Want to get a camper or drive to discover the highlights of Australia? If you’ve a month+ in Australia there are so many amazing road trips you can do.
Most people tend to choose either the East or West Coasts which you can complete in two to three weeks, but why not mix a bit of some of the other Aussie states like The Northern Territory and South. Australia too.
If you do want to see the highlights and also venture off the tourist trail here’s one for you true adventurers who have longer on the road and want to see it all.
This one month itinerary encompasses the best of the East Coast itinerary, plus the iconic Great Ocean Road and an epic trail through the outback to Uluru added on the end. If you’ve even longer (lucky thing), and have a flexible schedule add a a few more weeks or a month if you want to factor in more hammock-hanging and hangovers. You can easily tag the West Coast on, too!
This itinerary is perfect if you are thinking about renting a camper van, this is a very safe and affordable way to travel, it gives you flexibility and saves you a fortune on accommodation which in Australia is super expensive.
Ultimate Australia in a Month Itinerary (Starts Cairns, ends Alice Springs)
Day 1: Cairns
Be sure spend a few days in Cairns and visit the incredible Great Barrier Reef. Then pick up your camper or rental in Cairns and become acquainted with the newest member of your wolf pack on a day-drive north to Cape Tribulation via the Daintree. Head back to Cairns for sunset.
Day 2: Mission Beach
Head south down the coast to Mission Beach where you can skydive, snorkel or just hang in a hammock. Paradise!
Day 3-5: Whitsunday Islands
It’s a six-hour drive from Mission Beach to Airlie Beach, the jumping off point to the Whitsunday Islands. Townsville makes for a fun lunch stop. Spend a few days island hopping the Whitsundays on a cruise or tour with like-minded travellers before hopping back into your campervan! Who knows – you might have gathered a land convoy on your voyage.
Day 6: Rockhampton
Head south for a few hours to Rockhampton, a small town famous for its steak production. Choose to have a rest stop here before you complete the long drive down the Sunshine Coast to Rainbow Beach in the same day, or set up camp for the night.
Day 7-9: Fraser Island
Rainbow Beach is the jumping off point for Fraser Island, home of Lake McKenzie, Champagne Pools, a pretty cool looking shipwreck and that amazing beach you can blaze along in a jeep! Enjoy!
Day 10-11: Brisvegas
Head to Brisbane via Noosa for a night of bright lights and big city livin’. Or drinking, and the rest.
Day 12: Take a short drive to the Gold Coast
If you can, rise early and take in Springbrook National Park along the way before catching the sunset at beautiful Burleigh Heads.
Day 13-15: Byron Bay
Byron Bay is only an hour south of the Gold Coast. Set up camp or check into one of the buzzing hostels, hop on a surfboard or just watch the pros on some of the best surfing beaches in Australia. If you fancy doing more, spend an afternoon exploring nearby Nimbin, a colourful, offbeat traveller community founded in the seventies.
Day 16: Coffs Harbour
Drive three hours from Byron Bay to Coffs Harbour, one of the hidden gems of Australia. Driving across the East Coast can get a bit beach heavy, so if you’re in the mood for switching your views of ocean blues to forest greens, Coffs Harbour has to be a stop on your itinerary.
Head straight for Dorrigo National Park for panoramic views across luscious, thick jungle-scapes and gentle hikes to Crystal Waterfall, where you can even walk behind it. Or for a more relaxing day, you can just chill on the beach.
Day 17: Explore Sydney
It’s a long drive from Coffs Harbour to Sydney, but there’s plenty of beaches and stunning scenery to soak up along the way. Over the next few days discover the highlights of Sydney, one of the most iconic cities in the world. Take in the Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Bondi beach, Manly, and be sure to spend a night out in The Rocks area.
Day 20-22: Blue Mountains
After a few days sightseeing in Sydney head to the nearby Blue Mountains National Park. That’s if you can drag yourself away from Sydney’s cosmopolitan culture and picture-perfect beaches, the Blue Mountains are an absolute must-see, and only a couple of hours’ drive away.
The National Park is a massive 11,400 km2 of blue haze hovering over millions of trees with abundant wildlife all around you, perfect for a day trip. Opt to visit for the scenic lookouts or get your walking boots on – the hiking tracks range from ‘I didn’t come to Aussie to exercise’ to ‘I really need to walk off three months of bad diet choices while travelling’, so all fitness levels are covered.
Don’t miss the small town of Katoomba, the world-famous Three Sisters or the epic Wentworth Falls – let’s just say TLC had no idea what they were talking about when they told us not to go chasing them.
From the Blue Mountains head south down the Pacific Highway to Australia’s cultural capital, Melbourne.
Days 22: Melbourne
Take in the highlights of Melbourne, easily one of the best cities to visit on any Aussie itinerary. The city centre is walkable and there are so many great shops, cafes, bars and restaurants.
Day 23-25: Great Ocean Road
Head down the Great Ocean Road – the daddy of all roadies, towards Grampians National Park. Warning: these views will blow your backpack off. Spend your 25th night in Adelaide and get some rest before an early rise to start the Outback stretch of your four-wheeled adventure.
Day 26-30: Outback Adventure
The Adelaide to Alice Springs stretch of your roadie will take you north up the Stuart Highway through the heart of the red centre. We recommend you stop off overnight in Glendambo, before carrying onto the interesting mining town of Coober Pedy where you can spend another night under the stars.
Day 31: Hello, Uluru!
Watch the sunrise over Australia’s most famous rock formation… from the back of your trusty four-wheeled friend. Romantic, ey. This will be one of the highlights of your trip. Then head to the nearby town of Alice Springs.
This itinerary is really quick and fast paced, if you prefer a more slower relaxed pace and want to see as much as possible you could easily make the itinerary a few weeks longer. Also although the Outback is where my itinerary ends, if you have 6-8 weeks, from Alice Springs you could travel north to Darwin, across to Broome, then down the beautiful West Coast to Perth.
If you are planning an epic trip Down Under check out my Australia backpacking guide for more tips. Or if you like to idea of moving here, find out information about working holidays in Australia.
