The Best Coastal Routes to Drive on a Road Trip Holiday

Looking for an alternative to flying during the coronavirus pandemic? If you'd rather take a scenic road trip for your next staycation holiday, we've rounded up the the best road trip destinations and must-visit road trip routes if you want to drive on the world's most beautiful coastal roads

1. The Cabot Trail, Nova Scotia

Located on Cape Breton Island in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, the Cabot Trail in 298 kilometres of stunning sea views and lush evergreen forests. Don't miss Lakies Head on the north eastern coast of the island, a rocky lookout with spectacular views. Ten minutes north you'll find Neil's Harbour, which is well worth a visit even if only for the cliff top lighthouse ice cream parlour.

The trail skims the edges of the Cape Breton Highlands National Park, a huge area of rolling hills and enviable hiking routes. On the north western coast the small community of Pleasant Bay offers visitors a whale interpretive centre and whale watching tours. Don't miss the Rusty Anchor restaurant for fresh locally source mussels, oysters, lobsters and fish, as well as a delicious array of cocktails.

It is advised that visitors loop around the island anti-clockwise so it's easier to turn into the various look outs peppered around its coastline. Perfect for anyone exploring the east coast of Canada and New England by superyacht, yachts up to 130 metres can moor at the Halifax Waterfront Marina on the southern coast of Nova Scotia, which hosts a number of regattas throughout the year.

The French Riviera can be a hectic place especially during the summer months, so escape the crowds and spend an afternoon exploring these winding coastal roads.

Les Corniches are a trio of routes that hug the cliffs between Nice and Menton. Each spanning around 32 kilometres, they all provide stunning views over the undulating coastline of the Côte D'Azur.

The Grande Corniche is the highest of the three roads, carved into the mountainside it rises approximately 457 metres above sea level. One on side cliffs cascade down to the turquoise waters and on the other, gentle hills blanketed in thick pine forests are dotted with rustic villas.

The middle road, The Moyenne Corniche, is less hair-raising but offers equally stunning views. The road winds up to the hilltop village of Èze, which stands on a dome of rock jutting out from the cliffs. Perched above the village is the Jardin Exotique d’Èze, the best place to see spectacular views over the hills and the Mediterranean below.

The Basse Corniche weaves along the coast and past the iconic coastal resorts of the Riviera. It’s the busiest of the three roads but the twinkling periwinkle blue water below and the dramatic cliffs still make it a beautiful drive.

Sometimes know as the Adriatic Highway, Jadranska Magistrala twists and turns along the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. Covering nearly 400 miles the road connects the towns and cities of Rijeka , Zadar, Sibenik, Split, Makarska, Ploce and Dubrovnik. With serpentine twists and sheer drops into the sea, the drive is not for the faint hearted. However, those who do take to the tarmac will be rewarded with stunning views across the sparkling sea and some of Croatia's hidden gems.

It would be easy to enjoy some of this road as part of a private cruise or luxury yacht charter in Croatia. The drive is just one incredible thing to do while visiting Croatia on a luxury yacht.

The Amalfi coast is one of the Mediterranean’s most scenic coastal destinations and offers a stunning driving experience.

One of the most beautiful drives is starting at Positano and then heading east. If you are planning on enjoying the area by car it is worth bearing in mind that the roads can be busy during the peak summer months.

Enjoying these beautiful roads can easily be included as part of a private cruise or luxury yacht charter on the Amalfi Coast.

The drive between Launceston to Hobart includes high mountain passes as well as stunning ocean views. The drive passes through the well-known hiking destinations of Freycinet National Park, Wineglass Bay and Coles Bay

Although Tasmania is less well known as a superyacht destination in comparison to Australia the island has a beautiful coastline to explore.