Find all 100 Amazing Road Trips here

Discover Australia’s top 100 Amazing Road Trips in one quick reference guide.

Start planning your next road trip by reading our 100 Amazing Road Trips by experience below.

Coastal road trips

Even a road trip well-travelled can reveal plenty of surprises if you take the time to slow down. Here are 11 of Australia’s best coastal road trips to inspire you.

Sydney to the Gold Coast
Sydney to Ulladulla, NSW
Broome to Cape Leveque, WA
The Capricorn Coast, Qld
The Great Green Way, Qld
East Coast Tasmania
Fleurieu Peninsula, SA
Sydney to Port Macquarie, NSW
Eyre Peninsula, SA
Central Coast, NSW
Yorke Peninsula, SA

Iconic road trips

Journeys of epic proportions through wilderness that will shift your perceptions and stay with you forever. Here are 11 of Australia’s iconic road trips to inspire you.

Gibb River Road, WA
Sydney to Melbourne
Darwin to Kakadu, NT
Kosciuszko Alpine Way, NSW
Hobart to Cradle Mountain, Tas
The Nullarbor
Murray River Drive
Great Barrier Reef Drive, Qld
Adelaide to Ikara/Flinders Ranges National Park, SA
Great Ocean Road, Vic
The Big Lap

Don’t miss our beautifully illustrated wall map of the Great Ocean Road and Geelong in our 100 Amazing Road Trips edition or you can download the PDF version.

Illustration: Mike Rossi @micro.grafik

Outback road trips

Take a journey into the vast, red heart of Australia and discover the magic of the outback. Here are seven of Australia’s best outback road trips to inspire you.

Golden Quest Discovery Trail, WA
Broken Hill via White Cliffs, NSW
Kings Canyon to Uluru, NT
The Warlu Way, WA
The Savannah Way
The Canning Stock Route, WA
The Golden Pipeline Heritage Trail, WA

Regional road trips

It’s not just good things that come in small packages, but road trips too. Here are 13 of Australia’s best regional road trips to inspire you.

Huon Valley, Tas
Victoria’s Silo Art Trail
Dubbo, NSW
Mudgee, NSW
Brisbane to Charleville, Qld
Bushranger Country, Vic
Hobart to Launceston, Tas
Scenic Rim, Qld
Northern Rivers, NSW
Great Alpine Road, Vic
Limestone Coast, SA
Bathurst, NSW
Albany to Margaret River, WA

Weekend road trips

Even a short weekend road trip can leave you feeling refreshed for the months ahead. Here are 12 of Australia’s best weekend road trip destinations to inspire you.

Sydney to Wolgan Valley, NSW
The Grampians, Vic
Kangaroo Island, SA
Phillip Island, Vic
Darwin to Katherine, NT
Sunshine Coast, Qld
West Coast, Tas
Daylesford & Macedon Ranges, Vic
Southern Highlands, NSW
Canberra museum road trip, ACT
Lithgow round trip, NSW
Canberra to Sapphire Coast

Day trip drives

While the next long weekend is still months away, one can still explore by taking easy day trips from the city. Here, find the best day trip drives to inspire you.

Wildflowers road trip, WA
Litchfield Loop, NT
Swan Valley, WA
Great Beach Drive, Qld
Mary River Valley, Qld
Kenilworth, Qld
Adelaide Hills, SA
Tasman Peninsula, Tas
Melbourne to Marysville, Vic
Sydney’s Northern Beaches, NSW
Royal National Park, NSW
Mornington Peninsula, Vic

No drive road trips

Kick back, relax, and let someone else take the wheel. Here are 8 of Australia’s best no drive road trips to inspire you.

