Perth to Broome drive: how to plan the Great Northern Highway

Perth to Broome drive time is long, but the road is simple: stay on the Great Northern Highway and it is sealed all the way. The Broome turn-off at Roebuck is 2,161 km from Midland, on Perth's north-east edge, so plan on about 2,200 km door to door. Most drivers take four to five days and travel in the dry season, from April to November.

This guide sets out the route in stages, the long gaps between fuel stops, the best months and the road rules that matter most. Distances are driving figures, so check them against a current map before you go.

Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Great Northern Highway (route table and description); Wikipedia, Broome, Western Australia.

The route in stages

The Great Northern Highway runs from Midland to Wyndham, almost 3,200 km in all, and is the longest highway in Australia. Broome sits on a short spur off the highway. The table uses the highway's own distances from Midland, taken from the Wikipedia route table.

The Broome turn-off is a T-junction at Roebuck. Turn left for Broome, or carry on east for Derby and Fitzroy Crossing. The spur into Broome adds a short run, and the leg from central Perth to Midland adds a little more. That is how we reach about 2,200 km.

Other guides give other totals. One Kimberley tourism site quotes 2,415 km from Perth to Broome, which probably reflects a different route or a rounded figure. Use the highway distances above for planning your fuel and your days.

Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Great Northern Highway; Kimberley Australia, Kimberley Driving Distances.

Where the fuel gaps are

Fuel and water decide this trip. Wikivoyage names three sections with few services: Wubin to Mount Magnet, Meekatharra to Newman, and Port Hedland to Broome. Fill up at the start of each one, even if the tank looks half full.

• Wubin to Mount Magnet: about 294 km by the route table, with Paynes Find as the first settlement along the way.
• Meekatharra to Newman: the longest gap, about 412 km of open gibber plain. Kumarina Roadhouse sits roughly halfway.
• Port Hedland to Broome: about 512 km from the Marble Bar Road junction east of Port Hedland to the Broome turn-off. The stops are Pardoo Roadhouse, Eighty Mile Beach and Sandfire Roadhouse.

Carry plenty of water, food and fuel, and keep your vehicle in good condition. Wikivoyage warns that recovery costs from remote stretches to the nearest town can be high.

Sources for this section: Wikivoyage, Great Northern Highway; Wikipedia, Great Northern Highway.

The best time to make the drive

Go in the dry season. Broome's dry season runs from April to November, with clear days and highs near 30°C. The wet season runs from December to March, when highs reach about 35°C and rain can be heavy and erratic.

Floods matter more than heat. Wikivoyage says the Kimberley and Pilbara can get torrential rain between November and May, and that parts of the road can lie under metres of water. Even 100 mm of water can cause a serious crash at speed. Wikipedia notes that the 2018 Broome flood showed how exposed the highway and its river crossings are in extreme weather.

June to August is peak season. Broome's population grows from about 14,000 to over 45,000 a month, so book beds early for the end of your drive.

Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Broome, Western Australia; Wikivoyage, Great Northern Highway; Wikipedia, Great Northern Highway.

A simple five-day plan

This is our own suggestion, built from the distances above. It keeps most days to about 450 to 620 km, so you can reach your bed before dusk.

1. Day 1: Perth to Mount Magnet, about 550 km. Fuel at Wubin.
2. Day 2: Mount Magnet to Newman, about 620 km. Fuel at Meekatharra and again at Kumarina.
3. Day 3: Newman to Port Hedland, about 450 km. Use a spare hour for Karijini National Park.
4. Day 4: Port Hedland to Sandfire or Eighty Mile Beach, a half-day run with a beach stop.
5. Day 5: on to Broome.

Prefer fewer long days? Add a night at Meekatharra or Karijini and take six days.

Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Great Northern Highway (distances); the day splits are our own sums.

Road rules and safety

The speed limit is 110 km/h outside built-up areas. Slow down for road trains and for roadworks.

• Road trains: these long trucks are common and cannot brake fast. Wikivoyage says passing one is not a good idea, and many drivers simply pull off and let it go by.
• Animals: cattle, kangaroos, emus and eagles are most active at dawn and dusk. Avoid driving at night.
• Phones: mobile coverage varies along the route, so tell someone your plan each day.
• Parking bays: if you need to rest, use a marked bay away from the traffic lane.

Wikipedia reports that the stretch from Wubin to Sandfire Roadhouse ranked among the lowest risk highway links in the state in 2005 to 2009, while the northern sections ranked medium-high to high risk. Take extra care once you pass Sandfire.

Sources for this section: Wikivoyage, Great Northern Highway; Wikipedia, Great Northern Highway.

The coastal alternative

Some drivers prefer the coast to Port Hedland. This route follows the Brand Highway and North West Coastal Highway through Geraldton, Carnarvon and Karratha. Wikivoyage says some people prefer it because it runs closer to the coast, with more facilities and a less desolate feel. The two routes join again near Port Hedland, so the Port Hedland to Broome leg is the same either way.

A popular plan is to go up one way and come back the other, which adds sights but also days.

Sources for this section: Wikivoyage, Great Northern Highway; Wikipedia, Great Northern Highway.

Sources

1. Wikipedia, Great Northern Highway: en.wikipedia.org
2. Wikipedia, Broome, Western Australia: en.wikipedia.org
3. Wikivoyage, Great Northern Highway: en.wikivoyage.org
4. Kimberley Australia, Kimberley Driving Distances: kimberleyaustralia.com