Travel guide - Best Road Trips Australia 2026 | Lonely Planet

Lonely Planet's Best Road Trips Australia reveals 38 incredible escapes -with maps - so you can experience the freedom of the open road.

Get ready for a road trip like no other and discover unforgettable drives across Australia that range from 2-day escapes to multi-week adventures, from passing the Twelve Apostles on the Great Ocean Road, to travelling from Brisbane to the high tropics alongside the Great Barrier Reef, and exploring one of the outback's most beautiful corners across northern WA.

Inside Lonely Planet's Best Road Trips Australia:
Discover 38 open road escapes that range from 2 days to 2 weeks
Each route featured includes easy-to-use maps, detailed directions and tips about when to go, duration, distance, and how to link your trip to other drives
Find the top stops and experiences as well as fun photo opportunities along the way
'Our Picks' section highlights the best: coastal drives, outback drives, historical drives, wine and wildlife drives, national parks drives
Local travel experts share why they love each trip
Essential 'Toolkit' on arriving, hiring the right car for your trip, getting around, local driving laws, accommodation, health and safety, and more
Covers: New South Wales & The Australian Capital Territory; Victoria; Queensland; South Australia; Northern Territory; Western Australia; Tasmania