Australia Road Trip: 4 Weeks Budget Itinerary of My Plan

What will you do if you have four weeks (1 month) planning an Australia road trip? Undoubtedly, Australia is a reasonably large hinterland with many attractions worth visiting. However, you have to drive for a long time with your complete patience.

This article will share my trip experience with an Australian road trip itinerary of 30 days! Guess you’re still confusing what place & what route should be your plan. You don’t need to worry; I will help you figure out your plan; check it out!

4 Weeks Australia Road Trip Route Overview

First, to let you understand, I’ve created this route map for you:

If you ask me: “Can you travel to Australia in a month? “Yes! For sure!”

I was a backpacker with an Australian working holiday visa. I stayed full for two years and have been to many beautiful places so far away. It made me couldn’t realize a hundred kilometers far, and some people are still living there; it’s incredible!

It’s a different culture, just like Genghis Khan leading his army expanding Mongolia by horse. But today, we just raised our exploration by driving a comfort vehicle, hitting those places & enjoying your burger & beer.

During my road trip experience in Australia, I summarized nine driving routes expanding around Australia. Continuously reading my route reviews, and you can arrange your trip plan and add some places you want. Whether you are a backpacker, short-term tourist, or resident, these routes are worth your road trip. Click here to learn more about these 11 road trip routes.

You can choose these 11 drive routes anyway and try finishing them, filling your vacation for about one to three weeks, or you can follow this article, planning yours in 30 days.

4 Weeks Australia Road Trip Plan

I finished this 30 days Australia road trip by self-driving and here sharing my experience. In this four week’s route map, I divide these six parts below:

• Week 1- Melbourne to Uluru to Alice Springs. There is two parts trip planner. The first is Melbourne to Adelaide, and the second is Adelaide to Uluru.
• Week 2- Alice Springs to Broome. Heading north to Darwin and turn to Western Australia to Broome.
• Week 3- Broome to Perth. It’s fantastic, and you will have a great escape with lots of natural attractions >>Read Trip Planner.
• Week 4- Perth to Melbourne. It’s a quiet drive trip when you are on the way—feeling and thinking about your life. There are two parts to this trip planner first from Perth to Adelaide and the second from Adelaide to Melbourne. When you go back to Melbourne, that means four weeks of road trip accomplish!

In total, it takes you four weeks to complete six main routes. Each route curtain has many essential tourist details. When you click any link on the list, you can see more facts about route reviews, petrol stations, suggested attractions, things-to-do lists, etc.

This Plan is Best For All Travelers!

These routes are also accessible for most drivers because they are the main roads like highways, not ”unsealed” roads. “ So you need to worry about needing 4WD (If you have, that’s better)

In the below chapters about these four parts, you will cross many countrysides & beautiful attractions. And what places like towns, attractions, restaurants, supermarkets, petrol stations & accommodations you should be in each day road trip review. So please don’t miss this article and this website!

Preparation Before the Australia Road Trip

I was a backpacker in Australia for two years. To be exaggerated, maybe I could use it for the whole year in Australia, but I had to consider my budget, so I used the most streamlined way to play for 30 days. List these conditions below to let you know what I am doing:

• Me & my friend, just two people.
• A 2nd-hand wagon vehicle, SUV, or 4WD is much better.
• Simple luggage, even soft bags.
• Essential items in the baskets.
• At least AUD 4,000 per person, better much more for affording any accidents.
• Some coins for using equipment in facilities.
• Boost SIM cards and others that have a “PrePaid Plan” SIM.
• Dri”er’s LDriver’sboth we can drive for a long time.
• No driving at night time.

Car Service for Australia Road Trip

About our vehicle, that wagon was helpful for us to complete whole trip routes, then scrapped after this road trip. To ensure that the car still works well, we already make appointments for a car service every 5000 km. In this road trip experience, we performed 2-time car maintenance, first in Darwin and the second in Perth.

However, the maintenance of the actual replacement of more parts was before my trip; my friend spent about 1,500. But he only let me share all the fuel and maintenance costs of this trip.

Car Rent – A Big Problem for Travelers

I know that such a trip is simply impossible to complete for shorter travelers because it will cost a lot of money on car rental, fuel, and car service. In terms of Australia’Australia’sil prices, this isn’t easy. Therefore, most car rental companies will not allow you to drive more than 3,000 kilometers.

Plus, you will charge additional fees for more than 2,800 kilometers. It does not include other consignment fees and insurance. So about hews days road trip plans for short-term tourists, you just pick ONE of them and finish it.

As these six parts of the Australia road trip plan, you can choose any route you want to complete, and of course, the starting point will be different.

Why Don’t Add Don’ts, Brisbane, Sydney & Canberra in This Plan?

There are many beautiful attractions in Australia, including these beautiful cities. My first stay was in Cairns, then I moved to Brisbane, to Sydney the following year, and then briefly visited Canberra. Although I have lived and worked in these places for several months, these places are too familiar to me.

You can add big cities as stopping points on your road trips; you can get any supplement for your trip here. Compared to those natural attractions in the distance, I think you should focus on getting to those beautiful natural attractions. Don’t forgDon’tat your days are limited.

I Have To Finish Something Before The Big Trip

Before the Australia road trip, we had a discussion. I sent my plan to my partner, and she said, “You’ve already been to these states, so you don’t need to go eastern again!”. Plus, suppose we start up from Cairns to Central Australia. In that case, we will miss some attractions like Coober Pedy in interior South Australia.

So she adjusted the route to set Melbourne as a start point. She had a farm job in interior Victoria, and I was in Tasmania. So I took a ferry (Spirit of Tasmania) leaving TAS, and we met at Port of St.Kilda, using her car as our main transport for this road trip.

Melbourne is The Best Point to Start Australia Road Trip 4 Weeks Itinerary

As mentioned in the previous paragraph, Melbourne is an ideal starting point. Here’s why:

First, this’s my experience; why to start from Melbourne that, I recommend it because it’s a convenient city you that can get any accessories, gear, arrange your luggage & load some foods from specific retail stores just like pasta, Chinese food, and Indian food ingredients (I knew there are many Asians stay in Melbourne even other big cities in Australia)

Good For Airport & Ferry Landing for You

Also, Melbourne is a “transfer point” linking eastern & north states. So Western can head to Adelaide, Perth & Uluru, North head to Canberra, Sydney & Brisbane, etc.

There’s TuThere’sne International Airport which is near Melbourne City. At the same time, you arrive as your trip starts, so you can come by airplane, take a bus to the city center even if you don’t want to drive.

Overall, I recommend Melbourne City as your starting point for an Australia road trip, no matter how many days you are.

Are you ready? Let’s start the 4-week Australia road trip!!

Week1 – Melbourne to Alice Springs

The trip starts from Melbourne, through Adelaide and Uluru, and heads north to Alice Springs, the center of Australia’s mainland. But, first, you need to complete Melbourne to Adelaide.

In my driving experience, you need at least two days to complete Melbourne to Adelaide.

As I said, Melbourne City is where you can prepare for it; first, the most important thing is to buy food and fill it up. The next half is not convenient. You can also take a city tour in the Melbourne city center for one or two days before you go.

As for Adelaide, I regard it as a final resting point so that the city tour will add to the end of the self-driving journey.

So get started from Melbourne, leave Mel city. Like escape from the city to the countryside, you will see many natural attractions filling your drive route.

My partner and I will move forward on this trip by the number of days I have performed.

About Melbourne to Adelaide, to get the whole trip planner, Click Here for this route overview, and I will take you to review each part of the drive trip route in more detail.

Then, the next part is Adelaide to the inland of Australia.

Adelaide to Darwin is a long driving journey, more than 3,000 kilometers away.

I know that doesn’t matter for many tourists. However, this means you must have the ability to drive for a long time, testing your body’s strength, patience, and willpower, and ultimately overcome dozing & boredom.

Better you need at least 9-10 days to complete the part journey. But in this part, I divided this route into two parts: Adelaide to Alice Springs and Alice Springs to Darwin for the next week’s trip series.

By the way, I’m an experienced driver who can drive for more than 5 hours without rest. So the next journey is for reference only. You don’t need to completely imitate my route, including the arrival of overnight points, which will be tiring if you try.

To get the whole trip planner from Adelaide to Darwin, Click Here for this route overview.

You got two parts of route reviews, and now, let’s starlet’s1 to day7 drive trip!

Day 1 – Melbourne to Warrnambool through Great Ocean Road

Route Navigation from Melbourne to Warrnambool

• Estimated driving time: 4 hr 50 min
• Estimated distance: 345 km

Check this route on Google Map>>

Place Passed:

As this route, you will cross these places:

• Geelong – A big town near Melbourne where you can load food, get a toilet, get some water & let’s move to Memorial Arch at Eastern View – This’s a point where you can see the “The Great”Ocean Road” sign; st”p here & get a photo before moving. Also, popular attractions worth controlling & see the ocean, notice many people & group tours stopped there so be aware of your speed.
• Lorne – This’s a bThis’sul bay where many people surf & enjoy the sun at Lorne Beach; you can stop here & load food at a restaurant. After that, turn to C151 Highway and head to Twelve Apostles, as seen on my Google Map route. You will be turning too many different roads for at least an hour, so stay focused and drive.
• Twelve Apostles – Main attraction must go is Great Ocean Road, a popular and beautiful place to see these giant rocks!
• Loch Arch Gorge – A beautiful bay with a white sand beach can enjoy this realistic view, but a bit cold for this water.
• Warrnambool – A great town you can stay for surfing, but we go shopping at Coles supermarket & break at a hostel. The hostel is good, especially Warrnambool Beach Backpackers. This backpackers is the nearby beach you can have a beach walk & enjoy the surf wind. Cars can park at the rear of the building. Click Here to find more accommodation in Warrnambool.

