Need a last-min long-weekend escape? Here's some day-trip inspo

What better way to ring in the warmer weather than a taking a day trip this long weekend to the great outdoors?

Spring has officially sprung. And with daylight savings about to kick in (for some states), the October long weekend is the perfect opportunity to get out of the city and into the great outdoors. Haven’t booked anything? You don’t need to! There’s an abundance of great long weekend day trips just one to two hours’ drive from Australia’s major cities, and we’ve rounded them up below. Here’s to the long weekend!

We asked the Australian Traveller Media team: what’s your favourite spring getaway destination around Australia?

Sydney

an aerial view of Resolute Beach in Ku-ring-gai National Park — Ku-ring-gai National Park contains bush walks that lead to secluded beaches, such as Resolute Beach.

Sydney is basically surrounded by world-class National Parks. The Royal National Park is a weekend classic, whether you’re into kayaking, SUPing, swimming at Wattamolla cove or enjoying the idyllic ferry ride from Cronulla to Bundeena.

But while the south steals a lot of the spotlight, daytrippers should also set their sights north. Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park is just a 40-minute drive north of the city. Inside this 14,977-hectare swathe of bushland, you’ll find hiking trails leading to secluded beaches, Aboriginal engraving sites and incredible views over dazzling inlets. Avoid the crowds by jetting past the city limits, all the way up to Bouddi National Park. It’s 90 minutes north of the CBD, but the journey is well worth it for the golden-sand beaches and incredible bushwalks, like the epic eight-kilometre Bouddi coastal walk that runs from Putty Beach to MacMasters Beach.

Looking for even more day trip inspiration close to the Emerald City? We’ve rounded up all of the best day trips to take from Sydney.

Melbourne

Can you kick it? Yes, you can, in Victoria’s hot spring country that surrounds Melbourne. The Mornington Peninsula, Daylesford and Gippsland are all within a two-hour drive of the Victorian capital, offering lots of mineral baths and steamy outdoor pools for the ultimate spring reset.

If you’d rather get moving, head an hour east to the Dandenong Ranges to wander along trails that thread through forests of towering mountain ash. Or get your steps in by cafe hopping and browsing dinky antique stores and galleries around the villages of Mt Dandenong.

And if neither of those take your fancy? We’ve got a whole laundry list of day trips you need to check out near Melbourne.

Brisbane

South Gorge on North Stradbroke Island — Secluded South Gorge beach on North Stradbroke Island/Minjerribah is the perfect spot for a dip. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland/Sean Scott)

October is one of the best months to visit North Stradbroke Island/Minjerribah. Just a short drive and ferry ride from the city, the island is perfect for kayaking, swimming and pottering around the many pristine beaches and laid back cafes. if you’re lucky, you might even spot dolphins when you’re out on the water.

Foodies can set their sights on the Scenic Rim, just 90 minutes away from the Queensland capital. The 4000-square-kilometre region is packed with an array of epicurean adventures, from paddock-to-plate eateries to fine wines at destinations like Kooroomba Vineyard. If those don’t satisfy your day-trip hunger, we’ve got plenty more suggestions for the best day trips to take from Brissie.

Adelaide

Wine, wine and more wine: there are plenty of boozy excursions a cork’s toss from the South Australian capital. A trip to McLaren Vale or the Barossa is classic Adelaide day trip territory, but if you’d rather ditch the glass and get active, head an hour south to the stunning Fleurieu Peninsula. Here, you can stroll sandy coastlines, meander through the cafe scene and gorge on freshly caught seafood. Yum!

Perth

With its impossibly blue waters, paradisiacal white sands and famously friendly locals (we’re talking about the quokkas), Rottnest Island is no secret to Perthlings. Just a 90-minute ferry ride from Perth’s Barrack Street Jetty, ‘Rotto’ or Wadjemup is always a good idea, whether you’re cycling around the island, snorkelling its reefs or picnicking by the beach. For something different, head north to the Pinnacles Desert in Nambung National Park (about two hours’ drive), where thousands of limestone spires rise from the lunar-like landscape.

Darwin

Surrounded by lush forest, a woman cools off in Florence Falls, just one of many incredible things to do in the Northern Territory. — Cool off beneath the cascading waters of Florence Falls in Litchfield National Park. (Image: Joshua Griffin)

Darwinites already know to make a beeline for Litchfield National Park to cool off in one of the majestic swimming holes like Florence Falls and Buley Rockhole. With October marking the end of the dry season, the long weekend is a great opportunity to get some swimming in before the Top End is plunged into monsoon season.

Here are more Darwin daytrips you must experience.

This remote corner of Australia is one of the world’s last frontiers. This is how to see it properly.

Vast, rugged and deeply spiritual, the Kimberley coast in Australia’s North West feels a world away from everyday Australia – and there are countless ways to explore it. But if you want to reach ancient rock art, hidden gorges and lonely waterfalls, it has to be by boat. Whether you’re aboard a nimble expedition vessel or a luxury yacht with all the trimmings, exploring by the water brings exclusive experiences, shows unique views and makes travel easier than any other mode. And that’s just the beginning of Australia’s North West cruises.

The True North Adventure Cruise in between sandstone cliffs. — Adventure starts where the road ends.

