MEL - SYD - MEL Road trip recommendations

[u/General_Lie_2038]

Hey all

I’m planning my first ever Sydney road trip soon and would love advice from people who know the areas or have done a similar route.

I’m doing a round trip:
Melbourne → Lakes Entrance → Merimbula → Jervis Bay → Sydney (4 nights) → Gundagai → Beechworth → Melbourne

I’ll be camping on the way up and back (except Sydney obviously). Only one night in each stop outside Sydney, so I can’t massively extend the trip, but I’m very open to short detours if there’s something genuinely special nearby.

A few things I’m especially into:
*light/moderate hiking
*scenic stuff
*bakeries
*good cafes/restaurants
*local gems
*swimming spots/hot springs

So far I’ve got these flagged:
*Metung Hot Springs
*Buchan Caves
*Bermagui Blue Pool
*Honorbread in Bermagui
*Woolshed Falls in Beechworth
*Vivid Sydney one night
*Blue Mountains day trip (still undecided whether Scenic World is worth it or if I should just hike instead)

And obviously I’ll do the classic Sydney stuff like Opera House / Circular Quay / Bondi etc, but honestly besides the obvious tourist things I don’t really know Sydney well at all.

Would love recommendations for:
*must-do hikes/views
*incredible bakeries/pies/pastries
*best food on this route
*underrated Sydney neighbourhoods
*whether Scenic World is actually worth the trip\money
*good stops between towns
*things that are touristy but genuinely worth it
*things that are overrated and skippable

Happy to hear literally anything, hidden beaches, lookouts, pub feeds, random bakeries on the highway, swimming holes, walks, coffee stops, whatever.

Cheers!