Perth to Adelaide Drive Itinerary: Epic South Coast Road Trip

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If stunning white beaches, turquoise waves and ancient forests are your sort of thing, you will love this Perth to Adelaide drive itinerary!

While the east coast of Australia is a well-trodden route, the south coast Adelaide to Perth road trip is definitely the path less travelled. The coastline is also packed with campsites and caravan parks if you’re travelling on a budget.

I spent an amazing five weeks on my Perth to Adelaide road trip and would highly recommend this route for those of you looking for adventure.

This comprehensive Perth to Adelaide road trip itinerary lists all the best attractions I found, as well as the drive time and distance between each stop. I’ve also included my exact fuel cost based on my trip, recommended campsites and those all-important Nullarbor roadhouses to fill up on fuel.

Read on to plan your journey!

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Perth to Adelaide Drive Itinerary: Table of Contents

• Road Trip Highlights
• How to Plan Your Road Trip
• Perth to Adelaide FAQ Section
• 1. Perth: 3 days to 2 weeks
• 2. Yalgorup National Park: 1 day
• 3. Busselton: 1-2 days
• 4. Yallingup: 1-2 days
• 5. Margaret River: 2-3 days
• 6. Pemberton: 1 day
• 7. Walpole: 1 day
• 8. Denmark: 2-3 days
• 9. Albany: 2-3 days
• 10. Bremer Bay: 1-2 days
• 11. Esperance: 2-3 days
• 12. Nullarbor Plain: 2-3 days
• 13. Ceduna: 1 day
• 14. Elliston: 1-2 days
• 15. Port Lincoln: 2-3 days
• 16. Whyalla: 1-2 days
• 17. Adelaide: 2-7 days

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Adelaide to Perth Road Trip Highlights

• Snorkelling on a fun Shoalwater Islands Snorkel & Seafood Cruise.
• Hiking the 135km Cape to Cape Track in the Margaret River region.
• Enjoying a Margaret River wine, chocolate and micro-brewery tour.
• Exploring Yeagarup Dunes in D’Entrecasteaux National Park, the largest land-locked mobile dune system in the southern hemisphere.
• Visiting the beaches, coastal granites and blowholes in Torndirrup National Park.
• Meeting wild kangaroos on the bright whites beaches of Esperance.
• Looking down from the towering cliffs on the Nullarbor Plain.
• Trying fresh oysters in Coffin Bay National Park.

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How to Plan Your Perth to Adelaide Road Trip

Car Hire from Perth to Adelaide

Make sure you find the best price for car hire in Perth or Adelaide by using Kayak as a starting point. They compare hundreds of car hire sites to save you hours of research.

>> Click here to compare car hire prices and book your rental car <<

Planning Your Adelaide to Perth Drive Stops

If you’re driving from Perth to Adelaide and trying to plan your journey, I recommend splitting your journey into the following three sections like I did. Decide on the dates that you need to complete each section by, then plan your overnight stops in between.

Section 1. Perth to Esperance coastal drive: time 13 hours, distance 1,166 km

The coastal drive between Perth and Esperance is packed with beautiful national parks, stunning beaches, ancient rainforests and Australian wildlife.

You’ve also got a lot of populated towns along the way. I spent over three weeks in this section, and I’d recommend allocating up to two-thirds of your journey time here.

Section 2. Esperance to Ceduna via the Nullarbor: drive time 14.5 hours, distance 1,406 km

The middle section from Esperance to Ceduna takes you inland to Norseman then east across the Nullarbor.

This is by far the most monotonous part of the journey with little to see, and you will probably want to pass through as quickly as possible. I did this in three days with two overnight camping stops.

Section 3. Ceduna to Adelaide via Port Lincoln: drive time 11 hours, distance 1,042 km

The final section of the journey, between Ceduna and Adelaide, gets a lot more interesting, with some beautiful national parks and beaches, and the opportunity to swim with wild dolphins and sea lions in Baird Bay.

I’d allocate about a third of your time here. It took me a week, but I would have liked longer to add on the Yorke Peninsula.

