Australia: it’s a country and a continent for the price of one. Divided into six states and two territories, Australia boasts a landmass of 7,741,220 million square kilometres. And whilst this isn’t quite USA levels of large, this still earns it the sixth-place ranking in the world’s top 10. Australia’s surface area is just slightly shy of Europe’s combined landmass of 10,186,000 square kilometres. No wonder a European road trip is essentially an international tour!
Australia: eight states and territories spread over 7,741,220 million square kilometres.
To further illustrate the point: let’s say you start driving somewhere with Melbourne as your starting point. It doesn’t matter which direction you drive in—because guess what? Two hours from now, you’re still going to be in Victoria. You probably won’t be in Melbourne anymore, but you’ll certainly still be in Victoria. Compare that to Europe where you could start driving from Austria and wind up in Slovenia in under two hours.
What’s the point of all this geographical waffle? To emphasise just how large this sunburnt country can be, of course! There are so many opportunities for adventure. If you’re keen to explore your own backyard, off the beaten track, or just see some of Australia’s highlights, you should plan a road trip. Here are some of the best Australian road trips we can think of.
Northern Territory’s Uluru and Red Centre
When you think of Australia, what is one of the first things that spring to mind? A lot of people think of Australia’s great Red Centre itself, which would be incomplete without the iconic Uluru. To take the scenic tour of this bucket-list-worthy location, start at Kings Canyon and work your way through to Kata-Tjuta. Uluru itself is the very red pot of gold at the end of this 1,180km journey, which takes 10–14 days to complete.
The great red rock itself, Uluru.
Besides the great red rock itself, what is there to see on this road trip? Nearby, there is Kata-Tjuta—aka the Olgas, two very similar rock formations. If you wish to immerse yourself in every last inch of these ancient rocks, we recommend the Valley of the Winds Walk. This hike is a 7.4km winding tour of these 500-million-year-old domes, and it should take three to four hours to complete. (Please note that, due to being a sacred Aboriginal site, some tracks are off-limits. Social media uploads are also a no-no.)
Kata-Tjuta/Mount Olga: the other two great red rocks of the Red Centre.
Alice Springs to Darwin — Northern Territory
This road trip is a kaleidoscopic transition from Alice Springs’ desolate desert to yellower, and eventually greener pastures. Well, there are no real pastures, but you will witness firsthand as the desert melts into the lusher, greener tropics of Katherine. By the time you hit Darwin, you will be engulfed by a green, tropical paradise seemingly miles from the desert from which you departed.
The Katherine Gorge in Mitmiluk (just a 20-minute drive from Katherine itself).
This is a weeklong road trip, taking five to seven days to complete. Once you hit Darwin, be sure to check out the Florence Falls: a tropical, green explosion of waterfalls, water holes, bushwalks, birdlife, wildlife, and four-wheel drive tracks.
Southern Queensland Loop
In Queensland, what could be more southern than Brisbane? … The answer is a lot, actually, and if you said the Gold Coast, you’re not wrong. We were thinking of something even more southern than that, though. Situated right on the border between Queensland and New South Wales, Lamington National Park covers a whopping 206 square kilometres. It is the big brother to the 61.56 square-kilometre Springbrook National Park, which sits slightly to the right as the crow flies. Dismount at this ‘half-time’ point of the road trip, take in the lush, green rainforests, and feel your mind begin to quieten.
How’s this for a slice of Lamington National Park?
This road trip starts at Brisbane, loops down through these beautiful national parks, passes through Burleigh Heads, and ends up at North Stradbroke Island. It’s a 374-kilometre trip spanning over seven days. This trip is for folks who want to deviate from the path of the typical, more Gold Coast-enamoured tourist.
National Parks of New England, New South Wales
This road trip is a tour through New England’s national parks, history, and country music festivals. (Yes, you heard that last part right.) Starting at Coffs Harbour, enjoy the scenery as you make your way to Armidale. Once you’ve got your fill of the trip’s most scenic route, head southwest to Tamworth. If you love country life and country music, this will be your happy place. Here, you can check out the Australian Country Music Hall of Fame, enjoy many a country music festival (or Elvis Festival—no, we’re not kidding), and don your cowboy attire as you join in with a line dance. Hereafter are further scenic tours. Enjoy each one as you sift through historic towns and national parks on the way to Yamba: the conclusion of the trip. This trip spans 884 kilometres and takes five to seven days to complete.
Who needs Bondi when you’ve got Coffs Harbour?
New South Wales’ Pacific Coast
If you’re a beach lover, you’ve got to do this road trip. Starting at Sydney and ending at Byron Bay, these locations are household names worldwide. Are you ready for the coastal tour of a lifetime? If you have a spare seven days to travel 952 kilometres of coastland and national parks, pack up the camper trailer pronto.
