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There’s one thing fairly magical about an Australian highway journey — it’s a rustic with a lot range to find, from that superb collision of crimson mud within the Crimson Centre to the tropical white sands of the East Coast.
There isn’t a higher approach to expertise the Land Down Below than on a highway journey. The asphalt paves its method by means of rainforests, deserts, mountains, vineyards, small cities and glamourous cities – a black vein connecting distinctive treasures at each flip.
However being the sixth largest nation on the earth, a landmass better than the continent of Europe, highway tripping the whole nation is probably not possible for everybody, so we’ve listed our favourite Australian highway journeys to you possibly can embark on an journey that speaks to you.
From the scenic Nice Ocean Highway that frames the Southern Ocean to the Crimson Centre Manner’s outback odyssey, Australia is aware of methods to do epic highway journeys.
So if you’re prepared to leap behind the wheel, flip up the playlist, and escape the automobile snacks, don’t miss these epic highway journeys in Australia.
Except you could have your individual automobile, you’re going to wish to get your self a car in your highway journey in Australia. In case you’re visiting from overseas, we advocate you utilize DiscoverCars as it is a value comparability website that compares all the highest rental automobile 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 possibly can decide them up from a number of places.
- 1. Nice Ocean Highway, Victoria
- 2. Crimson Centre Manner, Northern Territory
- 3. The Savannah Manner, 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 Highway Journey, Western Australia
- 8. Broome to Perth, Western Australia
- 9. The 75 Mile Freeway, Fraser Island, Queensland
- 10. Alice Springs to the Gold Coast, Outback Queensland
- 11. Sydney to Jervis Bay Highway Journey, 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
- Ultimate ideas
- Extra inspiration for planning an Australia highway journey
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1. Nice Ocean Highway, Victoria
- START | END: Torquay to Warrnambool
- DISTANCE: 250 km
- TIME RECOMMENDED: 2 – 3 days
The Nice Ocean Highway isn’t solely some of the well-known highway journeys in Australia, however world wide. It’s usually touted as among the best drives on the planet.
Starting one hour outdoors of Melbourne in Torquay, this drive stretches over 250 kilometers, hugging the shoreline all through, to the city of Warrnambool. The whole stretch affords beautiful coastal surroundings, wildlife, waterfalls, mountain climbing, and beachside cities.
The highway takes you to wind-swept seashores, previous craggy sea stacks, and jaw-dropping coastal surroundings. Among the predominant points of interest on the Nice Ocean Highway are The Twelve Apostles, a set of sea stacks, Loch Ard Gorge, Port Campbell Nationwide Park and Apollo Bay.
If I solely had one piece of recommendation for driving the Nice Ocean Highway, I’d say don’t simply rush to see the 12 Apostles in your vacationer snap. Decelerate and recognize all this drive has to supply.
Definitely, don’t drive it in sooner or later just like the vacationer buses do from Melbourne. It deserves a minimum of a number of days.
Learn extra: Right here is our full information to a Nice Ocean Highway Highway Journey
Video: Tips on how to survive a highway journey with youngsters
2. Crimson Centre Manner, Northern Territory
- START | END: Alice Springs to Uluru
- DISTANCE: 468 km
- TIME RECOMMENDED: 5-6 days
You possibly can’t plan a highway journey in Australia with out considering a go to to the Outback, often known as the Crimson Centre. The Outback covers 5.6 million sq. kilometers, which totals 70-81% of the Australia. It’s identified for not solely being huge, however distant and semi-arid, with otherworldy landscapes thrown in between.
The Crimson Centre Manner is a scenic drive within the Northern Territory area of the Outback. As an alternative of taking the Stuart Freeway between Uluru and Alice Springs, this scenic route passes sensible landscapes, gorges, canyons, tenting, and the mountain climbing trails of the West MacDonnell Ranges.
Among the most iconic sights off this highway are Glen Helen Gorge, King’s Canyon, and the long-lasting UNESCO World Heritage Web site of Ayres Rock.
Enable your self loads of time to absorb the surprise of Uluru and close by Kata Tjuta, it truly is the guts of Australia and there may be multiple approach to expertise it.
3. The Savannah Manner, Queensland
- START | END: Cairns to Broome
- DISTANCE: 3,700 km
- TIME RECOMMENDED: 1-2 weeks
The Savannah Manner is one other highway journey that extends the highest a part of the nation, stretching from the tropical metropolis of 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 Manner from Cairns to the Northern Territory border, however it was a spotlight of our time exploring the northern part of Outback Queensland.
The Savannah Manner highway journey passes a number of notable landmarks within the Prime Finish, together with Millaa Millaa Falls, Atherton Tablelands, Undara Lava Tubes, Cobbold Gorge and Boodjamulla Nationwide Park.
