Australia's West Coast & Outback — Melbourne to Adelaide

Australia's West Coast: Road trip route from Perth to Broome

The West Coast route from Perth to Broome covers approximately 2,400 kilometers. A minimum of two weeks is recommended; four weeks allows more time for the long stretches. Some highlights are separated by more than 500 kilometers of desert. Public buses are scarce, so a rental car is essential. The route connects Perth, Rottnest Island, the Pinnacles Desert, Shark Bay, the Ningaloo Reef, Karijini National Park, and Broome.

Australia West Coast Route: Nature stops to Broome

Near Perth, Rottnest Island, with its quokkas, marks the start of the trip. Next come the limestone pillars of the Pinnacles Desert and Shark Bay. In Monkey Mia, wild dolphins swim to the beach in the mornings; Shark Bay also boasts stromatolites. At Ningaloo Reef, snorkeling is possible right from the beach. Between March and July, you can swim with whale sharks there. Further north, red gorges and natural pools characterize Karijini National Park. In Broome, Cable Beach, camels on the beach, red rocks, and turquoise sea complete the experience.

Australia's east coast or west coast for a road trip?

The east coast between Sydney and Cairns is approximately 2,500 kilometers long and relatively easy to travel by bus, train, hostels, and tour bus. Its stops include Byron Bay, the Gold Coast, Fraser Island, the Whitsundays, and Cairns, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest. At least three weeks should be planned for the journey from Sydney to Cairns. The west coast between Perth and Broome is similarly long at about 2,400 kilometers, but offers less tourist infrastructure, fewer travelers, and greater distances between stops.

Good to know: If you're looking for the Great Barrier Reef, cities, and opportunities to connect with other travelers, or if you prefer to travel without a rental car, you'll find these conditions more readily on the east coast. The west coast is better suited to a road trip with a rental car, long desert drives, more secluded landscapes, and snorkeling from the beach at Ningaloo Reef. You should plan five to six weeks for both coasts; a domestic flight can connect Cairns and Perth.

Best time to travel to Australia's East and West Coasts

The best time to visit the east coast is from September to November or from March to May. The tropical north around Cairns experiences the monsoon season from December to February. For the west coast, the dry season from April to October is recommended. In the northern part, including Broome and Karijini, temperatures can exceed 45 degrees Celsius in summer, and roads may be closed. For the Red Centre around Uluru, however, November to March is recommended.

Planning an Australian road trip: Route through the Outback

A possible addition to the coastal route is the approximately 1,200-kilometer loop in the Red Centre. It begins in Alice Springs after a flight from Cairns and leads back via Kings Canyon, Uluru, and Kata Tjuta by rental car. A week is allotted for this section. The Kings Canyon Rim Walk is six kilometers long and takes three to four hours. Sunrise and sunset at Uluru can be planned; drone flights are prohibited there.

Tip: Aim for a maximum of 300 to 400 kilometers per day of driving. In the Outback, there can be more than 500 kilometers between two gas stations, so keep your tank full. Avoid driving at night, as kangaroos, wombats, and emus are particularly active at dusk and dawn. Carry ten liters of water per person as a reserve for the West Coast. Offline maps are also recommended for the Outback section.

Great Ocean Road: Route from Melbourne towards Adelaide

The Great Ocean Road stretches for 243 kilometers in Victoria. It officially begins in Torquay, about an hour and a half southwest of Melbourne, and ends in Allansford near Warrnambool. From east to west, the ocean runs directly alongside the road. At least three days, ideally four to five, are recommended for the route. The best time to travel is between November and March; from June to August there are fewer tourists, but the weather is more unpredictable and some walking trails may be closed.

Great Ocean Road route in three stages

• Torquay to Apollo Bay: The 115-kilometer (75-mile) winding route leads via Bells Beach, Split Point Lighthouse in Aireys Inlet, Lorne and Kennett River. Erskine Falls is ten minutes from the highway.
• From Apollo Bay to Port Campbell: The road runs for 100 kilometers through the Great Otway National Park. Afterwards come the Twelve Apostles, Gibson Steps, Loch Ard Gorge and London Arch.
• Port Campbell to Allansford: The calmer stretch measures 65 kilometers. Similar rock formations to the Twelve Apostles can be found at the Bay of Islands. Southern right whales can be observed from the shore at Warrnambool from June to September.

The entire Great Ocean Road is paved; a regular compact car is sufficient for the main route. There are very few petrol stations between Apollo Bay and Port Campbell, so refueling in Apollo Bay is recommended. The road is toll-free, and the viewpoints are free. At Gibson Steps, check the tide before descending, as the beach can be submerged.

Australia road trip costs as a guideline

As a guideline: A four-day trip on the Great Ocean Road costs between €400 and €700 for a budget trip, or between €1,000 and €2,000 for a more comfortable one. Three weeks on the East Coast are estimated at €2,500 to €4,000, and three weeks on the West Coast at €3,500 to €6,000. A campervan rental costs between AUD 100 and AUD 180 per day. Pitches with electricity in holiday parks cost between AUD 25 and AUD 45 per night, and campsites in national parks cost between AUD 10 and AUD 15 per night. These figures are for guidance only, as prices are subject to change.

For Tourism Boards, I develop content that visually tells the story of Australian routes, landscapes, and travel experiences. More information about productions and collaborations can be found on the page for collaboration.

Relevant travel reports

• Australia's East Coast or West Coast? (on max-haase.com)
• Planning an Australian road trip: route and costs (on max-haase.com)
• Great Ocean Road Roadtrip (on max-haase.com)

Read more

• Australia's East Coast: Cairns, Great Barrier Reef and Sydney
• Backpacker tips: Budget travel, packing list and must-knows
• Travel reports from Australia