Cape Byron State Conservation Area, Byron Bay
Visit some iconic beaches such as Coffs Harbour, Port Stephens, and Port Macquarie. Sandwich these visits between the national parks along the way. Just before you complete the trip, take a detour to Nimbin. This town is the perfect stopover to rest, rejuvenate, and meditate—after all, it is the hippie capital (we’re not kidding. The town’s logo is an actual peace sign). Finally, finish your destination with a dip in the beautiful Byron Bay. If the weather is warm enough, take a dip in the pristine waters against the backdrop of the sunset. Get back to civilisation and down a pint (or meal) at one of the many surrounding pubs.
Victoria’s Great Ocean Road
From one beach drive to another, Victoria’s Great Ocean Road is another globally-renowned road trip. Starting at Torquay and ending at Nelson, this 535km drive is a five- to seven-day highlight reel of Victoria’s best beaches. You will also see some iconic landmarks along the way, such as the Twelve Apostles rock formations and Loch Ard Gorge. The latter is the site of a famous shipwreck (the Loch Ard) that crashed on Mutton Bird Island back in 1878. The site is located on the appropriately named Shipwreck Coast.
The Twelve Apostles
Noteworthy experiences of this road trip include whale-watching in Warrnambool, paddling in Port Fairy (or taking in its folk festival), and finishing up close to the South Australian border. That’s a great segue into our next road trip.
Clare Valley and the Flinders Range — South Australia
Clare Valley is one of the state’s top wine regions, and vineyards are to this location as beaches are to the Great Ocean Road. There are about 50 wineries to choose from, so take your pick, but maybe take it easy, too. You have a 462km drive ahead of you over the next seven to ten days! Even if you’re not much of a drinker, the neverending vineyards are something to behold. See the way they stretch along and fill out the local towns such as Sevenhill and Mintaro.
The Flinders Ranges
By the end of this trip, you’ll be in outback almost as red as the wine of the Clare Valley. Take in the vast, dried grounds and rural towns before arriving at the awe-inspiring Flinders Ranges. It’s amazing how one trip can begin with the drinks flowing and wind up in such a thirsty desert.
The Southwest Coast of Western Australia
The trip along Western Australia’s southwest coast starts at Cape Le Grand National Park and ends at Bunbury. The distance is 933 kilometres and the duration is seven days. The popular wine region, Margaret River, is a popular tourist destination, but seasoned travellers will delight in all of Mother Nature’s offerings along this coast. Watch for whales and see if you can spot dolphins swimming in the beach’s shallower waters. Enjoy the protected forests and beaches spared from human hands and intervention. Explore the vegetation and see if you can spot any native wildlife.
Margaret River
Coral Coast to Broome — Western Australia
And what a journey this one is. Spanning 2,383 kilometres over 10 to 14 days, this road trip essentially scales from one end of the state to the other. And what an experience, seeing so much of Western Australia in one big trip. It’s a trip filled with ancient pinnacles, gorgeous gorges, mining towns and Aboriginal culture—all to the backdrop of the Indian Ocean.
The Pinnacles Desert
Perth and Broome are like the yin and yang of Western Australia. They are on opposite sides of the state. One is urban and one is rural. One is tropical and the other neighbours the outback. Along this trip, you are walking the dividing line between the desert and the coast. Notable highlights along the way include the Ningaloo Reef and the Pinnacles Desert. The latter features weathered pillars, composed of limestone and standing up to 12 metres in length. Some say they are reminiscent of scenes from a certain science fiction film. Visit the desert in the spring and you’ll be greeted by a colourful host of wildflowers in the nearby heathland.
Tasmania’s Cradle Mountain Loop
Finally, we get to the state that is at a literal disconnect from Mainland Australia. But just because Tasmania is disconnected doesn’t mean it isn’t a beautiful place to visit. In fact, Tasmania has a wealth of rugged locations that the seasoned camper will adore. Among these is Cradle Mountain, which is picturesque at any time of the year—but its snow-capped peaks particularly shine in winter.
Cradle Mountain
The loop from Cradle Mountain ends up in Queenstown, spans 620 kilometres, and can be completed within seven to ten days. This loop is a tour of Tasmania’s ‘wild, wild west’. The mark of the wildness lies in the high-reaching Tarkine wilderness, the roaring Southern Ocean, and—of course—the towering, glacial Cradle Mountain itself. This road trip is Tasmania’s highlight reel, also featuring historic towns (Sheffield and Stanley), the beautiful Boat Harbour Beach, and the surging surf beach of Marrawah. Tasmania is the perfect blend of rugged mountain ranges, beautiful beaches, and significant settlements that’s seemingly custom-made for campers and road-trippers alike.
What are you waiting for?!
Australia has endless avenues for exploration. And to perform even one of these momentous feats, it’s best to have an RV in tow (literally). Our Traveller camper trailer would be ideal for any of the above expeditions. Light to tow and easy to set up, the Traveller is spacious with capacity for off-road travel. And if you’re wanting to complete a rural road trip, off-roading capability is pretty important!
Couple the Traveller with anything upwards in size of a medium SUV and you’re good to go. This camper trailer is suited to couples or families, comes complete with a queen-sized mattress (or two single beds—whatever floats your trailer), and has extra storage space for those longer trips. Whichever of these road trips you choose, our Traveller will get you there and home again!
