Perth to Townsville road trip: Best stops, distance & drive time
Perth to Townsville drive: South Australia section
Congratulations. You’re now out of Western Australia and into South Australia. The South Australian section of the Nullarbor drive is also much more interesting than the WA section.
The essential stop on the Nullarbor is Head of Bight near the Nullarbor Roadhouse.
Here there are dazzling white dunes to one side and towering cliffs to the other. Come during the winter months, and southern right whales use the Great Australian Bight below as a nursery.
Penong is also worth a stop. Here, the Penong Windmill Museum has a bizarre collection of windmills. But the short detour to surfer favourite Cactus Beach via the curiously pink Lake MacDonnell is more memorable.
Phone coverage and a vague sense of being back to normality return in Ceduna.
From here, you might want to think about a brief side trip down to the beaches at Streaky Bay on the Eyre Peninsula. Swimming with the Australian sea lions at Baird Bay is one of the best experiences in the country
Ceduna accommodation options include the nomad-friendly Big4 Ceduna Tourist Park and handily central Ceduna Foreshore Hotel Motel.
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.
Ceduna to Port Augusta
Otherwise, keep going along the Eyre Highway to Port Augusta at the tip of the Spencer Gulf.
The Ceduna to Port Augusta drive is 468km long, with a driving time of approximately four hours and 55 minutes.
The rugged Gawler Ranges are just to the north of the route. Gawler Ranges Wilderness Safaris runs interesting day tours from Wudinna. The wave-like Pildappa Rock is also nearby.
Otherwise, Kimba brings silly photo stops by the Big Galah and Halfway Across Australia Sign. You can stay the night here. The Kimba Units will thrill no-one, but they do the job.
The end of the Eyre Highway comes in Port Augusta, a real crossroads town.
The best things to do in Port Augusta include the Wadlata Outback Centre, which delves into Aboriginal and outback life, and the Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden.
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.
Click through to the next section: To New South Wales.