From the best sausage rolls and surf clubs to finger buns worth the drive, discover Australia’s top road trip pit stops as crowned by Wotif’s 2024 Uniquely Aussie Awards.
Australians famously love a road trip, jumping at any chance to explore a new nook of our vast, beautiful country. And as we head into the warmer months of the year, Wotif has announced the winners of its 2024 Uniquely Aussie Awards, offering some exciting new inspiration for your summer road trips.
From mouth-watering sausage rolls and beachside surf clubs to finger buns that are worth the detour, these are the pit stops every road tripper needs to know about.
The best sausage roll; a flaky, golden masterpiece
Flaky, golden and packed with flavour, the best sausage roll in Australia can be found at Kenilworth Bakery, nestled in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. Not only is this iconic bakery known for its mouth-watering sausage rolls, but adventurous foodies can take on the one-kilogram sausage roll challenge – finish it in one go and get your money back!
Stop in at Kenilworth Bakery for the best sausage roll in Australia.
Jaw-dropping views at the best lookout point
For a view that will take your breath away, head to Wineglass Bay Lookout in Freycinet, Tasmania. A scenic 1.3-kilometre trek leads you to this stunning vantage point, where crystal-clear waters meet a perfect crescent of white sand. Keep an eye out for dolphins or even whales as you soak in one of Australia’s most iconic views.
Wander the scenic 1.3-kilometre trek to reach Wineglass Bay Lookout. (Image: Chad Dewson)
Sip in style at the best hotel bar
Sip in style at the Terrace Rooftop Bar, one of Brisbane’s best rooftop bars, perched atop the Emporium Hotel South Bank. With its retractable ceiling and panoramic city views, this architectural wonder offers a perfect blend of luxury and relaxation. Enjoy a cocktail while taking in the expansive vistas that stretch out to the South Bank Parklands – this is the ultimate pit stop for those who appreciate a drink with a view.
The Terrace Rooftop Bar is one of Brisbane’s best rooftop bars.
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Best finger bun: A must-try sweet treat
Humble Bakery in Sydney has redefined the classic Aussie finger bun with its decadent take on this nostalgic treat. Featuring a dreamy pink cream cheese frosting and a buttery finish from locally sourced ingredients, this gourmet version is a must-try. Whether you’re a long-time fan or a curious newcomer, one bite of this finger bun will leave you craving more.
Devour this nostalgic treat at Humble Bakery.
Soak in the beach vibes at the best surf club
As the first surf lifesaving club in South Australia, Henley Surf Life Saving Club in Henley Beach is a true icon. With its stunning Ocean Bar and Kitchen helmed by celebrity chef Adam Swanson, you can enjoy locally sourced Italian-inspired dishes while gazing out over the water. This community-driven club offers family-friendly vibes and unforgettable sunsets, making it a perfect coastal pit stop.
Henley Surf Life Saving Club was the first surf lifesaving club in SA.
Learn about history at the best regional museum
The National Wool Museum in Geelong, Victoria, offers a fascinating glimpse into Australia’s rich wool history. Housed in a former wool store, this museum showcases everything from the production process to the final product. After exploring, head to the museum’s shop for high-quality woollen goods, or take a stroll along the nearby waterfront for a relaxing afternoon stop.
The National Wool Museum showcases everything from the production process to the final product.
Emily Murphy is Australian Traveller's Email & Social Editor, and in her time at the company she has been instrumental in shaping its social media and email presence, and crafting compelling narratives that inspire others to explore Australia's vast landscapes. Her previous role was a journalist at Prime Creative Media and before that she was freelancing in publishing, content creation and digital marketing. When she's not creating scroll-stopping travel content, Em is a devoted 'bun mum' and enjoys spending her spare time by the sea, reading, binge-watching a good TV show and exploring Sydney's vibrant dining scene. Next on her Aussie travel wish list? Tasmania and The Kimberley.
Wind through fern tunnels, stop for a wine in a tram bar, or chase giant murals across the wheatbelt. These drives and rides prove Victoria’s best stories are found off the straight and narrow.
There’s something unmistakably Australian about a road trip: car packed, playlist on, landscapes shifting. Travelling down the highway toward Healesville, in Victoria’s Yarra Valley, the mountains rise, flanking me on both sides. I feel its embrace, a silent invitation to explore what lies beyond.
Moss-covered embankments rise on either side, and towering mountain ash trees form a green tunnel overhead. Road signs warn of wombats and cyclists but with giant ferns lining the roadside, the landscape feels prehistoric, as if a dinosaur might suddenly emerge. This, the Black Spur, is one of my favourite road trips.
The Black Spur
Through the forested canopy of The Black Spur drive that winds from Healesville to Narbethong. (Image: Neisha Breen)
The Black Spur is short compared to other Victorian road trips, just 30 kilometres, stretching from Healesville to Narbethong. But what it lacks in distance, it makes up for in scenery. Just outside Healesville, Maroondah Dam offers bushwalks and scenic views. However, if pressed for time, Selover’s Lookout is an easy roadside stop offering uninterrupted views of the dam.
In Narbethong, close to the Marysville’s snowfield, is the Black Spur Inn, a charming double-storey brick hotel that’s been welcoming travellers since 1863. Here, diners cosy up by the roaring fire or gaze through the floor-to-ceiling windows, imagining horse-drawn coaches carrying hopeful gold seekers to the eastern goldfields.
