Ultimate Perth to Darwin Road Trip Itinerary for Families

Forget the East Coast crowds and follow-the-signs tourist routes. This Perth to Darwin road trip itinerary for families goes the other way. Get ready for wilder landscapes, as many highlights, but fewer crowds.

We covered 4,500 km in a 4WD camper over 5 weeks, travelling with our then 11-year-old through Western Australia and the Northern Territory. We found it way less intimidating than it looks on a map.

It was hands down our best family trip yet. And that says something with 50+ countries under our belts.

We swam in remote gorges, made friends with curious kangaroos and whale sharks, and camped under the clearest skies.

If you’re wondering whether this 5 week itinerary is doable with kids: it absolutely is, but there are route options for shorter trips as well. 

Simply pick the itinerary that fits the pace your family likes, and the ages of your children.

With this itinerary and helpful tips about self-driving through Western Australia and Northern Territory, safety tips while on the road, and other planning tips you can enjoy the same awesome trip.

Why Road Trip from Perth to Darwin with Kids

When you are thinking about an epic road trip with your family, Australia must be on your radar. It’s the most popular travel destination in Oceania. The country is known for its rugged outback and extraordinary national parks.

Most people focus on Australia’s famous East Coast. Everybody knows about the Great Barrier Reef, the Blue Mountains and the Opera House in Sydney.

The East Coast will amaze you. But, if you’re looking for a beautiful coastline, a relaxed atmosphere, dramatic gorges and a stunning reef to explore you shouldn’t overlook the West Coast.

The West Coast has all of that and more, but it’s quieter and more rugged than the East Coast.

A Perth to Darwin family road trip is one of the best Australian road trips you can do with kids.

5 Week Perth to Darwin Family Road Trip Itinerary

This is the full route, every stop included. If you’ve got 5 weeks and want to see it all, this is your itinerary. If you’re working with less time, scroll down to find out what you can fit in 4 weeks or less.

Day 1-2: Perth

Perth is a nice town with great food and a tropical climate. Stay here for 1 or 2 days. After this short city trip you take off in your 4WD, with a rooftop tent, a fully loaded freezer and/or cooler and a great mood, because this is when the magic starts.

If you have more time be sure to check out the former prison in Fremantle to learn more about the time when Great Britain set foot in Australia.

Kid tip: We took a day trip to Rottnest Island to see the quokkas. Our teen took about 70 quokka selfies from an appropriate distance (aka: no touching with respect for wildlife). If you have the time it’s worth the ferry ride from Perth.

Here are all your accommodation options in Perth

Top tours in Perth with kids

Day 3: Perth – Yanchep NP

Perth

On our 3rd morning we picked up the 4WD camper, stocked up on groceries, tested out the camper setup, before starting our family road trip to Darwin.

Yanchep National Park

On your first day you will only take a short drive, 55 km, to Yanchep National Park.

You can spot koalas here and check out stalactites in the Crystal Cave, and swim in the Yanchep Lagoon.

This park is a gentle introduction to camping in WA. We all passed out fast on our first night, the fresh air works wonders.

It’s not too touristy either. And there are a lot of Grey Kangaroos humping around, which will totally make your day.

We were sitting in front of our Troopy with a beer in hand and they were chilling right in front of us. Slowly the sun went down and it was a great experience that made for a great first day! And oh, did I mention you can also spot koalas here? You can and they’re adorable.

Day 5: Cervantes

Cervantes is a small fishing town about 190 km north of Yanchep NP and the perfect base for exploring Nambung National Park. It’s got everything you need after a few days of camping: a supermarket, a petrol station, and a handful of decent spots to eat.

It’s not a destination that’ll keep you entertained. Stock up on groceries, and gas and stay the night here before heading into the Pinnacles the next morning.

The drive into Cervantes along the coast is genuinely lovely. If your kids have been sitting in the car for a while, the beach at Cervantes town is a good legs-stretch stop before you set up camp.

Day 6: Cervantes – Nambung NP – Geraldton – Kalbarri

Cervantes

In the morning you’ll leave Cervantes to drive about 20 minutes to get to Nambung NP.

Nambung National Park

The highlight in this NP is the Pinnacles Desert. The otherworldly limestone formations blew all our minds, and because it’s a relatively short visit, it’s a great stop to break up the drive.

