Scenic stops on Australia’s iconic coastal drives and road trips

Take time away from behind the wheel and soak in the views at these scenic stops.

A good road trip is marked by many things: scenery, playlists, good company and the scenic stops you make between point A and point B.

Whether you're driving the Great Ocean Road, cruising the Pacific Highway or following the Hume Highway, these scenic stops along the way offer a chance to stretch your legs, breathe in the incredible views and reset your mind for the journey ahead.

NSW: Pacific Highway – Lake Macquarie

The turquoise waters of Lake Macquarie

stretch towards distant hills in a stunning display of blues and greens. It’s the perfect vista for a picnic beneath a shady tree, with the lake gently lapping at the shore, a calming background track for the mind. Ideal for families with little ones in need of an energy release and couples looking for a space to spread a blanket and soak up nature.

How to get there: Our pick is Belmont South Foreshore Reserve

, located just off the highway, for its BBQ facilities, playground and picnic area.

VIC: Great Ocean Road – Apollo Bay

Roughly halfway along the Great Ocean Road

, Apollo Bay

is the kind of place that invites you to slow down. Park near the foreshore, grab a coffee and take a few quiet minutes overlooking the beach or wandering the pine-lined walking paths behind it. The gentle ocean backdrop, wide-open space and easy facilities make it a calming stop to stretch the legs before continuing to the Twelve Apostles

and beyond. 

How to get there: Pull over anywhere that takes your pick as you drive through town.

NSW: Hume Highway – Goulburn Wetlands

A haven for families during the well-driven route from Canberra to Sydney (or vice versa), the Goulburn Wetlands

offer everything parents (and their kids) would want: space, wildlife and fresh air. Grassy patches allow plenty of space to run and jump, while the elevated boardwalks that crisscross the wetlands make for excellent exploration. There’s an abundance of birdlife to spot, and the big blue sky mirrored in the still water of the wetlands counteracts hours spent on the road.

How to get there: Take the exit towards Goulburn

from Hume Highway/Remembrance Driveway/M31 from either direction.

WA: Indian Ocean Drive – Pinnacles Desert Lookout

Nowhere in Australia will you be afforded an otherworldly place like this to pause. At the Pinnacles Desert Lookout

, you’ll take in an awe-inspiring landscape where pinnacles rise out of the dusty, golden landscape. It’s a geological wonder that immediately shifts your perspective.

How to get there: Follow the well-marked signs from the Pinnacles Desert Discovery Centre

where you will find the Pinnacles View Lookout.

NSW: Grand Pacific Drive – Sea Cliff Bridge

Whether you’re on a solo road trip, a family getaway or a romantic escape, the Grand Pacific Drive

has one thing no other road trip does: a feat of engineering juxtaposed with the natural beauty of the Pacific Ocean. It’s a uniquely uplifting reflection that’s best marvelled at from the Sea Cliff Bridge

area, with multiple pull-over points to choose from. The elevation means you’re treated to breathtaking ocean views, where a quiet moment witnessing the waves crash along the coastline is the perfect reset for the remainder of your trip. You may even spot some wildlife.

How to get there: Find parking spots along Lawrence Hargrave Drive both before and after the bridge.

SA: Southern Ocean Drive – The Bluff

The Bluff

– or Rosetta Head – boasts sweeping views across Encounter Bay

, some 97 metres above Victor Harbor. It’s a short one-way loop road with various vantage points to choose from. And if you’re road tripping between May and November, you may even spot a whale or two.

How to get there: Follow directions to The Bluff, Encounter Bay at Victor Harbor.

QLD: Great Barrier Reef Drive – Rex Smeal Park

Ever seen one of those iconic photos of a palm-fringed grassy patch looking out towards a stage of tropical bliss? This is Rex Smeal Park

, and it’s a must-visit scenic stopover on the Great Barrier Reef Drive

. Not only because of its waterfront proximity and stunning views, but the immediate tranquillity that hits you the moment you step out of the car is what road trips in the Sunshine State are all about.

How to get there: Take the exit onto Port Douglas Rd from Captain Cook Hwy/State Route 44.

No matter which road you take – the Great Ocean Road, Southern Ocean Drive or a sun-drenched stretch through Far North Queensland – frequent breaks can help your road trip go smoothly and keep your mind calm and on the road.

_Disclaimer
^{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.}