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Link The Outback Way: Perth to Cairns: The Outback Way is the granddaddy of shortcuts, Australia's longest. Stretching an epic 4615km from Perth to Cairns via Uluru and Alice Springs on a network of well-maintained dirt roads such as the Great Central Road and the Plenty Hwy, it's not exactly short but it certainly cuts - around 1000km or compared to driving Highway 1 and other main roads. Photo: Lee Atkinson

Not Canberra Avenue: hundreds of Canberra public servants should be on the road to Alice Springs, says Regional Development Australia. Photo: Lee Atkinson

Great Beach Drive: Noosa to Rainbow Beach: You'll need a 4WD to travel the Beach Highway between Noosa and Rainbow Beach on the Queensland Sunshine Coast, and you'll need to time your drive to coincide with low tide, but as far as short cuts go, this is one of the very best. It's a 70-km run along the beach (that's on the beach, not beside it), so of course it's scenic, and it's about an hour quicker than the Bruce Highway. What's not to love about that? Photo: Lee Atkinson

Great Beach Drive: Noosa to Rainbow Beach: You'll need a 4WD to travel the Beach Highway between Noosa and Rainbow Beach on the Queensland Sunshine Coast, and you'll need to time your drive to coincide with low tide, but as far as short cuts go, this is one of the very best. It's a 70-km run along the beach (that's on the beach, not beside it), so of course it's scenic, and it's about an hour quicker than the Bruce Highway. What's not to love about that? Photo: Lee Atkinson

Gibb River Road: Kununurra to Broome: Shorter doesn't always mean quicker. The Gibb River Road is almost 130km shorter than Great Northern Highway alternative, but will take you twice as long. Yes there's plenty to see and do along Highway 1, and yes the Gibb's a bit rough and dusty in places, but it's the Gibb that will lead you to all the Kimberley's best bits. Pictured, crossing the Pentecost River on the Gibb River Road. Photo: Lee Atkinson

Gibb River Road: Kununurra to Broome: Shorter doesn't always mean quicker. The Gibb River Road is almost 130km shorter than Great Northern Highway alternative, but will take you twice as long. Yes there's plenty to see and do along Highway 1, and yes the Gibb's a bit rough and dusty in places, but it's the Gibb that will lead you to all the Kimberley's best bits. Pictured, crossing the Pentecost River on the Gibb River Road. Photo: Lee Atkinson

Gibb River Road: Kununurra to Broome: Shorter doesn't always mean quicker. The Gibb River Road is almost 130km shorter than Great Northern Highway alternative, but will take you twice as long. Yes there's plenty to see and do along Highway 1, and yes the Gibb's a bit rough and dusty in places, but it's the Gibb that will lead you to all the Kimberley's best bits. Photo: Lee Atkinson

The Bloomfield Track: Cairns to Cooktown: You'll need a 4WD for this (in)famous short cut through the Daintree rainforest between Cape Tribulation and Cooktown, and although the building of a new bridge across the Bloomfield River in 2013 has made it an easier run than it used to be it can still be a challenging and sometimes slippery drive. It's around 20km shorter than the all-sealed Mulligan Highway alternative, and will probably take twice as long, but you're guaranteed to have a whole more fun. Photo: Lee Atkinson

The Bloomfield Track: Cairns to Cooktown: You'll need a 4WD for this (in)famous short cut through the Daintree rainforest between Cape Tribulation and Cooktown, and although the building of a new bridge across the Bloomfield River in 2013 has made it an easier run than it used to be it can still be a challenging and sometimes slippery drive. It's around 20km shorter than the all-sealed Mulligan Highway alternative, and will probably take twice as long, but you're guaranteed to have a whole more fun. Pictured, Cherry Tree Bay, Cooktown. Photo: Lee Atkinson

