"Australian Circuit - A Journey Around Australia ♪ Australian Expedition by BOXIO ♪"
Title: Roaming the Land Down Under: Your Ultimate Guide to Self-Driving Australia
Imagine endless highways, breathtaking landscapes, exotic wildlife, and pristine beaches - it's the perfect adventure that countless Australians and travelers embark on each year. Perhaps, you're considering joining them? This guide offers a comprehensive overview of driving around Australia to help you plan the ultimate road trip.
This expansive journey could easily fill a travel log, but we'll focus on the fundamentals in this piece. In later articles, we'll delve deeper into details.
If you don't already have a vehicle in tow, consider starting your journey in cities such as Brisbane, Cairns, Sydney, Melbourne, or Perth. For tips on what to look for when buying a car, check out our car-buying guide (link).
First, let's chat about the climate and the ideal time to travel. In brief, it's hot and humid in the north, like Cairns, during the summer (December to February), which also marks the wet season. If you can, visit the north during the winter (June to August) if you aren't fond of tropical weather. In Melbourne, summers are warm to hot, but winters are relatively cold and wet for Australian standards. The rest of the country offers a mix of these two extremes depending on the region. By the way, I've been dwelling at the Sunshine Coast for almost two months now, and despite occasional rainy days, the winter here is truly pleasant. Mornings and evenings can be chilly, even dropping below 10°C, but once the sun breaks through, the temperatures climb up to 23°C, making it feel like a delightful summer day.
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Now, let's share our story from almost five years ago. We set foot in Brisbane, found an Airbnb for our initial settling-in period, and crossed off the initial tasks on our to-do list (more on this in our settling-in post (link)). Once we were sorted, we set out on the hunt for a car. Remarkably, we stumbled upon the perfect VW T4 campervan within our grasp. Post-packing, we left for Rainbow Beach, hopped on a ferry to K'Gari (Fraser Island), booked a two-day tour to accommodate beginners. This enchanting sand island has a myriad of captivating offerings, and I highly encourage setting aside the time to visit.
**After the tour, we took the southbound route. We spent a few days at the Sunshine Coast, including visits to Noosa, Coolum Beach, and Mooloolaba. The national park in Noosa is definitely worth a stop. We then passed through Brisbane and stopped at the Gold Coast. The Surfers Paradise area was too congested for my taste and closely resembled a bustling city, yet smaller towns like Coolangatta and Currumbin still boasted a lively, laid-back "surf town" atmosphere. The next notable milestone was Byron Bay, once a hippie haven attracting a diverse range of individuals, including backpackers, Australians, and even celebrities like Brad Pitt. Despite becoming more instrumented by tourists, Byron Bay possesses a unique charm, and a stroll out to the Byron Bay Lighthouse, the easternmost point in Australia, is always an absolute must. From Byron, we navigated toward our next destination: Sydney, where we spent New Year's Eve. The fireworks were monumental and awe-inspiring, and watching the spectacular show in front of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge was a stunning experience. After Sydney, we made our way to Jervis Bay and the town of Huskisson, where we worked in a restaurant for three weeks. Afterward,we journeyed toward Melbourne with stops in Canberra and Narooma. Owing to the devastating bushfires during the summer of 2019/2020, we needed to reroute through the inland as significant portions of the country were closed. However, this isn't the case in every summer. Leaving Melbourne, we meandered along the Great Ocean Road to Adelaide, a 300-kilometer stretch offering breathtaking views, quaint coastal towns, waterfalls, and excellent surfing spots. We were joined by another German couple, Vicky and Raphael, whom we met at the Gold Coast and have stayed friends with since then. With two vans side by side, we embarked on a trip into the Australian outback, reaching Uluru. Together, we planned the trip, checking points where we could refuel and camp, and witnessing the sunrise and sunset shimmering before Uluru was an unparalleled experience. Once the outback tour was complete, we tired of the arid desert landscape and