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Perth to Adelaide FAQ Section

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1. Perth

Whether you’re starting or ending your road trip in Perth, it’s a beautiful city to enjoy. I lived there for five months when I first arrived in Australia and had an amazing time.

Perth has a much smaller feel than Sydney or Melbourne, but plenty of cafes, restaurants and nightlife as well as pretty scenery and beaches. You’ll find plenty of amazing things to do in Perth.

Perth Accommodation

You’ll find plenty of accommodation options in Perth. Make sure you book in advance, especially during the peak summer season or school holidays! Here are my suggestions of where to stay.

Perth House Sits

I discovered house sitting when I lived in Perth for five months and got lots of jobs straight away. It’s now my favourite type of travel accommodation in Australia, as it’s such a huge saving!

House sitting is when a person goes on holiday and arranges for a house sitter to stay in their home for free in return for looking after their pets and home.

Here are my recommended house-sitting sites.

• To start house sitting in Australia, I’d recommend joining Aussie House Sitters. I got plenty of jobs through them on my travels. and they’re one of the largest pet-sitting sites in the country.
• To house sit worldwide, a better choice is Trusted Housesitters. They have house sits in over 130 countries and offer unique perks, such as house sit-cancellation compensation. Click here to get 20% off an annual membership with Trusted Housesitters.

Read my blog post on how to become a house sitter to learn how to score free accommodation instead of forking out for hostels.

Perth Hotels & Motels

There’s a huge choice of accommodation in Perth, whatever your budget. The city centre is fairly compact and easy to walk around, and there’s also a free CAT bus service to get about. Enter your holiday dates into the search box below to look through Perth hotels, apartments and hostels.

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Perth Backpacker Hostels

If you’re looking for a hostel in Perth, I’ve stayed at the two below, and would recommend either if you’re looking for somewhere social but not a party place.

• Wickham Retreat Backpackers – I stayed here when I arrived in Perth, and moved into one of the landlord’s share houses with a friend I made for a few months afterwards. It’s a small place in East Perth with a homely feel.

• Spinners Hostel – I also spent a couple of weeks here before setting off for my road trip and really liked this one too. It’s in a great location in Northbridge, walking distance from cafes and nightlife, but far away enough to be quiet. It looks like it’s been refurbished since I stayed too.

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2. Yalgorup National Park

Once you’ve left Perth, Yalgorup National Park is a pleasant place to stop at if you have the time, with tuart and peppermint woodlands, elongated lakes and the Lake Clifton thrombolites – living, rock-like structures made from micro-organisms.

If you’re on a tight schedule, I’d skip this area and head straight down to Busselton or Margaret River.

Drive Stop: Penguin Island

A mere five-minute ferry ride from Rockingham, rugged Penguin Island in the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park is a beautiful place to visit.

I left Perth early in the morning, watched the sunrise from Kings Park and then spent the day on Penguin Island before driving down to Yalgorup to camp for the night. Here are some recommended tours and activities in the Shoalwater region.

• Rockingham Glass-Bottom Boat Cruise: This 1-hour scenic cruise on a glass-bottom boat explores the rugged Shoalwater Islands Marine Park, spotting wildlife both above and below the water. You’ll finish off by watching the penguin feeding on Penguin Island!
• Wild Dolphin Swim & Luxury Cruise: Fulfill your dream of swimming with wild dolphins on this fantastic luxury cruise in Rockingham. Wetsuit, snorkelling equipment and a snorkelling lesson is included, as well as lunch.
• Shoalwater Islands Snorkel & Seafood Cruise: This 3-hour sightseeing cruise passes three beautiful Shoalwater islands, stopping for a snorkelling experience along the way. All snorkelling equipment plus a seafood grazing platter is included.
• Rockingham Tandem Skydive: View the stunning Shoalwater scenery from above on this adrenaline-fuelled tandem skydive in Rockingham!

Distance and Drive Time

• Perth to Preston Beach, Yalgorup National Park distance: 127 kilometres

• Perth to Preston Beach, Yalgorup National Park drive time: 1.5 hours (allow extra time for the unsealed road to the campsite if staying overnight).

