South-west vineyards, Ningaloo Reef and the Kimberley, departing from Perth, Broome and Exmouth
Western Australia alone covers a third of the continent, and you notice it on the odometer. Between Perth and Broome there are more than 2,000 km of road, with long stretches almost without a village. Three departure cities are available: Perth, Broome and Exmouth. Twenty-one rental companies operate in the region, the vast majority of them in Perth.
The nature of the trip changes with the latitude. In the south, you follow the vineyards of Margaret River, the forests of giant trees and the white sand beaches. In the north, you cross the red desert, Ningaloo Reef and the gorges of the Kimberley. Driving on the left, planning your fuel stops and avoiding driving at night matter as much as the choice of vehicle.
Adventure Rentals
Rental company category:Standard
Public rating of the rental company:
4.6/5
(36 reviews)
Apollo
Rental company category:Standard
Public rating of the rental company:
3.8/5
(12 reviews)
Awesome Campers
Rental company category:Low cost
Britz
Rental company category:Standard
Public rating of the rental company:
3.1/5
(10 reviews)
Campervan Village
Rental company category:Economy
Public rating of the rental company:
2.9/5
(139 reviews)
Cheapa Campa
Rental company category:Low cost
Chill'd by JUCY
Rental company category:Economy
Crikey Camper Hire
Rental company category:Standard
Cruisin Motorhomes
Rental company category:Standard
Public rating of the rental company:
5.0/5
(1,448 reviews)
GoCheap Campervans
Rental company category:Low cost
Hippie Camper
Rental company category:Low cost
Jucy Rentals
Rental company category:Economy
Public rating of the rental company:
3.5/5
(1,223 reviews)
Let's Go Motorhomes
Rental company category:Economy
Maui
Rental company category:Premium
Public rating of the rental company:
4.0/5
(499 reviews)
Mighty Campers
Rental company category:Low cost
Public rating of the rental company:
4.0/5
(334 reviews)
MightyLITE
Rental company category:Low cost
Red Dirt 4WD Rentals
Rental company category:Premium
RedSands Campers
Rental company category:Premium
Spaceships Rentals
Rental company category:Low cost
Public rating of the rental company:
3.7/5
(170 reviews)
Star RV Rentals
Rental company category:Premium
Travellers Autobarn
Rental company category:Low cost
Public rating of the rental company:
4.0/5
(305 reviews)
Choose your departure city: the map shows where rental companies hand over their vehicles.
Leaving Perth towards the south, the road runs past Bunbury and Geographe Bay at Busselton, then crosses the vineyards and limestone caves of the Margaret River region. Further south, the coast turns towards Augusta and Cape Leeuwin, then the road enters the karri and giant eucalyptus forests around Pemberton and Walpole. It ends at Albany, facing the Southern Ocean.
Distances stay reasonable, with villages every few dozen kilometres and plenty of campsites. The return to Perth can be made through the interior. Returning to a different depot remains possible depending on the rental company and the calendar.
The northbound road follows the Indian Ocean coast to Nambung National Park, where thousands of limestone pillars rise from the sand. It then passes through Geraldton, before the gorges of Kalbarri National Park, beside the Murchison River. You return by the inland road, or by the same coastal route, depending on how much time you have.
The stretches are long and flat, with crosswinds and few petrol stations between towns. Fill up as soon as the tank drops below half. In the hottest hours, the Kalbarri walks are not recommended in summer: set off very early in the morning.
This route links the south to the Kimberley via the coastal road and the Pilbara Outback. After Kalbarri, you reach the World Heritage-listed Shark Bay, then Carnarvon, the Ningaloo region and the mining coast of Port Hedland. The road finishes at Eighty Mile Beach before arriving in Broome, on the Timor Sea.
The crossing takes up a good part of a holiday: it is better to give it your full attention than to squeeze it into a few days. A one-way rental between Perth and Broome removes the return trip; its availability and cost vary depending on the rental company and the dates. Also check the mileage included.
