It wouldn’t surprise me if one of your major bucket list experiences is to do a classic Australia road trip. Having just completed a 15,000km Australian road trip with Star RV, I’m sharing all of my favourite places you should put on you list to visit.
If there’s one thing I always hear Australians say, it’s that travelling Australia is too expensive. Well, I’m letting you know a two month road trip around Australia cost us less than a two week trip around Italy.
In this guide, I’m sharing how you can can get really creative with where to pick up and drop off your Star RV van and the places you absolutely cannot miss along the way.
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Why drive a Star RV motorhome?
We decided to hire a Star RV motorhome rather than buy one so we didn’t have to worry about what to do when breaking down in the outback or any problems like that. When driving long distances, especially in Western Australia and Northern Territory, you won’t see much other than long stretches of road with not another car in sight. Add in zero phone coverage and if you break down, it could be a bit of a mission to sort out.
While Star RV are a relatively new company, they are in fact the sister company of well known camper van company JUCY. The Star RV vans are totally designed with the modern person in mind, having sockets outside to plug your laptop in if you fancy doing some remote work outside under the awning, with speakers inside and outside so you can listen to some music as well. Their vans are so cool, we were so sad to say goodbye to ours after two months.
And you know what? Our Star RV didn’t brake down once in two whole months!!
Check out my breakdown of What My Experience Was Like Driving 15,000km Around Australia in a Star RV Motorhome to find out more about the experience!
Things to know before going on a Australia road trip
There are so many things you need to know before getting into van life Australia! I have a whole guide about the 15 Most Important Things No One Tells you About Van Life Australia you need to totally check out. My honest guide shares everything you need to know about how to save hundreds, if not thousands on fuel, the pros and cons of van life as well as loads of tips. Here’s some of them you need to know.
Expect to add on more time than you think you’ll need
Our trip took so much longer than we expected because distances are much further than we originally thought it would. We took Google maps timings are legit, but what we didn’t factor in is that we were driving a motorhome, not a car. If you drive around 90km/per hr you’ll get almost double the amount of kms out of the tank. Add in the fact that you have to pack absolutely everything away when you drive and you’ll need to account for more time than you thought you would.
The freedom you’ll have
If there’s one thing we loved about our van, it’s that you have the freedom to do what you want. We would just pull up in a car park and cook food which is so amazing to have that luxury. We also didn’t plan any campsites in advance and booked either on the day or the day before. There will be some that you’ll need to pre-book in advance like Ayers Rock Campground and Lucky Bay Campground for example, but it’s best to go with the flow.
Where to pick up your Star RV van
As you might know, you have nine locations around Australia to pick up your van.
Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Cairns, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Darwin, Hobart
While we only live an hour from the Brisbane branch, we got creative we picked up our Star RV van from Perth and dropped if off in Adelaide. We flew to Perth and out of Adelaide and did this because we hadn’t travelled in Western Australia, Northern Territory or South Australia together before.
We also dropped into the Darwin branch as you can give them your bed linen and they’ll swap it for fresh sheets. Even though we obviously washed our bed sheets all the time, it was quite nice to have a new set of sheets for the second part of our trip.
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Australia road trip itineraries
So, you have eight locations to get creative with where to start and end your trip. If you’re unsure which is the best van road trip in Australia to do, here’s my thoughts on routes you could consider as well as times of the year to do it.
Considering Gold Coast and Brisbane are only an hour’s drive from each other, I’m including both as an option to pick up or end the trip on.
1. Sydney to Gold Coast or Brisbane
Time spent: 1 week or more
Distance: 844km (to Gold Coast) 917km (to Brisbane)
Sydney to Gold Coast or Brisbane has to be one of the most popular road trips in Australia. The drive is packed full of loads of amazing places to visit and heaps of hidden gems that even most Aussie’s have never heard of or been to.
