Road trips in Australia: What you need to know before hitting the road

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Young Family Enjoying Outdoor Meal in Sunlit Minivan

What should you consider before you head off on your road trip? Credit: AzmanL/Getty Images

Australia Explained

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There’s no better way to experience Australia than hitting the road. Between the wide-open landscapes, country bakery pies, and unexpected wildlife, a road trip lets you take in the country at your own pace. But even if you’ve driven overseas, Australia comes with its own set of challenges, especially when you venture off the beaten path.

Key Points

Australia is made for road trips, but vast distances, wildlife, and remote areas mean it’s important to plan ahead.
Bring essentials like a physical map, water, food, and a first aid kit, and be alert for animals, especially kangaroos.
Stop at country bakeries, small towns, and national parks, and take time to enjoy Australia’s natural beauty and diverse cultures.
Popular road trip routes include the Great Ocean Road, the Pacific Coast, Tasmania, and, for the more adventurous, the Gibb River Road or Cape York to Cairns.

What should you consider before you head off on a road trip?
How to be mindful of wildlife on a road trip?
What are the risks on the road?
Where do road trippers like to stop along the way?
Understanding the country’s diversity

Australia is vast, and sometimes the best way to understand that is from behind the wheel.

“There are so many rainforests, deserts, coastal hamlets, and islands. You really get a sense of all the different terrains and geography in Australia. And I think you're interacting with locals so you’re starting to build a bigger picture about what Australia is,” travel writer Lara Picone Fexplains.

But with that scale, and the extreme weather and wildlife, comes the need to plan ahead.

What should you consider before you head off on a road trip?

Make sure to research your route and register with a roadside assistance provider before heading off. Some areas are remote, with no phone reception or petrol stations for long stretches.

Bring a first aid kit, water, food, a phone charger, a spare tyre, and a physical map or road atlas.

“Lots of people don't have road atlases anymore and they rely on their phones, but in Australia, you might not necessarily have connection to the internet so think about that,” James Williams, Head of Policy at RACV insurance, says.

Kangaroo hopping across an orange coloured dirt road with a 4x4 approaching in the background, The Kimberley, Western Australia, Australia Credit: Abstract Aerial Art/Getty Images

How to be mindful of wildlife on road trips?

In country areas, slow down and always keep an eye out for animals, especially kangaroos, which are known to jump across roads without warning. Avoid driving at dawn and dusk, when they’re most active.

If you see an animal on the road, brake firmly and do not swerve. “Don't swerve because that could mean that you hit a tree or oncoming traffic, and that's a worse outcome,” Mr Williams explains.

If you do hit an animal, pull over safely. Check that everyone is okay, and contact the state’s wildlife rescue service if the animal is injured.

How to help injured wildlife in Australia

What are the risks on the road?

Australia’s weather can change quickly and dramatically.

“In summer the issue is primarily bushfires and extreme heat. Heat can have an impact on batteries, particularly if you're driving an electric vehicle. But also, of course, the risk of bushfires is significant. Always be across the emergency weather app in your local state or territory,” Mr Williams says.

“In winter, it tends to be issues around frost, black ice, and generally cold and wet weather and visibility issues.”

If your car breaks down in a remote area without reception, stay with your vehicle. “It's easier to find a car than a person if you’re lost,” Mr Williams says.

Wait for someone to drive by, wave them down, ask them for assistance, and ask them to call emergency roadside assistance when they have reception when they drive on.
James Williams

While most road rules are consistent across the country, there are some state-by-state variations, so it’s worth checking local guidelines before you travel.

Old hotels form a historic streetscape in the Victorian town of Rutherglen Source: iStockphoto / Bruce Wilson Photography/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Where do road trippers like to stop along the way?

There are plenty of fun and delicious options.

Small towns are full of charm and history, and the various “big things” like the Big Pineapple or Big Prawn make for fun photos.

When you’re hungry, stop at a country bakery (for a meat pie and a vanilla slice), an outback pub, a country Chinese restaurant, or a farm stall selling seasonal produce.

Toilets are available at service stations and roadside stops. And for overnight stays, there are plenty of campgrounds, hotels, and motels.

The power of walking in nature: Bushwalking in Australia

But for many, the highlight is the natural landscape and outdoor activities like swimming, fishing, bushwalking, surfing and hiking.

