Australia's Best Road Trips: Iconic Routes for the Ultimate Adventure

Australia has long had a reputation as being an epic road trip destination. Offering an incredibly vast and diverse landscape, travelling overland by car, van or camper makes sense. Cruising across the country under your own steam truly is a feeling like no other. Not only does travelling in this way give you the freedom to carve your own path through is stunning country but it also allows you to seek out the best accommodations in Adelaide, stay with friends in Sydney, hunker down in a hostel in Melbourne or visit family in Perth in between each road-bound adventure so you can recharge the batteries and be ready for the next leg of the journey.

This type of freedom is something truly unique and will allow you to cover more ground than you could ever imagine if you opt for public transport. What’s more, you are not limited to the routes that public transport can take to you, giving you the opportunity to get off the beaten track if you choose to do so. On the other hand, you can stay firmly on the track where you will meet more people, have lots to do and enjoy a little more comfort along the way. Whichever direction you choose to go, you can be sure that embracing the open road is undoubtedly the best way to see this amazing country. 

Let’s take a look at some of the most iconic driving routes in Australia to help you prepare for your ultimate Aussie adventure.

Alice Springs to Darwin
Starting our list in Northern Territory, this is a road trip that spans just short of 1,500 kilometres. Beginning in Alice Springs, this epic journey is all about the uniqueness of the Outback. The five to seven-day trip may seem a bit tiring at times, as it is a desert, but you can be sure that there will always be plenty to keep you occupied and entertained. One of the really fun parts of this road trip is that at a certain point, it turns tropical, and you feel like you have just entered a completely different world. By the time you hit Darwin, you will have gone from the dry, dusty Outback, to the tropics in just a matter of days.

Clare Valley To The Flinders Ranges
Next, we are heading to the opposite end of the country, to the southern coast, in beautiful Clare Valley. This is a trip that many people opt for each year, as it is another one that can see some drastic changes along the way. Clare Valley is a relaxing, picturesque spot that may seem like a dream but it is very much real. The trip starts out in lush valleys, filled with wineries and small townships, and heads towards a rocky, remarkable mountain range in the Outback, named just that, Mount Remarkable. Once you hit this landmark, everything will change, and you can make your way to the Flinders Ranges for some spectacular views.

The Great Ocean Road
There is something to be said about a name, and this next aptly-named road trip is one that you do not want to miss. There is no other country in the world to have any road trip comparable to this well-travelled yet still incredibly mind blowing coastal drive. If you enjoy the water and all that the Australian coastline has to offer, this is possibly the greatest road trip on the planet. Start the Great Ocean Road drive in the surfing capital of Torquay, visitors will work their way south some 500 kilometres, with scenic ocean views, a number of remarkable landmarks, and an interesting change of scenery as you get to the endpoint in Nelson.

New England National Parks
There is one beautiful road trip you can take that will include all of the New England National Parks, starting in New South Wales, and heading inland to the hills for just short of 900 kilometres. This road trip is for those travellers who enjoy things a little more country. The area is known as the country-music capital of the country, and you will find all things country, with an Aussie twist of course. The road ends in Yamba, but not before you get a straight stretch to visit a variety of historic and scenic national parks along the route.

Sydney To Byron Bay
Also called the Pacific Coast road trip, this little jaunt is just shy of 1,000 kilometres, and takes you from one popular tourist city to another. Starting in Sydney, you will be treated to miles of open road with a view of the coast, with many options for activities and entertainment when you decide to stop. You will find yourself travelling through a number of gorgeous resorts settled on the beach, and if you take your time, you can kick back and enjoy the sun and sand on the way. At the end of the trip, you end up in beautiful Byron Bay, which is a full-on tourist destination in and of itself with countless things on offer to keep you entertained. 

Embark On The Road Trip Of A Lifetime
There truly is a lot of open road in Australia, and the above-mentioned trips are really just the tip of the iceberg. Whatever you are looking for in a road trip, you can be sure that there is a route that will suit your unique preferences. Take your time, do your research and put a plan in place that will set you up for the road trip of a lifetime in beautiful Australia.​