Melbourne to Perth road trip: Distance, driving time, stops & attractions
Melbourne to Perth road trip attractions: South Australia
The South Australian stretch of the Melbourne to Perth drive doesn’t get interesting until you reach the Murray River. Stick to the quickest route and you’ll pass through the Adelaide Hills wine region – German-influenced Hahndorf is the best stop here – on the way to Adelaide. Hahndorf accommodation options include the stylish Manna by Haus and functional Hahndorf Motel.
The best things to do in Adelaide include the Adelaide Oval tour, the Temptation Sailing dolphin-swimming cruise and feasting in the Peel Street restaurants.
15 fabulous Adelaide experiences to supercharge your visit
- DOLPHINS 🐬: Swim with wild dolphins, kayak with the resident bottlenose pod or watch them on a dolphin cruise.
- FOOD AND WINE 🍷: Indulge on Adelaide food tour including Adelaide Central Market. Or try a wine discovery tour with tastings at the National Wine Centre. Or the ultimate Penfolds Magill Estate experience with full estate tour & Grange tasting.
- WILDLIFE 🐨: Spot koalas on a guided Morialta nature hike. Or walk from Waterfall Gully to Mount Lofty with entrance to Cleland Wildlife Park.
- CRUISES ⛵: Watch the sun set on a twilight coastal cruise, get to know the city on a Torrens River cruise or take a high tea cruise aboard the Popeye.
- SPORT 🏏: Dare to take on the Adelaide Oval Roofclimb or enter the fabled scoreboard on the behind-the-scenes stadium tour.
- ACTION 🚵♂️: Descend Mount Lofty on a downhill mountain bike tour or kayak along the Torrens River.
Top Adelaide hotel recommendations
For the beach: Oaks Glenelg Plaza Pier Suites. For families: Big4 West Beach. Most fun: Hotel Indigo Adelaide Markets. For setting: Oval Hotel. For heritage: Adina Apartment Hotel Adelaide Treasury.
Heading north to Port Augusta, towns such as Port Wakefield and Port Pirie hold little excitement on the quickest route. That said, Lake Bumbunga is worth a photo stop if conditions are right for it to turn pink. You’re far better off adding an extra half hour to the driving time and going via the Barossa Valley and Clare Valley wine regions.
8 unusual Barossa Valley experiences to book in advance
- Half day Mustang convertible tour.
- Two hour kayaking experience.
- Half day trike tour with commentary via headsets.
- Wine-tasting tour in a bright red London cab.
- Winery hopping by e-bike.
- Gin-making workshop with lunch.
- Behind the scenes VIP tour at Seppeltsfield.
- Learn about barrel-making at the Yalumba Cooperage.
The Clare Valley offers bike hire, wine tours and boutique accommodation. Clare Valley hotel options include the Brice Hill Country Lodge and Bungaree Station.
Port Augusta accommodation picks
Port Augusta accommodation tends towards the functional. Few people stay here more than one night. Booking site Wotif lists options for from $89, if you’d like to check what’s available.
However, these Port Augusta accommodation choices are particularly worth looking at:
- For heritage and character: Pampas Motel.
- For green credentials: Crossroads Ecomotel.
- For overall quality: Majestic Oasis Apartments.
- For cheap rates and a pool: Discovery Parks – Port Augusta.
Next up: The Eyre Highway.