15 Best Road Trips in Australia for Epic Adventures

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Planning to go to Australia? You’re in for a deal with! The nation is bursting with thrilling sights so that you can discover. From huge, desolate deserts, tropical islands, dense jungles, historic aboriginal lands, crocodile-filled wetlands, and miles upon miles of scenic shoreline – you’ve acquired surroundings for days in Australia.

To not point out the tradition and wildlife, which is second to none and incomparable to wherever else on the earth.

With a lot to see and discover, there’s just one method to do Australia proper – a highway journey.

For my part, one of the best ways to see what this huge nation has to supply is to take one in all these traditional highway journeys in Australia.

Particularly in case you have youngsters like us, highway journeys make household journey extra sensible, cost-effective, and provide a lot extra flexibility.

As a substitute of flying from level A to B and lacking every part in between, the journey turns into simply as memorable because the vacation spot.

We accomplished an 18-month highway journey round Australia. On this information, we’ve damaged down every of our greatest highway journeys in Australia into particular person journeys you’ll be able to take, that can assist you make planning simpler.

About These Highway Journeys in Australia

On this put up, we’ve included each lengthy and brief Australian highway journeys, and cross-country highway journey routes that incorporate a number of stops or locations.

They’re normally longer than a day journey and normally take wherever from a weekend to per week to finish. In actual fact, you may full all of them and have a extremely unimaginable journey throughout Australia!

We’ve additionally given an estimated really useful timeframe for every highway journey. To be sincere, one of the best a part of a highway journey goes at your personal tempo. The longer you might have the higher, however I do know your time could also be restricted.

However, even if you happen to observe our itineraries, every of those Australian highway journeys may be pushed in a 1-2 week interval however for a few of them, we suggest you’re taking longer!

However earlier than you see why Australia is without doubt one of the finest highway journey locations on the earth, you have to be ready…

Getting a Highway Journey Rental

Until you might have your personal automotive, you’re going to wish to get your self a car to your highway journey in Australia. In case you’re visiting from overseas, we suggest you utilize RentalCar, as this can be a worth comparability web site that compares all the highest rental automotive corporations.

In case you’re planning on tenting in your car, then RV Share is the location to browse round. It has RVs and motorhomes of all sizes and weights, plus you’ll be able to choose them up from a number of areas.

Finest Australian Highway Journeys

Now you know the way to get began and discover a car, it’s time to check out the stops! These are our favourite itineraries for a highway journey in Australia they usually cowl all our favourite locations to go to in Australia.

Go have a look!

1. Nice Ocean Highway, Victoria

• START | END: Torquay to Warrnambool
• DISTANCE: 250 km
• TIME RECOMMENDED: 2 – 3 days

If I solely had one piece of recommendation for driving the Nice Ocean Highway in Victoria, I’d say don’t simply rush to see the 12 Apostles to your vacationer snap. Decelerate and respect all this drive has to supply.

Actually, don’t drive it in in the future just like the vacationer buses do from Melbourne. It deserves no less than just a few days. It’s the proper weekend getaway from Melbourne.

The Nice Ocean Highway will not be solely some of the well-known highway journeys in Australia however world wide and is without doubt one of the finest drives on the planet.

Starting one hour outdoors of Melbourne in Torquay, this drive stretches over 250 kilometers to Warrnambool and provides gorgeous coastal surroundings, wildlife, waterfalls, mountaineering, and beachside cities.

Cease on the Nice Ocean Highway Journey:

This highway journey consists of the below-mentioned stops: 

• 12 Apostles
• Loch Ard Gorge
• Port Campbell Nationwide Park
• Apollo Bay

READ MORE: Right here is our full information to a Nice Ocean Highway Highway Journey

2. Crimson Centre Method, Northern Territory

• START | END: Alice Springs to Uluru
• DISTANCE: 468 km
• TIME RECOMMENDED: 5-6 days

You may’t have an inventory of one of the best highway journeys in Australia with out visiting the Outback. You’ll discover it in nearly each Australian state. The Crimson Centre is a drive within the Northern Territory you don’t need to miss.

And as an alternative of taking the Stuart Freeway between Uluru and Alice Springs, contemplate taking the scenic route alongside the Crimson Centre Method and uncover good landscapes, gorges, canyons, tenting, and mountaineering trails of the West MacDonnell Ranges.

This scenic highway takes you previous Glen Helen, King’s Canyon, and the long-lasting World Heritage Website of Ayres Rock.

Permit your self loads of time to soak up the marvel of Uluru and close by Kata Tjuta, it truly is the center of Australia and there may be multiple method to expertise it.

