The Best Road Trips in Australia

If you’re after the trips that earn their reputation, start here. These are the routes we get asked about most, and the ones worth building a whole holiday around. Each one is a different flavour of the country, so the trick is matching the trip to the time you’ve got and the kind of scenery you love.

The East Coast: Sydney to Cairns

Roughly: 2,500 km  ·  2–4 weeks  ·  sealed roads the whole way

The classic first Australian road trip, and for good reason. Byron Bay, the Gold Coast, the Whitsundays and the Great Barrier Reef are all strung along one drivable line, so you can dip in and out as your time allows. It’s the easiest big trip to pull off in a camper, with holiday parks, free camps and plenty of company the whole way up.

Do it in a fortnight if you’re focused, or stretch it to a month and actually swim at every beach you pass. Most people travel north, chasing the warmer weather, and break the drive into easy three-to-four-hour legs between towns. The variety is the draw: surf coast, rainforest, islands and reef all on the one route.

The Great Ocean Road

Roughly: 243 km  ·  2–3 days done properly  ·  starts near Melbourne

Australia’s most famous coastal drive, and a stunner from end to end, the Twelve Apostles, rainforest behind the dunes, and koalas in the trees if you time it right. It’s short enough for a weekend and beautiful enough to anchor a longer Victorian loop. We cover the driving experience in detail in our scenic drives guide.

Start near Torquay and take it slowly; the road hugs the coast and the lookouts come thick and fast. Apollo Bay makes a natural overnight, and a detour inland through the Otways adds waterfalls and tall-forest walks to the mix.

The Red Centre

Roughly: 700 km loop from Alice Springs  ·  5–6 days

Uluru, Kata Tjuta, Kings Canyon and the West MacDonnell Ranges on a loop out of Alice Springs. It’s the heart of the country and a very different kind of driving: desert distances, huge skies, and sunsets that genuinely stop you in your tracks. There’s deep cultural significance here too, so it pays to slow down and learn the stories. More on this in our outback road trips guide.

Tasmania, the full loop

Roughly: 1,300+ km  ·  10–14 days  ·  compact but slow going

Tassie packs more variety into a small island than anywhere else in the country: rainforest, alpine country, white-sand beaches and convict history, all within a day’s drive of each other. Roads are winding, so don’t plan big distances. That’s part of the charm. It’s a camper favourite for exactly this reason, with superb campsites and short hops between very different landscapes.

South West Western Australia: Perth to Margaret River and the Capes

Roughly: Perth to Augusta, 1–2 weeks with detours

Karri forests, surf beaches, limestone caves and one of the best food-and-wine regions in the country. It’s an easy, comfortable loop on good roads, and a great option if you want scenery and a glass of something at the end of the day. The distances are kind, which makes it relaxed rather than rushed.

Margaret River is the obvious base, but the whole stretch from Busselton down to Augusta rewards a slow pace. Caves to explore, beaches to surf, and cellar doors and farm shops between them It’s a region designed for a week of pottering rather than a quick lap.

The Coral Coast: Perth to Exmouth

Roughly: 1,200+ km  ·  1–2 weeks  ·  sealed roads

WA’s western coastline is wild and quiet, running from Perth up to the Ningaloo Reef at Exmouth. Pink lakes, the dolphins at Monkey Mia and snorkelling straight off the beach at Ningaloo are the highlights. It’s less travelled than the East Coast, which is exactly why some people prefer it.

Sydney to Melbourne the coastal way

Roughly: 1,000+ km coastal route  ·  7–10 days

Most people fly between the two big cities, which means the coastal drive between them stays gloriously uncrowded. Following the Grand Pacific Drive and the Sapphire Coast through New South Wales, then the Gippsland Lakes and coast in Victoria, it links empty beaches, oyster towns and national parks. It’s a brilliant week that turns a routine trip into the holiday itself.

