The Best Coastal Road Trips in Australia

Wherever you start, there’s good coast within reach. Here are the regions I’d look at first, each with a different feel.

The East Coast (NSW & Queensland)

The most popular coastal run in the country, linking Sydney, Byron Bay, the Gold Coast and the Great Barrier Reef. Calm beaches, easy driving and endless places to stop make it the classic. It’s a big trip in full, so most people take a leg of it at a time, a week up to Byron, say, or a fortnight all the way to the reef.

The South Coast of New South Wales

Just south of Sydney, the Grand Pacific Drive and the run down past Jervis Bay deliver white sand, clear water and quiet seaside towns. It’s one of the best short coastal escapes anywhere, and an easy weekend from the city. The further south you go, the quieter it gets.

The Great Ocean Road & Victoria

Victoria’s coast is dramatic, with the Twelve Apostles, surf beaches and rainforest behind the dunes. The Great Ocean Road is a coastal drive as much as a scenic one, which is why we cover the detail in our scenic drives guide. It pairs well with the quieter Limestone Coast running west toward South Australia.

South West Western Australia

From Perth down to Margaret River and the Capes, this stretch pairs surf coast with karri forest and cellar doors. The water is clear, the beaches are excellent, and the driving is relaxed. It’s a week of beaches, caves and good food rolled into one easy loop.

The Coral Coast (Perth to Exmouth)

WA’s western coastline runs north from Perth to the Ningaloo Reef at Exmouth, and it’s wild and quiet. Pink lakes, the dolphins at Monkey Mia and snorkelling straight off the beach at Ningaloo are the highlights. It sees a fraction of the East Coast’s traffic, which is the appeal.

Tasmania’s East Coast

Often overlooked, and one of my favourites. The drive from Hobart up past the Freycinet Peninsula takes in some of the whitest sand and clearest water in the country, with Wineglass Bay as the centrepiece. Distances are short, so it’s an easy few days.

South Australia: the Fleurieu and Eyre Peninsulas

South Australia’s coast is a quieter pleasure: the Fleurieu Peninsula’s easy beaches within reach of Adelaide, and the seafood-rich Eyre Peninsula further west. Think calm swimming bays, oyster towns and clifftop lookouts, with far fewer crowds than the eastern states. It’s a lovely region for a relaxed week of coast and country combined.

If the beach is the whole point, these regions deliver the goods:

• Jervis Bay, NSW: famously white sand and clear, calm water.
• Whitsundays, QLD: Whitehaven Beach is about as good as it gets.
• Freycinet, TAS: Wineglass Bay and a string of quiet coves.
• South West WA: surf beaches and sheltered bays around Dunsborough and Yallingup.
• Ningaloo, WA: snorkel straight off the sand over living coral.

The coast is the easiest place in the country to see wildlife from the road. Time it right and you can add whales, dolphins, turtles and seals to a beach trip without much effort.

• Whales: humpbacks pass close to shore on their migration, roughly May to November. Hervey Bay in QLD, the NSW South Coast and the Head of Bight in SA are among the best spots.
• Dolphins: Monkey Mia on WA’s Coral Coast is famous for them, and you’ll see pods along much of the east coast.
• Turtles and reef life: Ningaloo Reef at Exmouth lets you snorkel with turtles straight off the beach, and with whale sharks in season.
• Penguins and seals: Phillip Island in Victoria for little penguins, and the cooler southern coasts for fur seals.
• Kangaroos on the sand: a few east-coast beaches, like those around Cape Hillsborough in QLD, see kangaroos at dawn.

If you travel with a board, the coast is one long line of options. A few stretches stand out:

• South West WA: Margaret River’s powerful reef breaks for the experienced.
• Northern NSW: Byron Bay and the points around Lennox Head for long, mellow rides.
• Victoria’s surf coast: Bells Beach near Torquay, the spiritual home of Australian surfing.

The Sunshine Coast: gentle beach breaks that suit learners.

Coastal trips and campers go together. Holiday parks and beachside campgrounds are plentiful along most of the coast, so you can wake up to the water and cook breakfast with a view. It’s comfortable, affordable travel, and it keeps you close to the beach rather than back in a town somewhere.

• The East Coast: the easiest camper run in the country, with parks and free camps all the way up.
• South West WA: short hops between beaches, forests and towns.
• Tasmania’s east coast: compact distances and superb beachside sites.
• The Coral Coast: long quiet stretches where having everything with you really pays off.

