Australia’s 5 most spectacular road trips

Hit the road to take in Australia’s diverse scenery on any of these five unforgettable routes – witnessing waterfalls, rainforest, flame-red canyons, and sunsets that sink over lilac seas and ochre cliffs.

The Great Ocean Road, Victoria

The Great Ocean Road is a famous stretch in Australia, winding along the extraordinary coastline of Victoria from Torquay to Allansford. On this drive, you’ll see koalas hanging from trees, ochre cliffs glowing at sunset, shipwrecks, rainforests, waterfalls, golden beaches, and the Twelve Apostles – a collection of enormous limestone stacks rising out of the surf crashing off the shore of Port Campbell National Park. You’ll find plenty of resort villages for families to spend the night in Torquay, along with private and cozy vacation rentals like Anchor Geelong, which offers clean, airy apartments near the water that are perfect for couples.

Gibb River Road, Western Australia

For more intrepid road trippers, this adventurous drive requires a 4×4 to tackle its rough, dusty orange tracks. Traversing the remote landscape of Western Australia’s Kimberley region, you’ll pass sacred Aboriginal sites, outback cattle stations, and the multi-tiered waterfalls of Bell Gorge that lead down to sandstone swimming pools. You could spend two weeks going over the range on this route, or plot a shorter course based on the amount of time you have. Start in Broome with a Dolphin Eco-cruise and stay nearby at The Courthouse Bed & Breakfast.

Red Centre Way, Northern Territory

On this five-day circular drive through central Australia, you’ll immediately be awed by the gargantuan, wild, and burnt-umber desert landscape. Along the way, you’ll discover flame-red rocky gorges and canyons and swimming holes dotted between the peaks of the West MacDonnell Ranges. Be ready for kangaroos hopping over undulating dunes and natural monuments like Kings Canyon, Kata Tjuta, and the unmissable Uluru. This enormous sandstone monolith is sacred to the Anangu tribe of Indigenous Australians and is one of the best settings for a sunset anywhere in the world. The Red Centre Way journey starts in Alice Springs, where colorful, quirky, and affordable hostel Alice’s Secret Travellers Inn is highly rated for one-night stays. If you’re feeling adventurous, get up before sunrise for a Hot Air Balloon Flight Tour.

East Coast (Brisbane to Cairns), Queensland

The East Coast route is one of the most popular road trips in Australia, taking you past some of the most magnificent natural wonders of the Southern Hemisphere. There’s the Great Barrier Reef, Fraser Island—the world’s largest sand island, with gleaming white beaches and inland rainforests—and the stunning Whitsunday Islands. Stop off in national parks, visit the famous surfing hotspot of Noosa, skydive over tropical islands and azure seas, and finish your adventure with a tropical sailing trip or a visit to the ancient rainforest of Cape Tribulation. You’ll find a wide range of accommodation pricing where the trip ends in Cairns, but if you’re celebrating the end of your journey, spa-equipped Crystalbrook Riley is one of the most highly-rated hotels in the area.

Great Eastern Drive, Tasmania

The Great Eastern Drive starts in the Tasmanian capital of Hobart and ends in the Bay of Fires, where white sands are backed by burnt orange lichen-covered boulders and lapped by the crystalline sea. Follow wild, untouched coastline through national parks, over mountains, and past the historic ruins of the Port Arthur convict settlement. It’s a road trip experience that’s guaranteed to make you fall in love with Australia’s peaceful and visually arresting island state. Treat yourself to one of the many local tours and a glamorous stay at MACq 01 Hotel, overlooking Hobart harbor, before setting off on your road trip adventure. Murals in the hotel’s guest rooms tell the stories of the heroes, villains, explorers, inventors, and convicts who used to roam these lands.