Stops on the Crimson Centre Method:

The Crimson Centre Method passes by the next websites:

• Uluru
• Kata Tjuta
• Kings Canyon
• Glen Helen Gorge

Try these highway journey ideas with youngsters:

3. The Savannah Method Highway Journey, Queensland

• START | END: Cairns to Broome
• DISTANCE: 3,700 km
• TIME RECOMMENDED: 1-2 weeks

The Savannah Method is without doubt one of the final highway journeys in Australia throughout the highest a part of the nation, stretching from Cairns in Queensland to Broome in Western Australia.

That’s from East to West for individuals who don’t know, taking in a whopping 3,700 km. 

To this point we’ve solely pushed the Savannah Method from Cairns to the Northern Territory border, nevertheless it was a spotlight of our time exploring the northern part of Outback Queensland.

Stops on the Savannah Method Highway Journey:

The Savannah Method highway journey passes the next prime sights:

• Millaa Millaa Falls
• Undara Lava Tubes
• Cobbold Gorge
• Boodjamulla Nationwide Park

4. Cairns to Cape Tribulation Highway Journey, QLD

• START | END: Cape Tribulation to Cairns (or vice versa)
• DISTANCE: 150 km
• TIME RECOMMENDED: 3-4 days

Tropical North Queensland needs to be some of the enchanting areas in Australia, if not the world. It’s house to 2 of our nation’s most iconic pure wonders; the Nice Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest.

One of the best time to go to Tropical North Queensland is in the course of the winter months when it’s not so humid and also you keep away from stinger season, though it would really feel like the entire south of the nation has migrated north with you.

The Cairns to Cape Tribulation is without doubt one of the hottest highway journeys in Australia. The adventurous can go additional as much as Cape York! It’s on our bucket listing for after we return!

Stops on the Cairns to Cape Tribulation Highway Journey:

The Cairns to Cape Tribulation highway journey stops on the following fashionable landmarks and cities:

• Nice Barrier Reef
• Port Douglas
• Mossman Gorge
• Cape Tribulation

Video: Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation Highway Journey, Queensland

Watch our video playlist of our highway journey from Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation within the Daintree Rainforest.

5. Sydney to Brisbane Drive, NSW QLD

• START | END: Sydney to Brisbane
• DISTANCE: 928 km
• TIME RECOMMENDED: 3-4 days

The favored east coast highway journey from Sydney to Brisbane, often known as the Legendary Pacific Coast, is without doubt one of the finest Australian highway journeys – definitely essentially the most traveled.

Stretching 900 kms alongside the Pacific Coast hall, the Sydney to Brisbane drive has one thing for everybody: gorgeous seashores, inexperienced rolling hills, beachside cities, riverside cities, wineries, the hinterland, wildlife watching, and each water sport conceivable.

When you have time to spare, why not hold going? You may drive alongside the coast all the way in which as much as Cairns previous Port Stephens, the Sunshine Coast and Noosa North Shore.

This manner you’ll be able to take day journeys out to the islands resembling The Whitsundays or Airlie Seashore. This may take no less than one other week.

Stops on the Sydney to Brisbane highway journey:

The Sydney to Brisbane highway journey passes by the next prime websites:

• The Hunter Valley
• Port Macquarie
• Coffs Harbour Coast
• Explorers Method
• Byron Bay
• Kingscliff
• Gold Coast

6. Darwin > Kakadu > Katherine > Litchfield Highway Journey, NT

• START | END: Darwin
• DISTANCE: 950 km
• TIME RECOMMENDED: 2-3 days

In case you are exploring the Prime Finish of Australia within the Northern Territory then a loop highway journey from Darwin taking in Kakadu Nationwide Park, Katherine Gorge, and Litchfield Nationwide Park is a should not miss highway journey in Australia.

Beginning and ending with a number of the finest sunsets in Australia at Darwin, this drive then takes within the unimaginable wetlands and wildlife of Kakadu, the gorgeous gorge surroundings at Katherine, and the waterfalls and swimming holes of Litchfield.

Stops on the Kakadu – Litchfield Highway Journey:

The Kakadu to Litchfield highway journey passes by the next notable landmarks:

• Mindil Seashore markets & sundown (Darwin)
• Yellow Water Billabong Cruise (Kakadu)
• Gunlom Falls (Kakadu)
• Ubirr Sundown (Kakadu)
• Dawn Cruise (Katherine Gorge)
• Florence Falls (Litchfield)

7. Gibb River Highway Journey, Western Australia

• START | END: Derby to Kununurra
• DISTANCE: 700 km
• TIME RECOMMENDED: 4-5 days

Some of the adventurous highway journeys in Australia is The Gibb River Highway in Western Australia, a well-known grime monitor that takes you thru the center of The Kimberley, one in all Australia’s final wilderness frontiers.

In case you’re into 4-wheel driving, this could possibly be your final journey.

