THE ULTIMATE AUSTRALIAN ROAD TRIP LIST - TOP 7
It’s the year of road trips, and lucky for us, we live in a land where domestic vacations are not just a plan B. All you need is a sense of adventure, confidence in your vehicle, a solid playlist, and the country is your oyster.
Scenic coastal roads and white-sand beaches, tropical islands, thriving cities, desert dunes and rushing waterfalls – there is nowhere as diversely beautiful as Australia. Here are our top 7 adventure-filled road trips to add to your bucket list.
1. Road trip from Sydney
Grand Pacific Drive
From Sydney, New South Wales
Top stops: Sea Cliff Bridge, Bald Hill Lookout, Kiama Blow Hole
Sea Cliff Bridge, NSW
Photo by Zhu Hongzhi on Unsplash
Grand Pacific Drive is the perfect all-in-one day trip. Just 45 minutes south of Sydney's CBD, this route is best known for some of the most scenic coastal views in the country, boasting rugged cliff edges and breathtaking lookouts you won't want to miss. The 140km drive takes you through the Royal National Park, rainforests, and the spectacular views of Bald Hill Lookout and Sea Cliff Bridge. Don't miss out on exploring the neighbouring coastal towns of Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama, and the Shoalhaven to fill up your itinerary with even more iconic spots along the way.
2. Road trip from Melbourne
Great Ocean Road
From Melbourne, Victoria
Top stops: Twelve Apostles, Great Otway National Park, Loch Ard Gorge
Twelve Apostles, VIC
Photo by Valeriia Miller on Unsplash
The Great Ocean Road speaks for itself - this road trip is one of the world's most scenic coastal drives, stretching 243km of mesmerising views and attractions for an authentically-Aussie experience. 90 minutes from Melbourne's CBD, this drive takes you down the south-eastern coast of Australia with a long list of stunning lookouts and attractions to choose from. Behold the famous Twelve Apostles, native wildlife at Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve, and Australia's history at Narana Aboriginal Culture Centre - it doesn't get much more Aussie than this.
3. An iconic Queensland road trip
Great Barrier Reef Drive
From Cairns, Queensland
Top stops: Port Douglas, Mossman Gorge, Cape Tribulation
Gold Coast, QLD
Photo by City of Gold Coast on Unsplash
The Great Barrier Reef... need we say more? This 140km route takes you from Cairns to Cape Tribulation, passing through two World Heritage sites - the world's most famous coral reef and the Wet Tropics rainforest. Short and sweet, this drive takes just about 70 minutes from beginning to end, but this route doesn't fall short of scenic spots and attractions along the way! Discover the vast range of beautiful beaches, rainforests, and lookouts of the Coral Sea as you wind through the iconic east coast of Australia.
4. Northern Territory road trip
Darwin to Litchfield National Park
From Darwin, Northern Territory
Top stops: Florence Falls, Buley Rockhole, Lost City, Magnetic Termite Mounds
Litchfield National Park, NT
Photo by Nick Dunn on Unsplash
Litchfield National Park is a must-see destination when you find yourself in the Northern Territory, just one hour south of Darwin. Home to remarkable waterfalls and waterholes, beautiful walks, and dramatic landscapes, Litchfield is the perfect road trip destination for adventurers and water lovers. Throw your cozzie in the boot for this one, it's hard to resist jumping in for a swim!
5. Tasmania road trip
Freycinet National Park
From Hobart, Tasmania
Top stops: Wineglass Bay, Honeymoon Bay, Cape Tourville Lighthouse
Freycinet National Park, TAS
Photo by Yashi Wang on Unsplash
Litchfield National Park is a must-see destination when you find yourself in the Northern Territory, just one hour south of Darwin. Home to remarkable waterfalls and waterholes, beautiful walks, and dramatic landscapes, Litchfield is the perfect road trip destination for adventurers and water lovers. Throw your cozzie in the boot for this one, it's hard to resist jumping in for a swim!
6. Road trip from Adelaide
Nullarbor Plain
From South Australia to Western Australia
Top stops: 90 Mile Straight, The Great Australian Bright, Fowlers Bay
Photo by WantTto Create on Unsplash
The Nullabor is the classic depiction of Australia you'd usually see in Hollywood movies - native wildlife, bush for days, and heaps of open road. Experience the epitome of the Australian outback by heading down the Nullabor Plain - one of the world's longest, straightest, and flattest roads. This trip is perfect for adventurers looking to take on a multi-day drive, stretching 1,600km across South and Western Australia. This is going to be a long one, so brush up on games to play in the car, get a playlist to blast on your Apple CarPlay, and take on the open road.
7. Western Australia road trip
Perth to Exmouth
From Perth, Western Australia
Top stops: The Pinnacles Desert, Ningaloo Reef, Hutt Lagoon
Western Australia's Coral Coast will undoubtedly be a road trip for the books – showing off stunning landscapes and a long list of unmissable pit stops along the way. Overflowing with beaches, coral reefs, and snorkelling spots, this drive is an animal lover's paradise. Stop at one of many locations along the way to swim with whale sharks, dolphins, and manta rays in their natural habitat. Don't forget to check out the stunning pink lake at Hutt Lagoon and impressive rock formations at the Pinnacles - there's no shortage of wonders to discover along this road trip.
Take on the Road
It’s time to start packing. Explore Australia in a vehicle you have confidence in.
All Kia models have been finely tuned across thousands of kilometres of Australian urban, country, and outback roads. From our award-winning SUV range to our awe-inspiring performance cars – experience the tech, space and comfort required to make the most of these great Australian road trips.
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