Before you commit to a full year (or more) on the road, it makes sense to test-drive your camper or caravan on a bite-size trip.

While hitting the road full-time is enticing, ease yourself into the caravan and camping lifestyle by tackling a two or three-week adventure first.

By following one of these well-known itineraries, you’ll thank yourself for the experience; laugh at your early mistakes, and be ready to take on the big lap sooner than you think.

3 EASY TO FOLLOW ROAD TRIP ITINERARIES FOR FUTURE AUSSIE NOMADS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• The Classic East Coast - Sydney to Townsville

- Sydney - Barrington Coast - Coffs Coast - North Coast - Fraser Coast - Capricorn - Whitsundays - Great Barrier Reef

• The Savannah Way - Cairns to Darwin

- Cairns - Atherton Tablelands - Mount Surprise - Cobold - Normanton - Mount Isa - Tennant Creek -Katherine - Darwin

• The Red Centre - Alice to Uluru 

- Alice Springs - West MacDonnell Ranges - Kings Canyon - Uluru - Kata Tjuta

Before you go!

These three easy-to-follow road trip itineraries take in some of Australia’s favourite destinations.

We’ve included tips on where to stay, what to do, and even where to grab your morning coffee and a bite to eat! 

Before you set off, it goes without saying that you should always slow down on the road. While we agree that the early bird catches the worm, the second mouse always gets the cheese.

You'll note that we’ve included suggested times for each journey, but just be sure to balance time on the road with time spent enjoying everything Australia has to offer.

PLAN YOUR ACCOMMODATION NOW

Discovery Parks have spacious powered sites, comfy cabins and all the convenient facilities you could ask for in Australia’s best destinations.

THE CLASSIC EAST COAST

Sydney to Townsville

via Barrington Coast - Coffs Coast - North Coast - Fraser Coast - Capricorn - Whitsundays - Great Barrier Reef

Distance: 2,226 km

Suggested Time: 21 days

As with all three of these road trips - especially as the weather cools off down south - the Pacific Highway trip is a must-do for future and current Aussie nomads. With stunning coastlines, incredible national parks and so many friendly towns to visit, you might not want to leave. 

Because of its popularity, you won’t be alone on this classic journey, meaning new friends and plenty of free caravanning advice. Don’t worry, though, we’re all about serenity too, and there are plenty of places to find that - just look at stop 1!

Stop 1: Forster and Harrington Beach, Barrington Coast

Distance from Sydney: 350 km

We know there are several places worth stopping at before you reach the Mid-North Coast, but we think this 3-4 hour trip to Forster or Harrington puts just enough space between you and the hustle of the city.

Only a short drive north of the Great Lakes region and about an hour south of Port Macquarie, both Forster and Harrington Beach have grown in popularity over the last several years.

5 things not to miss near Harrington and Forster 

The road from Harrington Beach to Coffs Harbour is breathtaking, with more pristine beaches, national parks and lakes to discover.

Nestled between the beach and the bush, Discovery Parks - Emerald Beach offers beachfront accommodation on Emerald Beach and superb access to excursions in nature. 

5 things not to miss near Coffs Harbour

The popular tourist village of Byron Bay is your last stop in New South Wales before crossing the border into Queensland.

Known for beautiful surf beaches, an eclectic atmosphere and spectacular scenery, nature lovers enjoy the lush hinterland that surrounds the town, as well as the opportunity to spot dolphins and whales on a regular basis.

5 things not to miss near Byron Bay

Welcome to Queensland! 

While we don’t have anything against the Gold Coast, Brisbane or the Sunshine Coast, we think you won’t miss them once you're relaxing along the Fraser Coast at Hervey Bay, far away from the hustle of these busier ports.

5 things not to miss near Hervey Bay

An exciting and diverse region, Yeppoon puts you on the doorstep of the Southern Great Barrier Reef and within spitting distance of the Keppel Islands. 

With wildlife sanctuaries to explore, tropical bushland to hike and secluded accommodation options at Discovery Parks - Coolwaters Yeppoon, happiness is easy to find here.

5 things not to miss near Coolwaters Yeppoon

Known as the gateway to the incredible Whitsundays, the list of things to do at Airlie Beach is almost endless.