Learn extra: Final information to driving the Savannah Manner
4. Cairns to Cape Tribulation, Queensland
- START | END: Cape Tribulation to Cairns (or vice versa)
- DISTANCE: 150 km
- TIME RECOMMENDED: 3-4 days
Tropical North Queensland must be some of the enchanting areas in Australia, if not the world. It’s residence to 2 of our nation’s most iconic pure wonders; the Nice Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest.
The most effective time to go to Tropical North Queensland is throughout the winter months when it’s not so humid and also you keep away from stinger season, though it’d really feel like the entire south of the nation has migrated north with you.
The Cairns to Cape Tribulation highway is all in regards to the historical rainforest. We liked kayaking alongside Mossman Gorge River, which places you within the coronary heart of the Daintree Nationwide Park. The adventurous can go additional as much as Cape York, however most cease at Cape Trib. Don’t use Port Douglas as a fast pit cease, there are various issues to do there.
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, New South Wales and Queensland
- START | END: Sydney to Brisbane
- DISTANCE: 928 km
- TIME RECOMMENDED: 3-4 days
The favored East Coast highway journey from Sydney to Brisbane, often called the Legendary Pacific Coast, is among the greatest Australian highway journeys, and is actually probably the most traveled.
Stretching 900 kms alongside the Pacific Coast hall, the Sydney to Brisbane drive has one thing for everybody: beautiful seashores, inexperienced rolling hills, beachside cities, riverside cities, wineries, the hinterland, wildlife watching, and each water sport conceivable.
Among the prime websites on this stretch are the Hunter Valley wine area, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Explorers Manner, Byron Bay, Yamba, Kingscliff, and the Gold Coast.
When you’ve got time to spare, why not maintain going? You possibly can drive alongside the coast all the best way as much as Cairns previous Port Stephens, the Sunshine Coast and Noosa North Shore.
This manner you possibly can take day journeys out to the islands comparable to The Whitsundays or Airlie Seashore. This can take a minimum of one other week.
Learn extra: The last word Sydney to Brisbane itinerary and North Coast NSW highway journey: Lennox Head to Brisbane Highway Journey
6. Darwin to Kakadu to Katherine to Litchfield, Northern Territories
- 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 greatest sunsets in Australia at Darwin, this drive then takes within the unimaginable wetlands and wildlife of Kakadu Nationwide Park, the beautiful gorge surroundings at Katherine, and the waterfalls and swimming holes of Litchfield.
The Kakadu to Litchfield highway journey passes by Darwin, identified for the well-known Mindil Seashore Markets.
Learn extra: Highlights of a Northern Territory highway journey
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 is The Gibb River Highway in Western Australia, a well-known grime monitor that takes you thru the guts of The Kimberley, one in every of Australia’s final wilderness frontiers. In case you’re into 4-wheel driving, this may very well be your final journey.
The whole Gibb runs for about 700 kilometers starting close to Derby and ending close to Kununurra and takes in sensible gorges, waterfalls, cattle stations and plains, wealthy aboriginal historical past, Boab timber, 4-wheel driving, and nice tenting.
You are able to do the Gibb in both course however highway circumstances rely on the time of 12 months and completion of grading work. Journey is barely beneficial as soon as the highway has been graded after the moist season (round Might) till the top 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.
The Gibb River highway journey passes by Windjana Gorge, Tunnel Creek, Bell Gorge, Adcock Gorge, Galvan’s Gorge, King Leopold Ranges, Emma’s Gorge, Zebedee Springs and El Questro.
Learn extra: The last word information to the Gibb River Highway: 14 day itinerary
8. Broome to Perth, 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 greatest landscapes and most stunning seashores within the nation. You’ve countless selections of highway journeys in your Australian travels.
I like to recommend you’re taking a minimum of 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 neglect your snorkeling gear, your tenting gear, and particularly your digicam, and I’d additionally extremely advocate a detour from Port Hedland inland to Karijini Nationwide Park, one of many greatest Nationwide Parks in Australia.
The Perth to Broome highway journey passes by Cable Seashore in Broome, Turquoise Bay and Sandy Bay in Exmouth, Ningaloo Reef, Coral Bay, Shark Bay, Kalbarri, Monkey Mia, The Pinnacles Desert, Nambung Nationwide Park, Rottnest Island, and Perth.
9. The 75 Mile Freeway, Fraser Island, Queensland
- START | END: Fraser Island
- DISTANCE: 120 km
- TIME RECOMMENDED: 1 day
Do you know that 75 Mile Seashore on Okay’Gari, often known as Fraser Island, is classed as part of the Bruce Freeway? And that Fraser Island is the most important sand island on the earth? Now you do!