Googs Track: Ceduna to Coober Pedy: A fantastic short cut from the western top of the Eyre Peninsula to the Trans-Australia Railway Line near Tarcoola which then links up to Stuart Highway 200km south of Coober Pedy, Googs Track is a 150km-long desert adventure drive across more than 360 sand dunes. One for experienced four-wheel-drivers only. Photo: Lee Atkinson

Googs Track: Ceduna to Coober Pedy: A fantastic short cut from the western top of the Eyre Peninsula to the Trans-Australia Railway Line near Tarcoola which then links up to Stuart Highway 200km south of Coober Pedy, Googs Track is a 150km-long desert adventure drive across more than 360 sand dunes. One for experienced four-wheel-drivers only. Photo: Lee Atkinson

Barrington Tops Forest Road: Gloucester to Scone: The best shortcuts are more than just a quick way to get from A to B, they are also often the most scenic way to get there as well. The Barrington Tops Forest Road is a 144km-long ribbon of road (mostly loose gravel) between Gloucester and Scone in the upper Hunter Valley. Compared to the highway options that go around the mountains to the south (via Singleton) or north (via Nowendoc) it can be slow going at times - it's narrow and windy, and can be closed by snow at the top - but by going over 'the Tops' you'll save up to 150km and be treated to some of the magnificent mountain views at the same time. Photo: Lee Atkinson

Barrington Tops Forest Road: Gloucester to Scone: The best shortcuts are more than just a quick way to get from A to B, they are also often the most scenic way to get there as well. The Barrington Tops Forest Road is a 144km-long ribbon of road (mostly loose gravel) between Gloucester and Scone in the upper Hunter Valley. Compared to the highway options that go around the mountains to the south (via Singleton) or north (via Nowendoc) it can be slow going at times - it's narrow and windy, and can be closed by snow at the top - but by going over 'the Tops' you'll save up to 150km and be treated to some of the magnificent mountain views at the same time. Photo: Lee Atkinson

Lions Road: across the Border Ranges: Another fabulously scenic shortcut is the Lions Road, a privately maintained community-built road through the Richmond Gap in the McPherson Range between Kyogle in northern NSW and Rathdowney in Queensland. It's 30km shorter than the Summerland Way/Mt Lindesay Hwy route and punches way above its weight when it comes to knockout views. Photo: Lee Atkinson

Lions Road: across the Border Ranges: Another fabulously scenic shortcut is the Lions Road, a privately maintained community-built road through the Richmond Gap in the McPherson Range between Kyogle in northern NSW and Rathdowney in Queensland. It's 30km shorter than the Summerland Way/Mt Lindesay Hwy route and punches way above its weight when it comes to knockout views. Photo: Lee Atkinson

Balladonia Track: the Nullarbor to Esperance: If you don't mind a bit of rugged deep sandy adventure the rough 4WD track from Balladonia Roadhouse on the western end of the Nullarbor down to the southern coast is almost 150km shorter than sticking to the main road through Norseman to Esperance. It's also a great way to get to white-sand beaches of Cape Arid National Park, one of the unsung wonders of the deep south. Photo: Lee Atkinson

Balladonia Track: the Nullarbor to Esperance: If you don't mind a bit of rugged deep sandy adventure the rough 4WD track from Balladonia Roadhouse on the western end of the Nullarbor down to the southern coast is almost 150km shorter than sticking to the main road through Norseman to Esperance. It's also a great way to get to white-sand beaches of Cape Arid National Park, one of the unsung wonders of the deep south. Photo: Lee Atkinson

Thunderbolts Way: Sydney to Armidale: When it comes to quick escapes those bushrangers knew a thing or two, so follow the trail of Captain Thunderbolt next time you head north-west from Sydney to Armidale and the New England region. Thunderbolts Way, via Gloucester and Walcha, is not only prettier and virtually-traffic free compared to the New England Hwy, it's 50km shorter as well. Photo: Lee Atkinson

