There is a large gap between Perth and Adelaide on the map and it can look daunting to cross. You’ll be happy to know that there is actually a lot to see and do along the way. This Perth to Adelaide road trip is considered a classic part of any trip around Australia but it is also a great adventure to do on it’s own.
This itinerary follows a fairly efficient route and doesn’t add much extra distance to what is already a long drive. There are several options for detours off the route to see some cool spots and these will be highlighted in the relevant sections. See below for a map of the route and key details of the Perth to Adelaide drive.
If you haven’t explored the amazing South West already then this is highly recommended before heading across the Nullarbor. Check out our Perth to Esperance Road Trip to help you discover some of the best of this region.
There’s a lot of great silo art in South Australia
Table of Contents
Perth to Adelaide Drive – Summary
It’s impossible to give a day by day breakdown on this trip as everyone is going to have different situations. Ideally this drive should be done nice and slow, with plenty of stops to break up the long drives.
This isn’t always possible however, and the trip can be done with a short timeframe if you are willing to endure some long driving days and cut out some of the stops. See below for a map of the route and details of the distance and driving time.
Perth to Adelaide Distance:
The minimum driving distance of this itinerary is 2992km. This will probably increase a little with any side trips and detours that you choose to take.
Perth to Adelaide Driving Time:
There are 33 hours of driving time to complete for this itinerary. This is only 5 hours more than taking the most direct route and well worth it for what you see.
Recommended Trip Length:
Given the large amount of driving, it’s best to put aside at least a week for this itinerary. To really get the most out of the trip you should try to devote two weeks.
On this itinerary we’ll list our recommended highlights and overnight stops but it’s up to you if/how long you want to spend at each one.
Perth to Adelaide Road Trip – Highlights
- The beautiful natural landmark of Wave Rock
- Breath-taking beaches of Esperance
- Endless cliffs along the Great Australian Bight
- The strange and wonderful Nullarbor Plain
- Mount Remarkable National Park
- The stunning landscape and wines of the Barossa Valley
Hiring a Car in Perth
Check out the best prices for hire cars in Perth by using the links below. We always use Rentalcars.com when travelling to find the best prices between various operators. They have an option to include full insurance with no excess, which is highly recommended.
►Click here to compare prices and book your rental car◄
The Best Travel Insurance for Your Perth to Adelaide Road Trip
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For peace of mind while abroad, Heymondo is one of the most reputable travel insurance companies that will provide you with simple and flexible coverage. Whether you are into adventurous activities or simply looking for trip cancellation and basic medical insurance, Heymondo has you covered.
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The impressive Flinders Ranges
Perth to Adelaide Road Trip – The Best Route and Highlights
Stop 1 – Hyden
You may not have heard of the tiny farming town of Hyden, but this is where the famous Wave Rock is located. It is only 332km from Perth and we recommend spending a night here. This will mean you don’t have to rush to leave in the morning.
It may seem like a short driving day when you have Adelaide to reach but there is actually a lot to do around Wave Rock. If you really give this place it’s due and explore properly then you probably won’t have enough time left to reach Esperance today.
Enjoying a magical sunset at Wave Rock
There is a parking lot right near Wave Rock so you can easily jump out a have a look if you do want to push on with driving today. There is a $12 fee per vehicle which is payable on a machine in the parking lot. If you are staying the night then you can take your time and check in first then explore the whole area at your leisure.
I won’t go into any more detail on this spot as we have a whole post on everything to do in Hyden. This will help you to make the most of your time here.
Where to Stay in Hyden
Caravan/Camping
Wave Rock Caravan Park – This park is situated right next to Wave Rock so you can walk there as many times as you want.
Hotels/Guesthouses
Wave Rock Hotel – This is located in the town of Hyden so about a 10 minute drive to Wave Rock. The rooms were a little dated but there are good facilities like a pool and a nice bar/bistro area.
Wave Rock Resort – This accommodation is situated next to Lake Magic, about 1.5km from Wave Rock. They have self contained cottages with two bedrooms, air conditioning and free WiFi.
Stop 2 – Esperance
The stunning sand and turquoise waters of Lucky Bay
Cape Le Grand National Park
Esperance is best known for it’s amazing white sand and crystal clear water. Having recently visited Exmouth I was adamant that it would take a lot to convince me that these were the best beaches in W.A!
