Fill the tank and switch off with peace of mind – these are the 10 safest road trips in Australia for solo travellers.
Road trips offer freedom and the chance to disconnect – but going it alone can come with question marks. What if something goes wrong? Is the region safe to travel through alone? Will I be able to access help if I need it?
To cut through the guesswork, car insurance company iSelect analysed more than 20 popular road trips to determine the best road trips in Australia for solo travellers. The findings are based on safety metrics that take into account factors including mobile service coverage, solo accommodation options, rest stops, hospitals and the overall social sentiment of the area covered. All that’s left to do is fill the tank and hit the open road.
The 10 best road trips in Australia for solo travellers
1. Legendary Pacific Coast
Scenic views of Nambucca Heads along the Legendary Pacific Coast. (Credit: Destination NSW)
See Mount Warning along the scenic drive. (Credit: Destination NSW)
Explore Lennox Head along the Legendary Pacific Coast. (Credit: Destination NSW)
This 1000-kilometre coastal touring route between Sydney and Brisbane has been crowned the safest and best road trip for solo travellers in Australia. Why? It has 100 per cent phone coverage, plentiful solo attractions and superior logistical ease. Plus, it’s a visual feast. Expect sparkling beaches, charming hinterland-backdropped towns and world-class wineries in the Hunter Valley, promising endless delight.
2. Great Ocean Road
Explore the Twelve Apostles along the Great Ocean Road. (Credit: Visit Victoria / Kirk Richards)
From quiet nights under star-studded skies to winding coastlines and iconic sites like the Twelve Apostles, there’s a lot to love aboutVictoria’s legendary stretch of coast. The Great Ocean Road has already been dubbed the best of our readers’ favourite Aussie road trips, but now it is being recognised as one of the safest, too – its popularity making the area a place solo drivers can confidently explore. Full phone coverage, friendly locals and reliable accommodation options seal the deal.
3. Cape to Cape
Point Picquet, near Dunsborough in WA’s Margaret River. (Credit: Frances Andrijich)
While lesser-explored and more remote, Cape to Cape within the Margaret River region of Western Australia is still one of the top road trips for solo travellers thanks to its great phone coverage, stunning yet quiet coastline and convenient rest stops. Prepare to be awed by Boranup Karri Forest, the lighthouses at Cape Naturaliste and award-winning wineries.
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4. Coral Coast Highway
Hutt Lagoon is a highlight of the Coral Coast highway. (Credit: Tourism Western Australia)
The pink waters of Hutt Lagoon, mars-like formations of the Pinnacles Desert and resident dolphins at Monkey Mia are enough to draw any nature-loving traveller to Western Australia’s Coral Coast Highway. The route, which snakes from Perth to Exmouth along the Indian Ocean, scores high in rest stops, solo stays and attractions – though there aren’t as many hospitals as you’d find along many of the East Coast road trips.
5. Coastal Sydney to Melbourne
Murray’s Beach delivers more than just sunset views. (Credit: Filippo Rivetti)
Speaking of hospitals, the Coastal Sydney to Melbourne road trip has abundant facilities along the way – providing peace of mind for travellers concerned about medical access. Phone coverage is also excellent along this well-loved coastal route, which offers plentiful wildlife (think koalas, dolphins and kangaroos) as well as oyster towns and sprawling national parks.
6. South West Edge
Discover the beauty of Esperance by road. (Credit: Matt Finch)
The South West Edge tracks all the way from Perth to Esperance, passing some of the most astonishingly pristine (and quiet) beaches you may ever lay eyes on. It’s one of the best Australian road trips for solo travellers with its moderate temperatures and copious scenic stops.
7. Grand Pacific Drive
The iconic Sea Cliff Bridge. (Credit: Destination NSW)
You’ve surely seen NSW’s magnificent Sea Cliff Bridge on your social media feed at some point, and it’s one of the highlights of the Grand Pacific Drive. Drivers going the road trip alone will feel at ease knowing there are plenty of locals and travellers populating the region, making it easy to find help if anything goes wrong.
