Australia is a road tripper’s paradise, offering diverse landscapes, vibrant cities and a route to match every traveller's passion.
From sun-drenched coastal highways to rugged outback tracks, every journey promises adventures, breathtaking scenery and unforgettable experiences.
To find out which road trips offer the ultimate experience, premium pizza oven brand Gozney has analysed 40 of our country's most popular routes, evaluating them based on the number of campsites, hiking trails, viewpoints, beaches and national parks along the way.
Travellers will find plenty of spots along the way to stop, fire up and cook during their adventures. As part of the research, Gozney also commissioned a qualitative study on Australian outdoor eating asking what was the nation’s favourite thing to cook outdoors.
Unsurprisingly, 43% of Australians believe snags belong on the barbie while 32% prefer a good old-fashioned bacon fry up.
When it comes to the places most travelled, taking the top spot as Australia’s best road trip is the drive from Perth to Kalbarri National Park, located along Western Australia's stunning coastline. This route feels like a living postcard at every turn and swept the competition in terms of the number of camping spots, national parks and beaches along the route.
Jurien Bay is one of the route's many highlights, perfect for snorkelling in turquoise waters and camping under the stars at Sandy Bay Recreation Park. The final destination, Kalbarri National Park is itself a masterpiece of nature.
For a culinary adventure, travellers should stop off at Lucky Bay Campground just 30 minutes south of Kalbarri, where visitors can set up a BBQ or pizza oven and get cooking.
In second place is the Sydney to Byron Bay Coastal Drive, scoring highly for its beaches, hiking trails and campsites. It’s a journey where you can surf at sunrise, hike through lush rainforests by midday and unwind around a campfire under the stars.
Key stops include Sydney, the bustling harbour city; Port Stephens where you can kayak with dolphins and Byron Bay, a relaxing finale to an unforgettable trip. It’s on this road trip where you’ll discover unforgettable dining experiences from restaurants like Pasta Di Porto, Manna Haven and Fig Tree Restaurant.
In third place is The Legendary Pacific Coast route, for those looking to explore some superb national parks. Wyrrabalong National Park is ideal for dolphin spotting, while Dorrigo National Park’s ancient Gondwana rainforests invite you to hike beneath cascading waterfalls.
To fuel your body for adventure, make your way to Crowdy Bay National Park and find Diamond Head Campground to set up an outdoor cooking masterpiece, make sure to bring an off-the-ground brazier to cook on.
"Alfresco dining is no longer just a novelty—it’s becoming a lifestyle. People are embracing the joy and adventure of cooking outdoors and portable pizza ovens are at the heart of this movement. With millions of TikTok videos tagged ‘campfire cooking,’ food lovers are taking their meals beyond the kitchen,” says Christian Pohio, Gozney Australia’s General Manager.
"Cooking outdoors isn’t just about convenience, it’s about creating unforgettable moments, savouring local flavours and making any location, from a campsite to a backyard, feel like a gourmet experience."
The Great Sunshine Way and Pacific Coast Way, both stretching across Queensland’s coast, round out the top five.
For food lovers, Australia’s road trips are as much about the flavours as the views and Perth to Margaret River Wine Region will provide a perfect experience for these people. Margaret River is one of Australia’s most famous wine regions, home to more than 200 vineyards and wineries serving up exceptional Cabernet and Shiraz.
The Tasmanian Loop and Barossa Valley Wine Trail are true havens for food and wine enthusiasts.
The Tasmanian Loop showcases the island’s finest, from truffle hunting adventures at The Truffledore in Lower Barrington, to self-guided salmon farm ours, offering a taste of unique local flavours.
Meanwhile, the Barossa Valley Wine Trail delivers unforgettable moments, including hot air balloon rides over breathtaking vineyards, paired with bold Shiraz and elegant Riesling. Visitors should make sure they add Artisans of Barossa to their itinerary with a Google rating of 4.3 and reviews calling the atmosphere ‘heavenly’.
For the full report on Australia's best road trips and outdoor cooking inspiration, visit here.
