Wanderlust in times of COVID

For most of us, any plans for international travel had to be put on hold in 2020. With the world’s borders being closed for the foreseeable future due to COVID, Australians will have to look within our own borders to satisfy our wanderlust.

The good news is, Australia is huge.

From the Great Barrier Reef to the Blue Mountains, the Red Centre to the Great Ocean Road, there’s so much to see and do. Whether you’re into hiking, meeting wildlife, shopping, diving, food, camping, horse (or camel) riding, sightseeing, sport, sampling craft beer and award-winning wines, swimming at our endless beaches, or just enjoying a quiet time away from the rat-race, Australia truly has something for everyone.

The road is king

While air travel makes the most sense when travelling the length and breadth of this vast, beautiful country, if you have the time, nothing beats driving. Whether you’re towing a caravan or hotel-hopping in your trusty car, driving around Australia is the only way to fully appreciate the beauty, harshness, and sheer scale of this truly unique country.

So, where to start?

Well, that depends on how much time you have…

1 week – The Great Ocean Road

While it only takes about 10 hours to drive non-stop, there are plenty of great reasons to take your time travelling the full 664km of one of Australia's most scenic drives. Starting at the Victorian surf capital of Torquay and ending at the historic fishing village of Port Fairy, this easy drive will take you along cliff-tops, past iconic surfing beaches and through lush rainforest. There are plenty of places to stay, and great local food and produce to indulge. Go whale-spotting, play a few rounds of golf, and don’t forget to check out the world-famous 12 Apostles along the way!

Also check out: The Red Centre Way

2 weeks – The Coral Coast

This stunning route on Australia’s western coast is where the desert meets the sea. Starting in Perth, travelling the 1250km to Exmouth in the north would normally take around 13 hours of non-stop driving. But setting a more leisurely pace is definitely worth considering, giving you a chance to explore some of Australia’s most beautiful locations. Discover the Pinnacles at Nambung National Park, walk through fields of wildflowers at Kalbarri, watch dolphins playing at Monkey Mia and – for the bravest amongst us – swim with whale sharks at Coral Bay.

1 month - The East Coast

Stretching from Melbourne all the way to Cape Tribulation in Far-North Queensland, you could easily spend more than 4 weeks travelling the east coast of Australia. It’s 4,000km from Melbourne to Cairns, which equates to around 50 hours of non-stop driving. But why rush when there’s so much to see and do along the way? Outside of Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane – you could easily spend a few weeks exploring each city alone – take your time exploring the beaches of the south and central coasts of NSW, and then on to Byron Bay and the Gold Coast. Beyond Brisbane, you’ll find Noosa and Fraser Island, then – much further – on to Airlie Beach, Magnetic Beach, Cairns and Cape Tribulation.

Also check out: The Savannah Way (Cairns to Broome)

The beauty and the terror

As perfectly captured in Dorothea Mackellar’s famous love letter to Australia --

-- the amazing country we call home is as equally full of breathtaking beauty as danger, so there are several things you need to consider before undertaking any epic road trip:

1. Australia is one of the driest places on the planet, so always carry plenty of water.
2. In the more remote parts of the country, you can easily travel hundreds of kilometres without seeing another soul. If you break down, it could take a while before help comes along, so it’s always a good idea to pack extra food as well.
3. Late afternoon and early in the morning is when the kangaroos and wallabies most active. Plan to end your drives by mid-afternoon – or don’t start until the sun is up – and you’ll minimise the danger of hitting our beloved wildlife.
4. It’s no joke that most things in Australia want to kill you, so while you’re out exploring the countryside, be cautious when looking under rocks or stepping over fallen logs. And if you don’t know what a particular critter or plant is, don’t touch it!