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There’s something quite magical about an Australian road trip — it’s a country with so much diversity to discover, from that glorious collision of red dust in the Red Centre to the tropical white sands of the East Coast.
There is no better way to experience the Land Down Under than on a road trip. The asphalt paves its way through rainforests, deserts, mountains, vineyards, small towns and glamourous cities – a black vein connecting unique treasures at every turn.
But being the sixth largest country in the world, a landmass greater than the continent of Europe, road tripping the entire country may not be feasible for everyone, so we’ve listed our favorite Australian road trips to you can embark on an adventure that speaks to you.
From the scenic Great Ocean Road that frames the Southern Ocean to the Red Centre Way’s outback odyssey, Australia knows how to do epic road trips.
So when you’re ready to jump behind the wheel, turn up the playlist, and break out the car snacks, don’t miss these epic road trips in Australia.
Unless you have your own car, you’re going to need to get yourself a vehicle for your road trip in Australia. If you’re visiting from abroad, we recommend you use DiscoverCars as this is a price comparison site that compares all the top rental car companies. If you’re planning on camping in your vehicle, then RV Share is the site to browse around. It has RVs and motorhomes of all sizes and weights, plus you can pick them up from several locations.
- 1. Great Ocean Road, Victoria
- 2. Red Centre Way, Northern Territory
- 3. The Savannah Way, Queensland
- 4. Cairns to Cape Tribulation, Queensland
- 5. Sydney to Brisbane, New South Wales and Queensland
- 6. Darwin to Kakadu to Katherine to Litchfield, Northern Territories
- 7. Gibb River Road Trip, Western Australia
- 8. Broome to Perth, Western Australia
- 9. The 75 Mile Highway, Fraser Island, Queensland
- 10. Alice Springs to the Gold Coast, Outback Queensland
- 11. Sydney to Jervis Bay Road Trip, New South Wales
- 12. Launceston to Hobart, Tasmania
- 13. The Nullarbor, Western and Southern Australia
- 14. The Eyre Peninsula, South Australia
- 15. Kangaroo Island Loop, South Australia
- Final thoughts
- More inspiration for planning an Australia road trip
- Pin To Save It On Pinterest
1. Great Ocean Road, Victoria
The Twelve Apostles
- START | END: Torquay to Warrnambool
- DISTANCE: 250 km
- TIME RECOMMENDED: 2 – 3 days
The Great Ocean Road is not only one of the most famous road trips in Australia, but around the world. It’s often touted as one of the best drives on the planet.
Beginning one hour outside of Melbourne in Torquay, this drive stretches over 250 kilometers, hugging the shoreline throughout, to the town of Warrnambool. The entire stretch offers stunning coastal scenery, wildlife, waterfalls, hiking, and beachside towns.
The road takes you to wind-swept beaches, past craggy sea stacks, and jaw-dropping coastal scenery. Some of the main attractions on the Great Ocean Road are The Twelve Apostles, a collection of sea stacks, Loch Ard Gorge, Port Campbell National Park and Apollo Bay.
If I only had one piece of advice for driving the Great Ocean Road, I would say don’t just rush to see the 12 Apostles for your tourist snap. Slow down and appreciate all this drive has to offer.
Certainly, don’t drive it in one day like the tourist buses do from Melbourne. It deserves at least a few days.
Read more: Here is our full guide to a Great Ocean Road Road Trip
Video: How to survive a road trip with kids
2. Red Centre Way, Northern Territory
Road tripping the NT
- START | END: Alice Springs to Uluru
- DISTANCE: 468 km
- TIME RECOMMENDED: 5-6 days
You can’t plan a road trip in Australia without contemplating a visit to the Outback, also known as the Red Centre. The Outback covers 5.6 million square kilometers, which totals 70-81% of the Australia. It’s known for not only being vast, but remote and semi-arid, with otherworldy landscapes thrown in between.
The Red Centre Way is a scenic drive in the Northern Territory region of the Outback. Instead of taking the Stuart Highway between Uluru and Alice Springs, this scenic route passes brilliant landscapes, gorges, canyons, camping, and the hiking trails of the West MacDonnell Ranges.
Uluru sunset
Some of the most iconic sights off this road are Glen Helen Gorge, King’s Canyon, and the iconic UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ayres Rock.
Allow yourself plenty of time to take in the wonder of Uluru and nearby Kata Tjuta, it really is the heart of Australia and there is more than one way to experience it.
