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The Best Road Trips in Australia: 8 Drives Worth the Distance
Buckle up and get set for the drive of your life. These are the best road trips in Australia for the ultimate adventure holiday.
Spanning 7.7 million square kilometres, Australia is a road-trip mecca, with everything from multi-day outback explorations via the Explorers Way to The Great Barrier Reef Drive, which takes in two world heritage sites. Coastal enthusiasts are well catered for with the famed Great Ocean Road through to the lesser known, but equally scenic, The Great Beach Drive. From sealed roads to 4WD adventures, explore our edit of the best road trips in Australia.
Best Coastal Road Trips in Australia
The Great Ocean Road
Ask any Aussie, and they’ll tell you that driving the Great Ocean Road is a rite of passage. Stretching 243km along the southern coast of Victoria from Torquay to Allansford, this scenic stretch is home to the rugged rainforests of the Otway Ranges, historic towns and the famous Twelve Apostles.
There are charming beach towns, fishing villages, and waterfalls to discover, plus a 19th-century shipwreck (Loch Ard Gorge) and an iconic lighthouse at Cape Otway.
It also has a storied history; the Great Ocean Road is a tribute to the 3,000 soldiers who worked on the road during WWI.
Route: Torquay to Allansford
Distance: 243km
Duration: 4 hours to three days
Best Time to Drive: Late spring and early autumn are our pick for the Great Ocean Road. Crowds will be thinner than peak season, and the weather should be warm enough to still make the most of the beaches.
Vehicle: 2WD
Best For: Families, Nature lovers, Coastal
Where to Stay: La Perouse Lorne, Captain’s at the Bay
Highlights: Bells Beach, Lorne, Apollo Bay, Cape Otway, Port Campbell National Park (where the Twelve Apostles are located), Gibson Steps, Triplet Falls, Teddy’s Lookout and Port Fairy.
The Pacific Highway
The picturesque Pacific Highway is bookmarked by two major cities — Sydney and Brisbane — and follows 900km of pristine beaches, seaside towns, unspoilt hinterland and national parks.
You’ll cross state borders and cruise by Tweed Heads before ending in the glittery Gold Coast. Charge your phone, because you’ll want to snap everything, from the dolphins, koalas and camels to the rolling hills of the rainforest.
Route: Starting from Sydney, head north to the Central Coast, Port Stephens, Newcastle, Coffs Harbour and Byron Bay.
Distance: 900km
Duration: 11 hours to 5 days
Best Time to Drive: Similar to the Great Ocean Road, the best time to embark on the Pacific Highway road trip is the shoulder seasons of Spring and Autumn for good weather and fewer crowds.
Vehicle: 2WD
Best For: Coastal, Families, Beach
Where to Stay: Pretty Beach House, The Atlantic Byron Bay, QT Gold Coast
Highlights: Bogey Hole, Avoca Beach, Bouddi National Park, Newcastle Ocean Baths, Port Macquarie Coastal Walk, Port Macquarie Camel Safari, Big Banana, Wategos Beach, The Pass, Surfers Paradise
The Great Beach Drive
The Great Beach Drive begins at the Sunshine Coast’s Glasshouse Mountains, a picture-perfect landscape that caught Captain Cook’s eye when he sailed past in 1770.
If you have the kids in tow, stop at Australia Zoo before continuing to Mooloolaba for sun, surf, and buckets of fresh king prawns. Another half an hour in the car, and you’ll reach the chic seaside haven of Noosa.
Next up is the beautiful Rainbow Beach, a haven for surfers and thrill-seekers. From there, you can 4WD over to the sand dunes and lakes that make up Fraser Island. The Indigenous word for it is ‘K’Gari,’ which means paradise, and that’s the perfect description.
Route: Glasshouse Mountains to Fraser Island
Distance: 380km
Duration: 5 days
Best Time to Drive: Autumn and spring promise great weather and fewer crowds.
