Sometimes it’s the characters you meet along the way, sometimes it’s the stunning scenery, sometimes it’s the freedom that comes from being behind the wheel on a foreign highway. Either way there is something very special about hiring a car and heading off on the open road. At Bridge and Wickers we have picked our favourite road trips, guaranteed to make it difficult to keep your eyes on the tarmac.

Great Ocean Road – With the crashing waves of the Southern Ocean on one side and temperate rainforests and beach towns on the other this certainly deserves its place as one of the most scenic drives in the world. Starting in Torquay (an hour out of Melbourne) and finishing in Warrnambool 150 miles later there are several prominent landmarks along the way with the Twelve Apostles being the most recognisable and striking. For the eagle eyed amongst you, yes there are only eight of the limestone stacks but the Eight Apostles doesn’t quite have the same ring to it. With so much to see either side of the road most people do the drive over two days before returning to Melbourne but it can easily be incorporated into a longer drive to Adelaide.

Icefields Parkway – Tracing a thin line along the backbone of the Canadian Rockies between Lake Louise and Jasper, the parkway transports you through one of the most spectacular mountain landscapes on Earth. Pristine lakes (with the bluest waters you’re ever likely to see), broad forested valleys and towering peaks provide the background scenery but it is the icefields the road is named after that are the star of the show. The Athabasca Glacier in the Columbia Icefield is the most accessible glacier in North America and comes within walking distance of the parkway. Although retreating, the glacier is still 6km long and 1km wide so there is plenty to discover on a trip in one of the giant 6-wheeled drive Ice Explorers.

Garden Route – Again a world renowned ‘road trip’, the Garden Route is a 200km stretch of South Africa’s south coast from Mossel Bay in the west to the mouth of Storms River. Running parallel to the coastline which features lakes, mountains, forests, amber-coloured rivers and golden beaches the route is often extended to include the drive up from Cape Town which nearly doubles the length of the journey. This extension gives you the chance to pass through the vineyards of the Cape Winelands, do a spot of whale watching at Hermanus before heading inland to the Karoo and Africa’s ostrich capital Oudtshoorn to create a varied and exciting journey. Budget 4-6 nights to fully appreciate this region.

Wanaka to Haast – You will probably regret leaving the shores of beautiful Lake Wanaka but if you are heading for the glaciers of the West Coast don’t worry the stunning scenery isn’t about to desert you. In fact you probably have the most scenic section of road in New Zealand ahead of you which is saying something in itself! It’s certainly a drive of contrasts, with arid dry terrain giving way to rainforest with pockets of beech forest and alpine mountains along the way. The key marker on the journey is the spectacular Haast Pass. Originally an ancient trail used by Maori travelling west in search of jade it is one of only three passes where a road crosses the Southern Alps. Allow plenty of time for the drive as there are a number of well marked walks along the way certainly worth exploring.

Gibb River Road – Certainly one for the adventurous, this icon of the aussie outback is a 660km dirt track passing through the heart of the Kimberley region of Western Australia from Derby to Wyndham. The Gibb was originally built for droving cattle but now it caters for a steady stream of four-wheel drive explorers. Open from mid-April to mid-October (due to the wet season making it impassable the rest of the year) the track gives access to spectacular gorges and waterfalls, rugged escarpments and remote aboriginal communities. Think the film Australia, but with a bit more comfort and without the cattle. Along the way you will pass through various stations (farms to us) such as El Questro, although at a similar size to Belgium you won’t be able to explore it all!

Contact one of our consultants to see how they can fit into your next holiday.