7 Australian road trips everyone should take

• Total distance: 977km (11 hours)
• Route: Sydney to Brisbane via Hunter Valley
• Highlights: Hunter Valley, Port Stephens, Port Macquarie, Coffs Coast, Byron Bay.
• Best time to drive: Spring and summer to catch the best of the beach weather.
• Things to do: cheese, wine and fudge tasting in the Hunter Valley, Whale watching in Coffs Harbour, practise your surfing skills in Byron Bay or visit the Byron Bay Hinterland.
• Stay at:Big Windmill Corporate and Family Motel in Coffs Harbour.
• Eat at: Hunters Quarter or Baume in Cessnock and BayGer or Byron Bay Brewery in Byron Bay.

• View a full Sydney to Brisbane itinerary

  Day	Itinerary
  Day 1 Distance: 245km Drive time: 3 hours, 20 minutes	Sydney to Coffs Harbour Drive north along the M1 past Newcastle to Polkolbin and Cessnock. Spend the afternoon savouring the local produce and drink. A cheese, wine and fudge tasting tour is a great option for a quick sample. Continue north to Port Maquarie where you can swing by the Koala Hospital to meet the darling creatures, hike up to Tacking Point Lighthouse or wander through the Sea Acres Rainforest Centre. Finish your day off in Coffs, catching the famous Big Banana and checking out the Forest Sky Pier. If the season is right you might even be able to do a spot of whale watching. Stay the night at Big Windmill Corporate and Family Motel
  Day 2 Distance: 382km Drive time: 4.5 hours	Coffs Harbour to Brisbane Head to Byron bright and early to check out the Byron Bay Lighthouse, practise your surfing skills, kayak with dolphins or visit the Hinterland. Then, zip up to the Gold Coast where you can laze on the beach or hit up its top attractions. This includes a sightseeing cruise or a theme park. Drive the last stretch of road onto Brisbane.

Discover more NSW road trips

• Total distance: 366km (5 hours and 45 minutes)
• Route: Melbourne to Allansford via the Great Ocean Road
• Highlights: Bells Beach, Teddys Lookout (Lorne), Cape Otway Lightstation, Twelve Apostles, The Grotto and Lord Ard. Read our full list.
• Best time to drive: Winter allows you to avoid the crowds and potentially spot migrating whales.
• Things to do: Learn to surf along the Great Ocean Road or skydive over the famous road trip.
• Stay at: Apollo Bay Waterfront Motor Inn.
• Eat at: Ipsos Restaurant and Bar in Lorne and alexo Pizza & Bistro in Port Fairy.

• View a full Great Ocean Road itinerary

  Day	Itinerary
  Day 1 Distance: 195km Drive time: 3 hours	Melbourne to Apollo Bay From Melbourne take the M1 to Geelong then connect onto the B100 (aka the Great Ocean Road) to Torquay Pop by Torquay or Bells Beach to smell the sand in your hair and get into the water. They're both ideal spots for surfing. Drive down to Lorne and hike to Teddy's Lookout for incredible ocean views. Grab a bite to eat and walk down Lorne Pier. Make your way to Apollo Bay for dinner and a rest at Apollo Bay Waterfront Motor Inn.
  Day 2 Distance: 148km Drive time: 2 hours	Apollo Bay to Allansford Head to Cape Otway where you can choose between rainforest walks or a side trip down to Cape Otway Lightstation. It's the state's oldest working lighthouse. Have a scone and tea at the cafe at Cape Otway Lightstation before shooting off to the Twelve Apostles. Walk down the Gibson Steps to see some of the apostles from the ground up. Call in at Lord Ard Gorge for a photo opp and another beach wander then head to Port Campbell and Timboon for lunch. Follow your nose around the area to have cheese at Timboon Cheesery and dessert at Timboon Fine Ice Cream. Complete the drive, stopping at London Bridge, The Grotto and Bay of Islands before finishing up in Allansford.

