My Australia road trip Spotify playlist may or may not unironically include ‘Nutbush City Limits’ 🚗💨
For those planning your very first road trip overseas, Australia is a great place to start. Vast landscapes, stunning nature and wildlife attractions — there are plenty of new destinations to explore across the country, especially when you have a car.
It’s easier to start your journey from accessible cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast or Perth, so we’ll be covering six epic road trip itineraries across the states of Victoria, New South Wales, Western Australia and Queensland!
But before you set off on your road trip, make sure to rent your car online in advance — especially during high season. We usually rent ours via Klook and can conveniently choose our pick-up location and car model.
*Pro-tip: Use <THETRAVELINTERN> on Klook to get 5% off car rental and activities with a S$50 min. spend (discount cap at S$15) at checkout (list of excluded activities).
1) 7D New South Wales to Victoria Coastal Drive (Sydney to Melbourne)
Route: Sydney — Wollongong — Jervis Bay — Eden — Phillip Island — Melbourne
Highlights: Tandem Skydiving, Whale Watching, Ocean to Plate Experience, Phillip Island’s Penguin Parade
The Coastal Drive from Sydney to Melbourne (or vice versa) is one of the most iconic road trips to take in Australia. Connecting the two most popular Australian cities, this route is a great break between the bustle of either city.
The first half of the route follows New South Wales’ Grand Pacific Drive, which stretches along the coast south of Sydney. While 140km long, the coastal drive is beginner-friendly thanks to straight roads and stops along the way for sightseeing. Think stunning sea views, laid-back beach towns and many wildlife sighting opportunities!
On your way out of Sydney, stop by the Royal National Park. It’s just an hour’s drive from the city and you can spend the day hiking through epic cliffside trails. Some famous viewpoints to check out are Wedding Cake Rock, Eagle Rock and Curracurrong Falls!
Then, head down to Wollongong for a bucket list Australian experience — skydiving! Freefalling over the beach might be the best way to get the heart pumping and blood flowing. Circulation helps prevent cramping while driving after all 🤭
Get your first glimpse of wildlife at Jervis Bay on a whale-watching cruise. Tours run every May to November and you’ll be able to see migrating humpback whales leaping out of the water. If you’re visiting in the Summer (December to February), spend the night in Jervis Bay and you might see the glowing bioluminescence at Barfluer Beach, Callala Bay and Blenheim Beach. ✨
Can you spot the abalone on the rocks?
We all know Australia is home to some of the best seafood, but did you know you can go foraging for it in Eden? Teeming with marine life, here’s where you can try the Ocean to Plate experience and go snorkelling for mussels and abalone. The most rewarding part is getting to enjoy your fresh hand-picked spread after 🤤
Photo credit: Phillip Island Nature Parks
Cross over to the state of Victoria to reach your last stop — Phillip Island! Visit the Koala Conservation Reserve and the Nobbies during the day to learn more about the animals on the island. The main highlight comes at dusk, when hundreds of little penguins waddle home from the sea in the cutest Penguin Parade.
Read more: Sydney South Coast Road Trip — 7 Day Itinerary From Sydney to Eden
2) 4D Great Ocean Road and Grampians (Melbourne)
Route: Melbourne — Great Otway National Park — Great Ocean Road — Grampians National Park — Melbourne
Highlights: Otway Fly Treetop Adventure Park, Twelve Apostles, The Grotto, MacKenzie Falls, The Balconies
Scenic ocean drives, towering alpine forests and nature hikes — this picturesque road trip is great for first-timers starting from Melbourne! The roads are mostly straight and easy to navigate as well.
The first stop is at Great Otway National Park for Otway Fly Treetop Adventure Park, where you’ll amble high above the trees in an adrenaline-pumping high elements course and zipline. For those who prefer a calmer activity, you can still get a bird’s eye view of the forest on the Otway Fly Treetop Walk.
The park is also home to unique sights like The Redwoods where you can spend the entire day walking among giant California Redwood sequoia trees. There are picnic tables outside the forest too so this is a good pit stop for lunch.
No trip to Melbourne is complete without passing through the famous Great Ocean Road. So roll down the windows and start the next day driving onto the Great Ocean Road towards Port Campbell. This area is home to many limestone marvels formed over centuries of erosion, the most well-known being the 12 Apostles.
Other stops to add to your road trip itinerary include The Bakers Oven, Sunset Lookout, London Bridge, and The Grotto! These are all a 5 to 10-minute drive from each other and located near the beachside town of Port Campbell (with restaurants, cafes and hotels if you wish to spend the night).
Spend the next two days exploring Grampians National Park. This park is a paradise for outdoor lovers thanks to its world-class hikes, such as a 1km walk to MacKenzie Falls. (Not to be mistaken for the Disney Channel show. This is one of the largest waterfalls in Victoria!)
Two other hikes to add to your list are the Pinnacle Lookout, one of the park’s highest peaks through canyons, and the Jaws of Death (aka The Balconies). It leads to a rock formation that hangs over the valley which resembles a T-Rex — hence the name.
