If you want to experience a real road trip from Sydney, follow our 5 itinerary ideas to sample the wonders of Australia.
Sydney’s assets are countless! While it’s already one of the craziest cities in the world, Sydney is also an ideal starting point for a road trip. Taking to the road is the best way to discover Australia. From the capital of New South Wales, follow the yellow lines that cut through the Australian tarmac.
By car, van, 4×4 or camper van, they’ll take you to Cairns, Brisbane, Melbourne or Adelaide, where you’ll encounter all the clichés of Australia. When we talk about clichés, we’re talking about animals, with eucalyptus forests populated by koalas and kangaroos. It’s also about wild east coast beaches, the outback, rugged mountains, vineyards and surfing villages.
To guide you on your road trip, don’t hesitate to turn to Australie à la carte, a specialist in the country who will find you the best activities to suit your desires! Follow our 5 road trip ideas from Sydney to make you want to go to Australia!
From Sydney to Melbourne via the Australian Alps
Photo credits: Australia à la carte – Destination NSW
A road trip between white sand beaches and mountains? This is the place! To start this road trip from Sydney, we follow the east coast to Jervis Bay. You’ll find magnificent views of the cliffs and beautiful little villages where you can enjoy fish and chips. Jervis Bay is the perfect place to see dolphins, parrots and turtles.
Heading south, you’ll love Murramarang Coastal Nature Park, an Aboriginal reserve. A few kilometers further on, you’ll be treated to the most eagerly awaited cliché of the roadtrip: Pebbly Beach, where kangaroos bask on the beach. Stop off at the fishing village of Narooma and take a boat to Montague Island, home to a penguin colony. From July to November, you can even see whales. And as you approach Merimbula, you’ll pass through an agricultural area where you can sample the local cheeses.
Then you’ll turn your back on the ocean to discover the Australian landscape. You’ll be driving for 3 hours on the Great Alpine Way, where you’ll see mountain ranges taking shape. You’ll arrive in Thredbo, a ski resort in winter and a starting point for hikes in summer.
You’ll then be in the heart of the Kosciuszko National Park, where you can have the time of your life. Microlighting, paragliding, skiing, mountain biking, climbing, canoeing… there’s something for everyone! You’ll finish your journey by returning along the coast to Gippsland Lakes. 400 km² of waterways made up of canals, lagoons, lakes and rivers between land and ocean.
Loop road trip through the national parks
Photo credit: Australia à la carte – Destination NSW
Short on time? Make a loop around Sydney! Start with the Blue Mountains, less than an hour from the city center. Tropical forest, blue reflections in the rock, sheer cliffs: the Blue Mountains can be visited via magnificent hiking trails. They lead to the Katoomba viewpoint, where you can observe the famous Three Sisters, a breathtaking group of three rock formations.
A three-and-a-half-hour drive later, it’s time for some hedonism! Australia has a large number of vineyards, and its inhabitants are particularly fond of wine. Treat yourself to a taste of the local produce in the heart of the lush Hunter Valley. And when it’s time to sleep, opt for a beautiful estate resort for an original, local Australian experience.
Before returning to Sydney, treat yourself to two stops on the East Coast. First, Diamond Beach, where you can surf and watch dolphins (and, in high season, whales) leap offshore. Then you can stop off at Port Stephens, on Anna Bay. It’s only a few kilometers back to Sydney, with the Pacific as a curtain-raiser.
Up the east coast between Sydney and Brisbane
Photo credits: Australia à la carte – Destination NSW
Don’t forget your surfboards for this Sydney road trip! In less than 3 hours, you’ll reach Anna Bay, an incredible peninsula. Here you’ll find endless beaches veiled by the magnificent sand dunes of Stockton Beach, where you can take a camel ride. A stone’s throw from the dunes is Port Stephens, famous for the many dolphins that roam offshore.