Broome opens up the Kimberley without leaving the tarmac: Cable Beach, the red cliffs of Gantheaume Point, then the Great Northern Highway to Derby and its great baobabs. It continues towards Fitzroy Crossing and Danggu Gorge, which you explore by boat. You return to Broome by the same route.
The wilder tracks of the Kimberley, such as the Gibb River Road, are another matter. Most agreements exclude them for standard motorhomes and campervans. If you are aiming for them, look at the conditions of each offer and at the rental companies with equipped 4x4s.
Exmouth is the base for Cape Range National Park, where dry canyons drop towards the ocean. The coast offers coral beaches just metres from the shore, including Turquoise Bay and Yardie Creek, before the road to Coral Bay in the south. You can see turtles, manta rays and, in season, whale sharks with licensed operators.
The park's campsites must be booked in advance, as they are limited. The area around Exmouth is hot and dry: carry plenty of water and check the tide times before swimming on the reef.
The Australian spring is the most pleasant season for the south-west. In Perth, highs rise from 19.2 °C in September to 25 °C in November, and rainfall falls from 52 mm to 22 mm. Wildflowers bloom inland in the south and centre during this period.
In the north, Broome is still dry, with 15 mm of rain in November, but the heat climbs to 33.1 °C.
The Australian winter is the right time for the Kimberley and the north coast. In Broome, very little rain falls: 30 mm in May, 6 mm in June, 0 mm in July, 5 mm in August. Highs stay between 28.7 and 31.8 °C, with ten hours of sunshine a day or more. The sea there stays around 22 to 24 °C from June to August.
By contrast, Perth turns cold and wet: 124 mm of rain in July, over more than fifteen days.
Summer is high season for the south, with the local school holidays. In Perth, highs hover around 30 °C and rainfall stays low: 9 mm in December, 22 mm in February. The sea reaches 24.2 °C in January and February. The north, meanwhile, enters the wet season: Broome receives 302 mm of rain in January, and the cyclone season runs through this period. Many of the Kimberley's roads can be cut off by floods.
The south is then at its wettest: Perth totals 119 mm in June, 124 mm in July and 120 mm in August, with up to fifteen rainy days a month. Days are shorter, with only 8.4 hours of sunshine a day, from June to July. The sea falls to 16.9 °C in July. It is a quiet season for the south coast, as long as you accept the showers and the cold at night.
Perth suits loops of the south-west and Kalbarri and the crossing north. Broome is the natural starting point for the Kimberley and Cable Beach. Exmouth is limited to the Ningaloo Reef region, where Campervan Village is the only rental company offered.
The climate decides the route: the south is visited in spring and summer, the north from May to October. A trip covering both, from Perth to Broome, is therefore best planned between September and early November or in May.
Enter your dates and departure point: offers are displayed according to availability. For a long trip, check the mileage limit, the roads permitted and the fees for returning to a different city.
The campsites at Margaret River, Cape Range and Broome fill up in high season. Book them in advance, then leave some leeway for nights in caravan parks or rest areas on the long stages.
Check the depot's address, often in an industrial area or near the airport. In Perth, several depots are in the same Redcliffe and Aitken Way neighbourhoods. Allow time to empty the waste water, fill the tank and clean the vehicle before returning it.
Kangaroos, emus and cattle move mostly at dawn and dusk, and sometimes dart onto the road. Rental agreements and insurance often advise against driving at night. Plan to arrive at your stop before sunset, which comes early in the low season.
Between two roadhouses, you can count on several hundred kilometres. On the road from Perth to Broome, fill up at every opportunity, even if the tank is half full. Petrol stations take cards, but closing at night is common: check the opening hours before you leave and keep a reserve of drinking water in the vehicle.
In the north, some trucks pull several trailers and can exceed fifty metres in length. Never overtake without full visibility and give them room: their slipstream unsettles a motorhome. On single-lane roads, you give way by leaving the tarmac carefully.
