Start the new year with a roadtrip!
Start the new year right by planning a great Australian roadtrip! To get you inspired, we take a look at some of the iconic places to see and experience, including terrific day trips that are just a few hours from home.
Tasmania
Escape the heat and head south for the summer. Tasmania, the beautiful apple isle, is rich in charm and local history. And being geographically compact, you can pack in a lot of holiday in not a lot of miles.
The only argument to be settled is when is the best time to go. There are some who maintain summer is the best season where the maximum never gets over 25ºC, while others advocate for autumn when the leaves turn vivid colours and the fresh Pacific oysters are at their best. Or rug up and experience a bracing winter fuelled by a dram of local whisky, tasty truffles and scallops.
In honour of the four seasons, we’ve chosen our favourite activities from the very best Tasmania has to offer.
The Aurora Australis – the Southern Lights
June to November
The shimmering, ethereal phenomenon, is caused by charged particles from the sun being drawn to the Earth’s poles. Tasmania is a great place to catch a glimpse of the Aurora Australis. No sighting, of course is guaranteed, but the best places to visit are Goat Bluff, Carlton Beach and
Tinderbox, all of which are a short drive from Hobart. If you intend to visit early in winter, why not check out the Dark Mofo, Hobart’s mid-winter festival?
For more information: darkmofo.net.au
A fine time for wine
All year round – October for new vintages
Tasmania’s cool temperatures are ideal for a wide variety of grapes including Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Gris and Cabernet Sauvignon which makes it a prime destination for oenophiles. Not surprisingly, it is home to excellent food and wine festivals including:
- Taste of Summer – late December to early January tasteofsummer.com.au
- Festivale – early February festivale.com.au
- Tas Wine Fest – late August taswinefest.com.au
Lose your heart in Tasmania
All year round
Explore Tasmania’s beautiful scenery and take in the fascinating history by following the Heartlands Trail which takes you through heritage towns, including Oatlands, which has Australia’s largest collection of sandstone Georgian buildings. Antiques lovers will be in for a treat with curio stores in many of the historic towns you’ll visit. Then stop at some of the distilleries along the way or even try your hand at flyfishing.
For more information: discovertasmania.com.au
Victoria
Become an urban explorer in Melbourne or venture out to the historical goldfield towns of regional Victoria. No matter where you go, you’re bound to be pleasantly surprised.
Festivals in Melbourne
Melbourne bills itself as the cultural capital of Australia and when you see the variety of festivals on offer, it’s not hard to see why.
Start the beginning of the year by exploring the exhibitions in the famed art galleries and museums. Laugh out loud at the up-and-coming comedic talent at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in April and book your AFL grand final seats in September or back a winner at Flemington during November.
For more information:whatson.melbourne.vic.gov.au
Go for gold
Dive deep into Australia’s gold mining past with a visit to Ballarat and the popular Sovereign Hill, a living museum that takes visitors back to the heady gold rush era of 1851 to 1861. While you’re in the area, why not linger a little longer in Ballarat and take in the historic architecture of the Ballarat Railway Station, the Arch of Victory and explore the impressive Botanical Gardens. And if you had no luck panning for gold at Sovereign Hill, you can buy a sparkling reminder of your trip from The Gold Museum.
For more information:
Lakes Entrance roadtrip
The Great Ocean Road trip from Melbourne is the top of many travellers’ itineraries to Melbourne, but there is just as much to see and discover by heading east towards Lakes Entrance.
Head south from the city and make your first point of departure from Philip Island. After seeing the gorgeous fairy penguin parade, make your way back toward the city, stopping at the Puffing Billy Railway – Australia’s oldest surviving steam train – and take one of the leisurely trips on offer.
Classic car enthusiasts will find their motor running at the Trafalgar Holden Museum to discover more about the car maker that is as Australian as footy grand finals and meat pies. Make a stop at the Avon Ridge Vineyard for lunch and sample the latest vintage or try one of their stocked craft beers before taking in the splendour of St Mary’s Catholic Church at Bairnsdale with its stunning ceiling frescos. Then you’ve arrived at your destination – beautiful Lakes Entrance with wineries and picturesque beaches to explore.
For more information:
New South Wales
There’s a lot to see in New South Wales from the alpine region, the rugged outback mining towns, the country charm of central NSW to its breathtaking coastline. We look at one of the roads less travelled.
Reach for the stars in Parkes
Learn about Australia’s role in televising the 1969 moon landing at the CSIRO Parkes Radio Telescope Discovery Centre made even more famous in the charming 2001 film The Dish starring Sam Neill. The centre has an interactive display and an educational 3D theatre and is just a 20km drive north of Parkes.
For more information:
CSIRO Parkes Radio Telescope Discovery Centre
Delights in Dubbo
Home to the award-winning Taronga Western Plains Zoo, this Dubbo landmark offers safari-style encounters with giraffes, rhinos, elephants as well as lions and tigers – oh my!
While you’re in town, don’t forget to explore the Dubbo Observatory, the historic Old Dubbo Gaol and the Royal Flying Doctor Service Visitor Experience.
For more information:
Royal Flying Doctor Service Visitor Experience
Walking the Warrumbungles
Home to Australia’s only Dark Sky Park, the Warrumbungles is a sight to behold at night where the sky is free from light pollution, and you can see the stars in all their glory. During the day, why not take one of the bushwalks including the Breadknife and Grand High Top Walk?
For more information:
Lovely Lightning Ridge
Home to the magnificent black opal – which is Australia’s national gemstone – Lightning Ridge is an explorer’s delight. Relax after a long day’s drive in the artesian baths and take the time to visit the Chambers of The Black Hand sculpture gallery and the John Murray Art Gallery after starting at the Lightning Ridge Visitor Information Centre.
For more information:
Lightning Ridge Visitors Information Centre
Queensland
Head north or head west, you’re sure to find your next adventure right here in Queensland. Discover the rainforest splendour of the Daintree or the wonders of the Queensland outback. We showcase some of the places to pin on the map.
A divine wine time in St George
St George
Easter in The Vines
8-9 April 2023
Sample local wines in St George at this two-day festival set in the lush vineyards of Riversands. Ask about free camping available while you enjoy free live entertainment with music from the 1950s to the 2000s. Easter in the Vines is a relaxed, family-friendly event that will give you a chance to sample scrumptious food and wine available at the vineyard cafe.
For more information:
Opera among the stars
Winton
Festival of Outback Opera
16-20 May 2023
Spend time with soaring sopranos and bask in the notes of the basso profundo from Opera Queensland in Winton’s Festival of Outback Opera. With performances in various locations in Winton, Longreach, Barcaldine, Blackall, Tambo and Windorah, world-class singers bring to life the works of Verdi, Tchaikovsky, Mozart and Totsi.
For more information:
Good, better, best in Blackall!
Blackall
Better in Blackall
17-20 August 2023
Fun is better in Blackall, and you can experience it for yourself at the Better in Blackall Festival, a four-day event jam-packed with street parties, art exhibitions, live music as well as sunset food and wine tastings. While you’re in Blackall, make sure you visit the Jackie Howe statue and museum as well as the Blackall Woolscour and the iconic ‘black stump’ of ‘beyond the black stump’ lore.
For more information:
And they’re racing!
Birdsville
Birdsville Races
1-2 September 2023
Travel to the south-west corner of our great state for all the fun of the Birdsville Races which have been running since 1882 when owners, managers and stockmen gathered on the South Australian-Queensland border for the first race. Rub shoulders with the locals and try your luck with a punt. Win or lose you’ll be pleased to know that the Birdsville Races proceeds support the vital work of the Royal Flying Doctors Service.
For more information:
