Looking for a new adventure to embark on in 2019? Then look no further because these are our top road trips to add to your traveling itinerary. From day trips to never-ending desert roads and thousand-mile-long coastal routes, there’s something on this list for everyone. All you need to do is fill up the gas tank, get comfortable and enjoy the magnificent sights that await after every bend in the road.
Bloomfield Track, Australia
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Travel amid the pristine rainforest, alongside the remote beaches and past the stunning waterfalls of Cape Tribulation on your way to Cooktown, in Northern Queensland. Featuring sections of dirt track and sealed road, creek and river crossings, steep climbs and descents, the Bloomfield Track is suitable for 4WD vehicles only. While the journey can easily be completed in a day, there’s a wealth of things to see on route. Visit an arts center at the Wujal Wujal aboriginal village, admire Bloomfield Falls and drink in the views from the Bloomfield River lookout. Sit in the shadow of coconut palms and mangroves at Cowie Beach. There’s camping grounds and lodge accommodation if you want your trip to last a few extra days.
Find out more about the road and its current conditions here: Bloomfield Track.
Fundy Coastal Drive, Canada
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You could spend a lifetime road tripping in Canada, but choose this one for a breathtaking insight into New Brunswick’s Bay of Fundy and the Fundy National Park wilderness. Starting at St. Stephen, on the Canada-U.S. border, the Fundy Coastal Drive meanders for around 250 miles (400 kilometers) to Aulac. Spend your time spotting whales, observing the world’s highest tides at Hopewell Caves, swimming in tidal pools at long sandy beaches, crossing the Big Salmon River suspension bridge and walking in forested provincial parks. The historic charm of St. Stephen, the New England air of St. Andrew’s by the Sea and vibrant entertainment attractions of Mocton offer urban activities amid the natural splendor.
Get itinerary ideas here: Tourism New Brunswick.
Kystriksveien Coastal Route, Norway
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Discover archipelagos, fjords, glaciers, mountains and old fishing villages in Norway’s remote Nordland region. The Kystriksveien Coastal Route is a mammoth 400 mile (650 kilometer) road between Bodø and Steinkjer. With charming towns, UNESCO World Heritage sites and some 12,000 islands, you’ll want to take your time and plan side trips along the way. Include a visit to the glaciers of Saltfjellet-Svartisen National Park and marvel at the power of the sea currents at Saltstraumen. Spot thousands of rare puffins in Lovund. Time your vacation well and you could be enjoying picnics beneath the midnight sun and gazing in awe at the Northern Lights.
See what else is on offer here: Visit Norway.
Salta-Cafayate-Cachi-Salta Loop, Argentina
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Set against a backdrop of the Andes, Argentina’s wild northwest is one of the nation’s lesser-traveled regions. From the colonial city of Salta, a sealed road cuts through sprawling farmland and the majestic Quebrada de las Conchas National Park. Here, immense sandstone formations and red ravines evoke comparisons with Arizona’s Grand Canyon. Visit some of the wineries in Cafayate and then return north on a section of the Ruta 40, once traveled by Che Guevara. A predominately dirt road follows the course of a river and passes sleepy pueblos, where churches and adobe houses frame cobblestone plazas. Cachi is among the most charming pueblos, from where you can join a deserted mountain pass for the return leg to Salta.
Find out more about Salta and its surroundings here: Turismo Salta.
Skeleton Coast, Namibia
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Few places in the world present the opportunity to see lions and hyenas preying on marine life on beaches that wouldn’t look out of place on tropical islands. The 310-mile (500-kilometer) long Skeleton Coast takes its name from the whale bones and shipwrecks that pepper Namibia’s northern coastline. With huge sand dunes rolling down to the rough Atlantic Ocean and free-roaming elephants, giraffes and oryx, this drive is as wild as its name suggests. You’ll need to have a 4WD and be well prepared because amenities and human interaction are in short supply between Swakopmund and Terrace Bay. Go kayaking and quad biking in Dorob National Park, try dune bashing and camp on the seafront at Torra Bay.
Get help planning your Namibia road trip here: Info Namibia.