That Pink Merc, NSW
Globus Gems of the Red Centre, NT
Outback Spirit Binns Track, NT
Melbourne urban tram trip, Vic
Kiff & Culture Brisbane to Byron food trail
AAT Kings Outback Adventure
Overland Adventure Aboard the Ghan
Inspiring Journeys Dark Mofo, Tas

Off-the-beaten-track road trips

Give way to spontaneity and discover some hidden gems along the road less-travelled. Here are 9 of Australia’s best off-the-beaten-track road trips to inspire you.

Atherton Tablelands, Qld
Darling River Run, NSW
Oodnadatta Track, SA
Tassie’s interior
Arnhem Way, NT
Launceston to Penguin/Stanley/Tarkine, Tas
Sydney to Birdsville (and back)
Cocos Keeling West Island Tour
Port Douglas to Coolangatta, Qld

Food and wine road trips

Some road trips lead to the most memorable food and wine experiences in Australia. Foodies, take note: here are 11 of Australia’s best food-and-wine-focused road trips to inspire you.

Hunter Valley winery trail, NSW
Noosa Country Drive, Qld
The Tasmanian Whisky & Spirits Trail
Melbourne to Macedon Ranges, Vic
Melbourne to Gippsland, Vic
Adelaide to Barossa Valley, SA
Orange winery trail, NSW
Adelaide to McLaren Vale, SA
Melbourne to the Sunshine Coast
Sydney to Canberra via Yass
Margaret River region, WA

Two-wheel drives

Not all road trips require four wheels. Sometimes riding freely atop your two-wheeler can be just as exhilarating, especially in Australia. Here are six of Australia’s best cycling and motorcycle trips to inspire you.

New England High Country, NSW
Cairns to Cape York by motorbike, Qld
Great Southern Rail Trail, Vic
Lakes Highway, Tas
Cycling the Clare Valley, SA
Canberra’s cold climate wine region, ACT

From cycling and comedy to boating and begonia appreciation, there’s an event in regional Victoria that’s sure to have you circling dates on your calendar.

1. Festival of Sails

the Melbourne to Geelong passage race, Festival of Sails 2025 — The Melbourne to Geelong passage race will be held for its 183rd year. (Image: Salty Dingo)

When: 24–26 January
Where: Melbourne and Geelong

This five-day regatta of sailing and onshore entertainment at Geelong’s waterfront includes Australia’s oldest sporting event, the Melbourne to Geelong passage race which, in 2026, will be held for its 183rd year. But you don’t have to be a yachtie, sailor or boat-enthusiast to enjoy the nautical excitement; there’s also a three-day line-up of entertainment, food and live music, including the anchoring of tall ships – ever a firm family favourite.

2. Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race

cyclists during the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race — Catch the best cyclists as they wind through Victoria’s coastal towns. (Image: Visit Victoria)

When: 31 January – 1 February
Where: The Bellarine Peninsula

Meandering (at pace) along the Bellarine Peninsula and the Surf Coast is this annual cycling event that welcomes everyone from families to serious athletes. Since its beginnings in 2015, the race has become a huge hit with spectators flocking along to cheer on Lycra-clad competitors. Starting and finishing in Geelong’s Velo Village, this is the hub of the non-race activity with food and drink, roaming performers, lawn games and face painting.

3. Riverboats Music Festival

the performers at Riverboats Music Festival, Murray River — The annual music festival is staged under majestic red gums by the Murray River.

When: 13–15 February
Where: Echuca–Moama

Get along to bop and sway under the canopy of red gums at this annual music festival . Hosted by the twin towns of Echuca–Moama, the stage is set for Murray River-adjacent revelling as historic paddlesteamers peacefully chug alongside the event. As well as music, there’s dancing, food trucks and plenty of atmosphere to absorb.

4. Neerim ArtsFest

the Neerim ArtsFest south sculptures — Admire stunning works at Neerim ArtsFest. (Image: Nicky Cawood)

When: 28 February – 15 March
Where: Gippsland

This biennial Gippsland festival celebrates sculptural artists with an esteemed award in two categories, large outdoor and small indoor. The public is invited to enjoy the works over the exhibition period as they’re placed throughout Neerim South and surrounding venues. For 2026, the theme ‘The Spirit Soars’ leads artists to create stunning pieces that explore the expression of freedom in a thrilling visual capacity.

