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The summer school holidays are peak road trip season in Australia. From the east coast to the west, many families have already packed their swags, snacks, sunscreen – and sometimes even their pets – for the adventure of a lifetime. But if you’re keen to jump on the bandwagon (not the horse-and-carriage type), new research has revealed the most popular family-friendly road trips around the country, where safety and scenery go hand in hand.
To determine Australia’s best driving holidays for families, the car insurance comparison experts at iSelect analysed the country’s most popular routes on everything from the number of family attractions and rest stops along the route to positive reviews, mobile phone coverage, weather, traffic congestion and more. Each route was then scored out of 100, with the results used to rank the top trips for families.
We’re sure many of you could guess which famous Aussie road trip topped the list without even looking at the results – and if you said the Great Ocean Road, then pat yourself on the back. Clocking a standout score of 76.15, the 243-kilometre stretch between Torquay and Allansford in Victoria beat more than 20 contenders thanks to its trifecta of safety, convenience and classic coastal charm.
According to the research, it’s got the lot: full mobile coverage (no patchy service when you’re relying on Google Maps or Bluey episodes), the highest number of hospitals and rest stops per 100 kilometres, and a mild summer climate that won’t have you melting into the upholstery before you hit Aireys Inlet. And for the kids? Koala spotting in Kennett River, rainforest wanders in the Otways and sandy beach stops practically on tap. It’s wholesome, low-stress, and – crucially – distraction-heavy.
Western Australia nabbed the remaining podium spots, with Cape to Cape taking second place and the South West Edge ranking third. Scoring a total of 75.87, these West Coast adventures offer a different kind of family adventure. The Cape to Cape has more rest stops than any other route (perfect for small bladders) and has less traffic (perfect for restless kids). Throw in gorgeous beaches, national parks, warm weather most of the year and low rainfall, and it’s easy to see why families love it.
If you’re tempted to go rogue and venture inland or off-grid – say, the Nullarbor Plain or Gibb River Road – iSelect’s findings suggest you might want to save those for adults-only expeditions. They scored significantly lower thanks to limited mobile coverage, sparse infrastructure and extreme weather – dreamy for adventurers, less ideal for anxious parents and snack-dependent five-year-olds.
You can check out the full ranking (and plan your summer road trips accordingly) over here.
The 20 best road trips in Australia
- Great Ocean Road, VIC
- Cape to Cape, WA
- South West Edge, WA
- Coral Coast Highway, WA
- Legendary Pacific Drive, NSW
- Grand Pacific Drive, NSW
- Coastal: Sydney-Melbourne, NSW/VIC
- Heritage Highway, TAS
- Great Beach Drive, QLD
- Great Barrier Reef Drive, QLD
- Red Centre Way, NT
- The Great Alpine Road, VIC
- Explorers Way, SA/NT/QLD
- Cairns to Cape York, QLD
- Epicurean Way, SA
- The Great Eastern Drive, TAS
- Adelaide to Eyre Peninsula, SA
- Gibb River Road, WA
- Nullarbor Plain, SA/WA
- Savannah Way, QLD/NT/WA
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