DK Eyewitness - DK Eyewitness Road Trips Australia (Travel Guide)

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About this Book

The 22 driving trips in this guide reflect the fantastic diversity of Australia. The sixth-largest country in the world, yet relatively sparsely populated, Australia has great expanses of road from multilane freeways to bumpy dirt tracks. The majority of its towns and cities are strung out around the countrys coastal circumference. While distances are daunting, flying means missing the gradually changing scenery a quintessential aspect of the Australian experience. And while you might spot a wedge-tailed eagle or a kangaroo from a bus or a train, it will be a fleeting moment. In your own vehicle, you can stop and take it all in at a pace that suits you. Whether it is a drive through the vineyards of the Hunter Valley from Sydney or the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne, tackling the red dirt tracks of the Outback in a 4WD, exploring remote beaches, or sleeping in a national park under the stars, Australia is made for driving tours.

Getting Started

The front section of the guide gives you all the practical information you need to plan and enjoy a driving holiday in Australia. It includes an overview of when to go and how to get there, advice on hiring a vehicle and details of any documentation required. In-depth motoring advice ranges from driving rules to road conditions, from buying fuel to breakdown or accident procedures the kind of background knowledge that helps make a driving trip stress-free. There is information on money, opening hours, mobile phones and Wi-Fi, health and safety and other practical matters, as well as advice on accommodation and dining options, to ensure that you have an enjoyable Australian experience.

The Trips

The main section of the guide is divided into trips, ranging from two to seven days in duration. The tours can all be driven in a standard vehicle, although there are a few excursions suitable for 4WD vehicles only.

The trips encompass every region of the country, from the glorious beaches of Queenslands Sunshine Coast to the wilderness of the Northern Territorys Top End, and from the vineyards of the Barossa Valley to the wheatbelt of Western Australia.

Each trip begins with a list of highlights and a clearly mapped itinerary. There is advice on the best time of year to undertake the drive, road conditions, market days and major festival dates. The tour pages contain descriptions of each stop on the route, linked by clear driving instructions. Side panels contain information on places to stay and eat, as well as details of local activities, and tinted boxes relate background information.

Most trips feature a mapped town or countryside walking tour, designed to take a maximum of three hours at a gentle pace with stops along the way.

The tours are flexible: some can be linked to create a longer driving holiday; or they can be dipped into as day trips while based in a region.

Top left Driving in the Flinders Ranges, South Australia Top right Hay bale at a Shepherds Flat farm, Central Victoria Centre left Perths waterfront centre at night Centre right Roadside letterboxes in front of Mount Roland, Tasmania Below left Bakery in Hobart, Tasmania Below right Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve, Western Australia