An Australian road trip is one of the best ways to experience its vast landscapes and stunning scenery. From the dramatic cliffs and coastal views of the Great Ocean Road to the sun-drenched beaches, tropical islands, and rainforests along the East Coast Australia road trip route from Sydney to Cairns, getting behind the wheel lets you uncover sights and experiences you might otherwise miss. We’ve hand-selected the very best itineraries for you to choose from, including some of the best road trips in Australia.
With vast distances between cities, beaches, and natural wonders, exploring Australia by car gives you the freedom to stop wherever you like, take little detours, or see sights along the way that you might otherwise miss, from a special view, a hidden waterfall, or a great coffee stop in a small village en route.
From the dramatic cliffs, rainforest-covered hills, and winding coastal roads of a Great Ocean Road trip, past the Twelve Apostles and pretty seaside towns, to the sun-soaked beaches, turquoise waters, tropical islands, and rainforests along the East Coast from Sydney to Cairns, there is an incredible variety of landscapes to explore. Along the way, you can visit vibrant cities like Brisbane and the Gold Coast, discover the Whitsundays, and experience the world-famous Great Barrier Reef.
And the great thing about driving in Australia? They drive on the left-hand side, traffic is often much lighter than at home in the UK outside the major cities, and the roads are generally smooth and well-maintained – it’s a win-win!
An Australian road trip promises a true bucket list adventure with must-see sights, incredible experiences, and a holiday that you will never, ever forget. Whether you choose the Western Australia road trip for rugged outback scenery or opt for tropical beaches, you’re guaranteed an unforgettable journey.
Australia offers some incredible routes that showcase its diverse landscapes. Some of the best road trips in Australia include the Great Ocean Road trip, famous for its dramatic coastal scenery. An East Coast of Australia road trip from Sydney to Cairns is perfect for beaches and rainforests, while a Western Australia road trip from Perth to Broome delivers rugged outback beauty and pristine coastline.
The ideal time depends on your chosen route. The East Coast of Australia road trip is great year-round thanks to its warm climate. For a Western Australia road trip, April to October offers cooler, dry weather, perfect for exploring. A Great Ocean Road trip is best in summer (so our winter) for sunny coastal views and vibrant seaside towns.
For more inspiration, why not explore a few more of our popular road trips…
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Good communication, prompt service, love the way the quote is laid out all details are included also with the option of upgrading your hotel. So far so good.
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Kadie delivers with professional, empathetic and prompt efficiency. She always goes that extra mile, making us feel confident and reassured as oldies with our travelling plans.
Emily was very helpful she gave me different options till I got the right holiday for me abd my family.
Great value and Emily the consultant was both knowledgeable and efficient . Will definately use this Company again
Kadie went over and above and it wasnt her working day she responded to evey email .It was really easy and communication has bern great so far
Having made enquiries about a year ago for a Greek trip we had to put trip on hold. Recenetly we were in avposiitionto book and e shores had held pur original itinerary and were able to update it swiftly. Rob and Cath Pusey excellent
Booked a holiday to Canada with e-Shores. From the first moment we spoke to Hannah, I felt confident that we would achieve the type of holiday we wanted. Hannnah was invaluable in putting together an itinerary that will take us to all the places we want to visit and nothing was too much trouble for…
It is the third holiday we have booked through Claire Smith at e-shores. We give her a budget, wish to fly in or out of different airports, discuss itinerary/journeys to be booked, often by train or ferry, airport transfers, any excursions. She takes time to get to know you and the types of accommodation you…
Third trip booked with Michelle.Excellent service. Lots of patience to get our perfect trip and at a great price.
Booked tours with eshores a few times Andy goes out of his way to plan everything flights hotels transfers everything always done to perfection highly recommend
Great advice & knowledge given by Andy. Nothing to much trouble and we have now planned our perfect 17 nights in Thailand
Wouldn’t do long haul without them now. Hannah is fabulous & always goes above & beyond for me . When there’s a problem . She gets us there . Always peace of mind she’s at the end of the phone . Thank you x
Fabulous Michelle is extremely helpful and very knowledgeable. Have booked several trips with eshores now and always had a fantastic time.
We always use Kadie. She is unbelievably knowledgeable and helpful. Wouldn’t book with anyone else
We have used eShores on 5-6 occasions, and our main contact Nick Chadwick is excellent- easy to deal with very knowledgeable and will get the best deal. The organising of taxis in sometimes difficult countries between airports and hotels is very comforting- great service. thank you
Rachel was absolutely amazing from start to finish. She gave us excellent advice when choosing our destination and was incredibly helpful throughout the whole booking process. She was very patient and accommodating, especially when we decided to change our destination and amend our booking. Rachel listened to what we wanted and went above and beyond…
Have used eshores for over 12 years for bespoke holidays and can honestly say every single holiday has been faultless.. we have had the pleasure of assistance from Emma since 2014 and will continue to use them for our holiday needs.. Emma has recently just booked us flights and a car to Florida as we…
Have used EShores on 6 major holiday trips since 2023 and wouldn’t dream of using anyone else. Our travel consultant (Emma) is amazing. Nothing is too much trouble to her and she is a pleasure to deal with.