Balladonia to Perth road trip: Distance, driving time & best stops

The drive from Balladonia to Perth covers a 1,440km distance in a driving time of around 15 hours and 25 minutes. Top road trip stops to add to a Balladonia to Perth road trip itinerary include Norseman, Kalgoorlie and Northam.

The drive from Balladonia to Perth is an epic journey that most travellers will undertake as part of a longer road trip. The route from Canberra to Perth passes this way, as does the Adelaide to Perth drive.

Perth offers day trips to Rottnest Island, swimming with dolphins and Swan Valley food and wine tours. For Perth accommodation deals, book here.

The Balladonia to Perth drive is largely about epic outback landscapes, but there are plenty of good stops along the way. Use this guide to help you plan your perfect Balladonia to Perth road trip itinerary, and click through on the links for more detailed information on individual destinations.

Balladonia to Perth distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Balladonia to Perth is 1,440km. That makes for a driving time of around 15 hours and 25 minutes.

Balladonia is on the Nullarbor Plain. The roadhouse here has a mini museum about the Skylab space station, which crashed nearby in 1979. Balladonia.

The first realistic stop on the Nullarbor drive after Balladonia is Norseman, where you leave the Eyre Highway. It’s hard to avoid spending a night here. Norseman accommodation options include the motel-ish Great Western Travel Village and the fairly cheap Acclaim Gateway Tourist Park.

From here, it’s just over two hours’ drive north to gold mining city Kalgoorlie.

There are several things to do in Kalgoorlie. Options include learning about the city’s gold mining heritage at the Museum of the Goldfields and Hannans North Tourist Mine. You can also see how the modern day operation works, on a tour of the staggeringly enormous Superpit. Scenic flights over the Superpit are another option.

Balladonia to Perth drive: Kalgoorlie to Perth

The Kalgoorlie to Perth drive is, frankly, a bit of a slog. The 593km drive along the Great Eastern Highway should take around six-and-a-half hours, and most of the highlights are essentially within an hour of Perth.

The Granite Way, a 60km driving route between the big granite outcrops of Kellerberrin, Quairading and Bruce Rock, is a possible exception worthy of a detour.

If you do want to break the journey later on, you can visit the Karakamia Sanctuary in Chidlow, the John Forrest National Park near Hovea and Mundaring Weir. The latter is the end of the giant water pipe that runs alongside the Great Eastern Highway, providing water to Kalgoorlie.

The Golden Pipeline runs from the Perth Hills to Kalgoorlie. Photo by David Whitley/ Australia Travel Questions.

Other options along the route include learning about the gargantuan State Barrier Fence in Burracoppin and Indigenous culture at the Bilya Koort Boodja centre in Northam.

Northam accommodation options include the heritage-centric Duke’s Inn and the amiable Fairway Manor.

DON’T MISS OUT! 9 fabulous Perth experiences to book today ✅

✅ See the Rottnest Island quokkas the smart way – with a ferry and bike package.
✅ Be amazed by the abundant wildlife – on a dolphin, penguin and sealion cruise.
✅ See clear night skies in a moon-like desert – on a Pinnacles stargazing experience.
✅ Indulge in chocolate, cheese & premium wines – on a Swan Valley food and wine tour.
✅ See the city sunset from the water – on a Swan River dinner cruise.
✅ Watch gold being melted and poured – on a Perth Mint gold tour.
✅ Combine nature with imperious city views – on Kings Park Segway tour.
✅ Face your fears and get the thrill of your life on a – on a 15,000ft skydive.
✅ Find all the best hidden hangouts – on a small bar and street art tour.

When you finally arrive in Perth, there’s lots to do. Try a Rottnest Island day trip, swimming with wild dolphins or a Swan Valley wine cruise.

Good value Perth hotels include the small but cheap Pensione, the Murray Hotel – which has a little pool – and the Hotel Northbridge, which is close to the nightlife.

5 great day trips from Perth – make your visit special

Rottnest Island ferry transfer – with bike hire and snorkelling gear. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Pinnacles desert – with koalas 🐨 and sandboarding.
Wave Rock day tour – with wildflowers & Aboriginal culture.
Margaret River wineries experience 🍷 – with tastings, caves & Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse.
Full day Swan Valley wine tour 🍷– with lunch.