Our Experience:

On the first day, I strongly recommend a trip to the Great Ocean Road, where there are spectacular coastal scenery, several huge rocks standing on the sea. The natural landscape formed by the erosion of the sea breeze is not artificial; so beautiful. Also, I’ve been to Great Ocean Road twice (my travel partner had three times!).

One time was there was in May 2017 & the other in March 2018. This second, I just only visited “Loch Ard Gorge.” I ignored” Twelve Apostles because I didn’t get it last time, and many tour groups stopped there, especially the Twelve Apostles! So you know it’s a popular place that most people would like to be.

When you leave Melbourne, along A1 Highway, then transfer to Geelong to The Great Ocean Road, you can visit these popular attractions, “Twelve Apostles.”

How to plan the trip on the Great Ocean Road? More 11 Highlights for you >>Read More.

After tripping along Great Ocean Road, I suggest you stay a night in Warrnambool. It’s the nearest town & on the way direct also there are several hotels & backpackers. So Melbourne to Warrnambool is just a 1-day tour from daytime to evening!

Day 2 – Warrnambool to Adelaide

Route Navigation from Warrnambool to Adelaide

• Estimated driving time: 7 hr 03 min
• Estimated distance: 609 km

Check this route on Google Map>>

Place Passed:

As this route, you will cross these places:

• Penola – Just a small town, a point turn is heading north.
• Naracoorte – Small town where we had a lunchbox by self-prepared at the park. By the way, don’t forget to prepare your lunch because it’s expensive at restaurants. Along the way, you will see many extensive vineyards. For backpackers, Naracoorte & Penola has the opportunity to find a job in the vineyard.
• Keith – A point turn to the major highway to Adelaide; I suggest you fill the fuel here because you will drive the longest road for several hours.
• Murray Bridge – A medium town, you can load some food & get a toilet. Also, some places you can see recommend the bridge view on Murray Bridge.
• Hahndorf – It’s a German-style town Close to Adelaide City where you can stop here for a walk and enjoy the pig legs meal & beer. It’s a good place you can stay overnight. Click here looking for accommodation>>
• Adelaide – It’s a major city in South Australia, so many Gothic architectures in the city center but we will leave soon tomorrow so keep the city tour in the end. Click here looking for accommodation>>

Our Experience:

Left Warrnambool, if you check your Google Map, Google will show you the shortest route from Warrnambool to Penola. And then Naracoorte, Keith (link on A1 highway), Murray Bridge, Hahndorf, Adelaide. So initial driving from Melbourne to Adelaide must through 800km takes over 8 hrs!

Suppose you don’t have time to drive one more day to rest and stay in Adelaide for one night. But Warrnambool to Adelaide is just 6.5 hrs driving 604 km, so only a 1-day approach, including yesterday’s Road tour, two days in total.

But this is just the beginning of the trip. I didn’t take the tour in Adelaide; instead, I headed north. If you want to take time in Adelaide, leave at least one more day for this beautiful “Germany style” city.

Wh”re Do We Stay?

We forgot to say that to get closer to the driving distance with Uluru, and we did not spend the night in Adelaide. However, we later found accommodation in Clare, a small town on the B82 highway in the north of Adelaide city; I put this accommodation link in Clare if you need it.

Day 3 – Adelaide to Coober Pedy

Route Navigation from Adelaide to Coober Pedy

• Estimated driving time: 9 hr 23 min
• Estimated distance: 876 km

Check this route on Google Map>>

Place Passed:

As this route, you will cross these places:

• Clare – It’s a small town where we stayed for a night; if your plan is the same as us, put this as a start point on your map.
• Port Augusta – It’s a critical stop point where you must have done all Preparation like fuel fill-up, download map & food loading.
• Pimba – It’s a small town where you can stop here to have lunch & fuel reload.
• Lake Hart – Amazing attraction with flat white salt filling this lake, but no water while we arrived in burn weather, don’t walk foot. Here you will see some car wrecks. I don’t know if someone would try to drive into this lake.
• Glendambo – A tiny town you can stop to take a break & fuel reload. Also, the last village before Coober Pedy makes sure you are already full of energy before you leave.
• Coober Pedy – A full opal underground town worth being! You can visit the underground museum to learn how those residents live here for a lifetime. Respect their culture & do not take anything opal stones away. Click Here looking for accommodation in Coober Pedy>>

Our Experience:

Left Adelaide (We left from Clare), then passed Port Augusta & headed north first. So we shall give to the central and get those unforgettable attractions in the center of Australia.

When you arrive in Port Augusta, I highly recommend that you do everything here:

• Fill up fuel.
• Eat lunch.
• Buy food and water.
• Go to the toilet.
• Download offline Google Maps.

Why? Focus on fuel prices. It will significantly affect your distance and budget. Fuel prices will rise after you leave Port Augusta. This stuff in the inland areas is epic high, so I recommend filling up the fuel at each stop.

Something You Need To Notice Before Inland

Another thing is that your mobile will lose all signals. At the same time, on the way inland, you have to download the route from Google Map to ensure the navigation is working.

Don’t buy a mosquito tent for your face to prevent many flies from hitting your face.

In our experience, we saw AUD$139/L at Port Augusta but AUD$159/L at Pimba. This price only demonstrates the first small town entering the inland region; a “welcome gift” surprises us.

Port Augusta connects the road to Coober Pedy as a relay point, and the other side leads to Perth. So it is a critical supply point you must grasp. By the way, this is also your last chance to eat Hungry Jacks if you like it.

After several hours of driving, finally, we arrived at Coober Pedy, a place full of opals.

Coober Pedy, where structures are in the protein rock, is a unique underground town!

At this route, at least drive 9 hrs from Adelaide to Coober Pedy; there’s other & unsealed ground, but still have some places worth being. Of course, you have to experience staying in underground accommodation!

Where Do We Stay?

It was almost five o’clock evening when we arrived here, so we could not enter the opal museum. Instead, we had to go to Uluru the next day; we only used to explore the town in one or two hours and went to the Radeka Downunder Underground Motel, which was cheap.

You can use its kitchen for cooking for tomorrow, and rooms are underground via their stairs, and the opal is at your bedside.

Suppose you are driving a camper van on this trip. In that case, I suggest you get off and experience opal underground accommodation and enjoy the incredible feeling.

Click Here to search for accommodation in Coober Pedy>>

Day 4 – Coober Pedy to Kings Canyon

Route Navigation from Coober Pedy to Kings Canyon

• Estimated driving time: 7 hr 53 min
• Estimated distance: 764 km

Check this route on Google Map>>

Place Passed:

As this route, you will cross these places:

• Marla – A small town where you better stop, fill fuel & take a break. Notice this can only be one town on the road.
• SA/NT Border – After several hours of driving, SA/NT Border will see this sign “Welcome t” Northern Territory.” Get off ” take a photo as your mark, signed.
• Ghan – This is a critical stopping point. Whether going to Kings Canyon or Uluru, you must pass through this petrol station and turn left; recommended that you fill up the fuel here because it will cost more to go inside. The distance is very long, and you can take a break here, drink water, eat lunch, and go to the toilet.
• Red Centre Way – This is just a sign to remind you that you have to make a right turn towards Kings Canyon, and there is a long way to get to the final Kings Canyon.
• Kings Canyon Resort – This is the only stopping point near Kings Canyon. It is not only the caravan park site but also the rooms, open-air kitchen that lets you cook, public baths, swimming pools, and many flies that hit your face. Before arriving here, you will first see the millennial rocky terrain stretching along the roadside, vast and spectacular. Highly recommended that you book early based on your travel time to avoid no seats. We were lucky, and the parking site allowed us to park overnight. Click Here for more detail>>

Our Experience:

You have heard the Uluru but maybe not listened to the Kings Canyon. Consider our route & budget; go for Kings Canyon first because these two places are very far apart. I also strongly recommend that you do this, as it helps you shorten your driving time. Since you are going to Uluru, don’t miss Canyon, Uluru is the next day.

Left Coober Pedy headed to Kings Canyon first. It’s a very long-distance driving journey, which also tests patience. You must exercise patience to the extreme, and your butt sits in the driver’s seat for a long time, and your eyes should focus on the front. Also, don’t fall asleep.

Along the way, there is no mobile signal. Make sure you have downloaded the offline version of Google Map about this route.

Kings Canyon is a spectacular attraction, but it is also the farthest because one must drive a whole day and at least one night stays near Kings Canyon.

