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Home » Oceania » Australia » 10 EPIC Australia Road Trips: Big, Bold, and Beautiful

10 EPIC Australia Road Trips: Big, Bold, and Beautiful

Australia: a continental landmass of crocodile-wrestling locals, man-eating dropbears, and gigantic expanses of endless red dirt. Maybe only one of those things is true.

That said, there is truly, truly massive amounts of red dirt. On any Australian road trip through its gargantuan “Red Centre”, you will see endless horizons of ochre hues. Words cannot describe the scope of this untameable land.

In Australia, one can easily drive for days on end without the scenery changing at all and with only the occasional roo – jumping out in front of the car on a suicide mission – to break up the routine. But if you can handle the distances and duck the kamikaze kangaroos, the country can be one hell of a setting for some epic Australian road trips.

Of course, embarking on Australia’s road trips isn’t so simple. First, you’ll need a vehicle. You’ll also need to manage the equally untameable cost of travelling in Australia. (Damn you fuel prices in Oz!)

And of course, you’ll need to decide on which of the best road trips in Australia you’ll be Mad Max-ing. Spoiler: they’re all bloody magnificent.

So that’s why I’ve written this guide to travelling Australia by car (or van). A roundup of the most epic Australian road trips you can possibly sink your teeth and adventurer chomps into!

Fire her up cause we’re headin’ out back, mate.

Exploring Australia: Prepping for the Road Trip

Top 10 epic australia road trips: she’ll be right, 10. kangaroo island, some safety advice for australia, let the great australia road trip commence.

The word Australia is now pretty much synonymous with the word “backpacking”. This is primarily because countless backpackers from all around the world now flock here annually, either to take long working holidays (yay for obscenely high minimum wages) or to try and start a new life.

Meanwhile back in the rest of the world, (certainly in India, South-East Asia and South America) it often feels like most of the other backpackers you meet are Australian (closely followed by Germans then Israelis). In summary Australia = Backpacking . Right?

Despite this, the former prison colony has still not really been properly explored save by only a handful of very brave and foolish souls. Australia is massive, it’s red, it’s angry, and it’s often damn well deadly and therefore, most folks (residents and visitors alike) end up sticking to the coastlines .

However, if you want to discover the real Australia then you need to head away from the beach and into that deliciously daring ‘outback’ . For a proper adventure, you gotta get away from humanity and into the sheer undulating arid heat. If you’re going to do that, then you’re going to need to get yourself a car and set off for an epic road trip in Australia.

The road is calling (here are a few inspiring road trip quotes , just in case you need any more motivation).

How to Travel Australia by Car

Firstly, you will need a driving licence . A serious traveller may even want to get an International licence although most “Western” licence (US, EU, etc.) will be perfectly valid down under . Be sure to get this back in your home country because everything is expensive in Australia.

You’re also going to need a vehicle for a road trip in Australia – no brainer! There are three ways to go about this:

• Hire a car or van in Australia – Renting a car in Australia is easy albeit expensive and much better suited to a short trip. There are heaps of car rental services in Australia but I recommend JUCY Rentals . They’ve been in the game as long as I remember; parked by the beaches of Byron Bay is a time-honoured Australian tradition almost as much as a beer and fish and chips. Probably also in Byron.
• Buy a car or van –  This is option two and the true backpacker way to have a road trip in Australia. Backpackers buying and reselling vehicles in Australia is incredibly common (given the sheer scope of Australia) and acquiring a pre-loved gypsy warhorse and selling it again later is super viable. The best way to go about this is through online listings: social media groups, car sales websites, Gumtree , traveller/hostel message boards, or even dipping into your personal network.
• Steal a car or van – Jokes, don’t do that. Remember how I said Australia was an ex-prisoner colony. Dem fuckers be crazy.

Travel Australia by Van or Car

Right, so you may have noticed how I specified van  OR  car. That’s because both are viable, however, I do have a special love in my heart for living and travelling in a van. And truth be told, Australia’s barren empty wilderness and endless beaches are simply built for the vanlife.

Ultimately though, the choice is yours. A car is cheaper to acquire (generally) and requires less mechanical knowhow, but you won’t have the sheer magnificent awesomeness a home with wheels. That said, vans can be absolute primadonnas and konk out on you at the worst possible time so it’s a matter of choice and desire.

Lastly (and most importantly), it is worth noting that not ALL of Australia will be open to you in a standard van or car. A lot of Australia’s landscape is incredibly harsh and some of the absolute best road trips will only be doable with a four-wheel drive.

Either way, the vehicle type you choose is going to affect your packing for the great Australian road trip . To that end, here is some more recommended reading:

Car Camping in Australia Resources:

• The Ultimate Road Trip Packing List
• The Camping Master Checklist
• Best Budget Backpacking Tents
• Best Sleeping Bags
• And don’t forget a sleeping pad!

Van Travel in Australia Resources

• The Full Guide to Vanlife
• Campervanning in New Zealand Guide

(Yes I know it’s New Zealand but bar the much smaller scope and lack of murderous animals, the countries are quite comparable.)

Oh, and here’s a kickass post discussing the cost of a road trip in Australia . Ta-dah!

A Word on Australian Visas

Pretty much everybody will need a visa to enter Australia. The immigration policies and staff are zealous and you will be given the once over.

Travellers from most Western Countries can enter for tourism purposes on an Australian ETA (subclass 601) . Whilst these are amongst the easiest type to obtain, do remember to apply before you fly or you risk deportation

Ok, no more blabber-blabber: the best road trips in Australia! Let’s hop to it and get this show on the road!

So. Many. Puns.

So. Little. Time.

1. Gibb River Road – Western Australia

Accessible only by four-wheel drive, and completely impossible to do in the wet season, this road is one hell of an adventure. Bringing you 660 km down a dirt track from Broome to Kununurra , you’re likely not to see another soul on the road.

Countless waterfalls and natural springs greet you along the way – just make sure to check for freshwater crocs before you hop in! It’s one of the best routes you can take for an Australian road trip.

2. Cairns to Cape York – Queensland

At the northernmost tip of Australia, practically touching Papua New Guinea, lives a place called Cape York . Far from the backpacker trail, it’s an amazing place to explore. (Other than the saltwater crocodiles lurking in the water. Australia’s wildlife: the reoccurring theme of this guide).

The road travels down dirt roads with many river crossings, so you definitely need a four-wheel drive, much like most of the best spots in an Australia road trip. As you travel up from Cairns , you’ll pass through Cape Tribulation – a tiny town nestled in the rainforest, with the Great Barrier Reef a mere 30-minute boat ride away. It doesn’t get more idyllic than that.

3. Darwin to Uluru – Northern Territory

While this one can be done with an ordinary two-wheel drive vehicle, the route is definitely far from ordinary. A hundred kilometres south of Darwin , you’ll reach the gorgeous Litchfield National Park . With more waterfalls than you can handle, a ton of different bush walks, and a unique (and odd) type of termite mound, you could spend weeks in the park.

Continuing south you’ll get a true taste of the Outback, with roads stretching far into the horizon. But don’t worry, you won’t get bored; those suicidal kangaroos will keep you on your toes as you cruise to the red hot centre of Australia. Be sure to stop in at Alice Springs on your way to Uluru – yes, the famous giant red rock – to check out some traditional Aboriginal art  as well as the stunning views you won’t catch anywhere else on earth. You’ll find a few great hostels in Alice Springs as well. A great route to choose for an Australia road trip!

4. Great Ocean Road – Victoria

The Great Ocean Road is widely mooted as the “greatest” amongst the epic Australian road trips, and one of the best road trips in Victoria . For all those in love with the ocean, this road is an absolute must. Gliding along from every surfer’s paradises to massive plunging cliffs, the road is nothing short of spectacular.

Starting 275 km west of Melbourne , you’ll find the world-famous Twelve Apostles , where huge rock stacks rise from the waves. Love surfing (or the movie Point Break)? Get to Bells Beach , the setting of the last scene of the film, as well as Rip Curl’s surfing competition.

Be sure to stop in at some of the villages along the road as well; from Victorian-era buildings to small fishing communities, there are some great destinations along the Great Ocean Road.

5. The Greater Blue Mountains Drive – New South Wales

Mountains in Australia? Blue mountains ? Yep, they’ve got more than just kangaroos and koalas out there.

Taking you from the metropolis of Sydney right up the middle of the Blue Mountains , this drive is anything but ordinary. From Jenolan Caves , filled with crazy limestone formations, to the Three Sisters rock formation in Katoomba , you will find plenty to do in the area.

And if you get bored of the main route, no worries! The Bluies (a bit of local lingo for ya there) is an absolutely massive mountain range with awesome hostels to stay at tonnes of branching tracks:

• Running from Sydney to Lithgow is the Great Western Highway (the main route).
• Parallel to the Great Western on the other side of the Grose Valley is Bell’s Line of Road .
• There are heaps of dirt roads and fire trails running into the bush everywhere to explore.
• And tonnes of branching roads in other directions. Check out the  Megalong Valley or head towards  Oberon for some more eye candy.

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6. The Nullarbor Plain – West Australia

The long road to Perth takes in 2000km of red Australia at its harshest. It’s flat, it’s long, it’s arid, and it’s a big wide open space so don’t get acrophobic on me now. It’s also an utterly rewarding adventure and one of the best of the epic Austrian road trips you can do.

It’s fair to say that doing the proper crossing of Australia by car is both an Australian and backpacker rite of passage. Take a friend or get used to your own company because it’s a lonely journey and not for the faint of heart. But my god is it a journey.

If, however, this all sounds like too much then see number 7.

7. Tasmania’s Heritage Trail

Tasmania is Australia’s best-kept secret. The region boasts beauty in abundance but has somehow escaped consumption by the backpacker trail. It’s also a lot smaller and compact to travel; like a miniature New Zealand!

This was once the gateway to Australia and was where the original convict chain-gangs were set to work colonising the country. The highwaymen that once haunted these high-ways and by-ways are now gone but you still need to be mindful of those damn roos who may surprise you! This is quite a short and pleasant drive – it’s a lot greener too – so is the perfect contrast to the above Australian road trip.

8. The Alpine Way – New South Wales

Did you know you could fit the entirety of old Wales into New South Wales several times over? However, this route is only 121km long so should only take you a day (plus stops).

The best time to come here is in early spring when the snow is melting (yes, Australia gets snow) but you still get the alpine scenery. There are also loads of great, and safe, places to wild camp along the way.

9. Sydney to Melbourne

Ok, so we did kind of dissed the folks who stick to the coast back there. However, the reality is that if you’re gonna fly all the way to Australia, you will most likely either fly to Sydney or to Melbourne first – two of the best places to stay in Australia . Therefore you may as well make a road trip out of it, right?

There are loads of little coastal towns along the coastal route (think Summer Bay from Home & Away) as well as idyllic little spots for fishing and bird watching. This trip is also perfect if you’re short on time, an inexperienced explorer or if your car is not up to the harder, inland roads.

If the mainland somehow feels too big, then take the ferry from Adelaide across to Kangaroo Island . As the name suggests, it’s an almost untouched animal sanctuary so you can expect more kamikaze kangaroos then we care to mention. To battle stations, comrades: they’re rebelling!

You can take your car onto the ferry (it’s the same deal for Tassie by the way) but if you are renting one, please check that the rental company allows you to do this.

Seriously, there’s a whole other post in this but ok. Pickpockets, terrorists, murderers: these aren’t a concern so much in Australia (Ivan Milat notwithstanding) . There are other concerns, however. Especially for travellers unwitting to Australia’s harshness.

The wildlife is, of course, the bad joke of the global community. Crocs, jellyfish, snakes, spiders, sharks… hell, an emu can kill you if it wants. Generally, you stay away from them, then they’ll stay away from you. The big exception is crocs.

Any area where crocs are common in the water (northern areas of Australia in particular), be hella safe swimming. In fact, probably just don’t swim. If a croc gets you, you’re dead: end of story. Australia isn’t some landscape of bloodthirsty man-eating monsters like people seem to think, but you need to pay attention.

Next, swimming safety. A lot of the beaches are rough and tourists have died going past their limits. Be careful swimming on Australia’s beaches: swim between the lifeguard’s flags, watch out for surfers, and if you get stuck in a rip, let it take you until it subsides. Common sense prevails when swimming in Australia.

Are you done, Dad?  No. Two more things

One More Thing: Australia Road Trip Safety

Road trips in Australia are very different from the States, Europe, or most other places for that matter. Maybe it’s comparable to a hot Siberia.

Populated coastlines are different but in rural areas and especially in the Outback, there are a number of things to be careful about:

• Supplies –  Always have enough food, petrol (including extra tanks),  WATER ; it’s quite possible to go days without seeing another human in Australia’s most vast areas and if you breakdown without these things, she’ll probably not be right.
• Stop, revive, survive – Famous safety motto in Australia: take frequent rest breaks and naps if necessary when driving. It’s actually amazing how many people die on Australia’s long, straight, empty roads – counter-intuitive, right? It’s easy to lose concentration when you’ve been driving in a straight line staring at the same dot on the horizon for 6 hours. It’s easy to fall asleep at the wheel and flip your car or smash into a pole at 120+km/h. Be smart.
• Watch out for wildlife –  All the jokes aside about suicidal kangaroos, imagine hitting one. That can be 6+ feet and 80+ kilograms of proper red-blooded Australian muscle and bone crunching your bonnet and coming through your windshield. It’s the same as hitting a person. Hitting wildlife on an Australian road trip can be just as bad for you as it is for them. Plus, they’re so damn cute! Just watch out for them.
• Roadside Drug Testing –  Can be common in some states and areas and the laws are an absolute mess. Just sayin’…

Last Thing! Get Insured Before Travelling to Australia

What if the kangaroos really do form an army and rise up. Do you know how many kangaroos there are in Australia? We’ll never stand a chance!

Na, you’ll be fine. You know why? Because you’re a smart cookie and you got travel insurance!

A wise man once said that if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t really afford to travel – so do consider backpacker insurance sorted before you head off on an adventure! Traveling without insurance would be risky. I highly recommend World Nomads .

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing .

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

There! Done dad-ing you now. Now you can go and get yourself killed in Australia!

Kidding! You’re not gonna die. You’re gonna have an amazing time. You’ll see some sights like no where else in the world, you’ll face some challenges that’ll help you grow, and at the end of it you’ll say:

“Strewth, mate! Too bloody right. That was pretty fuckin’ orright!”

Have fun, amigos. Australia is truly breathtakingly beautiful and she offers something no other country in this world can. Truly, she is special.

So go hit her up! Take her for a drive – some epic Australia road trips – and go see something you never have before! Take some weed too. It’s a long fucking drive.

Updated: February 2020 by Ziggy Samuels at Zigz Writes Things .

And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links . That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!

Aiden Freeborn

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10 of the best road trips in Australia

Nov 27, 2023 • 8 min read

From short scenic drives to epic countrywide journeys, here are the best road trips in Australia © John W Banagan / Getty Images

Australia is a country designed for road trips, with a diversity of landscapes and a scale that’s almost unrivaled anywhere in the world. 

Whether you want to squeeze in a day trip or pack up and go wherever the wind takes you, these driving routes won’t disappoint. Here are 10 of our favorite road trips in Australia .

1. Nullarbor Plain, South Australia

Drive the world's longest golf course Ceduna–Norseman 1200km (745 miles), allow two days

Arid, remote and stretching to the horizon, the treeless Nullarbor Plain is the stuff of road-trip legend: it’s the longest, straightest and flattest road in the country. While most believe that the journey along the Eyre Highway is only broken by the occasional roadhouse, there are some unexpected surprises along the way. For example, it’s home to the  Nullarbor Links , the world’s longest golf course. The 18-hole course spans 1365km (848 miles), with one hole in each participating town or roadhouse along the way. A scorecard is available for a nominal fee, which goes towards the upkeep of the course.

2. The Great Ocean Road, Victoria

The best road trip for epic coastal views Torquay–Allansford, 243km (150 miles); allow two to three days

Follow the wild southern coastline of Australia’s best scenic road trip: the Great Ocean Road . Start at the legendary surf town of Torquay, explore welcoming country towns like Lorne, and keep an eye out for koalas in Otway National Park, before taking in the iconic  Twelve Apostles . These are the main drawcard for photographers on this stretch of road, with just eight of these limestone stacks left standing sentinel along what’s also known as the Shipwreck Coast. 

While the Great Ocean Road can be tackled in a day, it’s best to stretch it over several. This will allow you ample time to stop for seafood in towns along the way (such as Apollo Bay, which hosts an annual seafood festival) and hike coastal trails found just off the highway.  

Planning tip: The weather is highly changeable along Victorian coastlines, so make sure you’re prepared for all seasons. If you’re behind the wheel, be mindful the roads are slippery when wet.

3. Grand Pacific Drive, New South Wales

The ultimate scenic day trip from Sydney Royal National Park, Sydney–Shoalhaven, 140km (86 miles), allow one day

The Grand Pacific Drive is the perfect day trip from Sydney . First, wind south through the eucalyptus forests of the Royal National Park . After crossing the weir at Audley, stop for a break at the Stanwell Tops cliffs, a popular hang-gliding spot and an excellent vantage point to watch whales between May and October.

Then, turn onto Lawrence Hargrave Drive. With both lanes suspended above the ocean, it’s easy to see why this stunning spot has played a starring role in numerous car commercials and photoshoots. You’ll then continue past clifftop pubs, small coastal villages, swimming beaches and rock pools, before arriving at the  Kiama blowhole . Finish your day with a walk around the harbor at Shoalhaven.

Detour: Budget enough time for a swim at secluded Wattamolla Beach in the Royal National Park, where you’ll find a cascading waterfall and a calm seaside lagoon.

4. The Coral Coast Highway, Western Australia

The best road trip for marine wildlife Perth–Exmouth, 1250km (776 miles), allow two weeks

Leave the city behind and head north along Western Australia’s Coral Coast, with the Indian Ocean to your left and red outback scenes on your right. This is a road trip for visitors with time to spare, with countless worthwhile stops along the way.

The first is the otherworldly Pinnacles Desert in Nambung National Park , where hundreds of limestone formations rise from the ground. Further north up the coast, you can watch dolphins approach the shoreline at  Monkey Mia in Shark Bay. And along the way, you can camp at traditional outback stations or farms, where living and working on the land is a way of life. 

The highlight of this drive, though, might be its final destination: Ningaloo Reef near Exmouth , which offers some of the country’s best snorkeling and diving, including alongside whale sharks and humpback whales. 