Vehicle: 4WD
Best For: Adventure, Coastal, Beach
Where to Stay: Glass on Glasshouse, Kingfisher Bay Resort
Highlights: Glasshouse Mountains, Australia Zoo, Noosa National Park, 75 Mile Beach, Champagne Pools, Maryborough
The Great Eastern Drive
From Hobart to the spectacular Bay of Fires, this road trip hugs the island’s eastern coastline. Meander through galleries and fuel up at Hobart’s award-winning restaurants, then, further along the route, you can inject a little history into your holiday and explore one of the world’s most significant convict sites at Port Arthur. Detour at Freycinet National Park to explore its granite mountains, azure waters, incredible wildlife and the perfect curve of sand that makes up Wineglass Bay.
Route: Hobart to Bay of Fires
Distance: 176km
Duration: 3 to 5 days
Best Time to Drive: The warmth of summer and early autumn will allow you to make the most of Tasmania’s beaches and coastline.
Vehicle: 2WD
Best For: Nature lovers, Foodies, Coastal
Where to Stay: MACq01, The Henry Jones Art Hotel, Saffire Freycinet
Highlights: Wineglass Bay, Port Arthur, Freycinet National Park, East Coast Wine Trail
The Indian Ocean Drive
Sitting at a whopping 1200km long, the Indian Ocean Drive follows WA’s Coral Coast from Perth to Ningaloo — a stretch of coastline that is some of Mother Nature’s finest work.
Leaving from Perth, you’ll weave your way through the dazzling beach towns of Cervantes, Geraldton and Monkey Mia. Beyond beautiful beaches with pure white sand, discover the surreal desert towers called The Pinnacles at Nambung National Park and swim with whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef.
Route: Perth to Ningaloo
Distance: 1200km
Duration: 5 days
Best Time to Drive: The shoulder seasons of Autumn and Spring are best for avoiding crowds and enjoying the coast. Spring has the added bonus of bringing with it Western Australia’s famous wildflowers.
Vehicle: 2WD
Best For: Adventure, Nature lovers, Remote escapes
Where to Stay: Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef, Mantarays Ningaloo Beach Resort, COMO The Treasury Perth
Highlights: Monkey Mia, Ningaloo Reef, Kalbarri National Park, Nambung National Park, Shell Beach, The Pinnacles Desert
Best Outback Road Trips in Australia
Explorers Way
One of the best outback road trips in Australia, the Explorers Way calls for a 14-day itinerary. Adventure through the heart of the country and the red centre, from Adelaide to Darwin, unfurling the diverse tapestry of the outback’s marvels. Each day offers an exciting chapter: from the underground Coober Pedy and the spiritual grandeur of Uluru to the vibrancy of Alice Springs. Pass some of Australia’s iconic natural landmarks and discover peaceful swimming spots at Mataranka and Litchfield.
Route: Adelaide to Darwin
Distance: 3000km
Duration: 14 days
Best Time to Drive: The dry season, between May and September.
Vehicle: 2WD is fine, but a 4WD may be needed for any extra detours.
Best For: Remote escapes, Nature lovers, Adventure
Where to Stay: Longitude 131
Highlights: Uluru and Kata Tjuta, Watarrka National Park/Kings Canyon, MacDonnell Ranges, Karlu Karlu/Devils Marbles, Nitmiluk National Park and Litchfield National Park
Gibb River Road
The Gibb River Road beckons to those seeking an authentic outback adventure. Famed for its unique 4WD tracks, it’s hailed as one of the best outback road trips in Australia.
This route guides adventurers off the beaten path, leading them through rugged ranges into the untouched Kimberley wilderness.
This 660-kilometre passage unveils hidden marvels within the Kimberley’s landscapes. Aside from witnessing the enthralling gorge country, explorers can spot Aboriginal rock art sites.