Day 5 – Kings Canyon to Uluru, stay in Yulara

Route Navigation from Kings Canyon to Yulara

• Estimated driving time: 3 hr 52 min
• Estimated distance: 345 km

Check this route on Google Map>>

Place Passed:

As this route, you will cross these places:

• Kings Canyon Walk – Witness this vast canyon, don’t miss it! It’s fantastic and worth it!
• Mount Connor Lookout – It’s a huge rock that looks a lot like Uluru. Some people call it fake Uluru directly, and it stands far away and cannot reach it. In addition, there is a ramp behind this lookout. You can see a giant sea salt lake when you walk up, but you can’t approach it.
• Curtin Springs – This is a halfway relay point and the only petrol station on the midway. It was expensive, but you can only accept it.
• Area De Descanso – It’s a rest area found on the road; if you feel tired, you can rest here for a bit of rest.
• Yulara – This is the only small town near Ayers Rock. Most of the accommodation here. There is also a small square with restaurants and an IGA supermarket. What impressed me most was that the toast was in the refrigerator. You can choose your favorite accommodation here. Considering your budget, we suggest you stay at Ayers Rock Campground.
• Uluru Entry Path – You will encounter this outpost before heading to Ayers Rock. You must buy tickets to enter. We chose AUD 25 / person for a three days pass.
• Kuniya Car Park – It’s a place that lets you park the car and walk into the Ayers Rock for a small natural lake, a unique attraction.
• Uluru Sunrise Viewing Area – A viewpoint lets you see the sunrise. Although they recommend you go there in the morning, you can sit here for a great sunset view, what a beautiful light.

Our Experience:

Before you leave Kings Canyon Resort, you have to fill up the fuel; that’s another petrol station, despite the terrible price of AUD$202/L in our experience.

Tour Kings Canyon from morning to noon, prepare your water, wearing hiking shoes. There’s noThere’shere, so apply sunscreen and bring an umbrella. If you want to get the Walk Track about Kings Canyon in advance, Click Here to get the map.

About Rim Walk trails, you only need to pick one of them. If you have enough time, you can try to take the north walk and get a chance to see a small lake. But considering our travel time, we decided to choose the south walk. Both trails can see this vast canyon. There is no protective equipment here, and you should never get too close to the cliff.

After we finished Kings Canyon, it was about 10 am, and we headed to Uluru through the authentic way. From Kings Canyon to Uluru is a long moving distance; when you look at Google Maps, you will find that it will take at least half a day to move. Yulara is the only stop town near Uluru and a tourist town. Staying in this place could see Uluru straightly. You will have a mobile signal only after arriving at Yulara.

Where Do We Stay?

To grasp the dusk of the day in Uluru, we arrive at Yulara before 5 pm as much as possible. We will live in Ayers Rock Campground, the only caravan park. Other resorts are expensive. Click Here if you are interested. Living in Ayers Rock Campground, they can look directly at Ayers Rock (Uluru) from their viewing platform.

Then, go to Uluru before sunset, but a pass ticket requires an entry.

When you arrive at the vast Ayers Rock, you can’t wait to walk around it but believe me, and it takes more than half a day to walk alone. So it is better to drive around it. And you can park your car at Kuniya Car Park; it’s a place that lets you walk into the rock to figure out a small lake inside.

After inside, it’s time to shoot the sunset; go to Uluru Sunrise Viewing Area & enjoy the beautiful light. We had great shots in Uluru at dusk.

Day 6 – Kata-Tjuta & Uluru, stay at Yulara

Route Navigation from Uluru to Kata-Tjuta

• Estimated driving time: 1 hr 34 min
• Estimated distance: 121 km

Check this route on Google Map>>

Place Passed:

As this route, you will cross these places:

• Kata-Tjuta  – There are two attractions worth visiting here: Valley of Winds & Mount Olga. Through the designated trails here, you will enjoy the enormous rock wall surrounding you, which replaces all the heights of the Empire State Building you know.
• Kata-Tjuta Mount Olga – When you were have visited the Valley of Winds, you have to drive to the parking lot here in Mount Olga, get off and walk for a while. It is also fantastic canyon scenery; Oh, look at those TINY people far away from you.
• Uluru Sunset Viewing Area – It’s another excellent place for you to enjoy the gradation of the sun setting on this Ayers Rock from the other side. Many photographers will capture these beautiful pictures here, and the gradation tone seems to be dancing. The more fantastic galaxy sky appears when the sun is completely down. In an entirely light-free field of vision, you can choose to stay here and listen to the sounds from the universe.

Our Experience:

Initially, we were worried that we would encounter kangaroos back in Yulara. Fortunately, we were lucky that we had never experienced this way. Then take a good rest.

We also saw the Field of Light Show near Uluru this evening; this beautiful artistic beauty is worth your visit! We just happened to catch a shuttle bus to get here. But, unfortunately, they had to take their bus. So we were waiting at the Ayers Rock Campground Entry. If you are interested in this attraction, Click Here to buy tickets.

The critical part of our Australia road trip is the Ayers Rock (Uluru), not only this giant rock. But Kata-Tjuta, on the other side, is also one of the must-see attractions for this trip. These attractions are all in the same national park.

That day, we went to Kata-Tjuta for a hiking trip with high temperatures at that time, until the Valley of the Winds of Kata-Tjuta and then returned.

Note: Make sure you bring enough water by your side, drink at any time, and fill it up at their water reload station in the park.

As you can see on Google Maps to be near Uluru, this route, but when I was at Uluru, I saw Kata-Tjuta, those “big rocks” appearing in my sight. So it’s too far by an hour driving!

We Are Just Ants in Giant V

And then you have to go to Valley of the Winds by walk, which takes 1 hour, they show the electric temperature sign before entering; then you keep moving. Once over 36 degrees, don’t enter.

We were lucky to arrive there & enjoy the lovely valley, the rock wall very tall surrounding us never seen before, what really amazing!

After Kata-Tjuta, go to Uluru again to catch the sunset on another side.

Typical Sunset at Uluru

Central Australia includes Uluru (Ayers Rock), Kings Canyon, Kata-Tjuta & Yulara. What marvelous & unforgettable within a vast natural front of you; also, we heard that there’s a light show that will finish after March 2018. But it might extend, so that’s why we were to central Australia at first.

Whether there’s a light show, so we visit Uluru & Kata-Tjuta is most remarkable. You can enjoy hiking, walking on the trails around these huge rocks, and enjoying the sunset & sunrise with different views.

Click Here to look for accommodation in Yulara.

Day 7 – Yulara to Alice Springs

Route Navigation from Yulara to Alice Springs

• Estimated driving time: 4 hr 41 min
• Estimated distance: 447 km

Check this route on Google Map>>

Place Passed:

As this route, you will cross these places:

• Curtin Springs – A petrol station lets you fill up, but I recommend reloading at Yulara.
• Ghan (Erldunda Roadhouse) – A stopping point you have visited, now stop there again & don’t forget to fill your fuel up.
• Alice Springs – I call it an oasis in the desert. The only town with the largest in the center. There are supermarkets to get you more food and water, and there are many attractions worth visiting. However, we considered the time at that time, only stayed here for one night, and then continued to move north the next day. Click Here to look for accommodation in Alice Springs.

Our Experience:

After the Uluru trip, we drove back on the same way to Ghan, then turned north to Alice Springs.

Let me talk about another thing, and if you are participating in a tour group, the trip will arrive at Alice Springs. So if you are a short-term traveler with a car rental, I suggest you drop the car at Alice Springs. It’s close to the limit for most tourists from Melbourne or Adelaide; renting a car can run for nearly 3,000 kilometers. So it should be OK to finish at Alice Springs.

Then, driving with patience to this town in central Australia. Click Here to look for accommodation in Alice Springs.

Week 2 – Alice Springs to Broome

From the center of Australia to the northern and western, it’s another 3,000 km drive trip. There’s noThere’sway or things to stop you; all you need to do is move forward and control your steering wheel.

From Alice Springs to Darwin, you couldn’t take one day; that’s a far away! Some places worth stayover for you, details in the below section, or you can read another route review article from Adelaide to Darwin.

Click Here for this route review from Adelaide to Darwin to get the full details.

From Darwin to Broome, stayed through Timber Creek, beyond the Border of WA, and stayed one night in Fitzroy Crossing (Halls Creek is better for you). This route will take at least three days, two nights driving, and finally reach the beautiful seaside of Broome!

Click Here for this route review from Darwin to Broome to make sense.

Day 8 – Alice Springs to Pamayu

Route Navigation from Alice Springs to Pamayu

• Estimated driving time: 6 hr 46 min
• Estimated distance: 673 km

Check this route on Google Map>>

Place Passed:

As this route, you will cross these places:

• Ti Tree – A small town where you take a break, fuel, fill up & have lunch.
• Wycliffe Well Holiday Park – It’s an incredible place combining alien themes and seeing Aliens in Aliens’ art and flying saucer graffiti. We refilled here and visited their shops. They sold some dolls and masks on the piece of aliens, which seemed like a Halloween idea. However, the store posted some news reports, mentioning that there have been alien landings here and some photos. I don’t get the news; maybe just a gimmick.
• Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve – There are a lot of weird rocks stacked here. It is full of unique places, and you can take photos after passing by.
• Tennant Creek – A small town you can take a break from here.
• Warumungu – This’s a mThis’soint but very important. The road to Cairns is connected here, and the further north, you will reach Darwin. So, if you want to go from Cairns to Darwin, this town is a must, and of course, you can stay here overnight.
• Pamayu – It’s a small town that we decided to stay here in suddenly. Here you can fill fuel, have meals & take a break. After comparing Elliot and Warumungu, Pamayu was our final decision because this camping area is a relatively high rate. Click Here for detail.

