Australia is home to a multitude of incredible spots to discover, including the world’s largest sand island, subtropical rainforest, and coral reef system. But because the country is so expansive, the best way to fully explore its hidden gems is by car. And what better road trip to tick off your bucket list than the longest national highway in the world?
Highway 1, Australia
Australia’s Highway 1 is the world’s longest national highway, spanning a lengthy 14,500 kilometres and traversing nearly every state and territory in the country – yes, including Tasmania.
Since it follows the country’s coastline in a giant ring, Highway 1 will take you to most of Australia’s major attractions and landmarks. Although the massive route can take months to complete, it’s considered one of the best ways to see all of Australia.
How to drive Highway 1
Highway 1 falls under a network of roads labelled as “National Highway 1”, “National Route 1”, “M1”, “A1”, “B1” or “R1”.
It’s recommended to drive Highway 1 in a clockwise direction. So from Brisbane, you’ll want to take the Pacific Highway down to Sydney, which will take you past popular spots such as the Gold Coast, Byron Bay, Coffs Harbour and Newcastle.
Once you’ve past Sydney, we recommend spending some time at the South Coast beaches on your trip down to Melbourne along the Princes Highway: Illawarra, Shoalhaven and the Sapphire Coast.
You can take your car onto the ferry from Melbourne to Tasmania and drive the strip of Highway 1 from Devonport to Launceston and Hobart.
The Princes Highway continues from Melbourne to Adelaide, where you can take a scenic detour along the Great Ocean Road and stop at the gorgeous Mount Gambier.
Along the southern stretch of Australia, you’ll find some of the country’s best beaches at Esperance and Albany as you continue up to Margaret River to sip on a well-earned glass of vino.
Don’t forget to visit Ningaloo Reef for a snorkel and swim with whale sharks on your road trip from Perth to Darwin, before discovering the wild outback beauty of the Kimberley and Broome.
The roughest part of Highway 1 is the 1,000-kilometre Darwin to Cairns section along the Carpentaria and Savannah Highways, where a four-wheel drive is needed. If you don’t have a four-wheel drive or you’d prefer to stay on a sealed road, take the detour from Darwin down to Tennant Creek and then across the Barkley Highway through Outback Queensland and coming back to the coastline at Townsville.
From here, you can experience the Great Barrier Reef, before heading back down to Brisbane.
Extra tips for driving in Australia
- Australia is a big country, and in the more remote places, there may be a long distance between towns. Always check to make sure you’re filled up on fuel, and have a jerry can full for backup if necessary.
- Knowing the seasons are important, especially in the northern parts of Australia like the Kimberley, which experiences a wild wet season during the warmer months, so some roads become closed when wet. It’s always worth checking the local alerts for these places before travelling.
Happy road tripping!