Australia’s most loved winter road trips revealed

Emily MurphyBy Emily Murphy
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The data is in, and the most loved drives this winter are…

Winter is fast approaching in Australia, but for road trippers, the cooler season is no reason to stay parked. In fact, it’s the perfect time to hit the open road, with misty mornings, star-filled nights and epic scenery in every direction. But which routes are worth the drive when the temps drop?

A new report by the car insurance experts at ROLLiN’ has crunched the numbers to reveal the most loved winter road trips in Australia. By analysing 22 of the country’s most iconic routes across key data points – including search volume, social media buzz, Google reviews and distance – they’ve ranked the ultimate cold-weather drives that travellers can’t get enough of.

Great Ocean Road coastline in Anglesea
The Great Ocean Road is the most popular winter road trip.

And topping the list? No surprises here: the Great Ocean Road reigns supreme. This Victorian icon racks up 196,600 winter monthly searches, which accounts for nearly 20 per cent of all searches on the route. Its fame extends well beyond Google, with over 33 million TikTok posts and 1.8 million Instagram posts capturing its winding clifftops, seaside towns and the iconic Twelve Apostles. Whether it’s misty mornings or golden hour glow, the Great Ocean Road is a year-round crowd-pleaser – but winter, it seems, is peak time for those in the know.

Great Beach Drive in Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Drive along the beach on the Great Beach Drive. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

In second place is Queensland’s Great Beach Drive – a unique stretch where you can literally drive along the sand. 26 per cent of all interest in this route spikes in the cooler months, proving the novelty of cruising the coastline, dodging the tides and soaking up some sunshine is an all-season thrill. The route also boasts over 622,000 Instagram posts and a strong 4.74-star Google rating.

El Questro Wilderness Park, Gibb River Road
Head to the outback on Gibb River Road. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Rounding out the top three is Western Australia’s Gibb River Road. It racks up a solid 95,400 winter searches, and with 38 per cent of all interest landing in the cooler season, it’s clear the dry, dust-free conditions of winter make this remote red-dirt adventure a bucket-list favourite. Add in a 4.77-star Google rating, and you’ve got a road trip that’s as rugged as it is rewarding.

Aerial overlooking cars driving along Sea Cliff Bridge, Clifton
Drive along the Sea Cliff Bridge on the Grand Pacific Drive. (Image: Destination NSW)

Other standouts on the list include the Red Centre Way in the NT (think starry skies and ochre landscapes), Grand Pacific Drive in NSW (with its iconic Sea Cliff Bridge), the Great Barrier Reef Drive (tropical vibes and ocean views) and Tasmania’s Great Eastern Drive, which, while clocking fewer searches, punches above its weight with a near-perfect 4.79-star Google rating.

Great Barrier Reef Drive in Cairns, Queensland
Take the scenic route on the Great Barrier Reef Drive. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Tasmania’s Western Wilds also deserves a shoutout – while it didn’t crack the top 10 for winter road trips, it holds the crown for the highest-rated road trip in Australia, with an impressive 4.80-star average.

What does it all mean? That winter road tripping in Australia is alive and well. Whether you’re chasing rugged coastlines, remote outback adventures or misty rainforest vibes, there’s a road trip calling your name. And with fewer crowds, crisper air and the chance to spot wildlife like migrating whales or desert wildflowers, winter could just be the best time to pack the car and hit the road.

Emily Murphy
Emily Murphy is Australian Traveller's Email & Social Editor, and in her time at the company she has been instrumental in shaping its social media and email presence, and crafting compelling narratives that inspire others to explore Australia's vast landscapes. Her previous role was a journalist at Prime Creative Media and before that she was freelancing in publishing, content creation and digital marketing. When she's not creating scroll-stopping travel content, Em is a devoted 'bun mum' and enjoys spending her spare time by the sea, reading, binge-watching a good TV show and exploring Sydney's vibrant dining scene. Next on her Aussie travel wish list? Tasmania and The Kimberley.
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How a $1 deal saved Bendigo’s historic tramways

    Megan ArkinstallBy Megan Arkinstall
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    The passionate community that saved Bendigo Tramways has kept the story of this city alive for generations.

    It was an absolute steal: a fleet of 23 trams for just $1. But such a fortunate purchase didn’t happen easily. It was 1972 when the Bendigo Trust handed over a single buck for the city’s historic collection of battery, steam and electric trams, which had transported locals since 1890.

    inside the historic Bendigo Tram
    Bendigo Tramways is a historic transport line turned tourist service. (Image: Bendigo Heritage)

    The city’s tram network had been declared defunct since 1970 due to post-war shortages in materials to upkeep the trams and declining passenger numbers as motor vehicles were increasing. However, determined locals would not hear of their beloved trams being sold off around the world.

    The Bendigo Trust was enlisted to preserve this heritage, by converting the trams into a tourist service. The Victorian government approved a trial, however news spread that the Australian Electric Tramways Museum in Adelaide had acquired one of the streetcars for its collection.

    a tram heading to Quarry Hill in 1957
    A tram on its way to Quarry Hill in 1957. (Image: Bendigo Heritage)

    An impassioned group rallied together to make this physically impossible. Breaking into the tram sheds, they welded iron pipes to the rails, removed carbon brushes from the motors, and formed a blockade at the depot. The community response was extraordinary, and a $1 deal was sealed.

    A new chapter for the city’s fleet

    the old Tramways Depot and Workshop
    The old Tramways Depot and Workshop is one of the stops on the hop-on, hop-off service. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    Today, Bendigo Tramways welcomes some 40,000 passengers annually, operating as a hop-on, hop-off touring service aboard the restored trams. Fifteen of the now 45-strong fleet are dubbed ‘Talking Trams’ because of the taped commentary that is played along the route. The trams loop between Central Deborah Gold Mine and the Bendigo Joss House Temple, which has been a place of Chinese worship since 1871, via other sites including the old Tramways Depot and Workshop.

    a Gold Mine Bendigo Tram
    The fleet comprises 45 trams that have been restored. (Image: Visit Victoria/Robert Blackburn)

    Keeping things interesting, throughout the year visitors can step aboard different themed trams. Tram No. 302 becomes the Yarn Bomb Tram, decorated both inside and out with colourful crochet by an anonymous group of locals.

    During the festive season, Tram No. 15 operates as a tinsel-festooned Santa Tram, and the big man himself hides out somewhere along the route for excited children to find. And on selected dates, the adults-only Groove Tram runs nighttime tours of the city, accompanied by local musicians playing live tunes and a pop-up bar.

    the historic post office turned visitor centre in Bendigo
    Visitors can hop on and off to see the city’s sites such as the historic post office turned visitor centre. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    As well as preserving the city’s history, however, the continuation of the tram service has kept the skills of tram building and craftsmanship alive in a practical sense. Bendigo’s Heritage Rail Workshop is world-renowned for restoring heritage trams and repurposing vehicles in creative ways.

    Locally, for example, Tram No. 918 was transformed into the Dja Dja Wurrung Tram with original Aboriginal artworks by emerging artist Natasha Carter, with special commentary and music that shares the stories and traditions of Bendigo’s first people. You can’t put a price on preserving history. Nonetheless, it was a dollar very well spent.