Perth to Adelaide

The great ocean road is after Adelaide, so you won't be going there. And the Nullabor is so boring I bypassed it the second time I did the trip. If you haven't done the south west (margaret river etc) you should do make that a big part of your trip. After the Nullabor there are a few interesting places closer to Adelaide, or if you have the time, the Flinders Ranges are my top recommendation near Adelaide. Reply to this

I agree with Peter that the area to the south and south-west of Perth is beautiful well recommended. Once you head east, a good stopping point is Kalgoorlie (Gold town) and once you are passed there - it is about 1500 kilometres of not much. Eucla is interesting to stop at briefly as old Eucla town is being reclaimed by sands, and then there are some lovely views over the Great Southern Ocean from cliffs (I cannot remember where, but it is signposted). Since it is such a long drive, you will need to keep yourself entertained - radio is almost nonexistant for most of the journey, so bring plenty of music. Also, there are some truly unique Australian road-signs on the drive, so people sometimes like to take photos of them.

Don't be fooled by the appearance of what appear to be towns/villages on the map - such as Cocklebiddy and Mundrabilla - these are places with only a few dozen inhabitants - so only the absolute essentials are on sale. My advice is to stock up on all you snacks, food and the like prior to making the journey - as everything in these areas are expensive.

Once you have reached the other side of the drive, again Peter's recommendation of Flinders Ranges is spot on. If you do stop in Adelaide, try to get to Kangaroo Island - it's not far away - it really is an island with good natural wonders. After Adelaide you head on the Princes Highway (Highway 1) and pass the Coorong which does have some nice bird life. Stop at Mt Gambier with its Blue Lake. After this, you are in Victoria. Port Fairy is most quaint, and then follow the Great Ocean Road and arrive in Melbourne.

How long you take is difficult to recommend - but 2 weeks is certainly not enough - espeically if you take detours to Flinders Ranges, Kangaroo Island and the area south of Perth. Reply to this

Hi. The drive East to West is best as you are not driving into the morning sun each day and the sun will be still high in the sky by the time you finish in the afternoon. If you leave from Adelaide good stops are, Melrose in the Lower Flinders Ranges, small town with two pubs at the foot of Mount Remarkable. Stay in the camp site and awake with Kangaroos dining on morning grass. Avoid staying overnight in Port Augusta. Next stop Streaky Bay lovely coastal town on a bay, watch the sunset at the beachside camp ground. Avoid Staying overnight in Ceduna. Next stop Eucla, arrive at 5pm wind your clock back 1.5hours and you have arrived at 3.30pm! See the telegraph station buried in the sand dunes relax and have a beer, stay in an air-con motel unit! If you can make Norseman or south to Esperance the next day you are finished the big chunk. Make sure fill your petrol tank at every roadside station and watch out for camels or the planes landing on the road that doubles as an air strip! There are numerous places to stop off and see the Great Australian Bight - massive cliffs. From Esperance to Perth follow the Western Highway much more scenic than via inland and Kalgoorlie. Many national parks, Albany is stunning, big tree country at Denmark and Walpole. Follow same road around to Augusta and the two big caves near Margaret River. Stacks of wineries and then onto Yallingup, Meelup(wow) and then finish at Busselton. From there to Perth it is not far. Take the Indian Pacific train back from Perth to Adelaide/Melbourne or Sydney. Two days and two nights train crossing one country not expensive to sit up. Only in Russia would you experience such an isolated train journey. Have fun! There is more to Oz than the East Coast! Reply to this