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5 of our favourite Aussie road trips

What better way to discover the treasures of our great country? - by Andrea Black
  • 22 Apr 2019
5 of our favourite Aussie road trips

1. Grand Pacific Drive, NSW

Grand Pacific Drive is definitely designed to wow! Head through the beautiful Royal National Park and down along to the impressive raised motorway known as the Sea Cliff Bridge, which offers stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. Have lunch (and do some whale-watching) at the Scarborough Hotel before venturing into the boho charm of Thirroul and Austinmer for a spot of antiquing.

Leave the Grand Pacific and head up into the scenic wonderland known as the Central Highlands and the iconic country towns of Moss Vale and Bowral. See grandpacificdrive.com.au for details.

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What a spectacular Sea Cliff sunrise! Captured by @kar3n_5mith #grandpacificdrive

2. Around the bay, VIC

Melbourne sits on Port Phillip Bay, and this iconic stretch of water is a must-do trip. On the first leg, meander through to Queenscliff visiting Werribee Mansion, Geelong’s colourful waterfront and cellar doors on the way. 

From Queenscliff, cross the bay on the car ferry and take in the Mornington Peninsular towns of Sorrento and Portsea. Find time to climb up to Arthur’s Seat and stroll the boardwalks of Cape Schanck. See visitvictoria.com.

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Point Nepean National Park - a beautiful walk to the very tip of the Peninsula 📷 @m.d.n.photography #visitmorningtonpeninsula #visitmelbourne

3. Canberra to the Snowy Mountains

Canberra is a three-hour drive from some of the best alpine country Australia has to offer. Launch a Snowy Mountains expedition up the Monaro Highway and, along the way, visit historic Cooma and Tumut, as well as the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme. No trip to this part of the world is complete without a stop at the Murray 1 Visitors Centre on Alpine Way. Head to visitcanberra.com.au.

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A very Merry Christmas from The Snowy Mountains! #BlueLake #kosciuszkonationalpark #snowiesinsummer 📷: @_no_bad_days_

4. Avon Valley, WA

Go east past Mundaring and John Forrest National Park, with its granite outcrops and rushing waterfalls, and make your way to historic York, home to fine food, antiques and skydiving!

Try a sunrise hot-air balloon ride in Northam, buy some pottery from Toodyay and end in New Norcia, famous for its Benedictine Monastery and delicious bakery! See westernaustralia.com.

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Nothing quite says "southwest WA" quite like #Boranup! Just keep driving south on Caves Road through the Margaret River region on the way to Hamelin Bay, and eventually you'll come down a steep hill, the undergrowth will disappear and all you'll be surrounded by a tall, straight #karri trees! 10/10 🙂 We found this photo taken by @salty.travels via @thevillamargaretriver 📷 . #amazing_wa 👌🏼 #MargaretRiver #CavesRd

5. Overlanders Way, QLD

A lot of rural Australia may claim to be the ‘outback’ but few really define the term as well as the Overlander’s Way, a 1081km stretch of road starting at Townsville and ending near historic Mt Isa, the only city in the region. Follow in the footsteps of the drovers who opened up this land, heading west into the remote regions of north-west Queensland. 

Hughenden and Richmond are both gold rush-era towns that are now famous for something else that’s being dug up in the region: dinosaurs! Take time out to visit Hughie, the seven-metre-tall replica Muttaburrasaurus at the Finders Discovery Centre. Travel in April and you may find yourself in Julia Creek for the Dirt ’n’ Dust Festival, a typically wacky outback day of fun that is famous for its mud-snorkelling races. Visit queensland.com/drive.

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Hats off to the weekend! @anne_lieschen captured this stunning scenery of Mount Isa from the Heywood Granite Mine. 📍 The Heywood Granite Mine is a short 15 minute drive from Mount Isa city
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Andrea Black
Andrea Black
Sydney-based travel writer Andrea Black has a particular interest in a destination's musical, cultural and architectural heritage and how a hotel’s design relates to that. When visiting a city she'll track down a vintage vinyl record store and bring home a local release from way back, the perfect sonic and historic artefact of a time and place.

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