Three best road trips to escape the cold weather

From rainforest to desert to coastline, these three bucket-list drives showcase some of Australia’s most diverse landscapes from east to west. And while they each offer vastly different scenery and activities, all present a warm and welcoming respite from winter in the southern states.

The Red Centre Way, NT

Alice Springs to Uluṟu,

Distance: Over 1000km round trip (5–7 days)

The cooler months (June to August) are undoubtedly the best time to discover Central Australia, with sunny days comfortably reaching 23 degrees Celsius. But as with all deserts, the night temperature can drop to a mere three degrees and expect the mornings to be frosty, so pack warm clothes and a waterproof jacket.

This adventure road trip (for 4WD vehicles only) reveals the country’s heart, from the rugged beauty of Uluṟu to the serene waterholes of Tjoritja (West MacDonnell Ranges).

Beginning in Alice Springs, drive west through the West MacDonnell National Park to Simpsons Gap, where you can walk the gorge between towering red cliffs, known as Rungutjirpa to the Arrernte people, home to a group of mythological giant goanna ancestors. Don’t miss the chance to swim in waterholes at Ellery Creek and Ormiston Gorge, too.

Then take the Mereenie Loop to Kings Canyon, and enjoy the breathtaking desert views from the 6km Kings Canyon Rim Walk or the much easier 2.6km Kings Creek Walk.

From Kings Canyon, it’s about 300km to Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park

(Curtin Springs) Wayside Inn is a good place to stop for an authentic homestead lunch en route). About 20km from Uluṟu, Ayers Rock Resort

has a range of accommodations and is the perfect base for exploring the rock dome formations of Kata Tjuṯa; Walpa Gorge; and, of course, the monolith itself (don’t miss the 10km base walk for an up-close perspective).

The drive back to Alice Springs takes about five hours and passes interesting pit stops such as Mount Conner Lookout (where you can see why ‘Fooluru’ is aptly nicknamed) and the craters of Henbury Meteorites Conservation Reserve.

Rainforest Way, NSW and QLD

Distance: Various (1–3 days)

The Rainforest Way refers to a range of 11 self-drive touring routes through the magical (and delightfully temperate) hinterland of northern New South Wales and south-east Queensland. You can do the drives separately as a day trip from Byron Bay, Brisbane or the Gold Coast, or link routes for an immersive scenic and cultural journey that connects the towns of Murwillumbah, Nimbin, Kyogle, Casino, Killarney, Beaudesert and more.

As well as touring the vibrant arts communities and quirky villages this region is known for, the driving trails also incorporate a range of national parks including Wollumbin (Mount Warning), Springbrook, Border Ranges and Lamington National Park. Within these verdant wonderlands, you’ll admire views of an ancient volcanic caldera, stroll through World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforests, picnic beside crystalline river streams and uncover caves, waterfalls and some unique local fauna.

Perth to Broome, WA

Distance: 2800km (7–10 days)

Winter and early spring is wildflower season on the WA coastline; just one more attraction in a region that already boasts spectacular beaches, unrivaled marine life, remote national parks and unique landmarks. Spanning almost 3000km, this road trip involves a lot of hours behind the wheel but offers scenery and experiences you won’t find anywhere else.

Your first stop from Perth has to be Nambung National Park (about two hours' drive) to see The Pinnacles: ancient limestone pillars that form a natural sculpture park in the desert. Then it’s on to the city of Geraldton for cafes, culture and beautiful beaches.

Day two brings you to Kalbarri National Park where, from mid-June and for the five months following, dry sand plains and river gorges burst into bloom with a kaleidoscopic display of wildflowers. There are over 1000 species here, many of which are found nowhere else on Earth.

Four hours north brings you to Monkey Mia – home to dolphins, dugongs, sharks and more. Be sure to catch the resident Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins visiting the shallows for their breakfast.

The next stop is the town of Carnarvon, known as the state’s ‘food bowl’ and the ideal place to sample a range of local produce and seafood.

There’s more world-famous marine life to meet at Ningaloo Reef and Exmouth, where you can swim with humpback whales in the winter season (the water stays a balmy 24 degrees Celsius

). There are whale-watching tours, too, as well as some 500 other species of fish to spy on during a dive or snorkeling adventure.

From Exmouth, you could continue straight to Port Hedland, but it’s well worth taking the detour to Karijini National Park to dip in the turquoise waters of Hamersley Gorge, marvel at the cascades of Fortescue Falls and absorb the unbelievable colours and textures of the Dale Gorge Loop.

The last leg to Broome is the longest: you can break it up with an overnight stay at Port Hedland and stretch your legs at Eighty Mile Beach as you follow the coastline for the second half of the drive.

Don’t forget to leave enough time to explore Broome itself. Luckily, winter and early spring are the perfect time to witness the unforgettable natural phenomenon dubbed ‘staircase to the moon’ in Roebuck Bay.

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^{Viva Energy Australia Pty Ltd (“Viva Energy”) has compiled the above article for your general information and to use as a general reference. Whilst all reasonable care has been taken by Viva Energy in compiling this article, Viva Energy does not warrant or represent that the information in the article is free from errors or omissions or is suitable for your intended use.}