Leave Brisbane after breakfast and head west along the Warrego Highway, stopping in Toowoomba for a stroll through Queens Park and a quick coffee at one of the cafés on Russell Street. Take the scenic New England Highway out of town to enjoy the rolling Darling Downs; pause at Picnic Point lookout for sweeping valley views and a short walk to stretch your legs before continuing toward the Granite Belt.
Arrive in Stanthorpe in the early afternoon and explore the Granite Belt’s cellar doors — sample cool-climate varieties at Ballandean Estate or Sirromet’s Granite Belt outpost and pair with local cheeses from a boutique providore. After wine tasting, drive a short distance to Girraween National Park for a late-afternoon hike among granite tors and wildflowers or a peaceful picnic beside Spring Creek, soaking in the rugged landscape.
Return to Stanthorpe township as the sun sets for a relaxed dinner at a farm-to-table restaurant such as The Barrel Room or a cosy local bistro, enjoying seasonal produce and regional wines. Finish the night with a quiet walk through the leafy main street or a visit to a local pub for a nightcap, settling in at your chosen accommodation ready for the next day’s NSW crossing.
Leave Stanthorpe after an early breakfast and cross the border into New South Wales via the scenic New England Highway, stopping at Wallangarra to glimpse the historic railway precinct where Queensland and NSW gauges once met. Continue up into the Granite Belt’s northern slopes and arrive in Tenterfield mid-morning to wander the heritage streets, visit the Sir Henry Parkes Memorial and grab a coffee and a freshly baked treat at one of the cosy cafés on Rouse Street.
After a light lunch in Tenterfield, drive along the picturesque Bruxner and Gwydir Highways, pausing at Bluff River National Park or a roadside lookout to admire sweeping tablelands and the Great Dividing Range—perfect for photos and a short bushwalk. Arrive into the Armidale area late afternoon; if time allows, explore the University of New England campus and its sandstone buildings or take a riverside stroll along the picturesque Dangars or Armidale waterways to stretch your legs before dinner.
Dine at one of Armidale’s farm-to-table restaurants or a friendly pub such as The Black Gully Brewery for regional beer and hearty local produce, then enjoy a relaxed evening walk through the illuminated town centre or a quiet drink at your accommodation. Rest up in a country guesthouse or boutique hotel, setting the pace for the longer southbound day ahead toward the Dubbo/Wellington corridor and ultimately Geelong.
Depart your Armidale-area accommodation after an early breakfast and head west along the New England and Oxley Highways, pausing at cool-country roadside towns like Uralla to stretch your legs and admire the historic homes and McCrossin’s Mill Museum. Continue toward Uralla-Woolbrook country and stop at the Wellington turnoff for a scenic detour to the Bell River lookout or a quick coffee in the charming township of Wellington before joining the route southwest toward Dubbo.
Spend the afternoon exploring the Dubbo/Wellington corridor—visit the Wellington Caves if time allows for a guided tour of Cathedral Cave and a glimpse into the region’s subterranean history, or detour into Dubbo to walk through the Old Dubbo Gaol or grab a long lunch at a riverside café paired with regional wine. Leave Dubbo mid-afternoon to follow the more rural carriageways through Parkes and down toward the western approaches to Victoria, enjoying wide open plains, farmgate stalls for fresh produce, and occasional lookout stops to break the drive.
As daylight fades, cruise the final leg into Victoria and follow the Western Highway and coastal approach toward Geelong, arriving in time for a relaxed seaside dinner at one of Geelong’s waterfront restaurants on Moorabool Street or Eastern Beach precinct, sampling fresh seafood and local Victorian wines. Finish the day with an evening stroll along Corio Bay or the waterfront promenade to celebrate the end of your inland-to-coast road trip before checking into your Geelong accommodation for a well-earned rest.