Your complete Gibb runs for about 700 kilometers starting close to Derby and ending close to Kununurra and takes in good gorges, waterfalls, cattle stations and plains, wealthy aboriginal historical past, Boab bushes, 4-wheel driving, and nice tenting.

You are able to do the Gibb in both route however highway situations rely on the time of 12 months and completion of grading work. Journey is just really useful as soon as the highway has been graded after the moist season (round Could) till the tip of October

We didn’t have a four-wheel drive car so solely did the northern part, going into Emma’s Gorge and El Questro and again out.

Stops on the remainder of the Gibb embrace:

The Gibb River highway journey passes by the next notable landmarks:

• Windjana Gorge
• Tunnel Creek
• Bell Gorge
• Adcock Gorge
• Galvan’s Gorge
• King Leopold Ranges
• Emma’s Gorge
• Zebedee Springs
• El Questro

8. Broome to Perth Highway Journey, Western Australia

• START | END: Broome to Perth
• DISTANCE: 3,900 km
• TIME RECOMMENDED: 2 weeks minimal

We love the West Coast of Australia. This 3,900 kilometer stretch of shoreline will expose you to a number of the finest landscapes and seashores within the nation. You will have infinite decisions of highway journeys to your Australian travels.

I like to recommend you’re taking no less than two weeks to drive this part of WA, heck we are able to simply spend two weeks simply in Broome, our favourite city in Australia.

Don’t overlook your snorkeling gear, your tenting gear, and particularly your digicam. And I’d additionally extremely suggest a detour from Port Hedland inland to Karijini Nationwide Park, the most effective Nationwide Parks in Australia.

Stops on the Broome to Perth Highway Journey:

The Perth to Broome highway journey passes by these unmissable stops:

• Cable Seashore, Broome
• Turquoise Bay, Exmouth
• Ningaloo Reef
• Sandy Bay, Exmouth
• Coral Bay
• Shark Bay
• The Pinnacles Desert, Nambung Nationwide Park
• Rottnest Island, Perth

9. The 75 Mile Freeway, Fraser Island, QLD

• START | END: Fraser Island
• DISTANCE: 120 km
• TIME RECOMMENDED: 1 day

In search of 4-wheel-drive highway journeys in Australia?

Do you know that 75 Mile Seashore on Fraser Island is assessed as part of the Bruce Freeway? And that Fraser Island is the most important sand island on the earth?

If you wish to go off-road and do some severe seashore driving while exploring shipwrecks, pristine lakes, gorgeous forest, and dodging wild dingos, head over to Fraser for a number of the finest 4-wheel driving within the nation.

Stops on the Fraser Island highway journey:

The Fraser Island highway journey stops on the following locations:

• 75 Mile Seashore
• Eli Creek
• Maheno Shipwreck
• Lake Mackenzie
• Kingfisher Bay
• The forest

10. Outback Queensland Highway Journey

START | END: Alice Springs to Gold Coast
DISTANCE: 6540 km
TIME RECOMMENDED: 1-2 weeks

Coming again to the Gold Coast by Outback Queensland through Mount Isa, Winton, Longreach, and Charleville was such a pleasant shock and the proper manner for us to finish our 18-month Australian highway journey.

We encountered a number of the friendliest folks alongside this stretch of highway, to not point out the historical past and the landscapes on provide on the numerous cities.

Stops on the Outback Queensland highway journey:

The Outback Queensland highway journey passes by the next locations:

• Mining tour at Mt Isa
• City of Winton
• Australian Age of Dinosaurs, Winton
• Qantas Founders Museum, Longreach
• Cosmos Centre, Charleville
• Carnarvon Gorge

11. Sydney to Jervis Bay Highway Journey, NSW

• START | END: Sydney to Jervis Bay
• DISTANCE: 186 km
• TIME RECOMMENDED: 1-2 days

In case you had been to drive direct from Sydney to Jervis Bay it might take about 2.5 hours however there are just a few spots properly value stopping for alongside the way in which.

As you permit Sydney and head south you’ll quickly be driving by the Royal Nationwide Park, the second oldest Nationwide Park on the earth behind solely Yellowstone Nationwide Park within the USA.

You then begin the Grand Pacific Drive which takes you alongside the coast in the direction of Wollongong and over the well-known Sea Cliff Bridge, earlier than persevering with on to our favorite south coast area, Jervis Bay.

Stops on the South Coast highway journey:

On the way in which to Jervis Bay, you’ll go the next cool spots:

• Sea Cliff Bridge
• Hyams Seashore
• Greenpatch Seashore
• Booderee Nationwide Park

12. Launceston to Hobart Highway Journey, Tasmania

• START | END: Launceston to Hobart
• DISTANCE: 559 km
• TIME RECOMMENDED: 4-5 days

Tasmania is one in all Australia’s nice driving locations, and a scenic highway journey from Launceston to Hobart through the east coast takes in a few of Tasmania’s iconic locations.

