Road trip stops in Australia
The places worth pulling over for across Australia: the famous ones, the ones locals keep quiet about, and where to sleep on the way.
Plan your road tripThe best stops
Lake · K'gari
Lake McKenzie (Boorangoora)
A perched freshwater lake with white sand and clear blue water, the classic K'gari swim.
- Beach
Beach · Exmouth
Turquoise Bay
The classic Ningaloo drift snorkel, with a gentle current and bright reef fish.
- Waterfall
Waterfall · Mitchell Plateau
Mitchell Falls (Punamii-Uunpuu)
Four-tier falls on a remote plateau, reached by a long gravel road and walk.
- Walk
Walk · Halls Creek
Purnululu National Park (Bungle Bungles)
Beehive-shaped sandstone domes with gorges and a rough 4WD track.
Viewpoint · Yulara
Uluru
The iconic red monolith, with sunrise, base walks and cultural centre.
- Viewpoint
Viewpoint · Coles Bay
Wineglass Bay Lookout
The postcard view of Wineglass Bay, about 1 hour return on a stepped track.
- Walk
Walk · Cradle Mountain
Dove Lake circuit, Cradle Mountain
Flat two hour loop around Dove Lake under the jagged peak of Cradle Mountain.
- Beach
Beach · St Helens
Bay of Fires
White sand, orange-lichen boulders and turquoise water along a quiet coast.
- Beach
Beach · Esperance
Lucky Bay
White sand, turquoise water and kangaroos that lounge on the beach.
Viewpoint · Katoomba
Echo Point and the Three Sisters
The classic Blue Mountains view: three sandstone pillars over the Jamison Valley.
- Wildlife
Wildlife · Bundaberg
Mon Repos turtle rookery
Watch loggerhead turtles lay eggs or hatchlings rush to the sea on a ranger-led night walk.
- Lake
Lake · K'gari
Lake Wabby
A green lake wedged against a huge sand dune on K'gari's east coast.
Hidden gems
Quieter places that are worth the detour.
- Swimming hole
Swimming hole · Eight Mile CreekHidden gem
Ewens Ponds
Crystal clear spring-fed ponds you can snorkel through.
- Swimming hole
Swimming hole · Port MacDonnellHidden gem
Piccaninnie Ponds
A freshwater chasm with some of the clearest water in Australia.
- Swimming hole
Swimming hole · BoodjamullaHidden gem
Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park
A green oasis in the outback with a gorge you can paddle through.
- Scenic drive
Scenic drive · Brachina GorgeHidden gem
Brachina Gorge Geological Trail
A gravel gorge drive past 130 million years of rock layers and rock wallabies.
- Waterfall
Waterfall · InghamHidden gem
Wallaman Falls
Australia's tallest permanent single-drop waterfall, plunging 268 metres.
- Swimming hole
Swimming hole · Tom PriceHidden gem
Hamersley Gorge
A swirl of folded rock and a spa pool on the quiet western side of Karijini.
- Gallery
Gallery · MenziesHidden gem
Lake Ballard Inside Australia sculptures
51 human figures spread across a salt lake by sculptor Antony Gormley.
- Walk
Walk · Glass House MountainsHidden gem
Mount Ngungun
A short, steep climb to a bare summit among the Glass House peaks.
- Lake
Lake · K'gariHidden gem
Lake Birrabeen
A quiet white-sand freshwater lake near Lake McKenzie, with far fewer visitors.
Food stops worth the detour
- Market
Market · Darwin
Mindil Beach Sunset Market
Food stalls, crafts and a sunset on the sand every Thursday and Sunday in the dry.
- Bakery
Bakery · SevenhillHidden gem
The Little Red Grape Bakery
A small bakery with award-winning pies and sausage rolls near the Riesling Trail.
- Pub
Pub · Parachilna
Prairie Hotel, Parachilna
The outback pub famous for its feral mixed grill of kangaroo, emu and camel.
Bakery · Beechworth
Beechworth Bakery
Well known country bakery with pies and bread.
- Pub
Pub · Daly Waters
Daly Waters Pub
Territory's oldest licence, with bras on the ceiling and a beef and barra dinner.
- Market
Market · Hobart
Salamanca Market
Saturday market along the sandstone warehouses of Salamanca Place, with local makers and food.
Places to stay
Campsites and holiday parks we’d go back to. See every one by region in campsites in Australia and free camping in Australia, or the nearest to you in campsites near me and free camping near me.
- Campground
Campground · BroomeHidden gem
Cape Leveque and Kooljaman
Beach and bush camping at the tip of the Dampier Peninsula, with a cafe and tents.
Campground · Wilsons Promontory
Tidal River Campground
Huge national park camp by a river and beach.
- Campground
Campground · Esperance
Lucky Bay campground, Cape Le Grand
Camp by the white-sand bay where kangaroos nap on the beach, 55 km east of Esperance.
- Glamping
Glamping · Cape Leveque (Dampier Peninsula)
Kooljaman at Cape Leveque
Aboriginal-owned beach camp and safari tents at the tip of the Dampier Peninsula, red cliffs over turquoise sea.
- Campground
Campground · East Kimberley
Walardi campground, Purnululu
Remote bush camp for exploring the Bungle Bungle domes, reached by a rough 53 km 4WD track.
- Holiday park
Holiday park · Coral Bay
Coral Bay holiday park beachfront camping
Park a few steps from Ningaloo Reef, where you can snorkel from the beach and meet turtles.
- Campground
Campground · Kakadu National Park
Gunlom campground, Kakadu
Camp at the foot of a cliff with infinity pools on top, in the south of Kakadu.
- Campground
Campground · West MacDonnell Ranges
Ormiston Gorge campground
Big-sky camp under glowing red cliffs next to one of the range's best waterholes.
- Holiday park
Holiday park · Watarrka National Park
Kings Canyon Resort campground
Camp near the rim walk of Kings Canyon, with a pool and sunset viewing across the plains.
Classic road trips in Australia
- Cape to Cape and Margaret River120 km · 3 days
- Cairns to Cape Tribulation140 km · 3 days
- Waterfall Way170 km · 2 days
- Tasmania Great Eastern Drive200 km · 3 days
- Great Ocean Road270 km · 3 days
- Kangaroo Island300 km · 3 days
- Great Alpine Road304 km · 3 days
- Snowy Mountains loop330 km · 3 days
- Tasmania Western Wilds500 km · 4 days
- Top End: Litchfield and Kakadu600 km · 5 days
- Gibb River Road660 km · 7 days
- Sydney to Brisbane Pacific Coast950 km · 4 days
Plan the drive, not just the stops
Roadtrip works out what the drive costs in fuel for your car, splits it into days with the best stops and places to sleep, and finds the cheapest fuel on the way.
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