Western Explorer Highway: Strahan to Stanley: Most tourist maps don't even show the Western Explorer Highway that runs north from Strahan to Stanley on Tasmania's wild west coast, but it's a fantastic alternative to the 100km-longer A10 route that almost everyone mistakenly thinks is the only way to drive between the two tourist towns. It's unsealed but you don't need a 4WD and spears though the heart of the Tarkine, the world's largest remaining stretch of temperate rainforest. More than just a short cut, it's one of the Australia's best wilderness drives. Photo: Lee Atkinson

Great Inland Way: Sydney to Townsville: Heading even further north to the tropics? Take the back way through western NSW and Queensland. The Great Inland Way from Sydney to Townsville via Dubbo, Lightning Ridge, Roma, Emerald, Carnarvon Gorge and Charters Towers is around 200km shorter than well-travelled coastal route (aka the Pacific and Bruce highways) and is fully sealed, but be warned, the small towns along the way are so full of fascinating things to see and do that it will probably take you twice as long as you think. Photo: Lee Atkinson

You may also like these photo galleries Wish you were here? 'World's largest' overwater villas open Let loose those wows: The ten best views in Australia Need a laugh? World's funniest wildlife photos for 2020 named of Enlarge image







































The Outback Way: Perth to Cairns: The Outback Way is the granddaddy of shortcuts, Australia's longest. Stretching an epic 4615km from Perth to Cairns via Uluru and Alice Springs on a network of well-maintained dirt roads such as the Great Central Road and the Plenty Hwy, it's not exactly short but it certainly cuts - around 1000km or compared to driving Highway 1 and other main roads. Photo: Lee Atkinson of

Not Canberra Avenue: hundreds of Canberra public servants should be on the road to Alice Springs, says Regional Development Australia. Photo: Lee Atkinson of

Great Beach Drive: Noosa to Rainbow Beach: You'll need a 4WD to travel the Beach Highway between Noosa and Rainbow Beach on the Queensland Sunshine Coast, and you'll need to time your drive to coincide with low tide, but as far as short cuts go, this is one of the very best. It's a 70-km run along the beach (that's on the beach, not beside it), so of course it's scenic, and it's about an hour quicker than the Bruce Highway. What's not to love about that? Photo: Lee Atkinson of

Great Beach Drive: Noosa to Rainbow Beach: You'll need a 4WD to travel the Beach Highway between Noosa and Rainbow Beach on the Queensland Sunshine Coast, and you'll need to time your drive to coincide with low tide, but as far as short cuts go, this is one of the very best. It's a 70-km run along the beach (that's on the beach, not beside it), so of course it's scenic, and it's about an hour quicker than the Bruce Highway. What's not to love about that? Photo: Lee Atkinson of

Gibb River Road: Kununurra to Broome: Shorter doesn't always mean quicker. The Gibb River Road is almost 130km shorter than Great Northern Highway alternative, but will take you twice as long. Yes there's plenty to see and do along Highway 1, and yes the Gibb's a bit rough and dusty in places, but it's the Gibb that will lead you to all the Kimberley's best bits. Pictured, crossing the Pentecost River on the Gibb River Road. Photo: Lee Atkinson of

Gibb River Road: Kununurra to Broome: Shorter doesn't always mean quicker. The Gibb River Road is almost 130km shorter than Great Northern Highway alternative, but will take you twice as long. Yes there's plenty to see and do along Highway 1, and yes the Gibb's a bit rough and dusty in places, but it's the Gibb that will lead you to all the Kimberley's best bits. Pictured, crossing the Pentecost River on the Gibb River Road. Photo: Lee Atkinson of

Gibb River Road: Kununurra to Broome: Shorter doesn't always mean quicker. The Gibb River Road is almost 130km shorter than Great Northern Highway alternative, but will take you twice as long. Yes there's plenty to see and do along Highway 1, and yes the Gibb's a bit rough and dusty in places, but it's the Gibb that will lead you to all the Kimberley's best bits. Photo: Lee Atkinson of