Some of my favourite places include:
Central Coast beaches: visit the amazing hidden beaches including Ghosties Beach (home to the largest walk through sea cave on the East Coast), Frazer Park and Catherine Hill Bay.
Port Stephens: home to the largest sand dunes in the Southern Hemisphere, a harbour twice the size of Sydney Harbour but with plenty of resident dolphins, this is the place to see them.
Pacific Palms: total paradise at a string of pristine back to back beaches. My favourites include; Blueys Beach, Elizabeth Beach and the nearby Seal Rocks.
Bellingen & Dorrigo National Park: for a tiny town such as Bello, it’s full of exceptional places to eat, amazing hikes and waterfalls that you’ll instantly fall for this hippy town just like we have.
South West Rocks & Nambucca Heads: Two totally underrated forgotten about beach towns with exceptional beaches. While you’re here, head inland to visit the third largest single drop waterfall in Australia, Ellenborough Falls.
Yamba: The quieter and smaller Byron Bay with more chilled out vibes but with excellent places to eat and amazing beaches to choose from.
Byron Bay: The king of Australia beach towns that everyone falls in love with. But it’s for good reason being home to a mixed bag of people, amazing places to eat and a fun night life scene. Head inland to some beautiful towns including Uki, Murwillumbah, Bangalow and Federal.
Gold Coast Hinterland: Forget the beaches unless you’re visiting Burleigh Heads and Rainbow Bay Beach and head inland to the jaw-dropping hinterland, home to the oldest and largest sub-tropical rainforest in the world, Lamington National Park.
Brisbane: The fastest upcoming city in Australia is now home to modern buildings, fantastic nightlife and loads going on. Head to South Bank for the famous city beach (Streets Beach), as well as the awesome Howards Smith Wharves for dinner and drinks overlooking the river city.
2. Sydney to Cairns
Time spent: 2-4 weeks minimum
Distance: Approx. 2,635km (28 hour drive)
Take the list above and add in the following places for more chilled out places to visit with less crowds on one of the best Queensland road trips when you head north.
Sunshine Coast: Noosa is one of the most popular beach towns in Australia for good reason. While it doesn’t have the hippy vibe of Byron (it’s more up market), it has incredible beaches and a brilliant food scene. Head inland to the exceptional Glass House Mountains, Maleny as well as Australia Zoo.
K’gari (formerly Fraser Island): Visiting the largest sand island in the world should be up there at the top of your list! This island is beyond exceptional with creeks, swimming holes, shipwrecks and much more to explore.
Agnes Water & 1770: A hidden gem on the East Coast in Central Australia and home to amazing deserted beaches as well as the furthest north you can surf on the East Coast. Visit Lady Elliot Island and Lady Musgrave Island from here.
Yeppoon: Amazing beach town, and the gateway to Great Keppel Island. You can also visit Blackdown Tablelands from here (home to possibly the best swimming hole in Australia) and an even further drive out to the exception Carnarvon Gorge.
Airlie Beach & Whitsunday Islands: Home to some of the bluest water you’ll find in Australia and the softest sand beach in the world (Whitehaven Beach). It’s an absolutely pristine part of Australia that simply must be on your bucket list. Drive an hour north to Bowen to find beautiful beaches in this deserted beach town.
Magnetic Island: a popular Great Barrier Reef Island which is home to plenty of wildlife including your chance to see a rare koala and the rock wallabies.
Cardwell: Totally underrated part of the East Coast, and home to the jaw-dropping Hinchinbrook Island, as well as Paluma Range National Park and a little further north to Tully Gorge National Park. Expect exceptional swimming holes and waterfalls for nature lovers.
Cairns: The biggest tip about visiting Cairns in Tropical North Queensland is to stay in the hinterland. While it’s the gateway to the popular Fitzroy Island and Green Island, I highly recommend heading up to Atherton Tablelands to see the jaw-dropping beauty of the region. Expect rolling hills, ancient rainforests and incredible waterfalls and swimming holes. Stay in Palm Cove and head up on the beautiful Great Barrier Reef Drive to Port Douglas the wonderful Daintree Rainforest (aka the world’s oldest rainforest) and Cape Tribulation.
