Tag Archives: road trips

Driving holiday along the south coast of New South Wales

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Grand Pacific Drive

Grand Pacific Drive

The November it’s-been-too-long-since-the-summer-holidays blues driving you up the wall? Get in the car and take a short trip with Lee Atkinson, author of Driving Holidays around Australia. Today Lee reveals her tips for driving the south coast of New South Wales.

Southern Highlands and Grand Pacific Drive, New South Wales

Combine mountain and coastal scenery on this drive through the Southern Highlands south of Sydney and along Grand Pacific Drive, a cliff-hugging, breathtakingly scenic coastal route. Most people do the cliff section of the drive heading south, but in the spirit of saving the best to last, and because the views are better heading north, we’ve approached the bridge from the opposite direction.

HOW LONG? An easy day drive from Sydney, or you can make a weekend of it driving through forgotten hinterland valleys and exploring the back roads of the Southern Highlands. For a shorter trip, drive straight to Wollongong via the Sea Cliff Bridge.

WHEN TO GO Any time of year is a good time to do this drive, although the Southern Highlands can be cold in winter: during spring and autumn the Southern Highlands’ parks and gardens are beautiful.

NEED TO KNOW Several sections of this drive are narrow and winding, particularly the drive down Barrengarry Mountain into Kangaroo Valley. If you suffer from travel sickness, take some medication before you set off.

SYDNEY TO BERRY, VIA THE SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS

From Sydney, head south along the Hume Motorway (M31), turn off at Mittagong and wind your way through the highland towns of Bowral and Moss Vale, stopping to browse the galleries, bookshops and antique stores.

From Moss Vale take the Nowra Road up through the mountains to Fitzroy Falls in Morton National Park. Here you can stretch your legs on the short walk to the lookout above the dramatic waterfall that tumbles 82m to the floor of the ravine below. Continuing south, follow the sign to Manning Lookout to enjoy spectacular views over Kangaroo Valley, one of the state’s prettiest valleys.

The road then descends through wild bushland, following a series of twists and turns down Barrengarry Mountain to reach the valley floor, before crossing historic Hampden Bridge. Stop for a swim at Flat Rock, at the end of Upper Kangaroo River Road, or have a picnic on the riverbank near the old hall in the village centre.

It’s not far from here to Berry, home to countless B&Bs, guesthouses, boutiques, antique shops and cafes.

BERRY TO WOLLONGONG

Continue east to hit the coast at Kiama and check out the blowhole in the rocky point below the lighthouse. Wollongong, the third largest city in New South Wales and a major coal, iron and steel producer is, despite all that heavy industry, a very attractive place to spend a night. Explore thehorseshoe-shaped cove of Wollongong Harbour, with its lighthouse, fishing fleet, fish markets and wonderful city beaches. Linger over coffee in one of the many cafes along the foreshore or stockpile some inner harmony at the eight-storey Nan Tien Buddhist Temple – the largest Buddhist temple in the Southern Hemisphere (180 Berkeley Rd, Berkeley; (02) 4272 0600; open Tues–Sun 9am–5pm; www.nantien.org.au).

WOLLONGONG TO SYDNEY, VIA GRAND PACIFIC DRIVE

The Illawarra Escarpment tumbles into the sea just north of Wollongong and marks the beginning of the signposted section of Grand Pacific Drive, as the road follows the coastline north through a succession of seaside suburbs and villages. Grand Pacific Drive crosses the famous Sea Cliff Bridge between Clifton and Coalcliff.

Beyond the bridge, the road climbs through ferny forest above the beach to Stanwell Tops, high on the edge of the escarpment. Paragliders and hang-gliders soar on the thermals rising from the ocean below. On a clear day, you can see as far south as Wollongong and enjoy a great view of the route, over the Sea Cliff Bridge and the beaches beyond.

Soon after Stanwell Tops, Lawrence Hargrave Drive turns west to join the Princes Motorway, which leads north to Sydney, but you should veer off to the right along Lady Wakehurst Drive.

This winding, narrow road will take you through the heart of Royal National Park, the world’s second oldest national park, founded in 1879 (Yellowstone in the United States is seven years older). En route to Sydney’s southern suburb of Waterfall, the road winds through eucalypt forests, over windswept heathland and across low-level river weirs. Sidetracks spear off to beaches and lookouts and there are dozens of great picnic and swimming spots along the way.

Being so close to Sydney, the park is a popular place on sunny weekends, when traffic snarls can be frustrating, but if you can time your drive for a weekday, you’ll pretty much have it to yourself.

