On the Road Down Under: Australia’s Most Beautiful Road Trip

Australia is a vast continent with wonderfully diverse landscapes. However, when visiting it can feel impossible to see or experience enough of the country. Embarking on a road trip is one of the best ways to truly immerse yourself down under.

Here are three of the best routes for adventurous souls who wish to take in the deep rainforest, the wild bush and the beautiful coastline.

The Great Ocean Road

The Great Ocean Road spans 250 kilometres from Torquay to Warrnambool and runs by some of the most beautiful coastline in the world. You can speed along and do the whole thing in one day, or you can – and should – take your time and spend a couple of weeks enjoying the trip.

You’ll meet lots of other travellers on this route, and there is plenty to see as you drive so be prepared to pull over a lot.

 What to Do

• Visit the Twelve Apostles (be there at sunset)
• Experience the Grotto
• See koalas in the wild at River Kennet
• Surf at Bells Beach

Cairns to Cape York

If you want the road less travelled, look no further than the 1000-kilometre trip from Cairns to Cape York. This route is known for its variety, including stunning coastal views, epic rainforests and extreme dirt tracks. This is not one for novices as the driving can be tough and some roads are only passable at certain times of the year. The route will take planning and will differ depending on weather conditions – you’ll almost certainly need four wheel drive.

Take camping gear and be prepared to cook for yourself. Additionally, it’s recommended you allocate two to three weeks for the journey – you’ll want a couple of days in Cape York to relax before heading back.

 What to Do

• See the Great Barrier Reef
• Go to Thursday Island
• Go on a Daintree River Cruise
• Visit Fruit Bat Falls

The Savannah Way

The Savannah Way is a long route that stretches from Cairns in North Queensland to Broome in the west. It is 3700 kilometres long and runs through no fewer than fifteen National Parks. It is very common for people to do just a section of the route, such as Broome to Katherine. However, if you have time to spare and fancy giving the whole thing a go, it will be an utterly unforgettable experience.

Though four wheel drive is not necessarily a necessary, do be prepared for the worst. Carry emergency food and water as well as a radio for when mobile phone reception drops out.

What to Do

• Bushwalking in the National Parks
• See ancient Aboriginal rock art
• Go on a sunset cruise through Katherine Gorge
• Visit the lava tubes at Undara

Before You Go: Car Hire Excess Insurance

Insurance is not the most exciting topic, but if you are planning an adventurous road trip car hire excess insurance is an absolute necessity. This will cover you for a range of eventualities. After all, you never know what could happen on the road. Rental companies tend to charge ridiculous amounts, so get a good car hire excess insurance deal sorted before you leave for Australia.

Author Plate

Ethan Bailey is an experienced adventure traveller and insurance expert with the team at Let's Go Insure. Ethan’s passion is to inspire his clients to go just that little bit further, deeper and higher on their travels and his expertise in providing the ideal insurance cover allows them to do just that. If you're looking for the best car hire excess insurance Let's Go works with the most experienced underwriters, intermediaries and insurers to offer a range of competitive insurance without compromising on cover.