1. Discover Broome, and beyond

Explore your launchpad before you set sail: Broome. Here camels and their riders stride along the 22 kilometres of powdery Cable Beach at sunset. That’s just the start.

At Gantheaume Point, red pindan cliffs plunge into the turquoise sea, whose low tide uncovers fossilised dinosaur footprints. Broome’s pearling history runs deep. Japanese, Chinese, Malay and Aboriginal divers once worked these waters, and their legacy lives on in boutiques where South Sea pearls still shine.

If the moon’s right, you may catch the Staircase to the Moon over Roebuck Bay. Or simply kick back with a cold beverage and a film under the stars at Sun Pictures , screening since 1916.

Ride a camel along Cable Beach as the sun sinks into the Indian Ocean, casting golden light across the sand and sea. — Ride a camel along Cable Beach. (Image: Nick Dunn)

2. Unmatched access to The Kimberley

Once you’re onboard, expect a backstage pass to some of the most isolated places on Earth. No roads. No ports. No phone reception.

At Horizontal Falls/ Garaanngaddim, 10-metre tides surge through twin gorges like a natural waterpark ride that’ll make your palms sweat. Then there’s Montgomery Reef/ Yowjab: a giant living platform of coral and seagrass, where the sea pulls back to reveal waterfalls, sea turtles and ospreys.

Up north, King George Falls/ Oomari rage 80 metres down red cliffs. Zodiac boats often nudge in closer so you can feel the spray on your sun-warmed cheeks. You might even fly in to reach Mitchell Falls/ Punamii-unpuu, a four-tiered cascade where you can swim in freshwater pools above the drop.

Come spring, some itineraries veer west to Rowley Shoals: an atoll chain of white sand and reef walls. Then it’s up the winding Prince Regent River to King Cascade/ Maamboolbadda, tumbling over rock terraces, and into a Zodiac to view the Gwion Gwion rock art, whose slender, ochre-painted figures are older than the pyramids.

A cruise drifts beneath King George Falls, where sheer sandstone cliffs frame the thunderous plunge into turquoise waters. — Get closer to the Kimberley than ever before.

3. Taste the Kimberley with onboard hospitality

You might spend your days clambering over slippery rocks or charging past waterfalls. But when you’re back on the water, it’s a different story. Meals are chef-prepared and regionally inspired: grilled barramundi, pearl meat sashimi, mango tarts, and bush tomato chutney. One night it’s barefoot beach barbecues with your shipmates; the next, alfresco dining on the ship.

Small expedition ships each have their own personality, but many carry just 12 to 36 guests, making being out on the water a whole other experience. You might sink into a spa on the foredeck or sip coffee in a lounge while watching crocodiles cruise by. It’s choose-your-own-relaxation, Kimberley style.

4. Expert-led excursions through the Kimberley

These voyages are led by people who know the Kimberley like the back of their sunburnt hand. Attenborough-esque naturalists might gently tap your shoulder to point out rare birds or tell the story beneath a slab of rock. Historians can explain exactly how that rusted World War II relic came to rest here.

If your ship has a helipad, you might chopper straight to a waterfall-fed swimming hole. If not, you’ll still be hopping ashore for that wet landing at a secret creek.

Then come the evenings: songlines shared by Traditional Owners under the stars, or astronomy sessions that link what’s overhead with what’s underfoot and what’s within.

A small group glides through Kimberley’s rugged coastline by boat, passing ancient cliffs. — Explore with naturalists and historians by your side.

5. Relax in luxurious lodgings

Just because you’re off-grid doesn’t mean you have to rough it. These Kimberley vessels are small in size, but mighty in luxury. True North’s ships come with their own helicopters and a no-sea-days policy, so you’re always in the thick of it. Try the luxurious offerings from Ocean Dream Charters for exploration in style. Kimberley Quest offers a fast boat for easy, off-ship adventures. On the larger end of the scale, Coral Expeditions has open-deck bars and curated wine cellars. And then there’s Ponant’s luxury yachts – sleek and incredibly stylish French sailing yachts.

A helicopter soars above the sea, with a sleek cruise ship gliding in the distance. — See the Kimberley from sky to shore.

6. The adventure continues with pre- and post-cruise experiences

You’ve already come this far – so, why not go further? Broome makes it easy to ease in before you board, or wind down when your voyage ends, and there is no reason to stop there.

Head an hour and a half south to Eco Beach to stay off-grid and off the clock. Join a Yawuru guide for a mangrove walk or ocean forage. Dive even deeper into Broome’s pearling past at Willie Creek or Cygnet Bay, where divers and craftspeople still pull the seawater-slicked gems from the deep.

If you’re still craving adventure, it’s time to go further. Soar over the Buccaneer Archipelago, or detour inland with a 4WD trip along the Gibb River Road. Book a scenic flight over the Bungle Bungles. Or – because you never know when you’ll be back – do all three.

aerial of people walking on eco beach in the kimberley western australia — Stay off grid at Eco Beach. (Image: Tourism WA)

Find out more about your trip to Australia’s North West at australiasnorthwest.com .

Need a last-minute long-weekend escape? Here’s your perfect day-trip inspo