The Bloomfield Track: Cairns to Cooktown: You'll need a 4WD for this (in)famous short cut through the Daintree rainforest between Cape Tribulation and Cooktown, and although the building of a new bridge across the Bloomfield River in 2013 has made it an easier run than it used to be it can still be a challenging and sometimes slippery drive. It's around 20km shorter than the all-sealed Mulligan Highway alternative, and will probably take twice as long, but you're guaranteed to have a whole more fun. Photo: Lee Atkinson of

The Bloomfield Track: Cairns to Cooktown: You'll need a 4WD for this (in)famous short cut through the Daintree rainforest between Cape Tribulation and Cooktown, and although the building of a new bridge across the Bloomfield River in 2013 has made it an easier run than it used to be it can still be a challenging and sometimes slippery drive. It's around 20km shorter than the all-sealed Mulligan Highway alternative, and will probably take twice as long, but you're guaranteed to have a whole more fun. Pictured, Cherry Tree Bay, Cooktown. Photo: Lee Atkinson of

Googs Track: Ceduna to Coober Pedy: A fantastic short cut from the western top of the Eyre Peninsula to the Trans-Australia Railway Line near Tarcoola which then links up to Stuart Highway 200km south of Coober Pedy, Googs Track is a 150km-long desert adventure drive across more than 360 sand dunes. One for experienced four-wheel-drivers only. Photo: Lee Atkinson of

Googs Track: Ceduna to Coober Pedy: A fantastic short cut from the western top of the Eyre Peninsula to the Trans-Australia Railway Line near Tarcoola which then links up to Stuart Highway 200km south of Coober Pedy, Googs Track is a 150km-long desert adventure drive across more than 360 sand dunes. One for experienced four-wheel-drivers only. Photo: Lee Atkinson of

Barrington Tops Forest Road: Gloucester to Scone: The best shortcuts are more than just a quick way to get from A to B, they are also often the most scenic way to get there as well. The Barrington Tops Forest Road is a 144km-long ribbon of road (mostly loose gravel) between Gloucester and Scone in the upper Hunter Valley. Compared to the highway options that go around the mountains to the south (via Singleton) or north (via Nowendoc) it can be slow going at times - it's narrow and windy, and can be closed by snow at the top - but by going over 'the Tops' you'll save up to 150km and be treated to some of the magnificent mountain views at the same time. Photo: Lee Atkinson of

Barrington Tops Forest Road: Gloucester to Scone: The best shortcuts are more than just a quick way to get from A to B, they are also often the most scenic way to get there as well. The Barrington Tops Forest Road is a 144km-long ribbon of road (mostly loose gravel) between Gloucester and Scone in the upper Hunter Valley. Compared to the highway options that go around the mountains to the south (via Singleton) or north (via Nowendoc) it can be slow going at times - it's narrow and windy, and can be closed by snow at the top - but by going over 'the Tops' you'll save up to 150km and be treated to some of the magnificent mountain views at the same time. Photo: Lee Atkinson of

Lions Road: across the Border Ranges: Another fabulously scenic shortcut is the Lions Road, a privately maintained community-built road through the Richmond Gap in the McPherson Range between Kyogle in northern NSW and Rathdowney in Queensland. It's 30km shorter than the Summerland Way/Mt Lindesay Hwy route and punches way above its weight when it comes to knockout views. Photo: Lee Atkinson of

Lions Road: across the Border Ranges: Another fabulously scenic shortcut is the Lions Road, a privately maintained community-built road through the Richmond Gap in the McPherson Range between Kyogle in northern NSW and Rathdowney in Queensland. It's 30km shorter than the Summerland Way/Mt Lindesay Hwy route and punches way above its weight when it comes to knockout views. Photo: Lee Atkinson of

Balladonia Track: the Nullarbor to Esperance: If you don't mind a bit of rugged deep sandy adventure the rough 4WD track from Balladonia Roadhouse on the western end of the Nullarbor down to the southern coast is almost 150km shorter than sticking to the main road through Norseman to Esperance. It's also a great way to get to white-sand beaches of Cape Arid National Park, one of the unsung wonders of the deep south. Photo: Lee Atkinson of

