7 Epic Multi-Week Road Trips Across Australia

Australia’s too big for a quick weekend trip. We’re talking a country where you can drive for 37 hours and still be in the same state.

These multi-week road trips are for anyone who’s serious about seeing the real Australia. The gorges, coastlines, and red dirt roads that make this country bloody incredible.

Melbourne to Perth via the Great Ocean Road and Nullarbor (VIC/SA/WA)

Duration: 21-28 days
Best time: October-April
Vehicle: 2WD
Good for: Road trippers who want to experience Australia’s most famous coastal route combined with the outback crossing of the Nullarbor

This transcontinental journey covers over 3,500km of Australia’s southern coastline, starting with the Great Ocean Road’s rainforests and limestone stacks before crossing the treeless Nullarbor Plain. You’ll finish in Margaret River wine country, which feels like a completely different planet compared to where you started.

Highlights

• The Twelve Apostles, because you can’t do the Great Ocean Road without seeing Australia’s most photographed rock formations at sunrise.
• The Nullarbor, where you’ll drive 200km without a single tree and can spot Southern Right Whales at the Head of Bight between June and October.
• Esperance, home to the whitest sand beaches we’ve ever seen, including Lucky Bay where kangaroos literally lounge on the sand.
• Margaret River, with over 120 wineries where you can taste some of Australia’s best wines and grab lunch overlooking the vines.
• Kangaroo Island, an optional detour that adds 3 days but gets you up close with seals, sea lions, and wild koalas.

Our complete Melbourne to Perth road trip guide has the full route breakdown with every worthwhile stop and detour!

Adelaide to Perth via the Eyre Highway (SA/WA)

Duration: 14-21 days
Best time: April-October
Vehicle: 2WD
Good for: Travellers who want the Nullarbor experience, plus more time exploring Western Australia’s south coast.

Starting from Adelaide cuts down the coastal section and gets you straight onto the Nullarbor crossing.

We reckon this version gives you more time to explore the incredible beaches and national parks along WA’s south coast instead of rushing through.

Highlights

• Eyre Peninsula with rugged coastline, small beach towns, seafood, and some of the best coastal scenery in South Australia.
• Bunda Cliffs, for the sheer scale of the landscape and those insane cliff views over the Southern Ocean.
• Eucla, where the old telegraph station is slowly being swallowed by sand dunes, making for seriously cool photos.
• Cape Le Grand National Park, which protects some of the most stunning coastal scenery you’ll see anywhere in Australia.
• Albany, a historic port town with dramatic coastal cliffs and dozens of beaches worth exploring.
• Yorke Peninsula, an optional add-on from Adelaide with fishing villages and quiet beaches that most tourists miss.

Check out our Adelaide to Perth road trip itinerary with exact distances and camping spots for the whole route!

Adelaide to Darwin (SA/NT)

Duration: 21-28 days
Best time: May-September
Vehicle: 4WD
Good for: Adventurous travellers ready to tackle remote outback tracks and experience the true Australian interior

This route takes you straight through Australia’s red centre via some of the most remote roads in the country. Along the way, you’ll see everything from desert landscapes and outback roadhouses to some of the country’s most iconic natural landmarks.

It’s one of those road trips that feels properly adventurous, with huge distances, constantly changing scenery, and a lot more to see than people expect.

Highlights

• Coober Pedy, the underground opal mining town where half the population lives in dugout homes to escape the heat.
• Oodnadatta Track, the original route of the Afghan cameleers with historic ruins and hot springs at spots like Dalhousie. (Optional 4wd Only)
• Alice Springs, the perfect base for exploring the West MacDonnell Ranges and stocking up before heading north.
• Katherine, where the hot springs are free and the gorge cruises take you through ancient sandstone walls.
• Litchfield National Park, a cracker spot just south of Darwin with crystal clear waterfalls and swimming holes.

We’ve mapped out the complete Adelaide to Darwin route including side trips and what to pack for remote travel!

