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There’s one thing fairly magical about an Australian street journey — it’s a rustic with a lot variety to find, from that superb collision of purple mud within the Pink Centre to the tropical white sands of the East Coast.
There is no such thing as a higher option to expertise the Land Down Beneath than on a street journey. The asphalt paves its method via 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 this planet, a landmass better than the continent of Europe, street tripping your entire nation will not be possible for everybody, so we’ve listed our favourite Australian street journeys to you’ll be able to embark on an journey that speaks to you.
From the scenic Nice Ocean Street that frames the Southern Ocean to the Pink Centre Approach’s outback odyssey, Australia is aware of learn how to do epic street journeys.
So whenever you’re prepared to leap behind the wheel, flip up the playlist, and get away the automotive snacks, don’t miss these epic street journeys in Australia.
Except you’ve gotten your individual automotive, you’re going to want to get your self a automobile to your street journey in Australia. For those who’re visiting from overseas, we suggest you employ DiscoverCars as this can be a value comparability web site that compares all the highest rental automotive firms. For those who’re planning on tenting in your automobile, then RV Share is the positioning to browse round. It has RVs and motorhomes of all sizes and weights, plus you’ll be able to choose them up from a number of areas.
- 1. Nice Ocean Street, Victoria
- 2. Pink Centre Approach, Northern Territory
- 3. The Savannah Approach, 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 Street 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 Street 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
- Remaining ideas
- Extra inspiration for planning an Australia street journey
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1. Nice Ocean Street, Victoria
- START | END: Torquay to Warrnambool
- DISTANCE: 250 km
- TIME RECOMMENDED: 2 – 3 days
The Nice Ocean Street shouldn’t be solely one of the crucial well-known street journeys in Australia, however around the globe. It’s typically touted as among the best drives on the planet.
Starting one hour exterior 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, mountaineering, and beachside cities.
The street takes you to wind-swept seashores, previous craggy sea stacks, and jaw-dropping coastal surroundings. A number of the important points of interest on the Nice Ocean Street 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 Street, I might say don’t simply rush to see the 12 Apostles to your vacationer snap. Decelerate and respect all this drive has to supply.
Actually, don’t drive it in at some point just like the vacationer buses do from Melbourne. It deserves at the least a number of days.
Learn extra: Right here is our full information to a Nice Ocean Street Street Journey
Video: Methods to survive a street journey with youngsters
2. Pink Centre Approach, Northern Territory
- START | END: Alice Springs to Uluru
- DISTANCE: 468 km
- TIME RECOMMENDED: 5-6 days
You possibly can’t plan a street journey in Australia with out considering a go to to the Outback, also called the Pink 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 Pink Centre Approach 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 good landscapes, gorges, canyons, tenting, and the mountaineering trails of the West MacDonnell Ranges.
A number of the most iconic sights off this street are Glen Helen Gorge, King’s Canyon, and the long-lasting UNESCO World Heritage Web site of Ayres Rock.
Permit your self loads of time to soak up the surprise of Uluru and close by Kata Tjuta, it truly is the center of Australia and there may be multiple option to expertise it.
3. The Savannah Approach, Queensland
- START | END: Cairns to Broome
- DISTANCE: 3,700 km
- TIME RECOMMENDED: 1-2 weeks
The Savannah Approach is one other street 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 many who don’t know, taking in a whopping 3,700 km.
To date we’ve solely pushed the Savannah Approach from Cairns to the Northern Territory border, but it surely was a spotlight of our time exploring the northern part of Outback Queensland.
The Savannah Approach street 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 Approach
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 needs to be one of the crucial enchanting areas in Australia, if not the world. It’s house 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 through 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 street is all in regards to the historic rainforest. We beloved 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 a lot of issues to do there.
Video: Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation Street Journey, Queensland
Watch our video playlist of our street 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 street journey from Sydney to Brisbane, referred to as the Legendary Pacific Coast, is without doubt one of the greatest Australian street journeys, and is definitely essentially 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.
A number of the prime websites on this stretch are the Hunter Valley wine area, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Explorers Approach, Byron Bay, Yamba, Kingscliff, and the Gold Coast.
You probably have time to spare, why not preserve going? You possibly can drive alongside the coast all the way in which as much as Cairns previous Port Stephens, the Sunshine Coast and Noosa North Shore.
This manner you’ll be able to take day journeys out to the islands corresponding to The Whitsundays or Airlie Seaside. This can take at the least one other week.
Learn extra: The final word Sydney to Brisbane itinerary and North Coast NSW street journey: Lennox Head to Brisbane Street 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 street journey from Darwin taking in Kakadu Nationwide Park, Katherine Gorge, and Litchfield Nationwide Park is a should not miss street journey in Australia.
Beginning and ending with a few of the greatest sunsets in Australia at Darwin, this drive then takes within the unbelievable 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 street journey passes by Darwin, identified for the well-known Mindil Seaside Markets.
