Perth to Brisbane road trip: Best stops, distance & drive time
The best stops on a Perth to Brisbane road trip include Kalgoorlie, Head of Bight, Broken Hill and Moree. The driving distance is 4,333km, which takes 46 hours. Plan to spread the itinerary out over a week or two.
A Perth to Brisbane road trip is something you only undertake if you truly want an adventure. It is much, much easier to fly, and driving from Western Australia to Queensland is likely to take most people at least a week.
Perth offers gold pouring experiences at the Perth Mint, Rottnest Island day trips, and scenic Swan River cruises. To book Perth tours and experiences, head here. For Perth accommodation deals, book here.
Recommendations in Brisbane include action and wildlife-packed Moreton Island tours, the Story Bridge Adventure Climb, river kayaking tours and cruising to the ultra-cute Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary.
To browse the collection of Brisbane tours and experiences, step this way. For the best value Brisbane hotels, pick here.
The Perth to Brisbane driving route goes through some of the most remote, isolated parts of Australia. It is, most of the time, a mission through the outback.
Therefore, it is important to plan where you’re going to have overnight stays along the drive. This guide should help you plot your itinerary – and fit in the best sights and attractions along the way.
Perth to Brisbane distance and driving time
The distance from Perth to Brisbane when travelling by car is 4,333km. Without stops, this makes for a driving time of around 46 hours.
Of course, no-one’s going to manage this without stops, so take that time with a pinch of salt. You need a week, at the bare minimum.
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.
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.
The first section of the drive to Brisbane from Perth is along the Great Eastern Highway, which initially follows the Swan River.
The highway then skirts the edge of WA’s oldest national park – John Forrest National Park. Here, you’ll find several walking trails and two delightful waterfalls – National Park Falls and Hovea Falls.
Perth to Brisbane road trip: Mundaring Weir and Northam
As the highway goes through Mundaring, it’s worth taking a small diversion to Mundaring Weir.
It’s not just a beauty spot – it plays an important part in WA’s history, providing water for the dry, inland regions. The back story is told at the National Trust-run No. 1 Pumping Station.
On the leg from Perth to Northam, you can also visit the Karakamia Sanctuary in Chidlow. Critically-endangered wildlife is protected here.
Things to do in Northam include admiring the silo art, going on a balloon flight over the Avon Valley and learning about local Aboriginal culture at the Bilya Koort Boodja cultural centre.
Northam accommodation picks include the heritage-laced Duke’s Inn and the characterful Fairway Manor.
Click through for the next section: Northam to Kalgoorlie.