Road tripping in Australia - an Aussie account

Anthony Saba is one of many Australians at Goway Travel’s office, where he is a senior sales manager, lover of sports, father and an avid road-tripper! Here’s what he had to say about the lifestyle of travelling Australia at the wheel of your own vehicle.

Road tripping in Australia is a unique and rewarding experience often overlooked by time poor international travelers. Australia is a big country, with lots to see and vast distances to be covered. Many visitors just don’t have the time required to take to the road.

Australia vacations which include an Aussie road trip will in many ways show you parts of the country that many don’t get to see. One of my favorite areas, and the easiest to explore, is Australia’s South East corner – the states of Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia. This is the most densely populated part of the country, with small towns and colonial history every 50 miles or so. No 5 hour drives between stops here!

This corner of Australia was settled in the century following British colonization. Farms were established, communities and businesses were built, gold was discovered and a rush ensued, and outlaws rose to complete what one might have called Australia’s “wild west”.

What I like so much about this part of Australia is that most key aspects of the Australian lifestyle can be found here. Sure, I’m not in the Outback or snorkeling the reef, but where I’m traveling, I have beaches, coastline, wildlife, wineries, and history, all less than an hour away from the next lunch stop, the next little village, the next pub for a refreshing ale, or the next hotel where you can bed down for the night. The driving is easy, and I never feel that I have spent all day “on the road”. What makes these towns, pubs and wineries so appealing? Locals! Local history and local people… as curious about you as you are about them and this wonderful country.

In this corner of Australia you can drive the Great Ocean Road, winding its way around some of Australia’s most exciting coastline. The wild conditions of the Southern Ocean have forced many a shipwreck here, creating a rich local maritime history. Go see the Little Penguins on Phillip Island at your own speed, taking time to see the Koalas nearby and have dinner or perhaps stay the night. There are several significant wine areas in Victoria and more across the border in South Australia. Visit a winery or two for a tasting or lunch is a must on all Australia vacations. Many of the local towns once played a part in Gold rush history, but their pubs will gladly serve you a modern pub lunch or dinner, with a pint (or as they say in Australia, a ‘schooner‘) of course.

Some long-haul road trippers choose to rent an RV, and for the more adventurous, there are plenty of campgrounds throughout the region. Some are even located on the beach.

An Australian road trip is not about seeing the whole country. That’s just not practical. Instead, focus on an area and immerse yourself in the experience. The next stop is often ‘just up the road’ as we Aussies say.

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