14 Day Melbourne to Perth Road Trip

As you set off, the first stretch of your journey along Great Ocean Road will take you from Melbourne to Lorne. Some of our favourite places to stop at this stage of your road trip include:

Sightseeing 1: Torquay

Torquay is a lovely coastal town that is home to some of the nations best-loved surf beaches, including the famous Bell’s Beach, which is considered the surfing capital of Australia.

Torquay is also home to the Surfworld Museum, which has exhibits on surfing pioneers, memorabilia, and interactive videos. Perfect for any surfing enthusiast who wants to learn more about their favourite sport.

Sightseeing 2: Otway Harvest Trail

Along the way to Lorne, you’ll find the Otway Harvest Trail, which is an easy-to-follow route through the Otway Ranges. This is the perfect place to stop, stretch your legs, and grab a bite to eat or indulge in some wine tasting at the local breweries and restaurants.

You’ll also find the Birregurra markets here, selling local produce and artisan crafts that are ideal for collecting a memento of your trip or grabbing souvenirs for friends and family.

Day two of your Melbourne to Perth road trip will see you drive from Lorne to Port Fairy. This part of your journey offers some of Australia’s most beautiful scenery, with sandy beaches, native wildlife, and plenty of places to stop and sample local produce.

Here are our sightseeing highlights from Lorne to Port Fairy.

Sightseeing 1: Erskine Falls

Located in Great Otway National Park, Erskine Falls is a 30-metre cascade of water that is reachable after a short trek through a secluded rainforest. Don’t worry too much about the walk, though. There are steps that guide you straight to the waterfall, and after driving for a while, you’ll likely appreciate the opportunity to move your legs.

Sightseeing 2: Colac Botanic Gardens

Set across 16 hectares and situated along the banks of Lake Colac, the Colac Botanic Gardens is a fantastic place for plant and nature lovers alike to stop and see. Tree-lined paths guide you through the planting, and a playground offers children the opportunity to burn off some excess energy. Accessing the gardens by car is easy, and there is a parking area for convenience, too.

As you hit the road for day three of your Melbourne to Perth road trip, you’ll leave the small town with its ocean view and find yourself surrounded by the pine trees that line most of the highway, marking the borders of Mount Gambier Forest.

Sightseeing 1: The Giant Yambuk Slide

Just 15 minutes away from Port Fairy, you’ll find Yambuk Lake, which is home to the famous Giant Yambuk Slide. Measuring 33 metres long, this is a fun stop for children and adults looking to please their inner child. The steps to the top of the slide also offer beautiful views of Deen Maar (Lady Julia Percy) Island, so it’s worth a visit for this alone.

Sightseeing 2: The Blue Lake

Set within an extinct volcano crater, the Blue Lake takes its name from the turquoise colour it develops in late November and lasts through to February. Not only does The Blue Lake offer a wonderful view for road-strained eyes, but it also provides loop walking trails with multiple viewpoints throughout. Ideal for bringing the feeling back to your legs and taking in some fresh air.

Day four of your trip will take you across one of the longest driving distances in South Australia. With such a long drive, you’ll definitely want to get out and see some sights, and here are a couple of our favourites:

Sightseeing 1: Echo Farm

The perfect stop for animal lovers, Echo Farm offers the opportunity to interact with animals and nature as you walk around the 1940s buildings and explore everything the farm has to offer. Open six days a week, guided tours are available, or if you prefer to walk the grounds at your own pace, you’re welcome to do so.

Sightseeing 2: Tantanoola Caves Conservation Park

Here, you’ll find incredible caves set into a cliff face that nature has carved out through crashing ocean waves. The dolomite base rocks have coloured the caves in shades of brown and pink, giving them a truly unique appearance that needs to be seen to be believed. You’re able to take guided tours of the caves, and this is also one of Australia’s few wheelchair-accessible cave sites. There are also picnic areas on top of the cliff, offering a place to rest while being surrounded by incredible views.

There are beautiful areas to visit at this stage of your journey, many of which create some delicious Australian wine, as well as shopping opportunities to sample local produce.

Sightseeing 1: Barossa Valley

Your first stop as you drive from Kangaroo Island to Adelaide should be Barossa Valley. With more than 150 wineries and 80 cellar doors in the area, it will come as no surprise that wine tasting events are taking place wherever you look. There’s also a foodie trail that you can join here, taking you on a culinary journey through cheese, meats, wines, and bread. This really is the ideal stop for any food lover.