Ranging from Launceston, head in the direction of St Helens and spend a while on the unimaginable Bay of Fires and Binalong Bay earlier than persevering with south through Bicheno, Freycinet Nationwide Park, Port Arthur, after which ending in Hobart.

This needs to be some of the spectacular highway journeys in Australia!

Stops on the Tasmania highway journey:

The East Coast Tasmanian highway journey passes these unmissable sights:

• Bay of Fires
• Binalong Bay
• Bicheno
• Wineglass Bay, Freycinet Nationwide Park
• Hazards Seashore, Freycinet Nationwide Park
• Port Arthur Historic Website
• Hobart

13. The Nullarbor Highway Journey, WA SA

• START | END: Ceduna to Norseman
• DISTANCE: 1,200 km
• TIME RECOMMENDED: 3-4 days

Some name it the Nullar-Boring however we actually loved our three-day drive throughout Australia’s longest highway and some of the distinctive highway journeys in Australia.

The Nullarbor is one enormous stretch of land in the midst of the Eyre Freeway, with the complete Eyre Freeway stretching for a complete of two,700km and about 1,200km lie between Ceduna in South Australia and Norseman in Western Australia.

We discovered the huge and treeless Nullarbor Plain to be mesmerizing. There’s the spectacular 146.6 km part of highway that holds the world document for a straight size of highway.

You may hook up with this journey from Melbourne, Adelaide or Perth and drive west to east or east to west alongside the freeway.

Issues to see & do embrace the Nullarbor Hyperlinks golf course of 18 holes spanning 1365 km with a gap at each city and roadhouse between Ceduna and Kalgoorlie, the Bunda Cliffs, whale watching at Head of Bight (June to October), Border Village, Eucla telegraph station, wild camels and emus.

We solely traveled the part from Norseman in Western Australia to Streaky Bay in South Australia over three days and should drive the complete size subsequent time.

Stops on the Nullabor highway journey:

Don’t miss the next sights on the Nullabor highway journey:

• The 146.6 km straight size of highway
• Distant roadhouses
• Nice Australian Bight Marine Park

14. The Eyre Peninsula, South Australia

• START | END: Elliston
• DISTANCE: 374 km
• TIME RECOMMENDED: 3-6 days

Fancy a little bit of seafood? Eager to play within the underwater world with seals and sharks? What about spectacular rugged coastlines and pristine seashores with nary a soul to be discovered?

In a nutshell, or ought to I say oyster shell, that is the Eyre Peninsula.

We accomplished a six-day highway journey of the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia and it’s a worthy addition to one of the best highway journeys in Australia listing.

Stops on an Eyre Peninsula Highway Journey:

A few of the unmissable stops on the Eyre Peninsula highway journey are:

• Swimming with sea lions in Port Lincoln
• Port Lincoln Nationwide Park
• Oysters at Coffin Bay
• Nice Ocean Drive Elliston

Watch Our Video from our Eyre Peninsula Highway Journey:

Watch our movies of the Eyre Peninsula highway journey, together with swimming with sea lions. You’ll want to subscribe to our Youtube channel.

15. Kangaroo Island Highway Journey, South Australia

• START | END: Kangaroo Island
• DISTANCE: 155 km
• TIME RECOMMENDED: 4-5 days

You may be fairly certain when visiting Kangaroo Island in South Australia you’ll spot a koala dozing up a tree, seals taking part in on the seashore, dolphins swimming within the sea, and naturally, kangaroos bouncing round.

Alongside the 155km size of Australia’s third largest island, you’ll additionally uncover hovering cliffs and rugged coastlines, dense nationwide parks, towering sand dunes, and untouched seashores.

Many of the island is preserved and guarded providing you with a pure and pure expertise for years to return.

Stops on a Kangaroo Island Highway Journey:

Ensure you don’t miss the under stops in your Kangaroo Island highway journey:

• The Dudley Peninsula (oh the vineyard views!!)
• Kingscote
• Swim with the dolphins
• Flinders Chase Nationwide Park (with the koalas)
• Exceptional Rocks
• North Coast Seashores
• Seal Bay (with the seals)
• Sandboarding Little Sahara Desert

Extra Australia Highway Journey Inspiration:

Do you want extra inspiration to your Aussie highway journey? Then take a look at the next sources:

Earlier than You Go

So there you might have it, these are one of the best highway journeys in Australia. You may both full these individually as particular person journeys or in case you have a great deal of time to spare, mix them to create the ‘Large Lap’ of Australia.

That is primarily a round highway journey of the complete nation and might take wherever from 3 months to 18 months.

No matter highway journey you resolve to do, ensure you have your car ready and serviced earlier than you go. There’s nothing worse than breaking down in the midst of the Outback!

Pleased travels!

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