Our Experience:

On this day, we continued to hurry, but we did not forget to look for beautiful spots; we found a few in the middle. So please take a look at our route.

We continued to hurry on this day’s route. We did not forget to look for beautiful spots; we found a few in the middle. Please take a look at our route.

Initially, we wanted to stay in Warumungu, but suddenly in Pamayu. It’s OK; tIt’scan is flexible. A friend told me to DO NOT stay in Elliot’s cElliot’srea. It was terrible there. It was full of mosquitoes and toads at night.

Day 9 – Pamayu to Katherine

Route Navigation from Pamayu to Katherine

• Estimated driving time: 5 hr 34 min
• Estimated distance: 539 km

Check this route on Google Map>>

Place Passed:

As this route, you will cross these places:

• Daly Waters – This is a small village just after Elliot. There is a cool bar. When we went in, we saw a lot of lingerie hanging on the bar. There are many banknotes, antiques and metal parts collections, and traffic warning lights outside the bar! So many exciting things here. Maybe those customers accidentally left their stuff here.
• Mataranka – This town is also an excellent place to stop for lunch. The Caravan park is also full of quality, but we didn’t stay overnight here. Click Here looking for accommodation.
• Mataranka Thermal Pool & Rainbow Springs – Just when we thought this was the only place where we didn’t expect to find Rainbow Swim Pool not far away from the map. It is an apparent natural swimming pool with clean water. When the sun shines on this pool surface, it will reflect a rainbow, which is very beautiful! We just need this kind of place to relax the tight body. So jump!
• Katherine – It is a big town not far from Darwin. If you are going to Western Australia, you must pass here to get more food and water and several petrol stations. Click Here looking for accommodation.

Our Experience:

After these few days of driving, we have not had good enough sleeping quality. Besides that, we almost slept in the car. So even though I’m easy fall into a deep sleep, I’m still kenned by mosquitoes sometimes.

Today, we finally arrived in this big town, Katherine; it’s essential for us because only one way is to turn to Western Australia here. So we continuously headed north to Darwin in our Australia road trip experience, broke a few days, and headed west to WA. There are also several best attractions worth visiting, like Katherine Gorge in Nitmiluk National Park.

But on this day, we have to rest first, so we arrange some attractions the next day.

Day 10 – Katherine to Darwin

Route Navigation from Katherine to Darwin

• Estimated driving time: 4 hr 43 min
• Estimated distance: 431 km

Check this route on Google Map>>

Place Passed:

As this route, you will cross these places:

• Katherine Gorge – It’s a spectacular checkerboard wall, but my friend said it was more like a stack of bricks. What do you think?
• Spectacular Jumping Crocodile Cruise – Crocodile feeding show here! Buy a ticket, sit on the tour boat & enjoy the Meat Bites Show!
• Darwin City – The northernmost city is in Australia, with many resort hotels, shopping malls, and retail stores. We are here for car maintenance, shopping for food, laundry, fueling, and a few drinks. Don’t forget to eat fish & ships that have not to eaten for a long time.

Our Experience:

Before we arrived in Darwin, we visited Katherine Gorge, located in Nitmiluk National Park. What a spectacular rocky landscape; it must take their guided boat. In addition, you can walk their trails to enjoy different views along this river and waterfalls hidden in the valley.

But if you want to do it all, it will take several days, so we only do the tour boat tour, and then we see a rock wall that looks like a chessboard. Since there are no trails to get here, you must buy tickets at the visitor center. Click Here for more detail.

My partner took this picture; he just walked along the trail to shoot, not join me on a boat tour.

There are several national parks near Katherine; Kakadu is another typical but too large area, so we arrange it for another day. Today, we just enjoyed Katherine Gorge, then headed to Darwin.

Saw Crocodile? Feed it Now!

We will arrive in Darwin soon; add another tour before entering the city – The Crocodile Feeding Show!

I found that swamp-like terrain on roadsides feels like flooding. Plus, I thought about crocodiles. Would those crocodiles come out of the woods? But, of course, we didn’t have this kind of accident at all, and don’t let it happen!

Closer to home, we went to Spectacular Jumping Crocodile Cruise; we had to buy tickets and board their sightseeing boat. The staff held fishing rods and a few pieces of raw meat. Soon after the ship was sailing on the river, several crocodiles swam over.

The crocodile rushed out of the water to bite the piece of raw meat, just like a guy hungry for several days. It was fascinating to watch the crocodile burst out of the water. This itinerary is dangerous, so you must consider it for short-distance tourists and stay with you if you have children.

Click Here for more detail about this cruise tour.

Finally, we arrived in Darwin! 1/3 trip has finished! Now it’s time to have car maintenance & takes a break because it has reached 5,000 km away.

Well, I think there are no more splash attractions worth in Darwin Centre. Rather than a trip to Kakadu National Park & Litchfield National Park, as long as you are willing to drive there for several days.

Click Here to look for accommodation in Darwin.

Day 11 – Stay in Darwin

We stayed in Darwin for two days and two nights. The last day was moving from Katherine, one day for car service. The next day moving to Katherine, then turned to Western Australia.

It is our wagon; pick us to expand more lovely & amazing things for Australia road trips. First, of course, I need mechanic service after a ten days route of about 5000km. My friend has made an appointment for assistance before entering the city. She was brilliant, arranged many things, and just let me drive for most routes, and I appreciated my partner!

Don’t Forget to Cook at Home.

Our breakfast cooked by my partner is excellent made, simple ingredients like egg, ham, mushroom, vegetables, and a cup of tea, that’s so yummy!

Don’t ForgDon’t Wash Your Clothes!

I forgot to say that you have to find the self-service laundry in Darwin Centre cause piles of dirty clothes have already been ten days, need a wash!

Click Here for laundry in Darwin>>

And don’t forget to load enough food before you leave Darwin!

Extra Tour – Kakadu & Litchfield (Optional)

As in the previous paragraph, you have the two best itineraries during your stay in Darwin: Kakadu & Litchfield National Park.

Kakadu & Litchfield are the best choices for adding to your driving trip plan while staying in Darwin, as long as you finish the car service. Even though we didn’t go there, my friends have experience there, and they said it’s beautiful. And said it was worth enjoying the cooling river, seeing the Waterfall, and forest fulling natural for you.

Next time I will share more details about these two National Parks tours in this blog.

Even if you want to take a driving tour around Darwin, I believe you will have a good time at Litchfield & Kakadu National Parks before leaving.

Is all your car service & everything done? Now, it’s time to move to Western Australia!

Day 12 – Darwin to Timber Creek

Route Navigation from Darwin to Timber Creek

• Estimated driving time: 6 hr 9 min
• Estimated distance: 607 km

Check this route on Google Map>>

Place Passed:

As this route, you will cross these places:

• Katherine – Same place we belong but stay for lunch, rest, then turn to Timber Creek. Only this place can be your rest point for fuel, food loading & others. Remember always to keep your car full of petrol.
• Timber Creek – Why choose this place for a night? By your estimate driving time is 6 hours and there’s another town than town instead so it’s the best choice for you. You can stay at Wirib Store & Tourism Park within fulling facilities like BBQ, swim pool, motel room, or parking site. Warning: Beware crocodiles & aboriginal, don’t let kids along near the forest. 

Our Experience:

With car service by changing oils, parts, & other accessories, our car is now ready for WA!

On Day 12, it was time we left Darwin in the morning, had lunch at Katherine, and loaded some food at Woolworths supermarket. Before we go, Katherine, attractive in Katherine Hot Springs, wants to have a look, not soak. Unfortunately, it was under construction while we arrived, so we left and kept moving.

Where Do We Stay?

We were on the Victoria Highway to WA; it’s the only way heading to Western. We almost arrived at Timber Creek after the whole day of driving. It’s lovely they provide a motel room with two single beds, BBQ equipment, and a clean public shower room at Wirib Store & Tourism Park. Just pay $35 per person for one night. But beware, crocodiles probably appear because they park near the river. So we didn’t swim in the pool, keep it till Broome.

Day 13 – Timber Creek to Halls Creek

Route Navigation from Timber Creek to Halls Creek

• Estimated driving time: 10 hr 36 min (Time Zone will be changed after across the border)
• Estimated distance: 796 km

Check this route on Google Map>>

Place Passed:

As this route, you will cross these places:

• DAFWA Kununurra Checkpoint Charlie – This’s an essential place before you enter WA, don’t bring fruits & other dangerous items.
• Kununurra – It’s the best place for backpackers. You can see some farms along the river water resource coming from Lake Argyle. There are several motels & resorts where you don’t need to worry about where to sleep.
• Warmun – This’s a small town where you can take a break and have lunch. The best place is Warmun Roadhouse, where you get food & fuel.
• Purnululu (Optional) – Really wild place you can visit the most famous attraction, Echidna Chasm & The Bungle Bungles. Just turn left at Old River. Once you decide to visit these points, you need one more day to stay in Purnululu.
• Halls Creek – Good enough place you can stay night three caravan parks & motels you can choose. Health Service, IGA supermarket, car service, etc., is a medium town with many people.
• Fitzroy Crossing (Optional) – We stayed here cause the Time Zone changed; for two more hours, we arrived at about 17:00. Tanunda Caravan Park is our rest point where we had bbq and saw some backpackers living in their motel rooms. Or you can try Fitzroy Worker’s CWorker’self-catering area.