Sightseeing 2: Adelaide Central Market

With over 70 stalls to explore, each selling local produce, including fruits, vegetables, cheeses, wines, seafood, and more, a trip to Adelaide Central Market is the perfect way to finish up this foodie section of your South Australia road trip. Everything is under one roof as well, so it’s the ideal place to visit should you be stuck for something to do during heavy rainfall.

Day 6 of your Melbourne to Perth road tripping adventure will see you hit another long stretch of road. This section of road is ideal if you’re looking to learn more about Australian and local history, with some fantastic museums to scratch that knowledge-seeking itch.

Sightseeing 1: Koppio Smithy Museum

The first stop we recommend on this leg of your journey towards Western Australia is the Koppio Smithy Museum. Here, you’ll find an exhibit of ancient Aboriginal artefacts, along with original 1910 buildings, including a Bank of Adelaide Building and the smallest Post Office in the State.

Sightseeing 2: South Australian Aviation Museum

Founded in 1984, the South Australian Aviation Museum holds one of the largest displays of civil and military aviation artefacts in South Australia. Popular exhibits include a Victa Airtourer and a Fairey

The Port Lincoln area has so many awesome things to explore that it makes the perfect place to stop and have a day’s rest from driving, it’s also perfectly timed after the previous day’s epic 7-hour drive.

Here are some of our recommendations on how to spend your well-earned rest day.

Sightseeing 1: Glen-Forest Tourist Park & Vineyard

What could be better on a day off from driving than stretching your legs and seeing some cute animals? The Glen-Forest Tourist Park & Vineyard is home to koalas, wombats, ostriches, water buffalo, emus, and loads of other animals. It’s also the perfect place to spend an entire day, with picnic areas, a cafe with a pizza oven, and several drinks kiosks to relax, refuel, and even have an estate-grown glass of wine.

Sightseeing 2: Whalers Way

Whalers Way offers everything you need if you’re looking for a breath of fresh air after six days of driving. There are cliffs, blowholes, and caves to explore, along with beautiful beaches and incredible coastal views. Whale watching is particularly popular here, too.

You’re also able to camp overnight at Whalers Way, so why not spend your day relaxing on the beach, followed by a night stargazing over the ocean?

During this part of your trip, we recommend stopping to stretch your legs and breathe some fresh air at some of the most beautiful bays in South Australia.

Sightseeing 1: Coffin Bay

Incredible, sandy dunes and crystal clear waters full of wildlife are on offer at Coffin Bay. Whether you’re stopping for an hour to rest or you want to break the day up with a longer visit, Coffin Bay has plenty to offer with fishing, snorkelling, and boating amenities. You’re also able to book a tour of Coffin Bay, which ends with a delicious meal of oysters and local wine.

Sightseeing 2: Streaky Bay

A small coastal town, Streaky Bay is another beauty to visit on your Perth road trip, with native scrubland and surf beaches to explore and admire. There are a few walking trails to take advantage of here, and family days take place throughout the year, with activities such as “Family Fish Fun Day” and “Streaky Bay Races”. There are also cafes and restaurants that offer gorgeous views of the ocean as you stop, refuel, and gather your thoughts.

Along this stretch of road, you’ll find incredible sights, both manmade and carved out by nature, along with some beautiful scenic views from the road.

Sightseeing 1: Penong Windmills

Technically a museum, the Penong Windmills are a collection of windmills and is also home to Australia’s largest windmill. The highlight of this collection is “The Comet”, which is one of only 15 windmills made in Australia and was built to pump water for the steam train that ran from Adelaide to Perth. This is a great place to stop if you love history or if you simply want to see something unique.

Sightseeing 2: Blow Holes & Caves

There are loads of caves to discover as you cross into the Nullarbor Plain, and many are situated slightly off the main road. The Murrawijinie and Cocklebiddy caves are the most famous of these, and the Caiguna blowhole is another of nature’s wonders that is worth a visit as you make your way through the area. You may also get lucky and hear the blowhole “breathing” as the air pressure equalises between the cave and the surface.

Here, you’ll find both unique and poignant attractions, which are ideal for breaking up the long driving day and learning something new along the way.

