9 scenic road trip getaways to plan this year

From scenic-rich coastal routes to the remote red-dirt tracks of the outback and gentle country drives past silo art or waterfalls, it’s time to pack the car and mark the map to see all the beauty and quirks of Australia by road.

1. Pacific Coast Way, Qld

You’ll need at least a week – if not more – to make the most of this epic 1800-kilometre journey from the Gold Coast to Cairns. Drive from the buzzy beachside hub of Surfers Paradise to the arts and culture capital of Brisbane and onto Sunshine Coast gems such as Noosa, where golden beaches and coveted surf breaks await. Stop at whale-watching hotspot Hervey Bay, historic cities like Bundaberg, then drive along the stunning Whitsunday Coast to Cairns. It’s a journey across Queensland’s cities, country and coast, topping it off where the Great Barrier Reef meets the Wet Tropics.

wallabies at Cape Hillsborough — Wallabies at Cape Hillsborough. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland/Jack Harlem)

2. Victoria’s silo art trail

The Silo Art Movement, which began in 2015, captures the unwavering spirit of regional Australia. The cultural and artistic phenomenon now includes more than 50 artworks across the country, 23 of which are located within Victoria – across the Grampians, Murray, High Country and Goldfields regions. Renowned street artists have transformed wheat silos into captivating murals, from a Second World War tribute in Walpeup to portraits of Indigenous Elders in Sheep Hills and a homage to Clydesdale horses in Goorambat. Add them to your itinerary on your next regional road trip.

Admire silo art in rural Victoria, such as *Brim* by Guido van Helten. (Image: Anne Morely)

3. Great Ocean Road, Victoria

This coastal drive is an Australian rite of passage, winding 243 kilometres along Victoria’s coast. Take in rainforest, clifftops and natural wonders that have been carved out by the wild Southern Ocean – including the Twelve Apostles, Lord Ard Gorge, the Island Archway and the Gibson Steps. If you’re only driving in one direction, start your journey in Torquay, so you’re on the ocean side of the road, making it easier to steer towards scenic lookouts. Make sure you carve out time to explore vibrant Warrnambool at the Great Ocean Road’s western end, too.

an aerial view of the Great Ocean Road — Tick off the iconic Great Ocean Road. (Image: Unsplash/Pat Whelen)

4. The Red Centre, NT

Uluṟu captures the attention of most travellers to the Red Centre, and rightly so. But you can see this iconic monolith and more on a five-day 4WD loop along the Red Centre Way from Alice Springs. Drive to West MacDonnell National Park to see its landscape of chasms, gorges and waterholes; walk the rim of the 100-metre-high red sandstone Kings Canyon; and, of course, spend time at inimitable Uluṟu and neighbouring Kata Tjuta before returning to where you began. Discovery Resorts – Kings Canyon , Discovery Parks – Alice Springs and Ayers Rock Resort all make for comfortable crash pads along the way.

the view of Kings Canyon — Hit the road in the Red Centre. (Image: Tourism NT/Tourism Australia)

5. Grand Pacific Drive, NSW

Travelling with: Rachael Thompson

Stretching along the dramatic cliffs of the NSW South Coast from Sydney’s Royal National Park in the Sutherland Shire to the Shoalhaven region, the Grand Pacific Drive is one of Australia’s most scenic routes, offering breathtaking vistas of the Pacific Ocean and rugged landscapes. Cruise the coast in an all-electric car, such as the sleek Porsche Macan, enjoying zero-emission travel as you pass through charming towns like Shellharbour and Milton. Stop to explore iconic landmarks, including the Sea Cliff Bridge and Kiama Blowhole, discovering idyllic beaches and hidden waterfalls along the way.

the Grand Pacific Drive as seen from above — Skirt the coast on the Grand Pacific Drive. (Image: Destination NSW/Tim Clark)

6. The EV Network, WA

Western Australia is now home to one of the world’s longest connected electric vehicle charging highways. EV drivers have access to 110 charging points in 49 locations on the WA EV Network, from Mundrabilla near the SA border, throughout the outback and along the coast, to Kununurra in the Kimberley. Conscious car owners can now explore Western Australia’s dreamy landscape more sustainably with the assurance you can charge up when needed.

scenic coastal views at the EV Network, WA — Explore WA’s new EV network.

