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You are here: Home > Travelling Australia > Journeys > Regional Drives

Road Journeys - REGIONAL DRIVES

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Western Australia

South West Corner, WA
A holiday destination known and loved by West Aussies for decades, the beauty of the south-west corner of Western Australia - and Australia - only came to the attention of the rest of the country with the development of the Margaret River wine region in the 1980s. Here there are surf beaches, rocky headlands, forests of giant karri trees, limestone caves, wineries, timber milling towns and farming communities.

South Coast, WA
The coastal region of Western Australia's Great Southern is well known to the people of Western Australia as an area of natural beauty. For many it is their summer playground, with clean beaches, beautiful coastal vistas that extend to the horizon and beyond, and rugged outcrops of granite dotting both the picturseque coastline and the hinterland. Travellers who cross the Nullarbor Plain by road on their way to Perth have the option at Norseman to travel north via Kalgoorlie or south via the South Coast and the towns of Esperance and Albany. Those who opt for the latter are in for a treat as the route takes them through some of the most picturesque coastal areas in southern Australia, before continuing through the south-west and the Margaret River wine region and on to Perth.

Gibb River Road, Kimberley region, WA
A back road from Derby to Wyndham and Kununurra, Gibb River Road gives access to some of the Kimberley region's most spectacular scenery and geographical features. The road has stretches of bitumen but is mainly gravel. It is suitable for two and four wheel drive vehicles when conditions are good, but in rainy or cyclone seasons, four wheel drive is essential.

The Granite Loop, WA
You can experience the striking beauty of massive granite outcrops rising impressively across the landscape of the rolling farmlands in a little visited part of Western Australia - the Wheatbelt. An abundance of natural vegetation around these unique rock formations includes wandoo, salmon gum, dense honey-myrtle and tea tree thickets giving way to flowering granite Kunzea, with their gnarled shapes. The journey is a memorable contrast of picturesque farmlands, rocky granite outcrops, vibrant floral displays stretching into the distance, tranquil picnic spots and a profusion of bird and animal life.

Tasmania

Circumnavigate Tas
The best way to see the essentials of what Tasmania has to offer is to drive around the island's coast, or as close to it as is possible. This route allows easy access to just about anywhere in Tasmania that has a road leading to it without having to go too far off the beaten track, making it ideal for first-time visitors to Tasmania who want to get the overall feel of the place.

Heritage Highway, Tas
The Heritage Highway follows the original inland road from Hobart to Launceston that was pioneered by Tasmania's early European settlers and built by convict road gangs in the 1810s. Aptly named, the Highway passes through some of the most complete and well preserved Georgian era villages in the world today in which the finest examples of colonial architecture and convict craftsmanship in Australia can be seen and appreciated.

The Huon Trail, Tas
No trip to Hobart and Southern Tasmania is complete without a drive along the Huon Trail. Taking in the the fruit growing district of the Huon River valley, Port Huon, Bruny Island and the vast expanse of the D'Entrecasteaux Channel, the Huon Trail incorporates busy towns and sleepy villages, serene boutique farms and World Heritage Wilderness areas accessed by roads that wind through a world of extensive and beautiful valleys and waterways.

Great Western Tiers, Tas
The Great Western Tiers are the northern face of the Tasmanian Central Plateau, which rises up to 1420m above sea level. In the foothills of the Great Western Tiers can be found a wide range of attractions both man made & natural which can be explored on this drive. It can begin from Launceston, Burnie or Devonport, and thus makes an ideal starter for a Tassie holiday for travellers arriving on the car ferry from Melbourne, offering a taste of things to come.

North Eastern Tasmania
A diversity of both inland and coastal scenery, quaint old mining towns and seaside resorts, dense rainforests, waterfalls and high mountain peaks contrasted by a rugged granite coastline awaits travellers on this interesting drive through the north eastern corner of Tasmania. The drive is a loop and can be commenced and completed from any of the following places, or driven in sections between any of those places: Launceston, Scottsdale, St Helens, St Marys, Bicheno, Campbell Town, Evandale.

