Great Australian Summer Road Trips

Great Green Way | Townsville to Cairns, Queensland 

Connecting Townsville in the south to Cairns in the north, the Great Green Way offers a concentrated dose of Far North Queensland’s legendary tropical scenery. Clocking up roughly 450 kilometres, the route follows the coast, skirting the Great Barrier Reef, palm-fringed beaches and lush rainforests.

Indulge in Townsville’s welcoming cosmopolitan atmosphere. Discover the cascading waterfalls and pristine rock pools of Paluma Range National Park. Visit Slim Dusty’s 'pub with no beer', Lees Hotel in Ingham. Take a ferry to Hinchinbrook Island and experience the Great Barrier Reef’s captivating marine life. Learn about local Aboriginal culture in Girramay National Park. Explore forests around Tully. Soak up some rays on Mission Beach. Take a revitalising dip in the natural swimming holes of Babinda Boulders. Enlist on one of Cairns’ countless sightseeing adventures. 

Plan Your Great Green Way Roadie

• Flights to Townsville/Cairns: Virgin Australia operates flights to Townsville direct from Brisbane and flights to Cairns direct from Sydney and Brisbane 
• Great Green Way Car Hire: Find the right car for your adventure. Book a car for pick up at Townsville or Cairns airports, and receive great rates from our car hire partners.    
• Great Green Way Hotels: Search and book the perfect stopover hotels. Select from a wide choice of accommodation with our hotel partner Agoda.

The Princes Highway | Kiama to Eden, New South Wales

The South Coast of New South Wales offers an escape like no other. Situated just over an hour-and-a-half’s drive south of Sydney, the coastal belt starts just after Wollongong and stretches for close to 500 kilometres to Eden, traversing verdant and spirited districts of stunningly scenic settings.  

Visit beautiful Kiama and witness its famous blow hole. Uncover the enchanting national parks and calm turquoise coves of Jervis Bay. Discover one of the world’s most pristine beaches, Hyams Beach. Sample Batemans Bay’s renowned fresh seafood. Stop in at quaint and charismatic villages like Bermagui and Tathra. Taste test the Bega Valley’s famous Bega Cheese. Explore Mimosa Rocks National Park’s sea caves and towering rock stacks. Enjoy the solitude of Bournda National Park secluded beaches, lakes and rugged cliffs.

Plan Your South Coast Roadie

• Flights to Sydney: The South Coast is located just over an hour’s drive south of Sydney Airport. Virgin Australia operates flights to Sydney daily, direct from all Australian state capitals, and international locations such as Los Angeles, Abu Dhabi and Bali.
• South Coast Car Hire: Find the right car for your adventure. Book a car for pick up at Sydney Airport, and receive great rates from our car hire partners.    
• South Coast Hotels: Search and book the perfect stopover hotels. Select from a wide choice of accommodation with our hotel partner Agoda.

The Great Ocean Road | Torquay to Port Fairy, Victoria

Great Ocean Road is one of the world's most scenic drives. Located just over an hour’s drive south of Melbourne, the route extends for 250 kilometres, famously hugging Victoria’s coastline to wind through diverse terrains. Spanning from the legendary surfing township of Torquay to the historic village of Port Fairy, The Great Ocean Road passes awe-inspiring settings and provides access to celebrated Australian landmarks.

Watch the world’s most acclaimed surfers take on the iconic Bells Beach. Pass by lush rainforest-wrapped gorges, fern-covered valleys and dramatic cliffs. Learn about the Shipwreck Coast’s marooned vessels. Taste the region’s finest local flavours on The Otway Harvest Trail. Snap a postcard-worthy photo in front of the drive’s most famous stars, The 12 Apostles.

Plan Your Great Ocean Road Roadie

• Flights to Melbourne: Torquay is located just over an hour’s drive south of Melbourne Airport. Virgin Australia operates flights to Melbourne daily, direct from all Australian state capitals, and international locations such as Los Angeles, Abu Dhabi and Bali.
• Great Ocean Road Car Hire: Find the right car for your adventure. Book a car for pick up at Melbourne airport, and receive great rates from our car hire partners.    
• Great Ocean Road Hotels: Search and book the perfect stopover hotels. Select from a wide choice of accommodation with our hotel partner Agoda.

National Route 1 | Albany to Esperance, Western Australia

The Southwest Coast of Western Australia is an off-the-beaten-track paradise, encompassing marvellous natural wonders and charming towns. Stretching for just under 500 kilometres the route between Albany to Esperance offers exceptional access to the secluded region’s extraordinary drawcards. 

Walk amongst the giant trees of Walpole-Nornalup National Park. Find solitude at inviting white-sand beaches like Green Pool, Shelley Beach, Two Peoples Bay, Salmon Holes, and Cosy Corner. Marvel at ancient rock formations like the Natural Bridge, Elephant Rocks, The Gap, and Castle Rock. Sip or swill the celebrated wine variants of the Great Southern Wine Region. Uncover an outstanding diversity of native flora and fauna in Fitzgerald River National Park. Cross into Australia’s Golden Outback and fossick for gems around Ravensthorpe. Set up a base in Esperance and explore the district’s stunning beaches and spell-binding Recherche Archipelago. 

Plan Your Southwest Coast Roadie

• Flights to Albany/Esperance: Virgin Australia operates flights to Albany and Esperance direct from Perth.
• Southwest Coast Car Hire: Find the right car for your adventure. Book a car for pick up at Albany or Esperance, and receive great rates from our car hire partners.    
• Southwest Coast Hotels: Search and book the perfect stopover hotels. Select from a wide choice of accommodation with our hotel partner Agoda.