A1 - the main road from Sydney to Cairns is the world's longest beach road, and if you're itching to take a dip but want to do it at your own pace - then you should hit the road and take a road trip in Australia. Jump in a campervan and take two months off to travel Australia.
The tour starts in Sydney and this is both Australia's largest city and the Australia's cultural capital. Almost all travels in Australia begins and ends in Sydney. If you wish to get hold of a car or a campervan we advise that you start in Sydney - both if you are planning on buying or renting. If you plan to get off the A1 and experience some more rural parts of Australia we also advice that you either buy or rent a 4WD. Some roads in Australia are gravel roads so renting a powerful car can be a good idea.
Take a few days to explore Sydney where you can see the opera house, the Olympic city and Bondi Beach. Enjoy the sunshine and if you throw a cold Foster's or two in your throat you're guaranteed to get into the Aussie atmosphere. Once you have a car or a campervan it's time to hit the roads. The goal is Cairns in the north, Australia's action sports and diving capital. Your best friend on the trip will be the A1 main road that takes you all the way up to Cairns.
Remember to take plenty of detours from the A1 to the smaller side roads. It's rarely on the highway that the greatest experiences await. It is not unusual to see a kangaroo or two crossing your way on an Australian road trip.
Although Cairns is located directly north along the coast you should actually start by driving west into the Blue Mountains. This is a stunningly beautiful mountain range and it is also known as the Great Dividing Range. It actually stretches all the way along up the coast to Cairns, but the most charming and easily accessible part is located right next to Sydney.
Australia's colonization was based in Sydney, so the Blue Mountains are kind of Sydney's backyard and home to 150-200 years old villages which have a lot in common with the small western U.S. cities. Especially cities like Leura and Katoomba captures the essence of this culture. On the way into the country or on the road back towards the coast, it is worth taking a day of tasting the local grape. Some of Australia's best wines are produced in in New South Wales and finding a good vineyard isn't a problem. Why not buy a few bottles for the trip? That's why we're in a car, right?
What places you should visit on the coast road between Sydney and Brisbane is a matter of temperament and beach cravings. Byron Bay, located 200 km south of Brisbane and 800 km north of Sydney is a must see. This is the beginning of the Australian 'gold coast'. Brisbane is popular among backpackers on their way from Sydney to Cairns. If you have a spare seat in the car you will not have trouble finding a fellow passenger. The company can be great and can help you stretch your budget. The beaches are fantastic and the atmosphere is laid back with a hint of flower power. 100 km closer to Brisbane you'll find Surfers Paradise. This is the same deal, just a tad more 'upscale' and surfer-like. This is the place to spend a few days to learn the noble art of board standing and surfing the waves.
Next stop could be Brisbane which is a nice and cozy town. If
you're in town so you can catch a Sunday market at the Riverside
Centre, do it! Otherwise it's on to Fraser Island which is
copy-pasted out of bounty advertising. It's situated four hours
north of Brisbane and the island is on UNESCO's World Heritage
list. A road trip turns into a 'beach trip' on the broad stranded
part of Fraser Island.
Besides the dazzling white sand beaches and the blue ocean this
island also has some of the world's cleanest freshwater lakes. So
this is a rare chance to try salt free swimming in Australia.
Just north of Fraser Island Great Barrier Reef begins and stretches over 1000 km to the north. The farther north the closer it is to the mainland. This magnificent coral reef is a lifetime experience and something you should not cheat yourself of seeing. You can enjoy the reef from a boat with snorkel and dive gear. The experience varies but the common theme is fish and corals of all shapes and colors that you only thought existed in a color map from the local paint dealer.
Tour terminus is Cairns - Australia's unofficial capital of Action. This is where the rest of your travel budget should be spent on partying and adrenalin kicks. You'll be able to try all kinds of action: rafting, parachuting, horse riding, ballooning, mountain biking, sea kayaking and of course diving. This is where it happens.
Take a road trip from Sydney to Cairns either from September to November or from February to April or May. From December to March it rains a lot in Cairns so there is not reason to hang under the canopy while the one flood replaces another.
The journey is between 2000 and 2500 km depending on the number of detours that you decide to take. Use at least one month and preferably two if you want a decent trip where you don't drive too much every day.
Australia has much more to offer than what you find on the East Coast. Perth, Ayers Rock, the great endless red outback and Tasmania are just some of the experiences that you miss out on when road tripping from Sydney to Cairns. Still the journey along the A1 offers most experiences per kilometer 'Down Under'.
Also remember that KILROY can help you get great deals on campervan and car rental in Australia.
Read more about travel to Australia.
