The Best Routes To Drive Across Australia

If you drive across Australia, it will gives you different experiences and perspectives than you travel via flight. You can experience expansive wildernesses, deserts, unique rock formations, over 10,000 beaches, mountain ranges and subtropical forests. With the world’s largest national highway, Highway 1, circumnavigating the country with approximately 14,500km of road, there’s no denying that Australia is an incredibly vast place. To see it all might take you a lifetime, but why not hire a car and take a drive on one of these routes and see some of the top sights along the way.

The Stuart Highway – Adelaide to Darwin

If you fancy a trip through the heart of Australia then take the Stuart Highway from Adelaide to Darwin. This is a fantastic way to experience the dramatic changes in landscapes from coast to coast. Along the way you’ll wind your way through the rugged Flinders Ranges, where you can witness the ancient and unique mountain range in all its glory. From there, keep heading north into the red rock desert for breath-taking sunsets, dramatic rock formations and clear night skies under the stars. 

Make a stop at Alice Springs and discover Aboriginal art and history at the Red Centre and visit the awe-inspiring Uluru-Kata Tjuta sandstone monolith. The road north will take you all the way to Darwin, but it’s worth a detour to Katherine’s Gorge where you can relax with kayaking, swimming, camping, and hiking, or just admire the exquisite surroundings.

Perth to Broome

Western Australia is still considered a little off the beaten track to most travellers - who often stick to the east coast - so why not delve in and travel the coastal road north. You’ll experience some of Australia’s most beautiful landscapes from feeding Dolphin’s at Monkey Mia and swimming on the Ningaloo Reef, to the bush and wild lands of northwest Australia and explore the immense gorges in the Karijini National Park.

This route has something for everyone as you can experience the wonders of nature first hand on route and finish your trip with a relaxing few days on the red beaches at Roebuck Bay in Broome.

Cairns to Brisbane

This is undoubtedly one of the most popular routes to travel in Australia. The road hugs the iconic coastline and gives travellers the opportunity to visit some of the most iconic and beautiful natural attractions in Australia. Why not do some island hopping and see the beauty of Fraser Island and the Whitsunday Islands, or take some time out to swim out on the Great Barrier Reef where there is an abundance of wildlife to see.

The laid-back atmosphere in Queensland makes this a leisurely trip to enjoy and is a beach-lover’s paradise with some of Australia’s most beautiful beaches and views that stretch for miles.

Pacific Highway – Brisbane to Sydney

This is another fantastic coastal drive that takes you from Brisbane to Sydney. You’ll want to don your bikini and surf board and hit the beaches along the way from Byron Bay to Lennox Head. If you want to experience some nature, then take a hike in the Bouddi National Park or do some whale watching.

This route means you can be as adventurous as you like. Stick to the main route and you’ll still experience the wonders that are on offer, but you can really delve into the area if you head off the beaten track. The rugged Pacific Coastline is the perfect place to explore secluded coves and inlets as you make your way back to the big city.

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