Perth has two directions and both are enormous. Broome is 2,217 km north, Adelaide 2,613 km east, and neither is a trip anyone takes casually. The two that matter sit closer: Albany at 416, Exmouth at 1,407.
The southern run is the one to take first. Albany is 416 km of forest, wine country and coast, a real trip that returns to the same city and costs days rather than weeks.
That is the argument for going south. It is the only direction here where the distance and the time off work match each other.
Four distances from the city
- Albany416 km
- Exmouth1,407 km
- Broome2,217 km
- Adelaide2,613 km
Albany is the nearest of the four, and it is still most of a day.
South against north
| Direction | Km to the first stop | Days each way | Returns on itself |
|---|---|---|---|
| South | 416 | one | yes |
| North | 1,407 | two | not usually |
A week south, or a month north
The southern hire is short and returns to Perth, so a simple van is enough. The northern run is usually one-way, which makes the drop-off terms the first question rather than the last.
Explore Wicked Campers for campervan hire in Perth. Check vehicle availability and road restrictions with the operator.
Where this leads
the Coral Coast route north the south-west loop crossing the Nullarbor east
Perth questions
Is the south-west doable in a week?
Yes. Albany at 416 km is a day south and the forest and wine towns sit between, so a week gives you the coast and the return without hurrying.
Is Exmouth a return trip?
Rarely. At 1,407 km each way most people drive north and then fly back or keep going, so one-way terms decide the plan before the route does.
What does the inland route north skip?
The coast. The inland highway is quicker and has the fuel, but it misses the beaches and the reef towns that justify the 1,407 km in the first place.