Learn extra: Highlights of a Northern Territory street journey
7. Gibb River Street Journey, Western Australia
- START | END: Derby to Kununurra
- DISTANCE: 700 km
- TIME RECOMMENDED: 4-5 days
Probably the most adventurous street journeys is The Gibb River Street in Western Australia, a well-known grime observe that takes you thru the center of The Kimberley, one among Australia’s final wilderness frontiers. For those who’re into 4-wheel driving, this might be your final journey.
The whole Gibb runs for about 700 kilometers starting close to Derby and ending close to Kununurra and takes in good gorges, waterfalls, cattle stations and plains, wealthy aboriginal historical past, Boab bushes, 4-wheel driving, and nice tenting.
You are able to do the Gibb in both path however street situations rely on the time of 12 months and completion of grading work. Journey is barely really helpful as soon as the street has been graded after the moist season (round Might) till the tip of October
We didn’t have a four-wheel drive automobile so solely did the northern part, going into Emma’s Gorge and El Questro and again out.
The Gibb River street 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 final word information to the Gibb River Street: 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 few of the greatest landscapes and most lovely seashores within the nation. You’ve got limitless decisions of street journeys to your Australian travels.
I like to recommend you are taking at the least two weeks to drive this part of WA, heck we will 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 might additionally extremely suggest a detour from Port Hedland inland to Karijini Nationwide Park, one of many greatest Nationwide Parks in Australia.
The Perth to Broome street journey passes by Cable Seaside 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 Seaside on Ok’Gari, also called Fraser Island, is assessed as part of the Bruce Freeway? And that Fraser Island is the biggest sand island on this planet? Now you do!
If you wish to go off-road and do some severe seashore driving while exploring shipwrecks, pristine lakes, beautiful forest, and dodging wild dingos, head over to Fraser for a few of the greatest 4-wheel driving within the nation.
The Fraser Island street journey drives alongside 75 Mile Seaside, 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 via 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 street journey.
We encountered a few of the friendliest individuals alongside this stretch of street, to not point out the historical past and the landscapes on provide on the numerous cities. Don’t miss the Australian Age of Dinosaurs in Winton, Qantas Founders Museum in Longreach and Cosmos Centre in Charleville.
Learn extra: 5 Night time Sandstone Wilderness Street Journey
11. Sydney to Jervis Bay Street Journey, New South Wales
- START | END: Sydney to Jervis Bay
- DISTANCE: 186 km
- TIME RECOMMENDED: 1-2 days
For those who had 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 way in which.
As you allow Sydney and head south you’ll quickly be driving via the Royal Nationwide Park, the second oldest Nationwide Park on this planet.
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 Seaside, Kangaroo Valley, Hyams Seaside, Kiama, Greenpatch Seaside, 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 among Australia’s nice driving locations, and a scenic street 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 unbelievable Bay of Fires and Binalong Bay earlier than persevering with south by way of Bicheno, Freycinet Nationwide Park and Wineglass Bay and Hazards Seaside, 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 street. The Nullarbor is one large stretch of land in the midst of the Eyre Freeway, with your entire 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 street that holds the world file for a straight size of street. 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 embody 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 must drive your entire 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 street journey of the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia, which took us to some wonderful nationwide parks and nature sughts, corresponding 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 street journey
Watch our movies of the Eyre Peninsula street journey, together with swimming with sea lions. Make sure to subscribe to our Youtube channel.
15. Kangaroo Island Loop, South Australia
- START | END: Kangaroo Island
- DISTANCE: 155 km
- TIME RECOMMENDED: 4-5 days
You may be fairly positive when visiting Kangaroo Island in South Australia you’ll spot a koala dozing up a tree, seals enjoying on the seashore, 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.
Many of the island is preserved and guarded providing you with a pure and pure expertise for years to return.
Be sure you don’t miss the Dudley Peninsula (oh the vineyard views!!), Kingscote, swimming with the dolphins, Flinders Chase Nationwide Park (the place you’ll be able to see koalas), Seal Bay, Outstanding Rocks, the North Coast seashores, and sandboarding the Little Sahara Desert.
Remaining ideas
So there you’ve gotten it, these are a few of our private favourite roads in Australia. You possibly can both full these individually as particular person journeys or when you have a great deal of time to spare, mix them to create the ‘Large Lap’ of Australia. That is primarily a round street journey of your entire nation and may take wherever from 3 months to 18 months (we took 18 months).
No matter street journey you determine to do, be sure you have your automobile ready and serviced earlier than you go. There’s nothing worse than breaking down in the midst of the Outback!
With a lot to see and discover, there’s just one option to do Australia proper – a street 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 wherever else on this planet.
As an alternative of flying from level A to B and lacking every thing in between, a street journey turns into simply as memorable because the vacation spot.
Extra inspiration for planning an Australia street journey
Do you want extra inspiration to your Aussie street journey? Then try the next assets:
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