3. Gold Coast or Brisbane to Cairns
Time Spent: 2-4weeks
Distance: 1,778km (approx 20hr drive)
I would totally recommend about the same time to travel from Gold Coast or Brisbane purely because there is so much to see and do up to Cairns. The real gems are really between Kgari to Yeppoon and Townsville and Mission Beach which are usually missed by many people on a road trip. Many people head straight from K’gari to Airlie Beach, yet you’re really missing out a big stretch of amazing hikes and beach towns.
4. Sydney to Melbourne
Time Spent: 1 week
Distance: 1,038km (12h30m)
You can either do a road trip inland and see the snow capped mountains if visiting in winter, or drive via the New South Wales coast. While it’s going to take longer to drive via the coast, there’s loads to see on one of the great Australian road trips along the South Coast.
Here’s my top places to visit.
Royal National Park: Visit the world’s oldest national park just an hour from Sydney. With plenty of hikes in Royal National Park to consider, you could easily spend a few days here.
Kiama & the Southern Highlands: Home to the world’s largest blow hole in Kiama, head inland to the beautiful Southern Highlands to visit amazing waterfalls like Belmore Falls as well as gorgeous towns like Bowral, Kangaroo Valley and Berry. Don’t miss the amazing Sea Cliff Bridge as well.
Jervis Bay: Home to the whitest sand beach in the world (Hyams Beach), this is one of the only places on the East Coast where the water and sand is nearly comparable to the Whitsundays. It’s a classic Aussie beach town at it’s very best.
Batemans Bay: A totally underrated region with spectacular beaches like the gorgeous Depot Beach
Sapphire Coast: Visit the beautiful post card worthy Tilba Tilba, the exceptional blue water in Narooma as well as a chance to swim with seals, before staying in the gorgeous Bermagui. Head south to Eden to learn about the whaling history before visiting the mars like scenery at The Pinnacles.
Wilsons Promontory: Explore some of the most pristine beaches in Victoria at the amazing Wilsons Promontory including the famous Squeaky Beach.
Phillip Island: You can’t miss the famous penguin parade at Phillip Island which takes place every single day!
Melbourne: Don’t miss a day trip down to Mornington Peninsula, a visit to the Yarra Ranges and hanging out in Brunswick for vintage shops, cool bars and fab restaurants.
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5. Melbourne to Adelaide
Time spent: 1-2 weeks
Distance: 978km (12h30m)
Kick off one of the best Melbourne road trips with one of the highlights for any Australia road trip – Great Ocean Road, before heading to some amazing towns and across to Adelaide.
Great Ocean Road – You cannot miss this iconic road trip which takes you through beautiful towns like Lorne and Apollo Bay, before seeing the incredible 12 Apostles and London Bridge in Port Campbell National Park.
Grampians National Park – take a detour to one of the best national parks in Victoria, home to one of the largest waterfalls in the State (Mackenzie Falls) and plenty of amazing hikes to consider.
Mount Gambier – an amazing hidden gem full of insane sinkholes which you can either swim or scuba dive (you must be at least Advanced to do so) or visit the amazing gardens (Umpherston Sinkhole is a must).
6. Adelaide to Perth
Time Spent: 2 week or more
Distance: 2,695km at least (28 hours)
Home to the famous Nullarbor plain, this is a long but epic road trip which takes you over to the West coast.
Clare Valley – Make your way to Adelaide’s famous Clare Valley for wine tasting around some of the best vineyards in Australia.
Eyre Peninsula – head here for great white shark cage diving in the winter months, and learn all about the famous Coffin Bay oysters.
Lake Macdonnell – Don’t miss the famous pink lake in South Australia. While there are quite a few pink lakes in South Australia, you cannot miss this famous Instagrammable lake!