Our Experience:

Before entering Western Australia, you must ensure that you shouldn’t bring fruits and vegetables. Police found these veggies from our car, and they required must to take them off by their policy. So finally, they will throw them away; fortunately, no fines on us, sorry about that.

They want to make sure that diseases without fruits and vegetables affect the agricultural environment in Western Australia.

After we took off the fruits, we passed the Checkpoint.

Western Australia it’s now wilderness for Australia road trips. However, there are still some attractions worth visiting, like Purnululu National Park & others. You can read this article which talks about this attraction & guide. >>Read More.

Time Zone will be changing.

After crossing the border, you got two more hrs for driving extended sunset.

For most attractions in Western Australia, you can try to camp in the wild. However, as long as you have enough food, water, and fuel, make sure your car already does mechanical maintenance. In the above link, you will read about three wild tourist attractions near Purnululu. Or, you can head to Halls Creek if you consider the budget and time. It’s a smaIt’sown with a caravan park & motel where you can stay at night.

Where Do We Stay?

We choose to keep moving forward, heading to Fitzroy Crossing for a stay, so today, we have a full day driving within 10 hours. We stayed at Tanunda Caravan Park, which has accessible facilities like a public shower room & toilet and self outdoor kitchen. Still, the broken toaster, using ours instead, and we had BBQ meat which I bought from IGA, just a tiny pack.

Also, we met some Chinese friends working in this town, staff in IGA with good money, and living in this park’s motel. And there’s an adorable kitty around us. So we had a good time at night.

Day 14 – Halls Creek to Broome

Route Navigation from Halls Creek to Broome

• Estimated driving time: 7 hr 0 min
• Estimated distance: 686 km

Check this route on Google Map>>

Place Passed:

As this route, you will cross these places:

• Fitzroy Crossing – We were here for one night at Tanunda Caravan Park. If you come from Halls Creek, stay here and take a break, loading food at IGA.
• Willare (Optional) – There’s a There’s Bridge Roadhouse & Caravan Park you can take a rest, load food & fuel, just an option.
• Broome/Kimberley – This’s a bThis’sn. After three days of moving, you can stay here, take a break, and enjoy water chilling at the resort. We went to Kimberley Klub YHA. Unfortunately, it’s now permanently closed. Got Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa instead of a 5-stars hotel, or you can choose other better hotels in Broome.
• Horizontal Waterfall (Optional) – This is an isolated place where there’s no way we could arrive. On a special tour, they pick you up by light aircraft & yacht; of course, you can buy their photos taken by a drone. It’s beautiful, but it’s a costly tour, AUD 800 for each person. Just my partner went, and I stayed in Broome. Click here to see this attraction. Click here for tour information.

Our Experience:

Before we arrive at Broome, there are several towns near us, Fitzroy Crossing (We already passed), Derby, and Willare.

Derby is a medium town close to the seaside, but it’s not fit our route plan differently. So instead of a T-shaped intersection, we turn left, heading to Will are & reaching Broome.

I asked my partner if you booked the tour for Horizontal Waterfall? “Yes, I can’t wait!” She said,” She called me to hurry to Broome cause I already booked a half-day tour for it; we were moving & hit the top speed forward. So finally, we arrived in Broome just 4 hours before lunchtime.

Broome is a fantastic town producing pearls; that’s amathat’sWe visited some jewelry stores that sell most pearl rings, pearl necklaces, earrings, etc. And we saw many backpackers here for a working holiday.

They work at local restaurants, bars & hostels, even some people who are construction workers. It’s a great place that lets people chill, relax, and enjoy the vacation at the beach & resort.

Exploring Epic Falls in Australia Road Trip

We stayed in Broome for one day, and you can book a tour for seeing Horizontal Waterfall for half-day if you like. A fantastic time & attraction that you have never seen before, only in Broome, worth being. But I didn’t go with my partner because of my limited budget; she’s rich than me.

The horizontal Waterfall is a complete natural attraction without any development, so many islands around there. No route when you try to navigate. So if you want to see this attraction, booking a tour is the best choice.

This pic is one angle view taken from the yacht while passing the Horizontal Waterfall. If you type and search on Google Map, just show the “Horizontal” Waterfall tour booking” in Broom,” but the reallocation is here.

I went to see the dinosaur footprints close to the coast during her waterfall tour in the afternoon. It’s not easy to move here because of the rugged rocky terrain; careful with your legs.

The spotlight in Broome Night

Another particular highlight in Broome is the “Moon Stair.” Its moonlight reflects on the ocean and looks like a staircase on the sea, but it happens with a full moon rising between March and early November. You have to stay near Roebuck Bay in clear weather with flat tide time. If you are interested in it, Click Here for tide info. We weren’t lucky on the best date for full-moonlight rising (even flat tides on that day), so we gave it up. Click Here for a full moon rising time in Broome.

What a whole day is staying in Kimberley Broome; we had a good time. After chilling but fun-fill in Broome, it’s time to sleep and move forward.

Week 3 – Broome to Perth

This Broome Perth drive route is typical for most people because you can visit many beautiful attractions. Almost long driving until arriving at Perth makes you tired but enjoys all-natural.

To get the complete route review about Broome to Perth, Click Here for this route overview.

Day 15 – Broome to Karratha

Route Navigation from Broome to Karratha

• Estimated driving time: 8 hr 48 min
• Estimated distance: 846 km

Check this route on Google Map>>

Place Passed:

As this route, you will cross these places:

• Port Hedland – Great big town along the seaside after Broome, you can take a break, have lunch, load food, have toilet & filling fuel.
• Roebourne (Optional) – It’s a small town that lets you retake rest, an optional stopping point considering if you don’t have enough hours. 
• Karratha – Why choose here as our stay night point? It’s a medIt’stown, a shopping mall & many restaurants, petrol stations here, and we decided Karratha Backpackers for one night at the lowest price.

Our Experience:

After chilling in Broome, it’s time to go. We filled fuel at Roebuck Plains Roadhouse, it’s a place at a T-shaped intersection, turning south to Port Hedland. You have to keep moving cause there’s no petrol station before Port Hedland, don’t stop if you are through 8 Miles Beach, up to you, you are now on the way to flat vast sight ground sometimes, you will see stagnant water coming in from the roadside, nothing else here so, keep moving.

Filling your fuel once you arrive at Port Hedland, leaving lunch here, taking a short break, do not stay too much longer cause we need to move.

Why Karijini Doesn’t inDoesn’tustralia Road Trip Plan? It’s So BeIt’sful Why Don’t You Go?

“Hey bro, why don’t you go to Karijini? It’s the best attraction you should be!” One of my friends talked to me, but we are on a limited budget for the trip. So if we head to Karijini, we need 2-3 days including driving & accommodation for it, even though that Waterfall looks so lovely! So many friends strongly recommend Karijini to me, now recommend to you, you can arrange this part route, the route will be like this.

It’s an 18 hrs drive route, longer than our 9 hrs route to Carnarvon, so that’s why we went to Karratha instead of Karijini. 2-3 days need you to consider if you have enough trip budget.

After Port Hedland, we arrived at Karratha. It’s a reaIt’slong way of driving, testing your body energy & focusing.

Day 16 – Karratha to Billabong WA

Route Navigation from Karratha to Billabong WA

• Estimated driving time: 9 hr 11 min
• Estimated distance: 886 km

Check this route on Google Map>>

Place Passed:

As this route, you will cross these places:

• Minilya – A rest point lets you take a break, have lunch, and fill fuel after driving for at least 4-5 hours.
• Carnarvon – A medium town that is great for backpackers because there are several orchards around, close to the seaside 
• Gladstone scenic lookout – A special place on the hill, many stuff piles here which people left as a memorized sign checked-in, attractive, but a bit strong wind so be careful standing.
• Billabong WA – It’s a roaIt’se rest point, convenient for caravan vans shortly to stay, a roadhouse, and a caravan park here. We stayed at Billabong Roadhouse.

Our Experience:

Stay one night in Karratha and then drive through Carnarvon, heading south. As you follow this route that I suggested yesterday, it will miss Karijini National Park’s morPark’sral attractions. However, if you have enough budget, you can turn to Karijini.

This day trip is another long drive without attractions. Take a break, have lunch at Minilya and keep moving until Carnarvon. And we saw a radar (OTC Tracking Station) & rocket at’s NASA and Technology Museum at the roadside. That’s incredible; I guess this town is a space technology research base for NASA. Still, there’s no shuttle launch pad, in my impression. We just take photos, not go in, and keep moving. Click Here for the official website if you are interested.

Carnarvon is not in our point of stay at night, just moving, and saw a special Gladstone scenic lookout at the highway roadside. It’s on a hill; the pile of personal stuff here seems like a memorial sign that many people have.

Where Do We Stay?

Besides this stuff, we were in the afternoon sunset, with a bit strong windy keep moving, stayed one night in Billabong Roadhouse. It’s just at the roadside for stay & we filled fuel after almost 9 hrs driving.

Why choose Billabong as our point of stay night? As the route map mentioned, we try to move to Perth quickly on a limited budget, ignoring some beautiful places near Shark Bay. That’s close to the west point of Australia’s mainland. But it’s another 4WD adventure worth touching.