“On the Gibb River Road, there are lots of beautiful waterholes like Bell Gorge where you can swim in this incredibly remote rocky pool. There are no crocodiles there, but of course, you need to be careful of that anywhere around the top of Australia,” Ms Picone recommends.

When Melissa Carbonell Fullerton first moved to Australia from Colombia, she was surprised by how easy and safe road-tripping felt.

It was so safe to just stop anywhere; all the way from camping grounds to anywhere along the roads.
Melissa Carbonell

Now a seasoned road tripper, she regularly hits the road with her young family. “You immerse yourself a bit better with the country and the people too,” Melissa says.

Weekend market on Coochiemudlo Island Moreton Bay Queenlsnad Australia

Weekend market on Coochiemudlo Island is a popular travel scenic destination in Moreton Bay near Brisbane Queensland, Australia Credit: chameleonseye/Getty Images

Understanding the country’s diversity

Road trips can also be a powerful way to experience Australia’s cultural diversity.

“If you’re in Darwin, for example, that's a really multicultural city and there's a lot of Asian influences, almost like an Asian city. You go down to the Mindil Beach Market at nighttime and watch the sunset and get all those beautiful foods,” Ms Picone says.

“All the way down to the interior of the outback where it's very typically Australian and you’ve got your beautiful outback pubs. It's a really good way to start to unravel the various cultures in the country.”

Look into First Nations tourism experiences along the way for a deeper connection to Country and culture.

The impacts of First Nations tourism

Woman with her hand out of the car window

Driving on a road trip in Australia. Source: iStockphoto / Handemandaci/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Where should you road trip?

For beginner-friendly road trips, Ms Picone suggests these options: “There’s the Great Ocean Road down in Victoria which is a beautiful coastline to travel. There is also the Pacific Coast which goes from Brisbane to Sydney and there are lots of beachy towns along the way. Tassie is a great spot for road trips because it's not very big, it's like a European country, you only need to be driving for two hours at a time to see some different landscapes.”

Or, if you’re feeling more adventurous, she recommends the Cairns to Cape York route in Far North Queensland, the Gibb River Road in Western Australia, or The Murray, which spans from Victoria to New South Wales.

For more ideas, visit Tourism Australia or your state or territory’s official tourism site; many have detailed road trip guides and planning tools.

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Subscribe to or follow the Australia Explained podcast for more valuable information and tips about settling into your new life in Australia.   

Do you have any questions or topic ideas? Send us an email to australiaexplained@sbs.com.au 

Transcript

Presenter 1

SBS acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country and their connections and continuous care for the skies, lands and waterways across Australia.

Presenter 2

You're listening to Australia Explained, an SBS audio podcast helping you navigate life in Australia.

Maram Ismail

There's no better way to experience Australia than hitting the road. Between the vast landscapes, fresh pies from country bakeries, and unexpected wildlife sightings, road trips offer a deeper look at the country than simply flying to your destination. But even if you've taken road trips elsewhere. Australia comes with its own unique set of challenges.

James Williams

It's very important that if you are in an area where you think there's wildlife, that you slow down. If you see an animal, be particularly careful.

Maram Ismail

This is Australia Explained podcast, and I'm your host, Maram Ismail. Today, you will learn how you should prepare, stay safe, and make the most of your road trips in Australia.

Maram Ismail

Australia is big, really big, and sometimes the best way to grasp its scale is to drive through it. Travel writer Lara Picone says road trips offer a lot more than just beautiful scenery.

Lara Picone

There's so many rainforests, desert, Kurt or hamlets, islands. You really get a sense of all the different terrains and geography in Australia, and I think you, you're interacting with locals, so you're starting to build a bigger picture about what Australia is.

Maram Ismail

But with that scale comes the need to plan ahead. Some areas are remote with no phone reception or petrol stations for long stretches. Make sure to research your route and register with a roadside assistance provider before heading off. James Williams, head of policy at RACV, says there are a few key things to keep in your car.

James Williams

So make sure you have, for example, a first aid kit. Make sure you have an atlas. Uh, lots of people don't have road atlases anymore, uh and they rely on their phones, but of course in Australia you might not necessarily have connection to the internet. Um, so think about that, think about the fact that you will be potentially in a remote. Or regional area and therefore you have to be, as I said, self-contained. So take plenty of water, snacks, food, and of course, also what we would call safety equipment. So things that you might need to say, for example, jack up the car, change a tyre, make sure you've got a spare tyre.

