Road trips are very popular in Australia, which is no surprise due to the size of the country, stunning long stretches of desert, beaches, mountains and the long distance travel between major cities. If you are planning to travel in Australia, this guide will assist with all you need to know when planning the ultimate Australian road trip.
Here are 5 Life Changing Road Trips in Australia to add to your road trip bucket list.
Great Ocean Road
No Australian road trip bucket list would be complete without The Great Ocean Road.
The Great Ocean Road in Victoria is one of the best scenic drives in Australia. The stretch of almost 250 kms begins at Torquay (1.5 hours from inner Melbourne). The beach side road continues all the way to Allansford (10 mins from Warrnambool).
This is a beautiful part of the world to visit, due to the wild, clean beaches and quiet surroundings. The Great Ocean Road is appealing, even in the colder months. Only dedicated surfers brave the cold water in winter, but there are less tourists at this time of year. There are also lots of restaurants and viewing points to experience great food and sights without the crowds.
In some areas of this winding road, you may not see a single person as you gaze along the long stretches of beach, to the jagged cliffs and shrubby dunes. Other areas are popular, particularly over summer holidays, and at the closer end to Melbourne.
On some of the narrower parts of the road, it’s important to look out for increased traffic or motorbikes at all hours.
where to begin
This road trip in Australia begins at Torquay, and driving west, you pass Jan Juc, the famous Bells Beach, then on towards Anglesea. You’ll see groups of surfers beyond the huge cliffs, incredible waves and the occasional milk bar to stop for hot chips. The annual Rip Curl Pro surf competition is held at Easter time here each year- a World Tour surfing competition, due to the large surf swell and history here.
The road continues to wind through small holiday towns, including Fairhaven, Aireys Inlet and Moggs Creek. Holiday houses are dotted across the road for the best beach views. These towns have a cafe or two serving coffee, top quality food and essentials.
If you stay overnight at Aireys Inlet or simply be driving past, the Aireys Hotel serves a classic pub meal, with premium views of the deep blue green ocean.
Further along the Great Ocean Road
It is better to take more time than only a day trip from Melbourne, due to the distance. The next main town is Lorne. Stunning waterfalls behind Lorne add to the popularity of this small surf town. There are many eateries and coffee spots to stop in at along the way, as well as overnight accommodation options.
Then comes Wye River and Kennett River, both lovely family style communities, with small, well maintained campgrounds, (book ahead for these camp grounds, as they are busy in holiday periods).
Next along the road is Apollo Bay, a larger coastal town with plenty of activities, with nearby waterfalls, calm beaches and your choice of dining including seafood, lunchtime cafes, and the Great Ocean Road Brewhouse.
An hour and a half further west are the Twelve Apostles, close to the seaside beach town of Port Campbell. These rocks stacked in the sea along the jagged coastline are a popular tourist attraction, and you’ll see tour buses from Melbourne pull up at any given time for a view of the iconic rocks. Port Campbell has good food and accommodation options, including the local pub, and airbnb rentals, with a short drive to some of the most stunning beaches and cliffs of the area.
This part of the Great Ocean Road ends at Lochard Gorge, a gorgeous beach with a gorge of natural rocks. The smooth clear water of this bay is an essential stop if you’re down this far along the Great Ocean Road.
Last but not least is the formally named London Bridge, currently called London Arch. The bridge part of the naturally eroded rock collapsed in 1990 and a great finish to the Great Ocean Road road trip.
Sapphire Coast
The Sapphire Coast was named due to the water, which is spectacular colour of blue green. This part of the coast is a 6 hour drive from either Melbourne or Sydney, adding this to the list of top road trips in Australia, and one of the best road trips in NSW.
The Sapphire Coast consists of towns Bermagui, Tathra, Merimbula, Pambula and Eden. As well as pristine beaches, these towns along the southern NSW coast boast markets, a discovery centre, hiking trails, fishing, whale watching, lakes and national parks.
You can choose from oysters in Bermagui, cheese and dairy products in Bega, whale watching in Eden, mountain bike tracks in Tathra or scuba diving in Merimbula.
How to get to the Sapphire Coast: From Canberra, drive along the Monaro Highway to Cooma, the Snowy Mountains highway to the Sapphire Coast.
