The 11 best spring road trips around Australia

Embrace lengthier days, blooming fields and the annual whale migration with the country’s most-loved spring road trips.

There’s no better time to explore our own backyards than when winter-coddled bodies begin thawing amid rising temperatures. Whether you’re keen to spot the annual humpback migration, combing mountain ranges for blooming wildflower flushes or aching for outdoor adventure sports, spring road trips will often take your breath away – as long as you know where to steer. Here, a handful of our favourites, renowned for their jaw-dropping moments.

1. Bowral to Canberra, NSW to the ACT

Tulip flower festival — The annual Tulip Time Flower festival boasts a spectacular display of tulips. (Image: Destination NSW)

Chase the rainbow to not one but two dazzling spring flower festivals with the two-hour journey from Bowral to Canberra. First up, you’ll spy vivid colour at the Southern Highlands’ Tulip Time Flower Festival , staged for a little over three weeks each year and home to more than 80,000 plantings and a marketplace. Once you’re done, hit the Hume Highway, past Goulburn (but do drop in for a house-baked triple chocolate cookie at Grit Cafe ), before hitting our roundabout capital for the most spectacular green thumb extravaganza of all: Floriade . Expect staggeringly beautiful flowers, live entertainment, sculptures, artworks, and so much more.

2. Avon Valley 500 Loop, WA

Avon Valley hot-air balloon — A hot-air balloon delivers a defining Avon Valley experience. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Stretching roughly 392 kilometres in length, about 30 kilometres east of Perth, the Avon Valley 500 Loop winds through tiny towns and Western Australia’s first national park, the John Forest National Park. But arguably its prettiest highlights (and there are many) are the canola fields found along the Great Southern Highway portion of the trip – otherworldly yellow spreads that intensify at the end of winter and into the first month of spring. Additionally, the heritage town of York, where you should most definitely spend the night, offers antique stores, galleries and stunning architecture.

3. The East Coast, Tas

The Freycinet National Park is known for its wildlife wonders. (Image: Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service)

Ready to see a whale? Drift along the east coast of Tasmania, starting from the beach town of St Helens to like-minded sleepy Swansea before turning into Freycinet National Park for Wineglass Bay, where humpbacks are spotted seeking warmer waters from June to November. If you don’t catch them the day you’re there, don’t despair – the entire easterly coastline is renowned for top-notch whale-watching until November as the majestic giants migrate north and south to breed and birth.

4. The Red Centre Way, NT

While Northern Territory headliners Uluṟu and Kata Tjuṯa National Park pull crowds all year round, the iconic Red Centre Way shines in spring amid blossoming wildflowers. The vivid blooms pop against the region’s famed red dirt, creating some of the most extraordinary scenes on the planet. It’s a mammoth trail, notching up 835 kilometres in total, so it’s common to tackle small portions, like the unsealed Mereenie Loop Tourist Drive.

5. Adelaide to Kangaroo Island, SA

Hit the M2 from Adelaide to Kangaroo Island’s ferry stop in Cape Jervis to experience world-famous wine country before descending on wildlife heaven. You’ll need to turn off the freeway to sample McLaren Vale’s famed drops, but don’t linger too long because Kangaroo Island is just a 45-minute ferry ride off the coast. In spring, the island bursts with wildflowers and orchids while kangaroos, sea lions, baby koalas and joeys are also known to emerge.

6. Kosciuszko Alpine Way, NSW

Lake Jindabyne, Kosciuszko National Park — The Kosciuszko Alpine Way is a 100-km drive. (Image: Destination NSW)

Located within the Snowy Mountains, the Kosciuszko Alpine Way really turns the table on its moniker during the warmer months. The 100-kilometre stretch from Jindabyne to the Victorian border is flanked by wildflowers, making for a scenic trail dotted with activity. Scale Jindy Rock with rock-climbing experts K7 Adventures , skid with the best of them at Thredbo Mountain Bike Park, and uncover historic alpine huts at Geehi Flats, just off the pristine Swampy Plains River.

