15 Day Coastal Road Trip Melbourne to Perth
DISCLAIMER: This site uses affiliate links, which means if you click on one of them, I may make a small commission on the services I proudly use and love at no extra cost to you.
Looking to take the scenic route from Melbourne to Perth? This coastal itinerary will get you there in just 15 days! Each day of driving is on average 3.5 hours per day, you can make this itinerary shorter or longer based on your own timeline.
I have also created a 5 day roadtrip from Melbourne to Perth, for those on a tight timeline, which is a fast-paced drive and an average driving time of 8 hours per day.
This 15 day itinerary will take you across the Nullarbor (Ceduna - Norseman), before driving this trip, you should find out everything you need to know before crossing the Nullarbor.
Day 1: Melbourne - Halls Gap
Driving Time: Approximately 3 hours
Distance: Approximately 252 km
Highlights from Melbourne to Halls Gap include the gold rush town of Sovereign Hill in Ballarat, which is an experience not to be missed, and includes gold panning, candle-making, watching raspberry drops being made from scratch and much more. From Ballarat, drive to The Grampians (Halls Gap) and spend the night in the stunning Halls Gap National Park which boasts waterfalls, hiking, camping, yummy restaurants, and a popular ice-creamery.
Day 2: Halls Gap - Adelaide
Driving Time: Approximately 5.5 hours
Distance: Approximately 499 km
From Halls Gap, you can stop off at various small towns for a bite to eat, as well as the picturesque village of Hahndorf, which is a German town set in the Adelaide Hills, where you will experience a taste of German food and atmosphere. Another popular activity here is to go strawberry picking at the Beerenberg Farm (personally, the best strawberries I have ever tasted). Other locations to stop off at include:
Pink Lake, Dimboola (the pink colour varies throughout the year, but is especially pink after it has been raining)
Nhill
Bordertown
Tailem Bend
Mount Barker / Hahndorf
Day 3: Adelaide - Port Augusta
Driving Time: Approximately 3.5 hours
Distance: Approximately 308 km
Things to do in between:
I recommend filling up on most groceries before you leave Adelaide, as this will be the cheapest grocery stop until you reach Perth. There are of course plenty of supermarkets along the route, however, due to the remote locations of majority of the towns, the supermarkets are often quite expensive. Some places to stop off at include:
Visit Glenelg beach and town centre
Relax at Henley Beach
Explore the city of Adelaide
Visit Port Augusta
Day 4: Port Augusta - Port Lincoln
Driving Time: Approximately 3.5 hours
Distance: Approximately 342 km
From Port Augusta, take the 3.5 hour drive to Port Lincoln. I would recommend staying in the Port Lincoln National Park, where you can explore beautiful sandy beaches and panoramic views from lookouts. You can also go hiking, fishing and 4WD-ing in this stunning National Park. As with most National Parks, make sure you download an offline map of the park before you enter, as there is often little service.
Day 5: Port Lincoln - Streaky Bay
Driving Time: Approximately 3 hours
Distance: Approximately 293 km
After exploring Port Lincoln, head to Streaky Bay which is part of the stunning Eyre Peninsula, where you can camp, fish, enjoy the beaches, explore the beautiful nature trails and eat some of the best seafood found in South Australia.
Day 6: Streaky Bay - Ceduna
Driving Time: Approximately 1.5 hours
Distance: Approximately 110 km
From Streaky Bay, take the short drive to the town of Ceduna, where you will need to fill up on fuel, stock up on last-minute groceries and prepare for the long drive across the Nullarbor.
Day 7: Ceduna - Bunda Cliffs
Driving Time: Approximately 3 hours
Distance: Approximately 285 km
Ceduna marks the start of the flat desert Nullarbor Plain. Most people travelling the Nullarbor stay in caravans, and it is a popular option to stay on the Bunda Cliffs at the Head of the Bight. You can find more accommodation options along the Nullarbor here.