Extra Places List You May Try:

Here’s an Here’splace list that we miss but you can arrange; even you are not the 4WD vehicle, consider adding it to your Australia road trip plan:

• Exmouth – A stunning beach & you can dive with whales. You have to turn to Minilya-Exmouth Rd. before Minilya.
• Coral Bay – Another beautiful bay you can stay chill before arriving at Exmouth; it’s a small town close to the seaside on the roadside of Minilya-Exmouth Rd.
• Denham – Stunning beach and sunshine worth enjoying; just turn to Shark Bay Rd. at Hamelin Pool, then drive about one hour.
• Monkey Mia – Another beautiful beach you can see many dolphins come to you, really fun-fill worth to be.

Top Popular Attractions List You Should be. >>Read More

Day 17 – Billabong WA to Geraldton

Route Navigation from Billabong, WA to Geraldton

• Estimated driving time: 5 hr 26 min
• Estimated distance: 446 km

Check this route on Google Map>>

Place Passed:

As this route, you will cross these places:

• Nature’s WNature’salbarri National Park) – It’s a stunning attraction that you cannot miss! A natural-shaped place located in the center of the river canyon. You have to buy a ticket to enter Kalbarri National Park, park your car, then have a walk there. And there are several attractions close to the seaside around Kalbarri, and you need a drive for them.
• Principality of Hutt River (Nain, Optional) – This’s an ordinary & historical place. It looks like a village but a self-declared principality. We were lucky to see the King. Leonard passed in 2019 and dissolved on 3 August 2020. So it’s now bit’s a place named “Nain” search on Google Maps.
• Hutt Lagoon – A sizeable pink lake near us; stay and have a look.
• Geraldton – This’s a mThis’stown where you can stay at night, load food, and fill fuel.

Our Experience:

Keep moving from Billabong through Kalbarri; it’s a pretty splash experience in the Western. We’ve beenWe’veature’s WNature’s Kalbarri National Park, Principality of Hutt River (Nain), Hutt Lagoon pink lake, stay a night in Geraldton.

For this beautiful attraction in this photo, that’s why do we move quickly from the northwest. This point is just in the middle riverside canyon in the Kalbarri National Park, naturally shaped and looks like a window. You must pay the entry ticket of AUD 6, park your car, and to this point, walking trails.

Don’t forget to bring your water & face tent, still many flies around you! When you walk around feels like at King Canyon, a bit blurry but windy. So many tourist groups come here so be careful, and finally, you can see that stunning window. “It looks like many cookie piles,” My partner said, “Similar, but it let me imagine chocolate pie piles.”

The newest point, Kalbarri Skywalk, is another way you can try, but we didn’t go there. It’s similar to King Canyon; go for it if you are interested.

After we left Kalbarri National Park, we visited some points. A town called Kalbarri nearby, close to the coast, looks beautiful.

Best Coast Attractions near Kalbarri:

Here’s a lHere’song the coast which natural-shaped rock plates piles with blue ocean, add to your Australia road trip plan:

• Pelican Feeding Point Kalbarri – This’s a feeding show at Kalbarri town beach but not feeding every day.
• Jakes Point
• Red Bluff Lookout
• Mushroom Rock
• Rainbow Valley
• Eagle Gorge Lookout
• Island Rock
• Kalbarri Castle Cove
• Natural Bridge Kalbarri

Just choose one or two for a visit; you don’t need to visit all; hold your time.

Nain (Principality of Hutt River) – A Past Country Surprising Us

After these points are shortly visited, we turn to the interior unsealed road heading to Principality of Hutt River, located at Nain if you search on Google Maps. My partner didn’t understand why I drove here. She feels a bit bored, and it just looks like a village with some houses, buildings, and a vast farm.

However, she became interested after reading some knowledge about the country’s establishment at their center. They have an “official teller” for entry and exit stamps on my passport. What a formal entry this country respected.

Best wishes to King. Prince Leonard! (We met him in 2018 while he was 92 years old)

It’s Now JIt’s”Nain”

2020 Updated: The King dissolved this country on 3 August 2020. Leonard passed away in Feb. 2019. So now this place has left the “Nain” search on Google Map. So this place seems like a village that you can choose to add or not, optional.

We took some photos at Hutt Lagoon, a pink lake, the biggest pink lake in Australia we saw; after that, we kept moving.

Staying at Geraldton, it’s a time to have dinner, fill the fuel, and go shopping. Coles, Woolworths there that you can get much more food no need worry hungry.

Where Do We Stay?

We stayed at Geraldton Belair Gardens Caravan Park; there are several caravan parks around this town, all you can consider.

Day 18 – Geraldton to Perth

Route Navigation from Geraldton to Perth

• Estimated driving time: 5 hr 18 min
• Estimated distance: 448 km

Check this route on Google Map>>

Place Passed:

As this route, you will cross these places:

• Port Denison (Optional) – A port place where you can take a break and enjoy the excellent seafood.
• Leeman (Optional) – It’s a small town, and many caravans stay here for much fresh seafood.
• Jurien Bay – It’s a beautiful beach that chills you, and you can stay here for lunch and enjoy your fish & chips takeaway.
• Cervantes (Optional) – Another rest point you can take a break.
• The Pinnacles Desert (Nambung National Park) – It’s an incredible natural attraction where you can see many natural stone pillars. You need to drive in, park, and then get off and walk to touch these rocks.
• Sandboarding (Lancelin) – it’s another full-sand attraction where you can take sandboard surfing, rent a board & enjoy the whole white sand place! But be aware of your car parking. Don’t let Don’tick in the sand. (Our experience, lol)
• Perth City – This is an epic milestone and means that we have completed 2/3 of our Australia road trip. Before entering the city, your route will be a city highway, but I suggest avoiding tolls while setting your navigation. Perth is the largest city in Western Australia, and you can buy & take the most you need. Of course, don’t forget to make an appointment car service cause the second 5,000km has reached.

Our Experience:

From this day, there is no need for a long driving route; you can enjoy the fresh seafood in the town upon the place list. We went to Jurien Bay jetty, a white beach, and enjoyed the seafood takeaway. We have several days without taking away, so today, we have some lobsters, fish & chips, and some beers at Lobster Shack-Cervantes, WA.

Beware Your SLR

With everything fresh in our belly, now is the time to visit some good places. We went to Nambung National Park to see many pillar rocks (another style Stonehenge looks like). So get car parking, buy tickets, and enjoy photography.

One day, my friend was in WA and on a trip here with her roommates; she tried to take some photos with her SLR camera. But, unfortunately, strong sand windy broke her leg, and she felt disappointed that trip. So I just here for some pictures and sent them to her as filling up regrets. But night galaxy sky photography excepted, lol.

Filling in Whitesands!

Next, we went to Lancelin Sand Dunes to enjoy the fun of sand surfing. By renting a sandboard for AUD 20 per one, you can enjoy whole white sanding. Also, you can rent dirt bikes & ATVs, but we didn’t. We tried to leave the car parking area, and it’s a bit bad luck that the car stuck in the sand, just a little bit but success drove leave, it’s OK so never parking vehicle on to the sandy area.

When staying in the city, what’s the accommodation for low-budget travelers & backpackers?

Finally, we almost arrived at Perth closed evening at about 17:00, and it’s a long time not saw a big city & tall buildings. Our driving route was becoming a city highway through the suburbs & center. But remember, you have to avoid tolls in navigation before entering Perth.

In our experience of Australia road trips, we are not high budget, so we just made most overnight bookings like caravan parks. Seldom motels & backpackers (cheapest), no hotel, only one night in a resort (Broome).

Get Your Luxury Share Home Property

It seems like only backpackers & hotels will have only two options for staying in the city. However, considering the limited budget doesn’t spend too much in the town, and we book share rooms through Airbnb. We were lucky to get a luxury house living with one guy and his doggy.

His accommodation made us feel like a millionaire, with modern indoor decoration, high-quality texture shower room & comfortable bedrooms. We own a separate single room. He got a backyard garden with luxury decoration and statues like in Europe; what an epic accommodation! Important is, only AUD 40 per person each night!!!

We stayed in his house for three nights, really great value for money!

Click Here for Perth AirB&B>>

Day 19 – Stay in Perth, Fremantle, or ferry to Rottnest Island

Perth is a major city in Western Australia; we stayed for three nights.

Today we did a car service, and then took a city tour by public transport around the city center & Fremantle.

Another best choice is tripping on Rottnest Island.

Rottnest Island is an independent island located on the left coast of Perth. It’s reallIt’srth a visit, a chilling walk, enjoying the bike riding around the island, and just taking a ferry at Fremantle. Click Here to check the ferry time.

You can enjoy the most comfortable sea breeze and the blue waters; you can also see many adorable quokkas around you. Just find them near some trees, but DO NOT touch, hug or feed that wildlife by WA Government Animale Protect Rules.

It’s worth it sying here for a day, but we still choose to go back and forth to take a boat back to Perth in the evening. So, in short, the island is worth a one-day trip.

Day 20 – City tour in Perth City

Although I’m not interested in a city tour, there are attractions worth visiting around Perth near the Swan River. Fremantle Markets, The Roundhouse, Rainbow Sea Container, Blue Boat House, Kings Park & Botanic Garden, Bell Tower & Elizabeth Quay are worth visiting.

Today we met some friends who live in Perth for a working holiday, talking & walking in the city center. So having a Korean BBQ dinner was a perfect time for us!

Day 21 – Car Service, Food Loading & Accessories Filling

That day, we stayed in Perth, got our car back, then bought some food, and a water bottle, filling the fuel. All Preparation for the next part of the Australia road trip after Perth City.