7. Capricorn Way, Qld

The Capricorn Way road trip through Blackdown Tablelands National Park — The Capricorn Way is calling your name. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

If you’re a foodie, the Capricorn Way is calling your name, particularly at the beginning of September. Encompassing 600 glorious kilometres, the road trip starts in Rockhampton, home to the Capricorn Food and Wine Festival from 4 to 7 September 2025. There you’ll sample the region’s finest seafood, spring produce and arts scene, before you should really keep on trucking to the astonishing limestone tunnel network of Capricorn Caves, secret swimming holes warm enough to bathe in, and a giant Van Gogh ‘Sunflowers’ replica. Your final destination? Barcaldine in the Queensland outback.

8. Silo Art Trail, Vic

A 200-kilometre scenic route through western Victoria, the Silo Art Trail is Australia’s largest outdoor art gallery, dotted with 23 enormous murals created by international street artists. Starting in Rupanyup, the cultural awakening is also littered with wildflowers in spring, crafting an ongoing visual feast unlike any other in the country. You can navigate in two directions, but both visit a string of totally charming rural towns

9. Nullarbor crossing, SA

Car sitting at pit stop along the Nullarbor — Every Australian should cross the Nullarbor at least once. (Image: Mason Kirby & Sarah Parker)

Go big or go home with a bucket list journey across the Nullarbor Plain. Tackle it in spring to spy wildflowers popping out along the grand 1256-kilometre trail, which takes in remote campsites and pubs, gigantic rock formations, spotless beaches and sand dunes, and Australia’s longest and straightest road, the 90 Mile Straight. A journey for the ages, whether you do it in full or take smaller bites.

10. The Great Ocean Road, Vic

Van driving on Great Ocean Road — Spring is arguably the best time to explore the Great Ocean Road. (Image: Tourism Australia/Visit Victoria)

You’ve probably driven its winding routes more than a few times, but spring is arguably the best time to explore the Great Ocean Road. Waterfalls are flowing, wildflowers are blooming, and the mercury sits at just the right point – a rarity in Victoria. Unmissable pit stops include the iconic Twelve Apostles, trendy Lorne and watching the waves at Bells Beach and Torquay.

11. Pacific Coast Way, Qld

Taking advantage of Queensland’s 300-odd days of sunshine per year, the Pacific Coast Way goes from the Gold Coast to Cairns, offering up quintessential Sunshine State experiences. From the Glitter Strip’s glitzy wining and dining scene and one of only two Everglade systems in the world, to more seasonal whale-watching and easy access to the Great Barrier Reef, the 1800-kilometre road trip offers non-stop sunny season thrills.

Make this dazzling stretch of beaches and natural wonders your home base for a grand adventure

Whether you’re setting out solo, bringing a mate, or packing in the whole family, no road trip along Australia’s East Coast is complete without at least a few days spent exploring the Coffs Coast. A stunning stretch of NSW coastline nestled between ancient high-elevation rainforests and magnificent, undiscovered beaches, Coffs offers amazing biodiversity, stunning natural beauty, and heaps of local charm, without the crowds. Pull up in Coffs Harbour , your perfect home base for these unforgettable day-trips.

1. Southern Beaches

The Coffs region boasts 30 of Australia’s most beautiful, unspoiled beaches, directly abutting a dramatic tableau of mountains and rainforests. Drive South of Coffs Harbour to find up-and-coming surf destinations where it’s still possible to catch an empty wave. First up is the picturesque Sawtell village . Wander the famous fig-tree-lined main street packed with laid-back places to eat and drink. Enjoy panoramic views and seasonal whale sightings at Bonville Headland on the Southern end of the beach.

Nearby Bongil Bongil National Park boasts seven kilometres of empty beach, along with hiking and cycling trails through beachfront rainforests – keep an eye out for koalas living in the trees. Boambee Beach and Boambee Creek Reserve are great for families, with shallow waters perfect for kayaking and SUPing, plus an off-leash dog beach.

family eating lunch in sawtell — Experience small-town charm in Sawtell.

2. Orara Valley Tourist Trail

The Orara Valley Tourist Trail has it all: hinterland bushwalks, birdwatching, horse riding, pristine swimming holes and rolling green pastures dotted with dairy farms and historic villages. And it’s only 15 minutes west of Coffs Harbour.

Sample produce at a roadside stall, stop into Coramba Hotel for a quintessential country pub lunch, or try the Idle in Cafe in Nana Glen for coffee and scones. Then spend the afternoon kayaking the Orara River or mountain biking on Mt Coramba. If you’re feeling adventurous, follow the 4WD touring route along the Orara Escarpment in Bindarri National Park , a rugged landscape with dazzling views that winds through untouched eucalypt rainforests and waterfalls.

