Come with us on the adventure through the red centre of Australia! Our drive from Darwin to Melbourne explores wildlife, waterfalls and an abundance of national parks, this is an adventure you’ll want to be a part of. Our road trip itinerary includes stops among one of the most national parks in the NT – Lichtfield & Kakadu National Park – as well as the famous Kings Canyons & Uluru! Start driving today…
Darwin to Litchfield Nation Park and Kakadu Nation Park
Day 1 – 3
We are going to start our day nice and early to get to Litchfield National Park (about 1 hour and 15 min) before the crowds, but keep in mind we don’t want to be driving here in the dark. Litchfield National Parl is a must see with amazing waterfalls, crystal clear pools and lots of wildlife. Explore here for a few hours and then set up camp at one of the campsites in the national park. From here you will head to Kakadu National Park, this is a World Heritage-listed national park which boasts natural waterfalls, perfect swimming holes and a variety of wild life. One of Kakadus most famous stops is Gunlom Falls and making a detour at the Magnuk to see the breath-taking blue waters.
Kakadu to Elsey National Park
Day 3 – 6
From Kakadu we will then head to the Katherine, this is about a 2.5 hour drive to arrive here but we are going to continue a bit past here after a quick restock of supplies in town to some jaw dropping natural springs at Elsey National Park, spend two days here to really explore the depth of each natural pool stopping at Mataranka, the Katherine Hot Springs and exploring Elsey National Park. If you have some time before stopping into Elsey National Park about 45 minutes before you enter Katherine is Nitmiluk National Park which is full or gores and swimming spots.
Elsey National Park to Uluru
Day 6 – 8
Leaving Elsey National Park, we will make our way down to the famous Daly Waters Pub for a quick drink and a photo before continuing our adventure making our way down to Alice Springs. So here we will do a few days of big drives staying the night at Devils Marbles, which as some amazing rock formations and make for great photos and just a lovely place to watch the stars.
From Devils Marbles, we will continue our drive to Alice Springs which is a 4 hour drive, once you arrive in the Alice you can restock on all the supplies you need and you can immerse yourself in the Aboriginal culture and get yourself rested and ready to make our way to Uluru.
Kings Canyon Walk
Day 8 – 10
Before we arrive in Uluru we will stop at Kings Canyon making sure we watch the sunrise at the top of the canyon, you want to be doing this walk before the heat hits you! Take your time in and take it all in as much as you can, as you won’t find anywhere else in Australia that looks like this.
After we arrive at Uluru there are some things to keep in mind, always be respectful of the culture held here, don’t climb the rock and always remove your rubbish. Uluru is one of Australis most iconic sights and its world heritage listed so we need to take care of it. At Uluru you need to watch both the sunset and the sunrise over the rock, it’s a view like no other.
Uluru to Coober Pedy
Day 10 – 12
Here we are going to make our way towards South Australia and stopping at Coober Pedy, this is a big drive from Uluru at about an 8-hour drive so if it is getting dark be sure to find somewhere to spend the night! Once you arrive in Coober Pedy you can explore the below ground residences which is what it is famous for. We have allowed two days for this leg of the trip to allow for rest times.
Coober Pedy to Port Augusta and Adelaide
Day 12 – 13
From Coober Pedy we will make our trip to Port Augusta, this is a town where you will restock your supplies and have a bit of a rest before hitting the road again. Port Augusta is full of history, with nice walks and museums to go to. If you are feeling up to it, from here you can go to Port Lincoln which is such a pretty destination, however it is 3 hours in the other direction then what we need to be travelling in, but if you have time it is a must see. From Port Augusta we will head to Adelaide for the night.
Adelaide to Halls Gap
Day 13 – 14
After leaving Adelaide we will make our way to Halls Gap, which is a perfect stop for the hikers! Halls Gap is situated in the Grampians National Park, this town is between rocky mountain peaks making for amazing views. This is a small village, but it has a lot of wildlife walking around like emus, wallabies and various birds. You can stay the night at the Halls Gap Lakeside Tourist Park. Take your time here and explore the last leg of your trip.
Halls Gap to Melbourne
Day 15 – 16
Now that it’s the last day of our trip we will have a nice relaxed drive back to Melbourne from Halls Gap, this is about a 3-hour drive. Stop as much as you can on your way back to Melbourne and take in all the little towns, you can stop in Ballarat for a nice lunch at one of the many cafes or pubs it has to offer!
Explore other popular road trips around Darwin
Check out some of our other popular road trips from Darwin
Looking for more? Check out other Darwin road trips. Find a huge range of different routes and road trip itineraries across Australia.
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Want to keep your budget in check while driving through the Northern Territory? Booking cheap campervan hire in Darwin as early as possible ensures you get a great price before demand spikes.
FAQs about Darwin to Melbourne road trip
The trip from Darwin to Melbourne is around 4751km, which would take 44 hours to do by car without many stops, if not longer. We recommend breaking this trip up into a 16-day road trip, doing a few hours a day and stopping at some of the attractions along the way.
There are many unique and spectacular stops to explore on the journey from Darwin to Melbourne. One highlight is Nitmiluk National Park, which remains open throughout the winter months.
Another interesting destination is Coober Pedy, known for its unusual and fascinating landscape. If you’re a wine enthusiast, a visit to the Barossa Valley is a must; here, you can enjoy excellent wines paired with delicious cheese. As you approach Melbourne, you’ll also have the opportunity to experience some beautiful beaches, such as the Garden of Eden.
Yes, you can pick up your campervan from our facility in Darwin and drive it through to Melbourne, where it can be dropped off at our facility.
There are fantastic free campgrounds to visit between Darwin and Melbourne. Here are guides to free campgrounds near Darwin, Coober Pedy, Ballarat, and Melbourne.
The dry season is typically the best time to start your journey from Darwin, which runs from May to September. During these months, the weather in the north is generally milder, with less rainfall and lighter winds, making your travel more enjoyable.
Yes, booking your campervan ahead of time is a brilliant idea. You’ll often get access to better rates during the slower travel seasons, and it removes one big thing from your to-do list. Knowing your van is already sorted makes planning the rest of your adventure much easier and less stressful.
Starting in Darwin, the entire route south is toll-free. You won’t see any toll roads until you’re deep into Victoria and approaching Melbourne, where CityLink or EastLink might come into play. Everything before that? No tolls, just long stretches of open highway.
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