Scenic Summer Day Trips Worth Hopping In The Car For
There's nothing quite like a good old-fashioned road trip. Playlist on loud, coffee snug in the cup holders and snacks at the ready. It's as much about the journey as it is the destination. And in Australia? We're blessed with natural wonders, awe-inspiring coastlines, lush rainforests and towering sand dunes.
We've teamed up with our mates at BYD to round up the best Aussie day trips to add to your summer bucket list. And with the new BYD ATTO 2 DM-i, there's never been a better excuse to venture beyond the 'burbs. A small SUV with big range, this compact yet roomy ride packs cutting-edge Dual Mode Intelligent (DM-i) Super Hybrid tech, pairing an electric motor with a petrol engine for the best of both worlds. Translation? Lower fuel consumption for the everyday stuff, with the freedom to keep going when the open road calls. It's got plenty of clever surprises for the journey too...
Ready to hit the road? Here's where we're heading this summer.
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Day Trips From Sydney
Thirroul
South Coast | 90 Minute Drive
Image credit: Ciro's Pizza | Sam Brumby
It's about an hour and a half to get yourself from Sydney to Thirroul, a scenic seaside suburb near Wollongong. Chuck the Grand Pacific Drive into your maps to experience one of Australia's most unforgettable coastal stretches of road. You can stop by beaches like Thirroul Surf Beach, majestic waterfalls and oceanfront cafes to make a day of it.
Once you've arrived, it's straight to the very chic Frank's Wild Years. It's a record bar with killer pasta and snacky bits, plus you can add to your vinyl collection with their huge range of new and second-hand records. For a proper feed, bee-line to Ciro's Pizza. It's Italian-inspired dough made for a proper feed with the whole fam.
Newcastle
Hunter Region | 2 Hour Drive
Image credit: Visit Newcastle | Website
Come for the surfing, stay for the vibrant eats. Newy is a couple of hours from Sydney, and your best bet with this one is to wake up early and hit the road to make the most of your time. Start strong with a cup of the good stuff and a toastie from part coffee shop, part bookshop, The Press Book House, before ticking off Nobbys Beach, Nobbys Lighthouse and Newcastle Breakwater, all before lunch. Newcastle Ocean Baths is a chic 1920s community pool set along the pristine coastline (avoid Thursdays when they're closed for a weekly deep clean), so pack your bathers and make a day of it.
Then do yourself a favour by making a reservation at one of Newcastle's exceptional restaurants, like St Lucia. Now, if you don't want to burn yourself out trying to squeeze everything in, why not make a weekend of it? The ATTO 2 DM-i's got more than enough smart storage for all the road trip essentials, with a 425L boot that expands to a whopping 1,335L with the rear seats folded down. So we say throw in the suitcases and book yourself into a polished apartment, a tucked-away cabin or a beach house escape on Airbnb.
Blue Mountains
Greater Sydney Region | 2 Hour Drive
Image credit: House Of Suns | Wild Mountain Child
You're probably already familiar with the Blue Mountains. Picturesque views, UNESCO World Heritage-listed bushland and plenty of fresh mountain air. Chances are you've done the drive before, but there's more to the Blue Mountains than canyoning and day walks.
Have you checked out the historic Glow Worm Tunnel? What was once a railway tunnel is now an epic spot to see its resident glow critters lighting up the darkness. You'll find it located in Wollemi National Park near Lithgow. You also might not have had the pleasure of grabbing a baked good or two from the roadside Chilean micro-bakery, House Of Suns. It's tucked away along a bush track, so park up at Batman Park and enjoy the serene 1km walk. Just remember, it's a Saturday-only affair from 9am.
Berry
Shoalhaven | 2 Hour Drive
Berry is one of the South Coast's best little day trip destinations, and with only two hours in the car, you'd almost be mad not to do the miles. One of the best places to visit is the Berry General Store. The brunch options are top-notch, with baked beans on toast, a parmi sandwich and perfectly dialled-in coffee on the menu. The shelves are lined with condiments, knick-knacks and all sorts of gourmet goodies.
Then there's The Famous Berry Donut Van, which has been kicking around since '74. The name gives it away: these are some of the best, fluffiest doughnuts you'll come by, and you'll find it parked up at 73 Queen Street. And if baked goods are your thing, you'd better duck into Milkwood Bakery. The crew have been making and baking since 2012, with cakes, pastries and one very nostalgic finger bun, freshly baked every day.
Day Trips From Melbourne
Mornington
Mornington Peninsula | 1 Hour Drive
Image credit: Alba Thermal Springs | Instagram
Just an hour's drive from Melbourne along the Peninsula Link will land you in the Mornington Peninsula. Think relaxing hot springs, rejuvenating walks along the calm beaches and a shopping strip brimming with delicious eats and fantastic shopping. The ideal day? Wake up early and get yourself down to Mornington Pier for a morning sunrise walk, with a coffee in hand from Commonfolk.
Then take yourself to Alba Thermal Springs and Spa for a slow soak in their geothermal springs and herbal-infused botanical pools before hitting up the on-site restaurant. You'll soon realise the Mornington Peninsula is huge: Dromana, Rosebud, St Andrews Beach, Blairgowrie, Sorrento, Cape Schanck. So, you might want to stay longer than one day. If that's the case, let us point you in the direction of the best accommodation you can find on the Ninch for a summer trip over here.
Macedon Ranges
Central Victoria | 1 Hour Drive
Image credit: Visit Macedon Ranges | Website
This one's for the hiking and camping lovers out there. The Macedon Ranges have some of the state's best day and overnight hikes in the most serene bushland you'll find. The drive is just over an hour from Melbourne, making it an easy escape from the city.