A family sitting by the Orara Valley Tourist Trail. — Explore the green heart of Coffs.

3. Dorrigo National Park

Enjoy a classic day trip from Coffs to forest bathe in some of the oldest subtropical rainforests in the world at Dorrigo National Park, part of the World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforests. These million-year-old ecosystems promise rare bird sightings, towering strangler figs, and epic walking tracks and picnic spots. Try the 6.6 km Wonga Walk to experience dreamy Crystal Shower Falls (where you can walk behind the falls) and the Skywalk Lookout, which offers spectacular views of the valley and coast. Then stop in Dorrigo town for a homey lunch. It’s worth noting that a section of the road between Ulong and Dorrigo – which dates to the 1880s – is unsealed, adding to the area’s end-of-the-earth allure but making travel difficult in adverse weather conditions. Alternatively, head to Dorrigo via the delightful township of Bellingen .

Three people standing at the SkyWalk lookout. — Wander the Skywalk.

4. Northern Beaches

For another tranquil expanse of sun, sand and surf breaks, head north to Woolgoolga (Tourism Australia’s Best Mainland Beach for 2025. Taste the coffee and local-produce breakfast at one of several cafes, then spot whales during their migration season along the Woolgoolga Whale Trail to the headland. Emerald Beach offers clear blue waters and another headland walk, perfect for taking in views of South Solitary Island, a dramatically rocky-cliffed island with a historic lighthouse. Red Rock, some 40km north of Coffs and named for its striking coastal rock formations, boasts a gorgeous estuary reserve that’s perfect for languorous days spent picnicking, swimming, fishing, and connecting with the relaxed local pace.

Freshly caught seafood by the beach, with sparkling ocean views. — Enjoy fresh seafood overlooking Woolgoolga Beach.

5. Jetty precinct

You could easily spend a whole day exploring the Jetty precinct – from its foreshores to the marina to Muttonbird Island. Start with fresh fish and chips from local institution Coffs Harbour Fisherman’s Co-op , before browsing the popular Harbourside Markets held every Sunday on the foreshores.

Take a scenic walk along the breakwall to Muttonbird Island , a cultural and ecological treasure with panoramic views and rich Gumbaynggirr heritage. The Giidany Miirlarl Education Space shares the island’s ancient stories, or join a guided moonlight tour to see the seasonal return of the muttonbirds.

Back at the Jetty Strip, find a buzzing mix of cafes, bars and restaurants with cuisines from around the world, open from morning until late. Don’t miss The Jetty Pavilion , a favourite for its unique menu blending modern Australian cuisine with vibrant world flavours.

walk to muttonbird island from coffs harbour — Walk the path where land meets sea and sky.

6. Grafton

Head inland from mid-October to early November to catch Grafton’s jacaranda season, when the town’s streets and parks are covered in purple. Even better, time your trip between 24 October and 2 November to attend the famous Jacaranda Festival, with special food items, performances and more. At any time of year, follow the self-guided Grafton Heritage Trail to discover the town’s historic buildings, landmarks and stories. Or get the blood pumping with a trip along the longest mapped white-water trail in Australia – the Clarence Canoe and Kayak Trail. Book a tour with Exodus Adventures .

woman walking through jacaranda trees in grafton — Time your Grafton trip to see the jacarandas in full bloom. (Image: @myclarencevalley)

7. Nambucca

Just south of Coffs Harbour sits Nambucca, the ideal town for a relaxed, coastal day trip. Hire a canoe, kayak or boat to explore over 80 kilometres of waterways stretching from the hinterland to the ocean. For those who prefer to stay on dry land (or double up their adventure for the day), stretch your legs along the V-Wall – a scenic coastal walk along the Nambucca River – dotted with boulders painted by the community, sharing messages, art and local stories. Stop along the way to buy Sydney rock oysters direct from local farmers, or try your own hand at fishing. Before heading back to Coffs, refuel on fresh seafood and wood-fired pizzas at Matilda’s in Nambucca .

a boat zooming through Nambucca Heads — Explore Nambucca’s waterways. (Image: Seen Australia)

Visit coffscoast.com and download the Coffs Coast Explorer App for more daytrips and trails.