Forget the Flight — Why More Aussies Are Driving to Unplug
Forget the Flight — Why More Aussies Are Driving to Unplug
Not everyone wants airport queues, carry-on rules, and back-to-back itineraries. Lately, more Australians are choosing something slower, quieter, and far more personal: the unplugged road trip. No tight schedules, no constant notifications—just you, the open road, and the space to breathe.
Here’s why road trips have become the new go-to escape for Aussies who want to disconnect and reset.
Table of Contents
The Shift Away from Air Travel
For a long time, flying was the shortcut to holiday mode. But between crowded terminals, tight schedules, and the rise of flight delays, more travellers are asking—is it really worth it?
Road trips offer an alternative that’s:
Less rushed
More flexible
Easier on the nerves (and sometimes the wallet)
Instead of dashing through airports, you can ease into the drive, change plans on the fly, and skip the pressure of packing everything into one weekend.
What Makes Road Trips More Restorative
Unlike city breaks or fly-in holidays, road trips give you space—physically and mentally. The pace is slower. The landscapes change gradually. You’re not ticking boxes; you’re tuning out.
Driving offers moments of:
Silence between radio stations
Long, uninterrupted stretches with just your thoughts
The feeling of arriving somewhere because you got yourself there
Even the act of driving can be meditative, especially when the roads are quiet and the scenery shifts from suburb to bushland to coast.
How Driving Creates Space to Unwind
The simple rhythm of driving—start, steer, stop, repeat—has a way of grounding you. There’s a flow to it that’s hard to replicate in other kinds of travel. And when you’re in control of the trip, you can design it to match your mood.
Want to:
Stay off your phone? Just put it in the glovebox.
Take the long way round? Done.
Pull over for a 10-minute breather by the sea? Easy.
There’s no rush, no check-in window, no WiFi required.
Where to Go When You Need to Unplug
From Sydney:
The Royal National Park for forest trails and clifftop views
Barrington Tops if you want to go completely off-grid
Jervis Bay midweek when the crowds thin and the beaches stretch out
From Hobart:
Tarkine Drive if you want deep wilderness and zero signal
Freycinet Peninsula for quiet coastlines with early sunrises
Bruny Island where the roads are slow and the cheese is local
Tips for Planning a Proper Digital Detox Road Trip
Map your route offline: Download your maps before you go.
Let people know: Set expectations—tell someone you’re going offline.
Leave room in your schedule: Don’t try to “see everything.” Pick a couple of key stops and let the rest unfold naturally.
Pack simple pleasures: A book, your favourite snacks, a road trip playlist.
Find signal dead zones: Yes, seriously. There’s something freeing about not being able to check your phone, even if you wanted to.
Final Thought: Roads, Not Runways
You don’t need to fly across the country to reset. Sometimes, clarity comes from cruising a backroad with no destination in mind. Road trips aren’t just about travel—they’re about permission. Permission to slow down, to unplug, and to just be for a while.
When you’re ready to switch off and roll out, YesDrive makes it easy to get on the road—no baggage fees, no boarding gate, no pressure.
Ready to unplug the easy way? Hire a car, pack light, and just drive.