Gordon River Road, Tas
The 85km Gordon River Road is the major man made intrusion into the South West Tasmania World Heritage Wilderness area, and with the Scott Peak Dam Road is the only road into the region. It is the main means of access to view the dams of the Lake Pedder area, apart from flying over the region. This road gives travellers a rare chance to drive through one of the last remaining pristine wilderness areas in the world. The scenery, regardless of the clouds that sometimes obscure the view, is positively magnificent, with snow-covered mountains ahead and to either side for much of the journey.

Bass Highway, Tas
Upon arrival in Devonport after sailing overnight aboard the Sprit of Tasmania ferry from Melbourne, there's something magic about heading off along the coastal road from Devonport to Burnie and beyond just after sunrise with the road to yourself, and cows grazing on the lush green grass beside the shoreline. It's a great day's drive that will take you all the way to Marrawah on the west coast if you are so inclined, visiting the many coastal towns on Bass Strait along the way.

See also: Discover Tasmania Itineraries

Queensland

Blackall Range, Qld
Australia has more than 20,000 km of coastline but there is just 200km of that vast coastline on escarpments that combine panoramic views of the hills and the sea. 20kms of that special escarpment is in the Blackall Range, in the hinterland of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. The Range, as it is locally known, was created by 200 million years of constant interaction by volcanoes and water which left behind a mass of hills, valleys and waterfalls. In summer the rainy season fills the rivers and creeks making strong powerful waterfalls.

Atherton Tableland, Qld
Inland from Cairns in Queensland's far north, the Atherton Tableland is a blend of the best attractions of the wet tropics and the dry outback charm; a combination of nature and lifestyle at its finest. Among the World Heritage listed rainforests, national parks, mountains, rivers, lakes and waterfalls of the tablelands are some of Australia's richest agricultural lands, cattle country and charming small townships.

The Great Green Way, Qld
The Great Green Way is an area of outstanding natural beauty lying between Townsville and Cairns, Far North Queensland, including two World Heritage listings of the Wet Tropics Rainforests and the Great Barrier Reef. The area has over 25 tropical islands off its coast, over 12 mainland National Parks, and it is the closest mainland access in Queensland to the Outer Barrier Reef.

The Rainforest Coast, Qld
This drive follows the coastal road from Cairns to Cooktown through the only place on the planet where two World Heritage sites, the Wet Tropics of Australia (containing the world's oldest rainforest) and the Great Barrier Reef, converge. The Daintree Rainforest contains the last remnant of the oldest surviving rainforest in the world. The Great Barrier Reef, covering an area bigger than the United Kingdom, Holland and Switzerland, is the largest World Heritage Area in the world. Together they support the richest biological diversity on the planet.

Burnett Inland Highway, Qld
Too many people visit the Burnett/Fraser coast region and fail to explore the hinterland. If you plan to drive to the Burnett/Fraser region from Brisbane, why not drive up the coast and return via the Burnett Country Highway. You'll see the Big Orange at Kingaroy; take part in the Great Australian Pumpkin Roll at the Goomeri Pumpkin Festival (every May), Goomeri; check out the Big Mandarin at Mundubbera, the Citrus Capital of Queensland; have fun at the Peanut Festival (every September) at Kingaroy and visit the largest natural Bunya pine forest in the world in the Bunya Mountains.

Great Bunya Drive, Qld
West of Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, the drive incorporates the magnificent Bunya Mountains, freshwater dams, pastoral homesteads and rural towns dotted throughout the Darling Downs and South Burnett. There are wineries, gourmet cafes, heritage museums and country markets waiting to be explored.
The Bunya Mountains is a mix of moist rainforest, dry rainforest, grasslands, open forests and woodlands and is also home to distinct plant and animal communities, with over 30 rare and threatened species. This natural wonderland was formed about 30 million years ago and shelters the largest stand of ancient bunya pines in the world today.