Victoria’s Silo Art Trail
The Silo Art Trail in the Wimmera Mallee region. (Image: Visit Victoria/Anne Morely)
Location: Various towns across the Wimmera Mallee region Duration: More than 200 kilometres / 4–5 hours but best over a minimum of three days
What began as a way to draw travellers back into town bypassed by highways – places such as Nullawil, Sea Lake and Patchewollock – has grown into a celebrated outdoor art movement. The Silo Art Trail now includes 23 silos, each transformed with large-scale mural portraits sharing local stories, celebrating community heroes, Indigenous history, farming life, or regional identity.
The Nullawil silo, for example, is a portrait of a local farmer in a chequered flannelette shirt alongside his loyal kelpie, painted by artist Sam Bates (AKA Smug). And the silos at Albacutya in the Grampians, painted by artist Kitt Bennett, depict her joyful memories of growing up in the countryside. Many of the murals sit right in the heart of small towns, such as Rochester and St Arnaud, making them perfect spots to pause for a country pub meal or something sweet from a local bakery.
Location: Gippsland Duration: Approximately 220 kilometres / 4 hours
The Gippsland Lakes are a much-loved holiday spot in Victoria, but road-tripping further east reveals much more. Begin in Metung and time your visit with the monthly farmers’ market, or simply linger over lunch on the lawn of the Metung Hotel. Twenty minutes away is Lakes Entrance, where you can watch the fishing boats return with their catch.
Continue to Marlo, where the Snowy River spills into the sea, and Cape Conran for its many beaches and walks. If needing to stretch your legs, Croajingolong National Park is home to the historic Point Hicks Lighthouse and the Wilderness Coast Walk. Birdwatching and rainforest trails near Bemm River are worth a pit stop before arriving in Mallacoota, where the forest meets the sea.
Great Ocean Road
The 12 Apostles on the Great Ocean Road. (Image: Tourism Australia/Two Palms/Harry Pope)
Location: South-west Victoria, from Torquay to Allansford Duration: Approximately 250 kilometres / 4–5 hours but best over a minimum of three days
Victoria’s most famous road trip delivers it all: world-class surf breaks, rainforest walks, clifftop lookouts and wildlife encounters. The journey begins in Torquay, the state’s surf capital, then hugs the coast past Anglesea and Lorne to Apollo Bay, before curving inland through the lush rainforest of the Otways. Stop at Cape Otway Lightstation or take to the treetops at Otway Fly.
Between Cape Otway and Port Campbell lies the most photographed stretch – seven of the Twelve Apostles still standing, alongside the golden cliffs of Loch Ard Gorge. Further west, Warrnambool is a winter whale-watching hotspot, before the road winds to Port Fairy, a charming fishing village of whalers’ cottages, walking trails and offshore seal colonies further along the coast.
Location: Bellarine Peninsula Duration: Approximately 80 kilometres / 2–3 hours
The Bellarine Taste Trail is a feast for the senses, winding through coastal towns, past boutique wineries and artisan producers. It’s a choose-your-own-adventure style trail – simply grab a map and build your own delicious journey.
You might wander historic, seafront Queenscliff, sip wine in a converted tram bar at Terindah Estate, sample a locally distilled whisky at The Whiskery in Drydale or pick up a jar of honey at Wattle Grove in Wallington. Seafood lovers can head to Portarlington, famous for its mussels. Eat them fresh at local restaurants or head out on the water with Portarlington Mussel Tours.
O’Keefe Rail Trail – Bendigo to Heathcote
Pink Cliffs Reserve in Heathcote can be seen on the O’Keefe Rail Trail. (Image: Visit Victoria/Emily Godfrey)
Location: Central Victoria Duration: Approximately 50 kilometres / 4 hours cycling
Travellers first journeyed between Heathcote and Bendigo in 1888, when the railway line was built to link the towns. Trains stopped running in 1956, but today the route has a new life as the O’Keefe Rail Trail. The path is mostly level for easy riding, and along the way you’ll cycle past bushland, waterways and reserves. There are plenty of places to picnic, birdwatch, and if you’re lucky, spot a platypus.
The trail is well supported with water stations, bike repair points, shelters, and signage. Axedale makes a great halfway stop, with the pretty Campaspe River Reserve for a rest and local cafes for refuelling. Begin in Heathcote, known for its wineries and cafes, or in Bendigo, which is easily reached by train from Melbourne/Naarm. Shorter sections, such as Heathcote to Axedale, are also popular.
Goldfields Track – Ballarat to Bendigo
Location: Central Victoria Duration: Approximately 210 kilometres / 2–3 days cycling
The Goldfields Track traces a route once so rich in gold it made Melbourne one of the wealthiest cities in the world. Starting at Mt Buninyong, south of Ballarat, the trail leads mountain cyclists and walkers north through Creswick, Daylesford and Castlemaine before finishing in Bendigo. Along the way, you’ll encounter granite outcrops, eucalypt forests, rolling farmland and remnants of the region’s mining past.
As it passes through the lands of the Dja Dja Wurrung and Wadawurrung people, the track shares gold rush history and Indigenous stories brought to life by interpretive signs. Walk or ride the full trail or choose from one of its three distinct sections. With cosy stays, cafes and pubs, it’s easy to mix wilderness with comfort.
