Charlotte’s Web author and essayist E. B. White once wrote “Everything in life is somewhere else, and you get there in a car.” This sums it all up, doesn’t it. There’s a reason you’re so motivated to get your driver’s license as a teenager. It’s not just your keys to a car, but your keys to the whole world. Nothing epitomizes freedom quite like the open road. While things have changed since Henry Ford first introduced the Model T, the appeal of a road trip hasn’t, with the freedom to travel at your own pace in control of your own destiny. It’s what makes a bucket list road trip so special.
Unforgettable road trips are not just about getting from Point A to Point B. Anyone who has enjoyed a road trip alongside a close friend or family member will tell you, often the best conversations are had in the front of a car—the deep conversations that provide so much more insight than if you were sitting across from each other in a living room. The view is better, too. The sight of cascading mountains or dramatic coastal cliffs looks extra stunning through the frame of your windshield, as if the movie of reality is playing out in front of you. And road trips are even better when you explore abroad.
To inspire you to hit the open road but also to think beyond road tripping to your next town, we’re sharing some of the highlights of a few of the world’s best bucket list road trips, as chosen by Goway’s Destination Specialists. Taking you to ancient towns, fantasy wonderlands, and along some of the world’s mightiest oceans, these road trips have all the makings of an unforgettable globetrotting adventure. Best of all: they’re all possible on a tailor-made trip with Goway. Follow the open road and discover a world of adventure just over the horizon.
A Lord of the Rings Road Trip in New Zealand
Ever wanted to explore the filming locations of The Lord of the Rings movies? A New Zealand road trip is the ideal way to check off the highlights of Middle-earth on the way from Auckland on the North Island to Queenstown on the South Island. During your journey through pastoral hillsides, alongside mountains, and across stunning bodies of water, you can stop at the Hobbiton Movie Set to visit Bag End and enjoy a pint at the Green Dragon Inn, see where Peter Jackson’s team brought the fantasy world to life through props and CGI at Wētā Workshop in the capital Wellington, and venture into the mountainous plateau of Tongariro World Heritage National Park, familiar to the world as the volcanoes of Mordor. (Check out our travel guide for some more filming locations to put on your itinerary.)
“The Hobbiton Movie Set is surrounded by green farmland and rolling hills. Once there, you really are transported to another world. You get the architecture of the hobbit houses, the lush green landscape, pathways, trees, and the smell of the fire coming from the hobbit holes. And, of course, the chance to have a drink at the Green Dragon Inn. Even if you aren't a Lord of the Rings fan, it is worth a visit.
But exploring New Zealand is remarkable beyond the movie locations. For instance, the West Coast of the South Island offers rivers, glaciers, mountains, and rainforests. Strolling through one of these rainforests is like a sound bath for the soul. And I would be remiss if I didn't point out the most wonderful part of New Zealand: the people. They are all welcoming and proud to share the culture, history, stories, and beauty of their nation.” - Marcy Nielsen, Destination Specialist
Our Lord of the Rings Road Trip: Explore Middle-Earth spends 14 days exploring many of the highlights of Tolkien’s fantasy world on the road from Auckland to Queenstown.
A Picturesque Journey through Puglia, the Heel of Italy’s Boot
Known as the heel of Italy’s boot, Puglia often gets short shrift when compared to other regions of Italy, including Tuscany, the Amalfi, and the major cities of Rome and Venice. But if you like leisurely days along sparkling coastlines, nights spent in whitewashed villages, and adventures through olive groves, storied wineries, and sun-splashed orchards, rent a car and make for Puglia. Exploring it is like journeying through the Italy of Renaissance paintings (or romance novels)—an idyllic experience of the finer things in life.
“Puglia is the perfect area of Italy for a road trip, as it's much more efficient to drive there than travel by bus or train. It’s also full of amazing highlights to experience by car. My dream come true was visiting Alberobello and staying in one of the trulli, whitewashed stone homes with conical roofs. It was like waking up in a fairy tale village. Another highlight is Polignano a Mare, with the houses perched on the dramatic cliffs. You can swim in the turquoise waters of Lama Monachile beach surrounded by these limestone cliffs with a Roman bridge above.
Apart from seeing the sights, Puglia is all about the food. Drink some famous Caffè Leccese (in Lecce, of course), which is espresso poured over ice and sweetened with almond milk syrup. You can also make orecchiette pasta, which is native to the region, in a masseria (a fortified farmhouse). One evening, I had so much fun making pasta while enjoying a glass of wine and topping it all off with some traditional dancing. It’s a way to really engage with the region through food, song, and great company.” - Elena Miller, Destination Specialist
Puglia Road Trip: Wine, Truli & Tradition is a 7-day journey through the heel of Italy’s boot, with a relaxing pace and plenty of highlights, including a stay in a trulli home in Alberobello.