New South Wales

Volcano Country, NSW/Qld
The Northern Rivers and Gold Coast Hinterland region of Australia is referred to by vulcanologists as the Tweed Volcano Group. It is a reference to the now extinct volcano and associated inland landscape complex around the NSW/Qld state border. The volcano's lava and ash spread covered an area from Byron Bay in the southeast, and Lismore in the southwest, to Mount Tamborine to the north in Qld. The volcano created the magnificent, varied landscape we see today, from towering mountains covered in sub-tropical rainforest, to the gently sloping valleys of the Northern Rivers region.

Southern Highlands and Illawarra Coast, NSW
This drive is perfect for visitors to Sydney who'd like a taste of regional New South wales but don't have a lot of time up their sleeve. The Southern Highlands has long been the perfect weekend escape for jaded Sydneysiders looking to get away and unwind for a while. There is something for everyone - markets, antiques books and speciality shops; quaint historic villages, all surrounded by rolling green hills, rain forest and national parks. The drive returns to Sydney via the picturesque Illawarra coast.

Waterfall Way, NSW
Running between Coffs Harbour on the New South Wales coast and the inland city of Armidale, The Waterfall Way is a 200 kilometre drive along one of the most scenic routes in NSW. Passing through the picturesque New England Tablelands, the drive is a perfect deviation to make on a road trip between Sydney and Brisbane, allowing half the journey to be made on the coast road and half on the New England highway inland.

Old North Road, Hawkesbury Valley, NSW
When travelling from Sydney to the Hunter Valley, it's so easy to put the brain on auto pilot and take the Sydney-Newcastle Freeway (F3). There is a longer (an additional 32 kms), slower, but far more interesting way - it follows the pathway of the pioneer settlers through the Hawkesbury and Macdonald River valleys to Bucketty, then Wollombi and on to Cessnock in the Hunter Valley. Along the way you'll see the workmanship of convict stonemasons who carved Australia's fight cross country highway through the Great Dividing Range.

Corner Country, NSW
The focal point of this corner of the Australian outback is Cameron Corner, where the borders of the states of New South Wales, South Australia and Queensland meet. Here you can hit a golf ball out of NSW, it will fly over part of Qld before landing in SA. This is also where one can celebrate the New Year three times (also in Poeppel Corner and Surveyor Generals Corner), because it's on the corner of three time zones. The roads and tracks in this region are generally earth-formed and corrugated but despite plenty of bulldust, are usually suitable for conventional vehicles with care.

Goldrush Country, Bathurst, NSW
The discovery of gold in the Bathurst region in 1851 marked the beginning of the Australian gold rushes and a radical change in the economic and social fabric of the nation. In 1852 alone, 370,000 immigrants arrived in Australia and the economy of the nation boomed. The miners are long gone, but the settlements they built remain, and today they provide a fascinating gateway through which to experience the nation's colourful past.

Upper Hawkesbury Valley, NSW
Being the third settlement in the colony of New South Wales, The Upper Hawkesbury is full of history and heritage, and as such is an ideal place to visit for those who have an interest in the early days of our nation. During its first 100 years, the colony relied on the Uppper Hawkesbury River for its food. Today, it is steeped in history, with sleepy colonial era villages, Aboriginal habitation sites and convict relics awaiting discovery.

Victoria

The Snowy Valleys Way, Vic/NSW
A great alternative to the boring Hume Highway, this touring route is perfect for travellers between Sydney and Melbourne who have a little time up their sleeve to detour via the Snowy Mountains (it only adds 65 km to the journey). Coming from Melbourne, you take the Beechworth exit and literally head for the hills. The journey takes in the historic goldmining town of Beechworth; through "Man From Snowy River" country (Towong, Corryong), past the Kosciuszko Main Range and the towns of Tumbarumba and Khancoban; dams and power stations of the Snowy Mountains Scheme; the apple growing town of Batlow; before rejoining the highway at Gundagai.