After spending way too long on the beaches of Cape Le Grand National Park, I can confirm that the reality matches and even exceeds the expectation. If your time is limited then you should head straight for Cape Le Grand National Park. There are two camp grounds within the park which are ideal to base yourself in. See the end of this section for details.
Within the park you can see the famous Lucky Bay, which sometimes has kangaroos lazing about on it’s shores. The nearby Hellfire Bay and Thistle Cove are equally stunning and often less busy. You can climb Frenchman Peak for amazing views over the whole park and a huge cave at the top.
The awesome Esperance Stonehenge!
Just outside the national park you can visit the impressive Esperance Stonehenge. I didn’t know what to think prior to coming here but I really enjoyed the experience. It was amazing to look at the huge stones and imagine the impact the structure would have had 5000 years ago.
Esperance Town
If you have more time to spend exploring Esperance then there is plenty to do and see. Check out the below attractions in and around town.
- Great Ocean Drive – Victoria may have the Great Ocean Road, but W.A has the Great Ocean Drive. While it may be a little shorter, it more than makes up for it with spectacular coastal scenery. Some of the best beaches in Esperance are along this route, such as Twilight Beach and Blue Haven. Also not to miss is the fantastic lookout at Observatory Point.
- Mechanical Clocktower – In the park near the Taylor St Jetty you will find this attractive and interesting clock tower.
- Wylie Bay – A very popular spot for photography. A nice beach in it’s own right and when the tide is low, a picturesque sandbar forms between the beach and some outlying rocks. Best viewed from Wylie Rock or with a drone.
- Whale Tail Sculpture – A nice sculpture in the park along the waterfront Esplanade. While in this area you might also have a drink at 33 Degrees, a bar with nice ocean views.
- Esperance Museum – Esperance has a great little museum with a surprising good collection of memorabilia and antiques. The low entry fee means it’s worth it to explore for even just half an hour or so.
- Scenic Flights – Fly Esperance and Heli Spirit offer scenic flights above the beautiful Esperance coastline. This is also the best way to see the vibrantly pink Lake Hillier.
Some stunning scenery on the Great Ocean Drive
Where to Stay in Cape Le Grand National Park
Caravan/Camping
Lucky Bay and Le Grand Beach Camping – These camp grounds are right on the beachfront in Cape Le Grand NP. There are toilets and showers but you will need to bring all your food and water with you. They frequently book out far in advance so make sure to book early.
Dunns Ecopark – If you miss out on the above then this attractive camp ground is only just outside the national park. They have toilets, a camp shower and a kitchen. The facilities are quite basic but clean and well maintained. Note that there is a fairly rough gravel road to access this property.
Where to Stay in Esperance
Caravan/Camping
RAC Esperance Holiday Park – This park is the perfect combination of absolute beachfront and access to town. The facilities are amazing and everything is kept in top shape.
Hotels/Guesthouses
Yot Spot Apartments – Self-contained and well appointed apartments in the heart of Esperance. Perfect for accessing all the attractions in town.
Esperance Chalet Village – A wonderful collection of individually styled cabins and chalets. It is a little out of town but right near the road out to the national park so perfect for day trips.
►Browse more accommodation options in Esperance◄
Stop 3 – The Nullarbor Plain
Bunda Cliffs look even better at sunset.
After leaving Esperance, the next 1800km is pretty mindless driving and should be broken up regularly to keep you fresh. That is of course minus the Nullarbor Plain. This stretch is surprisingly only a very short part of the drive but it was definitely my favourite section.
The name Nullarbor comes from the Latin ‘Nullus Arbor’ which means ‘no tree’. If you’re anything like me then you were imagining a vast sandy plain reminiscent of middle eastern deserts. This is definitely not what you’ll find. I won’t give too much away however as I want to leave you to be surprised just like I was!
The absolute highlight on the journey is the Bunda Cliffs. These huge cliffs run most of the way across the plain, dramatically falling off into the beautiful Southern Ocean. There are a couple of official viewpoints that offer decent view, but we found the best viewpoints down some small dirt roads that turned off the highway.
You just have to get this classic Nullarbor shot!
There can be hard to find and the easiest way is to purchase the Wikicamps App on your phone. These spots were listed as free campsites and you can indeed stay right on the cliffs! This was well worth it but you do have to be self-contained as there are no facilities.
