Nullarbor Net
Sydney to Perth Drive
Sydney to Perth by road is about 4,100 kilometres — usually via Adelaide and then across the Nullarbor on the Eyre Highway. The Nullarbor crossing itself, Ceduna to Norseman, is 1,206 kilometres of roadhouses, big skies and the Great Australian Bight.
The distances
| Leg | Approx. distance |
|---|---|
| Sydney to Adelaide | about 1,400 km |
| Adelaide to Port Augusta | 307 km |
| Port Augusta to Ceduna | 468 km |
| Ceduna to Norseman (the Nullarbor) | 1,206 km |
| Norseman to Perth (via Coolgardie) | 725 km |
| Sydney to Perth | about 4,100 km |
Our Perth to Adelaide and Eastern Australia trip planners route via Kalgoorlie and Streaky Bay, which adds about 95 km — use them for distances between any two stops.
How many days?
Allow two days from Sydney to Adelaide, then four to six days from Adelaide to Perth. Six days in total is about the minimum and means long days at the wheel; eight is comfortable.
Eight days, Sydney to Perth
| Day | Drive | Approx. |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Sydney to Adelaide | about 1,400 km |
| 3 | Adelaide to Kimba | 465 km |
| 4 | Kimba to Ceduna | 310 km |
| 5 | Ceduna to Nullarbor Roadhouse | 299 km |
| 6 | Nullarbor Roadhouse to Cocklebiddy | 470 km |
| 7 | Cocklebiddy to Norseman | 437 km |
| 8 | Norseman to Perth | 725 km |
Driving Perth to Sydney, reverse the order.
Plan your days around daylight. Wildlife is most
active at dawn and dusk, so aim to finish each day well before sunset. Accommodation on the
remote stretches can fill up, so book well ahead where possible.
Worth stopping for
- The Bunda Cliffs and the Head of Bight — Southern Right Whales, June to October.
- The 90 Mile Straight between Balladonia and Caiguna.
- Nullarbor Links, the world's longest golf course.
- Cactus Beach near Penong, and the oysters at Ceduna.
Before you go
- Fuel stops and distances — the longest gap is 191 km.
- Quarantine rules — no fresh fruit, vegetables or honey across the border.
- Time zones — up to two and a half hours' difference.
- Free camps and rest areas if you're towing or camping.
- The free printable checklist (PDF).
More Nullarbor planning
- Crossing the Nullarbor: the complete guide
- Nullarbor Links golf course
- EV charging on the Nullarbor
- Free camps and rest areas
- Perth to Adelaide drive
- Melbourne to Perth drive
- Nullarbor fuel stops and distances
- Nullarbor quarantine rules
- How many days to cross the Nullarbor
- Nullarbor time zones
- The 90 Mile Straight
- The Bunda Cliffs
- Best time to cross and weather
- Towing a caravan across the Nullarbor
- Phone coverage and emergencies
Spotted something out of date? Please let us know.