A Road Trip Through Off the Beaten Path Japan
The southern island of Kyushu is increasingly the place to be for travellers who want to experience the wonders of Japan without contending with the crowds of Kyoto and Tokyo. The island is known for its geothermal activity, so essentially everywhere you go, you’ll find onsen (hot springs) ready to help you relax after a day of exploration. The island is also known for its remarkable food scene (defined by Fukuoka and its famous Hakata ramen), dramatic coastal views, and rolling hillsides. It you want to venture through a pastoral side of Japan that almost feels like you’re visiting a Studio Ghibli movie, this is the place to hit the road.
“Kyushu is the ideal option for people who want to experience off the beaten path Japan. You’ll find so many experiences here you can’t get on the Golden Route of Tokyo and Kyoto, such as a river cruise on the Yanagawa River with a ninja boatman or a visit to the best blacksmiths in Japan such as the Morihiro Blacksmith Factory, which has an eight-year waitlist for knives. You also get top-tier cuisine from Saga beef (a kind of wagyu) to world-famous Hakata ramen and some of the best tea in the world (I recommend ureshino as an alternative to classic uji).” - Cedric Wai, Destination Specialist
The Japan Road Trip: Kyushu Edition is a 15-day showcase of the wonders of Kyushu, from the cedar forests of Yakushima to the sheer cliffs of Takachiho Gorge to the indelible street food scene of Fukuoka.
The Great Southwestern Road Trip
Even if you stay closer to home, there are still some road trips that will take you breath away. For instance, explore the American Southwest, where some of the world’s most breathtaking national parks promise to overwhelm you with staggering sunsets and otherworldly landscapes. Use Las Vegas as your starting point to explore the Mighty Five (Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, and Arches) as well as the Grand Canyon and spend each day enjoying the majesty of nature in your own backyard.
“I’ve done this route through Utah’s Mighty Five and the Grand Canyon, and it’s honestly one of the most surreal drives where every turn feels like you’re on a different planet. Watching the sun rise over the red rocks and then set along the canyon rim is something that sticks with you long after the trip ends.” - Nihhar Shah, Destination Specialist
Our Utah’s Mighty Five & the Grand Canyon Road Trip spends 9 days exploring these world-famous parks and includes sightseeing tours and premium accommodations along the way.
An Iconic Coastal Road Trip in Australia
It doesn’t get much more iconic than venturing up the east coast of Australia from Sydney to Cairns, gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. You pass through so many different landscapes and have the chance to enjoy many iconic Australian experiences, from sipping wine in the Hunter Valley to surfing along the Gold Coast to snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef. Drive along highways with dramatic coastal views and spot kangaroo in the outback or dolphins in the coastal surf as a reminder of the otherworldly power of Downunder.
“I have been fortunate enough to have visited the South Pacific 20 times and have been to all the major destinations people want to see and experience. Every time I land in Australia it feels like coming home. You can sample unique cuisine, learn about new cultures, meet quirky locals, and see amazing things that you can only find when going Downunder. From the Great Barrier Reef to the Outback, from idyllic beaches along the Gold Coast to coastal cities such as Sydney, the scenery, wildlife and unique travel experiences found in Australia are simply awe inspiring.” - Spencer Clarke, Destination Specialist
The 14-day Pacific Coast Road Trip: Sydney to Cairns packs many highlights onto a single convenient itinerary, with stops in the Hunter Valley, the Gold Coast, Brisbane, and Fraser Island along the way.
A Dramatic Road Trip Through the Desert of Namibia
The deserts, safari game parks, and coastal settlements of southwestern Africa might not sound like the most obvious spot for a road trip, but Namibia is a gorgeous landscape made for unforgettable road trip views. Stop at haunting desert landscapes, including Sossusvlei and the Skeleton Coast, pass through safari parks where elephants and lions have adapted to the stark environments, and cruise along the windswept coastline known for its dramatic views.
“What amazed me the most about Namibia was that the vast landscapes, and it seemed that it changed so many times in a day. Etosha to Damaraland was like being in two different worlds on the same day. Wildlife in Namibia have adapted to and thrive in the arid conditions and rock formations. Swakopmund comes as the most delightful surprise after the vast, barren land that you travel through. It’s a small, seaside community with beautiful accommodation and superb restaurants where people go for a quick getaway or a longer beach vacation. Sossusvlei is an experience like no other. The huge red dunes meeting the pan in Deadvlei left me breathless. I had never seen such a contrast in landscapes, and I had no idea that I would see this in the world's oldest desert.” - Jodi Hartnell, Destination Specialist
The 13-day Namibia Family Road Trip: Safari, Coast & Desert is an ideal starting point for a road trip through Namibia, including time in Etosha, desert adventure in Damaraland, and iconic time in the deserts and pans of Sossusvlei and Deadvlei.
You might say that Aren was destined to become a globetrotter after his family took him to Germany two times before he was four. If that wasn’t enough, a term spent in Sweden as a young teenager and a trek across Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand confirmed that destiny. An independent writer, director, and film critic, Aren has travelled across Africa, Asia, Central America, Europe, the Middle East, and South America. His favourite travel experience was visiting the major cities of Japan’s largest island, Honshu, but his love for food, drink, and film will take him anywhere that boasts great art and culture.
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