Drive along Old Grafton and Glenn Innes to view Australia's backcountry

Taking a trip on the open road can give those consumed by wanderlust time to think, take in the natural beauty of their surrounding landscape and do what they love doing best—venture to new land. When you take a medical job in Australia, you have your very own treasure chest of endless scenic roads to journey down.

One of the most memorable roadways is situated in New South Wales along Old Grafton, all the way to Glen Innes Road. The strip, which used to be the only way to get from the mountains to the sea, is now considered the most beautiful backcountry road of the region.

Your four-hour journey will take you past rainforests, sweeping valleys and the Mann River Nature Reserve, where thousands of visitors have settled down for a picnic and a swim in one of the nearby watering holes over the years.

One of the coolest parts of the drive is the historic tunnel that workingmen dug through solid rock. Some sources claim that the tunnel was built by convicts, but it was, in fact, the hard workmanship of contract laborers from the late 19th century.