Route: Derby to the Great Northern Highway
Distance: 660km
Duration: 7-14 days
Best Time to Drive: Only open during the dry season between April and October
Vehicle: 4WD essential
Best For: Remote escapes, Adventure, Bush
Where to Stay: APT Bell Gorge Wilderness Lodge
Highlights: Dalmanyi (Bell Gorge), Adcock Gorge, Emma Gorge waterfalls
Need To Know: Be sure to respect the cultural significance of any Indigenous sites by adhering to local customs.
Best Reef and Rainforest Road Trips in Australia
The Great Barrier Reef Drive
Heading to the tropics, this 140km drive begins in Cairns and ends at Cape Tribulation. The journey through tropical North Queensland takes in not one, but two World Heritage landscapes with the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree, so you can expect eye-popping beauty around every turn.
Snorkel or scuba dive around the reef, and then check out Cairns’ buzzy bars and restaurants. Dart through the Daintree, stop to chase waterfalls and see the towering trees, rivers and trails that make up the rainforest.
Sitchu Tip: Stay overnight in Cape Tribulation, where the lodges are as luxe as the rainforest-meets-reef surrounds.
Route: Cairns to Cape Tribulation
Distance: 140km
Duration: 1-3 days
Best Time to Drive: During the dry season from May to October
Vehicle: 2WD
Best For: Families, Coastal, Beach, Nature lovers
Where to Stay: Silky Oaks Lodge, Thala Beach Nature Reserve
Highlights: Daintree Rainforest, Daintree River, Cow Bay, Cape Tribulation, Great Barrier Reef
FAQs About the Best Road Trips in Australia
The Great Ocean Road is the ideal first-timer’s drive and is widely considered an Aussie rite of passage. Stretching 243km along Victoria’s southern coast from Torquay to Allansford, it’s suitable for a 2WD and can be done in anything from four hours to three days. Along the way you’ll find beach towns, fishing villages, waterfalls, the Twelve Apostles and Cape Otway’s lighthouse. Late spring and early autumn are the sweet spot, offering warm weather for the beaches without peak-season crowds, making it an easy, flexible introduction to Australian road tripping.
A couple of the country’s most rugged drives need a proper 4WD. The Gibb River Road is the standout, where a 4WD is essential for its 660km of tracks through the untouched Kimberley wilderness, with the route only open during the dry season between April and October. The Great Beach Drive from the Glasshouse Mountains to K’gari (Fraser Island) also requires a 4WD, particularly for crossing the sand dunes and lakes of the island itself. Most coastal drives, including the Great Ocean Road and Pacific Coast, are perfectly comfortable in a 2WD.
The dry season is the best time for outback road trips, as the cooler, more stable weather makes long remote drives safer and more comfortable. For the Explorers Way from Adelaide to Darwin, aim for May to September. The Gibb River Road through the Kimberley is only open during the dry season, roughly April to October, so timing here isn’t optional. Coastal drives are more flexible, with the shoulder seasons of spring and autumn generally offering the best mix of good weather and thinner crowds along routes like the Pacific Coast and Indian Ocean Drive.
The Great Barrier Reef Drive sits at just 140km, running from Cairns to Cape Tribulation, yet it packs in two World Heritage landscapes: the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest. You can complete it in one to three days, and it’s easily done in a 2WD. Snorkel or dive the reef, explore Cairns’ bars and restaurants, then chase waterfalls through the Daintree. The best time to drive is the dry season from May to October, and staying overnight in Cape Tribulation is well worth it.
Several drives suit families, but the Great Ocean Road and the Pacific Coast are the standouts. The Great Ocean Road is 2WD-friendly and flexible, with beaches, waterfalls and the Twelve Apostles to keep everyone engaged. The 900km Pacific Coast, running from Sydney to the Gold Coast, delivers pristine beaches, wildlife like dolphins and koalas, and family favourites such as the Big Banana and Port Macquarie’s camel safari. The Great Barrier Reef Drive is another favourite, combining reef snorkelling with rainforest adventures over a manageable one to three days.
If you loved this edit of the best road trips in Australia, be sure to dive a little deeper and take a look at our edits of the best road trips in NSW and Victoria.