Located close to the national park and with a real resort vibe, Discovery Parks - Airlie Beach has a sensational outdoor swimming pool with spas you can laze about in all day. Once the lure of white sand beaches and palm tree-lined streets become too great, ask our friendly staff to point you in the right direction.

5 things not to miss near Airlie Beach

Your final stop along this classic east coast road trip is Townsville. Located in the dry tropics of Far North Queensland, Townsville is more cosmopolitan than you might think. 

Discovery Parks - Townsville is on the edge of town, putting it within easy reach of several great attractions, including the ferry to Magnetic Island.

5 things not to miss near Townsville

The Savannah Way is a spectacular outback road trip that traverses the sparsely populated northern belt of Australia from Cairns to Broome. 

Only suitable for travellers with access to a reliable 4WD or at least a sturdy 2WD vehicle, the range of terrain, landscape and climate in this part of Australia has to be seen to be believed.

Linking approximately 20 national parks and two states, you can explore tropical rainforests, volcanic lava tubes, ancient hot springs and World Heritage sites as you wind your way from coast to coast through red desert, dry tropical rainforest and savannah hinterland.

PLAN YOUR ACCOMMODATION NOW

Discovery Parks have holiday parks with spacious powered sites, comfy cabins and all the convenient facilities you could ask for in Australia’s best destinations.

Cairns, Far North Queensland

Although the Savannah Way begins in Cairns, you’ll regret it if you don’t spend at least a few days here. 

As a base for exploring the Great Barrier Reef, there are few better locations than the tropical city of Cairns.

With so much nature on its doorstep, from the incredible Kuranda rainforest region to the World Heritage Site of the Great Barrier Reef itself, travellers here are spoilt for choice.

5 things not to miss near Cairns

You could easily spend two weeks exploring this part of Far North Queensland, and because of its perfect temperate climate, you can comfortably visit all year round.

Any drive will showcase lush tropical rainforests, volcanic lakes, waterfalls, national parks, and abundant local history and World Heritage-listed sites.

5 things not to miss near the Atherton Tablelands

As you transition from lush tropical rainforest to outback tablelands, this part of Queensland throws up so many potential adventures.

At Discovery Parks - Mount Surprise, a range of tours and experiences can be arranged. Full of references to the region’s rail and mining history, this popular park includes 75 drive-through powered sites and 35 air-conditioned cabins, each nestled below a generous canopy of hinterland forest.

5 things not to miss near Mount Surprise

The next leg of your outback adventure west should include a stop at the deep, narrow Cobbold Gorge. 

Available by guided tour only, this hidden oasis is just over an hour's drive from the tiny country town of Forsayth. Breathtaking from every angle, you can swim, paddleboard, kayak or fly above this amazing piece of geology. 

Stop 4: Normanton, Outback Queensland

Distance from Cobbold Gorge: 385 km

Once you leave Cobbold via Georgetown, you start to leave the dusty red desert behind you.

Most famous for its Gold Rush heritage, you can still ride the heritage Gulflander train, which was originally built to connect the town to the rich gold fields of Croydon.

Stop at the ‘Purple Pub’ here for refreshments before continuing on to the laid-back town Karumba, located right on the Gulf of Carpenteria, often included on lists of Queensland’s top fishing spots.

Stop 5: Cloncurry and Mount Isa, Outback Queensland

Distance from Normanton: 382 km

After briefly touching the coast at Karumba, it’s time to venture back into the heart of the Queensland outback!

Cloncurry and Mount Isa are about ninety minutes apart, but both contain some of Australia’s most authentic mining and outback heritage.

5 things not to miss near Mount Isa and Cloncurry

Stop 6: Tennant Creek, Northern Territory

Distance from Mount Isa: 661 km

With not much to see before you start hitting some of the NT’s remote outposts, a big day behind the wheel will get you over the border to the Northern Territory. 

Tennant Creek sits about halfway between Katherine and Alice Springs and makes a convenient stopping point before you begin your approach to Darwin.

Approximately half the population of the town is of Indigenous descent, which makes it a great place to absorb as much Aboriginal culture as possible. 

5 things not to miss near Tennant Creek

Often described as where the outback meets the tropics, a few days in Katherine is bound to leave you breathless. 