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8. Epicurean Way
Pick some grapes in the Barossa this autumn. (Credit: Barossa Grape & Wine Association)
Let’s not forget about South Australia and the gorgeous road trips it has to offer. Take the Epicurean Way and tick off McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills, Barossa and Clare Valley while indulging the senses in fine wine and spectacular produce. Full phone service and ample accommodation ensure you’ll stay safe and connected the entire journey.
9. Adelaide to Eyre Peninsula
The Eyre Peninsula’s production of oysters is an industry of abundance. (Credit: Tourism Australia)
When it comes to the best road trips for solo travellers in Australia, the Adelaide to Eyre Peninsula route punches above its weight. Think breathtaking cliff lookouts, fresh seafood, and cheeky sea lions and bottlenose dolphins at Baird Bay.
10. Heritage Highway
You may have heard in-the-know history buffs raving about Tasmania’s Heritage Highway, the original, convict-built inland road between Hobart and Launceston that was developed by the state’s early European settlers. Rich in colonial-era villages and quaint bridges, this road trip isn’t too far off the beaten path but still offers myriad surprises.
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Eleanor Edström is Australian Traveller’s Associate Editor. Previously a staff writer at Signature Luxury Travel & Style and Vacations & Travel magazines, she's a curious wordsmith with a penchant for conservation, adventure, the arts and design. She discovered her knack for storytelling much earlier, however – penning mermaid sagas in glitter ink at age seven. Proof that her spelling has since improved, she holds an honours degree in English and philosophy, and a French diploma from the University of Sydney. Off duty, you’ll find her pirouetting between Pilates and ballet classes, or testing her friends’ patience with increasingly obscure vocabulary.
More than just a stopover, Albury Wodonga is an elevated city escape immersed in nature.
Perhaps best known as a road trip stop between Sydney and Melbourne, Albury Wodonga offers a combination of natural beauty, cultural experiences and a vibrant food scene that make it well worth its own journey.
Nestled on the banks of the mighty Murray River and surrounded by famed wine and gold rush regions, this riverside town packs a broad punch. Discover how best to spend your days on the border.
Exploring the Murray River
1. The Crossing Place Trail
Admire sculptural works from local Indigenous artists.
Head to the original crossing places of the Murray River since 1848 – at the junctions of Bungambrawatha Creek and Oddies Creek. Today, these crossings are still used by cars and cattle, but the five-kilometre Crossing Place Trail loop connects the two bridges for bike riders and walkers.
Wander through gum trees, and maybe even spot local platypus and birdlife. Stop along the way to admire sculptural works from local Indigenous artists, see evidence of a scar tree and learn about the importance of this billabong environment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
2. Canoe The Murray
Hire canoes or kayaks and get out on the river.
What better way to get a feel for the Murray River than by getting out on its waters? Hire canoes or kayaks from Canoe the Murray, then explore solo or join one of the offered tours. Get up early for a Sunrise and coffee tour, watch the sun dip below the water on a sunset tour or choose one of several daytime trips.
Stand-up paddleboard hire and other water sports, fishing and swimming are also available to river explorers.
3. Noreuil Park Foreshore
Cool off at Noreuil Park Foreshore. (Image: Visit Victoria)
Just outside Albury’s CBD, the riverside Noreuil Park becomes a hub of activity as the weather heats up. Set up on picnic tables under shady trees, use the public barbecues (or pop into the nearby cafe) and cool off with a float down the river.
4. Mungabareena Reserve and Water Works
Spend time at Mungabareena Reserve. (Image: Visit Albury Wodonga)
Delve into nature and culture at the beautiful Mungabareena Reserve. Recognised by state law as a ‘Declared Aboriginal Place’, it was once a historical meeting point for trade and journeys to Mount Bogong for the local Wiradjuri people and still holds deep significance.
