Customer travel photograph at Kalbarri, Western Australia
Kalbarri, Western Australia. Shared by L. Thompson.

Read the travel-time guide

The comparison below lists 24 route variants with the minimum number of days we recommend for each, for travel without children. These are touring allowances, not minimum driving times: they include time away from the wheel, but they are not a daily schedule and can’t promise that current road conditions fit the plan.

Most variants have no distance listed, and we haven’t filled the gaps with direct city-to-city mileage. Choose your actual roads and overnight stops before you work out fuel range and daily distances. Weather, access, rest days and collection or return arrangements can all change the time you need.

Compare 24 touring routes

Scroll sideways to compare all columns.

Compare 24 touring routes — comparison
RouteElapsed daysVariant assumptions
Perth–Augusta–Esperance–Kalgoorlie–Perth17Via Bremer Bay and Cape Arid.
Perth–Darwin36Via Francois Peron, Karijini, Gibb, Mitchell, Purnululu and Kakadu; excludes Cape Leveque.
Perth–Broome15Via Francois Peron and Karijini.
Perth–Cape Range–Perth20Return coastal touring route.
Perth–Cape Range–Karijini–Cue–Perth25Coast and inland loop.
Perth–southwest–Kimberley–Kakadu51Via Augusta, Esperance, Kalgoorlie, Denham and Karijini.
Broome–Darwin18Gibb, Mitchell and Purnululu; excludes Cape Leveque, Kakadu and Litchfield.
Broome–Darwin, extended23Adds Cape Leveque, Kakadu and Litchfield. Confirm current access to each.
Alice Springs–Darwin22Includes nine days in the Red Centre.
Cairns–Perth55Via Normanton, Boodjamulla, Top End and Kimberley.
Perth–Red Centre–Darwin29Via Great Central Road.
Perth–Alice Springs18Great Central Road plus nine-day Red Centre visit.
Darwin–Broome–Darwin26Kimberley loop via Gibb River Road.
Darwin–Red Centre–Broome–Perth46Via Tanami and Gibb roads.
Adelaide–Alice Springs–Darwin28Via Flinders Ranges; excludes Red Centre touring.
Adelaide–Red Centre–Alice Springs21Via Flinders/Gammon Ranges and Oodnadatta.
Broome–Broome16Kimberley loop including Purnululu.
Cairns–Cape York–Cairns12Cape York return trip.
Brisbane–Cairns23Includes Cooktown and Bloomfield Track.
Sydney–Perth40Via Croajingolong, Flinders Ranges, Esperance and Augusta.
Sydney–Red Centre–Sydney70Via southeast, Mount Isa and Rockhampton.
Cairns–Alice Springs16Via Boodjamulla and Plenty Highway.
Darwin–Cairns19Via Boodjamulla and Normanton.
Adelaide–Alice Springs–Perth22Via Great Central Road.

Explore a route in detail

Use a route guide to work through the places you want to include. The family guide discusses a slower pace, longer driving days and off-road stops; read it alongside the comparison for travel without children.