Balladonia Track: the Nullarbor to Esperance: If you don't mind a bit of rugged deep sandy adventure the rough 4WD track from Balladonia Roadhouse on the western end of the Nullarbor down to the southern coast is almost 150km shorter than sticking to the main road through Norseman to Esperance. It's also a great way to get to white-sand beaches of Cape Arid National Park, one of the unsung wonders of the deep south. Photo: Lee Atkinson of

Thunderbolts Way: Sydney to Armidale: When it comes to quick escapes those bushrangers knew a thing or two, so follow the trail of Captain Thunderbolt next time you head north-west from Sydney to Armidale and the New England region. Thunderbolts Way, via Gloucester and Walcha, is not only prettier and virtually-traffic free compared to the New England Hwy, it's 50km shorter as well. Photo: Lee Atkinson of

Western Explorer Highway: Strahan to Stanley: Most tourist maps don't even show the Western Explorer Highway that runs north from Strahan to Stanley on Tasmania's wild west coast, but it's a fantastic alternative to the 100km-longer A10 route that almost everyone mistakenly thinks is the only way to drive between the two tourist towns. It's unsealed but you don't need a 4WD and spears though the heart of the Tarkine, the world's largest remaining stretch of temperate rainforest. More than just a short cut, it's one of the Australia's best wilderness drives. Photo: Lee Atkinson of

Great Inland Way: Sydney to Townsville: Heading even further north to the tropics? Take the back way through western NSW and Queensland. The Great Inland Way from Sydney to Townsville via Dubbo, Lightning Ridge, Roma, Emerald, Carnarvon Gorge and Charters Towers is around 200km shorter than well-travelled coastal route (aka the Pacific and Bruce highways) and is fully sealed, but be warned, the small towns along the way are so full of fascinating things to see and do that it will probably take you twice as long as you think. Photo: Lee Atkinson of

You may also like these photo galleries Wish you were here? 'World's largest' overwater villas open Let loose those wows: The ten best views in Australia Need a laugh? World's funniest wildlife photos for 2020 named Better than the beach: Australia's ten most spectacular places to take a plunge Letters: The only way to describe this flight is 'totally awesome' Not the Middle East: Incredible dunes on the NSW coast Road trips around Australia: The 12 best Aussie shortcuts Share

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Australia's a big place, so finding a way to shave some kilometres off a road trip is a good thing. Here's a driver's dozen of Australia's best shortcuts.

The Outback Way: Perth to Cairns

The Outback Way is the granddaddy of shortcuts, Australia's longest. Stretching an epic 4615 kilometres from Perth to Cairns via Uluru and Alice Springs on a network of well-maintained dirt roads such as the Great Central Road and the Plenty Highway, it's not exactly short but it certainly cuts – about 1000 kilometres compared with driving Highway 1 and other main roads. See outbackway.org.au.

Thunderbolts Way: Sydney to Armidale

When it comes to quick escapes, those bushrangers knew a thing or two, so follow the trail of Captain Thunderbolt next time you head north-west from Sydney to Armidale and the New England region. Thunderbolts Way, via Gloucester and Walcha, is not only prettier and virtually traffic-free compared with the New England Highway It's 50 kilometres shorter as well. See thunderboltsway.com.au.

See Also Australia travel guide

Barrington Tops Forest Road: Gloucester to Scone

The best shortcuts are more than just a quick way to get from A to B; they are also often the most scenic way to get there as well. The Barrington Tops Forest Road is a 144-kilometre-long ribbon of road (mostly loose gravel) between Gloucester and Scone in the upper Hunter Valley. Compared with the highway options that go around the mountains to the south (via Singleton) or north (via Nowendoc) it can be slow going at times – it's narrow and windy, and can be closed by snow at the top – but by going over "the Tops" you'll save up to 150 kilometres and be treated to some of the magnificent mountain views at the same time.