7. Tasmania by coach

Travelling with: Katie Carlin

AAT Kings has packed the very best of Tasmania into one five-day coach trip along the state’s east coast from Launceston to Hobart. And the best part? You don’t have to share the driving. Highlights include Cataract Gorge, the purple fields of Bridestowe Lavender Estate, a face-to-face encounter with a Tassie devil, plus a rolling hit list of the state’s best towns and a walk to Wineglass Bay Lookout. The journey ends on a high with an optional lap around Australia’s oldest lighthouse with Pennicott Wilderness Journeys .

a scenic view of Wineglass Bay, Freycinet Peninsula — Wineglass Bay features a perfect crescent of white sand. (Image: Tourism Tasmania)

8. Waterfall Way, NSW

The scenic Waterfall Way winds for some 185 kilometres between Coffs Harbour and Armidale in NSW. Drop a few pins on your map app so you can stop and listen to the perpetual roar of the water tumbling down through trees, over rocks and into valleys. Wind through woodlands, rolling farmland and national parks to find wondrous waterfalls such as the not-to-be-missed Wollomombi Gorge. While you can cover the entire distance in about 2.5 hours, watching the churning waters send spumes skyward makes for a dramatic detour to your road trip.

the Crystal Shower Falls, Waterfall Way, NSW — The stunning Dangar Falls in Dorrigo National Park. (Image: Destination NSW/Pat Suraseang)

9. Gibb River Road, WA

The 660-kilometre Gibb River Road cuts through the belly of WA’s Kimberley from Derby to Wyndham via epic spots such as El Questro. The remote 4WD trail was constructed in the 1960s to transport cattle stock and includes dirt tracks and river crossings. Drivers need to be prepared, as there are very few petrol stations. But they also need to be armed with a sense of adventure to discover attractions such as ancient gorges, thundering waterfalls, sacred Aboriginal sites and rock art, sprawling outback cattle stations and a unique pioneering history. Expect to meet some fascinating local characters along the way.

an aerial view of the El Questro Station — The legendary El Questro Station is surrounded by dramatic gorges. (Image: Getty Images/Istock Photo/Mackenzie Sweetnam)

Under wide-open outback skies, discover a fossicking gem that’s managed to slip under the radar.

While the name Clermont may feel new to even the most intrepid traveller, its gilded history stretches back centuries. You’ll find it just off the highway, humming quietly under the hazy veil of Queensland’s outback sun. It’s here, hemmed in by mountains and perched atop soil heavy with the earth’s treasures, that one of Australia’s most accessible outback adventures awaits.

Thanks to deposits of gold, copper and gemstones – souvenirs left by exploding supernovas and the heave of tectonic plates – Clermont became a centre point of Queensland’s Gold Rush. And now? Australia’s fossicking capital is yours to discover.

Getting there

car driving along Capricorn Way in queensland — Take a drive through Queensland’s Mackay Isaac region. (Image: Sean Scott/ TEQ)

You’ll find Clermont in Queensland’s Mackay Isaac region. To get here, it’s an easy three-hour drive over sealed roads from Mackay. Or, if you’re heading from the Sapphire Fields of Emerald, the drive will carve out just over an hour from your day.

Whether you’re road-tripping through outback Queensland or just tracing your way through all that Australia has to offer, Clermont is remote but easily accessible.

Best accommodation in Clermont

Theresa CreekDam in clermont — Camp by Theresa Creek Dam. (Image: Riptide Creative/ TEQ)

All accommodation comes with a generous helping of country hospitality here. The choice is yours between modern hotels, parking up the camper or pitching a tent.