Read more: 8D Melbourne Road Trip Itinerary — The Ultimate Road Trip Around Victoria’s Best Adventures
3) 3D Gold Coast’s Hinterland (Gold Coast)
Route: Gold Coast — Warner Bros. Movie World — Tamborine Mountain — Tamborine National Park — Canungra — Gold Coast
Highlights: Warner Bros. Movie World, Tamborine National Park, Witches Falls Winery, Mountview Alpaca Farm
People often flock to the Gold Coast for its laid-back beach city — it’s known to be a surfer’s paradise after all 🏄 But the Gold Coast has more than just coastal charm. Its underrated Hinterland is a wine region with awesome nature parks away from the tourist crowds. This was also where we tried camper-vanning in Australia for the first time!
Regardless of your choice of vehicle, kick off this Australia road trip with a bang at Warner Bros. Movie World. Perfect for DC fans, adrenaline junkies and families, this theme park is packed with rollercoasters and character greetings!
Bid farewell to the city and drive up to Tamborine Mountain for a mystery picnic! It’s a treasure hunt where you have to solve clues and puzzles that will lead you to food vendors for your dinner supplies — the final stop being the picnic location. After watching the sunset, check out the glow worm caves the mountain is famous for.
Photo credit: Tourism and Events Queensland
Start the next morning among nature by going on a trail at Tamborine National Park. Take the Witches Chase Track to Witches Falls Circuit and pass by various scenic lookout points over Witches Falls.
After hiking, relax over a glass (or several) of wine at the nearby Witches Falls Winery🍷 They also have a non-alcoholic tasting menu available — designated drivers rejoice!
The last stop before heading back to the Gold Coast is Canungra, where you can cosy up with alpacas at Mountview Alpaca Farm 🦙 There are over 80 alpacas on the farm and you can opt for the Alpaca Experience to roam around the property with your very own alpaca!
Read more: 8-Day Gold Coast Road Trip Itinerary — First-Timers’ Camper Van Guide for S$1.6k
4) 8D Legendary Pacific Coast Touring Route (Gold Coast to Sydney)
Route: Gold Coast — Byron Bay — Port Macquarie — Port Stephens — Blue Mountains — Sydney
Highlights: Kayaking with dolphins, Skydiving, Sandboarding, Star gazing in the Blue Mountains
The Legendary Pacific Coast Touring Route from Sydney to the Gold Coast (or vice versa) is another iconic cross-territory Australia road trip. This 900km-long stretch presents many opportunities to break up the distance and tick off bucket list experiences along the way.
After a 1.5-hour drive from the Gold Coast, you’ll arrive at the gorgeous seaside town of Byron Bay. Here, you can kayak alongside curious dolphins and even spot sea turtles if you’re lucky. Or go for a surf lesson at Main Beach Byron Bay with a stunning mountain backdrop.
If you prefer to stay dry, ‘fly’ through the air by skydiving over the turquoise waters! Finally, you mustn’t leave Byron Bay without catching the first sunrise in Australia from Cape Byron Lighthouse — the easternmost point of mainland Australia.
There are so many things to do in Byron Bay, so we recommend spending a couple of days here to fully enjoy it!
Photo credit: Destination NSW
Continue south to Port Macquarie, another charming town with a rich history and beautiful beaches. Stretch your legs by taking on the 9km Port Macquarie Coastal Walk which covers Town Beach, Flynns Beach, and Shelly Beach.
Next, head to Port Stephens where you can try a different kind of surfing — sandboarding! Channel your inner Aladdin and learn how to sandboard at the Stockton Sand Dunes! Stay awhile to catch the sunset at Stockton Beach and you just might see a row of camels trotting by.
Before pulling into Sydney, make a detour and spend a few days in the Blue Mountains — a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its dramatic scenery and picture-postcard shot of the Three Sisters.
Get tickets to Scenic World, which will help you get around the park with access to the Scenic Skyway, Walkway, Cableway, and Railway. The Scenic Railway is the steepest railway track in the world (angled at 52°) and the ride is an attraction in itself — hold on tight!
Another way to explore the area is via the Grand Canyon Walking Track. We recommend going in the morning before the tourist crowds come in. The national park being far from the city also means the nights here get dark enough to go stargazing with an astronomer, where you can chart constellations or try astrophotography!
If you have the driving stamina and time to spare, consider extending this road trip to two weeks to stop by Newcastle, Urunga and Coffs Harbour as well.
Read more: 2-Week Australia Road Trip from Sydney to Byron Bay — Discovering NSW’s Legendary Pacific Coast
5) 9D Coral Coast Drive (Perth to Exmouth)
Route: Perth — Cervantes — Jurien Bay — Kalbarri — Monkey Mia — Ningaloo — Exmouth
Highlights: The Pinnacles Desert, Hutt Lagoon’s Pink Lake, Kalbarri National Park, Ningaloo Reef
The Coral Coast Drive is one of the most underrated yet fulfilling road trips in Australia. Not only do the many marine wildlife encounters and unique landscapes make it exciting, but the best part is fewer tourists!