Lions Road: across the Border Ranges

Another fabulously scenic shortcut is the Lions Road, a privately maintained community-built road through the Richmond Gap in the McPherson Range between Kyogle in northern NSW and Rathdowney​ in Queensland. It's 30 kilometres shorter than the Summerland Way/Mount Lindesay Highway route and punches way above its weight when it comes to knockout views.

Great Inland Way: Sydney to Townsville

Heading even further north to the tropics? Take the back way through western NSW and Queensland. The Great Inland Way from Sydney to Townsville via Dubbo, Lightning Ridge, Roma, Emerald, Carnarvon Gorge and Charters Towers is about 200 kilometres shorter than the well-travelled coastal route (aka the Pacific and Bruce highways) and is fully sealed, but be warned, the small towns along the way are so full of fascinating things to see and do that it will probably take you twice as long as you think.

Great Beach Drive: Noosa to Rainbow Beach

You'll need a four-wheel-drive vehicle to travel the Beach Highway between Noosa and Rainbow Beach on the Queensland Sunshine Coast, and you'll need to time your drive to coincide with low tide, but as far as shortcuts go, this is one of the very best. It's a 70-kilometre run along the beach (that's on the beach, not beside it), so, of course, it's scenic, and it's about an hour quicker than the Bruce Highway. What's not to love about that? See australiasnaturecoast.com.

The Bloomfield Track: Cairns to Cooktown

You'll also need a 4WD for this (in)famous shortcut through the Daintree Rainforest between Cape Tribulation and Cooktown, and although the building of a new bridge across the Bloomfield River in 2013 has made it an easier run than it used to be, it can still be a challenging and sometimes slippery drive. It's about 20 kilometres shorter than the all-sealed Mulligan Highway alternative, and will probably take twice as long, but you're guaranteed to have a whole more fun.

Tanami Road: Alice Springs to Broome

The quickest way to get from the Red Centre to the Kimberley, the Tanami spears through the desert from Alice Springs to Halls Creek, where you can hook up with the Great Northern Highway to get to Broome. It's mostly gravel and is very remote, so carry extra water and a jerry can of spare fuel. It's 1046 kilometres from Alice to Halls Creek – 1000 kilometres less than if you take the black-top alternative via Katherine and Kununurra​.

Gibb River Road: Kununurra to Broome

Shorter doesn't always mean quicker. The Gibb River Road is almost 130 kilometres shorter than Great Northern Highway alternative, but will take you twice as long. Yes, there's plenty to see and do along Highway 1, and yes the Gibb's a bit rough and dusty in places, but it's the Gibb that will lead you to all the Kimberley's best bits.


Balladonia Track: the Nullarbor to Esperance

If you don't mind a bit of rugged deep sandy adventure, the rough 4WD track from Balladonia Roadhouse on the western end of the Nullarbor down to the southern coast is almost 150 kilometres shorter than sticking to the main road through Norseman to Esperance. It's also a great way to get to the white sand beaches of Cape Arid National Park, one of the unsung wonders of the deep south.

Googs Track: Ceduna to Coober Pedy

A fantastic shortcut from the western top of the Eyre Peninsula to the Trans-Australia Railway Line near Tarcoola, which then links up to the Stuart Highway 200 kilometres south of Coober Pedy, Googs Track is a 150-kilometre-long desert adventure drive across more than 360 sand dunes. One for experienced four-wheel-drivers only.

Western Explorer Highway: Strahan to Stanley

Most tourist maps don't even show the Western Explorer Highway that runs north from Strahan to Stanley on Tasmania's wild west coast, but it's a fantastic alternative to the 100-kilometre-longer A10 route that almost everyone mistakenly thinks is the only way to drive between the two tourist towns. It's unsealed, but you don't need a 4WD, and it spears though the heart of the Tarkine, the world's largest remaining stretch of temperate rainforest. More than just a shortcut, it's one of the Australia's best wilderness drives.