If you’re looking at driving from Perth to Adelaide, the first thing to work out is whether you simply want to get from A to B, or whether the drive itself is going to be a big part of your holiday.
If you have time to make the journey part of the holiday, we’d recommend making the iconic Nullarbor crossing just one part of the trip. You could spend some time exploring southern Western Australia and Esperance before crossing the Nullarbor, then explore the Great Australian Bight and Eyre Peninsula at the other end as you make your way towards Adelaide.
The Nullarbor itself is probably the part of this trip we get asked about the most. How remote is it really? Where do you get fuel? Do you need a 4WD? And just how far are you going to be driving?
Let’s start with the distance.
Perth to Adelaide distance and how long should you allow?
The most direct Perth to Adelaide drive is around 2,750 kilometres, travelling inland through Western Australia and across the Nullarbor.
That’s useful to know, but the distance can vary considerably depending on the route you choose. If you’re simply looking to get from Perth to Adelaide, the more direct route will keep you relatively close to that figure. If you’re making the journey part of your holiday and adding southern Western Australia, Esperance and more of the Eyre Peninsula, you’ll travel considerably further.
The same applies to driving time. You can cover the distance relatively quickly if getting from Perth to Adelaide is the main objective, but that’s very different to having enough time to enjoy the journey.
For a motorhome trip, we recommend allowing at least 14 days from Perth to Adelaide. With 21–28 days much more popular. This way, you can explore more of southern WA and the Eyre Peninsula and spend longer in the places that interest you rather than continually moving on.
Once you’re ready to start mapping out the journey in a little more detail, our Perth to Adelaide Suggested Travel Route can help you work through the route and some of the places you might want to include.
Which route should you take from Perth to Adelaide?
You can travel this route in either direction, but we prefer to travel west to east to avoid driving into the sun as it sets.
There isn’t just one way to set off from Perth. If time is limited, you can travel inland towards Kalgoorlie and Norseman before joining the Eyre Highway. This gives you the opportunity to experience WA’s Goldfields while keeping the overall distance down.
If you have more time and want to explore southern Western Australia, you can head south from Perth instead. It’s a great opportunity to include some of WA’s fantastic coastline, beaches and smaller towns before you start making your way east. Depending on what interests you, that might mean travelling through the Margaret River region and along the south coast through Albany and Esperance. Another option takes you inland via Hyden and Wave Rock before continuing towards Esperance.
Whichever route you choose, you’ll end up making your way towards Norseman before heading east across the Nullarbor.
Highlights along the way
The Nullarbor might be the part of this journey everyone talks about, but there are plenty of places worth allowing time for on either side of the crossing.
Southern Western Australia and Esperance
Heading south from Perth gives you the chance to spend time around Margaret River before following the south coast through Albany and Denmark towards Esperance.
Esperance is somewhere we’d allow a decent amount of time rather than treating it simply as the last major stop before the Nullarbor. There’s plenty to see around Esperance itself, as well as Cape Le Grand National Park, so we’d avoid squeezing the area into a quick overnight stop.
Across the Nullarbor and Great Australian Bight
From Esperance, the route takes you back inland towards Norseman before you start making your way across the Nullarbor. From here, the distances between communities increase and the landscape changes considerably.
One of the first landmarks along the crossing is the famous 90 Mile Straight between Balladonia and Caiguna – 146.6 kilometres without a single bend! It’s Australia’s longest straight road and one of the longest in the world.
If golf’s your thing, you can even play your way across! Nullarbor Links is the world’s longest golf course, stretching around 1,365 kilometres from Kalgoorlie to Ceduna, with holes dotted along the route at towns and roadhouses. These small towns and roadhouses are part of the Nullarbor experience too. You’ll pass several along the way before reaching Eucla and crossing the border into South Australia.
Once you’re into South Australia, there are several places to stop along the Great Australian Bight and take in the Bunda Cliffs and Southern Ocean.
If you’re travelling during whale season, we’d also allow time for the Head of Bight. Southern right whales gather here during winter and spring and can be seen from the viewing platforms along the coast.
Eyre Peninsula and onwards to Adelaide
Once you’ve crossed the Nullarbor and reached Ceduna, you’ve got another choice to make – head directly towards Adelaide or allow some time to explore the Eyre Peninsula.
If you have the time, we’d definitely recommend including at least some of the peninsula. This is another great part of the trip to explore by motorhome, with beautiful coastline, beaches and small coastal towns along the way – perfect for finding a spot to pull up, put the kettle on and enjoy a cuppa.
Streaky Bay is a popular stop along the west coast, and if you continue further south, you’ll reach Coffin Bay and Port Lincoln. If you enjoy seafood, you’re in luck, Coffin Bay is famous for its oysters, while Port Lincoln has a strong fishing and seafood industry.
You don’t necessarily need to explore the whole peninsula either. If you’re short on time, you could include places such as Venus Bay and Streaky Bay before continuing on towards Port Augusta. If you want to head further south and explore more of the peninsula, we’d allow at least an extra three days rather than trying to squeeze it in.
From Port Augusta, you’re on the final stretch towards Adelaide. If you still have some time up your sleeve, you could travel through some of South Australia’s well-known wine regions north of Adelaide before heading into the city.
Driving the Nullarbor – what is it actually like?
For many travellers, the Nullarbor is the part of the Perth to Adelaide drive they have the most questions about.
So, what is it actually like to drive? You’ll have long stretches of open road, but the scenery changes more than you might expect. It’s certainly not just hundreds of kilometres of flat, treeless plain, and although you’re travelling through a remote part of Australia, you’ll still see other travellers, caravans, motorhomes and plenty of road trains along the way.
