The safest route during February 2009 is probably the inland route (Hume Highway) as bushfires are still burning through Gippsland and the coastal route. You are likely to drive through bushfire-stricken countryside whichever way you go.
No. Canberra lies inland between these two cities, just off the Hume Highway, rather than along the Princes Highway, which takes in the coastal route.
The Hume Highway is the quickest way to travel from and to Melbourne and Sydney, travelling the inland route. The other highway which runs between the two cities is the Princes Highway, which essentially follows the coast.
Hume
The main highway between Canberra and Melbourne (indeed, Sydney and Melbourne) is the Hume Highway. It roughly follows the path of explorers Hume and Hovell, who first explored an overland route between Sydney and Port Phillip Bay in 1824.
The main highway between Melbourne and Sydney is the Hume Highway, named after Australian-born explorer Hamilton Hume who, together with William Hovell, explored between the Yass Plains and Port Phillip Bay in 1824.
Highway 1 goes from Sydney to Melbourne (and further).
From Melbourne's CBD to Sydney's CBD is a distance of 870 km by road. This route goes through Wodonga, up the Hume highway, and Wollongong.
The flight distance between Melbourne & Sydney is 713 kilometres. The driving distance between Melbourne & Sydney is 875 kilometres.
There is no time between melbourne and sydney because they are both eastern standard time(EST).
The countrylink XPT travels between Sydney and Melbourne. The Canberra Xplorer also goes to both Sydney and Melbourne.
On the highway, via means to go "by way of". For example, if you are travelling from Sydney to Melbourne, you may ask "How far is it from Sydney to Melbourne via Canberra?", i.e. going through Canberra on the way.
From Melbourne's CBD to Sydney's CBD is a distance of 869 km (539 miles) by road, travelling the inland route along the Hume Highway. The Flight distance is 713 kilometres (443 miles).