Top 10 Best Road Trips In Australia
To fully appreciate this Great Southern Land and its diversity, it’s time to put down the boarding pass and pick up the road map. Here, 10 epic road trips that take in the very best that Australia has to offer.1. The Big Lap
The Big Lap of Australia is still the biggest dream road trip of all.
The Route
Exactly as it sounds, the Big Lap is the circumnavigation of this vast country. This road trip follows some 15,000 kilometres of Highway One, which links seven of the capital cities, roughly skirting the coastline between Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Broome, Perth, Esperance, Adelaide, Melbourne, and Hobart.Why is it One of The Greats?
If you have the time (we’re talking six months at least) and a 4WD, this road trip will be one of the most epic journeys you’ve ever taken. The route takes in everything from big-city lights to sleepy coastal towns, verdant green rainforest to the dusty red outback, remote waterholes to sugar-white beaches, ancient rock art to kitsch big things; it’s everything great about Australia in one continuous road trip.Don't Miss
For the ultimate itinerary, be sure to detour off the Stuart Highway in NT to include Kakadu, Uluru and Alice Springs.Driving Tip
Maximise good weather by spending April to September travelling across the north of Australia between Broome and Cairns. This is the dry season when temperatures are pleasant and all roads are generally open (during the wet season they can be closed).Source — Australiantraveller.com
2. Newcastle
Things to do
- Stockton Beach
- Sand Dune Adventures
- Blackbutt Nature Reserve
Luxury Accommodation
- Newcastle Central Plaza
- Clarendon Hotel
- Chaucer Palms Boutique Bed and Breakfast
Events
- Hello Koalas Festival, May
- Surfest, February/March
- Soul Food, May
Airport Facilities and Services
- Extensive parking
- Accommodation
- Shops and cafes
3. Great Ocean Road, Victoria
Certainly, don’t drive it in one day like the tourist buses do from Melbourne. It deserves at least a few days.
The Great Ocean Road is not only one of the famous road trips in Australia, but around the world as one of the best drives on the planet.
Beginning one hour outside of Melbourne in Torquay, this drive stretches over 250-kilometres to Warrnambool and offers stunning coastal scenery, wildlife, waterfalls, hiking and beachside towns.
Source — Ytravelblog.com
4. Red Centre Way, Northern Territory
This is one to stuff your cassette deck with Midnight Oil and the Warumpi Band, crank the woofer to 11, then floor and be floored by ethereal sunset as you chart the nation’s deepest outback.
Source — Redbull.com
5. Great Eastern Drive
Farmland, rocky coastlines and ultra-white beaches break up the drive, and with an abundance of cool-climate vineyards, you'll have multiple opportunities to enjoy the state's finest produce.
Take a detour to Coles Bay and Freycinet National Park, where you'll find some of the freshest seafood you're ever likely to eat as well as the picture-perfect Wineglass Bay.
Continue on to the Bay of Fires and grab a camp spot at The Gardens for a truly spectacular location to pitch a tent — you'll find white sand, stunning lichen-covered rocks and a perfect place for an ocean swim.
It's highly recommended that you make the trip over several days to truly enjoy everything the region has to offer.
Source — Abc.net.au
6. Flinders Ranges and Outback
If you have a 4WD vehicle of your own, explore the network of gravel roads through ancient gorges and over rocky, weathered peaks. Try some grilled kangaroo, camel and emu at one of the outback's most famous pubs, the at Parachilna, before heading back to the city.
Source — Australia.com
7. The Gibb River Road
Careering through the little-visited Kimberley region in the far north of Western Australia, the Gibb River Road will take you from Derby to Kununurra. From here you can explore some of the country’s finest geological offerings including the Bell, Windjana, Emma and Galvan’s gorges, the King Leopold Range, Zebedee Springs, and Tunnel Creek.
The region is also home to fascinating ancient Indigenous history, which dates back some 50 to 60 thousand years. From the Gibb River Road, you can explore some of the most interesting and important rock art sites in the country, such as Mitchell Plateau and El Questro, although access is often only granted if you are with one of the traditional owners on a guided tour.
Source — Telegraph.co.uk
8.Heritage Highway, Tasmania
Although the drive will only take you a few hours, you can easily make this road trip last a few days with stops en-route.
Once you’ve taken in the sights of Heritage Highway, you can discover more about the history at the Heritage Highway Museum and Visitors Centre in Campbell Town.
Source — Skyscanner.com.au
9. Coral Coast
- Distance: 800 miles
- Duration: 7 to 10 days
You can do this road trip south to north or north to south but my personal favourite is starting in Perth and working your way north towards Exmouth. If you’re starting in Perth, get out of the city centre and find your way to Indian Ocean Drive. Once you’re there, point your bonnet north and step on the accelerator because you’ve got a long way to go.
Where to stop
Moore River
Moore River and the neighbouring National Park make an excellent first stop. The river, in particular, is a really odd sight as its orange-brown water pours into the turquoise ocean. Beyond Moore River, I recommend stopping at Nambung Park, a huge sandy expanse dotted with mysterious stone pillars. It’s genuinely like something from another planet!Geraldton
Further north, lies the seaside town of Geraldton, the crayfish capital of Western Australia. Unless you’re deathly allergic to shellfish, you simply must stop here! In fact, even if shellfish isn’t your thing, it’s worth stopping at Geraldton for its fantastic water sports and glut of marine wildlife.Kalbarri
Your next stop is Kalbarri, a modest 95 miles further up the coast. The Kalbarri National Park is a bit of unknown gem in Western Australia and includes a bunch of amazing gorge walks and other nature excursions! There’s also a Skywalk under construction (basically a massive walkway floating above a gorge) that’s due to open in 2019.Carnarvon
From Kalbarri, it’s a short(ish) hop up to Carnarvon at the foot of Lake Mcleod. In Kalbarri, you can find the Space and Technology Museum, which is well worth a visit to learn about Australia’s role in Nasa’s history.Exmouth
After Carnarvon, it’s a straight shot to Exmouth on the northwestern tip of Australia. Exmouth is a sleepy little town that doubles in size during peak tourism season so when you go will have a bit affect on how it feels. Sitting on a peninsula, there are some great diving spots around Exmouth. The whale watching is supposed to be first-class too.Depending on your schedule, you can break up the drive between Carnarvon and Exmouth with a quick stop in Ningaloo to swim in the Ningaloo Reef. It’s one of the longest fringing reefs in the world and is brimming with brightly coloured fish. You might even spot a whale shark!
Source — Nomadsworld.com
10. The Pilbara, WA
Start at Newman and head east to Dampier on the coast via Karijini and Millstream Chichester national parks, exploring dozens of gorges, waterfalls, wild swimming holes, riverside camp spots and ancient rock art galleries along the way.
It really is the wild west, with the bonus that, compared to the well-travelled roads in the Kimberley, there are hardly any other tourists. How far? Roughly 700km.
Source — Traveller.com.au
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