8 Best Scenic Drives in Australia

This 150-mile stretch from Torquay to Allansford is an engineering marvel carved into the limestone edge of the continent and one of Australia’s most coveted luxury drives. Indulgence is the freedom to pull over at a lonely lookout, watch waves detonate against the cliffs, then roll into a designer suite or clifftop villa where the ocean soundtrack follows you indoors.

Luxury car hire can transform the experience into a coastal glide in a prestige sedan or convertible, while a private driver on the Great Ocean Road lets you devote your full attention to the shifting horizon and glass of cool-climate chardonnay waiting at lunch. Chauffeured services can be arranged for day trips or multi-day journeys, with your driver doubling as storyteller, lookout scout, and discreet photographer.

What to Expect

• Golden light: Watch the Twelve Apostles transform from flat grey to glowing ochre at dusk.
• Oceanic power: Feel the rhythmic thud of the Southern Ocean crashing against the cliff face through the soles of your shoes.
• Forest aromatics: Inhale the scent of damp earth, myrtle beech, and peppermint gum as you descend into the cool air of the Otways.
• Vintage motoring: Grasp the wheel as the road ribbons tight against the rock, offering uninterrupted views of the white-capped surf.
• Native canopies: Spot the grey, woolly silhouette of a wild koala sleeping high in the fork of a manna gum at Kennett River.

When to Go

• Late spring to early autumn (October to April) offers warm air, long evenings, and ideal conditions for top-down or window-open driving.
• Winter (June to August) delivers moody seas, fewer crowds, and the pleasure of returning to a crackling fire and dégustation menus in boutique coastal lodges.

Explore this region with the sample Zicasso itinerary, Best of Australia Tour: Sydney, Great Barrier Reef, Melbourne.

This 300-mile loop through Kosciuszko National Park reveals Australia’s alpine heart, where granite tors and snow gums replace palm trees and surf. The luxury here is retreating each evening to a chalet or lodge with deep sofas, wine fridges, and mountain views, as the outside world shrinks to the circle of light around your fire.

Private transfers and high-spec SUVs with all-wheel drive and heated seats bring comfort to winding ascents and descents, especially in the cooler months. You can combine self-driving with guided hikes, fly-fishing, or snow activities, returning to tasting menus that showcase truffled cheeses, cool-climate wines, and foraged ingredients.

What to Expect

• Alpine wildflowers: Walk through waist-high billy buttons that carpet the high plains in a sea of yellow and white during summer.
• Thin air: Breathe in the sharp, clean oxygen at the summit of the continent, where the sky appears a deeper shade of blue.
• Granite sculptures: Run your hand over the rough, lichen-crusted surface of massive boulders scattered across the valley floor.
• Wild encounters: Hear the heavy dull thud of hooves on turf as a mob of wild brumbies emerges from the scrub.
• Après adventures: Savor a glass of cool-climate shiraz by a crackling open fire after a day spent navigating the ridges.

When to Go

• Summer and early autumn (December to April) offer clear roads, wildflowers, and long walking days.
• Winter (June to August) is ideal for ski-focused itineraries with private transfers between slopes and lodge.

Let our sample Stunning Beauty of Australia Tour inspire your trip.

The Savannah Way traces nearly the entire tropical top of Australia, a journey where wide skies and red-dirt horizons unfold in a slow, cinematic progression. Luxury here is expressed in the contrast between the wildness of the landscape and the soft landing each night: remote lodges, riverfront cabins, or characterful stations where chefs serve local barramundi and tropical fruits under a fan-stirred veranda.

Choose between self-driving a comfortable 4WD with upgraded suspension or engaging a private driver-guide for more remote stretches, allowing the journey to double as a moving masterclass in local ecology and culture. Itineraries can be punctuated by charter flights over vast wetlands, sunset cruises on crocodile-rich rivers, and private visits to art sites that most visitors never see.

What to Expect

• Endless horizon: Drive for hours where the red dirt road meets a sky so wide it seems to curve at the edges.
• Volcanic cooling: Experience the eerie silence and sudden respite from the heat inside the subterranean darkness of the Undara lava tubes.
• Ancient galleries: Trace the outline of ochre handprints left thousands of years ago on the sheltered walls of sandstone overhangs.
• Tropical sweetness: Smell the heavy, sugared scent of ripening mangoes and humid soil that greets you upon rolling down the window.
• Mineral soaks: Float weightless in the thermal waters of Mataranka, looking up through a cathedral of palm fronds filtering the sunlight.

When to Go

• The dry season (roughly May to October) offers more predictable roads, clear skies, and comfortable daytime temperatures.
• The wet season (November to April) brings lush, vivid greens and dramatic storms but can flood roads and limit access, so it tends to suit helicopter- and lodge-based itineraries rather than long drives.

Our travel specialists can arrange a drive such as this as part of our sample Adventurous Queensland Tour.

The Gibb River Road, threading through the Kimberley, is where the notion of ultra-remote luxury comes into its own. This former cattle route now links a handful of wilderness lodges and luxury camps, where plunge pools, fine linens, and sophisticated dining coexist with star-laden skies and the call of night birds.