Everyone knows about the Pinnacles, so it’s touristy, but definitely still worth a visit. And to be fair: it’s still far quieter than any other tourist spot on the East Coast of Australia.

Spend a few hours walking through this park, before driving to Geraldton.

Top tours to the Pinnacles Desert with kids

Geraldton

Geraldton sits about 220 km north of Nambung NP and is the largest city you’ll pass through between Perth and Kalbarri. It’s a practical overnight stop but don’t dismiss it too quickly.

The HMAS Sydney II Memorial is one of the most moving war memorials in Australia and well worth a visit with older kids.

The beaches are good, the supermarkets are well stocked, and it’s one of the last places to fill up properly before the route gets more remote.

We filled up, restocked groceries, and made a quick stop at the memorial.

Kalbarri National Park

Drive 155km to Kalbarri NP and spend the night there.

Day 7: Kalbarri National Park

Western Australia is filled with gorgeous national parks, so if hiking is your thing, you’ll love WA! The first one you’ll visit is Kalbarri National Park.

Kalbarri delivers dramatic gorges and family-friendly hikes. Nature’s Window is an easy win for all ages, and the 10 km loop route through the gorge is a beautiful hike.

The Kalbarri Skywalk is also worth adding to your list. It opened in 2020 and offers jaw-dropping views over the gorge from a cantilevered platform, so no hiking required.

Both routes work for kids, but bring enough water when it’s hot as well as hats and sunglasses. There aren’t many shady places around.

Our son declared the loop hike “the worst idea ever” around kilometer 7, but a surprise kangaroo (a joey!) sighting perked him right up.

Day 8: Kalbarri NP – Peron NP

Kalbarri NP

Because of the heat we did 1 hike a day, but if you’re in a hurry you can also do both in one.

Peron NP

Done hiking? Drive on to Peron NP in 5 hours. 

Do note you need a 4WD to get here. You’ll drive through sand and dust the whole way.

There are multiple free camping spots there. Herald Bight gave us front-row seats to dolphins, all while doing laundry, no less. It was one of the best campsites in WA for us.

Top Tip: On your way to Peron NP, stop at Overlander Roadhouse for the best hamburger you have ever had. It’s located on the right a few kilometers before you take a left to the national park.

Day 9: Peron National Park (4wd only)

Spend at least 1 whole day exploring Peron NP. Rugged roads, no crowds, beaches and dunes to explore, and the reward of beachfront camping.

Ain’t nothing better!

Coral Bay

Drive to your campsite for the next few days. This will take you about 6 hours from Peron, so buckle up and enjoy a well deserved hang on the beach once you arrive.

Day 11-12: Coral Bay & Ningaloo Reef

Remember that I promised you a beautiful reef? It’s time to spend a few days at the amazing Ningaloo Reef.

This is your recharge stop! Book a camping spot in Coral Bay for a few days to charge your battery after all that traveling. Or stay at a campsite in Cape Range National Park.

Relax and swim, dive, bbq and do a whale shark tour. Ningaloo Reef is Australia’s most accessible coral reef.

The area is cheaper than around the Great Barrier Reef. If I have to compare the 2: Great Barrier Reef is more diverse on all accounts, but I’d go for Ningaloo Reef where you get the chance for more intimate wildlife encounters.

The whale shark tours aren’t much fun for younger children. The tour operators won’t let younger kids snorkel (too deep and dangerous). Our son got bored, so I stayed with him, while Thijs swam with the whale shark. It’s a great family outing for families with kids 14 and up.

Ethical Whale Shark Tours

My second tip: swimming with a whale shark is a great experience. Just make sure you check out which company does it sustainably.

We booked the tour with Coral Bay Eco Tours and enjoyed it very much. We didn’t only see the whale sharks, but also dolphins and whales.

Day 13: Coral Bay – Tom Price

Coral Bay

After breakfast we left our campsite. We skipped driving further up to Exmouth and instead drove back to National Highway 1 to get to our next destination in 7 hours. After this the stretches will be a bit shorter. You now have the longest drives behind you.

Tom Price

Spend the night in miners town Tom Price and fill up on gas and do groceries to get you going for the next few days. The grocery store felt like a luxury after a few remote stops.

Check in at the campsite, do laundry, chill and cook.

