Five long-haul Aussie road trips to add to the bucket list

If we’ve learnt anything from 2020 and this post-COVID-19 world we now live in, it’s looking increasingly unlikely Australians will be flying far overseas anytime soon.

And while a majority of Aussie’s are probably used to at least one long-haul flight a year, have you ever considered a long-haul road trip? Despite living in such a beautiful country, there’s no doubt we all probably take it for granted. So, if there’s a silver lining about not being able to get out our passports and head overseas, it’s that we’re now presented with an opportunity to explore our own backyard!

I’m not talking about a couple of hours drive down the highway either! These top five road trips are epic adventures, showcasing parts of Australia you probably wouldn’t even think to visit.

Let’s start with the most epic road trip you could go on – the circumnavigation of our vast country. This massive road trip will have you driving 15,000 kilometres along Highway One, which links seven of Australia’s capital cities, and skirts along the coastline in every single state.

Not only is this the biggest, and most epic road trip adventure you could go on, but you’ll also need to give yourself a big chunk of time to complete it – a minimum of six months AND be comfortable in a 4WD and even a caravan.

This route will take you through everything - big cities, sleepy coastal towns, lush rainforest, remote dusty and vibrant red outback, and picture-perfect beaches.

If you’re wanting to add even more to this road trip, there’s a chance to detour and head into the Northern Territory to soak up the sights of Kakadu, Uluru, and Alice Springs.

This road trip isn’t for the faint-heated, and one that needs extended planning. It’s also important to remember some roads up north may be closed during the wet season, so best to plan when you know you’re able to get the most out of dry season when hitting the highway.

If another 4WD adventure is up your alley and seeing WA is on your bucket list, the Gibb River Road could be the road trip for you.

This 660-kilometre road trip cuts through the middle of the Kimberly from Derby to Wyndham and takes you on an adventure that includes outback cattle stations and a number of sacred Indigenous sites.

Stop along the way at Bell Gorge and take a dip in the cool waterholes with thundering waterfalls above. Once again, another road trip that will need a solid plan behind it with, the Gibb River Road only having two roadhouses along the route, and you don’t want to find yourself with an empty fuel tank somewhere remote!

Getting off the mainland for a moment, there’s no denying Tasmania’s tourism has skyrocketed in recent years.

Not only does this road trip allow you to bring your own car from Melbourne via the Spirit of Tasmania, but it also takes you to some of Australia’s most picturesque locations. You’ll hit the road from Hobart, and head all the way to the scenic Bay of Fires, with stops in St Helens, Swansea, and Bicheno.

Not only does Tassie’s East Coast boast some of Australia’s best produce (think the best wine, cheese, and seafood ever!) there’s also numerous walking tracks great for wildlife spotting and taking some time out on many empty beaches.

Make sure to include a trip to Freycinet National Park on your journey, and soak up the granite mountains and peaceful bays, before going on an award-winning Freycinet Experience Walk.

While everyone loves a coastal drive, this road trip will take you right through the middle of this great country, starting in Darwin and finishing up in the harbour town of Port Augusta, South Australia.

This epic journey will see you navigate the Stuart Highway, and get to experience an array of the most beautiful regions, including Kakadu National Park and the Red Centre.

This road trip has rich Indigenous culture throughout, with the opportunity to explore rock formations, gorges and canyons before passing through Alice Springs, Coober Pedy and the many lakes of South Australia, before finishing in Port Augusta, located on the lovely east coast of the Spencer Gulf.

Here’s an epic tropical road trip that showcases some of this country’s natural beachy beauty.

This 1000-kilometre journey starts in Cairns, and ends at mainland Australia’s most northern point, Cape York, right at Queensland’s tip.

There are two route options for this adventure, and if you decide to travel via the scenic Cape Tribulation, you can explore where the Daintree Forest meets the Great Barrier Reef, and admire the beauty of the region, but be careful of some of Australia’s most dangerous predators along the way, especially crocs and stinging jellyfish.

Meanwhile, if you’d prefer a 4WD adventure, the Bloomfield Track follows an inland route along the fully sealed Mulligan Highway.

Related: Five reasons to take the back way instead of the highway on your next road trip

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