I'm gearing up for a road trip from Brisbane to Adelaide and would love to tap into the wisdom of this community for some guidance. As I prepare to hit the road with my belongings and my trusty car, I'm hoping to gather insights from those who have traveled this route before. Whether it's recommendations on pit stops, fueling stations, accommodation options, or any noteworthy detours along the way, I'm all ears.
Posted by
Colorado Springs
2980 posts
A little more information would be helpful: are you under any time constraints or is the intended to be a slow meander thru the Outback?
Rental car or your personal vehicle?
Any particular interests to be aware of?
Are you a solo traveler or will there be more than one person sharing the driving duties?
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Tom, I'm still deciding on the best route. I've been considering a few options and would appreciate any advice on whether the northern route via Townsville or the southern route via Sydney would be more worthwhile in terms of scenery and interesting stops.
Looking forward to your insights and any tips you might have!
Cheers,
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Hi Robert,
Thanks for your response! I'll be driving my personal vehicle, aiming for a balance between making good time and enjoying the journey. I'm keen on scenic spots, unique roadside attractions, and good local food. Any insights would be greatly appreciated!
Cheers,
Posted by
Australia
1072 posts
The most direct route is inland. Out through Stanthorpe then either Moree-Dubbo-Mildura-Adelaide or Moree-Nyngan-Broken Hill-Adelaide. Whichever route you go it's a long way and I would take at least four days to drive this if you want to still be able to see a few things. Both options are sealed roads all the way.
I prefer the route that goes through Dubbo as Dubbo has a great open plains zoo, Coonabarabran is close to the Warrambungle mountains which have good walking, Temora has a fantastic airplane museum with still flying Spitfires. If you go this route I would stay in Coonabarabran, then Temora or West Wyalong, and then Mildura. Dubbo is not recommended for an overnight as it has a big meth problem and there's lots of petty crime (eg. car wheels get stolen off cars etc).
On the other route Broken Hill is really the only place of any interest.
Posted by
Colorado Springs
2980 posts
A few years ago we drove the inland route thru the outback - a meandering trip that took most of a week. A few highlights:
We actually started at Lamington National Park near the NSW border - a beautiful place with an abundance of scenic hikes.
Lightning Ridge - spent 3 nights there exploring what felt like a true wild west sort of a mining town. Picked up a black opal for my wife too.
Broken Hill - 4 nights there exploring the town and the very scenic semi-ghost town of Silverton. There's an outback pub there that apparently has been featured in virtually every Aussie beer commercial ever made. Also a church that was featured in "A Town Like Alice" ... one of my wife's favorites.
Along the way we detoured off the highway to Menindee - had just read about the Burke & Wills expedition and wanted to have a pint in their memory at the Maiden's Hotel ... their last stop before heading out on the cross-country journey that would ultimately claim their lives.
Came into Adelaide via the Barossa Valley wine country - probably one of the most startling transitions from the outback desert into the lush greenery of the valley.
Adelaide has long been one our favorite cities in Australia.