Australia's best summer road trips: Top drives to do in summer

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This was published 7 years ago

Australia's best summer road trips: Top drives to do in summer

By Lee Atkinson
Great South West Edge.

Great South West Edge.Credit: Lee Atkinson

Waterfall Way (NSW)

This sinuous ribbon of road that climbs up and over the Great Dividing Range from Coffs Harbour on the NSW mid-north coast to Armidale via Dorrigo is good all year round, but it's even better in summer as you leave the steamy humidity and coastal holiday hordes behind and wind your way through the rainforest into the cool highlands of the New England Plateau. It lives up to its name, with plenty of waterfalls along the way, which are at their thundering best after summer rains.

How far? Around 200km.

Which car? Drive.com.au recommends a Ford Mustang GT, as it's an iconic cruiser that is at home both cruising the beaches and climbing the mountains. Read the full review here.

More info: coffscoast.com.au/see-and-do/trails-drives/waterfall-way/

Pacific Coast (NSW)

Roadtripping up the east coast from Sydney north to Byron Bay or beyond to the Gold Coast is a classic summertime trip, but battling holiday traffic can be a bore. Put the joy back into the journey and get off highway – go for a paddle in the Great Lakes near Forster, see koalas in Port Macquarie and surf the country's most famous right-hand break at Crescent Head. Snap at selfie at the Big Banana in Coffs (and have a choc-coated frozen banana on a stick while you're there), stretch the legs on a stroll through World Heritage-listed rainforest in Iluka and cool off with another swim at Brunswick Heads. It might take twice as long to get there but it will be much more fun.

How far? Around 775km.

Which car? Drive.com.au recommends Skoda Superb wagon; it's comfortable and quiet on the open road, has a fuel efficient engine, a spacious cabin with a big boot and, unlike an SUV, is low enough to easily access surfboards on the roof. Read the full review here.

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More info: pacificcoast.com.au

Grand Pacific Drive (NSW)

Sea Cliff Bridge that forms part of the Grand Pacific Drive on the scenic Lawrence Hargreave Drive south of Sydney.

Sea Cliff Bridge that forms part of the Grand Pacific Drive on the scenic Lawrence Hargreave Drive south of Sydney.Credit: Dallas Kilponen

There are some roads you drive to get somewhere, and others you drive just for fun, like the sweeping curves of Sea Cliff Bridge, cantilevered 50 metres out to sea, on Grand Pacific Drive. It's a scenic coast-hugging route from Sydney south to Wollongong via the Royal National Park and a string of seaside villages like Austinmer, Thirroul and Bulli, with plenty of places to stop for a swim, gelato or beachside lunch of fish and chips on the way.

How far? Around 70km.

Which car? Drive.com.au recommends the Porsche Boxster; one of the world's best sportscars to enjoy through the bends of the National Park and a brilliant convertible that allows its occupants to be immersed in the environment around them. Read the full review here.

More info: grandpacificdrive.com.au

Great Beach Drive (Qld)

The expansive view from the Great Beach Drive.

The expansive view from the Great Beach Drive.

Grab a hat and a towel, some sunnies and sunscreen, jump in your 4WD and hit the beach on one of Australia's best coastal highways, where the road is just above the water mark on the actual beach. The Great Beach Drive between Noosa and Rainbow Beach and beyond to Fraser Island (via the barge at Inskip Point) is the ultimate summer road trip. Feel like a swim? Pull over wherever you want and dive in, and there's plenty of beachside camping spots along the way too. Just keep an eye on the tides so you don't get swamped.

How far? Around 200km.

Which car? Drive.com.au recommends a Range Rover Sport; it not only fits in with the glamorous Sunshine Coast lifestyle but is extremely capable off the beaten track. Read the full review here.

More info: australiasnaturecoast.com/the-great-beach-drive-sunshine-coast-to-fraser-coast

The Murray (Vic)

Lake Hume near Albury.

