Australia's western frontier. The Perth-to-Broome overland journey covers roughly 2,400 km on the inland Great Northern Highway or up to 4,000 km via the more scenic coastal route. Far less travelled than the east coast, this route rewards with empty white-sand beaches, world-class snorkelling at Ningaloo Reef, ancient gorges in Karijini National Park, and the otherworldly red landscape of the Kimberley. Transport options are limited, making a car or tour almost essential.
South to north (Perth → Broome) is standard. You start in the city with easy car-rental infrastructure and head into increasingly remote and spectacular country. Many travellers fly out of Broome or continue overland to Darwin.
Best Time of Year
May to October (dry season) is the only sensible window. The Kimberley and Pilbara are brutally hot and flood-prone from November to April. Many roads and national parks close in the wet season
June-August is peak season with perfect weather but higher prices and busier campsites
May and September-October offer shoulder-season value with good conditions
Stop-by-Stop Breakdown
1. Perth → Margaret-River
Distance: 270 km
Drive: 3 hours via the Indian Ocean Drive or the inland highway
Transwa bus: 4.5 hours, from $40 AUD (~$28 USD)
Stay: 2-4 days (wine, caves, surfing)
2. Margaret-River → Kalbarri
Distance: 600 km
Drive: 6-7 hours via Geraldton
No direct public bus -- Integrity Coachlines runs Perth to Geraldton; Kalbarri has limited connections
Stay: 2-3 days (Nature's Window, gorges, coastal cliffs)
3. Kalbarri → Monkey Mia / Shark Bay
Distance: 400 km
Drive: 4.5 hours
No direct public transport to Monkey Mia
Stay: 1-2 days (dolphin feeding, Francois Peron NP)
4. Monkey Mia → Ningaloo-Exmouth
Distance: 530 km
Drive: 5.5-6 hours
Integrity Coachlines: Can connect via the highway, but schedules are infrequent (3 times per week)
Stay: 3-5 days (snorkelling Ningaloo Reef, whale shark season April-July, manta rays)
5. Ningaloo-Exmouth → Karijini National Park
Distance: 600 km
Drive: 6-7 hours via Tom Price or Newman
No public transport into Karijini
Stay: 2-3 days (gorge hikes, natural swimming holes)
6. Karijini → Port Hedland → 80 Mile Beach
Distance: 500 km to Port Hedland, then 250 km to 80 Mile Beach
Drive: 5-6 hours + 2.5 hours
Integrity Coachlines: Services run through Port Hedland on the Perth-Broome route
Stay: 1-2 days (fishing, turtle nesting November-March)
7. 80 Mile Beach → Broome
Distance: 250 km
Drive: 3 hours
Integrity Coachlines: Services from Port Hedland to Broome
Stay: 3-5 days (Cable Beach, camel rides, Staircase to the Moon, pearling history)
Transport Options Compared
Self-Drive (Car/4WD/Campervan)
Car rental (Perth, one-way to Broome): From $50-80 AUD/day (~$35-55 USD) plus one-way drop-off fee of $300-800 AUD
4WD rental (needed for Karijini and some Kimberley tracks): From $120-200 AUD/day (~$83-138 USD)
Campervan: From $80-130 AUD/day (~$55-90 USD) plus drop-off
Fuel for full route: $500-800 AUD (~$345-550 USD) depending on detours
Pros: Only way to see the best stops, total flexibility, camp for free in many spots
Cons: Expensive for solo travellers, long drives, unsealed roads require care, one-way drop-off fees
Integrity Coachlines (Bus)
Perth to Broome direct: 35 hours, from $280-330 AUD (~$193-228 USD)
Hop-On Hop-Off Passes:
- 1,500 km pass: $269 AUD (~$185 USD)
- 3,000 km pass: $399 AUD (~$275 USD)
- 6,000 km pass: $724 AUD (~$500 USD)
Frequency: 3 services per week
Pros: Cheapest solo option, no driving fatigue
Cons: Very limited stops (highway only, misses Karijini, Monkey Mia, Ningaloo), infrequent services, long waits between buses
Backpacker Tours
Why Not Bus: Guided backpacker tour specifically for 18-39 year olds. Mix of camping and hostels. 10-13 days, from $2,999-3,750 AUD (~$2,070-2,590 USD). Includes meals, activities, and national park fees
Share Bus: Shared minibus rental where the group splits costs, from roughly $1,500-2,000 AUD per person (~$1,035-1,380 USD) for 10-14 days
Pros: All logistics handled, social, access remote spots without 4WD
Cons: Fixed schedule, expensive, less independence
Flying
Perth to Broome direct flight: From $200-400 AUD (~$138-276 USD) with Qantas or Virgin, 2.5 hours
Pros: Fast
Cons: Misses everything
Budget Comparison (Full Route)
Method
Approximate Cost (AUD)
Approximate Cost (USD)
Integrity bus (hop-on hop-off)
$399-724
$275-500
Self-drive car (shared between 3)
$600-900 per person
$415-620
Self-drive campervan (shared between 2)
$1,200-1,800 per person
$830-1,240
Backpacker tour
$2,500-3,750
$1,725-2,590
Flight (skip the middle)
$200-400
$138-276
Tips & Warnings
Fuel up at every opportunity -- distances between fuel stops can be 200-400 km. Carry a jerry can as backup
Road trains -- massive multi-trailer trucks share the highway. Pull well off the road and slow down when passing
Mobile reception -- largely non-existent between towns. Download offline maps, tell someone your route, and carry an EPIRB or satellite communicator
Flies -- from Geraldton north, the flies are relentless (May-September). Bring a fly net for your hat
Free camping -- WikiCamps app lists hundreds of free and low-cost campsites along the route. Many rest stops allow overnight stays
One-way drop-off fees -- some rental companies waive this during relocation season. Check Transfercar and Imoova for $1/day deals Perth→Broome
Karijini requires a car -- the national park is 100 km off the highway on unsealed roads with no public transport. A 2WD can reach the visitor centre and main gorges in dry season but 4WD is recommended for the full experience
Crocodile country -- saltwater crocodiles inhabit waterways north of Exmouth. Observe all warning signs and never swim in unfamiliar rivers or estuaries
Related Routes
Red-Centre-Alice-Springs-Uluru-Darwin -- continue overland from Broome to Darwin and south to the Red Centre
East-Coast-Sydney-to-Cairns -- the east coast counterpart