     

Top 4 winter road trips

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Sunset, Greg Snell/Tourism Australia

Sunset, Greg Snell/Tourism Australia

Sure, you could spend winter relaxing in front of an open fire, with a good red and a good book – or you could hop in your car and get out on roads that are best explored in winter.

Here are four winter road trips that will warm your car engine and your cockles.

Gibb River Road, Western Australia

Although you can only drive on Gibb River Road in the dry season (generally most of winter), the trip is anything but dry, with river crossings, spectacular waterfalls and gorges.

Gibb River Road starts in Derby and continues for over 600km through the Kimberley to Kununurra, which is the gateway to Bungle Bungles. It’s an epic journey, although maybe not as epic as you think (it’s certainly no Burke and Wills expedition), because some of the road is covered in bitumen and regular maintenance work is carried out in peak season to make sure it stays in good condition.

Having said that, it’s a (mainly) dirt road through one of the most remote areas in Australia, so you’ll earn your adventure badge after completing the drive. And once you get to Kununurra, you still have to work out how to get home.

Stuart Highway, South Australia and Northern Territory

Start in the cold and end in the warmth as you drive the Stuart Highway from Adelaide to Darwin. Unlike many other winter treks, the Stuart Highway is all-vehicle accessible, from a push bike up to the biggest road trains in the country. At over 3000km long, you’ll be glad of the good road conditions by the end of your drive.

So, what will you see if you travel this section of Highway 1? Be prepared for long stretches of similar landscape, spiced up by some of the best roadside attractions in the world, from Karlu Karlu (Devils Marbles) to the thermal springs at Mataranka, to the Red Centre itself (and its centre, Alice Springs).

The Savannah Way, Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia

The Bungle Bungles. Lake Argyle. Katherine Gorge. Bitter Springs. The Lost City. Lawn Hill Gorge. Undara Lava Tubes. Atherton Tablelands. These are only some of the attractions you’ll come across on the whopping 3700km Savannah Way. This is some of the most remote and wild country in Australia, with all the spectacular beauty you’d expect of a route passing through Arnhem Land and the Kimberley.

Connecting Cairns and Broome, the Savannah Way is a series of connecting highways and roads. It’s mainly 2WD-accessible, except for the stretch connecting Queensland to the Northern Territory which is a serious dirt road with river crossings – just what you need to spice up the trip.

Murray River, Victoria

Although not quite as dramatic as the rivers on the Savannah Way, the Murray is the steady brown heart line of the southern states. Starting in the alpine region, it meanders its way along the border of Victoria and New South Wales before crossing into South Australia.

Just like the Murray River, you should take your time enjoying this stretch of country. Start in the booming town of Wodonga or across the river in pretty Albury (the more famous of the twin towns), pass through Rutherglen and sample some famous port before heading portside in Echuca (make sure you take a ride on Echuca’s famous paddlesteamers). Continue your current alongside the river all the way to the major town of Mildura in the north-west of the Victoria.

For more information on road trips, take a look at our Complete Motoring Atlas.

     

Camping along the Stuart Highway

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Devils Marbles camping area Devils Marbles, Raelene Woods

Devils Marbles camping area Devils Marbles, Raelene Woods

If John McDouall Stuart, the great explorer who was the first European to forge a path through Australia’s interior, saw the route from Adelaide to Darwin today, he wouldn’t recognise it.

For one thing, the road is covered in bitumen. And for another, there are some fantastic designated camping areas lining the route – a luxury he wouldn’t have conceived of.

Here are the best places to spend the night along one of Australia’s great drives. 

1. Ranges View rest area

View by name, view by nature – Ranges View rest area has a panoramic view of the surrounding countryside. As it’s only a short drive out of Port Augusta, you probably won’t need to spend the night here.

2. Bon Bon rest area

Around two hours south of famous mining town Coober Pedy, Bon Bon rest area is an opal of an overnight stop, with great facilities and plenty of space space.

3. Ingomar rest area

Good amenities and a great view – and all at the hefty sum of zero dollars a night.

4. Desert Oaks rest area

Desert Oaks rest area is one camping area you can take at face value. The rest area is shaded and has good facilities.

5. Finke River rest area

This rest area is on the banks of the Finke River, a famous river that has its source inthe West MacDonnells.

6. Prowse Gap rest area

The scenery here might not equal that at the previous stop, but it has good facilities and a large space suitable for all sorts of rigs.

