THE BUZZ: OFF THE BEATEN TRACK IN AUSTRALIA

Life

The Explorer’s Way (SA)

Traversing through 3,000 km of historic natural wonders, this epic north-bound drive that begins in Adelaide (SA) leaves you spoilt for choice, with off-the-track loops and intriguing places to discover. One of the first places that will tempt you to hit the brakes is Clare Valley with its array of vineyards.

A little further is the opportunity for bushwalking at Alligator Gorge and spectacular views on a trek to the summit of Mount Remarkable. Stop by at Pichi Richi Railway for a historic ride on the oldest remaining section of the Old Ghan railway before halting at Rawnsley Park Station for an immersive outback stay or your very own glamping experience at Wilpena Pound in the Flinders Range National Park. Both of them are great hubs from which to explore the famous surrounding Flinders Ranges.

Follow the road north to reach the timeless stretch between Lyndhurst and Coober Pedy that skirts Australia’s largest lake — Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre. Take a slight deviation from Coober Pedy to the mesmerising natural wonder that is the Painted Desert before crossing over to the Northern Territory and Darwin.

East Coast Drive (TAS)

Tasmania’s East Coast is where most of this breathtaking island’s action is packed – 295 km and five days of surreal beauty that begins in Hobart and winds its way up to the pictorial Bay of Fires.

Your first stop from Hobart is Orford, which serves as the gateway to car-free Maria Island. Jump aboard the ferry and step onto an island that deserves a full-day, if not more. The next stop is Swansea and the awe-inspiring Freycinet Peninsula that surrounds it. Here you can hike, abseil or simply grab a bite at one of its gourmet offerings while you take in the beauty of its towering pink granites.

Give yourself another day at Freycinet and head down to Coles Bay to kayak through the awe-inspiring gorges of Wineglass Bay and meet its many dolphins. Drive on to St Helen’s, which marks the beginning of the Bay of Fires, and spend a while savouring its world-renowned oysters. Stop at the quaint, seaside Bicheno for the night. The last leg involves pulling back onto the asphalt towards Binalong Bay to finally unwind on sparkling white beaches while enjoying crystal blue waters and secluded stretches of jaw-dropping vistas that is the Bay of Fires.