Balranald to Adelaide road trip: Distance, driving time & best stops

The Balranald to Adelaide drive covers a 529km distance in a driving time of around 5h56m. The best stops along the way are Yanga National Park, Lake Tyrrell and the Adelaide Hills.

The Balranald to Adelaide drive connects the cusp of the New South Wales outback to the South Australian capital. For most travellers, this drive will be part of a longer journey – say, from Griffith to Adelaide.

Source the best Balranald accommodation deals here.

Adelaide brings food tours of the fabulous Central Market, Torrens River cruises, swimming with dolphins and the chance to walk across the roof of the Adelaide Oval. To book Adelaide accommodation, step this way. For a full range of Adelaide tours and experiences, explore here.

This guide is aimed at travellers planning a Balranald to Adelaide road trip itinerary.

Balranald to Adelaide distance and driving time

Travelling by car along sealed roads, the distance from Balranald to Adelaide is 529km. This makes for a driving time of around five hours and 56 minutes.

Balranald is the gateway to Yanga National Park. There are two key components here, the first of which is the Yanga Woolshed by the Murrumbidgee River. This enormous woolshed is devoted to the shearing industry, and features tales of the record-breaking shearers who worked there.

The Yanga Woolshed is an incredibly atmospheric place to walk through.

The other key sight is the Yanga Homestead, which has been left as it was when the Yanga Station was shut down. It offers a fascinating insight into the management of a big pastoral property and has a pretty location by Yanga Lake.

The main attraction in Balranald is the Balranald Discovery Centre. This complex hosts a café, visitor information centre and an Interpretive Pavilion explaining the history of the region. The surrounding precinct also includes a children’s playground and a handful of heritage buildings.

Balranald can also be used as a base for exploring Mungo National Park. Outback Geo Adventures runs tours from here.

For Balranald accommodation with a pool, try the Sturt Motel or Balranald Motor Inn.

Balranald to Adelaide road trip: Tooleybuc and Manangatang

From Balranald, turn south along Yanga Way towards Tooleybuc on the Murray River.

Tooleybuc has a wealth of pleasant riverside parks, and is one of the best places on the Adelaide to Hay drive for an overnight stay.

For tennis, pool and mini golf, pick the Tooleybuc Club Motor Inn. For a bit more space, try Tooleybuc River Retreat Villas.

Tooleybuc Road will bring you into Victoria near Piangil, from where you head west along the Mallee Highway, crossing the Bailey Plain salt pan.

You’ll soon reach Manangatang. There are a few places to eat here, plus a golf course, racecourse and public swimming pool. A detour to the south will bring you to Lake Tyrrell – one of Australia’s most impressive pink lakes.

Balranald to Adelaide drive: Ouyen and Murray Sunset National Park

Otherwise, push through to crossroads town Ouyen, where the Mallee Highway and Calder Highway meet. Here, you can have a dip in the swimming lake, fill up on goodies at the Mallee Bakery or detour north to the wildlife-surrounded lakes of Hattah-Kulkyne National Park.

The best place to branch off the Mallee Highway, however, is Linka. To the north lies Murray Sunset National Park, the largest national park in Victoria. Here, you can see plenty of wildlife – notably, it’s one of the few places in Australia that plays home to both red and grey kangaroos.

There are also several campgrounds, and a few pink lakes.

Click through to the next section: Victoria border to Tailem Bend.