Planning tip: This is one drive you won’t want to see end. Fortunately, if time permits, you can continue your journey further north up the Pilbara Coast to Broome .

5. Hobart to Bruny Island, Tasmania

The best road trip for foodies Hobart–Bruny Island, 100km (62 miles), one day

Located a short drive southwest from Hobart , Bruny Island is one of Australia’s most mouthwatering foodie destinations. Wear your stretchy pants, as you’ll pass dozens of local producers on this day trip. 

Take the car ferry at Kittering to the north of the island and follow your stomach to feast on freshly shucked oysters, handmade cheese and local whisky direct from the producers at farm gates and cellar doors across the island. Cross the narrow isthmus known as  the Neck – which connects north and south Bruny – and finish your trip with a tour of Bruny Island’s 19th-century lighthouse .

Planning tip: Set out from Hobart early, as the line for the ferry can be long on weekends and public holidays.

6. Great Barrier Reef Drive, Queensland

The best drive for getting back to nature Cairns–Cape Tribulation, 140km (86 miles), allow at least two days

The world’s oldest rainforest, at roughly 150 million years old, the Daintree is one of the most biodiverse places on earth, with incredible species such as cassowaries (giant colorful flightless birds) and tree kangaroos hidden beneath its canopy. It’s also significant in that it borders another UNESCO World Heritage site: the Great Barrier Reef .

You can explore both rainforest and reef on this drive into Queensland ’s Wet Tropics. Head north from Cairns , stopping along the way in the resort towns of Port Douglas and get ready to dive in – its marina is one of the main departure points for trips to the outer reef. Along the way, detour to explore the Daintree’s Mossman Gorge , where Indigenous Kuku Yalanji guides will demonstrate traditional use of plants beside the crystal clear Mossman River. Finally, cross the Daintree River on a car ferry to Cape Tribulation , an off-grid eco haven. 

Planning tip: The heat might be on and the water might look lovely, but only swim if in designated safe swimming areas – this is crocodile country.

7. Gibb River Road, Western Australia

Australia’s best 4WD adventure Derby–Kununurra, 660km (410 miles), allow 10–14 days.

Wild, unpredictable and remote, the Gibb River Road is pure outback adventure. Open from around May to September during the dry season, this 660km (410-mile) route follows corrugated (washboard) roads, dirt tracks and multiple river crossings, with challenging 4WD sections best left to experienced drivers. Shelter under endemic boab trees said to be over 1500 years old, hike to swim in the cascading natural pools at Mitchell Falls , and get to know the untamed wilderness of the Kimberley , one of northwestern Australia’s most intriguing and desolate regions.

Planning tip: Carry adequate supplies, including water, paper maps and fuel. If you break down, stay with your vehicle. If you’re not confident taking a self-drive visit, several tour operators exist in the region.

8. The Explorer’s Way: South Australia to the Northern Territory

Best long-distance drive Adelaide–Alice Springs, 1500km (932 miles), six days

Following a route originally mapped out in the late 19th century for the Overland Telegraph Line, the Explorer’s Way runs all the way from Adelaide to Darwin . However, you only need to drive a portion of it to understand what a truly enormous feat it was to map. Starting from the neatly manicured vineyards of Adelaide wine country, you’ll watch the landscape shift into the big red majesty of Australia’s outback.

Along the way to Alice Springs , explore Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park , beat the heat by staying in underground accommodation in Coober Pedy – famous for its opal mining – and hit up Uluru and Kings Canyon. As you drive, keep an eye out for feral camels; they’re descendants of the ones first used by Afghan cameleers to help chart the path and transport supplies. 

Detour: Don’t miss the pink-hued waters of Lake Bumbunga, north of Adelaide. Its unique color – caused by algae – varies depending on the water’s salinity. It typically has its best Barbie moments in the spring and autumn.

9. Red Centre Way, Northern Territory

Best journey into the the heart of Australia Alice Springs–Alice Springs, 700km (434 miles), six days

This spectacular road trip hits up some of the same spots as the Explorer’s Way, but is intended to be done at a more relaxed pace by looping round the Red Centre’s biggest attractions. Departing from Alice Springs, take a break to cool off in water holes at Tjoritja/West MacDonnell Ranges and climb to the rim of Kings Canyon in Watarrka National Park. 

The main attraction for most, though, will be Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park , where you can walk 10km (6 miles) around the base of the world’s most famous monolith and head to watch the sunset over the domes of nearby Kata Tjuta.

Planning tip: All of the major attractions along the Red Centre Way can be reached in a regular car, but if you plan to complete the full loop, you’ll need a high-clearance 4WD for the Mereenie section.

10. The Big Lap

The trip for those who want to see it all Over 14,000km (8700 miles), allow at least six months – or a lifetime

There’s no Australian road trip more iconic than National Highway 1, one of the longest highways in the world. Encircling the entire country and popular with backpackers and gray nomads, it’s known as “the Big Lap" – but the exact route and detours you take will depend on your budget , the time of year , your departure point and how much time you have to spare.

Generally, travelers head north in the winter and south in the summer, all in a bid to avoid the wet season. Following the sun will give you a crash course in long-distance car travel, where you’ll build camaraderie with your fellow travelers and see the incredible diversity Australia has to offer.

This article was first published Sep 24, 2020 and updated Nov 27, 2023.

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The 9 most epic Australian road trips to do before you die

Down Under, the open road is always a good idea

In a country as ridiculously vast as Australia, the only way to really see everything is to do it on your own set of four wheels. The humble road trip is kind of a quintessential Aussie cultural practice, with our nation's abundance of gorgeously scenic drives, bizarre roadside curios and  secret nature spots making any kind of long road trip more than the average drive.

We've rounded up the nine most epic Australian road trips that you should drive away on at least once in your life. From sweeping coastal drives full of fresh oysters to rugged voyages through the Outback, these routes are tried, tested and certifiably excellent. 

Whether you're after a wholesome day trip from Sydney, a week-long adventure or a multi-week trek that'll make you feel like an intrepid National Geographic explorer, there's something on this list for everyone. Now, all that's left to do is pack snacks, download some podcasts and let yourself loose on the open road. 

Want more? Drive to one of the   8 most beautiful places in Australia .

PSA: Some of these road trips take you through vast, isolated landscapes where there is no service or facilities. Make sure that you and your vehicle are prepared when heading into the wilderness. That means packing plenty of water, provisions and a satellite phone – and, if you're going somewhere rugged, only driving a car that tackles tricky terrain. 

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The 9 best road trips Down Under

The South West Edge – Perth to Esperance

There are few places on Earth as beautiful as the Western Australia's untouched southern coastline. If you've got time to spare, this rugged roadtrip from Perth to Esperance will likely blow your mind. If you don't mind traversing long distances and being exposed to a vast wilderness of space, light and ocean, this one's for you. You'll drive through wine country, historic towns and crystal clear beaches where wild dolphins will literally swim around your knees. After you pass the wonderful Margaret River, you'll be able to walk through the mammoth old trees in the Valley of the Giants, see wild orcas at Bremer Bay, swim at the world's best beach  and then end with a perfect, celebatory dip in the azure waters of Esperance. 

How far: 1,200 kilometres

How long: 14 days

Great Barrier Reef Drive – Cairns to Cape Tribulation

If submerging yourself in some of the most lush, verdant and powerful nature on Earth is your idea of a good time, you're going to want to pop this very short – but very sweet, road trip on your list. Starting in Cairns , you'll coast north to Port Douglas – and then hop over to the Great Barrier Reef for a rainbow-hued snorkel. After that, you can dip in the croc-safe swimming oasis of Mossman Gorge nestled within the ancient Daintree Rainforest . Finish up with a drive to Cape Tribulation to see where two, immense World Heritage listed pieces of wilderness meet together in perfect harmony – the reef and the rainforest. 

How far: 140 kilometres

How long: Two days

The Great Ocean Road – Torquay to Allansford

Widely lauded as having the best consistent road trip views in the country, the Great Ocean Road is one of the best things you can get up to if you're in Victoria. S naking all along the southwest coast of the state, starting in Torquay (1.5 hours from the Melbourne CBD) and finishing up just before Warrnambool,  this winding stretch of road offers up multiple bushwalks, wildly beautiful beaches and, as a final prize, the towering wonders of the Twelve Apostles. You won't forget it in a hurry. 

How far:  243 kilometres 

How long: Allow two to three days for maximum enjoyment

The Great Eastern Drive – Hobart to Bay of Fires

The East Coast is Tassie's sunniest side, and therefore (in our humble opinion), the best side for a road trip. Starting in Hobart, you'll drive north through long lines of coast and leafy forests. Well signposted and fitted out with countless delicious food and rest stops along the way, this road trip is perfect for those who like a side of oysters and fresh savvy B with their highways. With countless wineries, untouched wild beaches and national parks packed with ancient, old-growth trees along the way, the Eastern Drive will not disappoint. End with a bang at the pristine waters and red rocks of Bay of Fires  – and then pop over to Wineglass Bay for a swim. 

How far:  300 kilometres

How long: Allow five days 

The Red Centre Way Loop – Alice Springs to Uluru

Heads up – you're better off doing this one with a 4WD. In the centre, the road gets rocky. Starting in Alice Springs, you'll drive down long, stretching roads through the rolling red dunes of the outback. This loop will take you past incredible ridgelines and permanent waterholes to cool off in – one of the best being at Ormiston Gorge in the immense hills of Tjoritja (also known as the West MacDonnell Ranges). The aim of your trip is probably to get to Uluru though – which we definitely recommend you do. Don't forget to head 40 minutes away to Kata Tjuta to watch the sunset over the glowing red domes. 

How far:  700 kilometres 

How long: Six days

The Pacific Coast Drive – Sydney to Brisbane

If you're in Sydney and want to follow in the gold-hued footsteps of sunseekers before you – you're going to want to hop on this classic road trip up north. Let it be known you can smash this trip in one go, or (the better option) take your time and see more world-famous NSW landmarks than we have time to tell you about. This neat roadie will take you through beach and wine country in Newcastle and the Hunter Valley  to Coffs Harbour, up through the verdant hills of Bellingen and the Dorrigo Rainforest , and then to former hippie paradise, Byron Bay . Keep on the highway from Byron and pass through the lush Gold Coast hinterland, into the carnival centre of the Gold Coast itself, and then end in Brisbane . 

How far: 1000 kilometres 

How long: Allow nine days for max good times 

The Coral Coast Highway – Perth to Exmouth

If surfing with dolphins, seeing frolicking whales and swimming with the Earth's largest (and gentlest) shark in the wild appeals to you, you're going to want to hop on the Coral Coast Highway in Perth and head straight for Exmouth. If you've got two weeks to devote to this trip, you'll have ample time to explore the countless wonders along the way. From the staggering, moon-like limestone formations of the Pinnacles Desert, to the dolphins at Monkey Mia in Shark Bay – end with a swim  with whale sharks on the Ningaloo Reef . 

How far: 1250 kilometres 

How long: Allow two weeks

The Explorers Way – Adelaide to Alice Springs

If you like long drives and epic views, this appropriately named roadie from South Australia to the Northern Territory is one for you. Intrepid, rugged and full of Crocodile Dundee -esque outback characters and moments, this adventurous trip starts in Adelaide's wine country and winds past incredible formations like the pink waters of Lake Bumbunga, and then into the desert. Sleep underground in the opal town of Coober Pedy, then head to Uluru and Kings Canyon . If you have the time and energy to keep going, keep on going on the Stuarts Highway up to Darwin and check out the sizzling wonders of the Top End.

How far: 1500 kilometres

The Grand Pacific Drive – Sydney to the Sapphire Coast

If driving down long coastal roads with epic, stretching views of the ocean, plentiful whales and more than one pristine and secluded beach to dip into is your kinda thing, this road trip is  for you. Starting in Sydney , you'll head south towards the Royal National Park (which you should totally stop in, by the way), and then get to what is arguably the most good looking stretch of road in Australia – the legendary Seacliff Bridge past Coalcliff. You'll feel like you're in a car commercial on this wild, elevated bridge that cuts through the water. After that bit of drama is over, you'll cut through countless quaint towns, pristine beaches, oyster farms  and jaw-dropping coastal views along NSW's southeast coast, ending up in the oceanic oasis of Eden.

Pro tip: Keep your eyes open for whales. 

How far: 473.2 kilometres

How long: Allow six days to one week (or, if you want a short day trip from Sydney, you can just drive to Seacliff Bridge and back)

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25 of the most iconic Australian road trips to drive in your lifetime

Here's how to survive the great aussie road trip, 1. red centre way, northern territory, 2. the savannah way, queensland and western australia.

Red Centre Way: that long, hot road.

© Oliver Pelling

3. The Great Beach Drive, Queensland

4. cairns to cape tribulation (or even cape york), queensland, 5. brisbane to cairns, queensland.

Fraser Island is worth the trip – whichever road you take to get there.

© Antoine Beauvillain

6. The Great Ocean Road, Victoria

7. eyre peninsula, south australia, 8. gibb river road, western australia.

The Great Ocean Road is almost as good as it gets.

© Weyne Yew

9. Darwin to Litchfield (via Katherine and Kakadu), Northern Territory

30 things all aussies should do before turning 30, 10. broome to perth, western australia, 11. 75-mile highway, queensland.

Camping in Karijini National Park, Western Australia.

© Huib Scholten

12. The Great Alpine Road, Victoria

13. perth to darwin, western australia and northern territory, 14. sydney to melbourne, new south wales and victoria.

Camping on the beach along Tasmania's Great Eastern Drive.

© Manuel Meurisse

15. The Nullarbor Plain, South Australia

101 of the best travel experiences in the world right now, 16. the pilbara, western australia, 17. hobart to freycinet, tasmania.

The Nullarbor Plain, one of the world's greatest adventure drives.

© Alexander Hough

18. The Tassie Loop, Tasmania

19. kangaroo island (and the fleurieu), south australia, 20. the outback way, queensland, northern territory and western australia.

Sea Cliff Bridge, Wollongong, Australia.

© Matthew Kane

21. The Old Grafton Road, New South Wales

22. heritage highway, tasmania, 23. the grand pacific drive, new south wales.

A goodlooking pit sto along Highway One, Australia.

© Jo Stewart

24. (From anywhere) to Silverton, New South Wales

25. the big lap, how to actually drive around the edge of australia.

Big Australia Bucket List

Absolutely EVERYTHING to see, do and experience in Australia

15+ Bucket-List Worthy Road Trips in Australia

Heading out on the open road makes for some of the best adventures + these iconic Australian Road Trips should be all the inspiration you need to hit the road and explore Australia in 2022.

Australia’s rich and diverse landscape is a reason that world travellers have visiting Australia on their bucket list. There is no better way to see some of the magnificent hidden gems than by road. Even Australians have some sort of road trip on their travel bucket list.

From desert to beaches, wild native scrub to historical towns, Australia does not disappoint when it comes to sightseeing.

Not in any particular order, here are 16 bucket-list-worthy road trips in Australia. 

Table of Contents

The Big Lap

You can’t start a list about bucket list worthy road trips in Australia without mentioning The Big Lap. Stretching around the country, from capital city to capital city on the mainland, it is often a road trip lover’s dream to travel all around Australia with a fully stocked caravan or mobile home. ( Click here to learn more about living in a van!)

Travel the 14,500 kilometres through some of the most spectacular sites of mainland Australia, a lot of which feature on this list! Don’t forget to add on Tasmania if you can, and try to complete the Big Lap without an end date. You want to be able to enjoy everything at your own pace especially with a road trip as epic as this. 

Red Centre Way

A 4WD is definitely recommended for this outback road trip in the Northern Territory which starts in Alice Springs and takes you through the magnificent West MacDonnell Ranges, Watarrka/Kings Canyon, and ends at Uluru. 

Waterhole swimming, magnificent gorges and breath-taking Indigenous sites are all part of this 1135 kilometre journey. Bring plenty of water, don’t wear white and be in awe of the stunning rock formations and colours throughout this journey.

If you are new to road tripping in remote areas, there are tour groups you can join for the Red Centre Way, some allowing you to use your own car.

EXTRA: Get back to city life and extend your road trip through the middle of Australia by continuing to drive South to Adelaide which will give you the opportunity to visit the underground town of Coober Pedy, the wine region of Clare Valley and (with a slight detour) explore the magnificent Ikara Flinders Ranges National Park.

75 Mile Beach Road

Safe to say that if you are working your way through some of Australia’s bucket worthy road trips then you are probably doing so in a four-wheel drive (4WD).

As one of the most memorable coastal drives in the world, 75 Mile Beach Road is incredible. But driving along here isn’t for the faint-hearted. The east coast of Fraser Island has tides that change the surface regularly, making hidden bumps and potholes and changing the texture of the sand. Then there is the population of dingoes to keep an eye out for.

While it is a challenge, this memorable and unique style of road trip and a spot of beach driving is worthy of anyone’s bucket list. It is a place for adventure, a challenging drive complemented by stunning beauty.

The Savannah Way

You’ll need a minimum of 2 weeks to travel through 3 Australian States, 20 National Parks and 5 World Heritage Sites when taking on this epic road trip along The Savannah Way.

This journey will take you to breathtaking waterfalls that fall to calm rock pools, and sacred indigenous sites. A 4WD is recommended as the terrain is quite diverse and not all parts of this road trip are sealed.

The 3,700-kilometre journey is best accompanied by easy to set up camping equipment, fishing gear, and no set itinerary, as this will be one of the most special road trips you ever do – especially when you include Cable Beach, Katherine Gorge and so many other incredible sights! 

Regardless of whether you start in Broome, Western Australia or Cairns in Queensland, and depending on your vehicle (i.e. if you have a 4 Wheel Drive), you may also have the option to include another bucket list worthy Australian road trip – the Gibb River Road (Number 15, below), ticking off two road trips from this list!

Great Alpine Road

Winding 339 kilometres through rural Victoria, you’ll encounter some of the most epic landscapes in the state.  From forests, vineyards, the alpine region and glistening waters of the Gippsland Coast. Rich in history from the gold rush era, you will be surrounded by natural wonders during this trip.

Depending on the season, you can enjoy this road trip in a regular car as all the roads are sealed. However, be aware for possible snowfall when travelling in winter to ensure you have the correct tyres and associated cold weather gear to enjoy this road trip. 

The Convict Trail

There is nothing quite like a road trip around Tasmania, so it is sad to think that some people don’t include it in their Big Lap. Regardless of when you get there, road trips in Tasmania are some of the most special in Australia, and the convict trail is one of them.

