Our very own Great Ocean Road might be one of the world’s most celebrated driving routes, but what other gems are hiding in Victoria for those of us who love the thrill of a hairpin or a low-gear challenge? Get your playlist ready and hit the bitumen with four of our top picks for the best driving roads in Victoria.
Experience the 4 best driving roads in Victoria
It’s time to get those performance vehicles out of the garage and back on the road. Spend a day or two exploring the best driving roads on offer in Victoria.
1. Heidelberg-Kinglake Road
Location: Start from St Andrews (52 km north-east of Melbourne)
Distance: 28 kilometres (St Andrews to Kinglake return)
Surface: Sealed, in good condition but watch for rockface debris
Google Maps: Link
This drive might be short, but it is oh so sweet for those of us who love tight and winding rural roads! With a cliff face on one side and a sheer drop on the other, this one can be a treacherous challenge that demands respect, so take it slow and keep your eyes peeled for cyclists and motorcyclists alike. Enjoy the flipside on the return trip, which feels like a whole new route for both you and your passengers as you navigate the tight route back to St Andrews.
Highlights:
- Narrow and tight turning
- High-concentration driving
- Beautiful views
2. The Black Spur
Location: Start from Healesville (65 km north-east of Melbourne)
Distance: 28 kilometres
Surface: Sealed, in good condition
Google Maps: Link
We’ll never get sick of this one! Wind your way up the Great Dividing Range on the Maroondah Highway from Healesville at the foot of the Yarra Valley to the tiny town of Narbethong, just 10 minutes from Marysville at the gateway to Melbourne’s closest alpine resort. Featuring some of Victoria’s most spectacular tall forests, this 30 kilometre-long road twists around colossal mountain ash trees and is lined with lush ferns.
This drive offers the kinds of hairpin turns we car-enthusiasts dream of, and the occasional (though short) straight stretch to momentarily open the throttle on. The road surface is in great condition, with a smooth feel and well-designed surface camber for excellent handling. Be careful of black ice in the winter months – we recommend taking this one at a slow pace year-round so you can enjoy the scenery and dappled sunlight in all its glory.
Want to stretch out the drive a little further? Try a detour on your way back to the city, heading north from Healesville on the C724 to Toolangi. This one is a favourite amongst motoring journalists and you’ll soon see why, with 20 kilometres of narrow and sweeping bends, hills and a variety of surfaces to put both you and your car to the test. The road does get quite narrow and challenging at some points (and is a popular spot for motorcyclists too) so be sure to give it the respect it demands!
Come back another time with your 4WD to explore Toolangi State Forest, home to some of the steepest, rockiest ascents and descents in Victoria.
Highlights:
- Hairpin turns
- Smooth cornering
- Jurassic Park-like surrounds
3. The Silo Art Trail
Location: Start from Rupanyup (300 km north-west of Melbourne)
Distance: 189 kilometres
Surface: Sealed, occasional rough edges
Google Maps: Link
If the thought of tight bends makes you (or your passengers!) queasy, then perhaps a trip to the Wimmera-Mallee region is in order. Set aside a weekend to explore Australia’s largest outdoor gallery, with wide stretches of open road leading you through six of Victoria’s smallest towns, each featuring large-scale mural portraits painted onto grain silos. Rupanyup is a 3.5 hour journey from Melbourne (over the West Gate Bridge and up the Western Highway), marking the closest landmark on the famed trail that stretches north across the spectacular Wimmera-Mallee plains. The Silo Art Trail has brought some of the world’s most renowned street artists to rural Victoria to celebrate the region’s people and history and is an opportunity to experience vast expanses of that great big blue sky of ours.
One of the best driving roads in Victoria, the route is dominated by long straight stretches of highway – making it ideal for performance cars and caravans alike!
Highlights:
- Long, straight and flat stretches of open highway
- Expansive horizon views across the Wimmera-Mallee plains
- Well-spaced stops
4. The Great Alpine Road
Location: Start from Bairnsdale (280 km east of Melbourne)
Distance: 310 kilometres
Surface: Sealed, in mostly good condition, but watch for steep drops near edges
Google Maps: Link
A mountain equivalent to the Great Ocean Road without the congestion, you say? Where do I sign up?! This hidden gem is an epic tour of the state’s north-east, spanning a solid 5-hours of driving from end-to-end. Best enjoyed across a long weekend, the Great Alpine Road takes you from the beautiful Gippsland Lakes area to the great heights of the Victorian High Country, across Mount Hotham, and finally to Wangaratta on the Hume Highway. Rising to an altitude of 1,840 metres AMSL, the Great Alpine Road is Australia’s highest accessible sealed-road, offering jaw-dropping views and a taste of the great diversity of Victorian landscapes, from alpine beauty to grazing land and goldfields country.
Intimidated by the length of the journey? The Great Alpine Road can be enjoyed in smaller doses, too. The 100 kilometre journey from Bairnsdale to Omeo makes for a manageable weekend getaway from Melbourne and is a memorable driving experience to boot. While the Great Alpine Road is fully sealed and open year-round, it can get dicey in the winter months. Be mindful that snow chains must be carried during the snow season (from June – October) and enjoy the journey!
Once you’ve had a taste of the Great Alpine Road in your performance vehicle, you might be tempted to come back with a 4WD for a weekend of adventure. https://coxauto.com.au/tackle-the-best-4wd-tracks-near-melbourne/
Highlights:
- Steep, narrow and twisty passages
- Hairpin turns
- Incredible variety in surroundings
Get ready for your drive with Cox Auto
Don’t forget to prepare your car before you hit the tarmac on Victoria’s best driving roads! Plan ahead and book your car in for a service with us before you hit the road. We’ll give your car a thorough safety-check in line with the VACC’s accredited Critical Safety Check program and keep you on the move with our premium service experience. Ask about our complimentary loan cars and flexible prepayment options and rest assured that we’ll go that extra mile to keep you on the road.
In the lead up to your drive, run through a handful of simple pre-checks on your vehicle to avoid any last-minute roadtrip stress. Check your tyre pressure, lights, windscreen wipers, coolant and engine oil. If your simple checks turn up anything unexpected, give us a call and we’ll help you on your way.
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