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

Canberra to Perth road trip: Hay to Balranald

Yanga National Park is the best road trip stop on the Hay to Balranald section of the drive. There are two key components here: the Yanga Woolshed by the Murrumbidgee River, which is devoted to the shearing industry and features tales of the record-breaking shearers who worked there, and the Yanga Homestead, which offers a fascinating insight into the management of a big pastoral property and has a pretty location by Yanga Lake.

Balranald is home to the Balranald Discovery Centre, a must-visit complex that includes a visitor information centre, café, and Interpretive Pavilion that showcases the area’s history. The surrounding precinct offers a children’s playground and a handful of heritage buildings to explore. Outback Geo Adventures runs tours to Mungo National Park from Balranald, making it a great base for exploring the park.

For those seeking accommodation in Balranald with a pool, the Sturt Motel and Balranald Motor Inn are both excellent options.

Balranald to Gol Gol

The drive from Balranald to Mildura passes several small lakes before arriving in Euston. Consider crossing over the Murray River into Robinvale, Victoria, to visit the Rural Life Museum or take a dip at the Robinvale Leisure Centre.

It’s then an 89km drive to Mildura, with Kemendok National Park providing a beautiful backdrop of river red gum forest and a campground along the Murray River.

Along the way, there are also a couple of wineries worth visiting, such as Monak Wine, which opens its cellar door on Fridays and Saturdays, and Trentham Estate, which boasts a stunning riverside location and restaurant open all week.

The route then takes you through Gol Gol, where you can stop by the Rest-a-while Gardens and Gallery, enjoy a beer at the Gol Gol Hotel, or take in the river scenery at Drings Hill Reserve.

Click through to the next section: Buronga to Port Augusta.