A suggested four-day itinerary of the Convict Trail is the way to go. It allows you to see all the important historical sites and takes no more than one hour and a half of driving daily, from stop to stop.

Visit the Richmond Gaol set in the beautiful countryside and nearby, have the chance to try some of the best pies in Tassie at the Richmond Bakery. The trail also takes you to the infamous Port Arthur – a site to see not only for its rich history but for its sad significance in modern Australia.

Cairns to Cape York

Hopping in a 4WD and driving to the tropical North of Australia is certainly up there on a road trip bucket list. The goal is to make it to the famous “You Are Standing at the Northernmost Point of the Australian Continent” sign, which obviously points out where you are (and we recommend you take a photo to mark the overwhelming sensation of where you really are!)

Not only are you met with gorgeous scenery for the whole of the 1,964-kilometres of this Queensland road trip, from Cairns to Cape Tribulation (and beyond!) you can drive through the incredible Daintree Rainforest and once you get to Cape York, exploring on foot is the best part. With two walks known as the Top Walk and the Bottom Walk, you can stroll along them to explore the rock pools and enjoy the unique coastal landscape. 

Extra: Take an optional detour from the tip of the top and tour the Torres Strait Islands – some of the most incredible islands of Australia.

The Great Ocean Road

Probably the best-known road trip outside of Australia is the road trip to see the iconic Twelve Apostles in Victoria. Start this journey from the surfing hot spot Torquay and keep venturing past tranquil beaches, explore cute towns, hike the ancient Otway Rainforest and chase more waterfalls than you can shake a stick at!

The Great Ocean Road Victoria is easily done by car and offers lots of great camping spots for those who have tents or have a van where you can sleep on the roof . There is also plenty of traditional accommodation (hotels, BnB’s, vacation rentals etc), making it a great getaway option for any time of year.

Kangaroo Island

Do your travel-loving self a favour and spend (al least!) three days driving around Kangaroo Island. Perfect for a long weekend road trip, you will see some of Australia’s most stunning beaches on the edge of bushland full of unique Australian wildlife.

There are many set routes that you can take, or see where the wind (or the road) takes you.

With every road you take you will find amazing local produce, such as lavender or honey and of course, seafood. There are even more than 10 wineries – one of which you can sit and sip a local blend while actually looking at mainland Australia!

Sydney to Brisbane Coastal Drive

The coastal drive from Brisbane to Sydney can be pieced together depending on the types of stops that you make. Surfing, cute coffee shops and farmer’s markets are in abundance along this stunning coast.

The complete journey from the QLD capital city to the NSW capital city is 920 km on the coast road, and 974km via the inland highway. To really see all the best stops allow anywhere for 7 to 14 days for your journey, meaning that each time you drive you won’t need to be in the car for long at all.

From the iconic Byron Bay to Gold Coast theme parks, Stradbroke Island and national parks waiting for you to explore, this is a road trip where you can plan every detail or leave everything to chance, especially if you are free camping along the legendary Pacific Coast.

The Nullarbor Plain

Route: Norseman in Western Australia to Ceduna in South Australia – or reverse. Highlights: Drive the longest, straightest, flattest road in Australia, explore the Eyre Peninsula, go Whale Watching along the world’s longest line of sea cliffs, keep an eye out for Space Junk that fell to earth.

It can seem overwhelming to think about the vast road ahead of you before you take on the Nullarbor plain. Drive from Adelaide to Perth via the Eyre Highway through the stunning Eyre Peninsula and the Western Australian goldfields.

This 1,256-kilometre journey will take 6 days with moderate stopping. Open plains one minute and native scrub the next, you can tailor the drive around wildlife spotting, with whale watching on the coast and camels, emus, kangaroos, and the possibility of spotting a wombat – or maybe even a thorny dragon – inland.

Tackle this journey in a 4WD and be careful at dusk when the unique Australian wildlife likes to come out to play.

Great Eastern Drive Tasmania

Heading to Tasmania again, this five-day drive takes you through seaside villages, all surrounded by nature along 176km of Tasmania’s East Coast,

You will be hiking in peaceful national parks in the morning and heading on sandy walking trails at sunset. Dine on fresh seafood, with scenery that is like nothing else you will see in Australia.

The breathtaking Wineglass Bay in Freycinet National Park and the beautiful Bay of Fires are the main reasons that this road trip needs to be on the bucket list, as the waters in these areas do appear like they are hundreds of different shades of blue.

Grand Pacific Highway

Drive out of bustling Sydney to the Grand Pacific Highway. At only 140 kilometres long, the Grand Pacific Drive is a perfect road trip for a long weekend, as it is one of the most incredible, chilled-out, ocean drives.

What makes this Pacific Coast road trip so unique is that some stretches of the road – such as the Sea Cliff Bridge (above) – appear to hover over the ocean and make you feel like you are flying over the rocky coastline.

And to pick your own snacks, time the planning of this well-loved road trip with picking your own fruit (in season) from Darkes Glenbernie Orchard, or strap yourself into the longest zipline in Australia at  Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures .

Great Barrier Reef Drive

Whether you are a foodie or a water lover, then this road trip is great for you. The coastal road that runs along the spectacular coastline hugging two World Heritage areas, the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics rainforest and is home to some of Queensland’s best beaches.

Base yourself in the beautiful town of Port Douglas and eat your body weight in fresh seafood from stunning restaurants or hop on a boat to discover more of the Great Barrier Reef up close; Or ride the Skyrail from Mossman Gorge and return via the Karunda Scenic Railway to experience the highs and the lows of the Daintree Rainforest.

Gibb River Road

This is one of the outback drives that needs to be on a road trip lovers bucket list. The 660 kilometre stretch of road is only open from April to October due to weather so make sure you plan ahead and take your time to not miss anything – we’d recommend at least 14 days.

In Kununurra and Derby, you can find great Visitors Centres to help you plan your journey and to make sure you do not miss a site. Get ready to be in awe of waterfalls, wild swimming holes and the possibility to fish for barramundi. 

A 4WD and being set up with enough supplies to camp is a must, as well as a fully charged camera to capture the breathtaking scenery. 

Perth to Broome (Or Broome to Perth!)

The coast of Western Australia is quite remote outside the major towns of Perth and Broome, and so while this does mean there are some big driving days, it doesn’t mean there isn’t an incredible amount of stunning places to see and experience. 

Hug the coastline as you look for dolphins in Monkey Mia, swim with Whale Sharks (in season) on the Ningaloo Reef, relax on Eighty Mile Beach in Coral Bay, stare through Nature’s Window in Kalbarri National Park and wander the Mars-like landscape of Nambung National Park (The Pinnacles) – just to name a few of the road trips attractions!

And whether you start or finish this Australian road trip in Perth, it would be criminal not to add on a sneaky little trip to the incredible Rottnest Island – clear blue waters, white sandy beaches, and of course, quokkas. 

Related: While you’re in WA, be sure to explore the South West including the Margaret River wine region, 

Final Thoughts on these Iconic Australian Road Trips

As you can see Australia has road trips for everyone. Families who need all amenities and experienced off-roaders can find a stretch of road that is perfect for them to explore. Regardless of your road trip difficulty level, always make sure you are prepared with a working phone, plenty of bottled water and roadside assistance and your trip will run smoothly and will be one you remember for years.

We hope you enjoyed our guide to some of the Best Road Trips in Australia! Let us know where you want to head to first in the comments below, or alternatively let us know if you have already driven some of these amazing Australian road trips and what your favourite one was!

And if you know someone planning to road trip in Australia, or just needs a little inspiration to organise their next Australia road trip, be sure to share this post (and others!) with them using the share boxes below. Sharing is caring and we thank you in advance!

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Australia's iconic road trips

12 May 2022

Journeys of epic proportions through wilderness that will shift your perceptions and stay with you forever. Here are 11 of Australia’s iconic road trips to inspire you from our special 100 Amazing Road Trips around Australia series.

Iconic road trips.

• Gibb River Road, WA
• Sydney to Melbourne
• Darwin to Kakadu, NT
• Kosciuszko Alpine Way, NSW
• Hobart to Cradle Mountain, Tas
• The Nullarbor
• Murray River Drive
• Great Barrier Reef Drive, Qld
• Adelaide to Ikara/Flinders Ranges National Park, SA
• Great Ocean Road, Vic
• The Big Lap

12. Gibb River Road, WA

Storied in outback folklore, ‘The Gibb’ is both emphatically terrestrial but entirely otherworldly. As far as journeys go, this intrepid drive quietly tattoos an everlasting ownership across your heart with its penetrating beauty and consuming remoteness. Yet it’s not for the timid of heart.

Corrugated roads rearrange the marrow of your bones, toothy reptiles lurk in dark waters, seemingly fatalistic bovines lurch into the path of your 4WD, and backpackers (overwhelmingly German and stalking profound isolation) populate campgrounds.

Embrace the outback along Gibb River Road. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

The 660-kilometre road trip from Derby to Kununurra , minus detours, was laid in the 1960s as a means of shuttling cattle from station to station. But today, it’s better loved as a roughly two-week-long adventure drive that lures everyone from senior explorers to the aforementioned backpackers, and naively ambitious families.

Departing from Broome

In Australia’s North West , the first sensory bafflement comes at Broome , where most people launch their Gibb River Road exploration. Here, the contrasting collision of iridescent blue ocean and the ochre cliffs of the Kimberley resets your parameters for appropriate coastal colour palettes.

Ride a camel at sunset in Broome, WA.

But as you drive from the revitalising blue of crystalline waves, you find yourself following an endless spectrum of warm tones. Red pindan is displaced by tyres and, in turn, displaces many a tyre.

Cream-coloured dust seeps into every seam of every item. And the King Leopold Ranges bathed with the highlighter-pink of sunset are set ablaze until the deep mauves of dusk descend to cool everything down.

The sunset puts on a spectacle of vibrant colours each evening in the Kimberly. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Stargazing opportunities

Then, there are the night skies. They deliver a transformative surprise on your first night free from light pollution. You might just glance up as you make your way to the Windjana Gorge Campsite toilet block and – bam! – you’re anchored mid-step as the Milky Way unfurls in all its glittery loveliness above. This moment reveals a supreme awareness of your miniscule part in the universe, alongside envy for astrophysicists and their vocational stargazing.

Marvel at the glittering night sky in the Kimberly region. (Image: Tourism WA)

Windjana Gorge

As you wiggle your way along, there are unmissable detours that make this journey exceptional. In the Napier Ranges, Windjana Gorge has an almost-unfathomable history as a reef system circa some 350 million years ago. Let your hand brush over the ancient limestone walls that were once home to Paleozoic fish and keep a lookout for their reptilian descendants lounging in pools. Don’t worry, they’re just freshies.

Embark on an adventurous journey into the breathtaking wilderness along the Gibb River Road. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Tunnel Creek

Just 33 clicks up the road, enjoy the opportunity to get knee-deep in freshwater croc territory at Tunnel Creek. A locale of acute significance, this was the Waterloo of famous Indigenous leader Jandamarra, who stood his ground against exploitation but was ultimately fatally wounded here at his hideout.

These days, it’s more chillout than hideout, as lazy freshies loll in the cave’s shallow waters, watching with vague contempt as trepidatious tourists slosh by, guided through the darkness by a thin beam of torchlight.

The beautiful Dimalurru (Tunnel Creek) is a culturally significant site for the local Bunuba people. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Wild swimming spots

There are also gorges pitted with transcendent pools for plunging. Wild swimming in this way is an inimitable experience. Paddling out in surrounds as dreamily unpolished as the Australian outback has a way of storming new frontiers of relaxation.

Take your pick of gorges along, or just off, The Gibb. There’s Adcock Gorge, only five minutes off-route, which makes a quick dip irresistible.

Horseshoe-shaped Galvans Gorge is stirred by a seasonal waterfall and is accessed easily by an achievable trail.

Manning Gorge is shouldered by cooling cliffs; it takes a bit of work to hike the three-kilometre track for the pleasure of a dip, but this stunning waterhole pays big dividends for your efforts.

But Dalmanyi (or Bell Gorge) is perhaps the watery emerald in the tiara. You’ll need to allocate the heft of the day here and, at 30 kilometres from The Gibb, it’s a significant side-step. But you can spend the night at Silent Grove Campsite to make it worthwhile. Scramble over a rocky creek, then up to descend into the tiered gorge into which waterfalls cascade in silvery ribbons.

Detour for a refreshing swim at the stunning Bell Gorge (Image: Tourism WA)

El Questro Homestead

Roughing it in campgrounds, such as Silent Grove, which is accessed exclusively by 4WD vehicles via a rib-rattling road, is undeniably a huge drawcard of this road trip. But you’re not letting anyone down if you leave your swag stowed for a few days in favour of a downy pillow at the El Questro Homestead .

From here you can lap up the luxury of chef-made meals, take incredible guided tours, such as fishing, cultural and scenic flights, and generally absorb the surrounding environment with a crisp glass of wine from your suite.

Take the iconic drive along Gibb River Road to El Questro.

Purnululu National Park

Don’t hurry from El Questro, but when you do return to the dusty road, you’re only an hour-and-a-half from The Gibb’s full-stop of Kununurra.

Lake Argyle and the Bungle Bungle Range await to jostle for your attention. With eyes magnetised to Purnululu National Park’s banded domes, the journey hovers ethereally in the near-past.

But you’ll find, while the memory may erode a little at the edges, your wandering heart will remain sworn to this journey ever after.

Discover the magnificent, flowing rock formations in the Bungle Bungle range. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

660 kilometres

Words by Lara Picone

13. Inland from Sydney to Melbourne, NSW

The flight from Sydney to Melbourne is one of the world’s top 10 busiest air routes (according to flight data analyst OAG), all the better for making the 845-kilometre inland drive, mostly along the Hume Motorway, a delightfully uncrowded option.

This is one of those drives that most bookmark as something they will do ‘one day’. But it really is worth prioritising for its lovely outlook to rolling hills and flat plains seemingly bleached by the sunshine into a perfect palette of taupe, beige and earthy greens, and its big-name country and regional towns on both sides of the border.

Kick back with some friendly locals at picturesque Gundagai, an ideal stop-off between Sydney and Melbourne. (Image: Destination NSW)

While limited stops will get you to the outskirts of the Victorian capital in about 8.5 hours, taking a few days transforms the journey into an experience in its own right rather than just a means of getting from A to B.

The best towns to visit

In NSW, towns like Goulburn , Collector, Jugiong, Gundagai , Wagga Wagga and Albury are all an easy side trip from the highway, and offer up delights as divergent as canine statues to regional art galleries to award-winning accommodation options.

Plan to spend your first night at either the stylishly revamped heritage pub The Sir George in Jugiong or in one of Kimo Estate’s architecturally designed eco huts just outside of Gundagai.

Glamp in a modern eco-hut at Kimo Estate, surrounded by the stunning rural beauty of a working 7000-acre sheep and cattle farm. (Image: Destination NSW)

Over the border in Victoria, signs to Beechworth , considered to be one of the prettiest towns in the country, Rutherglen, with its wineries and seasonal local produce menus at the likes of Jones Winery & Vineyard, and Glenrowan, the site of Ned Kelly’s last stand, are equally tempting to follow.

Stroll the historic streets of Beechworth.

Add another night to the journey with a stay in Rutherglen at one of Mt Ophir Estate’s six luxury accommodation options including The Residence, the original heritage homestead of the estate, or the cosy Winemakers Cottage.

14. Darwin to Kakadu, NT

Barrelling down red dirt roads that lead to the next cache of jaw-dropping rock art and secret swimming spots, and crossing rivers by driving right through them: a Kakadu road trip might be easily ticked off the bucket list from Darwin but feels like an unforgettable adventure into uncharted territory.

Transport yourself into Australia’s rich and ancient history by discovering rock art at Kakadu. (Image: Tourism Australia)

256 kilometres

Glamp in one of Cooinda Lodge’s Outback Retreats.

15. Kosciuszko Alpine Way, NSW

The twists and turns of the Kosciuszko Alpine Way, which carves a course up and over NSW’s Snowy Mountains through landscapes of mountain forests mythologised by Banjo Paterson, can be driven in under three hours. But we choose to slow right down and savour what this classic winter destination has to offer us in summer.

Setting out from Cooma and cruising past the huge glassy expanse of Lake Jindabyne, we roll into Kosciuszko National Park with its pine-clad ridges immortalised in The Man from Snowy River.

See the stunning Lake Jindabyne pool out before you on the drive from Cooma. (Image: Destination NSW)

We stopover in Thredbo to stretch our legs on Australia’s highest peak, hiking through alpine meadows strewn with granite outcrops and wildflowers. And we amble through snow gum forests that hug the Thredbo River on a track that starts right outside our digs.

With its loft bedroom kitted out with In Bed linens, a Japanese-inspired onsen and an uninterrupted view of Mt Kosciuszko, The Eastern Thredbo Village’s Cedar Cabin  is heaven for connoisseurs of both design and the outdoors, rivalled only in style by its sister Oak Apartment. Its balcony is the perfect place to perch and contemplate our surrounds over a cup of coffee before continuing.

Spend a dreamy winter afternoon sequestered at Thredbo Village’s Cedar Cabin. (Image: Monique Eastern)

The Alpine Way winds for 90 more scenic minutes to Khancoban in the foothills of the Snowy Mountains, where we can choose to explore further: the Snowy Valleys Way forks from here – west to Beechworth in Victoria’s High Country and north to Gundagai in NSW’s Riverina .

Marvel at the scenery that flanks the winding road along the Great Alpine Way. (Image: Visit Victoria)

175 kilometres.

Words by Imogen Eveson

16. Hobart to Cradle Mountain, Tas

Synonymous with Tasmania’s  great outdoors, Cradle Mountain – Lake St Clair National Park is on many nature lovers’ lists. It’s on mine and my eldest son’s as we depart Hobart , hiking boots packed, the GPS set for Sheffield.

Cruise through the rolling hills and tranquil pastures of Tasmania’s Central Highlands. (Image: Tourism Tasmania/Adrian Cook)

We take the slow and scenic route through the Central Highlands and arrive at the gateway town, which doubles as an outdoor gallery with over 140 murals.

The impressive craggy face of Mt Roland is our silent neighbour as we explore the region and make day trips to Cradle Mountain, an easy 45 minutes’ drive away.

Witness the view of Cradle Mountain, surrounded by the serene waters of Dove Lake. (Image: Cultivate Productions)

321 kilometres

On the slopes of Mt Roland near Sheffield, Silver Ridge Retreat has nine self-contained cottages surrounded by wilderness.

