Princes Highway (VIC)  
Victoria's longest highway, the Princes Highway begins in the far east at the NSW/VIC border. It passes through spectacular scenery through the east Gippsland. The densely vegetated environment changes into lush dairying pastures once reaching Bairnsdale and through to Sale. From Sale, the highway heads due west through the coal mining areas of the La Trobe Valley, passing through Traralgon, but bypassing Moe, Morwell and Warragul. The highway rises out of the La Trobe Valley and into Greater Melbourne where it becomes the Monash Freeway, Citylink and eventually the Princes Freeway, heading south-west into Geelong. Reverting back to the Princes Highway after Geelong, the road again heads due west through the lush western districts through Colac and Camperdown before reaching the coastal city of Warrnambool. The highway follows the coast towards Portland, but then heads inland to the SA border and Mt Gambier.

Start: NSW border
Principal Towns/Cities: Cann River, Orbost *, Lakes Entrance, Bairnsdale, Stratford, Sale, Traralgon, Morwell *, Moe *, Trafalgar,  Warragul *, Drouin *, Pakenham, Melbourne, Geelong, Winchelsea, Colac, Camperdown, Terang, Warrnambool, Port Fairy, Portland *, Heywood, Mount Gambier (SA)
Finish: SA border (Mt Gambier)
Length: 956km
Road Standard: Excellent - Windy and steep near the NSW border. Freeway from Traralgon through Melbourne to Geelong. Numerous overtaking lanes elsewhere, except east of Orbost.
Road Quality: Bitumen, excellent grade
Road Continuation: Click for the Princes Highway in NSW, Click for the Princes Highway in SA
* refers to towns/cities bypassed by the Princes Highway/Freeway
 

Heading east on the Princes Highway between Warragul and Moe, about to enter the La Trobe Valley (eastbound lanes) (2000).

Heading east on the Princes Highway, near Trafalgar, VIC (eastbound lanes) (2000).

Heading west on the Princes Highway, just out of Warrnambool, VIC. Note the pink coloured shoulders! (2001).

Copyright MG 2002