Day 14: Tom Price – Karijini NP

Tom Price

Leave early in the morning to get to your next stop in just 1 hour!

Karijini National Park

Karijini NP is a showstopper and I highly advise you to stay at least 2-3 nights here. The one thing we’d do differently on this trip is stay longer than 2 nights.

We arrived at the camping ground (Dales) in the evening and had a full day to hike the next day.

Day 15: Karijini National Park

We went to Oxer Lookout first, where you get rewarded with a great view of 3 gorges coming together. After that it was time to hike and we walked to Fern Pool and then back to Circular Pool.

We brought water shoes for everyone, and they saved the day. We loved swimming in Fern Pool, especially after learning it’s a sacred spot for locals descending from the First Peoples. That opened up a great conversation about respecting traditional land.

After a picnic at Circular Pool we hiked back to the Threeway Lookout before walking back to Dales Campground, enjoying our surroundings, in little less than an hour. 

Day 16: Karijini NP – Port Hedland – Eighty Mile Beach

Karijini National Park

We left the next morning, but if you can stay a little longer to explore Hancock Gorge, and Knox Lookout.

Port Hedland

It’s a long drive from Karijini to Eighty Mile Beach (550km). So a break is necessary to fuel up on energy, gas, and a meal or a snack.

Port Hedland is a great place to do all this. You have driven 300km, so time for a break.

Port Hedland is the world’s largest bulk export port, and the scale of it is genuinely fascinating. Massive ore carriers lined up on the horizon, conveyor belts stretching into the sea, huge piles of salt, and red dust on everything.

The Don Rhodes Mining for Western Australia Museum gives context to what you’re seeing all around you. To be honest, we skipped this one, because we only had time to do one thing here, before moving on.

And that was a short visit to The Pretty Pool nature reserve on the edge of town. It’s a good stretch-the-legs stop. And here’s where we enjoyed a picnic.

Practically speaking, Port Hedland is essential. Fuel up, restock groceries, and use the facilities before the long haul to Eighty Mile Beach.

Eighty Mile Beach

After all the hiking, drive the last 250km to your next beach destination: Eighty Mile Beach.

Day 17-18: Eighty Mile Beach

After all the hiking, this beach was the exhale we needed.

Just don’t plan on swimming, sharks and currents say no thanks 😉. 

This is the perfect place to just chill, play games, read books, and bbq. We hung hammocks, grilled sausages, and chilled in the sand while the sun went down. Zero agenda, maximum recharge. A little WA vacation in the middle of an active family road trip.

If you like fishing then this supposedly is the place to be. There were lots of people leaving the campsite with their fishing rod and returning with lots of fish to put on the barbie.

Day 19: Eighty Mile Beach – Broome

Eighty Mile Beach

It’s time to swap the beach for the next city. Get in your vehicle for the next 4 hours (370km).

Broome

Next up is Broome, a place where there’s lots to see and do.

There are many campings in Broome. It is really popular with Grey Nomads, families and backpackers.

It was really the only place where we drove for hours before we had any luck and that’s only because the guy at the reception saw my despair after the 10th no and looked at my very tired boy who almost started crying. He gave us a spot that wasn’t officially a camping spot, but we were really grateful.

The moral of the story is, if you visit Broome during high season, then you should book ahead.

Day 20: Broome – Gibb River Road – Bandilngan NP

Broome

Broome is a place where you’ll find many things to do, but too little time to do it all.

Highlights include:

• Driving onto the famous Cable Beach with your 4WD, cooking and eating there while people are riding camels (yes, really: camels, this is NOT an animal friendly activity!)
• Visiting a pearl farm
• Check out dinosaur footprints at Gantheaume Point (kids love it!)
• Visit the Bird observatory
• If you’re here between May and October you have to watch the sun go down at the beach to see the Staircase to the Moon

Check out the best things to do in Broome. Local Wendy shares 40+ great things to do in this Kimberley destination.

Top tours in Broome with kids

Gibb River Road

Not so much a place to stay, but a road not to miss. You need a 4WD for the majority of the time, and permission from your rental company to drive this road. We checked this before we booked our 4WD, because we didn’t want to miss it.

Your first visit is to the Prison Boab. A Boab with a horrific background story. First Peoples used to get strapped to it in the scorching heat as punishment, mostly for petty crimes or even just the hint of suspicion of a crime they might have committed.