Most motorhome and campervan agreements exclude unsealed tracks, and sometimes river crossings, even on popular roads such as the Gibb River Road. An accident there generally falls outside insurance cover. Read the conditions of the offer before choosing a route, or book a 4x4 designed for the track.
In the Kimberley and the Pilbara, the wet season brings cyclones and floods that cut roads for several days. Around Broome, rivers can harbour crocodiles, and dangerous jellyfish frequent the sea in summer. Respect the warning signs and local instructions before swimming.
A week is enough for a loop of the south-west or Ningaloo. To link Perth to Broome, allow at least two weeks, three to enjoy the stops. The distances are enormous: travelling five or six hours a day by road is already a demanding pace.
Perth offers the widest choice of rental companies and vehicles, and opens up both the south-west and the north coast. Broome is ideal if the Kimberley is your main goal. Exmouth suits a trip focused on Ningaloo, with a single rental company on site.
The south-west coast, between Margaret River and Albany, combines forests, vineyards and beaches. The Coral Coast, with Kalbarri, Shark Bay and Ningaloo, is rawer. In the north, the sealed road from Broome to Derby and Fitzroy Crossing gives the best glimpse of the Kimberley.
Yes, via the Coral Coast and then the Pilbara, but it is a trip of more than two weeks. The roads are sealed, with widely spaced petrol stations. One-way rental is not guaranteed: it varies depending on the rental company and the dates. Otherwise, plan the return by road or a flight.
It is not recommended. Broome receives 302 mm of rain in January, cyclones are possible and roads can be closed for several days. It is better to plan the Kimberley from May to October, when there is almost no rain.
First trip in a van and in AustraliaFriendly and available staffDeposit refunded quicklyHowever, some tools would be useful to re-tighten certain things due to the vibrations on the road
CoolDrive is a responsive and professional agency that has always responded promptly to my administrative requests.
No, not really. Several email exchanges to correct the amount of the invoice requested after the deposit (which, it is true, was due to a modification on our part). A nonexistent welcome or rather one provided by another company due to the absence of the managers. A duvet cover that smelled like vomit and no offer to exchange linens midway as mentioned in our package. The return of the vehicle, however, went well.
A car licence covers most rental models. A French or European licence is generally accepted with a translation or an international driving permit, depending on the rental company's reading of the rules. You drive on the left: spend an hour in Perth getting used to it before heading out on the road.
Generally not, with a standard motorhome or campervan. Most agreements exclude tracks, and corrugated roads damage the vehicle. A 4x4 camper is better suited, but conditions vary by offer. Read the list of prohibited roads before booking.
It depends on the councils and parks. Many municipalities prohibit sleeping in the vehicle outside campsites, and fines apply. Along the roads, rest areas sometimes allow one night. Check the local signs before setting up.
Yes, Western Australia applies strict rules on fruit, vegetables and honey at certain regional boundaries, and for some vehicles coming from other states. Signs indicate the checkpoints. Check before you leave, as the rules change.
Sometimes: a one-way rental between Perth and Broome or between two depots in the region depends on the rental company and the dates. These trips can involve extra fees. For such a long distance, compare the cost of a one-way and a round trip before deciding.
Yes, but depending on the season and the place. In Perth, the sea reaches 24.2 °C in January; in Broome, 22 °C in July. In the north, some rivers harbour crocodiles and jellyfish frequent the sea in summer. Swim at patrolled beaches and follow the signs.
In Western Australia, the motorhome links landscapes that have nothing in common: karri forests and vineyards in the south, the limestone pillars of the Pinnacles, Ningaloo Reef, the Pilbara desert and the gorges of the Kimberley. The vehicle also serves as a base for the long stages, where finding lodging on the spot would be impossible.
Perth holds almost all the offer, Broome opens up the north and Exmouth the reef. All you need to do is choose your season according to the latitude, follow the driving rules and plan your fuel stops to enjoy one of the greatest road trip regions in the world.
