Recommended Routes

We've driven every one of these ourselves. Here's our honest guide to Australia's best road trips — the highlights, the campsites, the cheap fuel stops, and how long you'll need.

🌊 East Coast

⏱ 3–5 Weeks 📏 ~2,500 km

The classic Australian road trip. From Sydney's harbour to the tropical reefs of Cairns, the East Coast is packed with beaches, rainforests, surf towns, and island hopping.

🏖️ Key Stops

  • Sydney & Blue Mountains
  • Byron Bay
  • Gold Coast & Surfers Paradise
  • Noosa & Fraser Island
  • Whitsunday Islands
  • Townsville & Magnetic Island
  • Cairns & Daintree Rainforest

⛺ Recommended Campsites

  • Lane Cove River Tourist Park (Sydney)
  • Suffolk Park, Byron Bay
  • Noosa River Holiday Park
  • Airlie Beach BIG4
  • Cape Hillsborough Nature Park
  • Ellis Beach (near Cairns)

⛽ Cheap Fuel Tips

  • Fill up in larger towns — Coffs Harbour, Mackay
  • Use the GasBuddy or Petrol Spy apps
  • Costco fuel in Gold Coast / Brisbane
  • Avoid highway service stations

🏜️ Central Australia

⏱ 1–2 Weeks 📏 ~1,500 km loop

The red heart of Australia. Alice Springs and Uluru are bucket-list destinations — the colours, the silence, and the sheer scale of the outback are something you'll never forget.

🪨 Key Stops

  • Alice Springs
  • West MacDonnell Ranges
  • Kings Canyon (Watarrka NP)
  • Uluru & Kata Tjuta
  • Coober Pedy (optional extension)

⛺ Recommended Campsites

  • Alice Springs Tourist Park
  • Ormiston Gorge (free, basic)
  • Kings Canyon Resort campground
  • Ayers Rock Campground

⛽ Cheap Fuel Tips

  • Fill up completely in Alice Springs
  • Fuel at Erldunda Junction before Uluru
  • Outback prices are high — budget $2.20+/L
  • Carry at least 20L extra water

🌊 Great Ocean Road

⏱ 3–5 Days 📏 ~400 km

One of the world's most scenic coastal drives. Winding along Victoria's southwest coast, this route delivers dramatic cliffs, the iconic Twelve Apostles, lush rainforest, and charming surf towns.

🏔️ Key Stops

  • Torquay & Bells Beach
  • Lorne
  • Apollo Bay
  • Otway Rainforest & Treetop Walk
  • Twelve Apostles
  • London Arch & The Grotto
  • Port Campbell

⛺ Recommended Campsites

  • Torquay Foreshore Caravan Park
  • BIG4 Lorne
  • Bimbi Park (Cape Otway)
  • Port Campbell Holiday Park

⛽ Cheap Fuel Tips

  • Fill up in Geelong before starting
  • Apollo Bay has fair prices mid-route
  • Colac (inland) is cheaper than coastal towns

🐚 Western Australia

⏱ 4–8 Weeks 📏 ~5,000 km

Australia's biggest, wildest state — and our favourite for those with time to spare. Roll through the wineries, towering forests, and white-sand bays of the South West, then chase the turquoise reefs and red gorges of the North West all the way up to Broome. Remote, pristine, and unforgettable.

🏝️ Key Stops

  • Perth & Fremantle
  • Margaret River & the South West wineries
  • Albany & the south coast
  • Esperance & Lucky Bay (Cape Le Grand)
  • Pinnacles Desert (Nambung NP)
  • Kalbarri National Park
  • Shark Bay & Monkey Mia
  • Ningaloo Reef & Exmouth
  • Karijini National Park
  • Broome & Cable Beach

⛺ Recommended Campsites

  • Lucky Bay Campground (Cape Le Grand, Esperance)
  • Big Lagoon, Francois Peron NP (Shark Bay)
  • Coral Bay (Ningaloo Reef)
  • RAC Exmouth Cape Holiday Park
  • Karijini Eco Retreat / Dales Campground
  • RAC Cable Beach Holiday Park (Broome)

⛽ Cheap Fuel Tips

  • Use the FuelWatch WA site — it shows tomorrow's prices
  • Fill up in every major town up north: Carnarvon, Karratha, Port Hedland
  • Never drop below half a tank in the North West — stops are far apart
  • South West towns (Bunbury, Albany) are cheaper than remote roadhouses
  • Budget $2.30+/L at remote roadhouses; carry a spare jerry can

Want a Custom Route Plan?

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