It’s another popular spot for fishing, swimming and picnics, while the nearby Water Works area is a great place for spotting wildlife. Try your luck seeing platypuses, wood ducks or rainbow bee-eaters.
Adventuring on Lake Hume
1. Walk the dam wall
Enjoy the view from the dam wall. (Image: Visit Albury Wodonga)
The majestic Lake Hume – a massive man-made reservoir on the Murray River – was once the largest dam in the Southern Hemisphere.
A great way to get acquainted is by walking along the dam wall, taking in views of outflows, electricity turbines and the transmission plant from above. Not to mention vistas of the lake and the Murray. It’s a particularly gorgeous spot for sunsets and sunrises.
A wide sealed walkway gives easy access to the wall, and informative signs and displays along the way educate on the dam’s construction.
2. The High Country Rail Trail
This 44-kilometre trail hugs the shoreline. Stop along the way at the historic town of Tallangatta, relocated to its current position in the 1950s after its original location was flooded. Cross the lake over the bright red Sandy Creek Bridge. Enjoy a lakeside picnic or go for a swim at Ebden, Ludlow’s or Huon Reserve.
3. Water sports
Dive into water sports on Lake Hume.
Lake Hume is a popular local spot for boating, fishing, and swimming. Drop a line or dive right into the clear waters.
Sip and Savour
1. Dux Albury
Sit down to delicious meals and wine at Dux.
Those looking for a high-end dining experience need to book a table at Dux Albury in the heart of Albury Wodonga. Sit down for curated wine lists, cocktails and share plates. Think starters like burrata with beetroot, chervil, caper berry and sherry, mains like Wagyu sirloin with Café De Paris, red wine and caramelised onions and all manner of fresh seafood.
2. Murray Towns Brewing Co.
Recharge at Murray Brewing Co.
Perched on the banks of the river, Murray Towns Brewing Co. has come a long way since two mates started experimenting in their backyard chook shed. With all beer brewed onsite and a sun-drenched beer garden to drink them in, it’s a perfect stop along a bike ride or walk.
3. Temperance and General
Step into Albury’s original laneway bar, Temperance and General. Set inside a historic building, but offering a modern vibe, the bar is locally famous for its cocktail list. Stop in before or after dinner for a creative tipple.
4. BeanStation Cafe
Dine on a modern Australian menu.
Dine on a modern Australian menu, inside the historic Wodonga train station building, dating back to 1873. Pop over in the morning and line up with the locals for great coffee and all-day brekkie, or head over after midday to swap the beans for local wines and Aussie boutique beers.
5. River Deck Cafe
Soak in views and good food at Riverdeck Cafe. (Image: Visit Victoria)
Another dining destination next to the Murray, the award-winning River Deck Cafe provides a large deck covered in dappled sunlight that makes for the ideal long lunch spot. Here, menus focus on natural, native and local ingredients sourced from regional farmers and producers across Albury Wodonga and surrounds.
Museums, murals and more
1. Albury Wodonga Public Art Trail
Gain a sense of Albury Wodonga’s vibrant arts community while wandering the Public Art Trail. Works range from sculptures and murals to wrapped infrastructure. Be sure to check the council map before you head out, so you don’t miss a thing.
2. Murray Art Museum Albury (MAMA)
Stop into one of the most visited galleries outside of Sydney. (Image: Visit Albury Wodonga)
MAMA forms the heart of art and culture in Albury Wodonga, some may say the entire Murray region. In fact, it’s one of the most visited galleries outside of Sydney. What makes it so lauded? The museum has earned a reputation for curating innovative, original exhibitions from some of the best contemporary Australian and international artists.
3. HotHouse Theatre
Originally built in 1928 as the Butter Factory Theatre, HotHouse Theatre has been a home of performance since 1997. Stop by to see the best of new Australian theatre. Continue to explore unique architecture on the Historic Building Walking Tour of Albury, the perfect way to round out your stay.