Words by Jennifer Johnston

17. The Nullarbor

When I decided I wanted to cross the Nullarbor a friend gave me the best advice . What they said changed everything about the way I planned and performed the journey. It was, quite simply, “ stop and see everything ”.

First up, I eliminated time constraints. Also, I went solo. I knew that, chances were, this was a once-in-a-lifetime road trip and I didn’t want anything or anyone pressuring me to pick up the pace.

Nullarbor means “no trees” in Latin.

Ceduna to Point Sinclair

Ceduna, on Wirangu Country, is the Nullarbor’s most eastern town. After oysters and chilled wine at a roadside bar, I headed south down an unsealed road towards Point Sinclair and Cactus Beach. Along the way, I passed between a grey and a pink lake and wondered if I was tripping.

Pink meets green on the causeway that along Lake Macdonnell, a jewel of the Nullabor Plain. (Image: Riley M Williams)

Head of Bight

An hour’s drive west of Yalata community is Head of Bight. Southern right whales can seasonally be seen there but I spied a white pointer at sunrise.

From there it took me eight hours to travel the 200-kilometre stretch to Eucla. Stopping at all six lookouts on the world’s largest limestone karst where the Bunda Cliffs drop into the pounding Southern Ocean was my kind of way to spend a whole day.

That afternoon I crossed into Western Australia and camped on Mirning Country under the biggest, starriest sky. To me, there’s no better accommodation on the Nullarbor.

Still ahead lay adventures to Weebubbie Cave, sand-logged Eucla Telegraph Station and a 20-rung ladder descent into Cocklebiddy Cave. I can’t even tell you how many more days that took and it doesn’t matter anyway. It was never about that.

Nullarbor Roadhouse is one of the best places to stay or stop for food when crossing the Nullarbor. (Image: Michael Waterhouse Photography)

Eyre Highway (A1) from Ceduna SA to Norseman WA is 1200 kilometres.

Words by Elspeth Callender

18. Mighty Murray River Drive

Weaving its way through three states – NSW, Victoria and South Australia – the mighty Murray River can be navigated by water, of course, but the journey along and over it by road offers up the chance to really understand the significance of its presence on the landscape and to those who dwell close to it.

Aim to start the journey in the twin towns of Albury on the NSW side of the border or Wodonga on the Victorian side, and make sure to build in at least a day to explore them; Albury is a wonderfully cosmopolitan spot with art galleries, fine-dining restaurants like Bistro Selle and boutique accommodation such as Circa 1928 , housed in a former Art Deco bank.

Stay at the elegant Circa 1928 in Albury.

Moama & Echuca

Setting off, it is a 227-kilometre drive to the border town of Moama (twinned with Echuca on the opposite side of the river in Victoria), but there are ample diversions along the way to stretch this leg out to a two-day itinerary.

Relax on a luxurious boutique river cruise on the Murray River. (Image: Tyson Mayr)

Corowa, Yarrawonga & Lake Mulwala

Corowa, with its modest streetscape dominated by the heritage-listed Corowa Flour Mill (it’s now a whisky distillery and chocolate shop, so well worth the stop for takeaway); Yarrawonga, where Rich Glen Olive Estate produces its award-winning olive oils; and the laid-back holiday town of Lake Mulwala are all worth the time.

Driving the unrelentingly flat landscape, with its golden fields of lucerne and long-dead river red gum trunks forming eerily beautiful sculptures, it’s impossible to know when you are in one state or the other as the road traces the river, which has no inclination to be restricted to being just a line on a map.

Mildura to Goolwa

Beyond Moama/Echuca, the road continues to the Victorian fruit bowl of Mildura , and then over yet another border into South Australia towards Renmark and coming to a conclusion at the mouth of the Murray in Goolwa.

Discover decadence at Corowa Whisky & Chocolate. (Image: Destination NSW)

1045 kilometres, give or take a few clicks.

Words by Celeste Mitchell

19. The Great Barrier Reef Drive

Playlist choice is important for this one, because you’re never going to forget this road trip. With mountains to your left plunging into the Coral Sea to your right, the ocean-hugging tarmac between Palm Cove and the eco-certified Port Douglas is unforgettable road real estate.

Enjoy sunset views over Four Mile Beach in Port Douglas. (Image: Tourism Australia)

It’ll only take you about an hour, end to end, but factor in detours to connect with Kuku Yalanji Traditional Owners and plunge into a pool at Mossman Gorge, or sail to Low Isles from Port Douglas to snorkel over coral gardens.

Spot crocodiles as you cross the Daintree River on the car ferry and drive the seam between two World Heritage-listed sites to reach the pinnacle.

The road snakes along azure waters on this unforgettable drive. (Image: Tourism And Events Queensland)

140 kilometres

At the stunning new-look Silky Oaks Lodge .

20. Adelaide to Ikara/Flinders Ranges

Outback drives don’t come more elemental than the one to and through South Australia’s majestic Ikara/Flinders Ranges National Park.

From Adelaide it is a 5.5-hour drive ever northwards to reach the park and the magnificence that is Wilpena Pound .

Known as Ikara in the language of the Adnyamathanha people, and meaning ‘meeting place’, the name hints at the deep cultural significance that this awe-inspiring natural wonder offers to those who have dwelt here for thousands of years.

Feel the essence of the outback as you drive through the culturally significant site of Ikara/Wilpena Pound. (Image: Australian Tourism Commission)

Exploring this lunar landscape can involve everything from hikes to scenic flights to tracing Aboriginal Dreaming seams, and should be suitably indulged in over numerous days.

Luckily there are plentiful accommodation options that not only provide a comfortable (even luxurious) base, but also show due respect to the beauty and history of this truly unique landscape, from Wilpena Pound Resort to Rawnsley Homestead to Arkaba.

Sunset on the Elder Range from the Eco Villas at Rawnsley Park.

Roughly 450 kilometres from Adelaide to Ikara/Flinders Ranges National Park.

21. Great Ocean Road, Vic

Download our beautifully illustrated map of the Great Ocean Road and Geelong.

Illustration: Mike Rossi @micro.grafik

With such icons of nature as the 12 Apostles , the Otways and not to mention the sheer undulating splendour of Victoria’s rugged coastline as it wends its way west of Melbourne to prioritise on your Great Ocean Road itinerary , you might forget that one of Australia’s most famous road trips also makes for a pretty great culinary journey. And it doesn’t take long to get going.

The incredible natural beauty of the twelve apostles is world-renown. (Image: 12 Apostles Helicopters)

Make a date with MoVida Lorne, where Spanish flavours are brought to life with local produce that befits this seaside town with a hint of the Mediterranean about it.

Treat your taste buds with a trip to MoVida Lorne and experience a unique fusion of Spanish and local flavours.

Or meander a further half hour to Wye River, where Wye General Store serves as a dynamic hub for locals and a destination, rather than a pit stop, for road-trippers in itself with its on-trend all-day brunch menu and geographically blessed location.

Fuel up at the Wye River General Store (Image: Visit Victoria)

Port Campbell

In colourful Port Campbell, you’ll find Forage on the Foreshore, a heartfelt family-run restaurant that does exactly what it says on the tin; its all-day menu hinges on ingredients that are grown, produced or foraged locally on the Great Ocean Road and surrounding hinterland.

A meal at Forage on the Foreshore can be the perfect bookend to an excellent day’s sightseeing

Warrnambool

Further west in Warrnambool, Pavilion Café & Bar encapsulates Aussie beach life from its lofty waterfront position in an architectural building: deck poised to soak in the sunshine and sea air, great coffee and an ocean- and paddock-to-plate menu.

Then drop anchor in the historic fishing village of Port Fairy , imbued with the creative spirit of its community: Merrijig is Victoria’s oldest inn, serving up fresh, seasonal fare from its kitchen and quaint accommodation, while the old bluestone Oak & Anchor Hotel has been recently reimagined as boutique accommodation with a bar and restaurant to boot.

The Merrijig Inn, Port Fairy, retains its old-world feel.

Lorne to Port Fairy is 232 kilometres.

22. The Big Lap

The iconic Big Lap is the journey taken to circumnavigate the country at its edge, travelling mainly on Highway 1, which clocks in at about 14,500 kilometres and links almost every mainland state and territory capital.

Considered the longest national highway on Earth, it includes the Princes Highway, Eyre Highway, Great Northern Highway, Stuart Highway, Bruce Highway and Pacific Highway, among others.

Hit the open road on the longest national highway on earth. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission/Adam Bruzzone)

Tasmania is an added extra; start in Launceston , take the A10 from Strahan to Hobart , then the Great Eastern Drive up to Freycinet , before looping back in to where you started (adding 890 kilometres to your total).

Wineglass Bay at sunrise in Freycinet National Park, Tasmania. (Image: Lauren Bath)

How long will it take?

As for how long the whole thing will take, you should allow 10 to 12 months to really get the most out of the experience, and even then you probably won’t see everything. Maybe it should be refashioned as the Big Laps.

How to pick one location in a year-long odyssey of amazingness? Let’s just say sleeping under the canopy of the southern skies in a tent, van or swag is probably the most uniquely Australian accommodation you can find.

Keep reading our special Top 100 Road Trips in Australia editorial series.

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West MacDonnell Ranges, Northern Territory © Tourism NT/Sean Scott

The best outback road trips in Australia

There’s no adventure quite like one through the Australian outback.

By Leah Dobihal

Big skies, incredible landscapes and absolute freedom – that’s what an outback road trip in Australia is all about. On these remarkable routes, you’ll witness some of the world’s most powerful nature; it’s exhilarating, unforgettable and even spiritual. Find out why Australia’s outback is your ultimate adventure on these incredible road trips.

The Nullarbor

Eyre Peninsula, South Australia © Greg Snell

Nullarbor Links Golf, Nullarbor, South Australia © Carly Kruger

Nullarbor Roadhouse, Nullarbor, South Australia © Michael Waterhouse Photography

The Nullarbor is a true outback adventure, extending across Australia’s southern edge from Western Australia to the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia . Wild, windy coastlines and red-sand deserts will show you just how vast Australia’s outback really is, and wildlife like kangaroos and emus bring the scrubby plains to life. Plus, with quirky country pubs and even a 1,365km (848mi) long golf course, you’re sure to get a taste of Aussie life in the outback.

Explore the The Nullarbor

Gibb River Road

Cockburn Ranges, Gibb River Road, Western Australia © Tourism Western Australia

Bell Gorge, Kimberley, Western Australia © Tourism Western Australia

Pentecost River, Home Valley Station, Western Australia © Tourism Western Australia

One of the world’s great 4WD adventures begins on Western Australia’s Gibb River Road . It’s a trek into the Kimberley – a wilderness frontier where waterfalls, ancient gorges, mountain ranges and natural thermal pools may be commonplace, but they are anything but common. There’s also an unexpected level of luxury along this drive, should you need a little rest and relaxation. Scenic helicopter flights, chic homesteads and private wilderness parks are all on offer.

Take on the epic   Gibb River Road

Red Centre Way

Redbank Gorge, West MacDonnell National Park, Northern Territory © Tourism NT/Jess Caldwell & Luke Riddle

Alice Springs Kangaroo Sanctuary, Alice Springs, Northern Territory © Tourism NT/Jewels Lynch

Kings Canyon Rim Walk, Kings Canyon, Northern Territory © Tourism Australia

When you imagine the outback, you might think of red sand, the mighty r u">Ulu r u monolith and auburn kangaroos hopping across the desert. You’ll get all of that and more on the Red Centre Way , which begins in Alice Springs . The Red Centre is a uniquely spiritual place, and the freedom of the open road only further ignites this deep connection with the earth. Time will slow down as you watch the sun sink behind a fiery Ulu r u, walk along the ridge of Kings Canyon and hear Dreamtime stories passed down through generations.

Spend seven days on the Red Centre Way

The Savannah Way

Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill), Queensland © Tourism and Events Queensland

Curtain Fig Tree, Atherton Tablelands, Queensland © Tourism Australia

Daly Waters Pub, Daly Waters, Northern Territory © Tourism NT/Helen Orr

The northern regions of Australia are rich with natural wonders, so a road trip that links Cairns in Queensland with Broome in Western Australia is sure to be an epic adventure. You’ll pass through diverse landscapes – from rainforests to mountain ranges – and each day will bring new experiences. You won’t soon forget having a secret fishing spot to yourself and diving into an outback waterhole.

Australia’s best outback experiences

Nature’s Way

Nourlangie Rock, Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory © Tourism NT/Hello Emily

Cathedral Termite Mounds, Litchfield National Park, Northern Territory © Tourism NT, Jackson Groves

Wangi Falls, Litchfield National Park, Northern Territory © Tourism NT/Matt Cherubino

Rich in both culture and rugged nature, the Nature’s Way road trip in the Northern Territory takes in some of Australia’s most beautiful national parks. Begin in Darwin before exploring Kakadu National Park – home to pounding waterfalls and ancient Aboriginal rock art – and Litchfield National Park , where fern-lined swimming holes and bizarre termite mounds await. There’s a new memory around every turn. 

Plan your Nature’s Way road trip

Explorer’s Way

Ulu r u, Northern Territory © Tourism NT/Plenty of Dust

Pikes Beer Company, Clare Valley, South Australia © Tourism Australia

Mindil Beach Sunset Markets, Darwin, Northern Territory © Tourism NT

The Explorer’s Way  cuts straight through the heart of Australia’s outback. It’s perhaps Australia’s most diverse road trip, beginning with the green vineyards of South Australia before winding around the red domes of Ulu r u and Kata Tju t a and ending with pastel sunsets in Darwin. It may be a long journey, but the sense of awe will stay with you forever.

Explore the  The Explorer’s Way

The Explorer’s Way cuts straight through the heart of Australia’s outback. It’s perhaps Australia’s most diverse road trip, beginning with the green vineyards of South Australia before winding around the red domes of Ulu r u and Kata Tju t a and ending with pastel sunsets in Darwin. It may be a long journey, but the sense of awe will stay with you forever.

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Road trip Australia: 6 of the best routes

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written by Ros Walford

updated 03.01.2019

Pack your stuff, throw it in a camper van along with a surfboard and don’t look back… This might be an old cliché but it’s one for good reason: Australia really is one of the best places on Earth for a road trip.

1. Coastal views on the Great Ocean Road

2. adventure along the way from perth to exmouth, 3. the home strait on the nullarbor plain, 4. the blissful beaches of fraser island.

• 5. Wineries along Tasmania’s Great Eastern Drive

6. Exploring Victoria along the Great Alpine Road

Whether you’re living the dream in your camper van, or making do with a less romantic form of transport, Australia’s well-kept, open roads beckon and will lead you through astonishing landscapes. There are many great road trips in Australia, but here are our favourites.

Tailor-made travel itineraries for Australia, created by local experts

12 days  / from 2900 USD

Explore Western Australia from Perth to Broome

Western Australia is the country's largest state, covering more than a third of Australia. This self drive itinerary allows you to explore sunny Perth, stunning national parks and waterfalls, the remote wild west outback, empty beaches and much more.

16 days  / from 3300 USD

Explore South Australia and the Northern Territory

Explore South Australia and the Northern Territory on this self-drive adventure. Start in Adelaide and make your way over the Ayers Rock, Kings Canyon, and Alice Springs to the Kakadu National Park and ultimately Darwin.

23 days  / from 4150 USD

Cross Western Australia to Darwin

Western Australia offers wonderfully remote outback experiences: from spectacular national parks to sandy deserts, pristine beaches to working cattle stations. This itinerary allows you to explore the way from Perth to Darwin in depth and at your own pace, in your own rental car.

Staggering ocean views and easy access from Melbourne make this one of Australia’s best-loved road trips. Pack an overnight bag and follow the dramatic coastline, stopping to view a series of coastal rock formations, holding their ground in the surf.

The magnificent Twelve Apostles – eight giant sea stacks – appear otherworldly at sunset, guarding the limestone cliffs. Among the other rocky highlights include London Bridge arch, the Bay of Islands and Loch Ard Gorge.

At Bells Beach, grab a wetsuit and do your best Keanu Reeves’ impression. This was the famous surf setting for his film Point Break , but it was actually filmed in California.

If you’re not a surfer you can hike in Great Otway National Park, say hello to the koalas at Kennett River or kayak out into Apollo Bay to observe a seal colony. Otherwise, take it easy at a beach restaurant in the seaside town of Lorne.

Best for: Weekenders seeking surf and sea stacks.

How long: 2 days.

Need to know: Starts at Torquay, a 1.5-hour drive from Melbourne, and ends at Warrnambool.

© Photoholgic/Shutterstock

Driving north from Perth, you may expect nothing of the Outback landscape but scorched earth and straight roads all the way up the west coast. While these certainly exist, a road trip here is also punctuated with remarkable geological features, some of the best beaches in Australia and kangaroos hopping alongside your camper van.

First, a bit of fun at Lancelin where you can go sand boarding in the dunes or off-roading in a truck-sized 4x4. Then on to the Pinnacles Desert where bizarre pillars protrude from the desert like ancient monoliths.

In Kalbarri National Park, see Nature’s Window and the Z-Bend Lookout, abseil Murchison Gorge and ride on horseback around the scenic estuary at Big River Ranch.

A five-hour drive north brings you to Shark Bay, home of weird stromatolites – the oldest fossils on Earth – and the brilliant-white Shell Beach. Stop at Monkey Mia to meet the dolphins before heading on to Coral Bay, where another pristine white beach greets you. From here you can wade out 50m to the Ningaloo Reef – the second-largest reef in Australia – to snorkel with dazzling fish, turtles, reef sharks and whale sharks.

Best for: Desert adventurers.

How long: 5 days.

Need to know: To extend the trip, keep going all the way to Broome, via Karijini National Park.

© Cloudsrest Images/Shutterstock

The Nullabor is not for the faint-hearted. The mesmerising Eyre Highway runs through a vast, treeless plain, from Port Augusta in South Australia to Norseman in Western Australia .

With an almost 150km stretch that’s the world’s longest straight road, it’s no surprise that it’s known as “Nullaboring”. But many travellers love it for the beauty of the desert and the on-the-road camaraderie. There’s a strong sense of community at the roadhouses, which appear roughly every 200km – with nothing in between.

Venture away from the main road to see some of South Australia’s geological highlights, including Pildappa Rock – a 100m-long wave of red sandstone – or the peculiar rocks at Ucontitchie Hill and Murphy's Hay Stacks.

