Perth to Uluru road trip: Best stops, distance & driving time

Perth to Uluru road trip: Best stops, distance & driving time

The best stops on a Perth to Uluru road trip include Kalgoorlie, Eucla, Ceduna and Coober Pedy. On sealed roads, the distance from Perth to Uluru is 3,246km and the drive takes around 36 hours.

A Perth to Uluru drive is a major undertaking. But the drive is also an epic adventure through the Australian outback that heads through some of the most remote places on the continent.

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.

Uluru experiences include a lavish dune-top desert dinner with stargazing, a guided walk around the perimeter full of Aboriginal cultural stories and a sunrise tour to the perfect photo stop. To browse a wide array of memorable Uluru experiences, head here. For the best Uluru accommodation deals, search here.

This once-in-a-lifetime dune-top dinner experience, with special stargazing session included, is our top Uluru recommendation.

The following guide will take you through the best stops you can make on the drive to Uluru from Perth. It also assumes you’re sticking to sealed roads and going via Port Augusta rather 4WDing via Laverton and Warburton.

Perth to Uluru distance and driving time

The distance from Perth to Uluru is 3,246km when travelling by car on sealed roads. This makes for a driving time of around 36 hours. You’re best off allocating at least a week for the journey.

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.

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.

This Perth to Uluru road trip starts along the Great Eastern Highway, which starts off following the Swan River.

It then skims the edge of John Forrest National Park, the oldest national park in Western Australia. Here, there are several walking trails and two impressive waterfalls – National Park Falls and Hovea Falls

Perth to Uluru road trip: Mundaring to Northam

Shortly afterwards, the highway goes through Mundaring. It’s a short diversion from here to Lake O’Connor, the artificial lake created by Mundaring Weir. The results of this weir will be seen later along the journey, but you can read the back story at the National Trust-run No. 1 Pumping Station.

Lake O'Connor at Mundaring Weir
Lake O’Connor at Mundaring Weir is one of the few worthwhile stops on the drive from Kalgoorlie to Perth. Photo by David Whitley/ Australia Travel Questions

Further along on the leg from Perth to Northam, you can visit the Karakamia Sanctuary in Chidlow, where critically-endangered wildlife is protected.

Before you reach Northam, there are a few nature reserves, none of which are exactly essential viewing.

Click through to the next section: Northam and Burracoppin.