The Top End: Darwin, Kakadu and Litchfield

Roughly: loops from Darwin  ·  1 week  ·  dry season only

The tropical north is a world of its own: waterfalls, plunge pools, ancient rock art and wetlands full of wildlife. A loop out of Darwin takes in Litchfield’s easy swimming holes and the vast, culturally rich landscape of Kakadu. It’s a dry-season trip (roughly May to October); the wet closes many of the roads and tracks.

Adelaide to the Great Ocean Road via the Limestone Coast

Roughly: Adelaide to Melbourne the coastal way  ·  5–7 days

A quieter alternative to the inland highway between Adelaide and Melbourne, running through the Coonawarra wine country and along the Limestone Coast before joining the western end of the Great Ocean Road. Sinkholes, fishing towns and big skies make it a lovely, low-key week that links two of the south’s best regions.

The Big Lap

Roughly: 15,000+ km  ·  3–6 months  ·  the trip of a lifetime

A full circuit of the country on Highway 1. It’s the dream for a lot of travellers, and you don’t have to do it all at once. Plenty of people knock off a leg at a time over several trips. If you’ve got the months to spare, nothing else compares for sheer scope and freedom.

If you do commit to the whole thing, the season becomes your compass: travel the north in the dry, the south in the warmer months, and let the weather shape your direction around the map. It’s less a route than a way of life for half a year.

Every trip on this page works in a camper, but some are made for it. Having your bed, kitchen and gear with you turns a long drive into a slow, comfortable wander . You stop when you want, cook with a view, and never scramble for a room at the end of a big day. For a lot of travellers, the camper is what makes the whole thing affordable, too: your accommodation and transport roll into one.

• East Coast: the easiest camper trip in the country, with holiday parks and free camps all the way up.
• South West WA: short hops between forests, beaches and cellar doors; ideal for a relaxed week.
• Tasmania: compact distances and superb campsites make it a camper favourite.
• The Coral Coast: long, quiet stretches where having everything with you really pays off.

Not sure what to pack? Our campervan packing list covers the essentials so nothing gets left behind. And if you’re weighing up a side trip across the ditch, here’s our guide to campervan hire in New Zealand.

How much time you have shapes everything. Here’s a rough guide to matching a trip to your calendar, and a reminder to always leave a buffer…

A weekend (1–3 days)

Pick one scenic stretch close to a city: the Great Ocean Road, the Grand Pacific Drive south of Sydney, or a hinterland loop behind the Gold Coast. You won’t see everything, but you’ll come back refreshed. 

A week (5–7 days)

Enough for the Red Centre loop, a good chunk of the East Coast, or a relaxed lap of South West WA. The rule of thumb here is one region, done well. Rushing two means you spend the week driving rather than arriving.

Two weeks or more

Now you can take on the East Coast properly, a full Tasmania loop, the Coral Coast, or a leg of the Big Lap. Build in rest days; two weeks of constant driving wears thinner than people expect, and a day off to do nothing is never wasted.

Already know the kind of trip you’re after? Jump straight to the guide that fits. Each one goes far deeper than we can here, with specific routes, seasons and practical notes.

Coastal

Beach-hopping, ocean lookouts and salt-air mornings. Explore our coastal road trips guide.

Outback

Remote, red and unforgettable, with practical notes on distances, fuel and seasons. Explore our outback road trips guide.

Scenic drives

The most beautiful stretches of bitumen in the country, chosen for the views alone. Explore our scenic drives guide.

Family

Routes designed around kids. Realistic drive days and stops where they can run. Explore our family road trips guide.

Short escapes

Day trips and long weekends from every major city. Explore our short road trips guide.

With this much on offer, the trick is narrowing it down. A few honest questions usually do it:

• How long have you got? Be realistic about days, then leave a buffer. Long drive days wear thin faster than people expect, so plan fewer kilometres than you think you can manage.
• Coast, outback or mountains? Most people lean one way. Start there and the route almost picks itself.
• Who’s coming? Travelling with kids changes the maths on drive times and stops — our family guide is built around that.
• What season is it? The outback shines in the cooler months; the southern states are best in spring and autumn; the tropical north is a dry-season trip. Timing makes a real difference to the experience.
• What’s the budget? A campervan rolls transport and accommodation into one, which is often the most cost-effective way to cover a lot of ground.

