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)

A humble trawler turned Hamptons-style dreamboat

inspecting bivalve bounty from the ropes

Inspecting the bounty. (Image: Visit Victoria/Hannyn Shiggins)

It’s a crisp, calm winter’s day, and the sun is pouring down upon Valerie, a restored Huon pine workhorse that was first launched in January 1980. In a previous life she trawled the turbulent Bass Strait. These days she takes jaunts into Port Phillip Bay under the helm of Lance Wiffen, a fourth-generation Bellarine farmer, and the owner of Portarlington Mussel Tours . While Lance has been involved in the fishing industry for 30-plus years, the company’s tour boat only debuted in 2023.

See how these plump and juicy bivalves are sustainably cultivated.

It took more than three years to transform the former shark trawler into a dreamy, Hamptons-esque vessel, with little expense spared. Think muted green suede banquettes, white-washed walls, Breton-striped bench cushions, hardwood tables, bouquets of homegrown dahlias, and woollen blankets sourced from Waverley Mills, Australia’s oldest working textile mill. It’s intimate, too, welcoming 12 guests at most. And yet there’s nothing pretentious about the experience – just warm, down-to-earth Aussie hospitality.

As we cruise out, we crack open a bottle of local bubbles and nibble on the most beautifully curated cheese platter, adorned with seashells and grey saltbush picked from the water’s edge that very morning. Australasian gannets soar overhead, and I’m told it’s not uncommon for guests to spot the odd seal, pod of dolphins, or even the occasional little penguin.

The sustainable secret behind Victoria’s best mussels

Blue mussels sourced just off Portarlington.

Connie and Lance both extol the virtues of mussels. They’re delicious. A lean source of protein and packed with omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B12, iron, selenium, and zinc. They’re cooked in a flash (Connie steams our fresh harvest with cider and onion jam). And they’re also widely regarded as one of the most sustainable foods in the world.

Portarlington mussels with lemon and chilli

Mussels served with lemon and chilli.

“Aquaculture is [often] seen as destructive, so a lot of our guests are really surprised about how environmentally friendly and sustainable our industry is,” Lance says. “[Our mussels] would filter 1.4 billion litres of water a day,” he adds, explaining how mussels remove excess nitrogen and phosphorus from the water. “And through biomineralisation, we lock carbon into mussel shells.”

Mussels are a sustainable food.

Despite their glowing list of accolades, these molluscs have long been seen as the oysters’ poorer cousins. “It was a really slow start,” explains Lance, who says that in the early days of his career, “you could not sell mussels in Victoria”.

But word has slowly caught on. Chefs as globally acclaimed as Attica’s Ben Shewry and even René Redzepi of Noma, Denmark, have travelled to these very waters just to try the shellfish at the source, sharing only the highest praise, and using Lance’s mussels in their restaurants.

guests sampling Portarlington mussels onboard

Sampling the goods onboard. (Image: Visit Victoria/Hannyn Shiggins)

According to Lance there’s one obvious reason why the cool depths of Portarlington outshine other locations for mussel farming. “The water quality is second to none,” he says, noting how other regions are frequently rocked by harvest closures due to poor water quality. “We grow, without a doubt, some of the best shellfish in the world.” And with Lance’s bold claims backed up by some of the industry’s greatest names, perhaps it won’t be much longer until more Aussies uncover the appeal of Portarlington’s mussels.

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

2. Victoria’s silo art trail

3. Great Ocean Road, Victoria

4. The Red Centre, NT

5. Grand Pacific Drive, NSW

6. The EV Network, WA

7. Tasmania by coach

8. Waterfall Way, NSW

9. Gibb River Road, WA

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This luxe trawler tour is redefining Victoria’s seafood experience

Victoria’s ‘mussel capital’ is the source of exceptional shellfish used by top chefs far and wide. Step aboard a beautifully refurbished trawler to see how these plump and juicy bivalves are sustainably cultivated.

A humble trawler turned Hamptons-style dreamboat

The sustainable secret behind Victoria’s best mussels