The best road trips in Australia and New Zealand are the Great Ocean Road, Uluru and the Red Centre, and New Zealand's Milford Sound Drive. Between them these two countries hold surf coasts, red desert, glacier crossings, and tropical reef roads, and they run on opposite seasonal clocks. That is the secret to planning here: while the southern coasts and New Zealand peak from November to April, the tropical north and the Red Centre are at their best right now, in the cool, dry southern winter.
We ranked eight drives that show the full range, from a two day surf coast classic to a week on Kimberley dirt. Every route is pulled from our catalog with real distances, durations, and seasons, so you can plan around the facts rather than the hype. Browse the wider picture on our Australia road trips hub and New Zealand road trips hub.
The 8 best Australia and New Zealand road trips at a glance
| # | Route | Country | Distance | Duration | Best season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Great Ocean Road | Australia | 660 km | 3 days | Nov to Apr |
| 2 | Uluru and the Red Centre | Australia | 1,225 km | 5 days | Apr to Oct |
| 3 | Milford Sound Drive | New Zealand | 240 km return | 2 days | Nov to Apr |
| 4 | Gibb River Road | Australia | 660 km | 7 days | May to Oct |
| 5 | Southern Alps Highway | New Zealand | About 735 km | 4 days | Nov to Mar |
| 6 | Cairns to Port Douglas | Australia | 110 km | 2 days | May to Oct |
| 7 | Great Alpine Road | Australia | 330 km | 2 days | Nov to Apr |
| 8 | Pacific Coast Highway | New Zealand | 610 km | 5 days | Nov to Apr |
If you only do one
Drive the Great Ocean Road. In three unhurried days this 660 km run links Melbourne, the surf breaks of Torquay and Lorne, the rainforest of the Otways, and the sea stacks of the Twelve Apostles, all on easy sealed road that any car can handle. Nothing else in the region packs this much variety into so short and so accessible a trip, which is exactly why it is the perfect first Australasian road trip. If you have one long weekend and one drive, make it this one.
1. Great Ocean Road, Australia
This is the region's signature drive and the benchmark every other route here is measured against. The extended 660 km itinerary begins in Melbourne, joins the classic Torquay to Allansford coast, then carries on through Port Fairy to Portland, so you get surf beaches, the Otway rainforest, and the Twelve Apostles in one flowing route. Three days is the sweet spot, and it is an easy, sealed drive suited to any vehicle. Southern summer, November to April, is prime, though the crowds thin and the light turns crisp in winter. Read the full route on our Great Ocean Road guide.
2. Uluru and the Red Centre, Australia
No drive tells the story of the Australian interior like this one. Over 1,225 km and five days you move from Uluru and Kata Tjuta to Watarrka and Kings Canyon, finishing with a West MacDonnell day loop past Standley Chasm, Ellery Creek, and Ormiston Gorge from Alice Springs. This is a desert trip, so the season is everything: April to October brings cool days and cold clear nights, which is why the middle of the year is the time to go. Obey the cultural closures and photography requests at Uluru, and check current park access on the morning of each walk. See the Uluru and Red Centre route.
3. Milford Sound Drive, New Zealand
New Zealand's most famous road delivers its wildest scenery in just 240 km return. From Te Anau the only road into Milford follows the lake, threads the Eglinton Valley and Mirror Lakes, climbs to the Divide and through the 1.2 km Homer Tunnel, then drops into the mountain rimmed fjord. Two days lets you absorb it without rushing the cruise. Allow at least four hours each way when stopping, fuel up in Te Anau, and carry warm waterproof layers, because there is no reliable coverage and little at Milford itself. November to April is the settled window. Details on the Milford Sound route.
4. Gibb River Road, Australia
For a genuine expedition, the Gibb is Australia at its most raw. Its 660 km of Kimberley dirt link Derby to Kununurra through boab forests, Aboriginal rock art, and a string of gorges: Windjana, Bell, Manning, and the El Questro country near the end. This is the hardest drive on the list, drivable only in the May to October dry season, and it demands a high clearance 4WD with two spares, recovery gear, and satellite communications. Give it seven days and check every station and roadhouse before each leg. Explore the Gibb River Road route.