Those road trains can be a little daunting if you haven’t driven around them before – some can be more than 50 metres long! Give them plenty of space and never cut in front of one. If a road train is overtaking you, maintain your speed until it’s moved out to pass, then slow down a little to help it get past safely.
The main crossing along the Eyre Highway is fully sealed, so you don’t need a 4WD to drive from Perth to Adelaide. What you do need to be prepared for are the distances. There are some long stretches between towns, fuel and other services, and you won’t have phone reception the whole way.
That’s one of the reasons a motorhome works so well for this trip. You’ve already got your food, water and other essentials with you, as well as somewhere comfortable to stop and take a break when you need one.
Fuel and supplies
The roadhouses are an important part of travelling across the Nullarbor. In such a remote part of Australia, they’re much more than somewhere to fill up – they’ve been supporting people travelling the Eyre Highway for decades, providing fuel, food, accommodation and basic supplies along the way.
We always recommend travelling on the top half of your fuel tank rather than the bottom half out here, so fill up when you have the opportunity rather than trying to stretch it to the next stop. Carry plenty of drinking water too, and stock up on food before you set off across the more remote sections.
But we’d also encourage you to slow down and enjoy the roadhouses rather than simply pulling in for fuel and heading off again. They’re part of the character of crossing the Nullarbor, and each one is a little different. Stop for a coffee or something to eat, have a chat and take a look around. It’s a chance to experience a little more of this unique part of Australia rather than simply passing through.
And if you’re playing Nullarbor Links, you’ll have even more reason to stop along the way. Several of the roadhouses have their own hole as part of the world’s longest golf course, which is a great way to break up the drive and see a little more along the way.
Phone reception
Given how remote parts of the Nullarbor are mobile reception can be patchy along the way. You’ll generally pick up coverage around some towns and roadhouses, but there will also be stretches where you have little or no signal.
It’s a good idea to download your maps and any travel information you might need before setting off, rather than relying on having reception along the way. If staying connected is important to you, it’s also worth thinking about which mobile network you’re using before you travel – we’ve covered the different options in our guide to mobile phone coverage in Australia.
And if the thought of being without mobile reception worries you, have a read of our guide to satellite phones for Outback Australia too. It explains when you might consider one and the options available.
Wildlife and driving
There’s plenty of wildlife to look out for along the way. Kangaroos and emus are common, and you may also spot wedge-tailed eagles, wombats and even wild camels as you travel.
Just be particularly careful around dawn and dusk, when kangaroos are most active. We generally avoid driving at these times where possible, especially on the more remote stretches.
The long, straight roads can be tiring too, so take regular breaks, keep your driving days realistic and swap drivers if you can.
The Nullarbor isn’t a difficult drive, but it does deserve some respect. With sensible preparation, remoteness becomes part of the experience rather than something to worry about.
When is the best time to drive from Perth to Adelaide?
Autumn and spring are both great times to travel from Perth to Adelaide, particularly if you’d prefer to avoid the hottest summer temperatures across the more remote parts of the route.
But when you travel can also change what you’ll see along the way. Southern right whales visit the Great Australian Bight during the cooler months, generally from June through to October, so if the Head of Bight is on your list, it’s worth timing your trip around whale season.
Spring can be particularly rewarding, as this is also when the wildflowers start appearing through parts of Western Australia, including around Esperance and Ravensthorpe. Time it right and you could have both whales and wildflowers as part of the same trip.
You can certainly travel in summer, but it can get very hot through the inland and remote sections of the journey, so that’s something we’d factor into your plans.
We’ve found great months to try and get the past from the diverse climate on this route is March/April or October/November.
Planning a Perth to Adelaide motorhome trip
This route works really well as a one-way motorhome hire. Pick up in Perth, take your time travelling across to South Australia and finish the trip in Adelaide.
You don’t need a 4WD motorhome for the main Perth to Adelaide route. If you’re only planning to travel a short distance along a well-maintained unsealed road to reach a registered campground or recognised tourist attraction, a 2WD motorhome may still be all you need – most of our rental partners allow around 10–12 kilometres for this type of access. If you want to explore further off the sealed route, that’s when we’d look at a 4WD motorhome instead.
It’s also worth thinking about how you’ll actually use the motorhome. If you’re travelling for two, three or even four weeks, it’s going to be your home on the road, not just something you drive and sleep in. Having enough living space, storage and a bed and bathroom layout that works for you can make a real difference over a trip of this length.
We’ve covered this in more detail in our guide to choosing the best motorhome hire for your Australian holiday, including the different layouts and features worth considering. You can also take a look at our motorhome and campervan hire options, or have a chat with us about what might work best for your trip.
Independent motorhome hire or an escorted tour?
If you like the freedom of travelling at your own pace, Perth to Adelaide is a fantastic trip to do independently by motorhome. You can decide how much time to spend exploring southern WA, where you’d like to stop across the Nullarbor and how much of the Eyre Peninsula you want to include.
Or, if you’d prefer to have the route and organisation taken care of, you can join one of our Perth to Adelaide Escorted Motorhome Tours. A premium motorhome with the highest level of insurance is included in the tour cost, along with a carefully planned itinerary and a range of experiences along the way. You’ll still have the freedom of travelling in your own motorhome, but with our experienced tour leaders on hand and a small group of fellow motorhomers to share the journey with.
Whichever way you decide to travel, if you’d like some help planning your Perth to Adelaide motorhome trip or choosing the right motorhome, get in touch. We know this journey well and we’re always happy to have a chat.
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