Theresa Creek Dam lies just outside town. Begin each day with crisp country air and bright outback sunrises. Spend the night under the sparkling country stars and your days out on the dam fishing or kayaking. Even if you aren’t camping, be sure to save space in your itinerary for an afternoon on the red dirt shore.

To stay closer to town, opt for a central hotel to base yourself between exploring and fossicking, like Smart Stayzzz Inn and Clermont Country Motor Inn .

Things to do in Clermont

three people on a tour with Golden Prospecting — Join a tour with Golden Prospecting.

One does not visit Clermont without trying their hand at fossicking. There are strict rules when it comes to fossicking, so stick to areas dedicated for general permission and make sure you obtain your license beforehand. Try your luck at McMasters , Four Mile , Town Desert, McDonald Flat and Flat Diggings . To increase your odds, sign on for a tour with the expert team at Golden Prospecting . They’ll give you access to exclusive plots and expert advice along the way.

Once you’ve tried your luck on the gold fields, head to the Clermont Township and Historical Museum . Each exhibit works like an archaeologist’s brush to dust away the layers of Clermont’s history. Like the steam engine that painstakingly relocated the entire town inch by inch to higher ground after it was decimated by flooding in 1916. See the tools that helped build the Blair Athol mine, historic fire engines, shearing sheds and all sorts of relics that make up Clermont’s story.

The historic Copperfield Chimney offers a change of pace. Legend has it that fossickers found a solid wall of copper here, over three metres high, kick-starting Queensland’s first-ever copper mine.

Bush Heli Services flying over clermont queensland — See Clermont from above with Bush Heli Services. (Image: Riptide Creative/ TEQ)

For hiking, nearby Dysart is the best place to access Peak Range National Park. Here, mountainous horizons stretch across the outback as if plucked from another world. Set off for a scenic drive along the Peak Downs Highway for access to countless geological wonders. Like the slanting rockface of Wolfang Peak. Summit it, and you’ll find yourself looking out across a scene surely conjured up by Banjo Paterson. Dry scrub dancing in the warm breeze, grazing cattle, eucalypts and the gentle creak of windmills. Don’t miss visiting Gemini Peaks, either, for one of the park’s best vistas, and a blanket of wild flowers after rain.

Then, take to the skies with a scenic helicopter tour with Bush Heli-Services . Shift your perspective and cruise above all the sights from your trip. Spots like Lords Table Mountain and Campbell’s Peak are best viewed from the skies.

Before you head home, be sure to explore the neighbouring townships. Spend a lazy afternoon in the shade of Nebo Hotel’s wrap-around verandahs . The hotel’s 1900s dance hall has since been replaced with one of the area’s biggest rodeo arenas, so consider timing your trip to line up with a boot scootin’ rodeo. Or, stop by a ghost town. Mount Britton was once a thriving town during the 1880s Gold Rush. It’s been totally abandoned and now lies untouched, a perfect relic of the Gold Rush.

Best restaurants and cafes in Clermont

meal at Commercial Hotel — Stop into the Commercial Hotel Clermont.

Days spent fossicking, bushwalking and cramming on history call for excellent coffee and hearty country meals. Luckily, Clermont delivers in spades.

Lotta Lattes Cafe is beloved by locals for a reason. Start your days here for the best caffeine fix in town and an impeccable brunch menu.

For a real country meal, an icy cold beer and that famed country hospitality, head straight to the town’s iconic hotel: the Commercial Hotel (known endearingly to locals as ‘The Commie’). It’s been a staple in Clermont since 1877. The hotel even survived the flood of 1916 when it was sawn in two and moved to higher ground.

Naturally, time spent in the outback must include calling into the local bakery. For delicious pies and a tantalising array of sweet treats, make Bluemac Bakehouse your go-to while in town.

Discover more of The Mackay Isaac region, and start planning your trip at mackayisaac.com.