Merredin to Perth road trip: Distance, time & best stops
The best stops on a Merredin to Perth road trip itinerary at the State Barrier Fence at Burracoppin and Mundaring Weir. The Merredin to Perth distance is 261km by car, with a driving time of around 2h57m.
The drive from Merredin to Perth is likely to be part of a longer road trip – perhaps from Kalgoorlie to Perth or Adelaide to Perth.
Merredin is a historic town in the middle of the Wheatbelt region. Historically, it has been a key stopover between Kalgoorlie and Perth.
Perth, though, is Western Australia’s capital, and offers a wealth of experiences.
Activities worth pre-booking include the hop-on, hop-off bus, art and history-packed walking tours and the adventurous Vertigo experience above the Optus Stadium. The small bar and street art tours are also superb. To book Perth tours and experiences, head here. For Perth accommodation deals, book here.
Merredin to Perth distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Merredin to Perth is 261km. This makes for a driving time of around two hours and 57 minutes. Almost all of this drive is along the Great Eastern Highway.
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.
There’s not a great deal to see for most of the journey, however. You may, though, wish to stop at the State Barrier Fence in Burracoppin. This was formerly known as the Rabbit-Proof Fence, often dubbed the longest fence in the world.
Further along in the Avon Valley, Northam offers silo art and an Aboriginal cultural centre.
Merredin to Perth road trip: Mundaring and the Perth Hills
In the finishing straight, however, there are a couple of spots worth a road adding to the road trip itinerary. Along the drive from Kalgoorlie to Perth is a constant companion – a long pipeline by the side of the road. It’s part of the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme, an extraordinary project that allows Kalgoorlie to be so big.
The project, piping water all the way from the Perth Hills via a series of pumping stations, was the work of engineer CY O’Connor. It was phenomenally expensive and ambitious late in the 19th century, but brought a steady supply of water to Perth and a steady supply of gold to Kalgoorlie.
Mundaring Weir on the drive from Merredin to Perth
Lake O’Connor, the artificial lake created by Mundaring Weir, is a beautiful sight. The No. 1 Pumping Station nearby has displays on CY O’Connor’s story and is run by the National Trust. The Golden Pipeline website maps out the other key points on the water’s journey from Mundaring to Kalgoorlie.
Nearby is the Karakamia Sanctuary in Chidlow, which protects critically endangered native wildlife and runs twilight walking tours.
Great things to do in Perth include cooing at the gold pour at the Perth Mint, enjoying the majestic city views from Kings Park and hitting the surf at Scarborough Beach.
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.
Top Perth experiences include swimming with dolphins, Rottnest Island tours and a wine-tasting cruise to the Swan Valley.
Perth accommodation picks include the apartment-style Mantra on Hay, the Club Wyndham Perth close to Kings Park and the art-focused Adnate.
The best places to stay in Perth
You can check out deals on a wide range of Perth accommodation options. But these are some of the best choices.
- The swankiest address in town: COMO The Treasury.
- The cool, fun one in the centre of the action: The Alex.
- For quality apartments next to Kings Park: Quest Kings Park.
- For quality apartments by the beach: Seashells Scarborough.
- On a backpacker budget: Spinners Hostel.
More Western Australia travel
Where to stop on the drive from Meekatharra to Perth.
Why stop at the Billabong Roadhouse?
Where to stop on the drive from Newman to Perth.
Admire the roses and camelias at Araluen Botanic Park in the Perth Hills.
Cruise down Geikie Gorge near Fitzroy Crossing.