a winner. The Benalla Art Gallery also has a nice cafe overlooking the lake.
Where: Adjacent to the Benalla Botanical Gardens in Bridge Street. Entry is via gold coin donation.
The Benalla Art Gallery overlooking Lake Benalla
Albury Swim Centre
We cottoned onto road trip with kids gold when we decided to break our trips with swims at local pools The Albury Swim Centre is a lovely place to refresh the whole family. It is a traditional, old style local swim centre with a slightly retro waterside. We were very glad of the shadded toddler pool. This is a good place to lunch on the journey north from Melbourne and if you don’t bring your own there is a kiosk that serves a mean salad roll.
Where: Off Wodonga Place, Albury (opposite Hovell Tree Park).
There is a modest cost for family entry and use of the waterside was $4 for five slides.
Albury Swim Centre
The Dog on the Tuckerbox at Gundagai
“There’s a track winding back
To a real tourist trap
Along the Road to Gundagai”
There really is not much to see at the Dog on a Tuckerbox except a statue of a dog on a tuckerbox. I know a few folk drop into this blog from outside Australia so let me explain. “The Road to Gundagai” is an iconic Australian song featuring a dog on a tuckerbox. Even though I knew it was a tourist trap we stopped to break up the trip. There are lots of eateries located at the Dog on a Tuckerbox, which by the way you access just off the Highway at Gundagai. The eating hall and “parents room” we used there were the filthiest I have ever seen anywhere, in any country. Enough said.
The Dog on the Tuckerbox
The Giant Merino
I had a bit of a yarn about the Giant Merino in the first article of my road trip series. There is actually not so much to do at the Giant Merino – the inside is a hollow fiberglass shell with a tourist shop at the bottom. Somehow though, my kids got a real kick out of climbing the stairs again and again to look out the Giant Merino’s eye. There are a few dining options at the Giant Merino – a roadhouse and bakery among others. None of these are great, all are crowded, but they are acceptable for road trip dining.
Where to stay on when driving between Melbourne and Sydney with kids.
If you think your own kids can manage the 8-10 hour journey between Melbourne and Sydney in one day by all means go for it. I am under no delusions that this is a feasible option with my own kids though so overnighting it must be. I really think it is worth booking accommodation online prior to taking this road trip so as to avoid price gouging. Albury-Wodonga is the typical place to overnight on the Hume Highway but when I went to book there prices were exorbitant! Along the lines of $400 a night for a family unit. Instead we chose to drive to Wagga Wagga (perhaps adding in total 1 hour longer to our total drive time, but saving us literally hundreds of dollars.) We stayed at the Wagga Wagga Mercure in a family unit. It was similar in style to a motor inn but very clean and with a good pool. Guests also have access to the local pool across the road which has an indoor watersplash area.
Bubs on the Move provides tips and advice for parents traveling with small children including attraction and accommodation reviews. I’d love for ya’ll to join us on our adventures by either signing up for the newsletter, joining us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram to receive updates.
There’s more travel inspiration over at Brown Paper Packages for the Wednesday Wanderlust link party
Our favourite pit stop along that route is the Long Track Pantry in Jugiong – it’s a small little town but so worth a detour of the highway.
Hi Rebecca, thanks for dropping in. Next time we do the trip will ahve to check the Long Track Pantry out. Love tips like that.
I love that your kids enjoyed the Merino’s eye and the stairs. You have to go with what works. 🙂
Yes, to be honest the inside was rather dingy but they dug it. What ever works is pretty much my motto for motherhood travel or no travel.
I remember stopping by at the dog on the tucker box as a kid, I think I annoyed my parents with the song too. We like to make regular stops with kids, even without them, it just makes it all so much more bearable. Thanks for joining in my #wednesdaywanderlust link party this week – see you next week!
My kids hadn’t heard the song but – and this is how technology has revolutionised the road trip, I downloaded it on the iPhone to play to the kids at the statue.
Looks like a lovely road trip and brings back memories of our family drives. Glad to see The Dog on Tuckerbox still doing his thing.
xo
It was a great road trip, actually lots of fun and has me pumped for some more…
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