Melbourne to Perth road trip: Distance, driving time, stops & attractions
Melbourne to Perth drive: Eyre Highway stops
If getting from Melbourne to Port Augusta felt like a slog, then there’s some bad news. The truly epic stretch of the Melbourne to Perth road trip begins here, crossing the top of the Eyre Peninsula.
On the way to Ceduna, Kimba is worth a photo stop by the Halfway Across Australia Sign. Options for reasonably manageable detours include the steelworks tour in Whyalla, the Gawler Ranges, and swimming with Australian sea lions at Baird Bay.
Ceduna on the Great Australian Bight is the last place you’re likely to get supplies and a mobile phone signal for quite some time. It’s a logical overnight stop before pushing on from Ceduna to Eucla and the dreaded Nullarbor crossing.
Ceduna accommodation tips
Ceduna is a logical place for an overnight stay whether you’ve just crossed the Nullarbor or are about to. You can search for places to stay in Ceduna here.
However, the following are the best options:
- For central, waterfront location: Ceduna Foreshore Hotel Motel.
- For family-friendly spacious cabins: Big4 Holiday Park.
- For a pool: East West Motel.
The Nullarbor Plain isn’t quite as treeless as its Latin name suggests, but it is suitably stark and empty. Branch off the Eyre Highway occasionally, however, and the Melbourne to Perth drive across the Nullarbor gets surprisingly interesting.
Top spots include Lake MacDonnell – a reliably pink lake – and surfer hotspot Cactus Beach. You can also do whale-watching tours from Fowlers Bay, or see calving southern right whales from the Head of Bight Lookout.
Next up: Western Australia.