Best Driving Roads in Australia

12974 Views 24 Replies 12 Participants Last post by great-driving-roads, Jul 14, 2012

mitchikins

Discussion Starter · Apr 20, 2008 (Edited)

What is the best drive in Australia?
Spurred on by Top Gear's attempt to find the best road in the world (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuNzk2dGHbQ) , and the disappointment that was brought on by the realization that many of these roads will be out of my reach, as they are in continental europe, I've been searching the web for the best drive's in Australia.

Of course you're going to say the great ocean road. You're going to say a good thrash over the nullabor. I know you're going to say that, because so did the NRMA in it's magazine, and so did top gear, because they're famous roads for that.
But I'm not looking for something famous. I'm looking for local knowledge, secrets of the bush-man type thing. Roads that aren't inhabited by the grey nomads with their caravans attempting to see all the things they found in tourist books about Australia before they wither away and die. Surely in this wide brown land, with it's lack of populace, which we are hugely proud of, there is a road reminiscent of the stelvio pass, that has very, very, very few other users (particularly of the semi trailer/ grey nomad species)

I suppose what I'm looking for is a truly epic Australian road. A road that has the best combination of twists, turns, flat out straights, climbs, descents ,decent scenery and automotive space (similar to personal space).

Where is the best place to flog my new Aston that i have hypothetically bought with my hypothetical money in my hypothetical world?
What do you think is the most idealistic, fantastical, most too good to be true road in Australia?

p.s. I think it would be nice to set out your suggestions in a nice easy to read format. That doesn't mean that you shouldn't talk about the road, or post pictures, please do, infact. But if you set it out with a location, to/ from eg. like this;

State;NSW
From; Tumut
To; Cooma
Via; ??
Distance;
any other relevant info etc. etc.

P.s. roads in New Zealand are also counted... they're practically Australian anyway...

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1 - 20 of 25 Posts

Odin

· #2 · Apr 20, 2008

maquarie pass off illawarra highway going into wollongong aint to shabby, steep descent or climb depending where your going, and in some places just 1 1/2 lanes wide.

so basically head up from canberra on the federal highway/hume highway, past goulburn take the turn off to wollongong called illawarra highway, stop at the pie shop for a bite to eat before the big start of the run, repeat as necessary.

JoeT

· #3 · Apr 20, 2008

I'll back that. Just about every road that leaves the Illawarra is a great drive.

Grand Pacific Drive online brochure

Kamshaaft

· #4 · Apr 20, 2008 (Edited)

You live in Tumut!?!? New Zealand will have dozens and dozens of awesome driving roads.

State;NSW
From; Mt Beauty
To; Bright
Via; Scary as hell narrow twisting mountain roads, best for motorbikes
Distance; ??

State; SA
From; Adelaide hills area
To; Barossa Valley
Via; Through the winding uphill rocky area known locally as polar bear rock
Distance; ??

State; SA
From; Coming in from some ****ty little bush towns
To; Sherlock (near Tailem Bend)
Via; Well made winding highway roads, great for high speed
Distance; ??

I'll fill in the patches another time, I hardly keep a dairy of these things (I wish i did, I really should) and I know there are quite a number of other roads I haven't even remembered yet. My memory is VERY vauge on anything but the actual roads themselves, so specifics will be later.

I heard great ocean road was nice, from a tourist.

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redTT

· #5 · Apr 20, 2008 (Edited)

Mt Keira Road, nsw.

Or they could always take it around Bathurst

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hFLBTexmpg

JoeT

· #6 · Apr 20, 2008

redTT said:
Mt Keira Road, nsw.

My road. I travel up and down her each day. I never get sick of the view.

roteague

· #7 · Apr 20, 2008

Kamshaaft said:
State; SA
From; Adelaide hills area
To; Barossa Valley
Via; Through the winding uphill rocky area known locally as polar bear rock
Distance; ??

Yes, Barossa Valley is a great drive.

I would have to say, my favorite would be the Lassiter Highway. However, I followed the Murray River from Albery/Wodonga to Murray Bridge once, via several roads, and enjoyed the drive very much. That probably doesn't count.

great-driving-roads

· #8 · Jun 6, 2012

Bumping this thread for anyone thats looking to do some driving downunder

kts350

· #9 · Jun 6, 2012

I 2nd the Bellingen to Armidale drive in the last video did that trip lots of time the road going up the Dorrigo Ranges is awesome and can be scarey if your on the way down and you find a semi coming up not much room in places.
The old pacific hway heading out of Sydney is a great drive as well.

kts350

· #10 · Jun 6, 2012

Did this drive a month ago with the kids in the Captiva and they loved it just cruised it, I actually want to try it one day in the Astra since it actually goes great around the corners.

F14CRAZY

· #11 · Jun 6, 2012

You guys need to experience I-696 in metro Detroit. Median speed is at least 80 mph, sweeping curves, plenty of lanes, little to no police presence...

great-driving-roads

· #12 · Jun 10, 2012

heres another road from QLD. This is really close to the Gold Coast and is a must if your in the area

great-driving-roads

· #13 · Jun 16, 2012

another new road for everyone. I hope you like them

VS Ute 5Litre

· #14 · Jun 16, 2012

Most of those Alpine roads are brilliant but you just need to be carefull of tools driving like they are competing in a rally stage

great-driving-roads

· #15 · Jun 19, 2012

VS Ute 5Litre said:
Most of those Alpine roads are brilliant but you just need to be carefull of tools driving like they are competing in a rally stage

Yeah thats true, caution is needed through blind turns and when the road gets narrow. The odd 4x4 towing a house can take up most of the road aswell.

VS Ute 5Litre

· #16 · Jun 19, 2012

F14CRAZY said:
You guys need to experience I-696 in metro Detroit. Median speed is at least 80 mph, sweeping curves, plenty of lanes, little to no police presence...

Sounds boring

JuMPy

· #17 · Jun 19, 2012

I drove a mountain road just outside of Melbourne once in a Commodore (Can't remember what it was called). I thought it was incredible, and easily one of the best driving roads I have ever been on (short of some mountain roads in Vermont and Tennesse). Mind you where I live here in Canada, its flat, straight and roads intersect at 90 degrees, so a pot holes can be cause for excitment sometimes.

JuMPy

· #18 · Jun 19, 2012

VS Ute 5Litre said:
Sounds boring

Not when its wet .....LOL !!

I've driven that road many times (on the way to my Companies HQ). It is a bit nutty, buts that more because people don't know how to drive!

great-driving-roads

· #19 · Jun 21, 2012

where are you jumpy? Im living in Whistler BC

great-driving-roads

· #20 · Jun 25, 2012

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