Shortest distance from Australian state capital cities to other cities

Travelling by car is the best way to see Australia. It’s even possible to reach Tasmania, Kangaroo Island and Philip Island by car, using the ferry. In Australia people drive on the left side of the road.

The maximum speed in cities and built up areas is usually 50 or 60 km/h. Once on the open road away from cities and towns the limit is generally 100 or 110 km/h. The maximum allowable speed is 110 km/h. Police use marked and unmarked cars as well as speed cameras to catch speeding motorists. Fines are large if caught.

When driving, especially at night, and particularly through forested areas you should be aware of kangaroos that can suddenly jump from the bushes on to the road. Always stay within the speed limit and stay alert. If on the open road in a high speed limit area you can put your headlights on high beam but only if there is no oncoming traffic. Please remember to turn off high beam as soon as another car can be seen approaching.

Australia is a very large country, the sixth biggest in the world by area, so
travelling distances in Australia can be very long. Nevertheless travel by road is very popular and Australia’s roads are generally well maintained.

In this table we list the the shortest distance by road from each major capital city to another. Also a list of the quickest route between each capital city and the other main cities and towns in the applicable state. Included too is an approximate driving time for distances less than 1000 kilometres (625 miles)

Shortest distance from Adelaide to …	Distance in km	*Driving time*
Brisbane	2050
Canberra	1200
Ceduna	775	8
Coober Pedy	845	8.5
Darwin	3020
Melbourne	725	7.5
Mount Gambier	430	4.5
Murray Bridge	75	1
Perth	2700
Port Augusta	305	3.5
Port Lincoln	650	7
Port Pirie	225	2.5
Renmark	260	3
Strathalbyn	55	1
Sydney	1400
Uluru	1600
Victor Harbor	80	1
Whyalla	380	4

The shortest way from Brisbane to …	Distance in km	*Driving time*
Alice Springs	3000
Bundaberg	360	4
Cairns	1750
Canberra	1200
Charters Towers	1370
Cooktown	2050
Coolangatta	110	1.5
Darwin	3450
Emerald	880	9.5
Gladstone	540	6
Gold Coast	90	1
Gympie	165	2
Hervey Bay	290	3.5
Longreach	1200
Mackay	1000
Maroochydore	100	1.5
Maryborough	255	3
Melbourne	1800
Mount Isa	1850
Noosa Heads	140	1.5
Perth	4300
Rockhampton	650	7
Sydney	950	10
Toowoomba	125	1.5
Townsville	1400
Uluru	3250
Winton	1400

How long does it take from Canberra to …	Distance in km	*Driving time*
Adelaide	1200
Alice Springs	2600
Brisbane	3250
Darwin	4000
Melbourne	670	7
Perth	3700
Sydney	290	3
Uluru	2750

Fastest way to reachDarwin from …	Distance in km	*Driving time*
Adelaide	3020
Adelaide River	115	1.5
Alice Springs	1500
Brisbane	3450
Canberra	4000
Humpty Doo	40	0.5
Katherine	315	3.5
Melbourne	3750
Nhulunbuy	1050
Perth	4000
Sydney	4000
Tennant Creek	990	11
Uluru	1950

What is the distance from Hobart to …	Distance in km	*Driving time*
Bicheno	180	2.5
Burnie	325	3.5
Coles Bay	195	2.5
Devonport	260	3
Launceston	200	2.5
New Norfolk	35	0.5
Port Arthur	95	1.5
Saint Helens	250	3
Southport	100	1.5
Strahan	300	4
Swansea	140	2
Wynyard	345	4

How do I reach Melbourne from …	Distance in km	*Driving time*
Alice Springs	2250
Ballarat	115	1.5
Benalla	210	2
Bendigo	150	1.5
Brisbane	1800
Canberra	670	7
Darwin	3750
Echuca	220	2.5
Geelong	75	1
Lakes Entrance	320	3.5
Mallacoota	515	6
Mildura	550	6
Moe	135	1.5
Mornington	70	1
Perth	3400
Portland	360	4
Sale	215	2.5
Shapparton	190	2
Stawell	240	3
Swan Hill	350	4
Sydney	880	8.5
Uluru	2350
Wangaratta	250	3
Warrnambool	260	3
Wodonga	330	3.5

How to get from Perth to …	Distance in km	*Driving time*
Adelaide	2700
Albany	415	4.5
Alice Springs	2500
Augusta	315	3.5
Brisbane	4300
Broome	2200
Bunbury	175	2
Busselton	220	2.5
Canberra	3700
Carnarvon	900	10
Darwin	4000
Denmark	420	5
Dunsborough	240	3
Esperance	725	8
Geraldton	430	5
Harvey	145	2
Kalgoorlie	600	6.5
Karratha	1550
Kununurra	3200
Margaret River	270	3
Meckering	135	2
Melbourne	3400
Monkey Mia	850	10
Mount Barker	370	4
Port Hedland	1650
Sydney	3900
Uluru	2050
Yanchep	60	1
York	95	1.5

The best way to get to Sydney from …	Distance in km	*Driving time*
Adelaide	1400
Alice Springs	2800
Bathurst	200	3
Bourke	770	9
Brisbane	950	10
Broken Hill	1150
Canberra	290	3
Coffs Harbour	530	6
Cooma	400	4.5
Cowra	310	4
Darwin	4000
Dubbo	390	4.5
Gosford	75	1
Goulburn	195	3
Grafton	615	7
Griffith	580	6.5
Jindabyne	460	5
Katoomba	105	1.5
Lismore	740	8.5
Lithgow	140	2
Maitland	165	2
Melbourne	880	8.5
Moree	625	7.5
Mudgee	265	3.5
Narooma	350	4.5
Newcastle	160	2
Nowra	165	2
Nyngan	560	7
Orange	255	3.5
Parkes	360	4.5
Perth	3900
Port Macquarie	385	4.5
Tamworth	405	5
Uluru	2850
Wagga Wagga	465	5
Yass	280	3
Young	380	4