From Denial Bay, the Eyre Highway clings to the coast all the way to Western Australia. At the Head of Bight, you’ve a good chance of spotting Southern Right Whales between June and October. Then there are the empty beaches, towering cliffs, the magnificent blow-holes – and the oddities... Eucla features the ghostly remains of a telegraph station protruding from the encroaching dunes, while Balladonia (population: 9) commemorates the spot where the Skylab space station fell to Earth in 1979.

Best for: Adventurers up for trying anything, loners and Nullarbor addicts.

How long: 7–10 days.

Need to know: Be prepared with a serviced car, and enough food and water to last between roadhouses. Daytime temperatures can reach 50°C and nights can be freezing. Be careful of wildlife and passing road-trains.

Animal warning signs along the Nullarbor Plain © UnkbownLatitude Images/Shutterstock

If there’s one side trip on the east coast you mustn’t miss, it’s Fraser Island , a 123-km World-Heritage-listed sand island. Here, off-roaders may roam but the dingo is king.

The beach that runs the full length of the island functions as the main highway and an airstrip for small planes, so keep an eye on the air too while you bomb along the strand. Halfway down the beach, you can’t fail to notice the eerie remains of the shipwrecked SS Maheno appearing silhouetted against the raging surf.

Take a side road into the interior and suddenly you’re in another world – specifically, you’re in a subtropical rainforest growing on 200m-high sand dunes. Stop for a swim in the sparklingly clear Lake McKenzie, one of forty freshwater lakes perched high on the dunes. It’s like nowhere else on Earth.

You can pitch your tent at any of the 35 designated grounds – just you, the campfire, the rumble of surf and the sense of beady canine eyes watching from the darkness.

Best for: Beach bums who tidy up after themselves.

Need to know: Arrange your trip at Hervey Bay, where you can hire 4X4 and buy vehicle access permits.

Related articles from the blog

5. Wineries along Tasmania ’s Great Eastern Drive

Drive northeast from the capital Hobart to start the Great Eastern Drive at Orford. You can catch a ferry from Triabunna to Maria Island National Park and spend the day hiking, wildlife watching and visiting the World-Heritage-listed Darlington Probation Station, a kind of reform school for convicts in the nineteenth century.

Back on the coast road, the views over Great Oyster Bay are overwhelming. Recover in Swansea with a plate of seafood washed down with a glass of wine from the East Coast Wine Trail .

Don’t drink it all at once; you’ll be passing the vineyards on the next leg to the Freycinet Peninsula. This is one of Australia’s top beauty spots, not least Wineglass Bay, a perfect curve of sand around an azure bay, best seen from a lookout after a steep hike.

They say the devil is in the detail, but here it’s actually in Bicheno. If Tasmanian devils are on your must-see list, then plan a visit to the Natureworld Wildlife Sanctuary.

From Bicheno, the Surf Coast leads you to Scamander, beyond which lie Binalong Bay and the heavenly Bay of Fires . Despite the rusty orange glow from the lichen-coated boulders, there’s not a devil in sight on these pristine beaches.

Best for: Hikers who enjoy devilishly good scenery.

How long: 3 days.

Need to know: You can drive the whole route in a day, but you’ll want to take a few days. The Great Eastern Drive can easily be incorporated into a loop around the whole island state.

Wineglass Bay Freycinet, Tasmania @ Shutterstock

This mountain road crosses one of Australia’s main ski regions and some of the highest altitudes in the country, which just scrape above 2000m – so don’t expect anything too extreme.

Nonetheless, it’s a beautiful drive through a gentle region, a world away from Victoria’s lawless past. From Wangarratta, the road passes vineyards and farmland as far as the pretty town of Bright.

But take a short detour and you’ll reach Beechworth and Glenrowan, land of the nineteenth-century outlaw Ned Kelly, where you can learn about the life of this national folk hero.

Back on the Great Alpine Road, continue to Mount Buffalo National Park and climb its granite tors or explore on horseback, like Ned himself would have done. As you cross the Ovens River Valley, snowy peaks come into view.

Beyond Harrietville, the road gets tougher, as it winds steeply up through snow gum forests to Mount Hotham, Victoria's highest alpine resort. This is a starker landscape with deep valleys and panoramas across the Australian Alps. It’s well worth hiking the Razorback Trail to the summit of Mount Feathertop, Victoria’s second-highest mountain.

After this, the road descends to Dinner Plain and on to historic Omeo, a former gold-mining town. Then down through forests at Tambo to Metung, the Gippsland lakes and the ocean beyond.

Best for: Mountain-lovers, who don’t mind that Australia’s alps are somewhat vertically-challenged.

How long: 1 day.

Need to know: If you drive from Melbourne, take the M31 to Wangaratta, and on the coastal journey back, stop at Wilson’s Promontory and Phillip Island.

View of the coastline at Nobbies Centre in Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia © Javen/Shutterstock

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10 Awesome Australian Road Trips (For Your World Travel Bucket List)

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. All hosted affiliate links follow our editorial policies .

As a native of Tasmania who has traveled the country extensively, I’d argue that Australian road trips rank among the best in  the world.

Though I may be prejudiced, I think my homeland truly has it all.

There are jaw-dropping natural landscapes, some of the world’s most liveable cities, and minimal road traffic outside of the few major metropolitan areas.

Whether you seek weird and wonderful wildlife, photogenic landscapes, charming historical towns, or simply the wind in your hair, there are a wide range of epic road trips in Australia that will leave you never wanting to stop exploring.

So let’s dive into some of the country’s most iconic scenic road trips, highlighting each drive’s main attractions along with some helpful insider tips.

• The Great Ocean Road (Victoria)
• Tasmania’s East Coast
• Adelaide to Darwin (Australia’s center through the Outback)
• Darwin-Kakadu Loop (Northern Territory)
• The Great Tropical Drive (Queensland)
• Gibb River Road (Outback Adventure)
• Sydney to Brisbane a.k.a Pacific Coast Drive
• Tarkine Drive (Tasmania’s Wilderness)
• Kangaroo Island

THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD

The Great Ocean Road is not only Australia’s most notable drive, but also one of the most popular, scenic, and beloved touring routes in the world.

Stretching for over 150 miles along Victoria’s south coast, the route provides visitors with breathtaking ocean views around every bend.

Hugging the coast for pretty much the entire way from Torquay to Warrnambool, the Great Ocean Road provides incredible natural attractions, wildlife , and seaside towns. Here’s a look at a few of the major highlights along the way:

Your Great Ocean Road journey begins in Torquay, home to one of Australia’s finest surfing beaches. Bells Beach is where the pros come to surf, and Torquay is the birthplace of famous surf brands such as Rip Curl and Quicksilver. Enjoy catching a wave yourself, or simply watch the pro surfers hang ten from the cliff-top car park.

Twelve Apostles

The star attraction of the Great Ocean Road is the Twelve Apostles. This geological attraction consists of a group of limestone monoliths (which were caused by erosion) rising out of the ocean. Despite the attraction’s name, there were originally only nine stacks. The number now stands at eight, since a 160-foot stack recently fell. Have your camera ready in case another one topples, but photographing them just as they are is equally remarkable.

Great Otway National Park

In Great Otway National Park , rugged coastline meets lush rainforest. Here you can see stunning Triplet Falls, or marvel at the glow worms of Melba Gully. The Great Ocean Walk, which extends over 100km from Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles, passes through the park (bikes and horses are also permitted). The park is listed as an Important Bird Area and offers several campsites. It’s also ranked among Australia’s best National Parks .

Located in the heart of the GOR,  you’ll find the wildlife-rich area of Apollo Bay. Here you can search for Koalas among the gum trees in the nearby Kennett River Area, or enjoy a guided kayak tour among countless Australian Fur Seals. The area is home to lovely restaurants, cafes, museums, and beaches.

Warrnambool

Finnish your GOR trip in Warrnambool, where you’ll be rewarded with the sight of Southern Right Whales, who return to the waters off Warrnambool’s Logans Beach each year to calve. Take a side trip to Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve for guided and self-guided tours to spot Emus, Kangaroos, and Echidnas inside an enormous volcanic crater.

Insider Tips • A great place to spot Koalas in Kennett River is off of Grey River Road. Scan the gum trees carefully: Koalas don’t make much movement during the day, as they are constantly at rest. • As hard as it may be, make sure to keep your eyes on the road. The route is narrow, has many twists and turns, and may be slippery at times. • Watch your speed, since the speed limit changes frequently along the GOR. This will help ensure the safety of the local wildlife. • Take your time and spread the drive over several days in order to truly appreciate the incredible scenery.

READ MORE: The World’s Best Road Trips (World Travel Bucket List)

TASMANIA’S EAST COAST

Tasmania, Australia’s island state, offers incredible landscapes that are filled with an array of native fauna (and not many people). The island’s east coast offers one of Australia’s best road trips, rich with history and the finest beaches. Begin in Hobart and make your way north along the east coast to Launceston (or vice versa) to experience some of Tasmania’s greatest attractions.

Port Arthur

This 19 th  century Australian penal colony-turned-open air museum is one of Tasmania’s main attractions. Explore more than 30 restored buildings and ruins, including the penitentiary, flour mill, Commandant’s House, and the Isle of the Dead cemetery. While in the area you’ll also want to check out natural attractions such as the Tasman Arch, Devils Kitchen, and the Tessellated Pavement.

Maria Island

Offering both wildlife and historical ruins, this island lies in the Tasman Sea and is reached by ferry service from the town of Triabunna. The island is part of  Maria Island National Park , which is home to 11 of the state’s 12 endemic bird species as well as Wombats, Kangaroos, and the famous  Tasmanian Devils . A visit to the Painted Cliffs is an absolute must, and camping overnight will allow you to explore the island in greater depth.

Freycinet National Park

Freycinet National Park  occupies the Freycinet Peninsula, and is home to one of Tasmania’s most photographed landscapes, Wineglass Bay. Enjoy hiking trails to white sand beaches, which are surrounded by granite peaks and home to beautiful birds such as the Sea Eagles. The park offers basic camping sites as well as luxury eco-lodge accommodation options.

Bay of Fires

Stretching roughly 50km along the northern east coast, the Bay of Fires offers one of Australia’s most scenic coastal landscapes. Visitors can enjoy extremely crystal-clear waters and pure white sand beaches. Named for the aboriginal campfires spotted by early explorers, the area is also ablaze with fiery orange lichen-covered boulders.

Insider Tips • Be sure to check out Hobart, the state’s capital. There you will find the iconic Salamanca Markets, which are held each Saturday and feature hundreds of arts, crafts, and food stalls. • Plan to get to Port Arthur early if you want to beat the crowds. Pre-purchasing tickets online will save time when you arrive. Those tickets are good for two consecutive days, so take your time exploring. Be sure to bring comfortable footwear, sunscreen, and clothing for the weather , as most of the tour is outdoors. • Tasmania becomes very popular during the summer season , which is December through March in the southern hemisphere. So booking accommodations and car rental early is vital. Many campsites either book out far in advance or are on a lottery system, which is held much earlier in the year.

READ MORE:  Tasmanian Devil Conservation on Maria Island, Australia

ADELAIDE TO DARWIN

Cutting through the center of the continent, you’ll find an incredible Australian road trip that takes you through the heart of the iconic Outback. Since it is a solid 30-plus hour drive through vast expanses of desert landscape, you’ll probably want to take several days to a week in order to experience all the gorgeous scenery along the way.

Home to nearly 75% of southern Australia’s population, Adelaide is still far less busy than Sydney or Melbourne. The city boasts an impressive range of museums, cafes, fine dining restaurants, gardens, and great festivals throughout the year. It’s centrally located to explore famous Australian wine regions such as Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, and Clare Valley.

Coober Pedy

Coober Pedy is the world-renowned town that lies mostly below ground due to the extremely hot summer temperatures. It’s been used as the set for various movies, including Mad Max. Popular activities there include   shopping or fossicking (Australian slang for searching) for Australian opals or staying in an underground hotel.

Uluru  is without a doubt Australia’s most famous natural landmark. Held sacred by the indigenous Pitjantjatjara Anangu people, Uluru is a large sandstone rock rising nearly 350 meters above the Outback. It’s best viewed at sunset or sunrise, when it turns a fiery red color. As darkness falls, you can enjoy a star-filled sky far removed from any light pollution. The area is home to a surprisingly great diversity of flora and fauna, including the adorable lizard known as the Thorny Devil. Sadly, Uluru is currently facing the threat of mass tourism .

Alice Springs

Located halfway between Adelaide and Darwin, the town of Alice Springs is the gateway to exploring Australia’s Red Centre. Explore the area’s wildlife with a visit to the Desert Park , Reptile Centre, or Kangaroo Sanctuary. Natural attractions in this area include the Larapinta Trail, Ormiston Gorge, and West MacDonnell National Park.

Insider Tips • The famous passenger train known as The Ghan follows the same basic route and offers a luxurious return option instead of driving. But it is just a brief overview of what the area has to offer. • Climbing Uluru is currently allowed, but it is  strongly discouraged out of respect for the local Aboriginal people. After October 26, 2019, the climb will officially be closed to the public (hopefully for good). • Be sure to visit the equally impressive Kata Tjuṯa rock formations, which are also known as the Olgas. They consist of 36 orange-colored domes: Mount Olga towers over Uluru at 3,500 feet.

READ MORE:   The 25 Biggest Deserts in the World

THE DARWIN-KAKADU LOOP

This awesome road trip offers visitors a chance to explore the Australian region made famous by Crocodile Dundee . A drive through the Top End of Australia’s Northern Territory provides refreshing waterholes, Aboriginal rock art sites, and, of course, Saltwater Crocodiles.

Kakadu National Park

Kakadu is Australia’s largest national park, filled with one-third of Australia’s bird species as well as a wealth of mammals and reptiles. Take a scenic flight over Kakadu’s Jim Jim Falls and  Twin Falls for a bird’s eye view, or swim beneath them to cool off. Cruise the wetlands and billabongs in search of massive crocodiles and wading birds such as the black-necked stork. You can also see Aboriginal rock art dating back more than 20,000 years.

Litchfield National Park

In this national park you can walk amongst termite mounds the size of basketball players as you make your way to the numerous waterfalls Litchfield is known for. History buffs will want to visit the Bamboo Creek Tin Mine. You can also learn about the lives of Australian pioneers by visiting the Blyth Homestead, which dates back to the 1920s.

Named after the famed naturalist (who sailed there in 1839), Darwin is the capital of Australia’s Northern Territory. Popular activities there include taking a sunset harbour cruise, watching a movie in an open air cinema, or swimming with a massive crocodile at Crocosaurus Cove. Head to the Nightcliff Foreshore for a wide array of outdoor recreation opportunities, food vans, and stunning sea views.

Insider Tips • Crocodiles can be found in nearly every river and waterhole in this area. So always be cautious when swimming, even if Crocodile warning signs are not present. Also, carry plenty of water and bug repellent. • Car rentals in the Northern Territory usually have mileage limits and may not be allowed on unsealed roads. Road-tripping in camper vans and camper trailers  are becoming increasingly popular. •If you dislike crowds, avoid Kakadu from June to August. This is peak tourist season, as it falls within Australian school holidays. April to June will provide smaller crowds with pleasant weather and running waterfalls.

READ MORE:   Top 10 Australian National Parks

 THE GREAT TROPICAL DRIVE

With over two dozen different driving routes, Queensland’s Great Tropical Drive allows you to explore some of Australia’s most incredible destinations. From the Daintree Rainforest and access to the Great Barrier Reef, this is a great region for nature lovers to explore. You can stay in beautiful seaside cities and witness rare and endangered wildlife all along the way.

Daintree Rainforest

Witness the world’s oldest rainforest, which is filled with strange animals that are found nowhere else on earth.  These include large Cassowaries, Tree Kangaroos, Ulysses Butterflies, and Boyd’s Forest Dragons. Then head north towards Cape Tribulation, where the rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef. Your drive will also include an exciting ferry across the Daintree River, where you may spot Crocodiles as you go.

Great Barrier Reef

Easily accessed as a day trip from Cairns and Port Douglas, the Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system, stretching some 2,000 kilometres along the Queensland coastline. Despite coral bleaching, it remains one of the world’s best places to SCUBA dive .It’s home to 30 different species of cetaceans, over 1,600 species of fish, 3,000 species of mollusk, and around 125 species of sharks and stingrays. You can also explore your choice of over 900 islands, including Hamilton, Fitzroy, and Lizard Island.

Cairns, Port Douglas, & Townsville

All three of these cities offer a wide variety of attractions, including museums, sanctuaries, tropical beaches, and more. From here you can access the Great Barrier Reef, take a day trip to the Atherton Tablelands, or hop aboard the Kuranda Scenic Railway.

Insider Tips • Head to Mission Beach if you really want to see a wild Cassowary, as they are a common sight here. • Many cities in the area offer a wide range of apartments where you can have your own full kitchen, laundry facilities, and scenic balconies. • Coral bleaching in the Great Barrier Reef Park was extensive, but 85% of that damage happened on a single 370-mile section. Most tour operators will take you to snorkel/dive more pristine sections.

READ MORE : The 10 Most Beautiful Forests in the World

GIBB RIVER ROAD

For a truly wild Outback adventure, take on the 670km 4WD track that stretches from Wyndham to Derby in Western Australia . Many side roads and even parts of the main road are rugged, with dirt and gravel rather than tarmac. But many improvements have been made in recent years, so you don’t need to have years of 4WD experience to tackle the route.

Windjana Gorge National Park

Windjana Gorge National Park is often touted as the best place in the world to see Freshwater Crocodiles in the wild. Located in the Kimberley region, the park also offers a 100-meter wide gorge with towering cliffs. Visitors can enjoy incredible camping opportunities , but please be aware that access may be restricted during the wet season.

Other Gorges

Driving the Gibb River Road provides access to numerous gorgeous gorges and wonderful waterfalls. The most notable ones are Lennard Gorge, Bell Gorge, Tunnel Creek, and Manning Gorge & Falls. Access to the gorges is usually prohibited during the wet season.

Insider Tips •Travel in this region is restricted to the dry season (April-October), and 2WD is not recommended until well after the wet season due to water on roads. •Although a 4WD vehicle is highly recommended, you can access many of the main attractions in a 2WD vehicle during the peak of the dry season. Always carry spare tires, petrol, and water, just in case!

READ MORE: Top 5 Australia Ecotourism Attractions

SYDNEY TO BRISBANE

This scenic 920-kilometer drive along the Pacific coast includes Australia’s most famous city, with its iconic landmarks, as well as luxury seaside resorts and theme parks. It’s more commonly known as the Pacific Coast Drive, and offers a continuous line of picturesque beaches, national parks, and loveable cities.