Here are some attractions to look at along the way:
Penong Windmills, Penong
Sand Dundes & Historic Stone Houses, Fowlers Bay
The famous Nullarbor Road House
Bunda Cliffs & Whale Watching, Head of the Bight
Blow Holes & Caves, Cocklebiddy, Caiguna & Murrawijinie Caves
Day 8: Bunda Cliffs - Border Village
Driving Time: Approximately 2.5 hours
Distance: Approximately 209 km
From the Bunda Cliffs, head to Border Village where there is a checkpoint and vehicle inspection to ensure you are not carrying any fruits, vegetables, honey, or seeds across the border. Bins are supplied at the border just in case. Along the Nullarbor, make sure to jump out and get a photo in front of the Nullarbor Plain sign, 90 mile straight sign, wildlife signs, and check out the following:
Bunda Cliffs & Whale Watching, Head of the Bight
Old Telegraph Station, Eucla
Day 9: Border Village - Cocklebiddy
Driving Time: Approximately 3 hours
Distance: Approximately 284 km
Time Zone Difference: Border Village town has its own time zone of -/+ 45 minutes, separate from South Australian and Western Australian time zones, keep note of this when travelling and if you are setting an alarm to head off early the next morning.
The next stop will be Cocklebiddy. There is not a lot to see between Border Village and Cocklebiddy, however, you can stop off for a bite to eat, and to fuel up at the Mundrabilla roadhouse.
Day 10: Cocklebiddy - Norseman
Driving Time: Approximately 4.5 hours
Distance: Approximately 437 km
Again, from Cocklebiddy to Norseman, there is not much to see, however you can visit Fraser Ranges and the Norseman Visitor Centre. Once you have reached Norseman, stay overnight in the caravan park and get ready for the short drive to Esperance the next day, as this is where you will begin seeing pristine beaches with the most incredible blue hues.
Day 11: Norseman - Esperance
Driving Time: Approximately 2.5 hours
Distance: Approximately 204 km
Travel straight to Esperance, and stock up on some more food and essentials. There are some great accommodation options within Esperance, however many travellers will choose to head straight into the Cape Le Grand National Park, famous for the incredible aqua-blue waters found on the beaches. The National Park is approximately 50km away from Esperance. Again, ensure you download an offline map of the National Park, as there is little service and you will want to make sure you have time to see everything before you leave. Some of the top favourite beaches you have to see in the National Park include:
Le Grand Beach
Hellfire Bay
Thistle Cove
Lucky Bay
Wharton Beach
Day 12: Esperance - Bremer Bay
Driving Time: Approximately 4 hours
Distance: Approximately 389 km
Once you have finished exploring Esperance and The Cape Le Grand National Park, the next stop is Bremer Bay. Relax on the Bremer Bay beach, and visit the Fitzgerald National Park. In the National Park, there is a location called Point Ann, which is a popular tourist attraction for whale watching.
One of the most popular activities to do from Bremer Bay, is the Orca Whale expedition, which can be booked below:
Day 13: Bremer Bay - Denmark
Driving Time: Approximately 2.5 hours
Distance: Approximately 227 km
From Bremer Bay, the next stop is Denmark. To break up the drive, you can stop off at Albany, which is a cute coastal town known for its stunning beaches. In Denmark, some popular attractions are:
Elephant Rocks
Valley of the Giants - Tree Top Walk
Snorkel in the Greens Pool
William Bay National Park
Day 14: Denmark - Margaret River
Driving Time: Approximately 3.5 hours
Distance: Approximately 322 km
A personal favourite of mine, Margaret River - is only 3.5 hours from Denmark, and is a small town full of pubs, cafes, restaurants, shops, and is best known for their huge variety of wineries. Margaret River is close to picturesque Hamelin Bay Beach, which is a stunning sheltered beach, perfect for swimming - however is also common for findings of stingrays and mantra rays (always check the waters before swimming!). Margaret River is also close to the famous Jewel Caves, where you will be guided by a tour-guide into the fascinating caves beneath the surface.
Day 15: Margaret River - Perth
Driving Time: Approximately 3 hours
Distance: Approximately 270 km
Once you have left Margaret River, I recommend stopping off at Busselton where you can experience beautiful waters, dolphins, and the underground aquarium. The Aquarium can be found at the end of the Jetty. The Busselton Jetty is heritage-listed, as it is the longest wooden-piled jetty in the Southern Hemisphere, measuring in at 1.8 metres.
Finally, from Busselton, drive to the final destination of this itinerary, the beautiful city of Perth. There is a huge variety of things to do in Perth, and it has a great night atmosphere in the city centre. From Perth (more specifically, Fremantle) you can take the ferry to Rottnest Island for a day trip, or stay overnight in the island accommodation.
Rottnest Island boasts incredible blue waters, perfect for snorkelling and swimming. This island is also famous for the instagram “quokka selfies” as these cute little animals on the island will often allow you close enough to get a selfie with them (note: you are not allowed to touch the quokkas, for both the animal’s safety and your own).