Buckle Up for the Ultimate Aussie Adventure
Australia is made for road trips. With wide open roads, ever-changing landscapes, and countless hidden gems, exploring the country by car (or campervan) is one of the most rewarding ways to travel. Whether you're chasing coastal views, rugged outback deserts, or lush rainforests, this guide covers the best road trip destinations across Australia—state by state.
🚗 New South Wales (NSW): From Surf to Skyline
Start in Sydney and make your way north or south for two iconic drives.
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Grand Pacific Drive: Wind through coastal cliffs, the Sea Cliff Bridge, and beach towns like Kiama and Jervis Bay.
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Pacific Coast Way: Head north from Sydney through Newcastle, Port Stephens, and Byron Bay.
Don’t Miss:
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Bondi to Coogee coastal walk
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Blue Mountains detour
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Fish and chips at a local beach town
🌿 Victoria (VIC): Nature Meets Culture
Victoria may be small, but it's packed with variety. Start in Melbourne, the coffee capital, and head west.
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Great Ocean Road: One of the world’s most scenic coastal drives. See the Twelve Apostles, rainforest walks, and surf towns.
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Grampians National Park: Ideal for hikes and indigenous rock art.
Don’t Miss:
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Lorne’s waterfalls
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Apollo Bay’s seafood
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Sunrise at the Twelve Apostles
🏜️ Northern Territory (NT): The Real Outback
Drive through the heart of Australia on a Red Centre road trip.
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Alice Springs to Uluru: Vast desert landscapes, sacred Aboriginal landmarks, and night skies full of stars.
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Kakadu National Park (from Darwin): Wetlands, crocodiles, and ancient rock art.
Don’t Miss:
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Sunrise at Uluru
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Litchfield’s waterfalls
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Learning about Anangu culture
🌊 Queensland (QLD): Tropical Coastlines & Islands
Queensland is where the rainforest meets the reef. Start in Brisbane and head north along the coast.
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Sunshine Coast & Noosa for surf and sand
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Fraser Island (K’gari) for 4WD adventure
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Cairns & Port Douglas to access the Great Barrier Reef
Don’t Miss:
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Snorkelling the reef
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Daintree Rainforest boardwalks
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A stop in laid-back Airlie Beach
🌵 South Australia (SA): Wine, Wildlife & the Outback
South Australia is often underrated, but it's full of road trip gems.
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Adelaide to Flinders Ranges: Outback roads, native wildlife, and dramatic gorges.
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Barossa Valley or McLaren Vale: Ideal for wine lovers.
Don’t Miss:
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Wilpena Pound hike
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Kangaroo Island detour
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A tasting tour through Barossa
🐬 Western Australia (WA): Wild and Untamed
WA is vast, remote, and incredibly diverse. You could spend months here alone.
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Perth to Esperance: Coastal cliffs, pink lakes, and white sand beaches.
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The Coral Coast: From Cervantes to Exmouth—home to Ningaloo Reef, where you can swim with whale sharks.
Don’t Miss:
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Lucky Bay’s kangaroo-filled beach
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Pinnacles Desert at sunset
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Karijini’s epic gorges
🏞️ Tasmania (TAS): Nature’s Playground
A short ferry or flight from the mainland, Tasmania is a road trip paradise.
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Hobart to Launceston via the east coast: Wineglass Bay, Bay of Fires, and charming seaside towns.
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Cradle Mountain Loop: Alpine hikes, wild wombats, and cozy cabins.
Don’t Miss:
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Freycinet National Park
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Bruny Island’s food scene
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Tassie oysters and cool-climate wines
🏁 Road Trip Tips for Australia
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Fuel up often. Distances are long, especially in rural/outback areas.
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Watch for wildlife, especially at dawn and dusk.
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Download offline maps and playlists—remote areas have no signal.
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Travel in the right season: Northern regions are best in dry season (May–October); southern areas are great year-round but avoid summer heat inland.
Ready to Hit the Road?
No matter where you start, Australia’s vast and diverse landscapes are best explored by road. From the laid-back surf towns of the east coast to the wild wilderness of WA and the ancient red heart of the country, every stop brings a new adventure.
Whether you're planning a short getaway or a cross-country journey, this Aussie road trip itinerary is your go-to guide to discovering the real Australia—one scenic drive at a time.