Nullarbor Plain – drive along Australia’s longest road which is 90 miles straight (146.6km). Make sure you’re stocked up on coffee to complete this part of the trip!
Esperance – considering it’s such a long drive, you cannot miss the absolutely jaw-dropping Esperance, home to the best beaches in Australia. Lucky Bay, Wharton Beach and Hellfire Bay in Cape Le Grand National Park are so beautiful, I don’t think I’ve seen better beaches anywhere else in Australia!
Albany – Another small and almost forgotten about town with mind-blowing beaches you need to see. Misery Beach, Two Peoples Bay and Salmon Holes are just incredible.
Denmark – Absolutely gorgeous little town which is home to the famous Elephant Rocks and Greens Pool. You’ll soon realise why you need to stop here.
Margaret River – a brilliant getaway from Perth that you could spend weeks here ticking off all of the wineries, fantastic beaches and excellent restaurants on the South West edge. Don’t miss Meelup Farmhouse for food, Canal Rocks and Hamelin Bay.
Perth – An underrated city and a hop skip from Rotnest Island (perfect for quokka spottings and cycling to many of the amazing beaches). Stay in Fremantle for a village vibe and don’t miss the famous Blue Boat House for Insta worthy photos as well as Omeo Shipwreck for snorkelling off the beach.
7. Perth to Esperance (return)
Time spent: At least 10 days
Distance: 2000km (22hr)
This was one of our favourite road trips we did within our Star RV trip. You could totally just do this trip and you won’t regret it! We spent 10 days driving from Perth to Esperance but I wish we spent more time on this trip as it is absolutely stunning.
Do the same trip as above from Perth to Esperance, then make your way inland to see the amazing Wave Rock.
8. Perth to Darwin
Time Spent: At least 1 month
Distance: 4,150km (43hr at least)
We did this trip and while it is so long, it really is incredible! Here are some of the amazing places you need to stop at along the way.
The Pinnacles Desert – a major highlight and tourist attraction just north of Perth. Visit at sunset to see dramatic lighting throughout the remarkable sight.
Kalbarri National Park & Hutt Lagoon – an amazing national park with an exceptional lookout spot you need to see. Swing by Hutt Lagoon on the way to the park to see one of the best pink lakes in Australia. If you have extra time, visit the Abrolhos Islands for fantastic snorkelling
Shark Bay – exceptional region which will make you feel like you’re on another planet. Don’t miss Shell Beach, Monkey Mia for wild dolphins feeding, and do a day trip to Francis Heron National Park (you need a 4wd to get here).
Ningaloo Reef – visit the charming town of Coral Bay for swimming with manta rays and Exmouth for swimming with whale sharks. You also can’t miss the amazing Turqoise Bay as well as Navy Pier for one of the top 10 pier dives in the world. Don’t miss the Bullara Station for parties on Friday nights and some of the best scones I’ve had outside of UK.
Karijini National Park – one of the major highlights on our entire trip. This 2 billion year old national park is home to unbelievable hikes (they aren’t hard) and incredible swimming holes
Broome – Underrated beach town with some of the best sunsets in Australia. Don’t miss the camel ride at sunset at Cable Beach, a trip to the jaw-dropping Horizontal Falls and go exploring to find the dinosaur footprints. Time your visit to see the amazing Staircase to the Moon.
Kununurra – while you’ll miss the Gibb River Road (it’s 4wd only) you can use Kununurra as your base to see some of the amazing Kimberley. Stay at the incredible Lake Argyle Tourist Park (with an infinity pool), do the Bungle Bungles scenic flight and don’t miss El Questro National Park (you can drive the first hour on the Gibb River Road to visit the incredible Emma Gorge.
Katherine – A beautiful town home to the amazing Katherine Hot Springs (it’s free) as well as Katherine Gorge (don’t miss Edith Falls).