Still weighing it up? That’s exactly the kind of thing we’re happy to talk through. Our team have driven these routes themselves, so we can match a trip, and a camper, to the time you’ve got and the way you like to travel.

A great road trip is mostly about a few sensible decisions made early. These are the ones that matter most, whichever route you choose:

• Plan shorter days than you think. Three to five hours of driving leaves time to actually enjoy where you’re going. The kilometres always take longer once you factor in stops.
• Book the big things, leave the rest open. Lock in anything popular in peak season, then keep the days between flexible. The best finds are usually the unplanned ones.
• Know your fuel range. On coastal routes it’s rarely an issue, but inland and up north, towns can be far apart. Fill up when you can rather than when you must.
• Match the camper to the route. A compact van is easy in cities and on the coast; a larger motorhome suits longer hauls. For remote tracks you’ll want the right vehicle and the right preparation.
• Use a camping app. They make finding free camps, holiday parks and dump points far easier, and the reviews from other travellers are gold.
• Watch the season. It’s the single biggest factor in how a trip feels. Get the region and the time of year right and the rest tends to fall into place.

If any of that feels like a lot to weigh up, it’s exactly what we do all day. Tell us roughly what you’re thinking and we’ll help shape it into a route and a camper that fit.

What is the best road trip in Australia?

It depends on your time and taste, but the East Coast from Sydney to Cairns is the most popular for a reason — it’s easy, varied and works in anything from one to four weeks. For pure scenery in a short window, the Great Ocean Road is hard to beat. For something unforgettable, the Red Centre.

How long do you need for a road trip in Australia?

Almost any length works. A weekend gets you a great scenic drive near a city; a week suits one full region; two weeks or more opens up the big coastal and outback routes. The country is vast, so it’s better to do less, well, than rush.

Do you need a 4WD for an Australian road trip?

For most of the famous routes, no. The East Coast, Great Ocean Road, South West WA and the sealed sections of the Red Centre are all comfortable in a 2WD campervan. A 4WD only becomes necessary for remote outback tracks like the Gibb River Road.

When is the best time of year for a road trip in Australia?

Broadly: spring and autumn for the southern states, the dry season (May to October) for the tropical north and the outback, and summer for cool-climate Tasmania and the alpine country. Matching the region to the season is the single biggest thing you can get right.

Is a campervan worth it for a road trip?

For covering distance, almost always. You save on accommodation, cook your own meals, and gain the freedom to stop wherever appeals. It also keeps the plan flexible, which is when road trips are at their best.

How much does an Australian road trip cost?

It varies with the season, the camper and how you travel, but the big levers are vehicle hire, fuel and where you stay. Mixing free camps with holiday parks keeps costs down, and a camper removes separate accommodation and transport bills. When you enquire with us and find a cheaper price for the same booking, we’ll beat it — so the camper side is one less thing to second-guess.

Can you do a one-way road trip in Australia?

Yes, one-way camper hire between major cities is common, for example Sydney to Cairns or Perth to Broome. There can be a relocation fee depending on the route and season, and sometimes operators even offer cheap relocations going the other way. It’s worth asking us, because switching pick-up or drop-off locations can save you a fair bit.

Where should I start an Australian road trip?

Start where you land. Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Cairns are all easy bases with cameras of routes radiating out from them. If it’s your first big trip, a coastal city makes the easiest launch pad, the driving is gentle and the stops come quickly.

Can overseas visitors hire a campervan in Australia?

Yes. Visitors can hire and drive on a valid overseas licence, usually with an English translation or an International Driving Permit if the licence isn’t in English. Minimum age and other conditions vary by operator, so it’s worth checking the specifics for your booking, something we can confirm for you when you enquire.

Ready to hit the road?

Found a trip that’s calling your name? We’ll help you pick the right camper and sort the route so you can focus on the driving.

Tell us your travel dates and we’ll build you a personalised camper deal — 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.