7. Devils Marbles camping area

A camping area in close proximity to one of the best rock formations in Australia? No, you haven’t lost your marbles, you’ve found them again at Devils Marbles camping area, with a seriously good view and facilities.

8. Banka Banka Homestead camping area

A large, grassy, shaded, dog-friendly camping area near the highway – yes, please!

9. Twelve Mile Yards camping area

Twelve kilometres off the highway on the banks of the Roper River, you’ll be ropeable if you miss out on a night at this fantastic camping area.

10. Edith Falls camping area

Gorge yourself on the views from Nitmiluk National Park’s famous gorges after spending the night at Edith Falls camping area, next to a waterhole 19 kilometres off the highway.

11. Adelaide River park area

Sometimes simple accommodation is best – how about this large, shaded rest area in Adelaide River?

12. Berry Springs park area

Some stops are worth travelling off the highway for – like this park area near the famous pools at Berry Springs.

 

     

Top 4 autumn road trips

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Indian Ocean Drive, Tourism Western Australia

Indian Ocean Drive, Tourism Western Australia

Autumn in the perfect time to take a road trip. The air is crisp, the leaves are changing (well, at least they are in Bright), the roads aren’t as packed as they are in summer … But the worst thing about taking a road trip in Australia is that there are too many roads to decide between. We’ve selected our four favourite autumn road trips to help you get your planning started.  

1. Rainforest Way, New South Wales

You’ll need the residual warmth of summer in the lush environs of Rainforest Way, as these ancient rainforests will give you the chills – in a good way.

Rainforest Way is in northern New South Wales. Rather than a complete road trip, Rainforest Way is more accurately a series of interconnected detours around the towns of Lismore, Murwillumbah and Nimbin, passing through national parks including Nightcap and Wollumbin. There are seven of the routes all up, and you’ll find some of them across the border in Queensland.

It’s a magical road trip. If not for the charming towns that dot the route, you could almost pretend that you’re exploring a forbidden island, as this heavy rainforest is the sort that inspires talks of pirate hideaways and treasure hunts. 

2. Great Alpine Road, Victoria

Can’t decide whether you’d prefer mountains or the beach? Get the best of both worlds on the Great Alpine Road. If you time this trip properly, you’ll get to see both the stunning seasonal change of colour in Bright, as well as say farewell to summer with a final dip in the ocean on the other side of the mountains in Gippsland.

After driving up the Hume Highway, spend the first night in Bright. This delightful town on the Ovens River is famous for its deciduous trees, which coat the town in red leaves come autumn. Wind your way up into the mountains on the Great Alpine Road. Omeo is only a couple of hours away, but between Bright and Omeo is access to Alpine National Park. This spectacular national park warrants at least a day’s exploration. You can also detour along Bogong Alpine Way, which will add a few hours’ to the trip to Omeo.

Meander out of the mountains towards Bairnsdale. This town is a gateway to the Gippsland Lakes, and from here the lakes are your oyster. Head up to Croajingolong National Park or towards Ninety Mile Beach.

3. Indian Ocean Drive, Western Australia

Those of us on the east coast can sometimes find it hard to admit that the Western Australian coastline rivals our section of the coast. But the west coast is jaw-droppingly gorgeous, which makes it even more surprising that until recently you couldn’t drive all the way along the Coral Coast, as the major road used to be slightly inland. That’s all changed with the opening of the Indian Ocean Drive.

This drive covers a huge section of the coast, from Perth to Exmouth, where you’ll find Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia’s answer to the Great Barrier Reef. But don’t rush the trip up – there’s plenty to see along the way. Highlights include Kalbarri National Park, with its sinuous gorges and dramatic rock structures, Shark Bay Marine Park, the Pinnacles, Cape Range National Park, and the coastal towns that line this route.

4. Valley and Vines Touring Route, Queensland

The parts of Queensland that fall between the coast and the outback often miss out on public attention – which is why you might not have heard of the Valley and Vines touring route. This touring route takes in the Darling Downs, Granite Belt and Scenic Rim regions of Queensland. It’s a scenic journey where you’ll drive by ancient rainforests, artistic communities, old dairy farms, as well as some of the best wineries in Queensland. Start to the south of Brisbane, head towards Warwick, and then loop your way around to the north through the Blackall Ranges and down into the Sunshine Coast.