3. The Savannah Way, Queensland
Boodjamulla National Park
- START | END: Cairns to Broome
- DISTANCE: 3,700 km
- TIME RECOMMENDED: 1-2 weeks
The Savannah Way is another road trip that extends the top part of the country, stretching from the tropical city of Cairns in Queensland to Broome in Western Australia. That’s from East to West for those who don’t know, taking in a whopping 3,700 km.
So far we’ve only driven the Savannah Way from Cairns to the Northern Territory border, but it was a highlight of our time exploring the northern section of Outback Queensland.
The Savannah Way road trip passes several notable landmarks in the Top End, including Millaa Millaa Falls, Atherton Tablelands, Undara Lava Tubes, Cobbold Gorge and Boodjamulla National Park.
Read more: Ultimate guide to driving the Savannah Way
4. Cairns to Cape Tribulation, Queensland
Cape Tribulation – great Australian road trip
- START | END: Cape Tribulation to Cairns (or vice versa)
- DISTANCE: 150 km
- TIME RECOMMENDED: 3-4 days
Tropical North Queensland has to be one of the most enchanting regions in Australia, if not the world. It’s home to two of our country’s most iconic natural wonders; the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest.
The best time to visit Tropical North Queensland is during the winter months when it’s not so humid and you avoid stinger season, although it might feel like the whole south of the country has migrated north with you.
The Cairns to Cape Tribulation road is all about the ancient rainforest. We loved kayaking along Mossman Gorge River, which puts you in the heart of the Daintree National Park. The adventurous can go further up to Cape York, but most stop at Cape Trib. Don’t use Port Douglas as a quick pit stop, there are many things to do there.
Video: Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation Road Trip, Queensland
Watch our video playlist of our road trip from Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation in the Daintree Rainforest.
5. Sydney to Brisbane, New South Wales and Queensland
View from Tumgun Lookout, Burleigh Heads NP
- START | END: Sydney to Brisbane
- DISTANCE: 928 km
- TIME RECOMMENDED: 3-4 days
The popular East Coast road trip from Sydney to Brisbane, known as the Legendary Pacific Coast, is one of the best Australian road trips, and is certainly the most traveled.
Stretching 900 kms along the Pacific Coast corridor, the Sydney to Brisbane drive has something for everyone: stunning beaches, green rolling hills, beachside towns, riverside towns, wineries, the hinterland, wildlife watching, and every water sport imaginable.
Some of the top sites on this stretch are the Hunter Valley wine region, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Explorers Way, Byron Bay, Yamba, Kingscliff, and the Gold Coast.
If you have time to spare, why not keep going? You can drive along the coast all the way up to Cairns past Port Stephens, the Sunshine Coast and Noosa North Shore.
This way you can take day trips out to the islands such as The Whitsundays or Airlie Beach. This will take at least another week.
Read more: The ultimate Sydney to Brisbane itinerary and North Coast NSW road trip: Lennox Head to Brisbane Road Trip
6. Darwin to Kakadu to Katherine to Litchfield, Northern Territories
The beautiful Gunlom Falls, Kakadu
- START | END: Darwin
- DISTANCE: 950 km
- TIME RECOMMENDED: 2-3 days
If you are exploring the Top End of Australia in the Northern Territory then a loop road trip from Darwin taking in Kakadu National Park, Katherine Gorge, and Litchfield National Park is a must not miss road trip in Australia.
Sunrise cruise on the Yellow Water Billabong
Starting and finishing with some of the best sunsets in Australia at Darwin, this drive then takes in the incredible wetlands and wildlife of Kakadu National Park, the stunning gorge scenery at Katherine, and the waterfalls and swimming holes of Litchfield.
The Kakadu to Litchfield road trip passes by Darwin, known for the famous Mindil Beach Markets.
Read more: Highlights of a Northern Territory road trip
7. Gibb River Road Trip, Western Australia
The Kimberley region is a great Australian road trip
- START | END: Derby to Kununurra
- DISTANCE: 700 km
- TIME RECOMMENDED: 4-5 days
One of the most adventurous road trips is The Gibb River Road in Western Australia, a famous dirt track that takes you through the heart of The Kimberley, one of Australia’s last wilderness frontiers. If you’re into 4-wheel driving, this could be your ultimate adventure.
The entire Gibb runs for approximately 700 kilometers beginning near Derby and ending near Kununurra and takes in brilliant gorges, waterfalls, cattle stations and plains, rich aboriginal history, Boab trees, 4-wheel driving, and great camping.
