The great Aussie road trip is a classic. But with the cost of living steeply escalating, thrifty travellers are swapping far-flung vacations for the wide-open road. Here’s where they’re headed.
When it comes to road trips, Australia is truly blessed. There are seemingly endless roads that wind through breathtaking landscapes, from the expansive coast to the iconic red outback. And in an era of rising living costs, budget-savvy travellers can embrace campsites, caravan parks and apps like Hipcamp to explore the country without breaking the bank.
Youi surveyed over 2000 Aussies to uncover our road trip habits and our favourite destinations. We’ve broken down the top travel trends, destinations and findings below.
Top road trip travel trends
Go road-tripping on the iconic Gibb River Road. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)
There’s a lot of ground to cover on an Aussie road trip. Half of us racked up over 500 kilometres on the odometer on our last journey, while a quarter of us logged an incredible 17 hours or more behind the wheel. For a third of respondents, budget was a factor in choosing a road trip. On average, their most recent trip cost $1108, covering fuel, accommodation, meals and entertainment.
Baby Boomers proved to be the most intrepid road trippers, travelling longer, driving further and veering off the beaten path more often. While 20 per cent of all respondents travelled over 1000 kilometres, that figure jumped to 32 per cent for Boomers.
Top road trip destinations
On the Great Ocean Road, a string of perfect coastal towns is threaded together by breathtaking scenery. (Image: Getty/Alexwise)
Queenslanders proved to be the biggest road trippers in the country, with 33 per cent spending over 17 hours on their most recent journey.
As for the top road trip overall, it’s no surprise that a classic took the crown: Victoria’s Great Ocean Road. An impressive 39 per cent of respondents named it their favourite. Among Victorians, 63 per cent chose the iconic route, while 45 per cent of South Australians also ranked it as their top pick.
Perth to Esperance is a favourite Australian road trip. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)
Meanwhile, travellers from New South Wales singled out the Sydney to Brissy drive as their go-to. 43 per cent of Queenslanders awarded top gong to outback Queensland, whereas West Australians ranked the Perth to Esperance route as their favourite.
Wherever you are, Youi has teamed up with Hipcamp to bring travellers five epic, unsung road trip itineraries across Australia, in the states of NSW, Victoria, Queensland, SA and WA that celebrate the beauty, vastness and diversity of the landscape. It’s time to hit the road!
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Elizabeth Whitehead is a writer obsessed with all things culture; doesn't matter if it's pop culture or cultures of the world. She graduated with a degree in History from the University of Sydney (after dropping out from Maths). Her bylines span AFAR, Lonely Planet, ELLE, Harper's BAZAAR and Refinery 29. Her work for Australian Traveller was shortlisted for single article of the year at the Mumbrella Publishing Awards 2024. She is very lucky in thrifting, very unlucky in UNO.
Feeling peckish? These hotel restaurants prove the best weekend escapes are ones planned around noshing in-house.
Forget club sandwiches and lobby house wine; the folks at Hilton clearly missed the memo that stated that the dining experience should be a business trip afterthought.
Instead, they’re leading with their core belief that incredible dining should be the cornerstone of every travel experience: the long breakfasts with usually good flat whites, the golden hour cocktails, and the local flavours you’ll talk about long after you’ve returned home.
The result? We’ll let the following Hilton hotel restaurants do the talking.
1. Together & Co, Busselton
Sit down to the family-friendly Together & Co.
Nothing pairs better with the iconic Busselton Jetty and the beaches of Geographe Bay (both mere moments away) than the relaxed coastal charm of Together & Co, Hilton Garden Inn Busselton’s on-site restaurant.
Offering a relaxed, light-filled and family-friendly atmosphere with an open kitchen, Together & Co somehow appears unfussy on the surface, yet maintains a myopic focus on showcasing the best of local ingredients (regulars swear by the flame-grilled octopus, as well as their perfectly cooked steaks).
Keen to stay put for a drink? Together & Co Bar offers an extensive wine list, cold beer on tap, a crafted cocktail selection and a bar bites menu.
2. Cafe Sunrise, Cairns
Start the day with breakfast favourites.
At Hilton Cairns, dining and drinking options are plentiful – even without the Executive Lounge (open to Executive Room and Executive Spa Room guests who can enjoy continental breakfast, light refreshments and a nightly drinks and canape experience).
Cafe Sunrise starts the day with breakfast favourites, from fluffy pancakes to an omelette station, while Edge Terrace is made for a wind-down cocktail. At Gin Social, shared plates and succulent mains showcase fresh produce, and poolside dining comes with a playful bonus: call the ‘Popsicle Hotline’ for a complimentary fruit ice-block.
3. The Vine Room, Cairns
Enjoy Mediterranean-inspired eats by the pool.
In DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cairns, Atrium Restaurant’s breakfast buffet offers more than 100 options, but don’t check out before dining at The Vine Room, a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant and bar pairing Tropical North Queensland produce with southern European flavours. A herby prawn risotto overlooking the Coral Sea? Yes please. Just be sure to leave room for Le Petit Chef, an immersive 3D dinner theatre experience where a tiny animated chef leads a culinary adventure to remember.
4. PepperBerry Restaurant, Darwin
Taste an award-winning menu, shaped by First Nations culture and residents.
Shaped by First Nations culture and residents from over 100 nationalities, Darwin’s dining scene has more character than most. It’s something to keep in mind as you consider Hilton’s trio of perfectly located properties (and its onsite restaurants).
At Hilton Darwin, PepperBerry Restaurant is the flagship, an award-winning upscale establishment where modern Australian cuisine is sharpened with native bush spices and superfresh NT produce. The multi-sensory dining experience that is Le Petit Chef is available here too, as is the option to enjoy lighter meals and cocktails at Palm Court Bar & Lounge, a premier spot favoured by locals.
5. Catch Restaurant, Surfers Paradise
Lean into the Gold Coast lifestyle at Catch Restaurant.
When you’re staying in a property located in the heart of Surfers Paradise, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got stamina for all the nearby attractions and happily, Hilton Surfers Paradise Hotel & Residences has you covered with some stellar options.
Start the day with breakfast at Catch Restaurant, the hotel’s signature eatery, which is inspired by the vibrant Gold Coast lifestyle. Make a reservation for dinner (Wednesday to Saturday nights only), where the focus is on sustainably sourced seafood, steaks and pasta.
Elsewhere, Ms Margot’s Bar & Eats, a coastal-inspired restaurant facing the buzzing Orchid Avenue strip, remains a crowd favourite thanks to its tapas menu (think tempura nori tacos and fried honey haloumi bites), flatbreads and signature cocktails, but why not also treat yourself to its High Tea offering?
6. Saltbush, Alice Springs
Taste native bush flavours at Saltbush.
Set against a red desert backdrop, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Alice Springs feels like a palm-fringed oasis, but it’s the property’s dining offerings which anchor you firmly in the outback.
Saltbush, where buffet breakfasts roll into contemporary Australian lunches and dinners incorporating native bush flavours, remains a popular choice. The restaurant’s signature dishes include outback tenderloin koftas, lemon myrtle pannacotta and a classic outback pie made with kangaroo meat.
For an upscale dining experience, award-winning Hanuman Restaurant isn’t to be missed.
Also part of DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Alice Springs and located on the banks of the Todd River, expect a pan-Asian menu combining Thai, Indian and Nonya (Straits Chinese) cuisines. And why not finish up with a post-meal drink or snack at The Deck Bar & Eatery, a relaxed outdoor space where cocktails are served under a canopy of stars?
