Old Akro is on the money re comments on Lakes Entrance - Albury.
Melbourne/Moorabbin
Lakes Entrance
Albury/Wodonga
Wagga Wagga
Canberra
Sydney/Bankstown
I'd go up from Lakes Entrance to Merimbula, consider hiring a car for a day or two and have a look around or fly up to Moruya and then zip across from there to Canberra. Either way, whether you go from Merimbula to Canberra or Moruya area to Canberra you're looking at terrain from 4000-5300 ft so hopefully your hired 172 isn't short on power.
Most of those options cover some quite remote areas so make sure you're in touch with ATC for flight following using radar / transponder (if available), with your ELT handy.