Yalgorup Accommodation

• Martin’s Tank Lake Campground: we camped at this site in Preston Beach.

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3. Busselton

Known for its 1.8km-long jetty that leads to the Underwater Observatory, the city of Busselton is a popular spot for holiday makers.

Busselton attractions include beautiful sheltered beaches, a busy foreshore, whale-watching tours from Geographe Bay and scenic drives and walks through the only pure tuart forest in the world.

Places to See on the Way 

Bunbury: this is Western Australia’s third largest city and a good stop-off point for lunch, coffee on the waterfront or to stock up on food. Climb the Marlston Hill Lookout if you have the time.

Distance and Drive Time

• Perth to Busselton distance: 223 kilometres

• Perth to Busselton drive time: 2.5 hours

• Preston Beach to Busselton distance: 116 kilometres

• Preston Beach to Busselton drive time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Busselton Accommodation

• BIG4 Beachlands Holiday Park: I stayed at this fun holiday park in Busselton and would highly recommend staying there!
• Ithaca 1896 Manor: located 400m from Busselton Beach, this 3* guest house has gardens, free Wi-Fi, a/c, and double rooms.

• Abbey Beach Resort: this 4*, beachfront resort has a gym, hot tub, sauna, two swimming pools, children’s playground and studios and apartments with kitchenettes.

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4. Yallingup

Popular with surfers, Yallingup is a coastal town with great beaches, heaps of art galleries, cave formations and easy access to the stunning 135km Cape to Cape Track that runs from the Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse down to the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse.

I’d highly recommend walking some short sections of this track as the coastal views from Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park are absolutely amazing. I walked from Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse to Sugarloaf Rock, which has amazingly clear water to swim in – albeit a bit chilly!

There are plenty of things to do in Dunsborough too, with its beautiful white beaches, whale-watching tours and much calmer water that’s perfect for swimming and snorkelling.

Distance and Drive Time

• Busselton to Yallingup distance: 35 kilometres

• Busselton to Yallingup drive time: 35 minutes

Yallingup and Dunsborough Accommodation

• Caves Caravan Park: this is the caravan park we stayed at in Yallingup. It’s in a beautiful leafy location and has camping sites as well as glamping tents, chalets and en-suite sites for caravans.

• Dunsborough Beach Lodge Hostel: if you’re backpacking, this hostel by the beach in Dunsborough has dorm beds as well as private rooms;

• Dunsborough Central Motel: this 4* motel is a five-minute walk from Dunsborough Beach and has an outdoor pool, hot tub and double or twin rooms.

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5. Margaret River

Probably the most well-known area in south-west Australia, holiday hotspot Margaret River is famous for fine food, wine, surfing and its general arty vibe; it’s definitely worth a visit. It has a small town centre surrounded by forest and plenty of amazing beaches.

You can enjoy a guided tour around Margaret River’s spectacular caves or stop by some of the beautiful vineyards for a Margaret River wine, chocolate and micro-brewery tour. I visited the Voyager Estate which was incredibly fancy but still very welcoming of us scruffy backpackers!

Distance and Drive Time

• Busselton to Margaret River distance: 51 kilometres

• Busselton to Margaret River drive time: 40 minutes

• Yallingup to Margaret River distance: 42 kilometres

• Yallingup to Margaret River drive time: 40 minutes

Things to Do in Margaret River

• Ngilgi Cave Semi-Guided Tour: Learn about the cave’s ancient history and Aboriginal culture before exporing the cave’s chambers at your own pace;
• Margaret River wine, chocolate and micro-brewery tour: This six-hour tour includes transport from your hotel to three boutique wineries, where you’ll make your own wine to enjoy with lunch at a local restaurant. You’ll pop into a chocolate maker and micro-brewery before heading back.
• Lake Cave fully-guided tour: You will descend a long staircase through a sinkhole to reach this pristine chamber where a lake reflects the crystal formations above.

