One of Australia’s great iconic road trips, the Explorer’s Way follows the route first blazed for the Overland Telegraph in the 1860s. Starting in Adelaide and stretching all the way to Darwin, this legendary journey threads together outback South Australia and the Northern Territory’s most famous landscapes – from Coober Pedy’s underground homes and the red rock domes of Uluru and Kata Tjuta, to Kings Canyon, the West MacDonnell Ranges, Katherine Gorge and Litchfield’s waterfalls. 

Named after explorer John McDouall Stuart, the Explorer’s Way lets you experience big skies, historic outback pubs, and towns brimming with culture and activity, all at your own pace in an Apollo camper. 

Please note: This route is recommended for 4WD vehicles as some roads are restricted to 4WD campers only. Always: 

Check local road and weather conditions before you set off each day 

Allow extra time on unsealed or remote stretches 

Carry plenty of water and fuel, especially between major towns 

Carry relevant parks passes: Northern Territory national parks require parks passes and campground bookings to be made in advance so check online before hitting the road, and ensure you carry a copy of your parks pass with you at all times 

Your local Apollo branch team can help with vehicle and route advice before you depart. 

Travelling the South Island in a campervan? Make sure you add Akaroa and Castle Hill to your list of stops! You will be blown away by the scenery at this French seaside town. 

Rolling vineyards, stone cottages, and long ribbons of country road - South Australia’s wine country was built for slow campervan travel.

Pick up your Apollo in Adelaide and follow an easy five-day arc through the Adelaide Hills, Barossa, and Clare Valley - a compact loop of cellar doors, paddock to plate lunches, and golden-hour sunsets on quiet backroads. With short drive days and over 150 cellar doors across these regions, you can graze, sip, and linger without rushing.

If you’re travelling in harvest (February to April), make sure to pre-book tastings so you don’t miss out! Winter is cosy cellaring season, while spring is mild and it’s often the best window for Lake Bumbunga’s pink hues. Use this as your ready-made route, or lift a few favourite days to shape your own Apollo itinerary.

One of Australia’s most famous coastal drives, the Great Ocean Road packs a lot into a short stretch of highway – surf towns, lush rainforest, lookouts over wild cliffs and, of course, the Twelve Apostles.

This three-day Melbourne round trip keeps the driving relaxed and the days full. You’ll cruise past Bells Beach, wander the foreshore at Apollo Bay, dip into the cool green of the Great Otway National Park, then follow the Shipwreck Coast through the 12 Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge and Bay of Islands before finishing up in the historic fishing village of Port Fairy.

Ready to hit the road?