After Anna Bay, head for Hat Head. To cut the 6-hour drive short, don’t forget to stop off at Port Macquarie, where you’ll find theKoala Hospital. Afterwards, enjoy a night stop at Hat Head National Park to marvel at the magnificent lights that flood the bay at sunrise. From here, you can hike the Korogoro Walking Track, a 2-hour round trip through the rainforest.
Last stop in New South Wales, the mythical Byron Bay, entirely dedicated to surfing culture. The many surfing spots are filled with boards on which beginners and enthusiasts alike can enjoy small waves and beautiful rollers. From Byron Bay, it’s just 2 hours to Brisbane. On the way, make one last stop at Gold Coast, where you can surf again at Surfer Paradise.
Discover Australia’s East Coast from Sydney to Cairns
Photo credits: Australia à la carte – Destination NSW
To leave Sydney, you can make a first stop in the Hunter Valley, in the heart of green valleys and vineyards. A must for wine lovers! After that, you’re just a stone’s throw from Port Stephens, where you’re likely to see dolphins leaping into the bay. Beautiful beaches and forests await you! Before arriving in Brisbane, your last stop in New South Wales has to be Byron Bay. You’ll be blown away by theworld of surfing, which can be felt around every corner.
Once in Queensland, head for the white-sand beaches of Noosa or Rainbow Beach, close to the Sunshine Coast. From there, it’s just a few kilometers to Hervey Bay and Fraser Island, where you can enjoy a 4×4 adventure and swim in Lake McKenzie. From July to November, you can watch humpback whales offshore.
Then plan a stopover at Emu Park, just a few kilometers from Rockhampton. Here, you straddle the Great Barrier Reef and the beginning of the Australian bush. Tropical forests rub shoulders with heavenly beaches: the full-scale Australian experience! Further north, stop off at Airlie Beach. This is the starting point for the Whitsundays, one of Australia’s most beautiful islands. The road trip from Sydney to Cairns ends like a slow curtain call, with a thousand more surprises in store. Among them, Hidden Valley will plunge you into an ocean of nature.
In the heart of the Paluma Range National Park, you enter the bush and sleep in a lodge in the heart of an eco-park. According to Australian Geographic, there’s a 98% chance of spotting a platypus here. Believe us, it’s quite a privilege! Last stop before Cairns, Mission Beach. 14 km of beach and the chance to take a water cab to Dunk Island for a dive. You’ve arrived in Cairns! The sun is setting over the city and the stars are as numerous in the sky as in your eyes after such a journey.
From Sydney to Adelaide via the Outback
Photo credits: Australia à la carte – Destination NSW
Ready to take a route off the beaten track? Let’s set off on a road trip from Sydney through the outback. Ochre earth, ancestral Aboriginal sites, contrasts between lakes and deserts, crazy starry skies: you’re going to see it all!
Start with a first stop in the Blue Mountains. Then drive on to Parkes, passing through the heart of agricultural Australia, dotted with lush private gardens. After Parkes, the greenery fades and gradually gives way to the entrance to the desert. At this point, the towns become fewer and farther between, and the national parks take over. It’s a 9-hour drive to the mining town of Broken Hill.
It will offer you a dive into the history of Australia’s Gold Rush, while opening the door to Kinchega National Park, just outside Menindee. A network of lakes awaits you for wildlife viewing from this tasty oasis. You’ll also be close to Mungo National Park, where 25km of dunes have been arced by the wind.
An Aboriginal guide will passionately introduce you to the habits and customs of his people, deeply attached to this land. You can also enjoy the glistening cliffs of Walls of China while staying in an eco-lodge. For your last stop before heading back to Adelaide, take a stroll through the gum trees of Wenthworth. If you’ve missed the sea during your week in the outback, take a dip at Glenelg beach, on the outskirts of Adelaide.
What about you? Are you more of an outback, mountains or ocean for a road trip from Sydney? As you can see, there’s no shortage of options. So, which itinerary appeals most to you?