Margaret River Accommodation

• RAC Margaret River Nature Park: read more about this eco resort in my blog post on what it was like to stay at the Margaret River Nature Park (formerly called Wharncliffe Mill Bush Retreat). The park is in a beautiful, forested setting in Bramley National Park. There’s lots of hiking and cycling trails as well as a camp fire and Wi-Fi. As well as camping sites, you can stay in dorms, eco safari tents and self-contained cabins! We paid around $30 per night to camp, but if you’re in a group, you could book a 5-bed dorm or a 5-bed safari tent.

• Margaret River Backpackers YHA: if you’re backpacking Australia, this YHA has dorm beds for those on a budget. I haven’t stayed here myself, but YHAs tend to have pretty good facilities;

• Bridgefield Guest House: this quaint and quirky guest house is a 10-minute walk into town and has a shared lounge with log fire and private rooms.

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6. Pemberton

You’re now entering Tall Timber Country! Surrounded by national parks, this leafy area is home to ancient forests of Australia’s hugely tall Karri trees. You can see it all in the Pemberton Karri Forest Explorer Drive!

If you’re not afraid of heights you can climb one of the fire lookout climbing trees. I took on the 75m Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree (which I hadn’t planned on doing but found much less scary than expected)! The views were  stunning!

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Whatever you do in Pemberton, make sure you visit the Yeagarup Dunes in D’Entrecasteaux National Park, the largest land-locked mobile dune system in the southern hemisphere. I can’t even explain how beautiful this area was – definitely one of my favourite sights on the whole trip.

Places to See on the Way:

• Hamelin Bay is known for its sting rays, wooden jetty ruins and gorgeous turquoise water, Hamelin Bay is well worth a visit before you head east. You can also head down to the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse and waterwheel at Australia’s most south-western point.

• Augusta is a pretty spot for a waterside picnic lunch (I saw dolphins and pelicans) if you have the time. We tried to visit the Jewel Cave in Augusta too but unfortunately it was closed due to a power cut!

Distance and Drive Time

• Margaret River to Pemberton distance: 135 kilometres

• Margaret River to Pemberton drive time: 1 hour 40 minutes

Pemberton Accommodation

• Big Brook Arboretum: we stayed at this national park bush camp, which was basic but very cheap.

• Leaning Marri: we also bush camped here at Yeagarup Lake. You can walk to Yeagarup Dunes from here, or drive if you have a 4WD;

• Karri Forest Motel: if you’re not a camper, this 3.5* motel has a swimming pool, fitness centre and free Wi-Fi.

• Treenbrook Cottages: for those on a higher budget, these cute self-contained cottages made from mudbrick or timber are set amongst 12 acres of native gardens. Each cottage has a log fire, kitchen, lounge with TV and undercover carport.

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7. Walpole

The Walpole Wilderness Area is still Tall Timber Country, but is known for its famous Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk through the 400-year-old red tingle forest in the Walpole-Nornalup National Park.

It’s a pretty cool place to visit, with ancient, burnt out trees and a forest walkway suspended 40 m above the ground!

Places to See on the Way:

Mount Chudalup: climb the 187m-high granite outcrop for 360-degree views of D’Entrecasteaux National Park and the coastline.

Distance and Drive Time

• Pemberton to Walpole distance: 126 kilometres

• Pemberton to Walpole drive time: 1.5 hours

Walpole Accommodation

• Coalmine Beach Holiday Park: we camped at this beautiful, relaxing, leafy site, which has excellent reviews. It’s right by the beach too! You can also stay in chalets or luxury glamping tents.

• Tingle All Over Budget Accommodation: this hostel has free bikes, free Wi-Fi and a shared lounge and garden. Dorm beds, singles and doubles are available.

• Tree Top Walk Motel: if your budget’s a bit higher, this 4* motel has an outdoor pool, bar and Wi-Fi.

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8. Denmark

Situated on Western Australia’s Rainbow Coast, Denmark is a beautiful place to explore, with amazing beaches, Karri forests and a cute town centre.

I highly recommend the arty Bibblumun Café; the free Wi-Fi and plug sockets came in very useful after all the forest camping!

Places to See on the Way

Shelley Beach:  nip down to West Cape Howe National Park and visit the stunning Shelley Beach and its amazingly located campsite.