Sightseeing 1: Norseman

A gem of the Nullarbor Plain, Norseman was established in 1894 following the discovery of a rich vein of gold in the area. Here, you’ll find the world’s longest golf, tin camel statues that commemorate the camel trains used to carry freight in the area’s early days, and a “Historical Collection” featuring a portion of Skylab.

Sightseeing 2: Salmon Gums War Memorial

As you make your way towards Salmon Gums, you’ll find the Salmon Gums War Memorial, which is a part of Australia’s “Places of Pride” project. Here, you can pay your respects to those lost in wars, admire the cenotaphs, statues, trees, and obelisks that represent them, and learn more about Australia’s history.

This area is well known for its natural beauty. We’ve selected a couple of the best spots that are well worth visiting on this stretch of your road trip.

Sightseeing 1: Lake Hillier

One of the most awe-inspiring sights in Western Australia, Lake Hillier is situated 11km from Cape Arid National Park and is separated from the ocean by a strip of sand. Being so close to the ocean, it has a high level of salinity, and this is what gives the waters their bright pink appearance.

Sightseeing 2: Cape Le Grand National Park

With bays, beaches, and bush walks, Cape Le Grand has something for everyone to enjoy. You can also spot some incredible wildlife here, including a plethora of wildflowers and grey kangaroos. So, whether you want to break your journey up with a hike or you want to hit the beach, this is a must-visit place on your Melbourne to Perth road trip.

A longer day than the aforementioned, the road from Esperance to Albany still affords you some time to stop and admire the beautiful areas along the way, though.

Sightseeing 1: Lucky Bay

Considered to be one of the most beautiful places in Western Australia, Lucky Bay has picturesque beaches and clear waters. Kangaroos can be spotted hopping along the coastline, and there are several walking tracks to explore the area a little closer. Of course, you can simply sit back and relax, taking in the amazing view before you’re ready to hit the road again.

Sightseeing 2: The Gap and Natural Bridge

As you hurtle towards Western Australia, take a moment to stop, breathe, and take in the majesty of The Gape And Natural Bridge. Offering views of the Southern Ocean, this stunning scenery carved out by the crashing waves and winds has a viewing platform that will offer an unforgettable experience. The parking area is close by as well, and there are picnic areas to stop and rest at.

The penultimate day of your Melbourne to Perth, this is one of the most fun areas to explore, with something for all the family to enjoy.

Sightseeing 1: Chainsaw Sculpture Drive

Showcasing amazing chainsaw art from all over South Australia and Western Australia, Chainsaw Sculpture Drive is considered one of Albany’s top tourist attractions. It’s also free to attend, although an honesty box system is in place should you wish to contribute to maintenance and upcoming projects.

Sightseeing 2: Sunflowers Animal Farm

Situated in Ludlow, Busselton, Sunflowers Animal Farm offers the opportunity to pet and feed some super-friendly farm animals. Animals you can meet include kangaroos, ducks, goats, guinea pigs, llamas, ostrich, sheep, chickens, and loads more.

As you start making your way towards the bustling activity offered in Perth, you’ll have the opportunity to stop and explore national parks and gain panoramic views of the city skyline.

Sightseeing 1: Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park

We recommend making the Leeuwin-Naturalise National Park the first stop on this leg of your road trip. Here, the Wardandi people are recognised as the traditional owners of the land, and you’re offered incredible views of the ocean, along with forests to explore. There are several trails to take, depending on how long you wish to spend in the park, and the clifftop views offer a place to sit and enjoy whale watching.

Sightseeing 2: Lotterywest Federation Walkway

Running 620 metres through the Western Australia Botanic Garden, the Lotterywest Federation Walkway is an arched bridge surrounded by a canopy of eucalyptus leaves. Not only is this a truly unique experience, but you’re also offered stunning views of Swan River and Canning River while immersing yourself in flora, fauna, and Aboriginal art.

There you have it – everything you need to plan the drive for your Melbourne to Perth road trip. By now, you’re likely itching to get out on the road and start exploring, so why not get some more information on hiring a campervan in Melbourne? Or, if you want some more ideas on what to do from your starting point, check out some more Melbourne road trip ideas here. You can also start from Perth, so don’t forget to check out our latest deals & specials on campervan hire in Perth.