Adelaide to Perth drive across the Nullarbor
Adelaide to Perth is about 2,700 km, made up of 307 km to Port Augusta, the 1,675 km Eyre Highway across the Nullarbor to Norseman, then 726 km on to Perth. Allow about 29 hours of driving, which NRMA spreads over 9 days. Services are often 150 to 200 km apart, so plan each day around fuel, and check your rental agreement for a one-way fee and a daily kilometre limit.
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Key facts
- Total distance
- About 2,700 km: 307 km Adelaide to Port Augusta, 1,675 km on the Eyre Highway to Norseman, 726 km Norseman to Perth
- Drive time
- About 29 hours of driving: 3.5 hours to Port Augusta, 5 hours on to Ceduna, 3 hours to the Nullarbor Roadhouse, about 9.5 hours to Norseman and 8 hours to Perth. NRMA's itinerary takes 9 days
- Adelaide to Ceduna
- 307 km to Port Augusta, then 470 km to Ceduna
- Eyre Highway length
- 1,675 km between Norseman in Western Australia and Port Augusta in South Australia
- Norseman to Perth
- 726 km, about an eight-hour drive
- WA roadhouses from Norseman
- Balladonia 216 km, Caiguna 371 km, Cocklebiddy 436 km, Madura 527 km, Mundrabilla 643 km, Eucla 709 km
- Longest fuel gaps
- Norseman to Balladonia 216 km; Border Village to Nullarbor Roadhouse 184 km
- WA border checkpoint
- Eucla checkpoint at the WA/SA border on the Eyre Highway, open 24 hours a day, year-round; quarantine risk material must be declared on arrival
- Best months
- April to October, when temperatures are milder; summer temperatures can exceed 40 degrees
Adelaide to Perth
about 2,700 km (307 km to Port Augusta, 1,675 km on the Eyre Highway to Norseman, 726 km to Perth) ยท about 29 hours of driving, usually spread over 5 to 9 days at 300 to 500 km a day
Port Augusta
307 km
The eastern end of the Eyre Highway, about 3.5 hours from Adelaide. Fill the tank and stock up on water before heading west.
Ceduna
777 km (307 + 470)
470 km from Port Augusta, about 5 hours. The Nullarbor Roadhouse is roughly a three hour drive west.
Nullarbor Roadhouse
184 km from Border Village, the longest gap on the South Australian side. Fuel and accommodation here cost more than in the towns, and reliable phone coverage is limited to areas near here and Border Village.
Border Village and Eucla
709 km from Norseman (Eucla)
The WA/SA border. The quarantine checkpoint is on the Eyre Highway here, so finish fresh fruit and vegetables and honey before you arrive.
Caiguna
371 km from Norseman
The 90 Mile Straight runs between Caiguna and Balladonia, and Border Village is 350 km east of Caiguna, about 3.5 hours. Top up before leaving.
Balladonia
216 km from Norseman
Basic supplies and fuel. The Norseman to Balladonia stretch is the longest gap between roadhouses on the WA side, so start it with a full tank.
Norseman
726 km east of Perth
The western end of the Eyre Highway, about an eight-hour drive from Perth. Fuel up here before heading east.
- Perth
How far is it from Adelaide to Perth, and how many days does it take?
Adelaide to Perth is about 2,700 km. It is 307 km from Adelaide to Port Augusta, 1,675 km along the Eyre Highway to Norseman, and 726 km from Norseman to Perth, or about 29 hours of driving in total.
NRMA's itinerary spreads the trip over 9 days, and most travellers cover 300 to 500 km a day depending on how often they stop. Tourism Australia's Norseman to Nullarbor Roadhouse section takes four days. Set the day by roadhouse, not by hours: the gaps between them decide how far you can go.
Where are the fuel stops on the Nullarbor?
Distances from Norseman on the WA side are Balladonia 216 km, Caiguna 371 km, Cocklebiddy 436 km, Madura 527 km and Mundrabilla 643 km, with Eucla at 709 km. In South Australia, Border Village is about 350 km after Caiguna and the Nullarbor Roadhouse is 184 km after Border Village.
Services are often 150 to 200 km apart, and it is a good idea to top up whenever you can. The roadhouses are privately owned, so check facilities and fuel availability with the roadhouse before setting out. The longest stretches between the roadhouses listed here are Norseman to Balladonia (216 km) and Border Village to the Nullarbor Roadhouse (184 km), so start each of those with a full tank.
Can you drive a rental car across the Nullarbor from Adelaide to Perth?
The road is a sealed highway, so it does not need a 4WD, but the agreement is what decides. For example, Hertz's Australian terms say a one way fee may apply when you return the car to a different location, and that you are told at reservation whether it is permitted and what it costs. The same terms say a daily kilometre allowance may apply depending on the car and pick-up location, and a trip this long is a lot to check against one.
Hertz also lists driving on unsealed roads as a prohibited use. Side roads off the highway can be rough and are best avoided when wet, and a 4WD is needed for off-highway exploration, so read that clause before you leave the sealed road.
Is it safe to drive across the Nullarbor?
The road is sealed, so the risks are distance, fatigue and wildlife. After 17 hours awake your reaction time is equivalent to a blood alcohol level of 0.05 per cent, so plan shorter days rather than pushing on. Take extra care at dawn and dusk, when wildlife is particularly active near roads.
Carry extra water, fuel and supplies, and download offline maps, because mobile reception is limited or non-existent in many stretches.
What happens at the WA border quarantine checkpoint?
Western Australia runs a road checkpoint on the Eyre Highway at the WA/SA border near Eucla, open 24 hours a day, year-round. Quarantine risk material must be declared to a Quarantine Inspector on arrival, and the entry rules restrict fresh fruit and vegetables and many plant products. Hard frozen fruit and vegetables and commercially dried fruit are generally allowed, but honey is prohibited unless certified.
Before you cross, finish or bin fresh produce and honey, and check the current list on the DPIRD website or with the checkpoint on 08 9039 3227.
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Questions people ask
How long is the drive from Adelaide to Perth?
About 2,700 km and roughly 29 hours of driving: 307 km to Port Augusta, 1,675 km across the Nullarbor on the Eyre Highway to Norseman, then 726 km to Perth. NRMA plans it over 9 days, and most travellers cover 300 to 500 km a day.
Where are the fuel stops across the Nullarbor?
From Norseman: Balladonia (216 km), Caiguna (371 km), Cocklebiddy (436 km), Madura (527 km), Mundrabilla (643 km), Eucla (709 km), then Border Village and the Nullarbor Roadhouse in South Australia. Services are often 150 to 200 km apart, so top up whenever you can.
Can you drive a rental car across the Nullarbor?
On the sealed highway, yes if your agreement allows a one-way return and covers the kilometres. Unsealed side roads are usually not allowed.
What is the best time of year to drive across the Nullarbor?
April to October, when temperatures are milder. Summer temperatures can exceed 40 degrees.
Do I have to stop at the WA border for quarantine?
Yes. The Eucla checkpoint on the Eyre Highway is open 24 hours a day, and you must declare quarantine risk material. Fresh fruit and vegetables are restricted, and honey is prohibited unless certified.