A visit to the Prison Boab will teach your kids and you more about the racism the original inhabitants of Australia had to cope with (and sadly still have to endure, like most minorities in the world).

Our teen was quiet for a while after that stop. Later, he asked if we could read more about Aboriginal history during the trip. That moment alone made the bumpy roads worth it.

Bandilngan National Park

Then it was time to get our camp set up for the night on the Gibb River Road at a national park called Bandilngan.

Day 21-22: Bandilngan National Park (aka Windjana Gorge)

Today you’ll hike through the gorgeous Windjana Gorge and observe hundreds of freshwater crocs. No, I’m not exaggerating!

It is a loop, because there is only 1 way to enter and exit the gorge. The good news is that you will see all those crocs again on your way back. Believe me, it won’t get old.

Oh and don’t forget to look up into the trees. You’ll find lots of fruit bats hanging down from the branches. Just follow the scent and you’ll find them easily… they’re a smelly bunch.

Enjoy the rest of the day at the campsite, where you’re allowed to make a campfire, and where you can enjoy a hot shower and, if you’re lucky, a night full of stars.

Day 23: Bandilngan NP – Tunnel Creek – Halls Creek – Caroline Pool

Bandilngan NP

Our plan was to drive the complete Gibb River Road, but a cracked windshield forced us off. It happened right after our next stop after leaving Bandilngan in the early morning.

Tunnel Creek

Hiking through a creek in a cave/tunnel wading through ankle high water? Yes, please.

It’s a beautiful short walk that will lead you into a cave filled with bats, and then into an open space filled with trees and plants.

Then you have to turn back the way you came, and that’s when we found out we’d been wading through water that is also inhabited by sweetwater crocs. They avoid people, so don’t worry, but do keep an eye out for them. We weren’t aware of it on our way into the tunnel, so now you know 🙂.

You really don’t want to miss this one hour stop.

Halls Creek

So after leaving Tunnel Creek a huge pebble cracked our windshield and we left the Gibb River Road to get to the nearest town with a mechanic.

We went to Fitzroy Crossing first, but they didn’t have the right windshield. No idea if Fitzroy Crossing should be part of your itinerary, but it didn’t look like much. It might be a good stop for groceries, a meal and a full tank, but I don’t believe there’s much else you should stick around for from what we saw while driving through it.

On our quest for a new windshield we headed to a smaller town with a mechanic that could help us: Halls Creek.

It’s about 320km from Tunnel Creek straight to Halls Creek. We’ll just forget about driving to Fitzroy Crossing for nothing…

We dropped off our troopy and explored the town and had some lunch.

Caroline Pool

It was already the end of the day and we were warned not to drive in the dark, to avoid literally running into a kangaroo.

We had to find a place to camp and found an absolute pearl of a place. Right next to Halls Creek!

We landed at an amazing free campsite at Caroline Pool. 

With no service and almost no other campers around, we lit a fire, watched wildlife drink from the creek, told each other spooky stories, and roasted the last of our marshmallows.

That night was chaotic, unplanned, and absolutely perfect. Do pay it a visit if you’re in the area!

Day 24: Halls Creek – Kununurra

Halls Creek

No car trouble? Don’t overlook Halls Creek as a practical stop and to stay at Caroline Pool. 

It’s a town with a supermarket, fuel and dinner and accommodation options, and it’s your staging point for the drive to Kununurra (360km) and nearby Purnululu NP. 

Kununurra

It’s a 4 hour drive from Halls Creek to Kununurra, the last major town before you cross into the Northern Territory

Kununurra is one of the most underrated stops on this entire route. In fact, we didn’t add it to the itinerary until we found out about it during our surprise stay in Halls Creek. And we’re glad we did!

Day 25: Kununurra

Kununurra sits in the East Kimberley, surrounded by red rock formations, boab trees, and the kind of light in the late afternoon that makes everything look like it’s on fire. Absolutely breathtaking!

The highlight here is Lake Argyle, about 70 km south of town. It’s one of Australia’s largest reservoirs and the scale of it is hard to grasp until you’re standing at the lookout. 

The Mirima National Park is right on the edge of town and takes about 2 hours to explore. The sandstone formations are often compared to a mini Bungle Bungles, which we can confirm after having visited both. It’s a great short hike for all ages.

