This year has flown by, and it’s hard to believe that spring is already here. It’s exciting to think summer is just around the corner, and planning a short trip for the long weekend gives you something exciting to look forward to. Why not take advantage of the extra day and explore these iconic Australian areas by car?

Sapphire Coast

Flying into Sydney, hiring a car and heading south is magical - they call it the Sapphire coast for good reason, there’s no other way to describe the hue of that gorgeous water. Foodies will love this trip; stop at Cupitt's Estate for excellent wine and beer, Rick Stein at Bannisters for fresh seafood meals with a view, Batemans Bay for oysters, Bodalla for cheese, and so much more. It’s six and half hours to Eden so you can break this up over a long weekend, and if you’re lucky, end your trip with some amazing whale watching.

Explore Queensland’s Scenic Rim

Fly into Brisbane and drive south for scenery and natural vistas that will blow your mind. It’s one hour to Tamborine Mountain (a geological phenomenon, the result of an outpouring of lava from Mount Warning) then only another hour further to the stunning World Heritage-listed Lamington National Park with its towering cliffs, rainforests, forests, pastures, wild rivers and rock pools. You’ll want to stay here a day or two to make the most of everything, before driving to Gold Coast airport to fly out. There are bush-walking trails, scenic vistas and historical sites; and retreats, cottages and farm stays are a great way to truly experience the magnificence of this area.

Darwin Day Trips

Flying into Darwin and using it as base for day trips by car is a great way to spend a weekend. In Darwin itself there’s Lake Alexander, Crocosaurus Cove, Mindil Beach Sunset Market and numerous other options, but it’s also only an hour to get to Litchfield National Park to see the surreal Termite Mounds and beautiful waterfalls. You can also do a one day trip to Kakadu National Park (with an early start), or visit Tiwi Island to learn about its people and culture when you visit their Aboriginal community.