If you wish to go off-road and do some critical seaside driving while exploring shipwrecks, pristine lakes, beautiful forest, and dodging wild dingos, head over to Fraser for a number of the greatest 4-wheel driving within the nation.
The Fraser Island highway journey drives alongside 75 Mile Seashore, stopping at Eli Creek, Maheno Shipwreck, Lake Mackenzie, Kingfisher Bay and the forest.
10. Alice Springs to the Gold Coast, Outback Queensland
START | END: Alice Springs to Gold Coast
DISTANCE: 6540 km
TIME RECOMMENDED: 1-2 weeks
Coming again to the Gold Coast by means of Outback Queensland by way of Mount Isa, Winton, Longreach, Carnarvon Gorge, and Charleville was such a pleasant shock and the right method 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 supply on the varied cities. Don’t miss the Australian Age of Dinosaurs in Winton, Qantas Founders Museum in Longreach and Cosmos Centre in Charleville.
Learn extra: 5 Evening Sandstone Wilderness Highway Journey
11. Sydney to Jervis Bay Highway Journey, New South Wales
- START | END: Sydney to Jervis Bay
- DISTANCE: 186 km
- TIME RECOMMENDED: 1-2 days
In case you have been to drive direct from Sydney to Jervis Bay it might take about 2.5 hours however there are a number of spots properly price stopping for alongside the best way.
As you allow Sydney and head south you’ll quickly be driving by means of the Royal Nationwide Park, the second oldest Nationwide Park on the earth.
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 Pebbly Seashore, Kangaroo Valley, Hyams Seashore, Kiama, Greenpatch Seashore, Booderee Nationwide Park, and our favorite south coast city, Jervis Bay.
12. Launceston to Hobart, Tasmania
- START | END: Launceston to Hobart
- DISTANCE: 559 km
- TIME RECOMMENDED: 4-5 days
Tasmania is one in every of Australia’s nice driving locations, and a scenic highway journey from Launceston to Hobart by way of 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 by way of Bicheno, Freycinet Nationwide Park and Wineglass Bay and Hazards Seashore, Port Arthur, after which ending in Hobart.
13. The Nullarbor, Western and Southern Australia
- 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. The Nullarbor is one big stretch of land in the course of the Eyre Freeway, with the whole 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 report for a straight size of highway. You possibly can 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 and do embrace the Nullarbor Hyperlinks golf course of 18 holes spanning 1365 km with a gap at each city and distant roadhouse between Ceduna and Kalgoorlie, the Bunda Cliffs, whale watching at Head of Bight (June to October), Border Village, Eucla telegraph station, Nice Australian Bight Marine Park, 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 whole size subsequent time.
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, which took us to some superb nationwide parks and nature sughts, comparable to Flinders Ranges Nationwide Park, Port Lincoln Nationwide Park and the Nice Ocean Drive in Elliston. We additionally loved swimming with sea lions in Port Lincoln and consuming oysters at Coffin Bay.
Video: Watch our Eyre Peninsula highway journey
Watch our movies of the Eyre Peninsula highway journey, together with swimming with sea lions. Be sure you subscribe to our Youtube channel.
15. Kangaroo Island Loop, South Australia
- START | END: Kangaroo Island
- DISTANCE: 155 km
- TIME RECOMMENDED: 4-5 days
You could be fairly positive when visiting Kangaroo Island in South Australia you’ll spot a koala dozing up a tree, seals taking part in on the seaside, 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.
A lot of the island is preserved and guarded supplying you with a pure and pure expertise for years to return.
Ensure you don’t miss the Dudley Peninsula (oh the vineyard views!!), Kingscote, swimming with the dolphins, Flinders Chase Nationwide Park (the place you possibly can see koalas), Seal Bay, Exceptional Rocks, the North Coast seashores, and sandboarding the Little Sahara Desert.
Ultimate ideas
So there you could have it, these are a few of our private favourite roads in Australia. You possibly can both full these individually as particular person journeys or if in case you have a great deal of time to spare, mix them to create the ‘Massive Lap’ of Australia. That is basically a round highway journey of the whole nation and might take anyplace from 3 months to 18 months (we took 18 months).
No matter highway journey you determine to do, be sure you have your car ready and serviced earlier than you go. There’s nothing worse than breaking down in the course of the Outback!
With a lot to see and discover, there’s just one approach to do Australia proper – a highway journey. The nation is bursting with thrilling points of interest 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 bought surroundings for days in Australia. To not point out the tradition and wildlife, which is second to none and incomparable to anyplace else on the earth.
As an alternative of flying from level A to B and lacking every part in between, a highway journey turns into simply as memorable because the vacation spot.
Extra inspiration for planning an Australia highway journey
Do you want extra inspiration in your Aussie highway journey? Then try the next assets:
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