From Perth, drive up to Cervantes to explore Western Australia’s most popular attraction — the Pinnacles Desert in Nambung National Park. Catch the epic sunset against the unique limestone formations and stay the night for stargazing. Then, stop by Jurien Bay to enjoy pristine beaches and spot playful sea lions.
On the way to Kalbarri, drop by Hutt Lagoon’s famous pink lake. It’s one of the most unique lakes in the world due to a certain type of algae that produces its “hi Barbie!” hue.
From there, head to Kalbarri National Park and spend a couple of days hiking through the park’s rugged gorges and coastal cliffs. Hike to iconic lookout points like Nature’s Window and Z Bend for crazy IG-worthy photos.
Move on to Monkey Mia to encounter the friendly wild bottlenose dolphins that have been visiting the shores daily since the 1960s. The first feeding starts around 7:45AM and if you’re in luck, you might even get selected to feed them!
Fun fact: Ningaloo Reef is a World Heritage-listed site due to its incredible marine diversity. And it’s also one of the only places in the world where whale sharks consistently gather!
Explore the vibrant coral reefs and abundant wildlife from the comfort of a glass-bottom boat in Coral Bay. Or, for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, head a little further up north to Exmouth where you can swim with whale sharks (March – August) and spot other colourful fishes in Ningaloo Reef 🐠
Read more: 11D Western Australia Itinerary — Coastal Road Trip From Perth To Ningaloo
6) 5D Great Southern Drive (Perth)
Route: Perth — Margaret River — Denmark — Albany — Mount Barker — Perth
Highlights: Leeuwin Estate Winery Tour, Mammoth Cave, Greens Pool, Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk, Torndirrup National Park
Photo credit: Tourism Western Australia, Klook
Perth is known as one of the most laid-back cities in Australia and the Great Southern Drive reflects that chillness. This route takes a slower pace and is more indulgent — hello vineyards, gourmet meals and scenic drives!
Photo credit: Klook
Begin your Great Southern Drive adventure by setting off to the Margaret River region, famous for its distilleries, wineries and fresh local produce. Explore the vineyards and go on experiences like the Passel Estate Wine & Food Tasting — soaking in the slower pace and finer life in Western Australia.
Before you leave Margaret River, visit Mammoth Cave to see ancient fossils which are over 50,000 years old — it’s nature’s time capsule!
Photo credit: Tourism Western Australia
Next, head southeast to Denmark — no, we don’t mean the country. It’s a charming small town known for its breathtaking landscapes. Take a dip in the pristine Greens Pool, before venturing into the forests of the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk to get sick views from above the tingle trees.
Head to Albany to check out the National Anzac Centre and learn about the region’s whaling history — a practice that stopped in 1978 and only stories of those workers and whales remain. Albany is also home to Torndirrup National Park, where you can find dramatic coastal formations like The Gap and Natural Bridge.
Photo credit: Tourism Western Australia
The last stop is Mount Barker, located in the heart of the Great Southern wine region. If you’ve ever had the dream of waking up in a quaint cottage, this is the perfect place to do so. Sample more local wines in the picturesque countryside before looping back to Perth.
*Pro-tip: For designated drivers, buy a bottle to go and enjoy it from the safety of your accommodation!
Tips for your first Australia road trip
Tackling your first overseas road trip may be daunting but don’t worry. Here are some tips to help you out!
1) Download the Waze app to navigate
Most of us may be more familiar with Google Maps but here’s why Waze is better. It has live alerts of road hazards, police stops or traffic blocks on the road (reported regularly by its users). The app will then adjust your route accordingly and make your journey a lot smoother!
*Pro-tip: Download offline maps as there may be no service in remote areas like national parks.
2) Watch out for wildlife on the roads
In Australia, you’d have to really keep your eyes peeled for wildlife when driving. Try to avoid driving at night as that’s when these animals are more active and might suddenly dash across the road. It’s too dangerous to stop the car, especially if there are cars behind you — which is why roadkill is common 🥲
If you come across any injured wildlife on the road, contact Wildlife Rescue Australia’s 24-hour call centre at +61 1300 596 457.
3) Pre-book essentials before your trip
Before travelling, have a peace of mind by booking your car rental and activities via Klook! It’ll help secure your vehicle in advance and conveniently lets you choose your pick-up point too. Plus, it’ll save you the hassle of physically queuing to buy tickets and avoid the disappointment of sold-out tours on the day itself 😉
*Pro-tip: Use <THETRAVELINTERN> on Klook to get 5% off car rental and activities with a S$50 min. spend (discount cap at S$15) at checkout (list of excluded activities).
What is your dream Australia road trip? Let us know in the comments!
This post was brought to you by Tourism Australia and Klook.