Home of the world-famous Opera House and the iconic Harbour Bridge, Sydney is Australia’s largest city. So naturally there’s no shortage of attractions worth exploring, including Darling Harbour, Bondi Beach, and the Taronga Zoo.

Brisbane & Gold Coast

This area is considered the sort of like the Orlando of Australia, including theme parks such as Sea World, Movie World, and Dreamworld. But ecotourism aficionados can also explore beautiful natural attractions such as Springbrook National Park and Lamington National Park by day, and then return to luxurious oceanside resorts by night.

Newcastle, Port Macquarie & Coffs Harbour

There is no shortage of gorgeous cities along the Pacific Coast Drive. Each of them offers a mixture of educational museums, zoos, botanical gardens, lighthouses, surf beaches, and national parks. The highlights include walking along Newcastle’s Nobbys Beach, checking out Coffs Harbour’s Forest Sky Pier, and visiting Port Macquarie’s Tacking Point Lighthouse.

Insider Tips • For adventurous souls seeking an incredible aerial view of Sydney, experience the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb or the Sydney Tower Eye Skywalk. • Oenophiles will want to take a brief detour from the coast in order to see the world famous Hunter Valley Wine Region.

READ MORE: What Is Ecotourism? History & Principles of Responsible Travel

TARKINE DRIVE

Tarkine Drive is a circular route beginning and ending in Stanley or Smithton, which provides access to Tasmania’s true, rugged wilderness. Along the way, you’ll pass through the Australia’s largest patch of temperate rainforest, mountain ranges, rushing rivers, cool caves, and the  craggy western coastline.

Arthur River

Arthur River makes for a great entrance point to coastal walks and forest exploration. Experience the massive waves brought on by the “roaring forties” as they batter the coastline at the Edge of the World, Gardiner Point.

Hiking & Wildlife

The Tarkine is home to some of Australia’s rarest animals , some of which no longer found on the mainland. Search for Tasmanian Devils, Platypus, Echidnas, Wombats, Bandicoots, Quolls, and the extremely rare Orange-bellied Parrot. Numerous hiking trails lead to lookouts, waterfalls, Aboriginal sites, and the picturesque coast.

Insider Tips • Although the Thylacine or Tasmanian tiger has long been considered extinct, they are rumored to possibly still exist in this remote stretch wilderness, which has suitable habitat. • Take a detour south to Corinna Wilderness Retreat for some incredible kayaking and cruises on the Pieman River.

READ MORE:  Tasmanian Devil (Endangered Species Spotlight)

KANGAROO ISLAND

Kangaroo Island is known as the Galapagos Islands of Australia. Access to this wildlife-rich area is available via ferry from Cape Jervis on South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula. The island has a large population of Koalas as well as a host of endemic plants found nowhere else. Other rare wildlife found there includes the Glossy Black Cockatoo and Rosenberg’s Goanna.

Flinders Chase National Park

Flinders Chase National Park is located at the western end of of he island. Visitors can enjoy the sight of the beautiful Cape du Couedic Lighthouse as they walk along many hiking trails, including the Platypus Waterholes Walk and the Heritage Walk. Check out the seal colony near Admirals Arch, and the truly and aptly named Remarkable Rocks.

Seal Bay Conservation Park

Located on the southern coast of Kangaroo Island, this park is home to the third largest Sea Lion colony in Australia. Access to the beach where you’ll find the large breeding colony is limited to ranger-led beach tours for their protection. If you don’t care about seeing them up close, you can simply view them from the boardwalk. Tours are held daily, and the visitor center provides further insight into the life of the Sea Lions.

Insider Tips • Get a chance to see Penguins via a night tour of the colony located in Penneshaw, just as you depart the ferry on Kangaroo Island. • Be sure to check out Little Sahara, where you can sandboard down some seriously impressive dunes. • For conservation purposes, there are strict quarantine laws on the island. Be aware that things such as potatoes and honey are no-gos.

READ MORE: Wondrous Wildlife on Kangaroo Island, Australia

THE GRAMPIANS

This excellent Australian road trip takes you through Grampians National Park , which includes sandstone mountain ranges and rich Aboriginal history. Outdoor recreation seekers head to the Grampians for mountain biking, rock climbing, and numerous hiking trails. Scenic lookouts abound, with many easily reached by car. The circular route around the park is easily accessible from Melbourne or Adelaide.

Halls Gap is the main town that services travelers to the Grampians area, offering diverse accommodation options ranging from campsites to luxury 5-star retreats. Make sure to visit the Brambuk Cultural Center, which is owned and operated by Aboriginal people. There you can engage in activities such as boomerang throwing as well as learn about the indigenous culture through artifacts, talks, music, and dance.

MacKenzie Falls

A must-see while driving through the Grampians, this stunning waterfall flows all year long. It can be seen via a lookout point or by taking the lovely MacKenzie Falls Walk. Note that swimming beneath the falls is strictly prohibited.

Pinnacle & Reeds Lookouts

Make your way to the top of Pinnacle Lookout if you want to see the park’s impressive rock formations in detail, as well as Halls Gap below you. Access is available via the Sundial car park, the Wonderland car park, or (for the truly adventurous) from the base of the mountains.

Reeds Lookout is best accessed from Mt. Victory Road, and provides incredible sunset viewing over the Victoria Valley and Range. The lookout path is fully wheelchair accessible.

Insider Tips • You’ll find that wineries in the Grampians region produce incredible Shiraz and Riesling, so pop into a local cellar door for a tasting. • A visit during autumn will reveal vibrantly colored fall foliage that’s just begging to be photographed. • Be sure to check out the Grampians Grape Escape wine, food, and music festival , which is held every year in May. –Megan Jerrard

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The Ultimate Australia Road Trippin’ Guide — 10 Itineraries For The Perfect Adventure of a Lifetime

From cities to coasts and national parks to natural beauties, an epic road trip is the best way to explore Australia!

Recently, I rented a Blue SG car with my best friend and had a wild time driving 17km from Yishun to Hougang. It barely qualifies as a road trip, but it reminded me of my last trip to Australia . If you didn’t know already, it’s one of the sweetest places for a truly epic road trip!

Across the country, there are tons of routes packed with scenery, action and adventure. And it’s friendly for beginners (a.k.a. driving noobs) too!

It’s a bummer we can’t travel right now, but I’ve found that an instant mood lifter is to get your ‘ revenge travel ‘ plans in order (i.e. a long post-COVID-19 trip that makes up for lost time) — so here are 10 of the best Australia road trips to go full throttle on once we get the green light! 🟢

1) Coastal drive from Sydney to Melbourne

Journey time: 4–8 days (~1,300km) Starting point: Sydney Airport (~8hr flight from Singapore)

Between two of Australia’s largest cities, the coastal drive from Sydney to Melbourne (or vice versa) is sensational. Every inch of the way from New South Wales to Victoria offers quirky seaside towns, golden beaches and wondrous ocean views.

Part of the route includes the Grand Pacific Drive , a 140km stretch along New South Wales’s South Coast . It covers gorgeous attractions like the Royal National Park and the stunning Sea Cliff Bridge .

The drive from Sydney to Melbourne is perfectly beginner-friendly. There are many stops along the route whenever you need to stretch your legs.

Read more: Sydney South Coast Road Trip — 7-Day Itinerary From Sydney to Eden

Now, onto the epic must-dos. First, sign up for some adrenaline-pumping skydiving over Wollongong . Above the magnificent coast, you’ll freefall at speeds over 200km/h, wayyy faster than you’ll ever go on your road trip!

Photo credit: @kattgao via Instagram

After Wollongong, drop by the Kiama Blowhole and be blown away. Well, not literally, but there’s a good chance of getting soaked.

Alternatively, if you’re road trippin’ during summer, spend a night or two in Jervis Bay . You might be lucky enough to catch the phenomenal sea sparkles , or bioluminescence.

Once you’ve crossed the border into Victoria , get ready for even more wow’s (and aww’s ). For nature lovers, don’t miss the adorable Penguin Parade on Phillip Island . It’s a heart-melting treat watching these little fellas waddle out of the ocean and scuttle around the beach.

Check out other island activities like scenic walks and visiting the cuddly Koala Reserve too!

Photo credit: @helenabradbury via Instagram

Before you reach Melbourne , make one last stop at Mornington Peninsula . Here, you can drink deep at exquisite wineries and explore the stellar coastline at Cape Schanck (recommended by Chris Hemsworth 🤩).

Got another week to spare? Extend your road trip from Melbourne to Adelaide just next door! Alternatively, if you’re flying out from Sydney , make the return drive from Melbourne to Sydney via the inland route . After coasts and busy beaches, you can now enjoy the quiet countryside and historic gold-mining towns.

2) Ultimate Australian Outback road trip from Darwin to Adelaide

Journey time: 10–14 days (~3,000km) Starting point: Darwin Airport (4.5hr flight from Singapore)

Cutting across the vast outback, the drive from Darwin to Adelaide takes you through a series of wonderful and unusual landscapes. You’ll pass miles of red earth in the Northern Territory before reaching South Australia’s world-renowned wineries.

This adventurous route is more suited for seasoned travellers as you might be driving long distances (depending on your itinerary). Petrol stations are also few and far between, so plan carefully and refuel at every stop.

To eager first-timers, don’t let the long drives stop you from diving into this road trip! Just add a few more days for exploration and extra rest.

Photo credit: @exploreuluru via Instagram

Deep in the heart of the Red Centre , the hallmark of this outback road trip is the monumental Uluru . Get to know it your way — see it from above with a badass helicopter ride , or join a cultural tour and learn about the sacred land and Aboriginal culture.

Photo credit: @nealjennings via Instagram

Eight hours away lies the strange town of Coober Pedy . It’s the opal mining capital of the world, but the show-stealer is that the locals live underground to avoid the scorching heat!

Staying a night here is a must. It’s not every day you get to live in a posh B&B carved out of natural sandstone, especially one located 25m below .

Photo credit: @alan.timms1 via Instagram

If you thought Coober Pedy was mind-blowing, wait till you hit the Flinders Ranges .

The national park is home to incredibly dramatic landscapes like Wilpena Pound , a massive bowl-shaped crater made up of craggy mountains. The best way to see it is through an exciting scramble up to its rugged ridges or a relaxing scenic flight .

Photo credit: @ashhughesphotos via Instagram

After days of non-stop adventure, wine down in the Barossa Valley — reputed as one of the world’s greatest wine regions. There are over 150 wineries and 80 cellar doors, so take your time to swirl and sip Australia’s finest Cabernet Sauvignon or special Barossa Shiraz.

The excitement doesn’t have to end in Adelaide ! Not too far from the city, there are plenty of jaw-dropping coastlines that are ripe for exploring, which brings us to our next route…

3) Scenic South Australia road trip — Southern Ocean Drive from Adelaide to Kangaroo Island and Mount Gambier

Journey time: 5–7 days (~500–1,200km) Starting point: Adelaide Airport (~7hr flight from Singapore)

With an abundance of coastal scenery, tasty wines and native wildlife, the Southern Ocean Drive is one of the loveliest, lesser-known road trips in Australia. In fact, some consider it a ‘sequel’ to Victoria’s Great Ocean Road drive (more on this later)!

The route is great for beginner road trippers as there are plenty of stops to pull over at. Plus, attractions are relatively nearby one another. It’s likely you won’t drive for longer than three to four hours each day.

Photo credit: @officialfleurieupeninsula via Instagram

South Australia produces half of all the wine in the country, so there’s no excuse not to indulge! Make your first stop at McLaren Vale in Fleurieu Peninsula . It’s home to some of the world’s oldest grapevines, and serves the most delectable wines and local produce you might ever taste in your life.

Photo credit: @promotemytown via Instagram

Nature and wildlife lovers would adore Kangaroo Island . A good part of it is protected in nature reserves, so it’s no surprise to meet wild ‘roos and see other wildlife roaming free!

Photo credit: TripAdvisor

To make your Kangaroo Island experience more unique, stay the night in a quaint cottage by Cape Willoughby Lighthouse . You’ll enjoy a well-deserved package: Exclusive privacy, calming sounds of crashing waves, and a magnificent sunrise view.

If you only have a few days, keep the road trip short and explore Kangaroo Island fully. Otherwise, take a ferry back to the mainland and continue your coastal journey.

Photo credit: @discover_mount_gambier via Instagram

Situated along the Limestone Coast , Mount Gambier is a city built atop an extinct volcano. Its main attraction is the mysterious Blue Lake , a huge crater lake. From April to November, the water is a distinct greyish-blue colour. But once November rolls around, it transforms into a striking turquoise blue.

The Blue Lake is not permitted for swimming, but its smaller cousin is! Satisfy your urge to dip at the Little Blue Lake , a giant sinkhole filled with pleasantly cool waters. It’s free to enter, and makes an awesome photo spot too!

Photo credit: @sarahafindlay via Instagram

4) Northern Territory Top End Nature’s Way Drive from Darwin to Katherine

Journey time: 8 days (~900km) Starting point: Darwin Airport (4.5hr flight from Singapore)

Top End Nature’s Way features a fantastic mix of tropical wonders and the fascinating Australian outback. Peppered with spectacular national parks, timeless Aboriginal culture, and the charming town of Katherine — this triangular route is especially geared for outdoor lovers.

Adventurous as it may be, the drive from Darwin to Katherine is actually easy. Main attractions are about three hours from each other. Roads are also well-paved, so you don’t need four-wheel drives (4WD). What you do need, though, are your best hiking shoes!

Photo credit: @_danieltran_ via Instagram

The first must-visit is Kakadu National Park , Australia’s largest. Take a walk through  Burrungkuy (Nourlangie) , an ancient rock art gallery that showcases Aboriginal traditions. Or, pack your bathers and dip in the beautiful Gunlom Plunge Pool .

Photo credit: @traveling_yorick via Instagram

The huge park is also home to boatloads of exotic wildlife, including 10,000 crocodiles ! Feed your curiosity and join a croc-spotting cruise — you might catch these prehistoric beasts basking lazily in the sun, or silently stalking their next meal.

Photo credit: Tourism Australia

In Katherine, travellers usually make a beeline for Nitmiluk National Park , and it’s easy to see why. The highlight is the Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge , a deep sandstone gorge that transports you to another realm.

While cruises are available, enjoy a bigger thrill by hiring a canoe . During the dry season (May–Sep), you’ll get enchanting views while paddling through ancient landscapes.

Photo credit: @fewdaysbetween via Instagram

Finally, after days of fast-paced action, cool off at Litchfield National Park on your drive back to Darwin. The park has plenty of lush swimming holes, great for refreshing soaks.

In need of more adventure? Fly down to Alice Springs from Darwin and explore the Red Centre Way ! The route snakes through mighty attractions like Uluru and Kings Canyon . Seasoned travellers can rent a 4WD and zip through Mereenie Loop , a dusty dirt road.

Read more: 40 Lesser-Known Things to Do in Australia Highly Recommended by Locals, Travellers and Celebrities  

5) Grand Tasmania road trip — Great Eastern Drive from Hobart to Bicheno and the Bay of Fires

Journey time: 2–5 days (~300km) Starting point: Hobart Airport (~8.5hr flight from Singapore)

Whether you’ve got a week or a weekend, Tasmania’s Great Eastern Drive promises a road trip getaway that’ll clear your head. Expect breathtaking coastal drives, pristine beaches and some of the freshest seafood around.

The drive from Hobart to Bicheno is mainly on sealed roads and highways, making it suitable for both beginners and seasoned travellers. Plus, attractions are less than two hours from each other!

Photo credit: Maria Island Walk / Great Walks of Australia

Start your trip by disconnecting from civilisation. Take a 30-minute ferry ride from Orford to Maria Island . Hike to the Painted Cliffs , made magical by its bold swirls of earthy colours. The best time to view it is at sunset when the colours truly pop — just be sure you make it back to the ferry on time!

Photo credit: @itsworthashot via Instagram

Back on mainland Tasmania , dedicate a full day for Freycinet National Park . Wake early (or try your best to) and follow the Mount Amos trail to see Wineglass Bay at sunrise. The famous azure bay looks completely different when it’s bathed in a warm orange glow.

For the rest of the day, treat yourself to juicy, succulent oysters from Freycinet Marine Farm . Or, you could always work a little harder and harvest oysters straight from the waters.

Photo credit: @lady_siu_mei via Instagram

Wildlife lovers, stop by Bicheno for a cute penguin tour . Every evening, little penguins splash out of the waters and waddle around their burrows on the beach. The tour lets you get up close to watch them go about their adorably busy routines.

Photo credit: @_aswewander via Instagram

Finally, drive an hour from Bicheno to the legendary Bay of Fires . Clumped together on the white sand beach, the orange lichen-covered granite boulders are a great place to rest, swim, and take lots of lit photos .

Read more: 16 Picture-Perfect Places Every Australia Itinerary Needs

6) Best of Victoria road trip — Great Southern Touring Route from Bellarine Peninsula to Great Ocean Road and the Grampians

Journey time: 5–8 days (~850km) Starting point: Melbourne Airport (~7.5hr flight from Singapore)

No Australia road trip is more iconic than the Great Southern Touring Route ! You’ll feast well at the gastronomical Bellarine Peninsula , before winding along the marvellous coastline of the Great Ocean Road , and end with adventures in the Grampians .

The weeklong, round-trip drive is great for beginners. Most attractions are within two to three hours from each other, and there are plenty of stops along the way for rest and photos. Add more days if possible — this is one brilliant journey you don’t want to rush.

Photo credit: @littlemusselcafe via Instagram

If you’re travelling to the coasts first, make a quick detour to the Bellarine Peninsula . Bring an empty stomach — the up-and-coming region serves delicious local produce, from insanely fresh seafood to full-bodied wines and decadent desserts.

Recommended eateries include the Little Mussel Cafe , Scotchmans Hill , and the Scandinavian Ice Cream Company . Or, plan your own yummy Bellarine Taste Trail !

And now, the main event: The Great Ocean Road . Take your time for this leg of the journey! It’s totally normal to stop every few minutes and take photos of the unbelievable coastline. But, make sure you’ve allocated enough time to see all its classic sights — the 12 Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, the Arch and the Grotto.

As you drive back inland, stop at the Grampians , another must-visit attraction. The National Park is popular with outdoor lovers and travellers, who come to rock climb or conquer its adventurous treks.

