Best Campervan Road Trip Routes in Australia
Australia was built for road trips. The country's vast distances, spectacular landscapes, and well-maintained highways make it one of the best places on Earth to explore by campervan. You wake up to a new view every morning, eat breakfast with the sound of the ocean or birdsong in the bush, and spend your days chasing the next stunning lookout or hidden swimming hole. Whether you have two weeks or two months, here are the road trip routes that deliver the most rewarding campervan experiences.
The Great Ocean Road (Victoria)
Stretching 243 kilometres along Victoria's south-west coast from Torquay to Allansford, the Great Ocean Road is one of the most scenic coastal drives in the world. Built by returned soldiers after World War One, the road hugs dramatic clifftops, sweeps through temperate rainforest, and passes through charming seaside towns. The Twelve Apostles are the headline attraction, but the entire route is packed with stops worth your time.
Pull over at Bells Beach to watch the surfers, walk through the towering trees of the Otway Rainforest, and camp at Johanna Beach where the waves crash against wide, empty sand. The road is narrow in places, so take it slowly and enjoy every curve. Allow at least three days to do the route justice, though a week is even better if you want to explore the inland waterfalls and walking trails.
The Pacific Coast (Sydney to Cairns)
The classic east coast route from Sydney to Cairns covers roughly 2,500 kilometres and passes through some of Australia's most beloved destinations. This is the route that most backpackers and travellers follow, and for good reason. You move through cosmopolitan Sydney, surf town Byron Bay, the glittering Gold Coast, laid-back Noosa, wild Fraser Island, tropical Airlie Beach, and the reef gateway of Cairns.
In a campervan, you can take as long as you like. Most travellers allow four to eight weeks to do the full drive, camping at a mix of free sites, holiday parks, and national park campgrounds along the way. The Bruce Highway handles the long stretches between major towns, while smaller coastal roads lead to quiet beaches and local markets that bus travellers never see. For vehicle options suited to this route, explore our Campervan Rental page.
The Outback Way (Alice Springs to Uluru)
For something completely different, head into the red centre. The drive from Alice Springs to Uluru covers about 450 kilometres through flat, rust-coloured desert under impossibly wide skies. Along the way you pass through tiny Aboriginal communities, rest stops with nothing but spinifex and silence, and the striking domes of Kata Tjuta.
Arriving at Uluru by campervan is an experience that defines the word awe. Set up camp at the Ayers Rock Resort campground and watch the rock change colour at sunset, shifting through shades of orange, crimson, and deep purple. Wake before dawn to see the sunrise light it up again. Walk the base track, learn about the cultural significance of Uluru to the Anangu people, and take the Valley of the Winds walk through Kata Tjuta. This is a drive that puts the scale of Australia into perspective.
The Gibb River Road (Western Australia)
The Gibb River Road is Australia's ultimate adventure drive. Stretching 660 kilometres through the Kimberley region of Western Australia, this unsealed outback road links Derby to Kununurra and passes through some of the most remote and beautiful country on the continent. It is only accessible during the dry season from May to October, and a high-clearance four-wheel-drive campervan is essential.
The rewards for tackling the Gibb are extraordinary. Cool off in gorges carved through billion-year-old rock at Bell Gorge and Manning Gorge. Camp beside the Pentecost River where saltwater crocodiles bask on the banks. Visit El Questro Wilderness Park for thermal hot springs and helicopter flights over ancient sandstone formations. The Gibb River Road is not a route for the faint-hearted, but it is one that every serious road tripper dreams about completing.
The Savannah Way (Cairns to Broome)
If you want to cross the top of Australia, the Savannah Way covers 3,700 kilometres from Cairns in Queensland to Broome in Western Australia. This route takes you through tropical savannah, cattle country, and the spectacular landscapes of the Northern Territory. Highlights include the thermal pools at Mataranka, the sandstone escarpments of Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge), and the jaw-dropping turquoise waters of Cable Beach in Broome.
The Savannah Way is a mix of sealed and unsealed roads, so your vehicle choice matters. Allow a minimum of two weeks, and carry extra water, fuel, and a satellite phone for the more remote sections. The isolation is part of the appeal. You can drive for hours without seeing another vehicle, and the night skies out here are some of the clearest in the southern hemisphere.
Tips for Campervan Road Trips
Before you set off on any Australian road trip, a few practical tips will make the journey smoother. Book your campervan well in advance during peak season (December to February) since popular vehicles sell out quickly. Carry a basic toolkit, a tyre repair kit, and jumper cables. Download offline maps for areas where mobile coverage drops out, which happens more often than you might expect outside major towns.
Stock up on groceries before leaving larger towns, as prices in remote roadhouses can be two to three times higher. Respect campground rules about fire bans and generator hours, and always leave your campsite cleaner than you found it. Australia's natural spaces are spectacular precisely because travellers before you took care of them.
The open road is calling. Pick a route, load up the campervan, and discover why Australia is one of the greatest road trip destinations on the planet.