Get behind the wheel and experience the freedom of a self-drive holiday whilst ticking off some of the world’s most scenic drives off your travel bucket list.
Ever since man invented the automobile, we’ve been pretty obsessed with owning our own set of wheels. No other mode of transportation makes it possible to cover vast distances on your own terms and to your own schedule.
That’s the appeal of a self-drive holiday: you can create your own personalised itinerary and stop wherever you want to stop, drive wherever you want to drive, and have the holiday you want to have.
Plus, the actual journey of getting to your destination is all part of the appeal, right?
Here are 10 of the most dreamy roads from around the world that just scream “come and drive me!”
1. Pacific Coast Highway – California, USA
An absolute classic, the Pacific Coast Highway links Carmel to Morro Bay in central California along the gorgeous coastline of the USA’s West Coast.
Around 198 kilometres long, the drive takes around five hours to complete, but you’ll most certainly be pulling over at one of the many ocean-view restaurants and cafes on the way to simply gape mouth wide open at the stunning vista before your eyes.
This is California dreaming at its best.
2. Amalfi Coast – Italy
This is the stuff of dreams. The 50 kilometre long Amalfi Coast snakes its way along the southern edge of Italy’s Sorrentine Peninsula in the Campania region.
Twisting in and out of quaint pastel-coloured Italian villages perched on mountain ridges overlooking the stunning Mediterranean Sea, driving the Amalfi Coast may just be the most beautiful drive in Southern Europe, and worth the trip to Italy alone.
3. Hana Highway – Maui, USA
Say aloha to the friendly locals you meet along the way driving along the Hana Highway in verdant Maui, easily the most visually impressive of drives in Hawaii.
Imagine sitting behind the wheel with the wind in your hair as you soar past volcanic mountains, misty rainforests, roaring waterfalls and the always-present twinkling blue of the North Pacific Ocean.
Absolute heaven and definitely a drive you must do at least once in your life…
4. The Atlantic Road – Norway
Voted as Norway’s greatest engineering feat, the Atlantic Road is also considered by some to be the world’s greatest drive.
A unique – emphasis unique – blissful drive through the heart of Norway’s seafaring traditions, the road connects Averøy with the mainland via a series of small islands and islets that are joined together with eight bridges, including the “drunk bridge” which is an apt name considering it’s design.
As you make this incredible drive, you’re likely to spot seals and whales swimming in the blue Atlantic Ocean as you gradually drive closer to the mountainous and rocky horizon that beckons you onwards.
5. Lawrence Hargrave Drive – NSW, Australia
Connecting the northern most suburbs of Wollongong to Sydney, the Lawrence Hargrave Drive tracks the coast of NSW for nearly 19 kilometres, and is an escape route for both communities to a slice of Australian coastal beauty.
6. Conor Pass – Ireland
As one of the highest mountain passes in Ireland (456 metres above sea level), you’d expect a drive along Conor Pass to be dramatic.
And you’d be spot on.
Conor Pass connects Dingle, on the south-western end of the Dingle Peninsula, with Brandon Bay and Castlegregory in the north-east, and is considered one of the most beautiful drives in Ireland, weaving its way around cliff faces and past high corrie lakes.
7. Stelvio Pass – Italy
In Northern Italy, the Stelvio Pass at 2,757 metres above sea level is the second highest paved mountain road in the Alps, but it easily takes the cake as the most gorgeous mountain road to drive in Italy.
Expansive vistas of mountains and valleys and quaint mountain villages unfurl around you as you drive along what Top Gear has declared as the “greatest driving road in the world.” Don’t believe them? Well, there’s only one way to find out…
8. The Overseas Highway – Florida, USA
America’s other gorgeous drive, the Overseas Highway has been called a “magic carpet” as it links mainland Florida with holiday hotspot Florida Keys over large stretches of sparkling water and cozy islets – you’ll feel like you’re driving on water!
The best time to make this drive is at sunset.
9. Icefields Parkway – Alberta, Canada
Experience one of Canada’s national treasures in your own set of wheels as you drive the 232 kilometres through the heart of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site.
This is prime wilderness country, with stunning vistas encompassing pristine mountain lakes, ancient glaciers and broad sweeping valleys. This is the Canada you’ve seen in the movies and on TV.
10. Arthur’s Pass – New Zealand
At 920 metres above sea level, Arthur’s Pass is the highest and easily most spectacular mountain pass in the Southern Alps, and an impressive feat of engineering that’s takes you through some of the most breathtaking mountain scenery on the planet – imagine snaking rivers, broad patches of beech forest and rocky mountains. Can you smell the fresh mountain air?
Arthur’s Pass links Canterbury to the West Coast of New Zealand.
Escape the hustle and bustle of crowded tourist destinations and experience the world’s most scenic drives with DriveAway Holidays. Find out more here.
Where will you be driving this year?
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