{"id":5055,"date":"2018-03-26T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-03-25T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/?p=5055"},"modified":"2020-04-02T05:35:08","modified_gmt":"2020-04-01T19:35:08","slug":"top-10-aussie-road-trips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/australia\/road-trip\/top-10-aussie-road-trips\/","title":{"rendered":"On the road again: Top 10 Aussie road trips"},"content":{"rendered":"

Road tripping is an Aussie rite of passage. Here are 10 of the best around our wide, brown land, with options for both quick trips and long getaways.<\/p>\n

1. Across the Nullarbor \u2013 Perth<\/a> to Ceduna<\/a> \u2013 around 1920\u00a0kilometres
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The stuff of romance and legend, crossing the Nullarbor Plain means rubbing shoulders with a mix of practical travellers just trying to cross the country and adventure-seekers possessed by desert intrigue. Drive in the day, then settle in at the road stops (with built-in bars and hotels) by night, when semitrailers dominate the highways. If you\u2019re not afraid of a dirt track, take a quick detour to Cocklebiddy Cave \u2013 11 kilometres west of Cocklebiddy, off the Eyre Highway.<\/p>\n

The Nullarbor Plain<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
<\/div>\n

2. Devonport<\/a><\/strong> to Cradle Mountain<\/a> \u2013 around 80 kilometres<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Drive off the Spirit of Tasmania ferry and head straight for Tasmania\u2019s famous mountain peak. Getting back to nature doesn\u2019t have to mean roughing it when you can settle into Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge<\/a> \u2013 complete with crackling fires and a fully stocked library. For the hiking types, the trek from Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair will take you to Australia\u2019s deepest lake.<\/p>\n

3. Alice Springs<\/a><\/strong> to Kakadu<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013 1520 kilometres<\/strong><\/h3>\n

An inland trek to tick off your bucket list. If you stop to walk Katherine Gorge on the way, follow up with a refreshing dip in the Mataranka Thermal Pool at Elsey National Park. How long can this trip take? Well\u2026 how long have you got?<\/p>\n

Kakadu National Park<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
<\/div>\n

4. Canberra<\/a><\/strong> to Jindabyne<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013 around 180 kilometres<\/strong><\/h3>\n

You never forget the first time you see the deep azure blue of Lake Jindabyne sparkling on the horizon. Make the most of the views when you get there by spending a night lakeside at Rydges Horizons Snowy\u00a0Mountains<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Lake Jindabyne<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
<\/div>\n

5. Adelaide<\/a><\/strong> to Second Valley<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013 around 90 kilometres<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Second Valley was one of the Fleurieu Peninsula\u2019s best kept secrets, until it was named one of the top 10 beaches in Australia. Day trip down for the fishing and snorkelling or go rugged with a bushwalk in the Deep Creek Conservation Park. Sneak into Myponga on the way home to taste test the Smiling Samoyed\u00a0Brewery<\/a>.<\/p>\n

6. Warrnambool <\/a><\/strong>to Nelson<\/a> via Portland<\/a> \u2013 around 175 kilometres
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n

After the classic Great Ocean Road drive, slow down the pace and wind your way around the Shipwreck Coast. As the crowds and the tour buses thin out, make plenty of stops so the driver doesn’t miss all the best views. Visit the fur seal colony in Portland, then bunk down in the Cape Nelson Lighthouse<\/a>. Just don\u2019t turn the lights off.<\/p>\n

The Shipwreck Coast<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
<\/div>\n

7. Sydney<\/a> to Byron Bay<\/a> \u2013 around 767 kilometres
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Don\u2019t let this trip be the one you only do under cover of darkness when you leave the big smoke for an annual Byron bohemian pilgrimage. See it in the daylight and get to Byron with a head start on your zen. Bring the fun at the Big Banana in Coffs Harbour with laser tag, tobogganing, mini golf, a water park, and those famous choc-coated frozen bananas. It\u2019s great if you have the kids with you (or even if you don\u2019t).<\/p>\n

8. Cairns<\/a><\/strong> to Cape York<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013 around 1028 kilometres<\/strong><\/h3>\n

After you\u2019ve visited Australia\u2019s most easterly point (Byron Bay), how about the northernmost tip of mainland Australia? Mark your diary to stop at the historic Lion\u2019s Den Hotel, on the Bloomfield Track between Cairns and Cook town, and write a quote on their famous graffiti wall. After you\u2019ve made your way through the Daintree wilderness, you\u2019ll spot a sign marking Oz\u2019s most northern point, 32 kilometres north of Bamaga. Sure, this 4WD adventure is more about the journey than the destination, but you still need that signpost\u00a0selfie.<\/p>\n

Cape York<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
<\/div>\n

9. Waterfall Way \u2013 Coffs Harbour<\/a><\/strong> to Armidale <\/a><\/strong>via Dorrigo<\/a> \u2013 around 192 kilometres<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This is a trip where some rain is welcome \u2013 that way, the waterfalls will be in full burst. Stop for some natural spring water on Dorrigo Mountain and breathe in the rainforest air as you cross the Great Dividing Range. Try the pies at Bozo\u2019s Bake House in Bellingen #nomnomnom.<\/p>\n

10. Margaret River<\/a> via Albany<\/a> to Esperance<\/a> \u2013 around 825\u00a0kilometres
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Wake up to the luxury of a kid-free zone at the Empire Spa Retreat<\/a> in Naturaliste (what a name!) and start your drive refreshed. Stop at Bremer Bay on the way to explore the Fitzgerald River National Park and discover plant species found nowhere else. Take as long as you like to explore the exquisite WA coast, but save some energy for a snorkel in Esperance and a sunset walk along Tanker Jetty.<\/p>\n

Can you spot the local? Fitzgerald River National Park<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
<\/div>\n<\/i> Plan your great Aussie road trip <\/a>\n<\/i> Hire a car <\/a>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Road tripping is an Aussie rite of passage. Here are 10 of the best around our wide, brown land, with options for both quick trips and long getaways. 1. Across the Nullarbor \u2013 Perth to Ceduna \u2013 around 1920\u00a0kilometres The stuff of romance and legend, crossing the Nullarbor Plain means rubbing shoulders with a mix …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":5057,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[740,761],"tags":[],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5055"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5055"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5055\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5348,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5055\/revisions\/5348"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5057"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5055"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5055"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5055"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}