Australia’s Five Most Spectacular Drives
- Written by News Feature Team
There are great drives. Then there are spectacular ones, the unforgettable ones. These are the ones you’d be mad for, the ones embedded with breathtaking spots and epiphanic panoramas worth dropping your anchor in, the ones you would want to take with wild abandon (although not quite literally) and an epic soundtrack to match. And Australia, with its wide expanse of land and sparkling coasts, has more than its share of them. There’s the rugged Outback, the famous Great Ocean Road, or really the entire massive country. So get your camper HYPERLINK "http://www.apollocamper.com/"van hire ready and hit the road, here are five breathtaking road trips to consider.
Great Ocean Road
Thousands upon thousands have made the drive; it is Australia’s most famous drive after all. At 243 kilometres, the Great Ocean Road stretches in all its glory along the coast of Victoria from Torquay to Allansford just outside Warrnambool, and paved with beaches, beach towns, waterfalls, hiking trails, land formations, and more.
Slip into a languid pace, don’t rush, as there are many spots to see. Take a leisurely dip in the shallow water of Anglesea, try and spot the Koalas at the Kennett River Koala Walk, seek the Hopetoun Falls, and see the Loch Ard Gorge and London Bridge. Of course, don’t miss the main show—the Twelve Apostles.
Red Centre Way
There’s something appealing about the forced intimacy of long haul drives. Add the wildness and ruggedness of the Outbacks, and that’s the true testament of a great road trip. Take a transformative five-day drive along the Red Centre Way through amazing, red desert land past some of Australia’s most breathtaking landmarks in the Northern Territory.
Start the trip in the town of Alice Springs and drive the 1,135-kilometre loop. There are green valleys and perennial forests to admire, hiking trails to trample on, meteorite craters to visit, gorges and canyons to explore, and of course, Uluru to marvel at. Slumber under the stars as caravan and camping spots abound.
The Savannah Way
Why stay on the east coast when there’s a lot to see in Western Australia as well? Once you’ve seen the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest, an epic journey across the country might just be what the doctor ordered. Take the Savannah Way from Cairns in Queensland through Katherine in Northern Territory to Broome in Western Australia, passing through the Outback and by less travelled sights and landmarks.
Visit the highland region of Atherton Tablelands, home to the Waterfalls Circuit, explore the Undara Lava Tubes, tour the Cobbold Gorge, breathe in the views at Boodjamulla National Park, and see magnificent wildlife along the way.
Broome to Perth
Everybody seems to forget about Western Australia, even Aussies themselves. But while the naturally tricked out East coast has some of the country’s most well-known sights and biggest cities, the West coast has its own collection of absurd beauties and tellurian treasures. Carve out some time to drive the zigzagging 3,900-kilometre stretch from Broome in the north to Perth in the south, and you’re in for a trip of a lifetime.
There are many, many stops to consider, from beach towns and national parks to emerald bays teeming with marine life. If it’s the highlights you’re looking for, then Cable Beach, Turquoise Bay, The Pinnacles Desert and Rottnest Island are definite shoo-ins.
The Big Lap
For an adventurous turn on the road that is as irreducible and incredible as the continent itself, it’s the Big Lap you’re after. The journey is long and will, at times, test your patience, but it is the ultimate, bucket list drive, if there ever was one. What is the Big Lap? It’s essentially a lap of the whole continent, which means it does take dedication and a whole lot of time. However, it is the best way to stumble into hidden gems.
Carve your own trails. Plan ahead or be spontaneous. Rent a campervan or hire a car. Trace the coast or let the road guide you. The world—or rather, the whole Australian continent—is your oyster.