9. Darwin to Adelaide
Time Spent: 1 month at least
Distance: 3,000km (31km)
A road trip full of amazing places to visit and bucket list experiences you can’t miss!
Darwin – jump in a cage with a crocodile, don’t miss the wonderful Mindl Markets and the insane sunsets at Mindl Beach, make sure you try some of the best ramen in Australia and visit the amazing Deckchair Cinema.
Litchfield National Park – drive yourself to one of the best national parks in Australia which is home to amazing waterfalls and hot springs. Don’t miss Berry Springs, Wangi Falls, Florence Falls and Bluey Rockhole to name but a few
Kakadu National Park – you’ll be able to drive here in your Star RV van, but I 100% recommend jumping on the Sunrise Yellow River Cruise and don’t miss the scenic flight over the park. It is honestly the Africa of Australia.
Katherine – same as above! We loved Katherine Hot Springs and Nitmiluk National Park!
Mataranka – stop here to visit the amazing hot springs. We could have spent a couple of days just hanging out at the pools here.
Larrimah and Daly Waters – home to two eccentric pubs. While the Larrimah Pub being more famous from the recent Netflix series, stay the night at Daly Waters Pub for live music and a busy but fun atmosphere.
Devils Marbles – one of the most famous stops before heading to Alice Springs to see the amazing rock formations in the middle of the outback.
Alice Springs & West Macdonnell Ranges – there’s so much more to see in Alice Springs than you may have thought of. Visit the wonderful Kangaroo Sanctuary to meet baby roos, and head out to the exceptional West Macdonnell Ranges to swim in various gorges. We loved Ormiston Gorge, Standley Chasm and Ellery Big Hole.
Uluru and Kata Tjuta – nothing will prepare you for how incredible these two iconic and hugely important places are. Don’t miss the Field of Light dinner, Wintjiri Wiru drone show and a helicopter flight over Uluru. If you have time, do the amazing Valley of the Winds walk and the Uluru Base Walk.
Coober Pedy – an insane town built underground that you’ll more than likely have never seen anything quite like it before. Don’t miss Crocodile Harrys and Fayes Underground Home to see a glimpse of dugout home life.
Flinders Ranges – Don’t miss one of the best national parks in South Australia. Home to plenty of hikes and jaw dropping scenery, it’s a must visit on your road trip!
Adelaide – Finishing your trip in Adelaide, don’t miss out on the many wineries to visit in Clare Valley, head to Kangaroo Island, Eyre Peninsula and the stunning Yorke Peninsula.
10. Hobart to Hobart
Time spent: At least 1 week
Distance: Approx 1,000km (13hr)
Tasmania is a simply stunning island that is often missed when people thinking of doing a road trip around Australia. With one of the best hikes in Australia, stunning beaches and the best art gallery in the country, it really does pack a punch for an epic Australia road trip idea.
Hobart – Start and end here and don’t miss out on visiting MONA, the best art gallery in Australia (in my opinion!).
Port Arthur Historic Site – Get spooked out by visiting the UNESCO World Heritage site which offers after dark ghost tours to some of the most haunted sites in Australia.
Freycinet National Park – Home to the incredible Wineglass Bay, it’s a sight you cannot miss on your Tasmania road trip!
Bay of Fires – Head further north to the white sands and turqoise waters of the Bay of Fires, known for being home to some of the best scenery in Tasmania.
Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park – The Overland Track is one of the best hikes in Australia, offering up mountain views, lakes and exceptional scenery.
Bruny Island – as you’re ending the trip in Hobart, jump on the ferry to Bruny Island to see the dramatic cliffs, sample local produce and enjoy the diverse landscape.
Need more help with your van trip?
Check out my following guides to help you plan an Australia road trip of a lifetime!
- What My Experience Was Like Driving 15,000km Around Australia in a Star RV Motorhome
- 15 Things That No One Tells You About Van Life Australia
| Get 10% off your Star RV motorhome with my code: LIS24 |
