While it can be tempting to pack an itinerary full to the brim, the best summer holidays are often the simplest. This year, set your sights on the open road and rediscover the simple pleasure of a family road trip.

Whether you’re drawn to beaches, fine food or the great outdoors, here are six road trip destinations to choose from.

1. Great Ocean Road, Victoria

Making discoveries in rockpools, seeing a mob of ’roos bound through the bush and savouring a chocolate ice-cream after a beach swim, a Great Ocean Road trip is perfect for the Aussie summer holidays.

The world-famous road begins in the surf town of Torquay, about 100km from the centre of Melbourne. You could complete the return journey to see the famous Twelve Apostles in one rushed (and long) day trip from Melbourne, but breaking it up is probably the is key to keeping little travellers happy.

It’s not just about the Twelve Apostles though. There are plenty of other places to check out, including Loch Ard Gorge Blowhole, which can be admired from an expansive new viewing platform known as Poombeeyt Koontapool. Relax in Apollo Bay for a day or two, where a guided walk around the 12-hectare Wildlife Wonders sanctuary is a must for animal lovers. If you’ve got kids over five, they’ll get a kick out of paddling with the platypus and seeing glow worms in the Great Otway National Park, too.

2. Coral Coast, Western Australia

If you’re out west where scorching summer temperatures are the norm, you’ll want to remain near the coastline to catch the refreshing sea breezes on your epic Western Australia road trip. From Perth, drive north and you’ll reach the seaside city of Geraldton in around 4.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take it slow, hug the coastline along the Indian Ocean Drive and stop at laidback beach towns along the way.

Go sandboarding on the epic dunes at Lancelin, see the thousands of limestone pillars known as The Pinnacles and swim with Australian sea lions at Jurien Bay. The Coral Coast is a destination made for families that love the outdoors and adventure.

3. Newcastle, New South Wales

A north coast road trip from Sydney offers the perfect mix of slow-paced beach towns and a thriving regional city. Approximately two hours north of Sydney by car, Newcastle is an achievable drive when you’ve got little ones with you.

If the waves at the beach are gnarly, enjoy a smoother swim in one of Newcastle’s famous open-air pools. Newcastle Ocean Baths has a beautiful Art Deco pavilion, while Merewether Ocean Baths is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere.

Mini-golf, go-karts, ziplining and escape rooms… Newcastle has a stack of activities to keep kids of all ages happy. Drive further north and things slow down a bit. Nelson Bay and Salamander Bay are perfect for swimming, fishing and lazing the day away by the water. For a stay with a difference, book a glamping tent at Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary to sleep among koalas in their natural habitat.

4. North coast, Tasmania

Of all the family road trips to choose from in Tasmania, a cruisy drive along the north coast is a real stand-out. Roughly an hour’s drive from Launceston, Devonport is where you’ll find kid-friendly attractions like the Don River Railway (who doesn’t love a heritage train ride?) and the striking, red-and-white Mersey Bluff Lighthouse, which looks a bit like a giant candy cane.

If hedge mazes and model villages sound intriguing, take a detour south to get lost in the whimsical wonderland of Tasmazia & the Village of Lower Crackpot in the delightfully named town of Promised Land.

Back on the coast, don’t miss stopping at the cute seaside town of Penguin on the Old Bass Highway. Take a selfie with the Big Penguin statue and check out all the other nods to the flightless bird in this charming, Penguin-themed town.

5. Sunshine Coast, Queensland

As its name suggests, the Sunshine Coast has summer holidays written all over it. An easy 90-minute drive from Brisbane, it’s been a family favourite destination for generations.

Break up the drive with a stop at the Caboolture Warplane Museum to marvel at restored World War II airplanes. You can even book a flight if you’re feeling brave.

Whether you stay in a Noosa apartment, Maroochydore resort or hinterland cabin, it’s easy to hop in the car and explore the region at your own pace.

When the temperature soars, cooling off is essential. Golden Beach and Bulcock Beach offer calmer seas for swimming, especially for kids. Apart from swimming, there is plenty of other fun to be had on the water. Hop on the Noosa Ferry for a joyride, have a go at stand-up paddleboarding on the Noosa River, or try native bushfoods like finger lime and bunya nut aboard a classic boat with Saltwater Eco Tours in Mooloolaba, where visitors of all ages are welcome.

6. North Island, New Zealand

When it comes to pulling off a memorable family road trip, Australia isn’t the only destination worth looking at. Across the pond, New Zealand has all the ingredients for a driving holiday the whole family can get behind: fresh air, wide open spaces and epic scenery.

From Auckland, drive south and in around two hours you’ll reach the place that was transformed into The Lord of the Rings’ Middle-earth. Visiting Hobbiton is guaranteed to captivate the whole clan. See where Bilbo and Frodo Baggins lived, have a drink at the Green Dragon Inn, and soak up the magical atmosphere on a guided walk of the film set.

There are plenty of other attractions within an easy drive of Hobbiton too, such as Rotorua’s geothermal mud baths and Sanctuary Mountain, an eco-sanctuary that’s home to one of the world’s most critically endangered birds: the adorable kākāpō.

Looking for the ultimate road-trip vehicle? Join us in the Mercedes-Benz G 450 d for a first drive.