Discover more Victoria road trips

• Total distance: 982km (13.5 hours)
• Route: Hobart to Freycinet to Cradle Mountain to Hobart (anti-clockwise roundtrip)
• Highlights: Port Arthur, Wineglass Bay, St Clair National Park, Launceston/Tamar Valley, Cradle Mountain. See here for a full list.
• Best time to drive: December to March. This is summer however Tasmania never gets too hot so it's comfortable for a drive around the island.
• Things to do: Tour the Port Arthur Historic Site, go on a guided kayak through the Freycinet Peninsula, wine tasting in Tamar Valley and pay a visit to Tasmania devils at the Devils at Cradle Sanctuary.
• Stay at: Freycinet Lodge and Discovery Parks Cradle Mountain.
• Eat at: Lucky Ducks in Port Arthur, Samuel Pepys Cafe in Tamar Valley and Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge Tavern Bar & Bistro in Cradle Mountain.

• View a full itinerary for a Tasmania self drive

  Day	Itinerary
  Day 1 Distance: 309km Drive time: 4.5 hours	Hobart to Port Arthur to Coles Bay Head east to Port Arthur. On the way stop at the lookout over Pirates Bay. At Port Arthur explore the Port Arthur Historic Site, including the convict prison. Sto in Orford or Thumbs Lookout for a short break. Just outside of Swansea, visit Kate's Berry Farm for a snack and Spiky Bridge, which was built by convicts in the 1800s. Continue to Coles Bay and stay the night at Freycinet Lodge.
  Day 2 Distance: 487km Drive time: 7.5 hours	Coles Bay to Launceston to Cradle Mountain Start early and take in the views of the Hazards and Wineglass Bay before driving to Bay of Fires, a photographer's paradise. Head on to Launceston. If travelling in December or January stop by Bridestowe Lavender Farm en route to see the flowers in full bloom. Otherwise visit Tamar Valley for lunch. It's just outside of Launceston and renowned for its fresh produce and wines. Continue onwards to Cradle Mountain. In the afternoon, get your dose of nature with a hike to Marions Lookout or a walk on the Dove Lake Circuit. At night you can go wildlife spotting after dark. Otherwise, visit the Devils at Cradle Sanctuary at your leisure. Spend the night in Discovery Parks Cradle Mountain.
  Day 3 Distance: 347km Drive time: 5 hours	Cradle Mountain to Hobart via London Lakes Take the scenic route back to Hobart via the heart of the island. The landscape is a mix of mountain, lakes and lagoons and is extremely serene and off the beaten track. Stop by London Lakes if you're into fishing and pop by Tarraleah Falls to be awed by nature.

Discover more Tasmania road trips

• Total distance: 487km (6 hours 40 minutes)
• Route: Cape Tribulation to Townsville via Cairns
• Highlights: Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Forest, Hinchinbrook Island, Mission Beach. See here for a full list.
• Best time to drive: April to September as the weather is cool and dry.
• Things to do: Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef, skydive over Mission Beach and Explore Townsville and Magnetic Island.
• Stay at: Cairns Harbour Lights.
• Eat at: Cairns Burger Cafe in Cairns and JAM in Townsville.

• View a full Cape Tribulation to Townsville itinerary

  Day	Itinerary
  Day 1 Distance: 152km Drive time: 2 hours 50 minnutes	Cape Tribulation to Cairns Drive from Cape Tribulation to the Daintree. A popular entrance is via the Lower Daintree past Wonga, which leads you to Daintree Village and the tourist information centre. Activities here include ferry rides, Aboriginal culture experiences, massage spa treatments and a handful of short walks. Swing by Mossman Gorge, home to large granite boulders before cruising down the coastline, stuck between the forests of Kuranda and the ocean - in the very best of ways. Pop by Trinity, Clifton and Palm Cove beach for soft sand, palm trees, promenades and friendly folk. Just outside of Cairns, take the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway above the canopy and test out a short hike at the summit. End your day snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef before calling it a night at Cairns Harbour Lights.
  Day 2 Distance: 350km Drive time: 4 hours, 10 minutes	Cairns to Townsville Start your day fresh in the waters of Cairns. You may even like to go as far out as the Great Barrier Reef. On your way to Townsville swing by Eubenangee Swamp National Park with its wetlands, waterbirds and the chance to spot a crocodile. Further south, thrillseekers can land on Mission Beach from the air by booking a skydive. Aternatively use this time to sit under the palm trees with a coconut in hand or to explore Paronella Park with its verdant ferns and Spanish-style structures. If the rugged, cloud covered mountains of Hinchinbrook Island are on your bucket list, park in Cardwell to take a boat over to explore this mighty feat of nature. Make your next stop Paluma State Forest. Choose between the northern section with its gushing Jourama Falls or its south where you can hike to the top of Mount Spec. At nearly 1,000 metres it's the highest peak in the region and has views to match. Spend the last of the daylight driving to Townsville. If you're sticking around for another day, we suggest spending it exploring the town and its neighbouring Magnetic Island.

