Driving the Barrier Highway is a truly outstanding adventure

Driving the Barrier Highway is a truly outstanding adventure

Australia, oceania

Length

1.014 km

Elevation

N/A

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, buckle up for the Barrier Highway – an epic Aussie adventure connecting New South Wales and South Australia! This isn't just a drive; it's a proper outback experience.

Stretching a hefty 1,014 km (630 miles), this legendary road links Nyngan (where it meets the Mitchell Highway) to Gawler (connecting with the Stuart Highway). Named after the rugged Barrier Ranges, this route serves up classic Aussie landscapes.

FYI, you'll be sharing the road with Road Trains, those mega-trucks that are a sight to behold. The weather can throw extremes at you – scorching summers and surprisingly chilly winters – so pack accordingly. The good news is, it's all paved since 1972, so no need for a 4WD. Any car can handle it!

But here's the thing: this is remote Australia. Animals love to roam on the road, especially at night. Seriously, avoid driving after dark to dodge kangaroos, emus, and whatever else might hop out. Also, mobile coverage can be patchy.

Planning is key. You're cruising through some seriously isolated spots, so map out your fuel stops and stock up on supplies – especially if you're tackling the whole highway. Get ready for some vast, sparsely populated landscapes, and a real taste of the outback.

Where is it?

Driving the Barrier Highway is a truly outstanding adventure is located in Australia (oceania). Coordinates: -24.3864, 127.9422

Share this road

Road Details

Country
Australia
Continent
oceania
Length
1.014 km
Difficulty
hard
Coordinates
-24.3864, 127.9422

Related Roads in oceania

The road to Wards Pass is closed due to snowfalls for long periodsmoderate

The road to Wards Pass is closed due to snowfalls for long periods

🇳🇿 New Zealand

Okay, adventure-seekers, let's talk about Wards Pass! Nestled in the northern part of New Zealand's South Island, this mountain pass sits pretty high at 1,145 meters (3,757 feet). You'll find it snuggled between the upper Acheron and Awatere River valleys. Now, fair warning: the road to the top—Acheron Road, taking you from Blenheim to Hanmer Springs—is completely unpaved. Think gravel, and sometimes loose gravel, especially on the edges, so keep that in mind! Before you set off, double-check with your rental company that you're good to drive here. Most 2WD and AWD cars with decent clearance should be fine. But leave the caravans, buses, and anything over 7 meters long at home. Towing a trailer? You'll need a permit, so get that sorted first. High up in the Rachel Range, part of the Inland Kaikoura Ranges, this road is open during the summer season, usually from 7 am to 7 pm, from October 1st through Easter Monday or the second Sunday in April (whichever is later). Get ready for some amazing scenery!

Why Was The Zigzag Considered Dangerous?extreme

Why Was The Zigzag Considered Dangerous?

🇳🇿 New Zealand

Okay, picture this: you're smack-dab in the middle of New Zealand's South Island, cruising through Arthurs Pass National Park. Epic, right? You're on State Highway 73, but forget the boring highway part – this is an adventure! Now, let's talk about a former white-knuckle section nicknamed "The Zigzag." This part of the road used to climb a steep section on a constantly shifting scree slope. Imagine trying to maintain a road that’s always being eaten away by erosion, flooding, and landslides! This crazy section kept sliding down the mountainside! Over time, the road was moved almost 215 feet back up the slope! Driving The Zigzag was gnarly. The steep incline meant you were practically crawling, and the constant threat of rocks tumbling down made it an adrenaline rush (maybe a bit too much of one!). It got so bad they eventually had to ditch it because the risk was just too high. Thankfully, engineers came to the rescue! They built the awesome Ōtira Viaduct to bypass The Zigzag's treacherous slopes. This viaduct offers a much safer and smoother ride through Arthurs Pass. You still get the stunning scenery, but without the nail-biting danger of the old Zigzag! You'll still experience the beauty of the West Coast Road, but now you can relax and enjoy the ride.

The Ultimate Guide to Traveling the Lake Ohau Roadmoderate

The Ultimate Guide to Traveling the Lake Ohau Road

🇳🇿 New Zealand

Okay, picture this: you're cruising through New Zealand's Mackenzie High Country, not far from the epic Mt Cook. You're on the Lake Ohau Road, and trust me, it's a stunner. This road is about 40 km (25 miles) of pure scenic bliss around Lake Ohau. You'll start on smooth asphalt for about 23 km heading north from the Twizel-Omarama Road, but then it gets a little more adventurous as it turns to gravel. Don't worry, it's all part of the fun as you hug the shores of this gorgeous glacial lake! Seriously, the views are insane. You're basically nestled amongst these gigantic mountains in the Southern Alps. Lake Ohau itself sits pretty between the Ohau Range and the Ben Ohau Range. It’s a drive you won't forget.

Forgotten World Highwaymoderate

Forgotten World Highway

🇳🇿 New Zealand

# The Forgotten World Highway: New Zealand's Best-Kept Secret Want to experience New Zealand like it's stuck in a time warp? State Highway 43 is your ticket. This 150-kilometer stretch connects Stratford in Taranaki to Taumarunui in the King Country, and honestly, it feels like you've stepped into another era. The whole drive winds through some seriously remote countryside where you'll encounter abandoned settlements, hand-carved tunnels, and native bush so thick it practically swallows the road. The Tangarakau Gorge is the real showstopper—a deep, forested valley so isolated it was literally one of the last places on the North Island to get properly mapped. And we're talking recent history here. The highlight? Driving through the Moki Tunnel, a tunnel that was actually carved by hand straight through solid rock. From the saddle points along the route, you get those postcard-perfect views of Mount Taranaki's iconic volcanic cone. It's the kind of scenery that makes you pull over just to take it in. Here's where it gets weird (in the best way): Whangamomona is a tiny settlement of about 30 people that literally declared itself an independent republic back in 1989. They still issue their own passports. And if ghost towns are your thing, Tangarakau—an old coal mining village—sits abandoned along this route, making it the only road in New Zealand that actually passes through one. It's surreal and unforgettable.