Day 26: Kununurra – Purnululu NP

Kununurra

Kununurra is also a great practical reset before the long stretch ahead. Stock up on groceries, fuel up, and take a breath.

Purnululu National Park

If you can swing it, don’t skip Purnululu NP, a UNESCO world heritage site. The turnoff into the park is about 250km from Kununurra.

I’ve said it before about spots in Oz, and I’ll say it again: this place is a must. You really do need a 4WD for a lot of the roads in Purnululu NP. So do keep that in mind.

Day 27: Purnululu National Park

The beehive-shaped Bungle Bungle Range is out of this world and the hikes are amazing.

The first day we only had time to explore Cathedral Gorge and Kungkalanayi Lookout. 

This last one provides spectacular views of the Bungle Bungle range western face and the spinifex covered limestone ridges.

And Cathedral Gorge is a beautiful short hike appropriate for all ages.

Day 28: Purnululu National Park – Timber Creek

Purnululu National Park

Purnululu’s Bungle Bungles is 1 of the best places to visit with kids in WA!

On this second day we hiked through the Echidna Chasms. The light reflecting from the chasm walls is amazing.

And at the end of the 2km return hike you have to climb over boulders to get to the last chamber.

Timber Creek

From here, the Northern Territory begins. And you start with a place that’s fun to hang out for a chill afternoon and a night, before driving to your next destination. To break up the long hours of driving. 

We actually didn’t think we’d like spending our valuable time at a place called Timber Creek (about 5 hours away from the entrance to Purnululu). 

But we decided that it was time for a little chill out time. And found that at Timber Creek Caravan Park.

So we spent time at a camp where we could wash our clothes in a real washing machine and where we could bbq and make a bonfire.

We didn’t do much else but read, watch freshwater crocodiles and watch dozens of eagles fly by.

Know that you can check out the croc and kite feeding, but we don’t participate in these types of animal activities (feeding wild animals is one of them), and skipped it. 

We saw both species flying over/chilling in the river without people disrupting their natural behavior. 

Day 29: Timber Creek – Katherine

Timber Creek

Timber Creek is a nice little breather, before driving 3 hours (290km) to the next city.

Katherine

Katherine is 1 of the Northern Territory’s most important towns and one of the best stops on this entire route.

It sits at the junction of the Victoria Highway and the Stuart Highway, which makes it a natural pivot point on the drive to Darwin or head to Kakadu NP.

We made a quick pit stop at the Cutta Cutta Caves Nature Park (30km south of town) and enjoyed a 45 minute guided tour, before driving the last leg of the day to the city.

We didn’t do much else but do some much needed shopping for food and fuel and getting our camp set up at the campsite.

Day 30: Katherine – Kakadu NP

Katherine

The headline attraction of Katherine is Nitmiluk Gorge, also known as Katherine Gorge. It’s a series of 13 sandstone gorges carved by the Katherine River, and it’s genuinely stunning.

You can explore it by canoe, on foot, or on a guided boat tour. The boat tour is a great option for families with younger kids.

The gorge is on Jawoyn land and the Jawoyn people jointly manage the national park.

Taking a guided tour is the best way to understand the cultural significance of what you’re seeing.

Kakadu National Park

It’s time for what turned out to be the absolute highlight of our trip: Kakadu NP! 

From Katherine it takes about 300km to reach the Jabiru area of the park (circa 3-4 hours).

Book the Yellow Water Cruise for sunset. It is enchanting and you will never forget it. It’s a great activity for kids too! With all the wildlife (we spotted countless of crocs) they’ll spot they won’t be bored for a second.

We were so happy we got the last spots on a sunset tour on our day of arrival!

Day 31: Kakadu National Park

Kakadu NP deserves so much more praise than it already gets. If we had more time we would’ve stayed even longer than we already did.

The NP is huge and you could easily spend a week there and you still wouldn’t have seen it all. We were there for 3.5 days and we saw as much as we could and we really enjoyed it, but I already know I want to go back there.

There’s lots to see and do in Kakadu National Park with kids, like the Maguk Trail, learn about the history at one of the cultural centers, check out waterfalls, and much more!

Day 32: Kakadu NP – Litchfield NP

Kakadu National Park

Explore this park for one last morning, before driving 2 hours to the last national park of your trip.

