Australia’s 6 Best Road Trips

We Are Explorers acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Countries on which these adventures take place who have occupied and cared for these lands, waters, and their inhabitants for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

The best possible way to see Australia is by hitting the road with your own four wheels. The vast, sprawling landscapes full of breathtaking scenery, exciting adventures, and stunning drives are basically BEGGING to be seen from a road trip. There’s nothing like the thrill of the open road before you.

You can choose your own route, pack all your adventure toys like bikes and surfboards, and truly personalise your escape to suit you. Even in the most popular, well-trodden (or driven) places, there’s always a hidden nook or cranny (if you know where to look). These days, road trips are better than ever before. Our cars are safer, our roads are smoother and our phones are smarter – it’s never been easier to get out of the city and hit the open road.

And in celebration of a land so road trippable, I’ve compiled a list of THE BEST road trips around Australia. Buckle up and put your foot on the accelerator, you won’t want to drive past these.

1. The Red Centre – Mereenie Loop

Distance: 663km
Start point: Mparntwe/Alice Springs
End point: Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park

The Red Centre of Australia must be experienced to be truly believed. As you drive through the expansive scrub, towering red gorges and ranges loom large in the distance. It’s so flat that you always think they’re closer than they actually are. Then once you reach their base, you can’t help but stare up at them in awe.

The Tjoritja/Macdonnell Ranges offer a blissful oasis of reprieve with their icy cold water holes, and Finke Gorge National Parks’ Palm Valley is a delightful surprise featuring palm trees smack bang in the middle of the desert.

As you drive deeper into the desert, you’ll soon find yourself at the magnificent and jaw-dropping Kings Canyon. Spend a morning climbing up and over the canyon walls on the Kings Canyon Rim Walk, before sitting back at the nearby resort and watching the setting sun play with the colours of the escarpment on the horizon.

The true marvel and heart of Australia awaits at the final destination – the majestic Uluru and Kata Tjuta. It doesn’t matter how many pictures you’ve seen, the real thing will take your breath away and evoke a serious sense of reverence for these ancient spiritual places. 

Read More

2. Lap of Tassie

Distance: 1000km (approx)
Start point: Devonport
End point: Devonport

Lutruwita/Tasmania is road trip heaven. The excitement starts before you’ve even left the mainland and you get to drive your car down into ‘the belly of the beast’ on the Spirit of Tasmania. Once you arrive, the little island has so much packed into it you could easily spend a week or six months and you’d still get back on the ferry thinking, ‘I have to come back!’.

I always recommend picking your favourite activity, then following it through Tasmania. Whether it’s surfing, hiking, wildlife encounters, mountain biking, or wine and food tasting, there’s more than a road trip’s worth of activities for all kinds of Explorers.

As hikers, some of my partner and I’s favourite adventures included camping amongst the majestic Walls of Jerusalem, meandering through the high country of Mount Field National Park, and scaling the epic cliffs on Bruny Island. Between our leg-busting, we tucked ourselves away in tranquil bush campgrounds and soaked in the pristine nature.

Read More

3. Gibb River Road

Distance: 1000km (approx)
Start point: Broome
End point: Kununurra

This epic road is a right of passage for ‘big lap’ road trippers. In times past it was the death of many an axel. And while it’s still incredibly remote, better roads and phone service, as well as welcoming station stays, are making the Gibb River Road more accessible, even if you don’t have a heavy-duty 4WD.

Between Broome and Kununurra, it’s a choose-your-own-adventure kind of road, with side tracks anywhere from 10km to 200km long leading off the main road to conservation parks, outback stations, and incredible campsites.

The real highlight is immersing yourself in truly mind-boggling gorges and fresh waterholes. A dunk in the icy water will wash off the dust of the road, leaving you just cold enough to make you want to laze against the warm red rocks until it’s time to head back to camp and cook up a feast on a blazing fire. 

Read More

4. Great Ocean Road

Distance: 280km
Start point: Torquay
End point: Port Fairy

There’s a reason this is one of Australia’s most iconic road trips. The dramatic 12 Apostles, world-class surf at Bells Beach, and of course the famous lighthouse from Round the Twist are all well worth a visit. The winding road cuts into the dramatic seaside cliffs affording breathtaking views at every corner. Each lookout is more fabulous than the last, so allow extra time to soak it all in! There are some hidden gems as well.

Back a little from the coast are tranquil riverside campgrounds, huge towering forests, bubbling freshwater streams, and koalas hidden in the treetops. If you take the time to get off the beaten track and explore from your car by foot, you won’t be disappointed. 

Read More

5. South Coast NSW

Distance: 500km
Start point: Sydney
End point: Eden

There’s something quintessentially Aussie about a coastal road trip. It brings to mind visions of old Kombies parked up at the beach with empty waves peeling along isolated point breaks. While the roads have improved making the waves more accessible, the vibes are still chill and beachy.

Travellers often make the mistake of taking the shortcut cross country from Sydney to Melbourne, but in my opinion, they’re missing the best coastline in Australia! It’s so easy to plan a South Coast NSW road trip because you don’t have to plan it at all.

All you need to do is take any left turn that tickles your fancy and you’ll find a magical beach with a quaint local town to relax for day or two. Each town has its own unique history, local characters, and likely really fun waves to surf. 

A few unmissable spots include the white sand beaches of Booderee National Park on the southern tip of Jervis Bay, the crisscrossing of waterways and backdrop of Mt Gulaga in Narooma, and the ruby red rocks found in Beowa National Park, just south of Eden.

So strap a board, throw in a fishing rod, and prepare to take the slow road down the coast.

Read More

6. Eyre Peninsula

Distance: 570km
Start point: Whyalla
End point: Streaky Bay

Everything feels a little bit wilder, and a little bit more vast in South Australia. The beaches can go from calm to wild in a moment and the unlikely pairing of flat scrubby plains leading straight off rugged cliffs and into a sparkling ocean takes your breath away every time.

Wildlife encounters are inevitable here, especially in the ocean. Swimming with playful sea lions is a joyful buzz, and descending below the surface to come face to face with a Great white shark (from the safety of a cage of course) is one for the thrill seekers.

Seafood lovers will find epic fishing and divine oysters in Coffin Bay, and 4WDers will love the sandy playground of Lincoln National Park. 

Read More

Time to Hit the Road

Now you’ve heard about the best Australian road trips, it’s your turn to hit the open road and see them for yourself! 

Whether through the red dust of the Kimberly, past sparkling coastal beaches of NSW, or into the wilds of Tassie, get out there and rekindle your sense of adventure along some of Australia’s ultimate road trips. 

This article is brought to you by Hyundai