Everyone drives the Great Ocean Road. Fewer people point the van somewhere quieter - and that’s exactly where Australia gets interesting. These are the stops and regions we think deserve more attention than they get.
Coast without the crowds
South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula delivers Great-Australian-Bight cliffs, sea-lion colonies and some of the country’s best seafood, with a fraction of the traffic of the east coast. On the other side of the continent, Tasmania’s west coast trades gentle beaches for raw, cinematic wilderness around Strahan and Cradle Mountain.
Outback that isn’t Uluru
The Flinders Ranges give you the ancient, folded drama of the outback within a day’s drive of Adelaide, while the Darling River Run in western NSW follows a lifeline of red-dirt river country, historic ports and Mungo’s eerie Walls of China. Both feel genuinely remote without demanding a hardcore expedition.
The best detours rarely have a queue at the lookout.
Chasing quiet doesn’t mean roughing it - most of these regions have well-run caravan parks and sealed access. Pair them with our detailed route guides and you’ve got a trip that skips the crowds without skipping the comfort.
Frequently asked questions
Where are Australia's best off-the-beaten-path road trips?+
Away from the marquee drives, the Eyre Peninsula (SA), the Darling River Run (NSW), the Flinders Ranges (SA) and Tasmania's wild west coast reward travellers who want space and quiet over crowds.
By the Oz Road Trips team · Last updated 18 July 2026
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