longed for the coast, sea, and waves. We retraced our steps, albeit turning right to drive further west. Unfortunately, we weren't aware that desert landscapes also lined the southern coast, but our realization had its moments of humor. Next on our agenda was the Nullarbor Plain, also known as the "90 Mile Straight," where the highway stretches an almost unbroken 90 miles. I wasn't aware there were camels there, but we only found their remains scattered along the roadside. After what felt like an unending journey, we reached the Western Australia border and, before long, the beautiful town of Esperance. Beautiful waves for newcomers, picturesque beaches, and undisturbed nature awaited us there. We continued through Albany, Denmark, and Margaret River to Perth, where our paths with our friends parted ways. By then, the COVID-19 pandemic had emerged, and all travelers were advised to fly home. In retrospect, I'm glad we stayed longer. From Perth, we charted a course north, and by mid-March, the summer peak had subsided, although it was still quite warm. We had earmarked several stops along the west coast, including the Pinnacles Desert, Kalbarri National Park, Monkey Mia, and Shark Bay. One of my absolute highlights was snorkeling with whale sharks in Exmouth. As this enormous, yet so relaxed creature swam beneath me, I felt incredibly small. This experience is one I'll never forget.
Exmouth also graced us with one of the hottest nights I've ever experienced, with temperatures shooting up to an oppressive 33 degrees Celsius. Despite the extreme heat, it was absolutely marvelous.
This was my first circumnavigation of Australia. The total travel time, excluding stops for work and my lengthy stay in Agnes Water, was approximately 4 months. Of course, you can also traverse the country more quickly, and similarly, you can take up to a year or more if you wish.
Perhaps you're curious about why I mentioned earlier that I longed for the east coast... I wanted to clarify that I didn't dislike the west coast by any means. Quite the contrary, the west coast is remarkable, and I definitely want to explore it again. More thoroughly, this time with a properly equipped 4WD.
What I can recommend for your Australian road trip are two app suggestions. The first is WikiCamps, a relatively inexpensive app that displays numerous camping and free camping sites, hostels, water stations, and attractions found across Australia. The second is just a fuel app named Petrol Spy.
Hopefully, this guide has instilled even more enthusiasm for your upcoming Australian trip and has shown you that by choosing a starting point and considering the climate and weather conditions, you're well on your way to planning the road trip of a lifetime. And remember, as the Aussies say, "drive safe, don't drive at night, and don't drink and drive."
Happy travels,
Yours, Jesko
Itinerary Recommendations:
For the complete Australian experience, allocate at least 6 weeks to a loop around the entire continent, allowing time for stops and detours.
For a manageable extended trip, consider the East Coast drive from Sydney to Cairns or Cairns to Sydney, ideally taking 10-14 days for a more fulfilling experience.
For a shorter scenic trip, travel the Great Ocean Road in Victoria or the Red Centre Way in the Northern Territory, which can be completed in 3-5 days or 1-2 days, respectively.
Remember, the duration of your journey depends on how many stops and overnight stays you want, and driving non-stop is not recommended due to Australia's vastness and the wealth of attractions.
These routes vary in difficulty and environment, from coastal routes with beach towns to remote Outback roads requiring proper vehicles (4WD recommended for some sections).
- To enhance your self-drive adventure in Australia, consider discovering the allure of electric vehicles (EVs), offering a sustainable and exciting travel experience as you traverse diverse landscapes.
- As you explore the hotspots along the Great Ocean Road or the Red Centre Way, taking care of your car-maintenance is crucial for a hassle-free journey. Be sure to keep up with regular checks and necessary repairs, especially for those venturing off the beaten path in all-terrain vehicles (4WDs).
- Are you looking to spark some adventure in your travel lifestyle? Delve into the realm of adventure-travel by selecting hybrid or off-road tours tailored for secluded spots and unique experiences, such as camping in outback Australia or discovering hidden gems in Australia's hinterland.