This was one of the ultimate highlights of my Perth to Adelaide road trip, even though I lost my phone down the compost toilet there!

Distance and Drive Time

• Walpole to Denmark distance: 74 kilometres

• Walpole to Denmark drive time: 1 hour

Denmark Accommodation

• Parry Beach Campground – we stayed at this popular campsite that has a hippy vibe and plenty of facilities.

• Shelley Beach – we also stayed at this absolute beachfront bush camp in West Cape Howe National Park, halfway between Denmark and Albany.

• The Koorabup Motel – this motel is a 2-minute drive from Denmark town centre and has a range of rooms, from studios to 2-bedroom apartments.

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9. Albany

Less than an hour’s drive east of Denmark is the port city of Albany. It’s home to beautiful beaches and a great place to get out of the wilderness and make use of the shops if you need to stock up on anything during your road trip.

Be sure to visit Torndirrup National Park to admire the beaches, coastal granites and blowholes.

Albany Tours

If you prefer to travel with a guide, check out the following tours in Albany:

• Tour of Torndirrup National Park: This 3.5-hour tour includes highlights such as The Gap and Stoney Hill lookout as well as morning tea at Middleton Beach.

• Entry to Albany’s Historic Whaling Station: Learn about Albany’s whaling past, see a giant blue whale skeleton and climb aboard a preserved whale chaser ship.

• Guided tour of Albany Whaling Station and Torndirrup National Park: Enjoy a guided tour of the historic whaling station as well as a scenic tour of Princess Royal Harbor and a drive through Torndirrup National Park.

• Guided Granite Skywalk trip in Pongorup National Park: Marvel at spectacular scenery from the Granite Skywalk and hike to the summit of Castle Rock.

Distance and Drive Time

• Denmark to Albany distance: 56 kilometres

• Denmark to Albany drive time: 45 minutes

Albany Accommodation

• Acclaim Rose Gardens Beachside Holiday Park – we stayed at this lovely coastal holiday park in Emu Point, Albany, which has such a lovely location by the beach.

• Betty’s Beach – we also stayed at this beachside bush camp on Betty’s Beach Road, Many Peaks, 49km east of Albany.

• Albany Bayview Lodge YHA – this hostel, built in 1882, has harbour views, free breakfast, free Wi-Fi plus dorms and private rooms.

• Albany Apartments – if you prefer self-contained accommodation, these apartments have a/c and free Wi-Fi. Some also have a fully equipped kitchen and spa bath.

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10. Bremer Bay

A tiny coastal town at the mouth of the Bremer River, Bremer Bay is known for its amazing beaches. Unfortunately we had thunderstorms during our night there, but we did manage to catch a beautiful sunset during a dry spell!

Read my blog post to find out what to see in Bremer Bay.

If you’re interested in saving some dollars on your Adelaide to Perth road trip, you can also read about some nearby free camping grounds.

Distance and Drive Time

• Albany to Bremer Bay distance: 181 kilometres

• Albany to Bremer Bay drive time: 2 hours

Bremer Bay Accommodation

• Miller’s Point Reserve: we bush camped here on Millers Point Road, Beautfort Inlet, 50km west of Bremer Bay. It had basic facilities but was very cheap.

• Bremer Bay Beaches Resort & Tourist Park: we also camped at this holiday park, which had a lot more amenities.

• Bremer Bay B&B: this modern, waterside B&B has rooms with sea views, a shared lounge and great ratings.

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11. Esperance

The snowy white beaches of Esperance with their pale turquoise water are world famous, as are the kangaroos that like to hang out at Lucky Bay!

It’s a lovely town to stay in for a while, and Cape Le Grand National Park is well worth a visit. You might also want to make use of the free Wi-Fi in the Dome café and stock up on supplies before you make the journey across the Nullarbor!

Optional things to do in Esperance include  a day trip to Woody Island, a scenic flight over pink Lake Hillier in the Recherché Archipelago, or a visit to Pink Lake (that unfortunately isn’t always pink).

