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.