So im driving to melbourne on the 27th

[Fev]

Yep - ill be heading down for the F1 race!

anyone have any advice about the trip down - other then stock up on snacks, tunes, Mother and smokes lol.. - ill be swapping with my girlfriend driving half way down


best way to go just follow the highway? any cool places to take a break at and also - Is there any Vic events happening on saturday? i'd like to come out and see some of you guys. Ill be staying in Belgrave so anything in the Dandenongs/surrounding area would be great


anyone else driving down for the F1?

[DBourne]

you'll be fine mate, just hop on m7 and drive.

just be cautious of your speed, and when you go through towns such as holbrook make sure you stick to the limit. cops love sitting on either the entry of town or exit, as lots of people find it hard to do 50kp/h after sitting on 110 for 6hrs.

The drive itself is pretty simple, although if you havent done long driving before just be mindful of getting tired, no point in being a hero and knocking the drive off yourself if you really feel you're getting sleepy.

that being said, once you do it a few times it becomes pretty easy to knock it off in 1 sitting.

Also, depending on what time you pass through holbrook, go to the holbrook pie shop.. best pies ever

[BlackLS]

Get yourself a decent 40ch UHF and your pretty much set.

[RG]

Don't hit anything!

[Lynch'd]

Originally Posted by SgtBourne

Also, depending on what time you pass through holbrook, go to the holbrook pie shop.. best pies ever

Beat me to it. The only i would say is Regardless of what time you go through Holbrook, stop and get a pie. I do it every trip no matter what!

Also be very weary of the fixed speed cameras the Vic side of the border. If you're not aware of them (they're not signed like NSW and you've only got 3km/h leeway) you could lose your license 5 times over before you hit Melbourne.

[DBourne]

good point lynch, i forgot to say, once in vic DON'T speed.. honestly dude it aint worth it.

you get used to how easy we have it in NSW with the warnings for speed cameras, in viccy you get no warning.

so rather than thinking, "i'm making good time doing 120 instead of 110" just sit on 110, not worth wrecking your trip

[Meg's GT's]

Cruise control is your best friend once you cross the border

[Smoke Pursuit]

I did bris to melb in 19 hours straight...

Left bris at 4:30, arrived at melbourne 11.25...

Did the trip in a Mazda 3, sticking to the speed limit other then over taking...

Seen 2 cops the whole way, but i agree always slow down in country towns!

You wont have any dramas doing Syd to Melb!

[zetec]

Easy drive, should take about 8.5 hours if done correctly without rushing. Lots of roadworks, but just be patient as it still flows.

It's the quickest way to go, I do it once every 3 months or so. Came back last weekend from Sydney via the Snowy Mountains just for a change but it took me 13 hours including stops in a few towns.

[Fev]

yeah i know about the speed camera's - bloody rort if you ask me lol

[ltd]

Around 80K's out of Melbourne is where the point to point speed cameras are, sit on cruise control at 110 (later it changes to 100) and be wary that the victorians put speed cameras on overpasses, behind bushes and that sort of thing. Be careful around Coolac too, lots of cops hang out on the side of the road there with Radar, and also make sure that you don't go over 50kph in the 50 zones, heaps of local cops love to sit there just after it goes from 100kph to 50kph (stupid speed change I know).
Enjoy the F1, the Brawn team looks to be in good form, maybe this year Rubens can finally get a title.

[whiteELXR6]

Yer it's a pretty straight forward drive mate just try and make sure your not on the road around Tarcutta during midnight, nothing like b-doubles passing ya at 120k's lol

[XRSIKS]

I'm flying down.... I'm staying in Albert Park , bout 1.3km from Gate 1 Entrance, to my sweeet grandstand seats i'm there for the entire 4 days, should be a good one.... Hope the weather is cool, no shelter for us grandstand seaters lol!

[Hords]

How long does MEL to SYD take to drive along the coastal route ie. Princess Hwy?

[Fev]

probably a couple of hours more then the direct route.

ill be "Sidetracked"

might wander off to go watch The Who play aswell - should be good!

[Macca23]

Hey Fev.

The hume is getting easyer and quicker every time I go melb and back. A Few road works NSW side. Manu police cars hiding both states last week when we came back in the fire trucks!

Places cool to stop are imho are Dog on tucker box(Gundagi), The ettamogah pub. Glenwrren, where ned kelly finished up. The submarine musem at holebrook is good too.

Im sure theres heaps more! Most places are bi-passed and you need to jump off hwy. Just depends how long you have

[SpoolMan]

Anyone coming from Sydney in a Ute, I have 4 Fiesta wheels/tyres in Granville I want shipped down to Melbourne.
Slab of VB or bottle Jim Beam as remuneration if you can get them to Melbourne.

[MYVYSS]

Mate there is always something on in Melbourne, if you havent been down here before and dont want to get on the turps as Belgrave from the City will be about 80 bucks in a cab, do St Kilda, Casino, if you wanted the Footy will be on, if you want to go Local, the Ferntree Gully Hotel usually has something happening, if not but I doubt you will want to drive, do a run down to Phillip Island and have a look around down there. Head into Richmond/Carlton and enjoy the Cafe culture that is Melbourne, some of the best restaurants in Australia are located in Melbourne so if you want to tempt your taste buds, you are heading to the right place.


Oh and not that I condone it, but hey it happens, more than likely Saturday night Princess Highway will be awash with fast cars and heaps of people post 10pm, in the Dandenong area mostly looking for and taking part in drags....