Melbourne to Darwin (VIC/SA/NT)

Duration: 28-35 days
Best time: May-September
Vehicle: 2WD
Good for: Road trippers wanting to traverse the entire eastern interior from Victoria to the Top End without needing a 4WD

This massive journey follows sealed highways the whole way, meaning you can do it in a 2WD. You’ll pass through mining towns, outback stations, and some of Australia’s most famous natural landmarks without needing off-road capability.

Highlights

• Broken Hill, the outback art town with galleries, historic mines, and sunsets over the Barrier Ranges.
• Alice Springs, where you can explore Simpsons Gap and the other gorges in the West MacDonnell Ranges.
• Uluru, which honestly needs at least 2 days to see both sunrise and sunset plus the base walk.
• Devils Marbles, massive granite boulders stacked in impossible formations that glow red at sunrise.
• Kakadu National Park, where you can see crocs in the wild and swim in Jim Jim Falls if you visit in the dry season.

Our detailed Melbourne to Darwin guide covers every fuel stop and where to camp along this epic route!

Perth to Broome Coral Coast and Pilbara Circuit (WA)

Duration: 21-28 days
Best time: May-October
Vehicle: 2WD (4WD recommended for side trips)
Good for: Beach lovers and snorkellers who want to experience the Coral Coast’s turquoise waters plus the ancient gorges of Karijini

Western Australia is seriously massive, and this route covers the best of the northwest coastline. You’re looking at over 2,500km of pristine beaches, world-class reef snorkelling, and gorges that’ll make your jaw drop.

It’s rugged, remote and has everything to challenge your road tripping skills.

Highlights

• Coral Bay, where you can snorkel straight off the beach and see manta rays, turtles, and reef sharks without a tour.
• Exmouth, your gateway to Ningaloo Reef and swimming with whale sharks between March and July.
• Karijini National Park, home to some of the most spectacular gorges in Australia with swimming holes at the bottom.
• Broome, where the sunsets over Cable Beach are bloody legendary and you can ride camels along the sand.
• Tom Price, the mining town that’s the perfect base for exploring Karijini’s western gorges.

Gibb River Road and Kimberley Explorer (WA)

Duration: 14-21 days
Best time: May-September
Vehicle: 4WD
Good for: Adventure seekers ready to tackle corrugated dirt roads and camp under the stars in one of Australia’s most remote regions

The Gibb River Road is 660km of red dirt adventure connecting Broome to Kununurra through the heart of the Kimberley. It’s only open during the dry season, and you’ll need a proper 4WD because some of those creek crossings are no joke.

Highlights

• Windjana Gorge, where 90m limestone walls tower above you and freshwater crocodiles sun themselves on the banks.
• Bell Gorge, hands down one of the prettiest swimming spots in the Kimberley with cascading waterfalls.
• Manning Gorge, which requires a river crossing and 1.5km walk but rewards you with a stunning waterfall and pool.
• El Questro Wilderness Park, a million-acre cattle station with gorges, hot springs, and camping.
• Kununurra, where you can take a scenic flight over the Bungle Bungles or cruise Lake Argyle.

We’ve broken down everything you need for the Gibb River Road including fuel stops, camping, and creek crossing tips!

Perth to Exmouth and Return Coral Coast Loop (WA)

Duration: 14-21 days
Best time: April-October
Vehicle: 2WD
Good for: First-time visitors to Western Australia who want beaches, snorkelling, and wildlife without tackling rough roads

This loop gives you the highlights of the Coral Coast without committing to the full Perth to Broome stretch. You’ll hit the best beaches, gorges, and snorkelling spots before returning south through different towns.

Highlights

• The Pinnacles, thousands of limestone pillars rising from yellow sand dunes just 2 hours north of Perth.
• Kalbarri, where the Nature’s Window loop walk and coastal cliffs are seriously impressive.
• Coral Bay, the tiny town with one of the most accessible fringing reefs in Australia.
• Exmouth, where you can snorkel with whale sharks, manta rays, and turtles depending on the season.
• Geraldton, a coastal city perfect for breaking up the drive with good coffee and fish and chips.

Our comprehensive Perth to Exmouth road trip itinerary includes every beach stop and side trip worth making!