Statistics show that about 9.3 million tourists from other countries visited Australia in 2018. This indicates a 5.2% increase from the 8.8 million registered in 2017, and the figures might rise in 2019. There are many reasons why most tourists choose Australia as their travel destination.
Here are some of the amazing routes to take in Australia.
Red Centre Way, NT
Stop for a hike at Kata Tjuta, also known as the Olgas, a group of large, domed rock formations or bornhardts, on your Australia road trip. Image by pen_ash from Pixabay
Lots of things await you in this Australia road trip adventure cutting through the beautiful red desert sands, outback landscapes, towering gorges and waterholes where you can jump in to cool off. This destination is the best way to explore great national icons such as Kata Tjuta, Uluru, West MacDonnell Ranges, and Kings Canyon.
Travelling through Stuart and Lasseter Highways is not just a quick option to arriving at Uluru Kata-Tjuta National Park, it ensures that you don’t get stuck or trapped in a sudden downpour of sand. Besides, your experience becomes better thanks to the area’s native wildlife. Some of the animals you can see include emu, kangaroo, and wallabies.
The West MacDonnell Ranges stretch about 160 km west side of Alice Springs and offer incredible waterholes including Ellery Big Hole, and Redbank George. Hikers can take a walk to the top of the palm-filled crevices and the 100m high sandstone walls at the Majestic King Canyon.
UNESCO recognizes Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park as a World Heritage Site. The award comes as a result of the remarkable and outstanding features present here due to the ongoing geological processes and the area’s rich cultural heritage. Today, more than 400,000 visitors visit this area to get the exceptional experience of nature’s beauty and Aboriginal culture.
Great Ocean Road: Melbourne to Adelaide
Cape Otway Lighthouse won’t be the only lighthouse you see on your Australia road trip, but it is the oldest mainland lighthouse in Australia. Image by Alex Olzheim from Pixabay
The Great Ocean Road weaving alongside the Southern Ocean is among the most scenic coastal drives that Australia offers. A mass of labour featuring over 3000 soldiers helped in building the 243 km road built in honour of the soldiers who died during WW1. The road covers many towns with plenty of beaches nearby such as Castle Cove, Otway National Park, Blanket Bay and more.
The area features limestone towers and the famous surf meccas. There are lots of things to discover here, including the astonishing variety of animals such as kangaroos, platypus, and koalas.
Some of the amazing destinations in this area include Ballarat’s Sovereign Hill, Mount Gambier, The Grampians, Coonawarra Wine Region, Naracoorte Caves, and Victor Harbour. At Victor Harbour, you can spot some penguins, whales, seals, dolphins, and wildlife as you enjoy the beach.
You will also find here the oldest mainland lighthouse in Australia, Cape Otway Lighthouse, enjoy the local delicacies in Port Fairy and head to Narana Aboriginal Culture Center where you will learn about aboriginal life.
East Coast: Cairns to Brisbane
Noose Heads, Australia. Photo by Leio McLaren (@leiomclaren) on Unsplash
A road trip from Cairns to Brisbane is one of the best things you can do in Australia. There is a lot to experience and see on this famous route that’s common to backpackers. The myriad of beaches along Cairns to Brisbane route is another reason why you should choose this route.
Driving next to the coast gives you a chance to enjoy as you get personal with native wildlife in some of the places. Some of the amazing destinations in along this route include Cairns, Townsville, Airlie Beach, Yeppoon, Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, and Noosa.
At Noosa Heads, grab a surfboard and try riding on the waves of the popular Main Beach. Alternatively, you can head to Sunshine Beach that has less crowd, unlike Main Beach. Noosa National Park is another incredible place nearby that you can visit and experience the pockets of rainforest. The park is also home to a variety of birds such as the eastern yellow robin, glossy black cockatoo, eastern ground parrot and more.
Adelaide to Darwin: The Stuart Highway
See a Kangaroo in the wild on your road trip through in Flinders Ranges, Australia. Image by DNAVisuals from Pixabay
Adelaide to Darwin is a classic route featuring several detours leading to various towns and attractions. However, a large percentage of the road trip itinerary happens at the Stuart Highway, named after John McDouall Stuart.
The area between the Northern Territory and South Australia has many landmarks and features that are outstanding. The road distance of more than 3,000 km to cover is vast and can take you up to 10 days. If you can manage the distance, then you have plenty of intriguing parts of Australia to explore in this road drive.
As you head to the Northern Territory, you will witness the different sceneries such as the mountainous Flinders Ranges, to the red rock of the desert. The desert makes the road trip complete as you experience the true Aussie spirit. John McDouall Stuart, alongside his team, is the first person to complete the route running from the wilderness to the north coast 150 years ago.
Here’s are the major stops along the Stuart Highway route starting from Adelaide; Flinders Ranges, Coober Pedy, Uluru, King’s Canyon, West McDonnell Ranges, Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Daly Waters, Mataranka, Katherine, Kakadu National Park and Darwin.
Adelaide to Perth: Southwest Edge
Discover the historic buildings of the city of Coolgardie on your road trip through Western Australia — Photo by alfotokunst on Deposit Photos.
This Australian southern coast route is one of the longest featuring impressive plains that will give you a unique experience of Australia. The route runs through plains such as Nullarbor which spans a wide area, and its environment is one of the harshest in Australia. As you travel through this area, you will hardly see a building or a single soul for 100s of kilometres.
Geographically, Australia’s South West is a unique region comprising of destination of diversity. It entails many contrasting landscapes ranging from rugged granite headlands and the ancient mountain ranges found along the south coast and the towering karri trees and hills found in the Southern Forests. There are many things to experience along the route, and you will need stops in places like Port Augusta, Norseman, Ceduna, and Coolgardie.
Plan Your Road Trip Adventure in Australia
If you have decided to hit the road, then these are some of the best Australia road trips that you should consider. They allow you to see and experience the diverse and attractive scenery that this country offers.
For more information on the Web, see: Welcome to Australia!
However, make sure you have the most detailed carte a gratter that will enable you to track all your travels easily. But with several options on the market, make sure you pick one that best suits your needs.