Great Ocean Road, Vic
Recognised as one of the world’s most scenic drives, the Great Ocean Road follows the stunning coastline of Victoria’s south-west. Stretching from Torquay, just south of Geelong, to Allansford, east of Warrnambool, the road winds along cliff tops beside breathtaking headlands, down onto the edge of beaches, across river estuaries and through rainforests, offering ever-changing panoramic views of Bass Strait and the Southern Ocean.

Great Alpine Road, Vic
The Great Alpine Road is Australia’s highest year-round accessible sealed road that winds through Victoria's High Country. It is one of the few roads in Australia that passes through lofty mountains, valleys, forests, rivers, vineyards and farms, giving travellers the opportunity to sample the local food and wine, and fish, cycle, climb or ride along the way.

Grand Ridge Road, Gippsland, Vic
Grand Ridge Road snakes 132km along the ridge of Victoria's Strzelecki Ranges between the Latrobe Valley and South Gippsland. The ever-changing scenery encompasses Mt. Baw Baw to the north, to the green Latrobe Valley and the sandy beaches and blue waters of the Bass Coast and Wilsons Promontory to the south. Along the way are quaint villages, fern forests, rolling pastures, towering mountain ash and forestry plantations.

North eastern Victoria Food & Wine Trail
Victoria's north east is the state's premier region for wine-lovers and foodies. Nestled between the high country's snowfields and the Murray River, this dramatic landscape of mountains, valleys, clean air and clean rivers, is the perfect backdrop for an inspirational food and wine experience. From the wineries of Rutherglen, Milawa, Glenrowan and the King Valley to the canned fruit outlets of Shepparton and all the specialist produce in between, the region is a gourmet lovers' delight.

Upper Goulburn Valley Goldfields, Vic
In the 1860s the mountainous terrain of the Upper Goulburn Valley was invaded by thousands of miners after alluvial gold was first disovered at Raspberry Creek in 1859. Today the Goulburn and Jamieson Rivers are popular for trout fishing, canoeing, 4-wheel driving and gold fossicking in and around the ghost towns and gold mines on and beyond the Yarra Track.

Barry Way/Snowy River Road, NSW/Vic
Anyone who plans to travel between Melbourne and Sydney but wants to go the long way around through the heart of Australia's Alpine Country, Barry Way is the road for you. It is a combination of sealed and unsealed road linking Jindabyne in NSW high country to Lakes Entrance on the Victorian Gippsland Coast. There are some brilliant camping spots on the banks of the Snowy River, the drive is challenging and the alpine scenery awe-inspiring.

South Australia

Flinders Hwy, Eyre Peninsula, SA
A giant triangle of the Australian continent that juts out into the Great Australian Bight, Eyre Peninsula is one of the lesser known regions of Australia. The Flinders Highway, which follows its west coast from Ceduna to Port Lincoln and the tip of the Peninsula, is one of the least travelled highways, yet passes by some of the most unusual and interesting coastal vistas in the country.

Westall Way, Streaky Bay, SA
A short coastal drive, Westall Way is one of the Eyre Peninsula's best kept secrets, a showcase of an amazing variety of landforms and seascapes. Dotted along Westall Way are rugged limestone cliffs, granite boulders covered in golden lichen, secluded granite pools and the ever-present foaming white breakers of the Great Australian Bight. In stark contrast are the huge white Yanerbie sandhills. At Pt. Labbat, visitors are treated to a bird's eye view of Australia's only mainland sea-lion colony.

Copper Belt, SA
When the Industrial Revolution was in full swing in 19th century England, machinery was at a premium and this meant a shortage of metals. Major English, Scottish and Welsh companies turned to South Australia after a rich belt of copper was found. Its exploitation not only satisfied the demands in England, but brought much needed revenue to a colony close to bankruptcy. The legacy of those activities lives on in the former mining towns of Yorke Peninsula and the SA Wheatbelt.