Heathcote was briefly known as Bottle Forest until 1835 when the Surveyor General Sir Thomas Mitchell named it after a soldier who fought with him against Napoleon. Good place to get a full tank before heading south.

Take the coast road from Sydney near Wollongong and explore the beautiful NSW South Coast on a leisurely four-hour drive.

Try to get to Berry as early as possible for lunch because its roadside cafes are often busy. You’ll find an incredible range of locally made sourdough and European pastries from Flour Water Salt (the only three ingredients you really need for sourdough) and Berry Sourdough Cafe, delicious European cuisine at South on Albany. For something sweet, line up for doughnuts at the Berry Donut Van on Queen Street (you can’t miss them), indulge with handmade chocolates at The Berry Chocolatier or reconnect with your childhood at The Berry Bon Bon Sweet Shop.

If you’re craving a romantic sojourn only a few hours from Sydney, the locally-sourced seafood by Rick Stein at Bannisters is worth booking ahead for. Meanwhile, families with kids older than five can build up an appetite for local fish and chips learning to surf together. Book at Mollymook Beach Surf School or get special coaching from former world champion Pam Burridge when she’s in town.

15 minutes before Bateman’s Bay is the very family-friendly NRMA Murramarang Beachfront Holiday Resort with breathtaking water views from many of its villas and camping sites. It offers lots of fun activities for kids and adults alike including water park, swimming pool, bikes and go-karts for hire and the Umbarra (little black duck) Kids’ Club. Eat on site at the beach bistro, get takeaway from Skippy’s or swim up to the Wasphead Pool Bar for a snack.

In the heart of River Cottage country are some amazing treats including the ABC Cheese Factory, Mrs Jamieson’s 117 varieties of Tilba Fudge made by hand with local butter and cream and the dazzling array of old-fashioned sweets from Tilba Sweet Spot.

The Princes Highway kinks down through a few mountain ranges before aiming straight at NSW’s southernmost town. As Eden is home to the state’s largest fishing port, fresh seafood is in abundance. Watch the boats come in at Drift as you tuck into delicacies from Sapphire Coast Wilderness Oysters and Eden Smokehouse. If you don’t want fish, Sprout caters to vegans, vegetarians and omnivores alike with a highly regarded menu using local produce.

At Nowa Nowa the A1 drops south through Lake Tyers to meet the ocean at Lakes Entrance where you’ll find the NRMA Eastern Beach Holiday Park. Its villas and camping sites are close to lake and sea water, making it an excellent spot for adventurers young and old. You could kayak across Cunninghame Arm, explore Flagstaff Hill, dive into the ocean at Ninety Mile Beach, leap onto a jumping pillow or race each other in pedal karts. Or you could relax by the solar heated pool. Buy some local seafood and produce at the shops nearby and enjoy a meal in the BBQ area or large camp kitchen.

This little Gippsland country town serves up lots of interesting experiences for families of all ages, from sampling handmade Maffra Cheese, to bird watching in the Macalister Wetlands Reserve and driving through time at the Gippsland Vehicle Collection Motor Museum.

Heading towards the Great Dividing Range, you’ll come to the mid-sized town of Warragul, famous for supplying milk to Peters Ice Cream, although becoming more renowned for gourmet destinations including the nationally connected Bean Scene coffee studio and e-commerce hub and traditional Italian plus gourmet burgers at 3 Brothers And An Oven.