When should travellers fly instead of driving in Australia?
Fly when the places are far apart and the road between them is not part of the holiday. Drive the Great Ocean Road, Tasmania, Margaret River and shorter coastal or outback routes you genuinely want to explore. Do not drive Sydney to Melbourne or Brisbane simply to avoid a flight unless the journey itself is the plan.
Full answer
Australia has many famous road trips, but not every long drive is one of them.
Fly when the distance is simply a gap between two places you want to visit. Drive when the road contains the beaches, towns, walks or landscapes you came to see.
When to fly
Fly between:
- Sydney and Melbourne on a short trip;
- Sydney or Melbourne and Cairns;
- the east coast and Perth;
- the east coast and the Red Centre;
- Tasmania and the mainland;
- distant parts of Queensland when time is limited.
A flight still uses several hours, but it can save one or more full days of driving.
When driving is worthwhile
The Great Ocean Road is worth driving because the coast, forests and towns are the trip. Stay overnight rather than racing to the Twelve Apostles and back.
Tasmania is well suited to driving, but distances and winding roads make days slower than the map suggests. Choose part of the island rather than trying to circle it quickly.
Margaret River and the south-west work well by car from Perth. Beaches, wineries, forests and small towns are spread out.
Kangaroo Island needs a car or organised tour for most visitors. Check ferry costs and rental conditions before taking a mainland vehicle across.
The Red Centre can be driven when you have enough days, understand fuel and road conditions and are prepared for heat and long distances.
Sydney to Melbourne
The inland motorway is efficient but not a holiday highlight.
The coastal route can be worthwhile when you have at least five or six days and genuinely want the towns, national parks and beaches between the cities. With two or three days, fly instead.
Sydney to Brisbane
This drive works when Byron Bay, the mid-north coast and other stops are part of the trip.
Allow at least five days, and longer if you want more than short overnight stops. Driving directly in one day is possible but tiring and adds little to a holiday.
Count the real cost
Compare:
- car hire;
- fuel;
- one-way fees;
- accommodation on the road;
- parking and tolls;
- the value of the days used for driving.
A cheap rental can cost more than flights once these are included.
Think about fatigue
Australian roads can be long, dark and quiet. Wildlife is more active around dawn and dusk, and services may be far apart in remote areas.
Do not plan a long drive immediately after an international flight. Share driving where possible and stop before tiredness becomes part of the route.
The simplest rule is to fly between regions and drive within the region you have chosen.