The picturesque roads of South Australia swathed in its verdant and varied landscapes are Danielle Hibbard’s enduring love, leading to her lifelong fascination with road trips. It is a preoccupation that started in her childhood, galloped its way into her youth, while cementing an immutable place in her heart. Danielle often turns to the excitement and wonder of road trips not only to beat the creeping monotony of her professional life but also to discover hidden tourist attractions. After years of road tripping through South Australia, home to some of Australia’s finest attractions and wineries, the 28-year-old is all set to pay a unique homage by creating a tourism guide about the state. Her guide, Danielle says, will both introduce South Australia to the uninitiated and encourage them to veer off the known path to discover unexplored gems. 

In conversation with TAL, Danielle talks about the various trips she has undertaken, tricks to overcoming last-minute travel challenges, and why she would recommend road trips to everyone.

Before we begin talking about your travels, please tell us something about yourself.  

I was fortunate enough to grow up in the Adelaide Hills and go to school in the Barossa Valley, two beautiful regions in South Australia. I also spent a large portion of my teenage years working at the infamous Big Rocking Horse! I am 28 and work as a Chartered Accountant in Adelaide. I love to read, travel, and explore lesser-known travel destinations in my car. I also enjoy running and was hoping to complete my fourth marathon this year, but given the circumstances, we will have to wait and watch how things unfold. 

How did this love for road trips blossom? Were you always an avid traveller? 

I think travelling two hours every day to go to school in Barossa and University in Adelaide made me immune to long-distance commuting. Also, since I was a kid, my family would undertake annual road trips to the Victorian Alps. It was a ritual and an integral part of my life. I fell in love with road trips quite early on in my life. 

I have not only travelled across Australia but have also toured other countries. Recently, before the pandemic hit, I took a road trip across numerous places in the United States of America, including the Southern states of Texas and Louisiana, Alaska, and Hawaii.   

Despite your other travels, South Australia remains a firm favourite, why so? 

South Australia is my home and I love it very much. Its landscape is so diverse! Despite its breathtaking scenery, many parts of the region are rarely visited by both international and local tourists. They visit the wineries and hills, but SA has so much more to offer! I want to create awareness about other exciting places in SA through my travel blog. We have some of the best beaches in Australia, two of the most famous wine regions in the world and also are the driest state on the driest continent! Once someone visits South Australia and see what we have to offer, they’re smitten.   

What is it about road trips that fascinates you so much and which has been the longest trip you have undertaken?  

Road trips conjure up an ineffable feeling in me that other modes of travel don’t. The feeling of driving away, being on the open road with no limitations and having the freedom to stop or change your destination whenever you want is fantastic!

When I was younger, I enjoyed driving because I was able to pack up and leave my responsibilities behind for a while. Now I love the feeling of exploring things in my backyard, watching the scenery go past and the spontaneity of road trips. I drive an Audi convertible, which isn’t the most practical road trip car and makes me look like a city slicker when I venture into rural towns, but I love it, and these things make me laugh.  

My longest road trip was from Adelaide to Coral Bay and back. I covered over 7,300 km driven in just five days!

As a consummate traveller, how do you plan your trips? What kind of research and prior planning do you undertake before embarking on a journey? 

My style of road tripping might not be ideal for everyone; as I tend to be spontaneous with my travel, a stark contrast to my routine accountant life. Once I have a free weekend coming up and have decided to undertake a road trip, I’ll look at the map of South Australia to see what region I’d like to visit, or haven’t been to for a while.

I turn to Google maps to search for places that look fun, unique or has a quirky name. I typically plan ahead for a good caravan park to pitch my tent for the night, particularly where I am travelling alone.

Being a seasoned road tripper, I always pack the same things, which include, tent, hammer, self-inflating mattress, torch, sleeping bag and pillow. I tend to be quite an easy-going packer to avoid too much unpacking when I return home. 

Has there been an incident in your travels that left an indelible mark in your heart? 

Going on solo road trips has always been a calling for me. I still clearly remember the first time I drove to Innes National Park on the Yorke Peninsula. I finished work early, jumped in my car and hit the road. It was my first time visiting Innes NP, and one of the first beaches one comes across on the way has a shipwreck.

It was the most stunning beach I had ever seen, with huge powerful waves continually crashing. As I got to the top of the stairs and looked down at the beach, I was just overwhelmed with the beauty of the place and the feeling of pure joy. The trip was years ago, but the memories are still fresh. These feelings of awe that I experience every time I embark on a new journey is what motivates me to keep travelling. 

Has a trip been particularly challenging?

All my trips have come with its share of challenges, which in retrospect, makes me laugh. On a road trip to the north of South Australia en route to Alice Springs, the ute my friends and I were driving lost radio reception, a regular occurrence when travelling outside Australian towns. I was carrying several CDs, many of which hilariously were too scratched to function. So for the majority of our 30-hour drive, we played five of Rihanna’s songs on loop! Till date, I can’t hear a single song of hers without thinking about that trip.

The COVID pandemic has brought travel to a standstill for many. In light of the recent developments, have you shelved your travel plans for the year?

Though South Australia’s borders are practically closed to other states and foreigners, it is an ideal time to travel within the region and support local businesses. Unfortunately due to the COVID situation, I am now working part-time for the first time in my working life. There is a silver lining though, I can technically have a three-day weekend every week - enough time to go exploring! 

Please tell us about the tourism guide you are working on and what prompted you to undertake such an endeavour?

Surprisingly there aren’t many guides of this nature for South Australia, although there are for other states. My guide is in the planning and compilation phase. I want to provide a road trip guide to South Australia.

It will showcase a variety of road trips, from day trips to week-long journeys, famous spots to visit, and the most unique places that only a local knows.
 
My advice to a tourist coming to South Australia is visit the Adelaide CBD, then grab a car and explore the areas near and far from the city. If you’d like adventure along with award-winning dining and wine, nature and hiking, you can visit McLaren Vale, Fleurieu Peninsula, Barossa Valley, and the Adelaide Hills. They are all approximately an hour away from the city and are unique on their own. If you are staying for long, then I suggest you head out to the Riverland, Eyre Peninsula, Kangaroo Island and Flinders Ranges. 

Follow Danielle’s travels on Instagram.