If you are an Aussie and are looking for a ripper adventure, why not consider a road trip?
With school holidays approaching, put those lengthy flights and cruises on hold. After all, travel is not always about the destination; it’s about the journey, and a road trip makes for an incredibly memorable experience.
Planning a road trip allows you to take control of your own adventure, giving you the freedom to travel at your own pace and discover hidden gems away from the crowds. Whether you’re into scenic coastal drives, mountain passes, or simply want to experience a range of little-known towns, a road trip allows you to customise your holiday according to your specific interests.
Let us explore why road trips are the ultimate adventure. And don’t forget, travel insurance can provide you with rental vehicle excess cover which can reimburse the rental car insurance excess fee in the case of accidents, damage, or theft. So, buckle up and hit the road – your adventure awaits!
Where to take an adventurous road trip
A great road trip adventure starts with selecting a destination that offers scenic routes and a range of landmarks and experiences. And Australia, with its vast and diverse landscapes, is an ideal destination for an adventurous road trip!
Some ideas include:
The Great Ocean Road (Victoria): This is one of Australia's most iconic road trips, spanning 200 kilometres from Port Campbell in the west to Torquay in the east containing coastline and coastal cliffs.
The Legendary Pacific Coast (New South Wales and Queensland): This route features the wineries of the Hunter Valley, the sparkling beaches of Port Stephens, the hippie-chic scene of Byron Bay, and the glamour of the Gold Coast.
The Grand Pacific Drive (New South Wales): This coastal drive begins just south of Sydney and offers spectacular views along the coastline discovering Wollongong, Sea Cliff Bridge, Kiama & more.
The Red Centre Way (Northern Territory): This loop begins and ends in Alice Springs and includes significant landmarks such as Uluru, Kata Tjuta, and Watarrka National Park.
The Great Barrier Reef Drive (Queensland): This drive offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience where you can stand on the border of two World Heritage Listed sites.
While Australia has it’s famous Great Ocean Road, there are other countries also offering amazing road trip itineraries. From New Zealand’s beautiful Milford Road to America’s iconic Route 66 or the Pacific Coast Highway, the winding roads through Tuscany, South Africa’s notable Garden Route, or simply driving through the Scottish Highlands in search of historic castles – the world is your oyster!
Experience authenticity
Too often, we find ourselves confined to city hotels or popular resorts, seeking comfort and convenience. However, this often results to missing out on authentic immersion in local culture and falling into the trap of following well-known tourist routes, repeating the same experiences many others have had.
The secret to avoiding this? Getting out of your comfort zone and trying new things!
While relying on solely on taxis and public transport can serve its purpose, it alone can often limit the range of activities and experiences that are on offer in a region. Major cities often cater to tourists whereas small towns and rural areas focus on locals and preserving culture. Considering alternatives such as car rentals or RV living can offer a unique experience, untouched by the usual traveller allowing us to visit more authentic neighbourhoods, where local customs and traditions are often more prevalent.
It’s an opportunity to taste authentic food, engage with the locals, and truly live as a local to enrich your understanding of culture and heritage.
Offers flexibility and freedom
Leave tight schedules at home and let spontaneity guide you. Whether you choose to stay the night in places you never knew existed or ever would have encountered had you not been on an adventurous road trip, it’s often these unplanned experiences, often not mentioned in travel books, that turn out to be the highlights of your trip.
Our normal lives are often very rigid and predictable, yet a road trip can offer a never-ending change of scenery and new experiences around every corner.
What’s more, you can also enjoy the flexibility to tailor your accommodation choices that aligns with your budget and needs easily on a road trip, whether it’s a simple roadside motel, campsite, or rural retreat. Unlike city-based holidays where accommodation and location can be limited without a rental vehicle, road trips open a world of possibilities, ensuring your adventure is uniquely tailored to you.
Promotes Bonding with Family or Travel Companions
Road trips are a wonderful opportunity to deepen connections with whoever you decide to travel with. While the thought of being together in a confined space can lead to quarrels at times, it’s also an opportunity to really get to know one another. Unlike the hustle and bustle of everyday life, road trips can offer a more relaxed environment with fewer distractions, making it easier to engage in meaningful conversations.
Bonds can be strengthened on a road trip simply because you tend to share more experiences, challenges, and memorable moments together. You may even find it easier to be yourself on a road trip, expressing your authentic self, from choosing the songs on the radio to selecting places to eat and discovering creative ways to pass the time en route to various places. This authenticity allows others to see your true self, fostering deeper connections.
Connect with Nature
Road trips are a passport to the beauty of nature, taking you beyond the urban jungle and immersing you in serene landscapes. They offer a peaceful haven, a chance to trade city noises for the soothing sounds of nature.
This is especially true on a trip that includes scenic routes or one that incorporates visiting national parks where you may enjoy a camping experience or get a taste of RV living.
Nature offers an abundance of health benefits, providing a calming effect on the mind, body, and soul. Embracing the great outdoors necessitates disconnecting from the digital world, allowing us to reconnect with the beauty of the natural world. Making an effort to connect with nature during a road trip, can promote physical fitness through activities such as hiking, which can reduce symptoms of anxiety and stress. It may even lead to improvements in cognitive function and boost your immune system.
Personal growth and self-discovery
On the flip side, road trips aren’t just for memorable group trips or family holidays; they are also a wonderful opportunity for a solo travel experience to bond with yourself, creating a journey of self-discovery.
The open road can be a transformative experience, challenging you beyond your comfort zone. Road trips may not always go as planned, but these unexpected challenges may lead to fascinating adventures and great learning experiences, such as mastering the art of changing a flat tyre. They are a test of self-reliance and resilience. You become the planner, the decision-maker, and the problem-solver. In the solitude of the open road, there’s no rush, no deadlines. It's a moment to reflect and dive into your thoughts and desires, which are often overlooked in the hurry and bustle of daily life.
You’ll face obstacles but overcoming them is all part of the journey.
Whether or not it is for school holidays, this period provides the perfect window of opportunity to embark on adventurous road trips within Australia. So, start planning your next road trip adventure today! Safe travels!