7 Mind-blowingly scenic drives in Australia.
Discover the country’s best views on your next driving adventure.
Dreaming of a post-lockdown road trip filled with epic views and Instagram-worthy photo ops along the way? Fortunately, Australia is home to some truly spectacular coastlines, mountain ranges, deserts, rainforests and more.
To help you plan your next unforgettable journey, we’ve pulled together our top local picks for mind-blowing scenic drives you can experience in your Hyundai.
1. Great Barrier Reef Drive - Queensland.
Connecting the popular city of Cairns and the remote headland of Cape Tribulation via the Captain Cook Highway and Cape Tribulation Road, this 140km route reveals the undeniable beauty of Tropical North Queensland. Views of both reef and rainforest will be on display throughout a drive where two UNESCO World Heritage Sites – the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics Rainforest – meet to provide an experience like no other place on Earth.
2. Grand Pacific Drive - New South Wales.
This varied journey along the east coast of New South Wales offers a host of fascinating places to stop and appreciate the views. If you’re starting in Sydney, you’ll travel southwest for around four hours on the Princess Highway and the 140km Grand Pacific Drive to reach Murramarang National Park near Batemans Bay. On the way you can admire a combination of rolling hills, splendid rainforest and exceptional surf breaks, while locations like Royal National Park, Sea Cliff Bridge and Bald Hill Lookout will entice you to get the camera out. Cantilevered 30m above the waves, Sea Cliff Bridge is an engineering masterpiece that snakes its way beside the natural curves of the cliffs.
3. Great Alpine Road - Victoria
Great Alpine Road is the highest sealed road in Australia. The 339km route winds its way through and over the glorious East Gippsland alpine region between Wangaratta and Metung, a delightful coastal village that’s perfect for an overnight stay. With your drive taking you past deep valleys, green pastures and snow-capped mountains, you’ll relish the sights on offer from both sides of the car.
4. Alpine Way Drive - New South Wales.
Sticking to the alpine theme, this glorious route takes you through the heart of the magnificent Kosciuszko National Park, linking the highland towns of Jindabyne, Thredbo and Khancoban. Alpine Way Drive only stretches for 108km, but the high altitude is what makes it special. If you fancy hiking, mountain biking or various winter sports, this is one short drive you can turn into an action-packed long weekend.
5. Eyre Highway, Nullarbor Plain - South Australia
For something a little different, why not leave behind the classic coastal and mountain routes to instead drive your Hyundai across the vast Nullarbor Plain – a picture of flat, arid remoteness and the world’s largest single exposure of limestone bedrock. You will drive along the Eyre Highway, Australia’s longest and straightest road including the renowned leg of 90 Mile Straight, which links Eyre Peninsula in South Australia to the goldfields of Western Australia. There may not be much to see or do, but this unbelievable sense of emptiness is the highlight of the journey. Don’t forget to pack essential supplies like food, water and extra petrol for this unrivalled outback adventure.
6. The Savannah Way - Western Australia
If you’re keen to experience remote rural Australia sprinkled with amazing natural landmarks including gorges, waterfalls and some wonderful national parks, it might be time to cross the Kimberley. Absorb the real outback by driving between Western Australia’s Kununurra and Broome via Gibb River Road or the Savannah Way – two awesome roads less travelled in comparison to the Great Northern Highway. The Savannah Way runs for over 3,700km right across northern Australia – from Cairns on the east coast to Broome on the west coast, or vice versa – so serious road-trippers can strap in for a drive that takes over 40 hours from start to finish. You’ll be thankful for a comfortable car on this drive!
7. Great Eastern Drive - Tasmania
In truth the entire circumference of Tasmania might just be Australia’s most impressive driving route of all. One of the undisputed highlights of the island state is West Coast Wilderness Way, a breathtaking 300km drive featuring views of Cradle Mountain, the Franklin and Gordon Rivers, the harbourside historical convict town of Strahan, and thousands of lakes including the majestic Lake Saint Clair. And if you’ve got time, continue on to the 295km Great Eastern Drive featuring wonders like Freycinet National Peninsula and Bay of Fires.