You can do the Gibb in either direction but road conditions depend on the time of year and completion of grading work. Travel is only recommended once the road has been graded after the wet season (around May) until the end of October
We didn’t have a four-wheel drive vehicle so only did the northern section, going into Emma’s Gorge and El Questro and back out.
The Gibb River road trip passes by Windjana Gorge, Tunnel Creek, Bell Gorge, Adcock Gorge, Galvan’s Gorge, King Leopold Ranges, Emma’s Gorge, Zebedee Springs and El Questro.
Read more: The ultimate guide to the Gibb River Road: 14 day itinerary
8. Broome to Perth, Western Australia
- START | END: Broome to Perth
- DISTANCE: 3,900 km
- TIME RECOMMENDED: 2 weeks minimum
We love the West Coast of Australia. This 3,900 kilometer stretch of coastline will expose you to some of the best landscapes and most beautiful beaches in the country. You have endless choices of road trips for your Australian travels.
I recommend you take at least two weeks to drive this section of WA, heck we can easily spend two weeks just in Broome, our favorite town in Australia.
Don’t forget your snorkeling gear, your camping equipment, and especially your camera, and I would also highly recommend a detour from Port Hedland inland to Karijini National Park, one of the best National Parks in Australia.
The Perth to Broome road trip passes by Cable Beach in Broome, Turquoise Bay and Sandy Bay in Exmouth, Ningaloo Reef, Coral Bay, Shark Bay, Kalbarri, Monkey Mia, The Pinnacles Desert, Nambung National Park, Rottnest Island, and Perth.
9. The 75 Mile Highway, Fraser Island, Queensland
On of the best road trips in Australia – on the beach!
- START | END: Fraser Island
- DISTANCE: 120 km
- TIME RECOMMENDED: 1 day
Did you know that 75 Mile Beach on K’Gari, also known as Fraser Island, is classified as a part of the Bruce Highway? And that Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world? Now you do!
If you want to go off-road and do some serious beach driving whilst exploring shipwrecks, pristine lakes, stunning forest, and dodging wild dingos, head over to Fraser for some of the best 4-wheel driving in the country.
The Fraser Island road trip drives along 75 Mile Beach, stopping at Eli Creek, Maheno Shipwreck, Lake Mackenzie, Kingfisher Bay and the forest.
10. Alice Springs to the Gold Coast, Outback Queensland
The Great Outback Queensland Road Trip
START | END: Alice Springs to Gold Coast
DISTANCE: 6540 km
TIME RECOMMENDED: 1-2 weeks
Coming back to the Gold Coast through Outback Queensland via Mount Isa, Winton, Longreach, Carnarvon Gorge, and Charleville was such a nice surprise and the perfect way for us to end our 18-month Australian road trip.
We encountered some of the friendliest people along this stretch of road, not to mention the history and the landscapes on offer at the various towns. Don’t miss the Australian Age of Dinosaurs in Winton, Qantas Founders Museum in Longreach and Cosmos Centre in Charleville.
Read more: 5 Night Sandstone Wilderness Road Trip
11. Sydney to Jervis Bay Road Trip, New South Wales
Grand Pacific Drive
- START | END: Sydney to Jervis Bay
- DISTANCE: 186 km
- TIME RECOMMENDED: 1-2 days
If you were to drive direct from Sydney to Jervis Bay it would take about 2.5 hours but there are a few spots well worth stopping for along the way.
As you leave Sydney and head south you’ll soon be driving through the Royal National Park, the second oldest National Park in the world.
Then you start the Grand Pacific Drive, which takes you along the coast towards Wollongong and over the famous Sea Cliff Bridge, before continuing on to Pebbly Beach, Kangaroo Valley, Hyams Beach, Kiama, Greenpatch Beach, Booderee National Park, and our favourite south coast town, Jervis Bay.
12. Launceston to Hobart, Tasmania
Hazards Beach – one of my favorite beaches in Australia
- START | END: Launceston to Hobart
- DISTANCE: 559 km
- TIME RECOMMENDED: 4-5 days
Tasmania is one of Australia’s great driving destinations, and a scenic road trip from Launceston to Hobart via the east coast takes in some of Tasmania’s iconic destinations.
