by A Mindful Traveler

A Road Trip from Melbourne to Sydney- Part 2…

Weddings are such special occasions. It’s one big party with beloved family and friends. On our recent road trip to Sydney (read Part 1 here) we attended my cousin’s wedding and  celebrated this enjoyable day with my amazing family.

While in Sydney, we stayed at the Novotel Parramatta. Parramatta is 25km west of Sydney. Our hotel was ideally located on the main street where an abundance of restaurants and trendy cafés await to be dined at. Situated on the banks of the Parramatta river, this multicultural suburban precinct offers much to see and do for all ages with a contemporary vibe.

Novotel Parramatta bar and restaurant.

Chocolate brownie dessert at Bay Vista dessert bar, Parramatta. Click on the Tripadvisor link below to read the review.

Caramel and honeycomb ice cream delight at Bay Vista dessert bar, Parramatta.

Parramatta River

Parramatta

Main Street Parramatta

Eventually all good things much come to an end, so it was time to pack up the car and begin our road trip back to Melbourne. Why do return trips always seem shorter?

On the drive home from Parramatta, we stopped for lunch (and also for a bathroom break) at the small town of Holbrook, New South Wales, close to the Victorian border. Holbrook is also known as the “submarine town”, where you can discover the Australian submarine HMAS Otway, and a ⅕ scale model of the British Submarine HMS B11 from 1914. The town of Holbrook was actually named after a courageous submariner, to which you can learn more about, at the Holbrook Submarine Museum.

Holbrook is also renowned for its regional bakery. Established in 1899 the Holbrook Bakery is locally owned and bakes delicious fresh breads and pastries daily. Make sure to try one of their tasty “Aussie Pies”. It’s definitely worth the stop! 🙂

Overall with less stops taken, but more traffic as we left Parramatta, the drive home ended up taking the same amount of time as the trip up!

So, what makes the return journey seem quicker? Is it a perception of time or is because our expectations of a longer journey home, actually eludes this journey of feeling shorter somehow?

Have you ever felt like this when returning home?

For my reviews on the Novotel and dining experiences during the road trip, visit Tripadvisor here. 

For more information on the town of Holbrook, click here.

Related Posts:

A Road Trip from Melbourne to Sydney Part 1

 Images of Rural Victoria and New South Wales… a road trip in pictures

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Link up and join #WanderfulWednesday here through Marcella at What a Wonderful World…

41 thoughts on “A Road Trip from Melbourne to Sydney- Part 2…”

  1. Pingback: A Road trip from Melbourne to Sydney – Part 1… – a mindful traveller

  5. We always take our time when we leave for a caravan road trip, and promise ourselves we’re going to only drive short days for our entire trip. However, that promise to ourselves is always forgotten when returning home. Our return trip is always, literally, shorter in time.

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  10. Pingback: Globetrotters- A Mindful Traveller – thewanderingdarlings

  11. Lovely photos and the sight of the dessert made me swoon. I shall do my best not to slaver. Btw for me road trips on the way back seem longer. The drive back home always makes me feel more tired than on the way to a new place. I am guessing it is the fact that the holiday is over that makes me feel so and yet there is the relief of getting back home. Mixed feelings reign. xx

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  18. Pingback: Chicken & Leek Pie… – a mindful traveller

  19. Hello Lorelle,
    What a lovely journey home after what looks and sounds like a beautiful wedding. That brownie slice…
    As for your question about the return trip, it’s also something I’ve contemplated nearly as long as I can remember. It’s a real thing but I’ve still no idea why!
    A great point for a post though.
    Wishing you well,
    Di 🙋🏻💐💐

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  20. Pingback: Images of Rural Victoria and New South Wales… a road trip in pictures. – a mindful traveller

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