Australia’s ultimate road trip
Barossa Valley, Eyre Peninsula and the Great Outback
Head out from Adelaide to the wine regions of the Barossa and Clare Valleys, which offer some of the New World’s finest wineries. Don’t forget to pair the alcohol with some excellent local produce, before exploring the road along the coast towards the Eyre Peninsula. Stop at Whyalla for the contrast between beautiful beaches and 100-year old steelworks, snorkel with sea lions at Baird Bay and search for whales from the clifftops at the Head of Bight. Along the way, stop at the various holes of the Nullarbor Links golf course, which runs for 1,265km between Ceduna and Kalgoorlie, where you can explore the famous super pit gold mine. End in Perth by exploring its food scene on a food walking tour down the backstreets of the Northbridge area.
Key information
Destinations | Whyalla, Baird Bay, Head of Bight, Perth, Barossa Valley, Nullarbor, Kalgoorlie, Adelaide |
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Activity | Nature & Wildlife, Culture, Culinary |
Physical Level | Easy |
Season | January - December |
Suggested itinerary
Begin your roadtrip in cosmopolitan Adelaide
Day 1 in Adelaide
Spend a day exploring Adelaide's renowned natural history museum — the South Australian Museum — and the Art Gallery of South Australia, known for its expansive collection of indigenous artwork.
Go wine-tasting in the Barossa Valley
Day 2–3 in Barossa Valley
Australia offers several excellent places to go wine-tasting, but none surpass South Australia’s famous Barossa Valley. Home to 150 wineries and more than 80 cellar doors, base yourself in one of its four towns and enjoy sampling some signature Shiraz wines.
Beaches and industry at Whyalla
Day 4–5 in Whyalla
Originally named Hummocks Hill, Whyalla is known as Australia’s “steel city” due to its steelwork and shipbuilding heritage. Whyalla has much more to offer than just industry though — the town is surrounded by beautiful beaches and dramatic outback scenery. With picturesque coastal walks, fishing aplenty and multiple beaches to lounge on, this gateway town to the Eyre Peninsula is well worth a few days of your time.
Snorkel with sea lions at Baird Bay
Day 6 in Baird Bay
This small fishing village on the west coast of the Eyre Peninsula presents tourists with the unique opportunity to swim with the friendly Australian sea lions and bottlenose dolphins who call this bay home. Its remote waters are also excellent for recreational fishing, and the area is known for its large number of King George Whiting.
Whale watching at Head of Bight
Day 7 in Head of Bight
Search for whales from the clifftops at the Head of Bight, one of only two locations on Australia’s south coast where southern right whales visit for calving season during their winter migration. The steep Bunda Cliffs which line this coast are part of the longest stretch of cliffs in the world and make for some fantastic coastal walks.
Play golf on the Nullarbor Links
Day 8–9 in Nullarbor
What’s so exciting about a golf course? The defining factor of the Nullarbor Links course is its 1,365km length, spanning the Eyre Highway from Kalgoorlie in Western Australia to Ceduna in South Australia. Its 18 holes are peppered along road stops in the outback, making this the world’s longest golf course.
Don a hard hat for a tour of Kalgoorlie’s super-pit
Day 10 in Kalgoorlie
Explore Australia’s gold mining country in little Kalgoorlie, but don’t miss the giant super-pit where you can watch some of the planet’s heaviest diggers cut a deep hole into Australian earth in a never-ending search for gold.
Finish your journey in Western Australia's thriving capital
Day 11–12 in Perth
Where the Swan River joins the southwest coast lies Western Australia's thriving capital city. With sandy beaches surrounding its laidback suburbs, the city is the perfect place to end — or begin — a roadtrip through Australia's desolate outback. Experience the city's food scene, boutique shopping and art galleries on a walking tour through the hip Northbridge neighbourhood.