Looking to do a road trip between Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide? You can take the motorway, but if you’re not in a rush why not choose the coastal, scenic route along the Princes Highway instead.

The Princes Highway first opened it’s Sydney to Melbourne roadway on the 10 August 1920 before continuing on to pave the way to Adelaide.

So let’s in the car, pack the snacks, pop 2SER on the radio and hit the road! Here are a few pit stops along the Princes Highway you have to stop and see.

Eden, NSW

Six hours from Sydney on the Princes Highway takes you to Eden. As the name suggests, this is a beautiful paradise on the Sapphire Coast and the Princes Highway leads you straight to it and through it.

Eden is known for 3 things: humpback whales, killers whales and marine life.

They call Eden part of the “Humpback Highway” because Twofold Bay is a pit stop for the whales along their migration south. Twofold Bay is the third-deepest natural harbour in the Southern Hemisphere (First place goes to Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour) and second is Hobart’s Harbour).

The relationship between Twofold Bay and whales go way back, as well as being a feeding pit stop for the humpback whales, Eden was also a whaling town back when they hunted whales for their oil.

Now we celebrate the annual migration in October at the Eden Whale Festival, where you get to see pods of whales at Twofold Bay up close in a boat or even from the shore. The whale festival is held over one weekend in October and the town centres everything around all things whales.

Stop to check out the Eden Killer Whale Museum. It started off as a place to house the skeleton of an orca local to Eden: Old Tom, but it’s grown into a shrine of Eden’s marine life and maritime history. Learn about the coast’s long time whaling industry and how Eden’s orca population of 50 now doesn’t exist. Many of the locals knew the whales by name (there was Stranger, Hooky, Big Ben, Little Jack and Old Tom to name a few).

While you’re driving, you might as well check out the Killer Whale Trail, a self drive tour that takes you to 5 historical sites about the relationship between the Eden locals and the local killer whales. 

Port Fairy, VIC

Nearly four hours out of Melbourne’s CBD you find the pretty port town of Port Fairy. Port Fairy has been dubbed 2nd in the 2025 Victorian Top Small Tourism Town by VTIC.

You’ll get swept up by the historic charm of this place. It’s 1800s Celtic influenced architecture has more than 50 buildings classified by the National Trust.

What’s amazing, is it isn’t overrun with tourists! It’s a quiet town with a population of 3,340, but don’t let it’s small population fool you, this place has world class food equipped with good quality restaurants and eateries.

Port Fairy has a flourishing art scene with open studios and galleries throughout their streets. You’ll find them linked on an Art Walk.

If you like cycling, you can try the 37.5km Port Fairy to Warrnambool Rail Trail that takes you inland along a scenic farmland trail before taking you back to the coast. 

If you love golf, Port Fairy’s Golf Course is ranked 31 on AusGolf magazine’s top 100 Australian courses.

Port Fairy is spoilt for choice with beautiful and remote beaches. Pea Soup Beach is a pristine beautiful beach that is clothing optional.

You’re in a port town, so why not try a guided fishing trip or take a cruise out to see the seal colony on Lady Percy Island. When in Rome, right? 

Pink Lakes, Coorong & Ashville, SA

Pink Lake, Ashville SA

Just two hours away from Adelaide’s CBD literally alongside the Princes Highway, you’ll find not just one, but two fabulous pink lakes!

If you want to see the lakes at it’s pinkest, time your visit in the warmer months. The level of saline and algae that makes the colour is brightest when when warm.

Coorong National Park gives you the pink lake on one side of the Princes Highway and the Coorong waterway, lush greenery, a sandy beach then the Long Bay waters that lead to the Great Australian Bight, on the other side. You’re surrounded by water and nature. The Coorong is also a wetland of international importance.

You can actually camp on the beach by the water before making your way to Adelaide.

Ashville’s pink lake is near Albert Lake, a perfect place to stop and stretch your legs.