Broome to Wollongong campervan route: red dirt to the Illawarra

You can technically cover this route in 8 long driving days. You should not. That pace turns the Nullarbor into a grey blur, the Pilbara into a heat mirage, and the driver into a cranky wombat by Port Augusta.

For most campervan travellers, 14 to 18 days is the comfortable range. Add more if you want Karijini, Kalgoorlie, the Head of Bight whale season, Broken Hill galleries, or a proper rest day where nobody says the word kilometres before breakfast.

• Minimum sensible pace: 10 to 12 days, big driving days, limited sightseeing.
• Comfortable pace: 14 to 18 days, enough time for laundry, supplies and weather delays.
• Grey-nomad pace: 3 to 5 weeks, with side trips and more than one camp chair afternoon.
• Best season: May to September. The Kimberley and Pilbara can push 40°C-plus in build-up heat, while the wet season can close side roads.

Do book the first night or two out of Broome, especially in the dry season when every van in Australia seems to be pointed north or south at once. Do not plan on rolling into a free camp after dark; kangaroos, wandering cattle and road trains make dusk a poor time to be improvising.

The first serious leg is Broome to Port Hedland, about 612 km. The run to Sandfire Roadhouse is roughly 320 km, which is a proper fuel gap in campervan terms, not a vague outback warning painted on a tin sign.

Port Hedland is not a postcard town, but it is useful: supermarkets, fuel, LPG swaps, tyre help, dump points and powered sites where the air-conditioner earns its keep. From there the road swings inland towards Newman, with ore country, wide shoulders and road trains that can be over 50 metres long.

• Fuel: top up in Broome, Sandfire, Port Hedland, Auski and Newman rather than gambling on range.
• Water: carry at least 5 litres per person per day, more in summer or if free camping.
• Road trains: hold your line, let them pass, and do not drift onto the shoulder throwing stones.
• Heat: interior van temperatures can climb fast; powered sites are not a luxury in 35–45°C country.

Do use roadhouse stops for a walk-around check: tyres, awning locked, gas bottles secured, vents shut. Do not leave loose gear in the cabin unless you enjoy being pelted by a flying watermelon at the first cattle grid.

From Newman to Meekatharra is about 420 km of sealed outback driving, then the route drops through Mount Magnet, Sandstone, Leonora and into Kalgoorlie. This middle section feels empty in the best and worst ways: big skies, thin traffic, and towns far enough apart that your fuel gauge deserves respect.

Kalgoorlie is a good reset point before the Nullarbor: stock the pantry, wash the sheets, empty the cassette, fill fresh water, check tyre pressures and buy the snack you will later pretend was for the kids. Norseman, 190 km south, is the traditional launch pad for the Eyre Highway.

• Meekatharra to Kalgoorlie: roughly 890 km, best split with a stop around Mount Magnet, Sandstone, Leonora or Menzies.
• Dump points: commonly available in larger shires such as Meekatharra, Kalgoorlie and Norseman; check signage before filling water.
• Supplies: prices rise as towns shrink, so do the boring supermarket shop before you need it.
• Dirt-road note: many tempting shortcuts are unsealed and may breach 2WD campervan hire conditions.

Do keep your driving flexible here; a headwind can noticeably lift fuel use in a high-roof motorhome. Do not assume every roadhouse has your exact LPG fitting, favourite bread or open kitchen hours.

The Nullarbor is not one empty fuel-free void, but it is a long, exposed road where small mistakes get expensive. Kalgoorlie to Eucla is about 900 km via Norseman, Balladonia, Caiguna, Cocklebiddy and Madura. Eucla to Port Augusta adds about 960 km via the border, Nullarbor Roadhouse, Penong and Ceduna.

The famous 90 Mile Straight is 146.6 km of steering wheel meditation between Balladonia and Caiguna. You will see road trains, wedge-tailed eagles, cyclists with heroic calves, and caravans travelling at every speed known to physics.

• Fuel gaps: most roadhouse gaps are under 200 km, but fuel can be significantly dearer than in cities.
• Time zones: WA, SA and the tiny Eucla time zone can scramble your arrival plans.
• Camping: use signed rest areas, roadhouse camps or caravan parks; do not camp on cliff edges or dunes.
• Wind: crosswinds can shove a tall van around, especially near open plains and passing trucks.

Do slow down for wildlife at dawn and dusk; Nullarbor roos and wombats are not made of soft material. Do not empty grey water or toilet cassettes in bush camps. Use marked dump points in Norseman, Ceduna, Port Augusta and other larger service towns.

Port Augusta is your hinge point: supermarkets, fuel, water, repairs and several caravan-park options before the road turns east. From here to Broken Hill is about 413 km via Peterborough and Yunta, a tidy day if the weather behaves.

Broken Hill to Wollongong is the final sting: about 1,100 km depending on the exact line through Cobar, Dubbo, Bathurst and the southern Sydney fringe, or via the Riverina and Goulburn. Break it into at least two days unless you enjoy arriving in the Illawarra with the emotional range of a dashboard warning light.

• Good break points: Broken Hill, Cobar, Dubbo, Bathurst, Wagga Wagga, Hay or Goulburn depending on your chosen line.
• NSW camping: councils vary; obey no-camping signs in beach carparks and town reserves.
• Mountain roads: avoid tight, steep passes in a long motorhome when tired or in wet weather.
• Arrival tip: book a powered site near Wollongong for the first night so you can clean the van properly before return or onward travel.

Do check height clearances before ducking into older service stations, shopping centres or beachside parking areas. Do not treat the last 150 km as a victory lap; city traffic after two weeks of outback roads is its own little character-building exercise.

This route is very achievable in a 2WD campervan or motorhome if you stay on the sealed highways. The catch is that the interesting-looking side tracks can be exactly where hire agreements, road conditions and common sense stop shaking hands.

Plan your van chores the same way you plan fuel. A toilet cassette usually needs attention every 2 to 3 days with two adults. Fresh water tanks vary, but many couples chew through 40 to 80 litres a day once showers, dishes and drinking water are counted.

• Dump points: look for public dump points in Broome, Port Hedland, Newman, Meekatharra, Kalgoorlie, Norseman, Ceduna, Port Augusta, Broken Hill and larger NSW towns.
• Powered sites: worth booking in heat, after dusty sections, and before long laundry stops.
• Free camping: use signed rest areas and legal RV stops; being self-contained does not override local no-camping signs.
• National parks: camp only in designated areas and book online where required; generators and pets are often restricted.
• LPG: swap-and-go bottles are easier in larger towns; do not run the fridge on gas while driving.

Do check online availability for a vehicle with the right bed layout, storage and tank capacity before locking flights. Do not hire the smallest van just because it looks nimble; five thousand-plus kilometres makes standing room feel less like a luxury and more like basic civilisation.