Litchfield National Park

If you have 5 weeks, then adding Litchfield NP to your itinerary after Kakadu is highly recommended!

It’s only about 100 km south of Darwin, which makes it a natural last stop before you hit the city.

Don’t let the proximity to Darwin fool you into thinking it’s a lesser version of Kakadu. It’s a completely different experience and well worth a night or 2.

The drive from Kakadu to Litchfield is about 3 hours long.

The park is best known for its waterfalls and swimming holes. 

We started with a personal guilty pleasure, only fun for the generation who loved Peter Andre’s song Mysterious Girl. They filmed parts of the video at Milla Milla Falls. So of course we had to check it out and do a cheeky impersonation (when nobody was looking).

Day 33: Litchfield NP

Florence Falls, Wangi Falls, and Tolmer Falls are the headliners, and the swimming at Florence and Wangi is genuinely good. 

Wangi Falls has a large, safe swimming area that works well for all ages. It does get busy on weekends, so aim for a weekday morning if you can.

The magnetic termite mounds are another highlight, especially for kids. They’re enormous.

We could check them out all in one day.

Day 34: Litchfield NP – Darwin

Litchfield National Park

Litchfield is more accessible than Kakadu and most roads are sealed, which also makes it a relaxed final day of driving to Darwin in about 1,5 hours.

Darwin

2 hours later we were in Darwin where we checked into our first hotel since leaving Perth, dumped all our luggage, and went to clean our troopy, before handing it over to the rental company.

After that we didn’t have much time, so we headed to dinner. This was the first place since Broome where we actually felt like we had lots of options to choose from.

Compared to Perth, Melbourne or Sydney, you can hardly call this a city, but we loved the vibe of it on our first day here. And you can easily explore everything on foot.

Day 35: Darwin

Finish strong with food and waterfront fun!

After weeks of red dirt, campfires, and remote roads, Darwin felt almost overwhelming. 

Our son spent nearly three hours at Big Buoy Water Park because it was the first proper urban attraction he’d seen in weeks.

Here are all of your accommodation options in Darwin

Top tours in Darwin with kids

4 Week Perth to Darwin Itinerary

Short on time? You can absolutely do this route in 4 weeks. Skip Cervantes, Geraldton and Port Hedland and favor Kakadu over Litchfield and you’ll trim roughly 7 days without losing any of the headline destinations.

Every other stop in the 5 week itinerary above stays in. Leaving you with a seriously good road trip.

Other Perth to Darwin Route Options

Not everyone has 4 or 5 weeks. Here’s how to tackle this route if your time is limited.

The direct route – 2 week road trip

If you want to drive from Perth to Darwin as efficiently as possible, stick to National Highway 95 north out of Perth, then join National Highway 1 and follow it all the way up and across. It’s the fastest way to do this drive and doable in 2 weeks if you don’t mind to keep the pace.

The trade-off is significant though. You’ll skip the Gibb River Road, Purnululu NP, and most of the Kimberley. Karijini NP is also off this route.

What you keep is Kalbarri, Ningaloo Reef, Broome, Kakadu, and Darwin. It’s still a great road trip, just a very different one.

The in-between route – 3 week Perth to Darwin itinerary

The 3 week version sits comfortably between the direct route and the 4 week itinerary. You keep all the headline destinations but move at a faster pace with fewer rest days.

Skip Cervantes, Geraldton, Port Hedland, Halls Creek and Caroline Pool, and Litchfield. 

Drive more on consecutive days rather than every other day and limit yourself to 1 night at the smaller stopovers.

It’s doable. Just know that you’ll feel the pace by week 2.

Self-drive from Perth to Darwin with Kids

The absolute best way to road trip through Australia with kids is by car, ideally a camper or 4WD. It’s the most convenient and cost-effective option, giving you total control over your route, pace, and things you want to see.

Want to stop early for a swim or stay longer in a national park? You can. That flexibility is gold when you’re traveling with kids. And we experienced it first hand when exploring Western Australia and Northern Territory with a camper.

We chose to rent a 4WD campervan, and it turned out to be one of the most adventurous drives we’ve ever done. 

Multi-day tours generally don’t appeal to us. They’re often expensive, not tailored to families, and are often just day trips from major cities. And in WA and NT, tours like this are hard to come by anyway.