 

 

     

Ultimate Australian dream trips

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Sunset at Uluru, Tourism NT

Sunset at Uluru, Tourism NT

What trips are on your Australian bucket list? Do you want to climb Big Red on the Birdsville Track in a 4WD? Or do you want to island hop in the Whitsundays in your own boat?

Here are six Australian trips that have captured our imaginations and catapulted to the top of our must-do lists.

Taking time off to travel Highway 1

Want to circumnavigate the world’s largest island, on one of the world’s longest highways, in one epic trip? Look no further than Highway 1.

This highway includes many iconic Australia drives, such as the Nullarbor crossing and the drive down the east coast. This isn’t a drive you should rush, as there’s much to see and do along the route. In fact, you won’t get to see everything even if you take six months the complete it.

But no matter how much time you have, things you must see include the Daintree, Cable Beach in Broome, Kalbarri National Park, the Valley of the Giants, the caves and cliffs of the Nullarbor, the beaches of Jervis Bay, dolphins off Byron Bay and the calm Gippsland lakes.

There are also sections of the road that, while not technically Highway 1, head in the same direction and are much more exciting than the main route. We recommend detouring down the Great Ocean Road in Victoria and also, if you have a 4WD, taking a drive along the Savannah Way in Queensland.

Travel the Development Road to the tip of Australia

You can’t go any further north on mainland Australia than Cape York. After travelling the bumpy and often wild Peninsula Development Road (complete with crocs and river crossings), there’s nothing more satisfying than hopping out of your 4WD and seeing the sign that announces you’ve arrived at the northernmost point of Australia. A 4WD or dirt bike are the only vehicles that can reach the tip.

Once you’ve snapped a few photos, you can stay at Punsand Bay Camping Resort, only 5 kilometres away from the tip, which has campsites lining the beautiful coast.

And after your stay, there’s nothing left to do but turn around and go back the way you came. But not without stopping at a few iconic stops along the road, including Musgrave Roadhouse. Maybe it’s time to head to the southernmost point?

Camp next to Uluru

Everything seems bigger in the centre of Australia, including Uluru. We’ve all heard stories about how big it is, but you can’t truly anticipate the scale of the rock until you’ve seen it in person.

You’ll need a bit of time to take it in, so why not set up tent at Ayers Rock Campground? Once you’ve marvelled at Uluru, keep on looking up – on a clear night in the true outback the sky gives a whole new meaning to the word big.

Spending the night at Uluru will also give you some extra time to explore other natural wonders in the region, including Kata Tjuta. After all, it’s a five hour drive back to Alice Springs, so make the most of your time at what could almost be called the spiritual heart of the country.

Houseboat on the Murray River

Houseboat on the Murray River, Tourism Victoria

Houseboat on the Murray River, Tourism Victoria

If Uluru is the heart of Australia, then the Murray River is one of its arteries. This graceful river stretches from the Australian Alps, along the border between Victoria and New South Wales, before finally ending where the river meets the sea in Goolwa, South Australia.

And the best way to experience the Murray River is on it. You can rent houseboats from many of the towns along the river and all you need is an unrestricted car license to drive a houseboat.

Meander along the river by day and park next to the riverbank at night to experience one of our greatest rivers as never before.

Tackling Overland Track in Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park

Overland Track, Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park

Welcome to the Tasmanian wilderness, an area of unparalleled beauty. Many of the places in the Tasmanian Wilderness Area remain virtually untouched. And the best way to see these places (without leaving much of a trace) is by walking in with everything you need on your back.

The Overland Track is the most famous of these walks. Traversing Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park for 65 kilometres, the walk normally takes around six days. You need to book the walk, as well as the huts along the route, as places are strictly limited. Walking through the ancient landscape, past mountains and valleys and rainforests and lakes (you really do see a lot a scenery), will give you the time to truly appreciate the landscape.

If you want to go on a walk that’s a little bit more wild, both the South Coast and Port Davey tracks trek through the protected wilderness of Southwest National Park, at the bottom of Tasmania. These walks don’t have the facilities of the Overland Track – there are no huts, visitor centre or even boardwalks. Just a lot of hard graft and spectacular nature.

Travel like the Man From Snowy River in Victoria’s High Country

Victoria’s High Country might not be home to the highest peaks in Australia (that honour goes to nearby Kosciuszko National Park, over the border in New South Wales), but it is home to some of the best outdoor adventures you’ll find in the country, including walking, mountain-biking, rafting, fishing, horse-riding and cross-country skiing, if you’re there in the right season.

Bush camping is allowed in most sections of Alpine National Park, so you can camp next to your chosen adventure.