The Best Coastal Routes to Drive on a Road Trip Holiday

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.

The E10, sometimes known as King Olav V's road, connects the Lofoten Islands from west to east and the archipelago is a must-see for anyone exploring northern Norway.

The E10 is approximately 850 kilometres long and starts in Å, Norway and finishes in Luleå, Sweden. The section that is the running thread through the Lofoten Archipelago weaves around the coastlines of most of the islands, offering breathtaking ocean and mountain views.

The Lofoten Islands are popular for hiking, rock climbing, kayaking and cycling and have been well-known for their Atlantic cod fisheries for more than 1,000 years. If you're planning on discovering the Norwegian fjords, make sure you leave plenty of time to visit the Lofoten Archipelago and roam along the E10 in a car as luxury as your superyacht.

If you’re planning on spending a few days exploring Corsica by superyacht, the D81 coastal road through the Calanches de Piana is a must for the brave. The single track road runs along the side of the mountain, presenting a striking landscape of red granite cliffs and vicious looking outlines caused by centuries of erosion.

Piana itself is a stunning village that looks out over the Gulf of Porto and faces the Scandola and Senino peninsulas. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983, the area including the Calaches of Piana, the Gulf of Girolata and the Scandola Nature Reserve offer unrivalled views and truly excellent (if hair-raising) driving opportunities.

Girolata Bay is also one of the best superyacht anchorages in Corsica, so why not tender to the little village of Girolata and enjoy the beauty of the D81 while driving over to Piana?

Also known as the Sa Calobra Road, the MA-2141 in Mallorca is a must for anyone who enjoys a scenic drive. Taking cars through unimaginably narrow gorges, around extraordinary hairpin bends and around the world-famous Nus de Sa Calobra, an unusual 360° turn to challenge even the most experienced motorists.

If you find yourself in Palma away from your superyacht, head over by car to Sa Calobra, or else drop anchor towards the north coast of the island and tender to the Port de Sa Calobra.

South Africa’s Garden Route extends from Mossel Bay in the Western Cape to the Storms River in the Eastern Cape. The 150-mile drive combines amazing roads with unbelievable coastal scenery. It is also one of the few places in the world where you have the chance to spot whales and elephants along the same stretch of road.

You could drive the route in a day but it is recommended that you take your time and stop off at sights such as Knysna Elephant Park, De Hoop Nature Reserve and Tsitsikamma National Park.

The Atlantic Road in Norway may only be just over five miles long but its series of ziz-zagging bridges skimming across the sea means that it is regularly voted one of the best drives in the world. The road runs through the archipelago in Eide and Averøy in Møre og Romsdal. It is at its most dramatic during stormy weather but when it is calmer it is possible to spot whales and seals.

Although private yachts and luxury yacht charters in Norway are not that common the country has some beautiful cruising ground. If you are inspired to visit the country don’t miss our guide to seven days in Northern Norway.

While Australia’s Great Ocean Road may be better known, New Zealand’s Great Coast Road is a more than adequate rival. The route from Westport to Greymouth snakes between limestone cliffs and isolated beaches and through Paparoa National Park.

If you want a breathtaking view to remember then charter a helicopter to take in Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers and snowfields or if you are feeling more adventous consider an ice hike.

There are an increasing number of superyachts sailing to New Zealand to experience its natural beauty. In 2014  New Zealand celebrated a record rise in the number of superyacht visits.

If you are looking for a driving experience Down Under then the Great Ocean Road should be top of your list. Starting near Melbourne the road offers more than 150 miles of twists and turns.

As well as the spectacular views the road also passes the iconic landmark of the 12 apostles.

If you want to drive the Great Ocean Road visiting the country is now easier as Australia is offering temporary superyacht charter licenses for foreign yachts.

The 60-mile long Hana Highway links the east and west of Maui taking you past plunging waterfalls, black sand beaches and lush rainforest.

The serpentine coastal road is an impressive feat of engineering and has nearly 60 bridges along the way.

The drive takes approximately four hours to complete and Maui is only a short cruise on a superyacht from Honolulu.

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.