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. (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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

The legendary El Questro Station is surrounded by dramatic gorges. (Image: Getty Images/Istock Photo/Mackenzie Sweetnam)