Distance and Drive Time

• Bremer Bay to Esperance distance: 398 kilometres

• Bremer Bay to Esperance drive time: 4 hours

Esperance Accommodation

• Cape Le Grand Campground: this national park campground is located 50km SE of Esperance and has a great location.

• Pink Lake Tourist Park: we stayed at this holiday park and really enjoyed the facilities.

• Esperance YHA: great for backpackers on a budget or campers wanting a break from their tent!

• Hospitality Esperance SureStay Best Western: this modern, beachfront hotel has a lovely swimming pool, bar, restaurant and free Wi-Fi.

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12. The Nullarbor Plain

This is where your Perth to Adelaide drive gets interesting, or to be more accurate, uninteresting. The Nullarbor, Latin for “no trees”, is 200,000 square kilometres of limestone bedrock, and is monotonous to say the least. There’s isolated, and then there’s the Nullarbor.

While there are a few sights to enjoy (such as a ruined telegraph station half buried beneath sand dunes), and crossing the Nullarbor is a once in a lifetime experience that carries a bit of a badge of honour in terms of Australian travel, you’ll probably want to get across it as quickly as possible.

Make sure you read my comprehensive guide to crossing the Nullarbor Plain to plan your trip safely. The planner includes everything from where to stay overnight and where to get petrol to interesting attractions and driving tips.

You’ll pass plenty of road trains on the Nullarbor, a few other travellers and a handful of road houses – basically petrol stations with cafes, overnight accommodation and usually metered showers. You can either stay the night at these or use the many free camping areas like I did.

You’ll want to split the drive over a few days; I crossed the Nullarbor in 3 days, with 2 overnight stops at the free camping areas listed below. I would heavily advise against driving after sunset because of the high risk of hitting kangaroos and having to navigate around road trains in the darkness.

Distance and Drive Time

• Esperance to Ceduna distance: 1,406 kilometres

• Esperance to Ceduna drive time: 14 hours 20 minutes

Nullarbor Accommodation

• Acclaim Gateway Tourist Park, Norseman: camping and caravan sites and cabins.

• Baxter Rest Area: free camp on the Eyre Highway, 114km east of Balladonia, 67km west of Caiguna.

• Border Village Roadhouse: unpowered caravan sites, backpacker rooms and motel rooms.

• Nullarbor Roadhouse: unpowered camping and caravan sites plus motel rooms.

• Bunda Cliffs Lookout: free camp on the Eyre Highway, 168km west of the Nullarbor Roadhouse – no toilets though!

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13. Ceduna

Back to life! Ceduna is an isolated port town at the eastern edge of the Great Australian Bight, home to an IGA supermarket and actual people, yay!

It was so weird and quite a relief to see humans and buildings again after the Nullarbor. I camped at Wittelbee, a convenient location to get to Baird Bay the following day.

Ceduna Accommodation

• Wittelbee Conservation Park – pretty but no facilities or toilets!

• BIG4 Ceduna Tourist Park – you can choose to camp or stay in a 1, 2 or 3-bedroom cabin at this tourist park.

• East West Motel Ceduna – just five minutes’ drive from Shelly Beach, this budget motel has free parking.

For more accommodation options in Ceduna, browse using the search box below.

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14. Elliston

I pretty much chose to stay here because it was a “proper” town, and I had a desperate desire for showers, flushing toilets and civility after crossing the Nullarbor!

The beach was lovely and I got to enjoy the most crimson sunset I’ve ever seen, teamed with a sting ray in the shallow waters and a rainbow behind me! Perfect!

Places to See on the Way

Baird Bay Ocean Eco Experience: this was actually the attraction that made me choose to travel from Perth to Adelaide.

This eco-friendly company is run by a local couple who take small groups out on their boat to swim with wild dolphins and sea lions. I can’t recommend this trip enough.

Distance and Drive Time

• Ceduna to Elliston distance: 235 kilometres

• Ceduna to Elliston drive time: 2 hours 30 minutes

Elliston Accommodation

• Waterloo Bay Tourist Park: we stayed at this basic holiday park which had a great location and all the facilities we needed.

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15. Port Lincoln

If you have the time, it’s definitely worth exploring more of the Eyre Peninsula. Port Lincoln is a city, so it’s a great place to stock up on road trip supplies before or after crossing the Nullarbor.