Public transport is even less practical here: it’s time-consuming, and you’ll have to scratch key highlights like Peron NP or Purnululu NP from the itinerary.

In short, renting a car or campervan is the way to go. And in more off the beaten path locations, you’ll need to camp out, because there isn’t any accommodation available. Like Peron NP, Bungle Bungles and Litchfield NP.

Driving this stretch with kids can sound intimidating, but it’s more manageable than you might think. We typically drove 4 to 6 hours every other day and filled up on gas whenever we saw a station, because you don’t always get a second chance.

We avoided night driving entirely to steer clear of wildlife, and we always carried extra water, snacks, and a first aid kit. Long stretches without service or towns are common, but that’s also part of the magic.

Camping in Western Australia and Northern Territory was a blast. Many campsites were basic but safe. Some had nothing more than a long drop toilet and a fire ring, while others felt like small, friendly communities. Between our rooftop tent, fridge, and a solid routine, it became easier than expected to keep everyone fed, safe, and happy. 

If you’re used to road tripping in Europe or North America, this will feel a bit wilder, but that’s also what makes it unforgettable.

Road Tripping through Australia with Kids

Australia is one of the best countries for a family road trip. There are exciting things to see and do for all ages in every destination. From diving and snorkeling in Ningaloo Reef or Great Barrier Reef to camping in the outback and exploring amazing cities like Perth, Broome, Melbourne and Sydney. You’ll never get bored!

The food is kid friendly and the majority of the people speak English. Infrastructure is great and you know which road to avoid, because when a road is unsealed multiple road signs will tell you in time. If you’re not used to road tripping through a foreign country, Australia is a great pick.

And if you want to avoid the crowds, don’t pick the popular East Coast, but the West Coast and road trip Darwin to Perth (or the other way around, of course).

Family Safety in Northern Territory & Western Australia

Australia as a whole is a pretty safe country. Western Australia and Northern Territory are no exception.

There are 3 things you need to be careful with: bushfires, wildlife and the sun.

The sun is very strong in Australia for several reasons. Its proximity to the equator means the sun sits more directly overhead, so UV rays travel a shorter distance through the atmosphere.

On top of that, Australia’s clear skies and clean air mean there’s very little pollution to filter UV out.

And during the Southern Hemisphere’s summer, Earth’s elliptical orbit actually brings Australia closer to the sun, adding roughly 7% more UV intensity.

Wear hats or caps, apply heaps of sunscreen, and swim with long sleeve UV shirts. This goes for winter too. UV levels in WA and NT are high year round.

Wildlife is beautiful in Western Australia and Northern Territory. Kangaroos, koalas, wallabies and camels can be spotted all over the area, but so are spiders and snakes.

Don’t leave shoes or other clothing unattended while camping and check your shoes before putting them on. You’ll never know what happens.

I had a huge spider in my shoe that turned out to be harmless, but there are plenty of spiders that are harmful. And let’s be honest, I almost peed my pants, when I spotted it lurking at me from within my shoe. I was lucky I saw it, before I grabbed my shoe.

Crocodiles are a real consideration on this route too. Freshwater crocs, which you’ll see plenty of, are generally not aggressive unless provoked.

Saltwater crocs are a different story entirely. Always check local signage before swimming in rivers, waterholes, or coastal areas in the Northern Territory. If there’s no sign giving the all clear, don’t get in.

And lastly, stay away from bushfires. In lots of places, like Kakadu NP, the native people start bushfires on purpose to maintain the health and safety of a forest.

It’s called controlled burning. And unfortunately, because of climate change, the heat grows stronger by the year. Resulting in more and more bushfires. Stay away from areas when road signs warn you or when you smell smoke or see smoke in the distance.

Last thing to note is to bring a first aid kit, lots of water and food and fill up on gas wherever you can when you’re road tripping from Perth to Darwin with family. You’ll often drive for hours without seeing a soul and without passing through towns. Make sure you’ve got everything with you to keep the family healthy and safe.

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Best Time to Visit WA and NT

Here’s a quick look at when to go depending on what your family wants to experience:

June to August (Winter): Ideal for most of the route. The weather in Western Australia is pleasant (24°C to 34°C), with chilly nights along the coast. The closer you get to Darwin, the hotter it gets — expect 35°C to 40°C in the Top End even in winter.

