
Exploring Australia by Road: Best Destinations for Your Next Drive
Australia, oceania
240 km
N/A
extreme
Year-round
Cruising the Great Ocean Road means hugging 240 km of southeastern coastline! Get ready for a technical drive with twisty turns and OMG ocean views. Be warned: tourist traffic around the Twelve Apostles can be cray-cray. The scenery's totally worth it, but stay sharp, the cliffside curves are intense and the Southern Ocean weather can be a real mood swing.
For an authentic Aussie adventure, hit the Red Centre Way. It starts in Alice Springs and leads to Kings Canyon and Uluru. Heads up, this is hardcore self-sufficiency territory! Fuel and water are scarce, and the desert heat messes with your ride. Keep a close eye on that cooling system and your tire pressure!
The Savannah Way is a mega 3,700 km trek from Cairns to Broome. This is a legit expedition through rainforests and grasslands. You might need a 4x4 for some parts, especially in the wet season when flooding closes roads. Map out those fuel stops and get a mechanical check before heading into the remote Kimberley region.
The Nullarbor Plain is a 1,200 km drive across a treeless wasteland. Think seriously straight roads – one of the longest straight stretches in the world! Watch out for driver fatigue and wildlife like kangaroos and emus (especially at dawn and dusk). Roadhouses are few and far between, so plan every fuel stop.
The Great Alpine Road is Australia’s highest paved road, snaking through the Victorian Alps. This 339 km route has super steep climbs and hairpin turns. Winter brings snow and treacherous conditions (snow chains might be a must). Summer's a tough workout for your brakes and engine as you climb high.
Road tripping from Perth to Exmouth? That's 1,100 km of killer coastline! Highlights include the Pinnacles Desert and Ningaloo Reef. The roads are usually solid, but the distances are huge. Stay alert for road trains – those massive multi-trailer trucks that need tons of space to pass on these highways.
Where is it?
Exploring Australia by Road: Best Destinations for Your Next Drive is located in Australia (oceania). Coordinates: -21.6529, 130.7231
Road Details
- Country
- Australia
- Continent
- oceania
- Length
- 240 km
- Difficulty
- extreme
- Coordinates
- -21.6529, 130.7231
Related Roads in oceania
hardPlenty Highway is a remote outback road in Australia’s Northern Territory
🇦🇺 Australia
Okay, picture this: the Plenty Highway, aka State Route 12, smack-dab in the Northern Territory's outback. This isn't just a road, it's an adventure! Clocking in at 494 km (306 miles), it kicks off from the Stuart Highway, about 68 clicks north of Alice Springs, and winds its way to Tobermorey Homestead near the Queensland border, joining up with the legendary Outback Way. This road started as a humble cattle track, but now it's calling your name. The first 100km are a smooth sealed dream, but after Ongeva Creek, you're in for a real outback experience with a well-maintained dirt road. Word to the wise: do your homework before you hit the Plenty. Non-stop, it's a 16-20 hour commitment, but trust me, you'll want 2-3 days to soak it all in. Aim for May to October for the best weather (skip the scorching summer!). And heads up – when it rains, this road can become impassable. Prepare to be alone out there. This highway cuts through some seriously remote country, so be ready for potential floods (especially to the east), extreme bull dust, and some massive potholes – definitely a dry-weather-only kind of trip. A 4x4 is a must, and caravans should probably sit this one out. Pack solid comms and navigation gear, and you're set to discover the real outback.
extremeHow long is Otaki Gorge Road?
🇳🇿 New Zealand
Okay, picture this: You're on the Kapiti Coast, North Island, New Zealand, about to embark on a 17.9km (11.12 miles) adventure along the Otaki Gorge Road. This dead-end beauty kicks off from State Highway 1 near Hautere and hugs the Otaki River all the way up towards the Tararua Ranges. For the first 13km, it's smooth sailing on paved roads. But hold on tight, because the last 5km are where things get wild! This is where the road turns into a narrow, winding gravel track with serious drop-offs to the river below on one side, and towering cliffs on the other. Seriously, stopping distances triple on gravel, so keep your wits about you. Now, about those conditions… After it rains, this road can get super tricky, with slips being a real possibility. Daytime is your best bet for travel here, and honestly, night driving? Not recommended. This journey isn't for the faint-hearted; some parts are seriously steep, so take it slow and easy – think under 20 km/h. **Important Note (April 2024):** The road's currently closed to both vehicles and pedestrians due to a slip at Blue Bluff. You *can* camp at Boielle's Campsite, but you'll have to hike in. There's an emergency track to Ōtaki Forks (5km long), accessible 200m past the locked gate. Despite the challenges, the views are insane. One highlight you absolutely can't miss is the Waihoanga Road Bridge – a stunning swing bridge offering killer views of the Otaki River and the surrounding gorge. Seriously, bring your camera! And for all you Lord of the Rings nerds (like me), this is where they filmed the Shire woods!
hardRoad trip guide: Conquering the Jim Jim Falls
🇦🇺 Australia
Okay, buckle up, adventure awaits! You're heading to Jim Jim Falls, a mind-blowing 200-meter waterfall tucked away in the Northern Territory's Kakadu National Park, Australia. First things first: this ain't no Sunday drive. Jim Jim Road, which leads you there, starts off pretty chill, getting you to the camping area no problem. But then, things get real. The last 10 kilometers transforms into a 4WD-only playground (or challenge, depending on your perspective!). Think single-lane track, soft sand that wants to swallow your tires, and corrugations that'll give your fillings a run for their money. Seriously, check your rental agreement – some companies aren’t fans of this kind of fun. The whole track is 57.2 km (35.54 miles) long, peeling off of the main Kakadu Highway (State Route 21). Allow around two hours for the drive – you won’t be setting any speed records. And remember, this adventure is only on during the dry season (May to October). The wet season brings flash floods that shut the whole thing down. Now, a word of caution: saltwater crocs call this place home. Swimming is strictly off-limits, unless you fancy becoming a croc's lunch. And those creek crossings? Yeah, they can get deep and fast-flowing. Before you even think about splashing through, check with the Bowali Visitor Centre for water depth info. Sometimes a snorkel is required, and NEVER get out of your car. But, trust me, the views are worth it. Lush landscapes, dramatic scenery, and then BAM – this incredible waterfall. There's plenty of parking once you make it to the end of the road. Just make sure you’re not driving in the dark, and remember to grab a park pass to enter Kakadu National Park. Get ready for an unforgettable Aussie outback experience!
hardTake the Scenic Route and Discover Gebbies Pass in NZ
🇳🇿 New Zealand
Alright, road trip lovers, let's talk Gebbies Pass! You'll find this gem nestled in Canterbury, on the South Island's east coast of New Zealand, chilling way up high in the Port Hills (aka Te Poho-o-Tamatea). We're talking a solid 161 meters (528 feet) above sea level, people! The road itself, aptly named Gebbies Pass Road, is fully paved and stretches for about 8.8 kilometers (5.46 miles). You'll cruise from Motukarara, near Lake Ellesmere, all the way to Teddington, right on the edge of Lyttelton Harbour. Keep an eye out near the top for the Gebbies Pass radio transmitter - a cool piece of broadcasting history. Just a heads up, though: this isn't your typical Sunday drive. It's a bit narrow and gets seriously twisty, and those steep sections? Expect gradients of up to 10%! But trust me, the scenery is worth it. It's located just south of Christchurch so you can easily make it part of your South Island adventure. Get ready for some epic views!