Arriving here will also feel like you’ve returned to the ‘big smoke’ after the last two epic drives. Considered a large town in these parts, Katherine is a great place from which to explore some of the NT’s most iconic attractions.

At Discovery Parks - Katherine, you’ll also find a comfortable and welcoming home with everything you need to unwind and plan the next steps of your journey.

5 things not to miss near Katherine

You’ve made it!

After over 3,000 km across Queensland and the Northern Territory, you’re finally in the tropical oasis of Darwin. Boasting year-round temperatures of about 32 degrees, all you’ll probably want to do by now is relax by the pool for a few days.

A stay at Discovery Parks - Darwin lets you do this and is your chance to kick back in the lush tropical oasis that surrounds the park.

With a unique charm and a cast of characters you won't meet in any other Australian city, Darwin offers relaxation and adventure in equal parts. It’s also close to two of Australia’s favourite and well-known national parks - Kakadu and Litchfield.

5 things not to miss near Darwin

Discovery Parks have spacious powered sites, comfy cabins and all the convenient facilities you could ask for in Australia’s best destinations.

Alice Springs (Mparntwe)

Central to many of the Northern Territory’s most significant natural attractions, Alice Springs is the ideal base from which to explore the Red Centre.

An important hub for tourism and commerce, it marks the beginning of the Red Centre Way, a 700 km loop that will take you to Uluru and back.

Enriched by both a pioneering spirit and Indigenous ancestry, ‘Alice’ is very much at the beating heart of Australian cultural identity.

5 things not to miss in Alice Springs

Engaging with local and international artists, Parrtjima: A Festival of Light is a free community event held over ten days to capture the imagination of guests from all over the world. 

With rotating themes around connection and country, Parrtjima is an annual festival of light, sound, music and culture that every Aussie should see.

West MacDonnell Ranges (Tjoritja) - Glen Helen

Distance from Alice Springs: 133 km

The first series of stops on your Red Centre road trip is the West MacDonnell Ranges.

Beginning at around 130 km due west of Alice Springs, the West MacDonnell Ranges is a significant mountain range of about 200 km in length that is popular with hikers, walkers and adventure seekers.

Featuring a number of attractions of cultural importance and home to the Arrente Indigenous people for tens of thousands of years, single and multi-day hikes along the Larapinta Trail are a popular reason to arrive in this part of Australia.

As the only accommodation inside the West MacDonnell Ranges National Park (Tjoritja), Discovery Parks - Glen Helen makes for an ideal base camp. 

5 things not to miss in the West MacDonnell Ranges

Over 400 million years in the making, the rugged sandstone peaks of Watarrka (Kings Canyon) are at the halfway point of your Alice Springs to Uluru journey. 

The spellbinding Kings Canyon Rim Walk is very much at the heart of the Kings Canyon experience, and is often referred to as ‘Australia’s Grand Canyon.’

Although not as well known as its more famous cousin at Uluru, the 6-kilometre walk around Kings Canyon it is a must-do. Take the opportunity to discover features with names like ‘Lost City,’ ‘Priscilla’s Crack’ (where scenes from the legendary Australian movie ‘Priscilla: Queen of the Desert’ were filmed) and the ‘Garden of Eden.’

5 things not to miss in Kings Canyon

There is nowhere else in the world like Uluru, previously known as Ayers Rock. 

Located inside the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, this Australian icon is a bare sandstone rock that stands 348 metres high and measures 9.4 km (5.8 miles) around.Changing colours with the position of the sun, Uluru offers up a painter's palette of reds, browns, oranges and purples no photo can ever do justice.

Walking tracks will get you around the entire circumference of Uluru, and it's highly recommended you walk with a local Anangu guide to learn about the Dreaming associated with the most famous Australian landmark.

5 things not to miss near Uluru

Just an hours drive away from the base of Uluru, Kata Tjuta is another must-do Red Centre experience.

Meaning ‘many heads’ in the language of the Anangu Aboriginals (pronounced ‘arn-ung-oo’), who have lived in the region for 40,000 years, the 36 unique domes of Kata Tjuta are estimated to be over 500 million years old.

Originally named the Olgas after Queen Olga of Wurttemberg in 1872, the Indigenous name was formally adopted in 1993 and has been in much wider use ever since.

5 things not to miss near Kata Tjuta