For high-net-worth travelers, safety and comfort on the Gibb are paramount. A private driver-guide in a robust 4WD, satellite communications, and carefully planned fuel and supply points turn a legendary Outback challenge into a polished adventure. You can spend your days on guided gorge walks, helicopter flights to secret waterholes, or cruises through tidal phenomena, and return to hot showers, sunset canapés, and attentive, low-key service.

What to Expect

• Dust trails: Watch the cloud of red earth billow in your wake, marking your passage through the untamed wilderness.
• Freshwater respite: Plunge into a fern-fringed pool at the base of a gorge to wash off the dust of the road.
• Striated domes: Fly over the Bungle Bungles to see the orange and black tiger stripes of the beehive formations from above.
• Tidal fury: Witness the white-water churn of the Horizontal Falls as the massive tide squeezes through the coastal gaps.
• Outback silence: Listen to the profound stillness of the bush at night, broken only by the crackle of a campfire and the call of a boobook owl.

Safety and Support

• Travel with a private driver-guide or in convoy, with satellite phone, first-aid kits, and recovery equipment as standard.
• Nights are best spent at established wilderness lodges or luxury camps with strong safety protocols, local expertise, and clear contingency plans in case of weather disruptions.

When to Go

• The Gibb is typically a dry-season route; in the wet season, sections close due to flooding and river crossings become impassable.
• Plan between about May and October for reliable access, cooler nights, and comfortable daytime exploration.

For more information, take a look at our Best Adventure Destinations in Australia.

Tasmania’s West Coast Wilderness Way feels like a journey through the pages of a nature journal: glacial lakes, primeval forests, and remote mining towns softened by moss and mist. Luxury in this region centers on immersion rather than ostentation: architect-designed lodges, deep bathtubs overlooking button grass plains, and dining rooms that glow with candlelight while the wind combs the surrounding ridges.

Self-drive guests can enjoy premium SUVs with heated seats, all-weather tires, and detailed route notes, while transfers to and from key points keep driving distances manageable. The road becomes a thread connecting river cruises, private guided walks, distillery visits, and lake lodges, each chosen for both comfort and character.

What to Expect

• Ancient timber: Inhale the distinct, buttery perfume of Huon pine that lingers in the damp air of the river valleys.
• Mirror lakes: Watch the dark, still water of the river perfectly reflect the tangled rainforest banks in the morning mist.
• Mossy carpets: Step softly on sponge-like moss floors in forests that feel prehistoric and untouched by modern life.
• Mountain fog: Wake to see the jagged dolerite spires of Cradle Mountain piercing through a veil of low-hanging cloud.
• Wild provenance: Taste the briny freshness of oysters shucked moments after being pulled from the cold Tasmanian waters.

When to Go

• Spring and summer (October to March) offer more settled weather and longer daylight hours for driving and walks.
• Autumn and winter (March to August) bring atmospheric mists, occasional snow dustings, and the pleasure of returning to firelit lounges and slow-cooked regional cuisine.

Explore this region on our sample Nature and Adventure Tour of Australia.

The Red Centre Way loops from Alice Springs through a landscape of sandstone giants, desert plains, and sacred sites, with the sky stretching like a velvet dome overhead at night. Luxury here lies in the juxtaposition of raw, ancient landforms with refined desert camps, where multi-course dinners are served under constellations and your morning coffee arrives with the first blush of dawn on Uluru.

Safety and serenity are equally important in such remote terrain. Many high-end travelers opt for a private driver-guide and a well-equipped 4WD, backed by satellite navigation and communications. Days are structured around cooler hours for walks, with siesta-like afternoons by the pool or in the shade, then champagne at sunset viewing platforms and expert-led talks on Aboriginal culture and astronomy.

What to Expect

• Shifting light: Sip sparkling wine as the rock face of Uluru transforms from rusty brown to incandescent red in the dying sun.
• Canyon echoes: Hear the wind whistle through the sheer sandstone walls of Kings Canyon as you stand on the rim.
• Desert blooms: Observe the visual contrast of delicate purple mulla mulla flowers growing against the harsh red sand.
• Celestial shows: Look up to see the Milky Way stretching across the sky with a clarity only found in the true desert dark.
• Sacred wind: Feel the thermal breeze carrying the heat of the rock face as you walk the base of the monolith.

Safety and Support

• Private driver-guides bring local knowledge, advanced desert driving skills, and a calm presence, supported by satellite phones, emergency supplies, and carefully planned fuel stops.
• Stays at established luxury lodges and camps mean robust safety standards, guided excursions rather than independent canyon scrambles, and thoughtful pacing to account for heat and distance.

When to Go

• Autumn, winter, and early spring (roughly April to September) offer warm days, cool nights, and more comfortable walking conditions.
• Mid-summer (January and early February) can be extremely hot; itineraries at this time lean more heavily on sunrise and sunset activities, air-conditioned vehicles, and poolside afternoons.

Our sample Touring the Great Barrier Reef, Red Centre, and South Australia will provide you with more inspiration for your trip.