Lake Hume near Albury.Credit: Nick Moir

Who says the best beaches have to be by the sea? Go against the summer flow and follow the Murray River as its winds its way between Albury and Mildura and you'll find countless sandy river beaches perfect for splashing about, with none of the coastal crowds. Chill out beside Lake Hume, fish for murray cod, hire a kayak and explore inland lakes, spend a couple of nights on a houseboat, cruise the river on a historic paddlesteamer and dine out in one of Mildura's celebrated restaurants.

How far? Around 620km.

Which car? Drive.com.au recommends Ford Ranger; the dual-cab ute is comfortable, has all the latest safety features and conveniences, can easily tow a boat and is capable of exploring the hidden gems along the river. Read the full review here.

More info: visitthemurray.com.au

Alpine Loop (Vic)

Omeo, Victoria. Great Alpine Road.

Omeo, Victoria. Great Alpine Road.Credit: Tourism Victoria

When it comes to road trips the high country is even better when the snow melts. Loop across the roof of Australia on the Great Alpine Road and Bogong Alpine Way, from Bright to Omeo via Dinner Plain and back via Falls Creek. A highlight is the open-only-in-summer drive to the highest spot in Australia you can reach by car, the top of Mt McKay. The views are sensational and it's the ultimate way to beat the summer heat.

How far? Around 250km.

Which car? Drive.com.au recommends a Mazda MX-5; the world's most popular sports car is an agile little mountain climber and the perfect drop-top to soak in the cooler climate. Read the full review here.

More info: visitwangaratta.com.au/great-alpine-road

Eyre Peninsula (SA)

Eyre Peninsula.

Eyre Peninsula.Credit: South Australia Tourism Commission

Mix together the country's best seafood and a photogenic coastline of practically deserted beaches, throw in some dramatic cliff top scenery and thrilling sand-beneath-the-wheels four-wheel-driving and combine it all with some once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounters, like swimming with wild sea lions or shark cage diving, and you have all the ingredients for the perfect summer time road trip. Even better, the five-hour haul to get to the Eyre Peninsula from Adelaide means it's pretty much crowd free, even in summer.

How far? Around 700km.

Which car? Drive.com.au recommends an equally rugged four-wheel drive like the popular Toyota Prado, which will easily take you to the most remote places on the peninsula. Read the full review here.

More info: exploreeyrepeninsula.com.au

The Great South West Edge (WA)

Winter is rainy in southern WA, so summer time is the best time for a road trip along the coast from Margaret River south to Augusta and then east to Albany and beyond to Esperance. Taste wine and go underground in the caves beneath Margaret River, watch the experts surf some of the country's best waves, visit the new National Anzac Centre in Albany and climb some of the country's tallest trees. You don't need a 4WD to explore the forests and coastline with its dazzling white sand beaches lapped by turquoise seas, but it will get you to some amazing places in the string of wild and remote national parks where nobody else goes.

How far? Around 1130km.

Which car? Drive.com.au recommends a Mazda CX-9; a spacious, comfortable and efficient SUV that can handle the light-duty forest trails of WA's south west. Read the full review here.

More info: australiassouthwest.com

Tassie's Top End

Stanley, Tasmania

Stanley, TasmaniaCredit: Craig Abraham

Nowhere's very far from anywhere in Tasmania, so a coast to coast drive across the top of the island is the perfect summertime trip to do with kids – they'll love the adventure slide into a forest-filled sinkhole at the mis-named Dismal Swamp, zipline adventures at Hollybank, seahorses and platypuses at Beauty Point and the House of Anvers chocolate factory in Latrobe. Other highlights include the boulder-strewn white-sand beaches of the north-east, lavender fields – at their purple best in January – and pretty fishing villages like Stanley with its penguins, seals and famous headland called the Nut. For adults, there's the bonus of some of the state's best cool climate wineries.

How far? Around 500km.

Which car? Drive.com.au recommends the Subaru Levorg, an all-wheel drive station wagon built on the foundations of the WRX pocket rocket, making it perfect to tackle Tassie's twisting roads while spacious enough for the family and luggage. Read the full review here.

More info: www.discovertasmania.com.au

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