The Hume Highway stretches from Sydney right down to Melbourne and is perfect for getting from Point A to Point B in the shortest amount of time possible.
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But what about all those little towns that sit just off the highway like Gundagai, Tarcutta and Holbrook?
On a recent road trip I vowed to take the slow road and stop in at many of those little half-forgotten towns that dot the countryside.
Some of the places I had never seen before, or even heard of.
Gunning was a revelation – with beautiful old signwriting, preserved buildings and the best coffee shops and cafes a traveller could wish for. Its main streets were built very wide, for the time of horse and bullock-drawn wagons.
This served the town well when the main highway between Sydney and Melbourne carried cars and trucks through, until the Hume Highway by-pass was completed in 1993. The town has since embraced a more rural pace of life, and developed something of an industry in providing bed and breakfast accommodation.
Jugiong, about an hour down the road, comprises little more than a church, a pub and a service station ... and, most importantly, the Long Track Pantry. It’s a fascinating, friendly and delicious cafe-cum-homewares store which feels like it’s tucked into the hills in the middle of nowhere.
If you’re a fan of art-deco architecture, Tarcutta is the perfect little spot to stop and get some shots for your Instagram account.
Further along down the highway is Holbrook. Aside from the curiously-placed HMAS Otway submarine, the town features the National Museum of Australian Pottery as well as a great gallery called Satch & Co.
Gundagai is worth a visit, if only to see the perfectly-preserved Niagara Cafe – the same one that John Curtain, Australia’s Prime Minister during the Second World War, popped into and enjoyed a meal of steak and eggs.
For those with a little bit of time on their hands, taking the scenic route really uncovers some great Australian treasures.