Maram Ismail

If your car breaks down and there's no phone reception, Williams says to stay near your vehicle.

James Williams

And the reason for that is quite simple, it's easier to find a car than a person if you're lost. And of course with the car comes everything you've got in the car, like your first aid kit and your water and everything else that uh we talked about earlier. Ideally, You'd wait for someone to drive by, wave them down and ask them for assistance, and ask them to call emergency roadside assistance when they have reception when they drive on.

Maram Ismail

Always be mindful of wildlife when driving in country areas, especially kangaroos. Avoid driving at dawn and dusk when they're most active. James Williams says a collision with wildlife can be fatal.

James Williams

It's very important that if you are in an area where you think there's wildlife, that you slow down. If you see an animal, be particularly careful. If you are in an area where you think you will hit a kangaroo and, and it's likely to happen, it's very important you don't swerve, that you apply the brakes as quickly and firmly as you can, release the brake, but don't swerve because of course that could mean that you hit. A tree or an oncoming traffic and that's a worse outcome.

Maram Ismail

If you hit an animal, pull over safely, check that everyone is OK, and if the animal is injured, call the state's wildlife agency for help. Australia's weather can also impact driving conditions. Williams reminds travellers to be alert, especially during summer and winter extremes.

James Williams

In summer, the issue is primarily bushfires and extreme heat. Heat can have an impact on batteries, particularly if you're driving an electric vehicle, but also, of course, the risk of bushfire is significant. Always be across the emergency weather app in your local state or territory. Keep up to date with any events. Uh, fires move extremely quickly across roads, of course, in different terrain. In winter, it tends to be issues around frost, black ice, and, uh, generally cold and wet weather and visibility issues.

Maram Ismail

Road rules are mostly the same across the country, but it's good to check for state by state differences before driving. For Lara Picone, road trips revealed the cultural diversity of Australia.

Lara Picone

If you're in Darwin, for example, that's really a multicultural city, and there's a lot of Asian influence, it's almost like an Asian city. If you go down to the Mindil Beach markets at nighttime and watch the sunset and get all those beautiful food, all the way down to like the interior of the outback, where it's really very typically, you've got your beautiful outback pubs, so it's a really good way to start to unravel the various cultures in the country.

Maram Ismail

So, where do Australians like to stop along the way? Think country bakeries, small towns, pubs, farm stalls and campgrounds. Lara Piccon says that outdoor activities are a must.

Lara Picone

It's really just about getting out in nature for a lot of people, so hiking and fishing. Wild swimming on the Gibb River Road, like there's lots of beautiful water holes, Bell Gorge, where you can swim in this incredibly remote, rocky pool, no crocodiles there. But of course you need to be careful of that if you're anywhere around the top of Australia.

Maram Ismail

For beginner-friendly road trips, she suggests these options.

Lara Picone

There's the Great Ocean Road down in Victoria, which is a beautiful coastline to travel. There's also the Pacific coast, which kind of goes from Brisbane to Sydney, and there's lots of beachy towns along the way. Tassie is a great spot for a road trip cause it's not very big, it's like a European country, but you only need to be driving for two hours at a time to see some different landscapes.

Maram Ismail

Or if you're feeling more adventurous:

Lara Picone

the big ones are like your Cairns to Cape York, or your Gibb River Road in the Kimberley in Western Australia, which is incredible, quite intrepid, so you need to have a four-wheel drive and you need to know what you're doing, but they're some of the really cool ones. Also, along the Murray River, where you can stop and do a bit of kayaking, it's also a beautiful one; there are just so many.

Maram Ismail

For more inspiration, visit Tourism Australia or your state or territory's official tourism website, which all have pages dedicated to road trips. Thank you for listening to this episode of Australia Explained, written and produced by Audrey Burge, hosted, mixed, and sound designed by me, Maram Ismail. Australia Explained managing editor is Roza Germian.

Presenter 2

This was an SBS audio podcast. For more Australia Explained stories, visit SBS.com.au/Australiaexplained.

Maram Ismail

Subscribe or follow the Australia Explained podcast for more valuable information and tips about settling into your new life in Australia. Do you have any questions or topic ideas? Send us an email to australiaexplained@sbs.com.au.

END OF TRANSCRIPT