Click Here to find Woolworths supermarket>>

Click Here to find Coles supermarket>>

Week 4 – Perth to Melbourne

It’s another long week for your road trip, and the route distance is more than 3,500 km to bring you back to Melbourne. So in this week’s trip plan, I divided it into two parts: Perth to Adelaide and the second is Adelaide to Melbourne.

Now, it’s time to move on; we left Perth and headed to more unknown places we knew, only in our car, face to face, listening to music, and keep moving.

To get the complete detail about Perth to Adelaide, Click Here for this route overview.

To get the complete detail about Adelaide to Melbourne, Click Here for this route overview.

Day 22 – Perth to Albany through Busselton

Route Navigation from Perth to Albany

• Estimated driving time: 7 hr 30 min
• Estimated distance: 650 km

Check this route on Google Map>>

Place Passed:

As this route, you will cross these places:

• Gnomesville is our first attraction after Perth, where a special place piles many tiny dolls & toys; here, it made me think about the Blue Elf cartoon.
• Busselton Jetty – The longest jetty in Australia, you need to reach the end by taking their tour train or walking. We just take a break, have lunch then leave.
• Nannup (Optional) – it’s a small town for taking a break; there are several attractions that you can add to your trip plan.
• Gloucester Tree (Optional) – It’s insane because I like rock climbing. When I saw several giant trees with steel ladders & woody houses, I felt excited, but my partner didn’t like it; we just drove through and didn’t go there; you can add this to your plan.
• Walpole (Optional) – It’s our stay point because it’s nighttime we were here. We stayed at Tingle All Over Budget Accommodation. There’s a scene near the backpackers if you’re there.
• Albany – It’s our next town today, but it’s too far to drive for us. If you ignore attractions from Perth and head to Albany, it should be fine.

Our Experience:

This part is a bit complex because of so many attractions around southwest Australia, but we just came across some places that are unique & remarkable after checking the map.

We went to Gnomesville. It’s a forest with so many various dolls & toys put here; it looks like a Blue Elf cartoon. My partner told me she feels scared when looking at those dolls, but I feel nothing. There are still some families that come here and take photos; kids enjoy this special place.

Then, we went to Busselton to see the longest jetty. It’s epic; it must take their train to the end, but we didn’t walk the whole jetty and keep moving to Albany. While driving through many forests, the time was close to evening, and it was against our road trip principle (No Drive At Night Time)

We didn’t hit these places, neither natural caves nor lighthouses near the west end, those we had already visited before.

We originally intended to say that we should look at the southwestern attractions. But found that if you stay in Busselton for one more night, you will have to drive to Wave Rock for a long time.

Where Do We Stay?

We stayed at Walpole just before Albany because it was late for us. Tingle All Over Budget Accommodation is the best & cheapest backpacker for most travelers.

Day 23 – Albany to Wave Rock

Route Navigation from Albany to Wave Rock

• Estimated driving time: 4 hr 17 min
• Estimated distance: 382 km

Check this route on Google Map>>

Place Passed:

As this route, you will cross these places:

• The Gap – It’s a nice place, and there’s a more substantial sea wave you can feel, and you can see the giant wave under you; that’s so exciting!
• Natural Bridge – This place is naturally shaped near The Gap by walking, but you cannot climb on that bridge; look.
• Pingrup – A small town lets you take a break, have lunch, fill fuel and keep moving.
• Lake Grace (Optional) – Another place you can take a break.
• Wave Rock – It’s a stuIt’sg place, natural wave-shaped, everybody tries to set pose or climb (Never climb), worth staying here for one night. Many caravan parking companies choose here for stay.

Our Experience:

Today we went back to the natural place; we went to The Gap & Natural Bridge in Torndirrup National Park near Albany.

There are many attractions worth visiting, like beautiful beaches around Albany. All-natural shaped for Nature’s BNature’sd The Gap, seeing the sea wave, both of which are spectacular rock formations.

After Torndirrup National Park, we headed north straight to the most classic landscape attraction, Wave Rock.

Suppose you want to drive to Wave Rock. In that case, it’s a bit far away but worth it, just through some small towns & touch wild, need to take a long time driving via inland highway in patience. This attraction makes you feel amazing when you see this most natural engraving made by God.

Where Do We Stay?

We stayed at Wave Rock Motel for a night; the following day, we saw a shoe tree and kept moving.

Day 24 – Wave Rock to Esperance through Ravensthorpe

Route Navigation from Wave Rock to Esperance

• Estimated driving time: 3 hr 53 min
• Estimated distance: 382 km

Check this route on Google Map>>

Place Passed:

As this route, you will cross these places:

• Lake King (Optional) – A small town that lets you take a break.
• Ravensthorpe – A town that enables you to take a break & have lunch, fill fuel, and keep moving.
• Esperance – This Is our destination for one more day because we want to visit some fantastic attractions. But before that, we stayed at Esperance Bay Holiday Park, an excellent caravan motel.

Our Experience:

This route is a short distance from Wave Rock to Esperance; we keep moving, nothing special on the way, took a break and had lunch at Ravensthorpe. But the weather was not good, and we saw some flashlights in the sky far away from the flat ground; feel cooling but better than burning these days. So keep moving to our destination Esperance.

Where Do We Stay?

We will stay here for two nights. The best caravan motel is Esperance Bay Holiday Park, in our experience.

Day 25 – Tour in Esperance

Route Navigation around Esperance

• Estimated driving time: 2 hr 7 min
• Estimated distance: 153 km

Check this route on Google Map>>

Place Passed:

As this route, you will cross these places:

• Esperance Stonehenge – Like UK Stonehenge, this is artificial, a farm place we visited before Lucky Bay.
• Lucky Bay – This’s fantastic for our journey today. So aqua, light blue ocean, and total white sand beach like heaven you have never seen before. We stayed here for 2-3 hours and had bbq lunch.
• Twilight Cove – It’s a naturally shaped rock close to the beach with a blue ocean.
• Blue Heaven – Another seaside near Twight Cove, great view.
• Rotary Lookout – A platform you can see the whole coast and chill.
• Pink Lake – It’s our fIt’s attraction for a day trip, unfortunately not pink color & entire lake. We just take photos for the mirror effect.

Our Experience:

Why did we decide to stay in Esperance for the whole day? Because of this beach, Lucky Bay!

We were on the way to Lucky Bay, through Esperance Stonehenge. Unfortunately, it was closed, so keep moving until seeing this full aqua beach.

When we saw this beach, I felt extremely excited, got out of the car in the parking lot, changed swimwear, and ran to this HEAVEN!! WOOHOO~~~

Cool water under sunshine, full white sandy more than the Lancelin Sand Dunes. We took many photos, enjoyed the cooling aqua, and chilled us. Also, we saw two kangaroos appear at the beach. That’s reaThat’snny; they just walk through without any negative for us. We stayed here for several hours, having BBQ lunch, enjoying some wine, good wine with whole aqua white attractions, bravo!!

Touch More Aqua

After Lucky Bay, we went to several attractions in the afternoon, driving & visiting those whole blue places.

These attractions like Twilight Cove, Blue Heaven, Rotary Lookout, etc., along the coast. Finally, we took photos at Esperance Pink Lake in the sunset evening, just some poses with a mirror of the salt lake. Then we stayed in Esperance and finished this beautiful day.

Day 26 – Esperance to Norseman

Route Navigation from Esperance to Norseman

• Estimated driving time: 6 hr 23 min
• Estimated distance: 588 km

Check this route on Google Map>>

Place Passed:

As this route, you will cross these places:

• Super Pit – It’s a whole giant mining site in Kalgoorlie that we have never seen before; it’s our fit’s look at a mining site. If you want to visit there, don’t try to pass the main thru (Access denied from their door guard); turn to KCGM Super Pit Lookout and enjoy the mining site view.
• Kambalda (Optional) – There’s a salt lake Lake Lefroy near this town and a nearby mining site. Still, you cannot enter, go to Red Hill Lookout and have a look if you are interested.
• Norseman – This town is the first touch in this day trip, but we just drive through in the morning and back here for a night. We stayed at Bottlemart Express – Norseman Hotel.

Our Experience:

Time to leave Esperance, head north again to Kalgoorlie. We have a special tour for a mining site visiting, just through Norseman, and keep moving. First, we went to Super Pit to view a vast mining site. It’s a fantastic site for mining, we saw several mining trucks with massive tires, but they seemed tiny in our sight; imagine how big that mining site is.

Then, we went to Kalgoorlie to see some gold & jewelry at local stores; photo takes are not allowed. It was an eye-opening sight for us. Time passed quickly, and we went back to Norseman to stay.

Day 27 – Norseman to Eucla

Route Navigation from Norseman to Eucla

• Estimated driving time: 7 hr 21 min
• Estimated distance: 711 km

Check this route on Google Map>>

Place Passed:

As this route, you will cross these places:

• Balladonia – It’s the farthest point for most drivers, filling fuel, taking a break, and having lunch. After that, prepare to head to STRAIGHT.
• West End of “90 Mile Straight” – This’s the most straight highway in Australia. You can take a photo with this billboard, then get started focusing! (Remind: Always keep awake for your driving cause it’s all straight!)
• Caiguna (Start 90 Mile Straight from East) – 90 miles straight end for us after about one more hour of driving, slow down and stop near the billboard. Take photos and be careful of those road trains if you want to stand on the highway’s board.
• Cocklebiddy (Optional) – This’s a small town that lets you take a break.
• Madura (Optional) – It’s another point that lets you take a break.
• Mundrabilla (Optional) – Another point is to let you take a break. But if you want to stay the night earlier, consider this point to your Australia road trip plan.
• Eucla – It’s our final destination on this day; it was turned to evening sky when we arrived. Also, we didn’t see other vehicles frequently on this highway; most drivers called it “Alone Highway.”  So we stayed at Eucla Motel.