Discover more Queensland road trips

• Total distance: 3,119km (1 day, 10 hours)
• Route: Perth to Broome
• Highlights: Monkey Mia, Ningaloo Reef, the Pinnacles, Cape Range National Park and Carnarvon
• Best time to drive: Winter and spring provide cool and dry weather conditions for sightseeing.
• Things to do: Lancelin 4WD and sandboarding adventure, scenic flight to Monkey Mia with dolphin encounter from Kalbarri and a tour of Windjana Gorge and Tunnel Creek in Broome.
• Stay at: Sails Geraldton Accommodation in Geraldton, RAC Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort in Monkey Mia, Ningaloo Lighthouse Holiday Park in Exmouth and Hospitality Port Headland in Port Hedland.
• Eat at: Cafe Fleur in Geraldton, The Old Pearler Restaurant in Denham, Ningaloo Bakehouse & Cafe in Exmouth and Hedland Harbour Cafe in Port Hedland.

• View a full itinerary for a Coral Coast drive

  Day	Itinerary
  Day 1 Distance: 420km Drive time: 4.5 hours	Perth to Geraldton Get on State Route 60 bound for Lancelin Hit the sands at Lancelin surfing the grains on a sandboarding adventure Keep north to the Pinnacles, ancient rock pillars that somewhat resemble shards of glass stuck in the desert. They can be as tall as 3.5 metres. Spend your afternoon in Geraldton where water babies can go windsurfing and landlubbers can visit museums and lighthouses. Stay at Sails Geraldton Accommodation in Geraldton.
  Day 2 Distance: 433km Drive time: 4.5 hours	Geraldton to Monkey Mia/Denham Get on the National Route 1 turning off on Hamelin Pool to Denham and Monkey Mia Surround yourself with the beauty of Francois Peron National Park and the general Shark Bay World Heritage Area Explore the waters of Shell Beach, meet the local bottlenose dolphins and go on an Aboriginal tour to learn more about the area. With time you can also hop on a cruise to Dirk Hartog Island which offers snorkelling, diving and hiking. Stay at RAC Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort in Monkey Mia.
  Day 3 Distance: 708km Drive time: 7 hours, 11 minutes	Monkey Mia to Exmouth Next up is Ningaloo and Coral Bay. It's here you'll find yourself swimming with whale shark. These friendly giants are appear in mid-March to the end of July. Moments away is Cape Range National Park where rocky gorges meet crashing waters. It's also home to a horseshoe bend which makes for quite a pretty picture. Tuck in for the night at Ningaloo Lighthouse Holiday Park in Exmouth
  Day 4 Distance: 771km Drive time: 8 hours	Exmouth to Port Hedland If you're feeling like a long drive you can make it all the way to Broome today, but that will be 14 hours on the road so we'd recommend breaking the trip up over two days. To start, fill up in Exmouth and before you leave take a snap of the Giant Prawn. Travel along National Route 1 then turn off onto the 136 to Karijini National Park. This fabulous outback outpost is all ocre gorges, green eyed pools and majestic waterfalls. It's also the second largest national park in the state. A road takes your right through the middle of it but it's worth stopping for a wander to enchant yourself by its beauty. Outside the park connect to the 95 bound for Port Hedland. Stay at Hospitality Port Headland in Port Hedland
  Day 5 Distance: 604km Drive time: 6 hours	Port Hedland to Broome Continue on the National Highway 1 Eighty Mile Beach is one of the points of the map you can't miss. It's literally that: 80 miles of beach. Swimming is a no due to its shark invested waters but it's a popular fishing spot if you've brought your rod. Call it a day in Broome where you can visit Windjana Gorge and Tunnel Creek or go camel riding on Cable Beach.