The Bowman Scenic Drive along the Limestone Coast delivers a high-impact coastal experience in a compact package, ideal for those weaving it into a wine-and-wildlife-focused itinerary. The luxury is in the intensity: brief but powerful vistas of cliffs, blowholes, and beaches, paired with nights in vineyard suites or coastal retreats where dinner might feature local crayfish and elegant regional reds.

A comfortable sedan or SUV with generous windows and a smooth ride allows for easy stop-start exploring, while private drivers can be arranged to connect you between cellar doors and coastal viewpoints. This is a drive best savoured slowly, with impromptu beach walks and long lunches breaking up short distances.

What to Expect

• Ocean spray: Taste the salt on your lips as the heavy swells slam into the weathered limestone cliffs below.
• Squeaky sands: Feel the unique tactile sensation of fine, white silica sand screeching under your bare feet as you walk the beach.
• Turquoise contrast: Admire the shocking visual intensity of the blue water against the blinding white of the coastal dunes.
• Coastal catch: Watch local fishermen haul in flashing silver salmon from the jetty as seabirds circle overhead.
• Wind-swept formations: Observe the shifting architecture of the dunes, sculpted into temporary mountains by the relentless coastal gales.

When to Go

• Late spring to autumn (October to April) provides pleasant coastal temperatures and lively cellar doors.
• Winter (June to August) brings dramatic seas and quieter roads, ideal for travelers who enjoy wild weather viewed from the comfort of a warm dining room

Ask our travel specialists to incorporate this drive into our sample Australian Wildlife and Wine Tour.

On K’gari, or Fraser Island, the concept of a highway becomes wonderfully fluid: a ribbon of packed sand with the Pacific on one side and dunes on the other. Luxury is arriving at an eco-resort set back from the beach, where you can rinse off sea salt under a rain shower, sip a cocktail by the pool, and listen to the surf pounding in the background.

Many high-end itineraries here combine guided 4WD excursions on the sand highway with time at a coastal retreat, removing the stress of tide charts, soft sand, and changing conditions. Professional drivers navigate the beach and inland tracks, while you watch rainbows form in spray and look for sea eagles riding the air currents.

What to Expect

• Beach cruising: Enjoy the smooth, continuous motion of driving on sand with the open ocean acting as your lane marker.
• Rusted history: Examine the textural contrast of the flaking, orange iron of the SS Maheno shipwreck against the pristine white surf.
• Natural jacuzzis: Sit in the Champagne Pools as crashing waves spill over the rock wall, turning the water into fizzing foam.
• Sandstone spectrum: See the cliffs glow with seventy-two distinct shades of ochre, red, and gold exposed by the elements.
• Dingo tracks: Follow the paw prints of a wild dingo weaving between the spinifex grass and the high-tide line.

When to Go

• The island is appealing for much of the year, with milder temperatures from about April to October, and warmer, more humid conditions in summer.
• School holiday periods see more activity on the sand highway; outside these windows, the beach feels more spacious and serene.

Further inspiration can be found by taking a look at our sample Whitsunday Islands to the Great Barrier Reef Tour.

Australia’s scale means that circling the continent in two weeks would reduce the journey to a blur of highways, fuel stops, and fatigue. Rather than chasing distance, focus on one or two regions, such as the Great Ocean Road and the Grampians, the Red Centre and Top End, or Tasmania and the Limestone Coast, and explore them deeply, with unhurried days and time to linger in the places that resonate.

Concentrating on a region also allows for better seasonality, more diverse experiences, and more meaningful connections with local guides and hosts. A thoughtfully designed 14-day trip might feel like three or four journeys in one, without ever asking you to rush.

Driving in Australia can be very comfortable, especially on well-maintained highways and popular scenic routes. The main considerations are distance, wildlife, and fatigue: roads can be long and lightly trafficked, and kangaroos, wallabies, and livestock may be near or on the road at dawn, dusk, and night.

Luxury Zicasso itineraries mitigate these risks with shorter driving days, daylight-only driving on remote stretches, private drivers for demanding segments, and detailed briefings on local conditions. In more isolated regions, satellite phones, GPS tracking, and regular check-ins provide additional reassurance.

For many travelers, the Great Ocean Road is the definitive scenic drive from Melbourne, combining coastal drama, rainforest, seaside towns, and polished hospitality. You can depart from the city in a luxury car or with a private driver, pause at espresso bars and cellar doors, and finish each day in a suite overlooking surf or nestled in the forested hinterland.

Alternative options include shorter Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula loops, where vineyard lunches, spa retreats, and bay views are only a couple of hours’ drive from the city.

The beauty of driving in Australia lies in the way details accumulate: the changing tones of the soil, the evolving silhouettes of trees, the feel of different winds on your skin as you cross latitudes and landscapes. These routes place you at the centre of the environment, with the comfort of knowing that logistics, support, and safety have already been thoughtfully arranged.

When you choose one of these drives, you are choosing to engage with the continent on its own terms but with every modern comfort at your fingertips. For more information, see the Australia travel guide, with additional inspiration in Australia tours, trips, and packages.