Starting from Launceston, head towards St Helens and spend some time at the incredible Bay of Fires and Binalong Bay before continuing south via Bicheno, Freycinet National Park and Wineglass Bay and Hazards Beach, Port Arthur, and then finishing in Hobart.
13. The Nullarbor, Western and Southern Australia
Great Australian Bight Marine Park
- START | END: Ceduna to Norseman
- DISTANCE: 1,200 km
- TIME RECOMMENDED: 3-4 days
Some call it the Nullar-Boring, but we really enjoyed our three-day drive across Australia’s longest road. The Nullarbor is one huge stretch of land in the middle of the Eyre Highway, with the entire Eyre Highway stretching for a total of 2,700km and about 1,200km lie between Ceduna in South Australia and Norseman in Western Australia.
We found the vast and treeless Nullarbor Plain to be mesmerizing. There’s the impressive 146.6 km section of road that holds the world record for a straight length of road. You can connect to this journey from Melbourne, Adelaide or Perth and drive west to east or east to west along the highway.
Things to see and do include the Nullarbor Links golf course of 18 holes spanning 1365 km with a hole at every town and remote roadhouse between Ceduna and Kalgoorlie, the Bunda Cliffs, whale watching at Head of Bight (June to October), Border Village, Eucla telegraph station, Great Australian Bight Marine Park, wild camels and emus.
We only traveled the section from Norseman in Western Australia to Streaky Bay in South Australia over three days and will have to drive the entire length next time.
14. The Eyre Peninsula, South Australia
Coffin Bay National Park
- START | END: Elliston
- DISTANCE: 374 km
- TIME RECOMMENDED: 3-6 days
Fancy a bit of seafood? Keen to play in the underwater world with seals and sharks? What about spectacular rugged coastlines and pristine beaches with nary a soul to be found? In a nutshell, or should I say oyster shell, this is the Eyre Peninsula.
We completed a six-day road trip of the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia, which took us to some amazing national parks and nature sughts, such as Flinders Ranges National Park, Port Lincoln National Park and the Great Ocean Drive in Elliston. We also enjoyed swimming with sea lions in Port Lincoln and eating oysters at Coffin Bay.
Swimming with Sea Lions, Port Lincol
Video: Watch our Eyre Peninsula road trip
Watch our videos of the Eyre Peninsula road trip, including swimming with sea lions. Be sure to subscribe to our Youtube channel.
15. Kangaroo Island Loop, South Australia
Vivonne Bay on Kangaroo Island
- START | END: Kangaroo Island
- DISTANCE: 155 km
- TIME RECOMMENDED: 4-5 days
You can be pretty sure when visiting Kangaroo Island in South Australia you’ll spot a koala dozing up a tree, seals playing on the beach, dolphins swimming in the sea, and of course, kangaroos bouncing around.
Along the 155km length of Australia’s third largest island, you’ll also discover soaring cliffs and rugged coastlines, dense national parks, towering sand dunes, and untouched beaches.
Most of the island is preserved and protected giving you a natural and pure experience for years to come.
Seal Bay, Kangaroo Island
Make sure you don’t miss the Dudley Peninsula (oh the winery views!!), Kingscote, swimming with the dolphins, Flinders Chase National Park (where you can see koalas), Seal Bay, Remarkable Rocks, the North Coast beaches, and sandboarding the Little Sahara Desert.
Final thoughts
Uluru is a must see when you are planning a road trip in Australia
So there you have it, those are some of our personal favorite roads in Australia. You can either complete these separately as individual trips or if you have loads of time to spare, combine them to create the ‘Big Lap’ of Australia. This is essentially a circular road trip of the entire country and can take anywhere from 3 months to 18 months (we took 18 months).
Whatever road trip you decide to do, make sure you have your vehicle prepared and serviced before you go. There’s nothing worse than breaking down in the middle of the Outback!
With so much to see and explore, there’s only one way to do Australia right – a road trip. The country is bursting with exciting attractions for you to explore. From vast, desolate deserts, tropical islands, dense jungles, historic aboriginal lands, crocodile-filled wetlands, and miles upon miles of scenic coastline – you’ve got scenery for days in Australia. Not to mention the culture and wildlife, which is second to none and incomparable to anywhere else in the world.
Instead of flying from point A to B and missing everything in between, a road trip becomes just as memorable as the destination.
More inspiration for planning an Australia road trip
Do you need more inspiration for your Aussie road trip? Then check out the following resources:
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Which of these road trips are you most looking forward to driving in Australia? Let us know the comments below.
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