If you only have time for one hike, make it the Pinnacle Lookout , one of the park’s highest peaks. The journey from Wonderland Car Park is moderately challenging, but filled with scenery that makes it a highly Instagrammable spot .

For a less gruelling hike, head to MacKenzie Falls . It’s one of the largest waterfalls in Victoria that flows all year round.

Read more: 8D Melbourne Road Trip Itinerary — The Ultimate Road Trip Around Victoria’s Best Adventures

If you’re craving more coastal scenery, extend your Victoria road trip from Melbourne to Adelaide . The route includes Port Fairy , a whimsical seaside town, and picturesque Mount Gambier .

7) Hidden gems in the Australian Capital Territory — Canberra and Coast road trip

Journey time: 5–6 days (~650km) Starting point: Canberra Airport (8hr flight from Singapore)

For an unhurried escape, go on a picturesque road trip around Canberra and the South Coast . This round-trip route meanders from the city to the countryside and coast, topped with a mix of culture, adventure, and best of all — food!

As the road trip is relatively short, it’s great for beginners. Depending on your itinerary, you might be driving for a maximum of three hours a day. But there are many places to rest and take a breather along the way.

Photo credit: @balloonaloftcanberra via Instagram

Canberra is Australia’s capital, but not many travellers get to know the place! Rent a car and explore the city, teeming with friendly locals and cultural gems.

If you’re big on views, sign up for a fancy hot air balloon ride over the city. If not, tour around the impressive Australian Parliament House or the scenic National Arboretum .

Photo credit: @avenuehotelcbr via Instagram

After ticking off the city’s attractions, drive out to the peaceful countryside. There’s an abundance of fresh, farm-to-plate produce to savour, so bring your biggest appetite! During truffle season (Jun–Aug), many truffle farms offer hunting experiences, where you get to team up with a cute truffle dog that’ll sniff for this superb delicacy.

Other places to check out include traditional cider from Sully’s at the Old Cheese Factory , and Tilba Real Dairy for some rich, premium cheeses.

Get some peace and quiet with some overnight glamping! There are many sites to choose from in the South Coast, but the one that holds a special place in our hearts is Tilba Lake Camp . Located in the middle of a sprawling green pasture, you get a cosy lotus bell tent, a comfy bed and a delicious homemade breakfast.

Further down the coast, dip into the beautiful Bermagui Blue Pool . The good news is the natural rock pool offers some of the best views of the ocean, but be prepared — the waters can be quite chilly!

Once you’ve soaked up enough of the coast, end your road trip in Canberra.

8) Fun-filled Western Australia road trip — Indian Ocean Drive from Perth to Kalbarri

Journey time: 5 days (~1,800km) Starting point: Perth Airport (5hr flight from Singapore)

Few road trips are as vibrant as the Indian Ocean Drive . From Perth to Kalbarri , you’ll get a splash of colour driving past earthy landscapes, pink lakes and rich, red gorges. Arrive between Jul–Oct, and there’s also an explosion of multi-coloured wildflowers.

This route is part of Australia’s Coral Coast , and highlights some of the most exotic things you’ll ever see in the country. It’s also fairly easy for first-timers as there are many rest stops along the way. If you’re a seasoned traveller, don’t overlook this stretch — you might just discover something new!

Photo credit: @szjanko via Instagram

Just two hours from Perth, kickstart your adventure with some rad sandboarding at Lancelin Sand Dunes ! It’s a great winter sport substitute if you’re not a fan of cold or frozen snow. Plus, the fine sand makes a soft landing too!

Like the ruins of an ancient city, the Pinnacles Desert at Nambung National Park is one of Western Australia’s definite must-sees. Each limestone structure stands perfectly unique, eroded by centuries of wind. You can stroll around in the daytime, but we’ve found that this place makes an exceptional stargazing site once night falls.

Hutt Lagoon is a classic case of “you must see it to believe it”. The high salinity is what gives the lake its striking pink hue, which changes with the seasons and time of day. Naturally, it’s an Instagram hotspot — so dress your best and get snapping!

The final stop in the Indian Ocean Drive is Kalbarri National Park . It’s one of the most spectacular parks, with beautiful natural attractions around every corner.

Peek through Nature’s Window at the rocky gorge beyond, or check out the Kalbarri Skywalk . The park’s newest addition hovers more than 100m over the Murchison River, offering panoramic views of the arid landscape below.

If you’re here between Jul–Oct, wander around the Everlasting Wildflower Trail . The space comes alive with a burst of pretty, blooming wildflowers .

Photo credit: @roadtrippersaus via Instagram

Afterwards, follow the road back to Perth on your final day. But, if you have more time, extend your road trip down the Coral Coast .

Read also: 11D Western Australia Itinerary — Coastal Road Trip From Perth To Ningaloo

9) Epic Queensland road trip — Great Beach Drive from Noosa Heads to Rainbow Beach and Fraser Island

Journey time: 4–7 days (~420km) Starting point: Noosa Heads (~1.5hr drive from Brisbane Airport, 8hr flight from Singapore)

Here’s something for the young, wild and free! The Great Beach Drive to Fraser Island is as rugged as Aussie road trips get. In a comfy 4WD, you’ll cruise over 100km of beaches, sandwiched between wild bushland and the dazzling Coral Sea.

As the road trip requires a 4WD for off-road driving, it’s perfect for seasoned travellers. The backseat drivers can handle the road trip playlist and the vehicle access permit 😛

Photo credit: @t.becs via Instagram

Starting from Noosa Heads, take a 5-minute ferry ride from Tewantin or make a 40-minute detour to Noosa North Shore . In this unspoilt paradise, enjoy some beachside activities, or play a game to see who can spot wild kangaroos the fastest.

Photo credit: @manuelo.pro via Instagram

Further up, bask in the endless white sands of Teewah Beach . It’s only accessible via a 4WD so this is where your beachy journey begins! It’s also largely undeveloped — check that you’ve packed enough water and supplies, especially if you’re camping overnight .

Photo credit: @tracks.we.travel via Instagram

Continue on to Rainbow Beach . The lovely coastal town is famous for its coloured sand cliffs, caused by minerals staining the sand over thousands of years. Take a slow stroll and observe the natural swirl of colours ranging from white to ochre and red.

Photo credit: @alexxsadventures via Instagram

Finally, brace yourself for the grand event! From Inskip Point, take a short ferry ride across the ocean to Fraser Island . It’s the world’s largest sand island, and many come to conquer the glorious ‘highway’ that is 75 Mile Beach (that’s ~120km, FYI).

During your drive, swing by the Maheno shipwreck for photos and the Champagne Pools for a natural bubbling ‘jacuzzi’. Be sure to visit Fraser Island’s amazing rainforest too — it’s the only one on this planet that grows on sand!

10) Legendary Pacific Coast Touring Route from Sydney to Byron Bay

Journey time: 9–14 days (~1,000km) Starting point: Sydney Airport (~8hr flight from Singapore)

The Legendary Pacific Coast is another iconic route. The drive from Sydney to Byron Bay up to Brisbane is full of quintessential Aussie experiences — bucket-list-worthy adventures, soft, sandy beaches, and countless places to surf.

The route itself is a 10-hour stretch, but it’s pretty manageable if you break the distance down over two weeks. Following this, beginners would drive for a maximum of two hours every day on smooth, sealed roads.

If you’re not keen on exploring the famous Blue Mountains , opt for the quieter Bouddi National Park . Hop on the many scenic tracks , which feature sandstone cliffs, isolated beaches and vibrant native bush.

Photo credit: @sand_dune_adventures via Instagram

Further up north, the adventures begin! Port Stephens is where you’ll find the Southern Hemisphere’s largest moving coastal dunes — and there’s no better way to explore this shifting desert than with quad bikes (your first step to a 4WD!).

Read also: 9-Day Australia Road Trip Itinerary Around The Best Of NSW — Sydney, Blue Mountains and Beyond

Warning: Once you’re in Byron Bay , you might find it terribly hard to leave. The sun-kissed seaside town is arguably the best-kept secret in New South Wales , and there’s absolutely no shortage of things to do.

Read also: Byron Bay Guide: 25 Things to Do in NSW’s Ultimate Hipster Paradise

Experiences we 100% recommend include surfing at Main Beach , dining on fresh seafood at Catch-A-Crab , and watching the sunrise at Cape Byron Lighthouse . Meanwhile, Chris Hemsworth recommends diving at Julian Rocks (no kidding!).

Photo credit: @goldcoast_themeparks via Instagram

If you’re itching for more road trip adventures, drive a little further up to the Gold Coast or Brisbane in Queensland . Take your pick from hair-raising Gold Coast theme parks or the mellow Brisbane Brewing Co .

Read more: 2-Week Australia Road Trip from Sydney to Byron Bay — Discovering NSW’s Legendary Pacific Coast

Driving tips and planning for an unforgettable road trip in Australia

In a land so vast and wondrous, not exploring Australia on a road trip is a real shame. Even then, whether you decide to stay in the cities or hit the road, this country won’t have any problems curing your wanderlust !

All you need to do is find underrated things to do , or seek out socially-distant natural wonders . Hey, safety is sexy, no?

Speaking of safety, here are some useful driving tips for the long road ahead 👇 (1) Rent a GPS or download offline Google maps. Mobile reception isn’t available in remote places like National Parks. (2) Follow the speed limit — even in rural areas. Take it from us, the fines are hefty. (3) Watch out for wildlife on the roads. Drive at the recommended speeds, so that you can slow down or brake in time if an animal crosses in front of you. (4) Similarly, avoid driving in the dark as animals are more active then. If you do, use your high beam to see further ahead. Drop it when there are cars in the other direction (they’ll do the same too).

Need more ideas to plan your next Australia road trip? Find more guides and detailed maps for self-driving itineraries here !

Featured and Facebook image credit: @tracks.we.travel via Instagram

Which Australia road trip are you keen to go on? Share your plans in the comments!

This post is brought to you by Tourism Australia .

For more travel inspiration, follow us on Facebook , Instagram , YouTube , and Telegram !

View this post on Instagram A post shared by thetravelintern.com (@thetravelintern) on Jul 29, 2020 at 4:31am PDT

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25 Famous Australian Landmarks To Plan Your Road Trip Around!

Posted on Last updated: March 27, 2024

Categories Australia , Famous Landmarks Around The World

Expert travel storyteller Jordan Adkins, founder of InspiredByMaps.com, brings a decade of adventures across 101 countries and 450+ UNESCO sites into rich, off-the-beaten-path narratives, melding ecological expertise with genuine, seasoned travel insights. His full bio can be found here.

Australia is one of the world’s most sought-after travel destinations, a wild outpost at the end of the filled with beautiful reefs, rugged landscapes, animated people, and red outback sand. So much sand!

When approaching a trip to the ‘Land Downunder’, you will want to tick off as many famous Australian Landmarks as you can – and the best way is to do that is often by buying a camper van… or getting an outstanding deal on car rentals!

With 7.692 million km² of breathtakingly beautiful but isolated wilderness, the bus and train simply aren’t going to cut it. How many of these famous Australian Landmarks can you cram into one trip? If you plan it right, you might just hit them all — plus discover plenty more of your own highlights of Australia while you’re at it!

Page Contents

1. The Great Barrier Reef

2. surfers paradise, 3. kangaroo island, 4. cradle mountain tasmania, 5. the city of perth, 6. rottnest island, 8. port arthur penitentiary, 9. uluru rock , 10. coogee beach, 11. australia’s wildlife zoos, 12. fraser island, 13. brighton bathing boxes, 14. kings canyon, 15. blue mountains, 16. the pinnacles desert, 17. the great ocean road, 18. australian parliament, 19. byron bay, 20. the sydney opera house , 21. kuranda scenic railway, 22. lord howe island, 23. mount kosciuszko, 24. sovereign hill, 25. kakadu national park.

The largest living thing on Earth, what trip to Australia could be complete without swimming amongst the millions of fish, corals, and turtles that make this national treasure their home? Global warming and intensive use of the surrounding land might be slowly killing it – so don’t put it off and assume that one of Australia’s greatest tourist attractions will be there forever.

We know that for visitors, the whole of Australia is a surfer’s paradise, but this coastal Queensland resort really goes the extra mile to live up to its name. It is phenomenally popular – some estimates show 20,000 people per day visiting over peak season – so you can’t expect a secluded beach chill. What you can expect, however, is a seriously great time.

The stretch of sandy beach glows golden, and the waves are endlessly alluring. You could easily while away hours stretched out, dipping in and out of the sea as needed, and watching the world go by. If you tire of this, the famous glitter strip of Surfers Paradise is waiting for you. Here you can shop for surfwear, sample great coffee, eat healthy salad bowls and (at night) let your hair down in the bars or clubs. Some parts are seedy, but it’s all part of the charm!

We’re sure you’ve already been tempted by this enticingly-named spot – allow yourself to be induced because it’s well worth a visit. This chilled-out, rural island off the coast of South Australia is sometimes called ‘Australia’s natural zoo.’ Why? Well, here you can see native wildlife doing their thing out in the open.

About a third of the island is protected by national parks and conservation areas, so the wildlife has been able to flourish. See a wide variety of birds, colonies of sea lions, spot the dolphins in the water, and, of course, spend some time with the kangaroos that give the island its name. As an added bonus, some of the world’s best hotels are here, and the food is perfection.

Found within the world-famous Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, a hike along the Overland Track will bring you to the iconic Cradle Mountain, one of the most beautiful mountains in the world (but it’s just quite a rainbow mountain ..).

Proclaimed UNESCO World Heritage along with the surrounding area as part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area , there is much more to explore in this unique – and ancient – place, including glacier feed river, tall pine forest, icy streams, and even Tasmanian devils if you’re lucky!

The most isolated city on Earth, Perth, often gets skipped over by tourists who stick to the beaten East Coast path – but those who dare to venture are in for a treat! This slick Australian Landmark has beaches and whether to make Sydney envious, all with a much slower and more relaxed pace of life.

Rough-around-the-edges yet surprisingly sophisticated when needed, Perth is a city that draws you in a tempts you never to leave. So pack your surf-board and forget what other plans you thought you had – once you arrive in Perth, you’re not going to want to leave!

From the South to the West coast, Rottnest Island is another place that should absolutely be on your Oz itinerary. It’s only 19km off the coast so you can day-trip here if you don’t have much time. If you do have time, however, it’s an outdoorsy playground with 63 idyllic beaches, amazing snorkeling options, and tons of wildlife to spot.

There are no cars on ‘Rotto,’ which adds to the secluded atmosphere. Hop on a bicycle and glide around the island, letting yourself totally relax. It’s the perfect place to come after an intense few days or weeks road-tripping – you can go off-grid a bit and soak up some of that famous Aussie chill.

OK, we know it’s quite a trek to this out-of-the-way town in the red-soil country of Western Australia, and some people think it’s not worth it. However, it’s the ideal place to explore the region from, plus there is a lot more to Broome than meets the eye. A welcoming local community with a laidback vibe makes this seaside resort on the Indian Ocean charming year-round, not only when the tourists are piling in.

Cable Beach is glorious whatever the weather, and its west-facing location means that the sunsets are spectacular. You can also enjoy a film at the 1903 outdoor theatre, visit nearby Coconut Wells, go on a guided tour of the former pearling town, or drive out to the epic Cape Leveque. Exploring the creeks and mangroves of Roebuck Bay is also a lovely way to spend a morning (if it’s not too hot!). Quirky bars and cafes line the streets, and you’ll find that if you’re here for more than a couple of days, you can quickly become a regular.

Down in isolated Tasmania, you’ll find this eerie remnant of Australia’s history. It is not a comfortable visit, but we believe if you want to understand a country, you need to see its dark sides as well as the fun stuff. As most of us know, Australia was where British and Irish convicts were sent in the 18th and 19th centuries. Port Arthur was one of the most notorious penal colonies of the time, surrounded on three sides by water and thought to be inescapable – the Alcatraz of Australia.

Since closing in 1877, Port Arthur Penitentiary has been more or less abandoned. Damage caused by fires in the 1890s and earth tremors has left the buildings hollowed out. In 1996, a man went on a killing spree, tragically killing over 30 people – adding horror to the existing horrors the place had seen. Now you can find a monument paying tribute to those who died. Nowadays, visitors can go on lantern-lit ghost tours, explore the interactive museum, and wander the ruins learning more about the country’s chequered past.

Speaking of isolated, this gorgeous, grand, and utterly unforgettable monolith rising out of the vast desertscape has to be on everyone’s list of the most iconic Australian Landmarks. In the heart of arid Australia, the nearer town is 450 km away (Alice Springs), but that doesn’t spot thousands of tourists descending annually to this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Uluru is over 550 million years old and is considered sacred to the indigenous Australians – so don’t even think about stepping foot on it! Admire for a distance and try exploring the rest of the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, including the 36 red-rock domes of the Kata Tjuta. Yes, there are a few other things to do out here in the middle of nowhere!

This is what Australia does so well, a relaxed seaside suburb with calm surf, ocean pools, and historic buildings fronting the promenade area. Most well-known as the start (or end) of the walk from Coogee to Bondi – be sure to take your time and explore one of Sydney’s most laid-back suburbs.

There are plenty of pubs, bars, and spots of the sand to wallow in for a while, or you could explore the snorkeling trails of nearby Gordon Bay.

OK – so it’s not technically an iconic Australian landmark, but really – how could you skip seeing all of the utterly bizarre and unique wildlife here? Koala. Kangaroo. Australian Dingo. Wombat. Quoll. Tasmanian Devil. Green Tree Frog. Frilled Neck Lizard. The list goes on, and on and on…

While finding a wildlife park in Australia won’t be hard, I recommend the Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane . Founded way back in 1927,  Pine Koala Sanctuary is the world’s oldest and largest koala sanctuary, but they also have practically every other unbelievable concoction Australian nature has thought up!

We know this list is getting a little island-heavy, but there are just so many good ones in Oz, it’s hard to leave them out! Given that Fraser Island is heritage listed and absolutely stunning, not to mention the biggest sand island in the world, we’re sure you’ll understand why it’s on this list. Not for nothing do local Butchalla people call it paradise – it’s all deep blue lakes, luscious golden sand dunes, rich rainforest, and the ever-present ocean surrounding it all.

Coming here is a real adventure, something you sense as you bounce along unsealed roads in a four-wheel drive, spotting the local dingo. The wilderness on Fraser is full of native wildlife, and the most popular accommodation option is camping, so you can really immerse yourself in the abundance of nature. Float down Eli Creek, swim in the freshwater lakes (avoid the sea as the sharks love this area!) and hike to your heart’s content.