A little setup makes beach life in a camper easier. Our campervan packing list has the essentials covered.

A long weekend by the water is one of the easiest trips to pull off. Pick a stretch close to a city and keep the driving short. Our short road trips guide has options from every major city, and our family road trips guide covers the most kid-friendly beaches.

• Sydney to Jervis Bay along the South Coast.
• Melbourne to the start of the Great Ocean Road.
• Perth down to Dunsborough and the Margaret River beaches.

With more time, the coast really opens up:

• Sydney to Cairns: the full East Coast, two to four weeks of beaches and reef.
• Perth to Exmouth: the wild Coral Coast, with snorkelling at Ningaloo at the end.
• A lap of Tasmania’s coastline: east-coast beaches and rugged west-coast scenery.

If you’d rather settle in one spot and explore from there, these seaside towns make easy, comfortable bases with good food, beaches and day trips on the doorstep.

• Byron Bay, NSW: beaches, hinterland and a relaxed pace on the far north coast.
• Noosa, QLD: calm bays, a national park and a polished main street on the Sunshine Coast.
• Port Douglas, QLD: reef and rainforest both within reach in the tropical north.
• Apollo Bay, VIC: a natural midpoint on the Great Ocean Road.
• Dunsborough, WA: the gateway to the Margaret River beaches and capes.
• Esperance, WA: some of the whitest sand and bluest water in the country.

• Swim between the flags. Stick to patrolled beaches, especially on surf coasts.
• Mind the sun. Hats, shade and water, because the coastal sun is stronger than it feels in the breeze.
• Book ahead in summer. Beachside holiday parks fill up over school holidays, so reserve early.
• Watch the tropical seasons. Up north, check for marine stingers and travel the dry season for the best conditions.
• Build in beach days. The best coastal moments happen when you’re not driving, so leave room to linger.

What is the best coastal road trip in Australia?

The East Coast from Sydney to Cairns is the most popular, with the widest variety and the easiest driving. For pure scenery in a short window, the Great Ocean Road is hard to beat, and for something quieter, WA’s Coral Coast is a wonderful alternative.

Is the East Coast or West Coast better for a road trip?

The East Coast is busier and easier, with more towns, beaches and infrastructure close together, which makes it ideal for a first trip. The West Coast is wilder and quieter, with bigger distances between stops, and suits travellers after solitude and untouched beaches. Both are superb; it comes down to the experience you want.

When is the best time for a coastal road trip?

It depends where you’re headed. The southern coasts are best in spring, summer and autumn; the tropical north is a dry-season trip (May to October), partly to avoid the wet and the stinger season. Matching the coast to the season is the key decision.

Can you camp on the beach in a campervan?

In many places, yes. There are beachside holiday parks and designated coastal campgrounds all around the country. Driving directly on the sand is only for 4WDs in specific areas like K’gari. For most coastal trips, a 2WD camper and the network of seaside parks is all you need.

How long do you need for a coastal road trip?

A weekend covers a great single stretch like the South Coast or the Great Ocean Road. A week suits one full region, such as South West WA or Tasmania’s east coast. Two weeks or more opens up the big runs like Sydney to Cairns or Perth to Exmouth. As always, doing less at a slower pace beats rushing.

What is Australia’s most famous coastal drive?

The Great Ocean Road in Victoria, without much argument. The Twelve Apostles and the run along the surf coast make it the best-known stretch, and it’s an easy weekend from Melbourne. The East Coast as a whole is more travelled, but as a single named drive, the Great Ocean Road takes it.

Can you drive all the way around the Australian coast?

More or less, yes. Highway 1 circles the country and hugs the coast for much of its length, though some sections cut inland. Driving the full loop, the Big Lap, takes most people three to six months. Most coastal trips take on one stretch at a time rather than the whole circuit.

Ready to hit the road?

From a weekend on the South Coast to the full run up to the reef, we’ll match you to the right camper and help you plan a coastline that suits your time.

Tell us your travel dates and we’ll build you a personalised camper deal with our best price guarantee, tailored to you. Our team have done these trips themselves, so you get real, money-saving advice along with the keys. Start your free, no-obligation enquiry here.

Since launching in 2016 we’ve earned 3,000+ five-star reviews across Google and Facebook. If you find a cheaper price for the same booking, we’ll beat it.