Five unmissable Australian road trips

There’s nothing quite like being out on the open road to experience Australia’s diversity; its dusty towns and welcoming people, its sparkling coastline and quirky creatures. Many of us have dreamt about putting the foot to the floor and taking that awe-inspiring road-trip, whether through the bush, to the outback or around the coast. Luckily, you don’t need to search far to find a journey you’ll love – these drives take in some of the most spectacular scenery in the country. From the Gibb River Road in the Kimberley to The Savannah Way in outback Queensland, here are five routes you don’t want to miss.

Gibb River Road, Western Australia

The 660km-long route from Derby to Kununurra is a 4WD enthusiast’s dream — passing magnificent gorges, swimming in waterholes, staying on cattle stations and viewing Indigenous rock art. The drive can take one to two weeks as you cut through the heart of the Kimberley wilderness, and the best time to travel is in the dry season, between May and October. You will need 4WD experience to tackle the Gibb; there are long unsealed sections and river crossings, too.

Gibb River Road

Great Eastern Drive, Tasmania

There are few better ways to explore the Apple Isle than this 176km, five-day drive along the east coast. Starting either at St Helens in the north or Orford in the south, the drive takes in some of Tasmania’s most stunning landscapes, including the Bay of Fires, Freycinet National Park, Wineglass Bay and Maria Island. You can take your car on the ferry from Melbourne or hire one when you fly in. Either way, be prepared for days overflowing with wine, wildlife and wilderness.

Wineglass Bay

The Long Paddock touring route, New South Wales

If you have a heart for history, the 640km Long Paddock drive travels along a network of historic stock routes used by cattle drovers in the 1800s. Starting in the Murray River border towns of Echuca/Moama, the route primarily follows the Cobb Highway, which is dotted with 11 sculptures that pay tribute to the hardships faced by outback pioneers. The drive takes around three days, and although it’s mostly on sealed roads, the last section to Wilcannia should only be undertaken in good conditions.

Murray River at sunset

Great Ocean Road, Victoria

Winding for 243km along the windswept coast of Victoria, the Great Ocean Road is an easy trip from Melbourne. You’ll encounter some of the state’s most striking locations on this drive, including Otway National Park and the world-famous Twelve Apostles, as well as charming coastal towns such as Torquay and Apollo Bay. Take it easy over three days and stop in at cellar doors, take a treetop canopy walk, learn about local Indigenous history and maybe — from June to October — spot a whale at one of the many coastal vantage points.

Great Ocean Road

Savannah Way, Queensland

Stretching 3700km across the Top End, the Savannah Way is an epic outback odyssey that takes travellers from the tropical rainforests surrounding Cairns in Far North Queensland to the red-dirt pearling town of Broome on the WA coast. The route is best undertaken during the dry season — roughly May to October — and requires good planning, as some sections are remote and need 4WD experience, including a 700km unsealed section from Normanton to Borroloola.

Dusty outback road

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