We kept our drives to around 500km a day as we weren’t in a rush. There are a lot of free campsites along the whole drive and many are marked as 24hr rest areas with road signs. The roadhouses all have camp grounds and accommodation if you are in a normal car.
Another great stop is the Head of Bight Visitor Centre. The main purpose of this facility is whale watching as it is situated in a prime position to view the migration and calving of Southern Right Whales. Whale watching season is from May to October and it is only really worth visiting during this time. Prices are $15/adult and $6/child.
Where to Stay on the Nullarbor Plain
Caravan/Camping
Roadhouses – Each roadhouse has a camping/caravan park area. Find out which one you are aiming to reach and call ahead.
Camping – As mentioned the Wikicamps App is really useful on this stretch. We stayed near Caiguna the first night at Baxter Rest Area. The second night on the cliffs was at Bunda Cliffs Campground. You must be fully self-contained.
Hotels/Guesthouses
Roadhouses – Most of the road-houses have motel style accommodation. As above, plan your stops ahead of time and call to book-in/confirm. Some of the better options are the Madura Pass Roadhouse and the classic Nullarbor Roadhouse.
Optional Detour – Lake Macdonell and Woolshed Cave
This road between the lakes is super cool
From the Nullarbor you can simply follow the highway towards Port Augusta for the quickest route to Mount Remarkable and other highlights of the trip. There are many camp sites and accommodation options in the small towns along the highway.
We decided to take a detour off the main highway as we wanted to see the Pink Lake and Woolshed Cave. It’s also nice to have a break from all the driving and take a couple of days to recharge around here.
Woolshed Cave in the early morning
The Pink Lake is only a short detour off the main highway however it’s a pretty bad unsealed road, so be prepared for that. It is also only worth seeing when there is water in the lake. Over summer it dries up and the effect is lost. Winter and Spring are the best time to view the lake.
Woolshed Cave is a bit more of a detour but it is well worth a visit if you have the time. This huge limestone cavern has been eroded away by the force of the ocean and is truly an impressive sight. It’s so unique that we consider it to be one of the top natural landmarks of South Australia!
There are a couple of relaxing little bays to stay in to break up the drive. We stayed in Streaky Bay which had a great sunset and nice landscape.
There is not really much to see in this area but it was a good spot to relax and break up the driving. The cave is a short distance from here and can be seen en-route to Port Augusta when you are back on the road.
Where to Stay Near Point Sinclair/Woolshed Cave
Caravan/Camping
Streaky Bay Caravan Park – This was a great park right on the ocean and with good facilities. It is well positioned right between Point Sinclair and the cave.
Coodlie Park – This great camp ground has basic facilities but is in a beautiful location. Right near the Woolshed Cave so you can see both attractions then have a rest and be ready to go the next morning.
Hotels/Guesthouses
Venus Bay Beachfront Tourist Park – This park offers self-contained villas right near the ocean. It’s a fantastic place to watch sunset after exploring the Woolshed Cave.
Stop 3 – Port Augusta
Port Augusta is the first major town you come across after the long journey from Esperance. It is a good place to stop and refresh before heading on to your next destination.
The Pichi Richi railway
The main attraction in town is the Wadlata Outback Centre. This is a great stop if you are planning to visit the outback but is still super interesting even if you are going straight to Adelaide. Their ‘tunnel of time’ attraction takes you on a journey through the outback from pre-history until modern times.
If you love old steam trains then you must take a ride on the Pichi Richi Railway. This lovingly restored steam engine looks absolutely amazing and will take you on a super scenic journey to the small town of Quorn. The train unfortunately only operates from March to November. Check the website for timetables and fares.
Some further attractions that are worth visiting are the Port Augusta Train Park and the Cultural Centre. For a nice walk check out the Blanche Harbour Aquatic Reserve which features red cliffs juxtaposed against the blue water.
Where to Stay in Port Augusta
Caravan/Camping
Discovery Parks Port Augusta – This caravan park is a short drive from the centre of town but walking distance from shops. It has good and well-maintained facilities.
Quorn Caravan Park – If you are taking the detour below then you might keep driving a little after Port Augusta. Quorn Caravan Park is a beautiful and quiet spot and will give you a chance to look around this historic little town (don’t miss the free silo light show!).
Hotels/Guesthouses
Majestic Oasis Apartments – This fantastic accommodation is in the perfect location right in town. The resort style grounds with self-catering facilities is a great combination.