Road trip Australia holidays

Roughly 32 times bigger than the UK, Australia is an epic patchwork of deserts, mountains, beaches, rainforests, islands, vineyards and cities. There's something here for everyone. Drive the Great Ocean Road, see wild kangaroos on the beaches of Adelaide, explore the Blue Mountains and park up for some island-hopping in the dreamy Whitsundays. From the Great Barrier Reef to the Outback, Australia's natural beauty will bowl you over.  

Why we love Australia road trips...

  • Travel between beaches, mountains, deserts and more
  • Enjoy easy driving on smooth, scenic roads
  • Stop to admire the scenery whenever you choose
  • Spot kangaroos and koalas on the go

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Drive across the Outback in Australia | Travel Nation

East Coast Australia road trips 

Australia's East Coast is ever-popular for road tripping and it's easy to see why. Packed with highlights, from the Great Barrier Reef to Brisbane and Byron Bay, this coast is a real delight to drive, offering huge variety along the way. Disappear into the beautiful Blue Mountains, travel between the vineyards of the Hunter Valley, soak up the sunshine on Airlie and sail to the castaway Whitsundays. 

Explore Brisbane and Sydney, two of Australia's most iconic cities, before heading up to tropical Cairns, where the rainforest meets the coral reef. If you're after the classic road trip Down Under, you can't go wrong on the East Coast. 

Western Australia road trips

Less touristy and more untouched, there's a certain wildness to Western Australia that you won't find in the East. Here, you'll find vast crescents of empty white sand, ancient forests, surreal pink lakes, desert pinnacles and bizarre wave rocks. If you're a second-timer to Australia or you prefer to take the road less travelled, Western Australia will provide the perfect route. 

Explore the isolated city of Perth, closer to Jakarta than Sydney, drive south to the sweeping vineyards of the Margaret River or head north to Ningaloo Reef. This is an area of remote, rugged beauty that makes for an unforgettable road trip.  

The South: Melbourne, Adelaide and Tasmania road trips

Less visited than the East or West coast, South Australia and Victoria are sometimes overlooked but full of surprises. Road tripping across these photogenic regions, you can explore the Grampian Mountains from Melbourne, drive to the Twelve Apostles on the Great Ocean Road, hop between vineyards in Adelaide's Barossa Valley and spot kangaroos on the beaches. 

For the ultimate wilderness retreat, try taking a road trip in Tasmania. Home to 17 National Parks, Tasmania is packed with unspoilt scenery and high on far-off feeling. Hike to craggy peaks and isolated beaches, spot wallabies, swim under waterfalls and look out for Tasmanian Devils in the coastal forests.  

Round the world holidays featuring Australia road trips

Why not break up the journey Down Under by turning your Australian road trip into a round the world holiday? We can put together all kinds of multi-centre holidays that combine Australia with Asia, South America, North America and Africa. 

Spend a few days shopping in Singapore or Hong Kong before starting a self-drive from Sydney, recover from your Australia adventures on the castaway beaches of the Cook Islands and fly home via the bright lights of Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles. It's easy to add Australia to almost any round the world ticket, so give our experts a call on 1273 320 580 or send us an email to get your trip off the ground. 

Inspiration for your Australian road trip

Need a hand nailing down a plan for your Australia road trip? We're a company of adventurers and, between us, we've travelled all over Australia. Here are some blog posts about our personal road trips in Australia and guides to a few popular routes. With any luck, they'll give you some inspiration for your own upcoming trip. 

Drive across the Outback in Australia | Travel Nation

7 Adventurous Australia road trip itineraries

Milly

Milly Gill

Product Manager
at Travel Nation

australia-kangaroo-island-koala-joey

Planning the perfect Australia safari holiday

Bryony

Bryony Dunn

Marketing Manager
at Travel Nation

Milly at the Tropic of Capricorn | Western Australia

A Perth to Broome road trip with campervans, quokkas and camels

Milly

Milly Gill

Product Manager
at Travel Nation

Stay at Discovery Rottnest Island | Photo credit: Tourism Western Australia

The best places to stay in Western Australia

Bryony

Bryony Dunn

Marketing Manager
at Travel Nation

Crossing the Nullarbor Plain | Travel Nation

Crossing the Nullarbor Plain from Adelaide to Perth

Claire

Claire Parsons

Travelling friend
at Travel Nation

Stay at Southern Ocean Lodge | Photo credit: George Apostolidis

11 Amazing places to stay in South Australia

Bryony

Bryony Dunn

Marketing Manager
at Travel Nation

Explore the incredible coastline of Kangaroo Island | Travel Nation

How to plan a holiday to Kangaroo Island

Milly

Milly Gill

Product Manager
at Travel Nation

See kangaroos in Lucky Bay, Western Australia | Travel Nation

14 things to do in Western Australia: from whale sharks to wine

Milly

Milly Gill

Product Manager
at Travel Nation

Sunrise from Rottnest Island in Western Australia | Travel Nation

A Western Australia road trip: white sands & wine

Milly

Milly Gill

Product Manager
at Travel Nation

Meet the sea lions of South Australia | Travel Nation

5 Reasons to plan an Eyre Peninsula tour

Claire

Claire Parsons

Travelling friend
at Travel Nation

Chris on his Queensland family holiday | Travel Nation

Reef to rainforest: our North Queensland family holiday

Chris

Chris West

Senior Travel Consultant
at Travel Nation

Visit magical Horseshoe Falls in Tasmania | Travel Nation

16 Terrific things to do in Tasmania

Bryony

Bryony Dunn

Marketing Manager
at Travel Nation