Halfway Across Australia: Kimba’s Quirky Attractions + Things To Do There
The famous “Halfway Across Australia” sign is in the small town of Kimba. It’s the halfway mark between Sydney on the East Coast and Perth on the West Coast.
The 3,934 km drive from coast to coast is a LONG way, so getting halfway across Australia is an achievement! And the district council of Kimba is there to celebrate that with you.
…Even if it’s not the true halfway point between the two cities.
Don’t let that deter you from going, though! There are a few things to do in Kimba other than see the sign and stretch your legs. We’ll also talk about the real halfway point further down!
Table of Contents
4 Things to do in Kimba, SA, halfway across Australia
Kimba is a rural town in South Australia with a short but interesting list of things to do:
1) Take a picture with the iconic sign
Kimba is deep in the South Australian Outback on the Eyre Peninsula, right here.
The only way to get there is by car. You’ll be driving along the Eyre Highway for a while before getting there.
And if you’re driving from Perth, you’ll go through the Nullarbor Plain, which has the world record as the longest stretch of road without a curve.
This is to say that, if you don’t feel a photo coming on when you finally reach the “Halfway across Australia” sign, you’ve got WAY more willpower than I!
2) The giant Galah
The 8-metre-high statue of the Big Galah is unmissable, but just in case, it’s right here.
By the time you get to Kimba from any direction, chances are you’ve already driven through a whole lot of nothing – with a whole lot more of nothing to come!
This iconic statue will be waiting for you for a nice break in monotony!
3) Watch the sunset at Whites Knob Lookout
This scenic lookout is a quick 5-minute drive from town, right here. It gives you panoramic views of the surrounding flatlands and the sunsets are mesmerising.
4) Stay at the free camping site
The donation-based camping site is right here. It has all the amenities (toilets, BBQ, etc) and lots of space! It’s first come, first serve.
Kimba is not the real halfway point, this one is
According to the Kimba halfway sign, the Eyre Peninsula tourist guide, and several websites promoting the region, this town is the halfway point between Perth and Sydney.
However, all of these sources conveniently fail to provide any distances to support their claims. The evidence is obvious when looking at Google Maps:
The distance between Perth and Sydney is around 3,934 kilometres. So, the halfway point should be around 1,967 kilometres from each town.
But the distance from Perth to Kimba is 2,140-2,229 kilometres depending on the route. The distance from Kimba to Sydney is 1,704-1,758 kilometres.
That’s over 400 kilometres off! To put it into perspective, that’s a 5-hour drive.
So, if we get annoyingly technical, the real halfway point across Australia is around here.
This point is ~1960-1970 kilometres from both Perth and Sydney… But it’s in the middle of the Eyre Highway and it has no sign, so where’s the fun in that?
You’ll drive through there anyway!
Top Tips
When driving the Eyre Highway, keep in mind that some stretches between roadhouses can be quite long, so always top up your tank when you have the chance.
It’s wise to carry extra fuel if your vehicle has a smaller range.
Did You Know?
The Traditional Owners of most of the Eyre Peninsula are the Barngarla people. The word they use for “bushfire” eventually derived into “Kimba”, the name of the town.
FAQs
Is Kimba in the middle of Australia?
Kimba is known as the halfway point between Perth and Sydney, but it’s not exactly the geographical centre of Australia. That title goes to a landmark called “Lambert Centre of Australia” in Ghan, Northern Territory.
What is halfway between Sydney and Perth?
The halfway point between Sydney and Perth is roughly around the South Australian town of Kimba.
The bottom line
Kimba might not be the closest town to the true halfway mark, but it’s a quirky destination nonetheless!
Other towns between Kimba and the Nullarbor, such as Ceduna, Wirrulla or Poochera, would have a greater claim to the honours if it’s a matter of road distance.
So, why Kimba? Well, maybe they thought of it first. Then travellers, grateful for something to break their long journey don’t question the sign’s authenticity…
Or maybe it’s just the inexplicable presence of the Big Galah.
Whatever the reason, don’t miss this peculiar town on your road trip between Perth and Sydney!
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