Our Experience:

This day, we called it “Alone Day” because we had the most prolonged and nothing car near us on the highway, only a road train truck on the way at high speed passing you. So I strongly suggested this route to keep full fuel along with each point and cause a far distance like SA to NT.

The highlight of this route is the “90 Mile Straight” it’s the most straight highway in the world and the only way back to Melbourne for a complete Australia road trip. We took some photos on the billboard before, focusing entirely on one half-hour. After this straightway, take a break and have lunch at Caiguna.

And why do we choose Eucla as our destination? Simply, moving more distance will be close to the trip end.

I remind you to ensure you are in total energy and focus. Without any too loud music & phone looking, you need to pay full attention to the way. Kangaroos appear someplace you never know, so focus.

Where Do We Stay?

Finally, we arrived at Eucla Motel at 6:30 pm; let’s have the best dinner at the motel restaurant! Enjoy the fish & chips and beers!

Day 28 – Eucla to Streaky Bay

Route Navigation from Eucla to Streaky Bay

• Estimated driving time: 6 hr 19 min
• Estimated distance: 601 km

Check this route on Google Map>>

Place Passed:

As this route, you will cross these places:

• SA/WA Border Crossing – This’s a bThis’scheckpoint for anyone who enters the WA from SA; we just leave WA without check.
• Great Australian Bight (Border Village SA) – It’s a long seaside that lets you see how great the coast of the Australian Bight is. Stunning but scary height (They set short, tall fences you still can have a look). Beware of your speed cause you easily miss that turn.
• Penong Windmill Museum – This’s a special place to collect various windmills here; also, we take a break and have lunch.
• Ceduna (Optional) – A small town that lets you take a break if you need.
• Streaky Bay – This’s a bThis’sul port bay as a destination for our day road trip.

Our Experience:

We visited Eucla Jetty near the Eucla Motel in the morning, drove there, parked the car, and got off for a walk. It’s an unIt’sed beach so that you can full aqua & white sand beach, really stunning! You can add a color similar to Lucky Bay to your alone trip if you have a car.

Alright, it’s time to leave Western Australia; beyond the border, we were now back in South Australia. WA has finished. There is no need to check your car while passing through the border of the WA checkpoint.

Keep Moving Along the Coast

Another stunning attraction is the Australian Bight. It would be best if you had car parking at the lookout (check the place list), walk to that lookout, and see this stunning coast, which is epic but scary when standing on the platform. We noticed some caravans parking here; most of them were family and elderly couples.

We take a break at Penong Windmill Museum, eating lunch with those windmills, like in Netherland.

Where Do We Stay?

Then, we will cross several towns, and we will inadvertently decide to stay in Streaky bay (Considerate driving distance & hrs). This small town along the sea is also beautiful. We stayed at Streaky Bay Hotel-Motel. Good room decorating & best self-service restaurant has yummy food here as dinner & breakfast.

Day 29 – Streaky bay to Port Augusta or Adelaide

Route Navigation from Streaky Bay to Adelaide

• Estimated driving time: 8 hr 33 min
• Estimated distance: 771 km

Check this route on Google Map>>

Place Passed:

As this route, you will cross these places:

• Murphys Haystacks – It’s a naturally shaped rock pile that looks like a dinosaur egg. They were carved by wind erosion for a long time, with free entry.
• Pildappa Rock – It’s a giant rock similar to Ayers Rock (Uluru). You can climb to the top and be careful of the scary height and free entry.
• Minnipa (Optional) – A small town that lets you take a break and have lunch.
• Kyancutta (Optional) – A small town that enables you to take a break.
• Kimba (Optional) – Another small town that enables you to take a break.
• Port Augusta – After several hours of driving, we almost went back to this town, this circle from western, we finished the main route of our road trip. You can consider staying here for a night or keep moving back to Adelaide.
• Crystal Brook (Optional) – A small town lets you take a break before entering the city.
• Adelaide City – We visited here again but stayed at North West Adelaide Port Adelaide Backpackers, the cheapest self-service facilities. What about city tours? Well, up to you.

Our Experience:

We drove through this longest highway with two attractions visiting, Murphys Haystacks & Pildappa Rock. All wild attractions let us stand just like in Ayers Rock, have a bit of a walk & have some photos, really special-shaped places worth driving. But our time is not much, and we have to arrive in Adelaide on this day because of budget control and reach a 30 days limit.

Following this route as that pic is also the only way to go back to Adelaide through Port Augusta, you just across many small towns & vast ground unknown farms. You just need to pay attention to your fuel when you see a petrol station at the roadside.

I will complete the longest route through SA, NT, and WA as our millstone. So Check this point; you know what I mean.

Initially, we wanted to head to Port Lincoln; considering the time and budget, we skipped this place below the Southern and returned to Adelaide City through Port Augusta straightly.

Where Do We Stay?

Finally, we arrived at Adelaide at night time safely; no need to worry about kangaroos on this way. Port Adelaide Backpackers is our last accommodation in this road trip plan. We met some friends and shared our experiences with them. They are backpackers with still invalid visas; they feel shocked that we can make this long driving road trip for four weeks (30 days). They will follow this article to plan for themselves.

Day 30 – Adelaide to Melbourne

Route Navigation from Adelaide to Melbourne

• Estimated driving time: 10 hr 26 min
• Estimated distance: 882 km

Check this route on Google Map>>

Place Passed:

As this route, you will cross these places:

• Murray Bridge (Optional) – This’s a medium town where we belong. Many backpackers work here, but it’s another story; tell you later.
• Bordertown – This’s a town close to the border of SA/VIC; you can take a break and have lunch.
• Horsham (Optional) – A small town you can take a break if you need.
• Bendigo (Optional) – This’s anoThis’sest town to visit. A gold mine town just like Super Pit in Kalgoorlie, an optional place you can add.
• Ballarat (Optional) – A big town where you can take a break and have dinner; it’s night.
• Melbourne City – It’s our final destination for our road trip; we drove back to the city center as we finished! Welcome back to Melbourne!

Our Experience:

In Adelaide City, everything is simple! We took a tour of the city center this day. Although, in our trip plan, we just visited some places in the University of Adelaide, like the State Library of South Australia, a historic site with limited visitors. We were lucky we were inside, led by their manager in off time.

There are many places worth visiting near Adelaide City. You can even go to Kangaroo Island & Victor Harbour in west South Adelaide, but you better need 3-4 more days for driving. It’s not our plan; you can take research and add to yours.

We only wanted to save money on the last day, so we left Adelaide directly and headed back to Melbourne through the main highway. Bendigo is another option you can consider; it’s a go-through past.

Once we arrived in Melbourne, our Australia road trip was complete with these tall buildings; almost 30 days and one month were enough!

In this final part of the article, we finished the 4-week Australia road trip! Congratulations, you have a safe long-drive journey!

How Much Does It Cost for The Australia Road Trip 30 Days Plan?

I save the most, not spend too much on an expensive purchases like restaurants & hotels. As a backpacker, every dollar must be in control. But I can drive all routes of Western Australia through Central in 30 days. It just cost $4,000 for me! Average spent $100 in a single day! What do you think? Expensive or cheaper?

Also, we visited over 100 beautiful attractions along this route by controlling the budget every day in the limited payout. So if you are planning an Australia road trip itinerary on your own, $4,000 is an indicative amount per person covered most of all!

Do you want to know the complete details for the Australia road trip in the budget?

Do you want to know how I limit and control my budget & route planning?

This report shows you how I plan an Australia road trip in 30 days, $4,000 per person. Click Here Read Detail>>

Is This Plan Good for Visitor Visa in Shorten Traveler?

I must say, this route counts over 12k kilometers totally with 3-time car service. In my experience, the first time car service is before the road trip, and the second is in Darwin. Third, in Perth, separated each 5k kilometers and must make appointments for a car mechanic.

That means you must own this car in 2nd hand with valid registration. Unless you are a permanent resident or working holiday backpacker, it might be difficult for those on a visitor visa.

If you rent a caravan, camper van, or SUV, you must consider your main route and budget for vehicle rent. You usually need to pay an extra fee once your car exceeds 3,000 km.

Check our Resource Page for car rental service if you need it.

Conclusion

Does Road Trip Finish?

NOT YET AT ALL!

I will share route research in East Coast Australia during my working holiday and two years of experience in other posts. Don’t worrDon’tut that. It’s easy to link the East Australia trip to the West Australia route. Still, if you want all-around AUS, only one thing you need is to get much more money at first & bring you to freedom mainland!

But first, let’s get on the route from Melbourne through Uluru around Western Australia! Ready to move out!

Here’s the download link below & you can get it for FREE!

>>Free Download Copy Road Trip Itinerary!

Plan Your Next Road Trip by Reading This Australia Guide Book!