October to March (Wet Season): Hot (35°C to 40°C), humid, and many unsealed roads close. Expect storms, especially from December to February. This isn’t the time to attempt the Gibb River Road or Purnululu NP.

March to August: The window to swim with whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef. Don’t miss it if this is on your list. The “Staircase to the Moon” phenomenon in Broome, and can even be seen until mid October.

May to November: Gibb River Road open for exploring.

May to October: The dry season in Kakadu NP, when most roads and trails are accessible and temperatures are manageable for families. This is when the Yellow Water Cruise is at its best too — wildlife concentrates around the billabongs as the dry season progresses.

A note on shoulder seasons: if you travel in May or September you’ll find fewer crowds, lower prices, and most attractions still open. For families who want space and value without compromising on access, shoulder season is worth serious consideration.

Each park or region has its quirks, so we recommend checking accessibility for places like Purnululu, Peron NP, Litchfield and Kakadu before finalizing dates.

Planning a family road trip from Perth to Darwin

Getting your Perth to Darwin road trip with kids right involves some serious planning. It starts months before the trip, choosing the destination, planning the route, arranging visa, renewing passports or ID’s and checking if you need medical declarations. And don’t forget renting a car or camper and/or buying flight tickets.

Perth to Darwin Road Trip Budget

Real talk? This is one of the most common questions I get, and one of the least straightforward to answer.

A Perth to Darwin road trip budget depends heavily on your style of travel, the time of year, and how many national parks you plan to visit. But here’s a realistic breakdown based on our own 5 week trip.

Campervan hire is your biggest expense. A 4WD campervan rental for 5 weeks will set you back roughly AUD $5,000 to $8,000 (about €3,000 to €4,800 / $3,300 to $5,300 USD) depending on the vehicle and operator. 

One-way hires from Perth to Darwin cost more than return rentals, so factor that in early. Also 4WD tends to be more expensive than 2WD.

We went for a one-way 4WD Troopy hire from WA Experts (not sponsored, we just like to recommend them), and rented it for 4 weeks (we picked it up after exploring Perth, and before exploring Darwin to save on the rental cost).

It cost us roughly AUD $8,000 (about €5,000 / $5,800), including a rooftop tent for 2 and a bed inside the camper, a free fridge and freezer, 2 filled gas tanks for cooking, bedding, spare tyre, some basic tools, table and chairs, awning, GPS, and a personal locator beacon (very important when you’re off grid!).

Fuel is significant on this route. You’re covering roughly 4,500 km and fuel prices in remote WA and NT are noticeably higher than in cities. Budget around AUD $600 to $900 (about €360 to €540 / $400 to $600 USD) for the full route depending on your vehicle’s consumption.

Camping fees vary widely. Free camps are plentiful in WA, while national park campgrounds typically charge AUD $15 to $40 per night. Some parks like Purnululu and Kakadu also charge entry fees on top of camping. Budget roughly AUD $500 to $800 (about €300 to €480 / $330 to $530 USD) for the full trip.

Food and groceries for a family of 3 over 5 weeks, cooking mostly on a camp stove and BBQ, will run roughly AUD $1,500 to $2,000 (about €900 to €1,200 / $1,000 to $1,330 USD). Stock up in bigger towns like Geraldton, Tom Price, Broome, and Kununurra where prices are lower.

Tours and activities depend entirely on what you do. The whale shark tour at Ningaloo is the biggest single expense: expect AUD $350 to $450 per adult (about €210 to €270 / $230 to $300 USD). 

The Yellow Water Cruise in Kakadu runs around AUD $100 per adult (about €60 / $65 USD). Budget a separate amount for entry fees, boat tours, and any helicopter rides.

Total rough budget for a family of 3 over 5 weeks: AUD $10,000 to $15,000 (about €6,000 to €9,000 / $6,600 to $9,950 USD), excluding flights. That’s a serious investment. But spread over 5 weeks, it works out at a reasonable daily rate for a family of 3, and this route delivers experiences you simply can’t put a price on.

FAQ

Let’s answer some frequently asked questions about a family road trip from Perth to Darwin or from Darwin to Perth. If you don’t have time to read the entire article, read this FAQ for a quick fix.

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