5. ChillOut Festival

a street parade during the LGBTQIA+ ChillOut Festival — Think colourful street parades and burlesque performances.

When: 5–9 March
Where: Daylesford

Pride in the country has been cheered on every March in Daylesford since 1997 with the riotous annual LGBTQIA+ ChillOut Festival . This colourful regional spectacle is an inclusive celebration of diversity that plays out across a vibrant parade, burlesque performances, a bush dance and a carnival. Get bedazzled, find a wig and stick on the false eyelashes for this fun party.

6. Port Fairy Folk Festival

Missy Higgins at the Port Fairy Folk Festival — Celebrate folk music at the Port Fairy Folk Festival. (Image: Lucinda Goodwin)

When: 6–9 March
Where: Port Fairy

In 2026, this beloved festival will be one year shy of its 50th anniversary. From folk fans to festival-lovers, this long-running event brings plenty of good vibes to guarantee an incredible experience. While music is at the heart of the festival, there’s also a range of workshops, exhibitions and family entertainment across dance, film and folk art. For its 49th year, the line-up so far includes Blair Dunlop, Elephant Sessions, and the musical duo Felicity Urquhart and Josh Cunningham.

7. The Ballarat Begonia Festival

a woman admiring flowers at The Ballarat Begonia Festival — Gasp at delicate blooms at The Ballarat Begonia Festival.

When: 7–9 March
Where: Ballarat

In bloom since 1953, this horticultural event places a collection of rare begonias at the centre of festivities, honouring the flower’s presence in Ballarat since the 1800s. During its history, the event has been visited by Queen Elizabeth II and, in 2015, it featured the launch of the largest outdoor Lego flower. Apart from a display of around 500 species of the flower of the moment, there’s also a begonia parade, entertainment, live music, food and presentations.

8. The Bendigo Easter Festival

Chinese dragon Dai Gum Loong dance at The Bendigo Easter Festival — The majestic Chinese dragon Dai Gum Loong dance is an annual tradition at The Bendigo Easter Festival.

When: 3–6 April
Where: Bendigo

Held in the city’s Rosalind Park, the annual Easter Festival has been a highlight of Bendigo’s calendar of events since 1871. A carnival of colourful activity, the festival welcomes everyone and rolls out the good times with everything from a Good Friday Easter egg hunt to live music and performances, a Rotary market and Gala Parade. Don’t miss the world’s longest imperial dragon rhythmically roaming the historic streets as part of the Easter Sunday festivities.

9. Grape Escape

a glass of wine at the Grampians Grape Escape — Enjoy a wine tasting experience. (Image: Anthony Evans Photography)

When: 1–3 May
Where: The Grampians

Backdropped by gorgeous Grampians/Gariwerd National Park, this much-loved bacchanalian-inspired festival of food, wine and music is a high-priority for gourmands. Held at Halls Gap Reserve, a Tasting Ticket includes a tumbler that unlocks free wine, beer and cider tastings and, if you are partaking, there’s a shuttle bus to get you back to your digs afterwards. Be sure to book your accommodation early for this one – its popularity is undisputed.

10. Comedy in the Vines

Comedy in the Vines at Cherryhill Orchards — Get the good times rolling at Cherryhill Orchards. (Image: Saige Prime)

When: 24–26 October
Where: Yarra Valley

The premise of Yarra Valley’s Comedy in the Vines , held at Cherryhill Orchards, is that wine and laughs pair well. Few arguments can be made, so get along this month (or next year), to have a giggle and a gamay. This year, taking the stage is the likes of Merrick Watts, Tommy Little, Ray O’Leary and Takashi Wakasugi. There are also masterclasses, a riesling and oyster shot bar, and plenty of food and music between gigs.