An unknowing visitor to Melbourne’s Brighton Beach might be somewhat taken aback by these brightly-colored wooden bathing boxes standing vigil along the sand. Timber structures decorated with jazzy paint and eye-catching murals ranging from the Australian flag to waving crabs to space invaders, these 86 boxes were built over 100 years ago to allow people to maintain their Victorian ideas of modesty when changing into their swimwear.

Aside from regular paint touch-ups, the boxes have barely altered since then, maintaining the same Victorian architecture and eschewing running water and electricity. They embody Australian beach culture, offering the lucky owners stunning views of the city skyline and Port Philip Bay. It’s definitely worth a trip down here, for the views, the history and, of course, the photo ops.

People might sometimes avoid central Australia on their road trips, but there are so many gems to discover there – Kings Canyon being one of the most spectacular. This vast cavern is a paradise for hikers, and really for anyone who loves to experience the wonders that the natural world can produce. Located in the heart of Watarrka National Park, this red-rock canyon offers jaw-dropping views of the sunrise from the top (well worth waking up pre-dawn!).

We’d recommend staying a couple of days here, so you have the time to explore it on foot. Due to the heat, you often need to save the hiking for mornings are late afternoons, which is when the area is looking its best, anyway. The ripples in the rock show how the geology formed over millennia, from being underwater to finding its current home in the middle of this massive country. If you stay at the resort, you can enjoy dinner underneath the starry skies above Kings Canyon.  

Only 90 minutes from Sydney, this iconic Australian natural landmark offer dramatic views over a seemingly endless Vally. However, if you dare to explore further, you’ll find glow worm tunnels, more bushwalks than we can count, rivers, little cottages, leeches, and the worlds steepest railway.  

While there are so many fun things to do in Sydney , if you can spare the time, you really should try spending a few days in the Blue Mountains of Australia to escape it all, reconnect with nature – or at least just enjoy the cool, fresh air up here!

Back into the desert again and another of the most iconic landscapes in Australia. The otherworldly Pinnacles Desert looks like a cross between the moon and a Star Wars film set, but it is actually one a few hours drive from Perth (though you do have to get there first).

Some of the oldest living fossils on Earth have been found here, a testament to how old these limestone spires really are and the mysteries held beneath Western Australia’s largest sand dunes.

Probably one of the most scenic drives in the world – The Great Ocean Road is often first up on road-tripping tourists bucket list of iconic landmarks in Australia.

Hugging the coast of South Australia its not just about the drive, but about the surf breaks waterfalls, rainforest, galleries, heritage attractions, and native wildlife you will encounter along that way. And that’s all before you set sight on the towering 12 Apostles, basically, the physical manifestation of rugged Australia splendor piercing out of the dramatic Southern Ocean.

We loved road-tripping here with friends, but in that case, things are going to be comfortable, so be sure to follow some fabulous suitcase packing tips. If you have extra time, don’t forget to visit the nearby Yarra Valley for some of Australia’s best wineries …

The Australian Parliament House is an absolutely stunning building. Usually, government buildings are majestic and historical; while this one is certainly imposing, it’s got a modern feel to it rather than any sense of being trapped in the past. This makes sense, as it was only built-in 1988. The two axes that cross it symbolize the historical and legislative progression of Australian democracy – amazing, right?

If you visit when parliament is sitting, head to the public galleries to see democracy in action. Don’t worry if there aren’t any shouting politicians around; there’s still plenty to see. Displays in the Great Hall, the Members’ Hall, and surrounding corridors use pieces from the Parliamentary art collection while the views from the roof take in a large part of Canberra and offer the ideal perspective on the city design.

No list of places to go in Australia would be complete without the famous Byron Bay. This town in south-eastern Australia has become practically synonymous with the laid-back, beachy surfer lifestyle that the country is invariably associated with. While its popularity has had its downsides (traffic jams, queues, and a lack of parking space spring to mind as examples), this beach-focused town is still a special stop on your Oz road trip.

An eclectic group of people call Byron Bay their home – from artists and musicians who have set up camp here, to local retirees, to aging hippies looking to put down roots. This community mixed with the backpackers, families, and adventurers who visit creates a colorful, friendly place to be. Cafes hum with life, fresh food is lapped up, beers are enjoyed at sunset. If you’re feeling energetic, wake up at dawn for the glorious sunrise. Byron is not somewhere you’ll ever forget, trust us.

Not only one of the most iconic Australian landmarks, but one of the most famous buildings in the entire the world – The Sydney Opera House is a great architectural work of the 20th century and today listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (one of the youngest in the world.). Fusing creativity, innovation, and structural design in a remarkable setting at the heart of the Sydney Harbour, this work by Danish architect Jørn Utzon inspired millions of people every year who come here to eat, drink, play, be entertained or simply admire this modern wonder of the world.

What more proof could you need that Sydney is one of the most romantic places on Earth .

This famous 2-hour railway trip winds its way on a journey from Cairns to Kuranda, rising from sea level to 328m. One of Australia’s most famous train rides the routes through tropic green arcadia framed by broken mountains and inspiring waterfalls that seem to tumble into eternity down deep ravines.

And while landscape itself is the main highlight for us – for many, it is the chance to travel along this 127-year-old railway that is still considered a colossal engineering achievement even today.

Paradise lost and not yet found by the masses; for this landmark, you actually will have to ditch your car and take a flight. Still, the payoff is entirely worth it. Picture-perfect sandy beaches, lush subtropical forests and crystal-clear water awaits you in this tiny island 600 km east of Port Macquarie in the Tasman Sea.

If you hit New Zealand , you have gone too far. There are bird-watching, scuba diving, and plenty of places to explore on your own without the crowds – as only 300 people inhabit the island permanently. Another UNESCO World Heritage-listed location, Lord Howe Island, is unique, untouched, and remains a genuinely remarkable travel destination even in the current age of mass tourism. In essence, much like Easter Island and San Blas , the magic of this island is fathomless.

On an epic road trip of Australia, you will probably want to include Australia’s tallest mountain – because, well, its human nature. Located in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales, Australia, you can head out on an iconic day walk which gives you breathtaking views and takes you to the summit of Mount Kosciuszko at 2,228 meters (7,310 ft) above sea level.

For those who prefer not to hike, there is also skiing or an annual 240 km ultramarathon running race called the Coast to Kosciuszko in December. We’d recommend sticking with the hike or skiing.

Frequently voted one of the top attractions in Australia, Sovereign Hill is an open-air museum in Ballarat – an easy 90-minute drive from Melbourne – that represents Ballarat’s first ten years of life after the mad gold rush changed the fortunes of the town in 1851.

For lovers of history and old-timey adventures, a here will let you feel all the energy and excitement of life as it was in the 1850s Ballarat during what is, still to this day, the biggest alluvial gold rush in history. Set on 25 acres of an original mining site, this ‘living museum’ features enthusiastic costumed characters who frequent the town’s shops, hotels, theatre, schools, factories, and more. Don’t miss exploring the gold diggings, underground mines, or making friends with the 40 horses who live here year-round.

About as far north as you get in Australia, the timeless Kakadu National Park is this island nationals largest national park covering almost 20000 square kilometers. It might be quite a hike to get here, but the rugged beauty that awaits you makes it worth the effort. Expansive wetlands, winding rivers, sandstone escarpments, saltwater crocodiles, flatback turtles, and everything in between.

If that is not enough, this land has been inhabited by people for over 40,000 years from the hunter-gatherers of prehistoric times to the Aboriginal people still living there. – As a result, there is a wealth of cave paintings, rock carvings and archaeological sites here – and Kakadu National Park has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site from both natural and cultural reasons. A place guaranteed to take your breath away and forever occupies a special place in any traveler’s heart who makes an effort to get here.

Most Beautiful Metro Stations in Moscow

Visiting Moscow? Get yourself a metro card and explore Moscow’s beautiful metro stations. Moscow’s world-famous metro system is efficient and a great way to get from A to B. But there is more to it; Soviet mosaic decorations, exuberant halls with chandeliers, colourful paintings and immense statues. Moscow’s metro is an attraction itself, so take half a day and dive into Moscow’s underground!

The best thing to do is to get on the brown circle (number 5) line since the most beautiful metro stations are situated on this line. The only exception is the metro stop Mayakovskaya one the green line (number 2). My suggestion is to get a map, mark these metro stops on there and hop on the metro. It helps to get an English > Russian map to better understand the names of the stops. At some of the metro stops, the microphone voice speaks Russian and English so it’s not difficult at all.

Another thing we found out, is that it’s worth taking the escalator and explore the other corridors to discover how beautiful the full station is.

Quick hotel suggestion for Moscow is the amazing Brick Design Hotel .

These are my favourite metro stations in Moscow, in order of my personal preference:

1. Mayakovskaya Station

The metro station of Mayakovskaya looks like a ballroom! Wide arches, huge domes with lamps and mosaic works make your exit of the metro overwhelming. Look up and you will see the many colourful mosaics with typical Soviet pictures. Mayakovskaya is my personal favourite and is the only stop not on the brown line but on the green line.

2. Komsomolskaya Station

Komsomolskaya metro station is famous for its yellow ceiling. An average museum is nothing compared to this stop. Splendour all over the place, black and gold, mosaic – again – and enormous chandeliers that made my lamp at home look like a toy.

3. Novoslobodskaya Station

The pillars in the main hall of Novoslobodskaya metro station have the most colourful stained glass decorations. The golden arches and the golden mosaic with a naked lady holding a baby in front of the Soviet hammer and sickle, make the drama complete.

4. Prospect Mira Station

The beautiful chandeliers and the lines in the ceiling, make Prospekt Mira an architectural masterpiece.

5. Belorusskaya Station

Prestigious arches, octagonal shapes of Socialistic Soviet Republic mosaics. The eyecatcher of Belorusskaya metro station, however, is the enormous statue of three men with long coats, holding guns and a flag.

6. Kiyevskaya Station

The metro station of Kiyevskaya is a bit more romantic than Belorusskaya and Prospect Mira. Beautiful paintings with classical decorations.

7. Taganskaya Station

At the main hall Taganskaya metro station you will find triangle light blue and white decorations that are an ode to various Russians that – I assume – are important for Russian history and victory. There is no need to explore others halls of Taganskaya, this is it.

8. Paveletskaya Station

Another and most definitely the less beautiful outrageous huge golden mosaic covers one of the walls of Paveletskaya. I would recommend taking the escalator to the exit upstairs to admire the turquoise dome and a painting of the St Basil’s Cathedral in a wooden frame.

Travelling with Moscow’s metro is inexpensive. You can have a lot of joy for just a few Rubbles.

• 1 single journey: RMB 50 – € 0,70
• 1 day ticket: RMB 210 – € 2,95

Like to know about Moscow, travelling in Russia or the Transsiberian Train journey ? Read my other articles about Russia .

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Wow! It is beautiful. I am still dreaming of Moscow one day.

It’s absolutely beautiful! Moscow is a great city trip destination and really surprised me in many ways.

My partner and I did a self guided Moscow Metro tour when we were there 2 years ago. So many breathtaking platforms…I highly recommend it! Most of my favorites were along the Brown 5 line, as well. I also loved Mayakovskaya, Arbatskaya, Aleksandrovski Sad and Ploshchad Revolyutsii. We’re heading back in a few weeks and plan to do Metro Tour-Part 2. We hope to see the #5 stations we missed before, as well as explore some of the Dark Blue #3 (Park Pobedy and Slavyansky Bul’var, for sure), Yellow #8 and Olive #10 platforms.

That’s exciting Julia! Curious to see your Metro Tour-Part 2 experience and the stations you discovered.

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Moscow Boat Tour

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Description

See all the gems of historical and cultural center of the capital in short time and without traffic jams or tiresome walking.

Depending on the itinerary and duration of the Moscow River boat trip, the tour can be 3 or 5 hours.

Highlights of the tour

• St Basil’s Cathedral;
• Stalin skyscraper on Kotelnicheskaya (Tinkers) embankment;
• The Kremlin;
• “House on the Embankment” Stalin skyscraper;
• Monument to Peter I;
• The Central House of Artists;
• Christ the Savior Cathedral;
• Gorky Park;
• Moscow State University;
• Russian Academy of Sciences;
• Luzhniki stadium;
• Novodevichy Monastery;
• Kiev railway station;
• Europe Square;
• Moscow City Hall;
• Government House;
• Expocentre Exhibition Complex;
• and other famous sights.

You will learn about the different epochs of the city from the foundation in 1147 till Soviet times of 20 th  century.

Moscow River

Moskva river has the form of a snake and is the main waterway of Moscow, consisting of a cascade of reservoirs. Within the city, Moskva river is 80 km long, 120 m - 200 m wide and up to 14 m deep. The narrowest part of the river is the Kremlin area in the city center, and the most extensive is around the Luzhniki Stadium in the south. 

Bridges in Moscow

Undoubtedly, bridges and embankments are among the most scenic spots and main attractions of Moscow. Plus, they are so romantic.

• Bolshoy Kamenny Bridge –  Great Stone Bridge –  is the main bridge of Moscow . The first stone bridge was constructed here in the 17th century.
• Patriarshy Bridge  is one of the youngest pedestrian bridges, built in 2004. The bridge connects the iconic Christ the Saviour Cathedral with funky Bersenevskaya embankment, extremely popular place among locals for its trendy art galleries, cafes and panoramic views. Patriarshy Bridge used to be a shooting location for ex-Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's New Year speech to the nation.
• Borodinsky Bridge,  erected in honor of the 100th anniversary of the glorious victory in the Battle of Borodino (which every Russian kid knows about), a fierce legendary battle during the Russo-French war of 1812.
• Bagration Bridge  one of the  pedestrian bridges with most picturesque views of the Moskva River with its numerous upper-level observation platforms. The bridge was erected to celebrate the 850th anniversary of Moscow city in 1997.
• Krymsky Bridge  used to be in Top 5 Europe’s longest bridges some 100 years ago. The bridge got its name after the ancient Krymsky ford which Crimean Tartars used to invade Moscow in the 16 th  century.

Embankments of Moscow

Moscow river boats 37 embankments, the most popular being Kremlevskaya, Sofiyskaya, Pushkinskaya, Vorobyovskaya and Kolomenskaya.

You can get the most spectacular views of the Kremlin from  Kremlevskaya and Sofiyskaya embankments.

• Pushkinkaya embankment  is the most romantic in Moscow. It meanders along Gorky Park and Neskuchnyi garden and is rich for all kinds of entertainment as well as cozy nooks, including Olivkovy beach, the famous Zeleny theater as well as a pier for river cruisers.
• Vorobyevskaya embankment  is part of Sparrow Hills nature reserve. This place opens a beautiful panorama of the river and city from the observation deck and is considered to be the place for taking serious decisions in life.
• Embankment in Kolomenskoye  Museum-Reserve has a special charm due to its peculiar geographical relief. The boat trip around Kolomenskoye would be the most peaceful in your life.
• Taras Shevchenko embankment  is popular among photographers for its modern Moscow City skyscrapers. Highly recommended for your night boat trip.
• Embankments of Moscow are the pride of the capital. A distinctive feature of each of the promenades is its architecture and beautiful views. In addition, almost all the embankments of Moscow have a rich history and a lot of notable buildings.

Different epochs

Taking a walk along the Moskva River by boat, you will witness the architecture of Moscow from different eras and styles. Archaeological studies indicate that already in the XI century there stood a fortified settlement on Borovitsky hill, which is now called the Kremlin. Little fortress could not accommodate all the residents of the rapidly growing city, and the Grand Duke ordered the construction of a new Kremlin, larger than the former.

Boat trip around Kolomenskoe Park

Moscow river boat trip starts from the pier Klenovy (Maple) Boulevard and provides reat views of Nicholas Perervinsky monastery.

Nicholas Perervinsky monastery was founded at the time of the Battle of Kulikov (1380). The monastery, got its name from the surrounding area – “Pererva”, which can be translated like “tear off” and because of the location –  here it abruptly changed its course, turning to Kolomna, standing on the opposite bank.

Nowadays Kolomenskoye is State Art, Historical, Architectural and Natural Landscape Museum-Reserve, which doors are open to everyone who wants to get in touch with the ancient history of Russia.

Take a break from the big city hustle in the shady parks and gardens of the Kolomenskoe Museum-Reserve. Don’t miss a wonderful Church of the Ascension and Tsar Alexey’s Palace in Kolomenskoye!

Monasteries and temples

• Novospassky Monastery
• Founded in the 13th century on the site where now is located the Danilovsky monastery. After a few decades, in 1330, Ivan Kalita moved the monastery onto the Borovitskii hill of the Kremlin. However, in the 15th century, Spassky Monastery again moved, this time to a more spacious place on Krasnoholmskaya waterfront.
• Church of St. Nicholas in Zayaitskom
• Erected in the middle of the XVIII century in baroque style. The building survived after the 1812 fire, but the utensils were destoyed. Parishioners collected donations and restored the temple on their own. In Soviet times, it was closed and re-opened only in 1992.
• Cathedral of Christ the Savior
• The church was originally erected in honor of the victory over Napoleon and was being under construction for long 44 years. Notoriously demolished in 1937 to be a giant swimming pool under open sky. The current building was constructed in 1990s. It is the tallest and one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world.
• The temple was built in 1679-82, during the reign of Tsar Fedor Alekseevich, in late Muscovite Baroque style and can be characterized as bonfire temple. Each gable is a symbol of a heavenly fire.
• Novodevichy Convent
• The most famous concent and monastery in Moscow, presumably founded in 1524. Novodevichy’s status has always been high among other monasteries, it was in this monastery where the women of the royal blood, the wives of Tsars and local rulers of Moscow were kept in prison as nuns.
• St. Andrew’s church  (male acts as Compound Patriarch of Moscow)
• St. Andrew’s church stands right on the slopes of the Sparrow Hills, on the way down to the Moskva River, on the territory of the Nature Reserve “Sparrow Hills”. The monastery is small in size but is very cozy. It’s situated in a quiet courtyard surrounded by temples, fruit trees and flowers.

What you get:

• + A friend in Moscow.
• + Private & customized Moscow river cruise.
• + An exciting pastime, not just boring history lessons.
• + An authentic experience of local life.
• + Flexibility: changes can be made at any time to suit individual preferences.
• + Amazing deals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the very best cafes & restaurants. Discounts on weekdays (Mon-Fri).
• + A photo session amongst spectacular Moscow scenery that can be treasured for a lifetime.
• + Good value for souvenirs, taxis, and hotels.
• + Expert advice on what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of your time in Moscow.

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