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Australia’s road trips are legendary, with diverse landscapes ranging from outback odysseys to lush rainforest routes and iconic landmarks at every turn. Paired with the perfect vehicle, your epic road trip is guaranteed to be the torque of the town.
Don’t have the right wheels for the job? Don’t let that slow you down – find your dream ride on Turo, the world’s largest car-sharing marketplace with hosts in over 11,000 cities across Australia, the US, UK, Canada and France.
Victoria: The Great Ocean Road – Melbourne to 12 Apostles
Trip length: approx. 243km
Recommended trip time: 3 days
Recommended vehicle: Mercedes A-Class
One of the most breathtaking coastal drives in the world – lined with dramatic cliffs, famous surf breaks and winding roads – this coastal cruise requires an agile and smooth-handling car. Compact and sporty, the Mercedes A-Class is a great choice, able to keep a steady speed while turning corners.
From Melbourne, make your way approximately 90 minutes southwest to Torquay, home to Bells Beach and the world surf event the Rip Curl Pro. Zip around to the charming seaside townships of Barwon Heads, Ocean Grove and Anglesea – each within an easy 20-minute drive from Torquay.
Drive two hours south and enjoy a few days in Apollo Bay, uncovering waterfall-filled rainforests and delicious local seafood. Continue west to reach Port Campbell National Park, home to the iconic 12 Apostles: limestone pillars that stand resilient against the ocean’s unyielding waves.
Victoria: Great Alpine Road – Gippsland Lakes to Bright
Trip length: approx. 290km
Recommended trip time: 3 days
Recommended vehicle: Porsche Boxster
Whether you’re a foodie or an adventurer, the Great Alpine Road promises something for everyone. Cruise through Victoria’s high country, from snow-capped peaks to sparkling lakes, in the versatile Porsche Boxster.
This is the perfect trip for locals wanting to explore more of their state’s own backyard, especially Melburnians. Turo makes it easy – hosts can even drop the vehicle off at your house – so that you’ll be perfectly equipped for adventure no matter where your journey begins.
Begin your Great Alpine Road trip in Australia’s largest inland waterway system, the wildlife-filled Gippsland Lakes, exploring quaint coastal villages like Metung, Lakes Entrance and Paynesville. Boating and fishing are the order of the day, with a stop at Metung Hot Springs for geothermal relaxation.
Then, hit the Great Alpine Road towards Mount Hotham, where the Porsche Boxster’s rear-wheel drive and mid-engine design offer smooth handling on the four-hour drive’s countless twists and turns. The Porsche Boxster’s convertible roof lets you enjoy the wind in your hair while keeping warm as you climb into higher country. After a day on the slopes or a picnic, head to the township of Bright, where breweries, bike trails and rivers beckon.
Northern Territory: Red Centre Way – Alice Springs to Uluṟu
Trip length: approx. 835km
Recommended trip time: 6 days
Recommended vehicle: Toyota Land Cruiser
With fiery rust-red sands, rugged canyons and abundant wildlife, Central Australia’s raw beauty stretches from deep gorges to towering monoliths. It’s untamed and unpredictable, so gear up with a reliable ride – the Toyota Land Cruiser.
Start in Alice Springs, exploring First Nations art galleries and museums steeped in millennia of history. Flying in from interstate? With Turo, there’s no need to waste time lining up at the car rental counter – your host will meet you at the airport, ready to hand the keys straight over.
Head west approximately two hours to the MacDonnell Ranges for bushwalks, rare wildlife and waterhole swims. Take the Ernest Giles Road to Kings Canyon – a stretch of desert only 4WD vehicles can handle – where the six-kilometre Rim Walk offers spectacular 360-degree views.
No visit is complete without a stop at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Uluṟu and Kata Tjuṯa National Park. Pack the camping kit – the Land Cruiser boot space offers plenty of room – and the Red Centre has abundant epic sunsets and skies seemingly made for stargazing.
New South Wales/Queensland: Pacific Coast Route – Sydney to Brisbane
Trip length: approx. 918km
Recommended trip time: 5 days
Recommended vehicle: BMW X3
Quite the trek, this 12-hour journey is best split up over several days and with a car that can handle everything from sandy shores to city streets: the spacious BMW X3. Its all-weather performance will come in handy when navigating through the East Coast’s subtropical landscapes.
Before hitting the road from Sydney, there are a few sites to tick off, including Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge and Bondi Beach. Journey two hours north to the coastal city of Newcastle; if you only have a day or two to spend, Nobby’s Beach, one of the coast’s gentler surf beaches, is well worth a visit.
Before continuing to Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour and Byron Bay, consider taking a detour inland for the night to Hunter Valley, the birthplace of Australian wines and home to some of the country’s best fine dining restaurants. Along the way to Brisbane, stop by the palm-fringed beaches of the Gold Coast: spend your days swimming and sun-soaking, with water temperatures warm enough to linger for hours.
Queensland: Great Barrier Reef Drive – Cairns to Cape Tribulation
Trip length: approx. 140km
Recommended trip time: 2 days
Recommended vehicle: Jeep Wrangler
From underwater wonderlands to verdant rainforests, this three-hour drive is a real-life Jurassic Park adventure. With off-road capabilities designed to conquer tough terrain like mud, rocks, and sand, the Jeep Wrangler ensures you’re fully equipped for the new horizons ahead.
First time driving a 4WD vehicle? No worries – your host will give you a thorough run-down of the car and its features, so you’ll be fully across the Jeep Wrangler before departure.
Spend some time cafe-hopping, market-shopping and esplanade-swimming in Cairns, and if you have time to venture inland, visit the picturesque swimming holes Fairy Falls and Crystal Cascales. Pass through the pristine enclave of Palm Cove (approximately 90 minutes away) and arrive in Port Douglas, where Great Barrier Reef cruises await, offering a chance to dive with tropical fish, dolphins, manta rays and sea turtles.
Continue north to visit the Daintree Rainforest, the world’s oldest tropical rainforest, where its breathtaking beauty and deep connection to First Nations culture will leave you in awe. If you’re game, jump aboard a cruise to spot crocodiles. Finally, reach Cape Tribulation’s majestic beaches that glow emerald and cobalt. Brimming with salt-water crocs, admire its beauty from the comfort of your Jeep Wrangler.
Western Australia/South Australia: The Nullarbor Plain – Ceduna to Norseman
Trip length: approx. 1,202km
Recommended trip time: 3 days
Recommended vehicle: Audi Q7
Crossing the Nullarbor is like driving into infinity. It’s vast, almost treeless and isolated, and while there are places to stay along the way, prepare for long stretches: the Audi Q7 is the way to go, with adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance. It’s also remarkably quiet, replacing the usual engine hum and wind noise with the sound of your ultimate road trip playlist.
Start in Ceduna, South Australia, renowned as the country’s oyster capital. Few sights rival the Bunda Cliffs of the Great Australian Bight, a dramatic 100-kilometre stretch where sheer limestone walls meet the boundless blue of the ocean below. The whale viewing platforms at the Head of Bight are a must-visit, where hundreds of Southern right whales breed from June to October. Norseman, Western Australia, marks the end of the Eyre Highway and the Nullarbor Plain – it’s also the perfect place to stop for a celebratory meal.
If you don’t want to cross state lines on a South Australia road trip, begin in Adelaide and opt to explore more of SA’s stunning drives: the Limestone Coast, to Kangaroo Island and wider Fleurieu Peninsula are great options.
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This article was produced in partnership with Turo. Learn more about this game-changing app and discover how it can be used for escapes close to home or further afield.
