Melbourne to Perth

Smart move Hydeyho

Pick the best bitumen route from Melbourne. Maybe Ballarat, Ararat, Horsham, Bordertown and on through SA? Once you get to Port Augusta and the Eyre Highway, there isn't much choice as you're not on a sightseeing tour. Do you need camp sites are you equipped to camp out? Most of the roadhouses have some form of camping area. If you want to bush camp - stop almost anywhere in the wide open spaces.

Stop before dark - too many animal hazards on the road for night time travel. Will you have a co-pilot? If you do, sharing the driving and having cat-naps means you can safely manage long days driving. If you get up just before dawn, and leave when light, you can get many hours travel before dark particularly this time of the year. You will also be following the sun even further lengthening the driving time - but only if you can share the driving.

Motherhen

Watching the sun set in the glorious west

Thanks Motherhen,

Yes, I will have a co-pilot and the Roadhouses seem to be a better option for camping.

Hydeyho, Melbourne to Perth is about 3,500k via the shortest route.
To complete that in 4 day is an average of about 900km each day.
Adelaide to Melbourne is about 700km, so at the end of the first day, you need to be west of Adelaide.
What to do to get there safely?
Take an extra few days.

Cheers,
Peter.
OKA196 Motorhome

G'day, from Iron Knob, head out to Mt Ive Station, good short cut, just takes longer............ You come out over near Ceduna.

Goseeaustralia is one of many similar on line route planners.

http://www.goseeaustralia.com.au/plantrip2.asp

It gives best route central Melbourne to central Perth (bitumen road) 3,418 kms and 42 hours - averaging around 80 + kms/hour. It could be done in four days. We travelled from SW of WA to Bundaberg to get our caravan in four days; up before dawn to ready to leave as soon as it was light and we drove until dusk sharing the driving. We didn't have lunch stops - car fridge behind me and i made lunch on a tray on my lap. Long days, short nights, but we got there.

Mh

Hydeyho

mate you dont have much choice in route but I can give you my experiences.

I have crossed the 'bour a few times and from Melb I would stop at Pt Augusta, then on to Caiguna or Cocklebiddy....with fuel at Ceduna and then Mundrabilla..otherwise they require a kidney for fuel.

That would get me into Noresman and into Perth in the third day with an afternoon arrival without any stress etc.

I drove solo for most crossings and found it enjoyable and swift, considering the stops you have available across the 'bour.

As directed dont drive at night unless you have a UHF and are confident chatting to the truckies and happy to sit up their butt for the night stretch...the roos and emus can be devastating.

Additionally the heat head wind is oppressive..it really makes the vehicle struggle...you are heading west so the wind will be in your favour but my Rodeo really felt the heat and jumped to life when the clouds crossed over.

Its a great trip just make sure your vehicle is in good order and dont speed...the WA coppers have your speed before you see them haha

All he best

Matt.

Suggest you take the Calder to Mildura, then to Morgan, Burra, Peterborough, Pt Augusta. Think it is a few km longer than via Adelaide, but quicker and easier because you avoid Adelaide city and suburbs.
In 2006 we did from just south of Port hedland, to Melbourne, with 5 nights' stops: Leonora, Balladonia, Nundroo, Peterborough, Bendigo. We were towing van. It was purely a Point A to Point B exercise in order to get home from a job for Xmas. No, wouldn't want to do it again - was around 50 degrees at Eucla, bushfires and head winds!

Hydeyho,

I drive Perth to Melb/Syd a couple of times a year. I leave Perth normally around 4-5am. Stop at Baladonia first night(don't get fuel there, fill up at Norseman at the servo in town, not the BP on the highway), Penong second night, the pub in Penong has great grub. Then normally drive through to at least Murray Bridge or if I have two drivers straight through. Best spots for fuel(read normally cheapest) SAFF at Nundroo, Caltex at Ceduna, Mundribilla Roadhouse.

I pick Baladonia and Penong as they let you have your dogs in the little caravan parks, as I enjoy having a nice warm shower after all day in the car. Otherwise just pull up where ever you like.

Matt

Hi, we have just returned from a return trip from Melbourne to Alice Springs. On the way we stayed at the Port Augusta caravan park, (Big 4) we were not too impressed, so on the return we stayed at the Mt remarkable national park Murray Creek camping grounds, they were wonderful. Cost us $17 for the park fees, hot clean showers, great wildlife to look at and pleasant shady spots. Great entry access and there were campers and vans there. It is about 40 minutes before you hit Port Augusta and is well signed. Much better option.

We've done that trip more times than I'd like to think about. We generally allow three days if we're just going from A to B but that involves a lot of night driving. I've not had too many problems with wildlife but have good lights. One trip was an exception to this with roos coming from every direction but from memory we only hit one.
I dislike driving with the sun in my face so usually pull over for a good break and a cup of tea around then.
Camping spots vary. I tend to avoid the road house camping areas, preferring the privacy of a "convenient spot" over a sleepless night due to rowdy neighbours. That is just personal preference. Some people like the company.
I don't think I've camped in the same spot twice. Different departure times and different amounts travelled make each trip unique. I just drive until I've had enough and then look for a good spot. On one trip that put us well into SA (from Perth) on the first day. Nice night, good music. Another trip; barely past Norseman!
The comment above, about getting west of Adelaide on your first day, is something I would agree with strongly. Time it right and you get through Adelaide after the traffic settles down a bit. After that, you've got an easy trip spread over three days. Tedious though. Don't be surprised if you get there sooner than you think!

Just as an aside and in no way a suggestion. I think I might hold the record for a crossing.

Albany to Rye (100k SE of Melb) in 54 hours, which included some sleep! Nissan Patrol TD towing a 2250kg Evernew.
We never drive of a night, but due to a family crisis, that night we did, right across the Nullabor. A extract from my 2002 travel diary reads :-

"We left Albany at 12.30 p.m. on Friday 2nd May and drove into Rye at 6.30 p.m. Sunday the 4th having travelled the 3,573 kms in 2 days & 6 hrs. We made two stops of 5 and 6 hours for sleep. We shared the driving and only hit one roo (saw thousands) thankfully no damage done. "

Worst part was that we both love the trip across the Nullabor and always camp out a couple of nights, and had to miss it, on that occasion.
My Dad was the person at the centre of the crisis and against all odds he is still going well to this day

Definitely not to be recommended

Just as an aside and in no way a suggestion. I think I might hold the record for a crossing.

Albany to Rye (100k SE of Melb) in 54 hours, which included some sleep! Nissan Patrol TD towing a 2250kg Evernew.
We never drive of a night, but due to a family crisis, that night we did, right across the Nullarbor. A extract from my 2002 travel diary reads :-

"We left Albany at 12.30 p.m. on Friday 2nd May and drove into Rye at 6.30 p.m. Sunday the 4th having travelled the 3,573 kms in 2 days & 6 hrs. We made two stops of 5 and 6 hours for sleep. We shared the driving and only hit one roo (saw thousands) thankfully no damage done. "

Worst part was that we both love the trip across the Nullarbor and always camp out a couple of nights, and had to miss it, on that occasion.
My Dad was the person at the centre of the crisis and against all odds he is still going well to this day.

Definitely not to be recommended!