You can also visit beautiful Lincoln National Park and Coffin Bay National Park. The coastal scenery there is absolutely stunning! Coffin Bay is world-famous for its oyster farming, and I’d highly recommend stopping by to try some fresh oysters!

Things to Do in Port Lincoln & Coffin Bay

• Join a 3-hour Coffin Bay Oyster Tour: Cruise to an oyster farm in Coffin Bay and wade through crystal clear water to learn about this world-famous oyster region before tucking into 12 freshly shucked oysters!
• Explore Port Lincoln on a full-day tour: Visit Lincoln National Park, stopping to admire the view from Wanna lookout before stopping for a seafood lunch. Then meet local wildlife at Mikkara Station and finish at Winters Hill lookout.

Distance and Drive Time

• Elliston to Port Lincoln distance: 168 kilometres

• Elliston to Port Lincoln drive time: 1 hour 45 minutes

Port Lincoln Accommodation

• McKechnie Springs Farmstay: camping spots on a farm.

• Port Lincoln Tourist Park: this waterfront tourist park, where we stayed, offers camping, cabins and waterfront apartments, as well as free Wi-Fi, a children’s playground and a camp kitchen.

• Port Lincoln YHA: this central, award-winning hostel has free parking, internet and wheelchair-friendly fittings.

• Blue Seas Motel Port Lincoln: if you prefer the facilities of a motel, this budget option has free Wi-Fi, air-con and family rooms.

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16. Whyalla

I chose Whyalla based on a picture of a beautiful white beach I’d seen in a brochure, along with the fact that it was a town and I was sick of bush camping at that point.

I have to say we were a bit underwhelmed on arrival – the tide was out which made the sand squelchy and the sea look unswimmable, the beach looked nothing like the picture and the town is more industrial than we’d realised.

However, we ended up having a brilliant time exploring Whyalla! The caravan park was one of the best we stayed in and right on the beach. It even had a pizza oven!

The sea was deep enough for a swim in the mornings, and so close to our tent we could just stroll across in our swimwear!

Distance and Drive Time

• Port Lincoln to Whyalla distance: 268 kilometres

• Port Lincoln to Whyalla drive time: 2 hours 45 minutes

Whyalla Accommodation

• Discovery Parks – Whyalla Foreshore: we stayed at this fantastic, beachfront holiday park which has heaps of facilities plus camping sites and cabins.

• Foreshore Motor Inn: this beachside inn has a restaurant, barbecues and swimming pool.

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17. Adelaide

You made it! Time to be utterly flabbergasted by all the noise, traffic and life of a big city after your time with nature.

We drove straight from Whyalla to Adelaide as we had a house sit arranged for Christmas and New Year, but there are even more places to see in between if you have the time.

Plan your visit by reading my post on the best things to do in Adelaide.

Places to See on the Way

Yorke Peninsula: There are plenty more beaches & national parks in this area too if you have the time. Unfortunately we didn’t.

Distance and Drive Time

• Whyalla to Adelaide distance: 382 kilometres

• Whyalla to Adelaide drive time: 4 hours 15 minutes

Adelaide Accommodation

Use the search box below to browse through Adelaide hotels, apartments and hostels, or choose from my top picks below.

• BIG4 Port Willunga Tourist Park – for those of you camping or caravanning, this holiday park near McLaren Vale vineyards lies a one-hour drive from the city. It offers an outdoor pool, barbecues and a choice of villas as well as camping sites.

• Adelaide Central YHA – located in the heart of the city, this backpacker hostel has dorms, doubles and family rooms, as well as free Wi-Fi, large lockers, a communal lounge and kitchen.

• The MAC Boutique Hotel – this modern 3-star hotel in Adelaide city is only 200m from The Art Gallery of South Australia and has air-conditioned rooms with fridges and tea/coffee-making facilities.

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If you’ve been inspired by my Perth to Adelaide drive itinerary and decided to do the road trip yourself, you’ll have an unforgettable experience and take home a bucket load of great memories. Happy travels!