And here's a handy little road trip tip: the ATTO 2 DM-i comes with Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) technology, which essentially turns your car into a giant power bank. That means you can plug in your camping essentials, from your phone and camera to a coffee machine or even a portable fridge.
So, if you find yourself in the Macedon Ranges checking out the six-million-year-old volcanic formation at Hanging Rock, tackling the Summit Walking Trail or hitting up the classic old-school country bakery, The Lazy Baker, for baked goods primed for a picnic lunch, you've got your campsite essentials covered.
Torquay
Surf Coast Shire | 90 Minute Drive
Image credit: BYD | Supplied
The quintessential beach day is had at Torquay. You're in for about an hour and 20 minutes on the road, but keep driving along, and you'll find yourself on the iconic Great Ocean Road, taking you past the Twelve Apostles and the Great Otway National Park, not to mention the koala sightings along the way. In Torquay, the food scene is booming. Mortadeli Pasta Bar is a hot spot for providore goods, Roman-inspired hand-shaped pasta and one very excellent tiramisu. Coming soon to the scene, and well worth driving down for, is the first full-service day spa with hot springs, About Time.
Day Trips From Brisbane
Tamborine Mountain
Scenic Rim | 1 Hour Drive
Image credit: Visit Brisbane | Website
You can't get rainforest walks and breathtaking views in Brisbane's CBD, unfortunately. But fortunately, Tamborine Mountain in the Scenic Rim is only an hour's drive away. Blast the playlist and make the Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk your first point of call. Meander through lush canopies and incredible treetops to spot local wildlife, then head to the 40m cantilever bridge for breathtaking views above the creek.
If you're up for some nature-inspired wellness, SOL Elements is a floating elemental bathhouse perched on a lake. We're talking thermal pools, icy plunges, a cedarwood sauna, a steam room and a glowing Himalayan salt cave. If you're up for getting your hands a little dirty, Potta Studio at North Stores offers hands-on pottery classes so you can take home a souvenir of your adventures.
Burleigh Heads
Gold Coast | 1 Hour Drive
Image credit: Rick Shores | Instagram
The surfy town of Burleigh Heads is a mecca for incredible food that's well worth the drive. It's about an hour behind the wheel, with seafood eateries, buzzing laneways and plenty of rooftop dining to discover. A bucket list-worthy restaurant is definitely Rick Shores. Think pan-Asian flavours combined with fresh, local produce, all made for sharing with your road trip mates. In the things-to-do category, get yourself down to the Burleigh Village Markets for funky vintage clothing, handmade homewares and local artisan goods. Come with an empty boot in your BYD ATTO 2 DM-i, because you're going to want plenty of room for all those unique finds to bring back home.
Byron Bay
New South Wales North Coast | 2 Hour Drive
Image credit: Hope and May | Instagram
An explorer's dream. Produce-forward cafes, hinterland views, unreal beaches and beautiful walks. Thanks to the ATTO 2 DM-i's plug-in hybrid tech, you can make the most of electric driving around town while still having the flexibility of hybrid power for the longer journey home. Plus, with plenty of compatible public charging points, you can easily plug in and shop 'til you drop at spots like Byron-born label, Spell, for ethereal designs and dreamy buys; Habitat for locally made and designed homewares; and Hope and May, which has some of the most stunning jewellery you'll shop. For your eating needs, we've done the hard yards for you and worked out all the best places to check out here.
Day Trips From Perth
The Pinnacles Desert
Nambung National Park | 2 Hour Drive
Image credit: Australia | Instagram
After a two-hour drive out of Perth, you'll land in one of WA's most otherworldly landscapes. This natural landmark is in Nambung National Park, where you'll find a far-reaching landscape of sand and limestone formations standing as tall as five metres. You can walk the loop trail and boardwalk to Lake Thetis or take a dip at one of the park's beautiful beaches. But we'd recommend hitting the 4.5km drive trail, with winding roads that take you around the limestone structures.
Yanchep National Park
North Perth | 45 Minute Drive
Image credit: Destination Perth | Website
Camping is the name of the game here, and don't forget to pack your bathers. You've got some very impressive snorkelling and stand-up paddle-boarding opportunities right off the shore. There's a small entry fee for Yanchep National Park, but once you're in, you can explore crystal caves, Australian flora and fauna (the kangaroos and koalas are adorable), towering trees, world-class skywalks and shell-lined shores.
Stay in the national park for lunch at one of the many picnic spots before you make a beeline for Yanchep Lagoon. This is where your bathers come in handy, because you'll see the crystal-clear waters and you'll be kicking yourself if you didn't pack them. Go snorkelling to spot beautiful marine life, and the kiddos will love hunting for small sea life in the rock pools.
Lancelin
Turquoise Coast | 90 Minute Drive
Image credit: Tourism Western Australia | Website
The quaint fishing town of Lancelin is about an hour and a half behind the wheel. Here, you have the chance to hit the sand dunes for some adrenaline-pumping sandboarding at the Lancelin Sand Dunes. The towering white sugar-sand dunes are some of the largest in WA, stretching for about two kilometres. Once you've exhausted yourself, refuel with a giant chicken parmi from the Endeavour Tavern. Insider intel: snag a table out on the waterfront to soak up perfect coastal views.
Editor’s note: This article is sponsored by BYD and proudly endorsed by The Urban List. To find out more about who we work with and why read our editorial policy here.
Main image credit: Grand Pacific Drive | Website