From Melbourne, drive along the Princes Highway all the way through Gippsland Victoria until you reach the New South Wales border, and you are at the beginning!
Sydney to Brisbane
Another popular Australian Road Trip, due to accessibility and popular beaches, is the Sydney to Queensland coastal drive, along the Pacific Coast.
If you are planning an East Coast of Australia Road Trip, there is diversity in attractions. You can experience everything from beach towns, rivers, sub tropical hinterland, wineries and the hippie and surf town Bryon Bay.
There’s the Hunter Valley wine region, which boasts 150 wineries north of Sydney. Situated in hills of National Parks, with a vast history this area is a definite visit for wine lovers.
Hunter Valley
Source: www.winecountry.com.au
Further up the coast towards Coffs Harbor, the north coast of NSW has beaches, an amusement park, wales, wildlife and coral reefs.
Continuing on further north is Byron Bay and the surrounding towns, beaches and hinterland of the northern rivers region, which are worth staying at least a few nights to experience the unique beaches and diversity.
Byron is a busy town, with everyone from backpackers, families, locals, hippies and surfers. I recommend staying little out of town at Belongil, Suffolk Park or Broken Head.
Byron has beautiful beaches, ideal surf spots,, dolfin spotting, paddock to plate restaurants, markets, breweries and hikes. Byron Bay should be a definite stop while on your Sydney to Brisbane Road Trip, or as part of your entire East Coast of Australia road trip!
Cairns to Cape Tribulation
The road trip from Cairns, driving north to Cape Tribulation is only 2-3 hours. This is one of the top rated road trips on the East Coast of Australia.
This road trip includes lush coastline, warm climate and proximity to the Great Barrier Reef. This premium Australia road trip also has many places to stop for supplies, and campgrounds for a night or more.
It’s best to research the peak periods, but this part of the world always appears relaxed and not too busy. Generally holidaymakers visit Port Douglas or Palm Cove for a resort style unwinding holiday.
You could hire a motor home from Cairns and drive through the hills and country side, first stop Palm Cove. Palm Cove is ideal for families and couples, with plenty of restaurants, reef tours and a lovely, quiet beach.
*Insider Palm Cove tip: book accommodation with a pool, as it gets windy along the beach in the afternoons.
Port Douglas is perfect for a lunch stop or a few nights stay on your road trip. Further north there is the stunning Mosman Gorge, as you drive towards the tropical Daintree rainforest and Cape Tribulation. Here you can camp surrounded by rainforest in tropical conditions.
Tasmania Circle
Take 6 to 10 days for this Tasmania Circle road trip in Australia, or you could split it up in smaller sections. The spectacular southern state of Hobart in Australia, is an hour flight from Melbourne. If you want to take your car from the mainland, there is the Spirit of Tasmania overnight boat, leaving from Geelong.
Tasmania is for you if you prefer quieter country side, national parks, rivers and unaffected beaches. Tasmania is a relaxed and quieter state with pretty sights for keen road trippers.
A camper van or motor home is ideal for getting around Tasmania, or alternatively if you have a car, there are plenty of accommodation options.
Highlights and things to do in Tasmania:
- Hobart. Salamanca markets are HUGE markets in Salamanca. Take your time if you’re a market person.
Salamanca Markets
Source: weekendnotes.com
- Mt Wellington is ideal for a hike, which takes 45 mins to hike up to the top. Incredible views on a clear day!
- MONA Art Museum experience. This iconic modern art museum is a huge draw card of Hobart.
- Hike in Freycinet National Park, (3 hours up the East Coast) or Mount Field National Park (key waterfalls)
- Port Arthur (historic Prison)
- Bay of Fires
- Cradle Mountain National Park
- Bruny Island. This south coast island offers local produce and cheese, wine, with many hikes available.
Conclusion
If you are planning a road trip in Australia, ensure to research road, weather and safety conditions beforehand. Take enough supplies in remote areas, including water, petrol, spare tires and clothing. For Visa inquiries check the Australian Government website.
Be sure to talk to fellow road trippers and communities. Stay safe and you’ll have the best life changing road trip yet!
