Autumn road trips from Perth into Australia's Golden Outback

Autumn is a fantastic time to pack the car and hit the open roads of the outback! The season brings with it some cooler weather and even a bit of rainfall, changing the landscape of the region making it great for road trips.

We have more than 25 epic self-drive itineraries taking in our huge region, from the rugged beauty of the Gascoyne Murchison to the countryside charm of the Wheatbelt, heritage of the Goldfields and the pristine coastline of Esperance and the Fitzgerald River National Park!

Make Autumn the season you tick that outback adventure off your bucket list.

Gascoyne-Murchison Region

Over the hotter summer months, travelling around the Gascoyne-Murchison can be tricky, with high temperatures and dry lands. The region is best enjoyed when the weather is slightly cooler and has sprung to life after a bit of rain. The Wooleen River near Wooleen Station starts to slowly fill up again, as well as the Gascoyne River and other small lakes in the area, which make for beautiful camping stop offs to set up at night and marvel at the stars above. Our favourite road trip in the region is the Road to the Rock, leaving from Perth on a 9-day return trip to Mount Augustus. You’ll experience ancient Aboriginal rock art, ghost towns, station stays, a small but buzzing tourist park, and the cutest outback bar you’ve ever seen. You can take this trip at your own pace and spend more time in the spots you fall in love with!

Wheatbelt Region

The Wheatbelt is a crowd favourite when it comes to Autumn road trips and is of course home to the famous Wave Rock. The Wheatbelt hasn’t had much rain yet, but the cooler temperatures are much more suited to exploring the countryside! Once the rains do come; the greens come back, the lakes fill, and it starts to look really picturesque. The Wheatbelt is only a couple of hours drive from Perth which makes it the perfect camping or weekend destination. It’s the perfect short getaway option for families, couples, or even for a solo trip to reconnect with nature and unwind.

The region has SO many towns, attractions, history, wineries, accommodation and more, so travelling at your own pace and following your own path is a great way to explore. If you are looking for a self-drive route, the Wheatbelt Way is a fascinating experience starting in Dowerin and spanning 800kms with 24 interpretive sites along the way. A great way to meet some of the wonderful Wheatbelt locals, and experience Wheatbelt living for yourself.

Goldfields Region

Autumn in the Goldfields region of Western Australia is pretty magical. Clear, blue skies during the day, and cooler evenings so you can get wrapped up and enjoy the blankets of stars overhead. Cooler temperatures mean you can get out and explore the more isolated outback towns (including ghost towns) that the region has to offer without battling the heat and flies!

The Golden Quest Discovery Trail is Western Australia’s premier adventure experience. Explore your way from Coolgardie through to Laverton and enjoy the sights throughout the region and the historic towns along the way. To make things easier out on the road, download the app to your phone for all the information you’ll need while embarking on your journey. Our hot spots we recommend seeing are Hoover House and Museum in Gwalia, the Super Pit, the amazing Lake Ballard Salt Lake, and the multiple outback pubs such as Broad Arrow Tavern, or meet Willie the Desert Horse at the Grand Hotel Kookynie. With these true-blue Aussie pubs and hotels with incredible architecture, salt lakes, museums and more, this trip will be one you won’t forget, and you’ll want to do again!

Esperance and Fitzgerald Coast Region

It’s safe to say Esperance, Hopetoun and the Fitzgerald Coast are beautiful all year round - with views to die for and incredible scenery. In the Summer months, it’s the perfect location for swimming in the turquoise blue waters and lounging on the bright white sands.

As the warmer weather starts to leave, trade in your bathers and towel for a coffee and a road trip along the coast instead. Travel through Hopetoun and Ravensthorpe to the impressive Fitzgerald River National Park, home to an incredible array of wildlife and beautiful flowering plants almost all year round! Follow the coast and find yourself in Esperance, a coastal town with some of the most picturesque coastal landscape you’ll ever come across!

Head along the winding Great Ocean Drive, providing you with a tour of some of Esperance’s best beaches and bays, and overlook the 110-island known as the Recherche Archipelago. Pairing with these scenic drives are multiple walking and hiking trails for you to truly experience the awe-inspiring views this coastline has to offer.

Esperance isn’t just known for its scenic landscape, but also for it’s wonderful and quirky shops in town, and the cooler months are a perfect time to check these out. Australia’s only specialist fish and shark leather tannery, Mermaid Leather, is a must-see when exploring the town, producing unique and strong leather wallets, bags, and accessories that resemble a mermaid’s tail! Cindy Poole Gallery and Café is another gem, showcasing her amazing collection of kiln-fired glasswork, artwork, jewellery, decorative bits and more!