5. Southern Alps Highway, New Zealand
The best way to see the South Island's spine is this four day crossing from Queenstown to Christchurch. About 735 km of SH6 and SH73 stage you through Wanaka and the Haast Pass, the glaciers at Fox, Hokitika on the wild West Coast, and Arthurs Pass before the descent to Christchurch. The pacing gives each glacier and alpine walk a realistic weather margin, which matters here. Carry chains when required, keep fuel topped up, and travel it in the November to March summer. See the Southern Alps Highway route.
6. Cairns to Port Douglas, Australia
The most accessible tropical drive in the country runs just 110 km up the Captain Cook Highway. It skims rainforest headlands and palm beaches like Trinity Beach, Palm Cove, and Ellis Beach on the way from Cairns to Port Douglas, with the Coral Sea on one side the whole way. Two days is plenty, and it is an easy sealed route with the reef cruise as a separate booked day. The May to October dry season is the sweet spot, when the tropical north is warm and clear. Take marine stinger and crocodile warnings seriously. Details on the Cairns to Port Douglas route.
7. Great Alpine Road, Australia
Australia's highest sealed road climbs the Victorian Alps on Victoria's B500, and it earns its place for sheer altitude and variety. Its 330 km run from Wangaratta over Mount Hotham to Bairnsdale, through snow gum forests, the ski country around Hotham, and the gold rush valley of Harrietville. Two days is enough. The summit is best November to April, while the lower sections stay open year round, and during the declared snow season every vehicle must carry and fit chains when directed. Read the Great Alpine Road guide.
8. Pacific Coast Highway, New Zealand
For culture and coastline off the tourist trail, this 610 km run traces the North Island's Pacific edge from Whakatane to Napier. It moves through Maori heartland, the remote headlands of the East Cape and its lighthouse, the wharf at Tolaga Bay, and Gisborne's chardonnay vineyards, before arriving at Napier's extraordinary Art Deco streetscape. Give it five days, November to April. SH35 is still affected by East Coast recovery work, so check conditions daily, refuel whenever you can, and carry offline maps. See the Pacific Coast Highway route.
How to choose your drive
Short on time? The Great Ocean Road, Milford Sound, and Cairns to Port Douglas all fit into two or three easy days. Chasing the interior? Uluru and the Gibb River Road are the two great desert and outback expeditions, both at their best in the middle of the year. Want mountains? The Southern Alps Highway and the Great Alpine Road cross real alpine country. Most of these are coastal at heart, so if the ocean is what pulls you, see our scenic coastal drives collection, and map any of them on the interactive route map.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time for a road trip in Australia and New Zealand?
It depends on where you go. The southern coasts and New Zealand are best from November to April, the southern summer. The tropical north and the Red Centre flip that: their dry season runs roughly May to October, so the middle of the year is prime for Uluru, the Gibb River Road, and the reef coast.
What is the best road trip in Australia for first-timers?
The Great Ocean Road. Its 660 km of sealed coast road fits into three days, needs no special vehicle, and links Melbourne with the Twelve Apostles, so it suits a first Australian trip or a short add-on to a city stay.
Do you need a 4x4 for road trips in Australia and New Zealand?
Most of these drives are sealed and fine for any car, including the Great Ocean Road, Milford Sound, and Cairns to Port Douglas. The Gibb River Road is the exception: its Kimberley dirt and remoteness call for a high clearance 4WD, two spare tyres, and satellite communications.
How long do you need for an Australia or New Zealand road trip?
Anywhere from two days to a week. Short scenic drives like Milford Sound or Cairns to Port Douglas take two days, coastal and alpine routes such as the Great Ocean Road or Southern Alps Highway take three to four, and the outback expeditions like Uluru and the Gibb River Road run five to seven.
Ready to plan? Start with our Great Ocean Road guide, compare every drive on the Australia road trips hub and New Zealand road trips hub, and plot your route on the interactive map.