Discover more Western Australia road trips

• Total distance: 2,383km (1 day and 30 minutes)
• Route: Darwin to Uluru via Alice Springs
• Highlights: Uluru, the Olgas, King's Canyon and Kakadu National Park.
• Best time to drive: Winter is best for the outback as the weather is cool. However, it's also prime time for travellers due to the comfortable temperatures.
• Things to do: Spend the day on an Uluru Tour with Sunset BBQ and Bubbles, catch the sun as it sets by camel ride and tour Alice Springs with a local guide.
• Stay at: Knotts Crossing Resort in Katherine, Desert Palms Alice Springs in Alice Springs, Kings Canyon Resort in Kings Canyon and Outback Pioneer Hotel.
• Eat at: Jabiru Sports and Social Club in Kakadu and Kalata Academy Cafe in Uluru.

• View a full itinerary for the Stuart Highway Drive

  Day	Itinerary
  Day 1 Distance: 151km Drive time: 1 hour 40 minutes	Darwin to Kakadu National Park to Katherine Take the State Route 36/Arnhem Highway east to Kakadu National Park. Spend the morning hiking the trails, spying waterbirds in the wetlands, scaling escarpments and touring the rivers by cruise. Continue south to Nitmiluk National Park famous for being the home of Katherine Gorge whose craggy walls and reflective waters need to be seen to be beleived. Stay the night in Knotts Crossing Resort
  Days 2-3 Distance: 328km Drive time: 12 hours	Katherine to Alice Springs Gear up for a long one as you fly down the Stuart Highway, also known as the National Highway 87, bound for Alice Springs. The road is sprinkled with rural towns to things interesting. Of note, Daly Waters Pub is a colourful spot renowned for serving Qantas passengers in 1934 when the town became home to the first international runway and airport in Australia. It sits on an old droving track. Tennant Creek has gold mining and Aboriginal history in spades. Spend a bit exploring the stone buildings that used to be the Telegraph Station way back when it hooked up to the Overland Telegraph Line in the late 1800s. If you're breaking this one up across two days, Tennant Creek is a good halfway point and Goldfields Hotel Motel has decent ratings. If you have enough drivers and wish to power through then head straight to Desert Palms Alice Springs for a well deserved rest.
  Day 4 Distance: 328km Drive time: 3 hours, 40 minutes	Alice Springs to Kings Canyon Drive along National Highway 87 then turn off onto State Route 3 to get to Kings Canyon. This iconic spot is a rocky outcrop of sandstone walls. It's hikeable rim takes 3-4 hours and serves up spectacular outback and bush scenery. For movie buffs, its Priscilla's Crack was made famous in the movie Priscilla Queen of the Desert. For everyone else, we recommend taking the stairs down to the Garden of Eden, a welcome respite from the heat that reads like a mini oasis with greenery and a watering hole. Spend the evening dining under the stars at Kings Canyon Resort before calling it a night.
  Day 5 Distance: 324km Drive time: 3.5 hours	Kings Canyon to Uluru Get back onto State Route 3 and then turn off onto State Route 4 to Yulara and Uluru. Check into your accommodation at Yulara for a spill then drive into Uluru for your day of exploration. Walk, segwey or cycle around the base of Uluru then make your way to the Olgas for a second hike through the bush. In the evening, choose between an Uluru Tour with Sunset BBQ and Bubbles or a sunset camel ride. Whatever you do, catching the light as it fades over the rock is a must. Stay at Outback Pioneer Hotel.