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When it comes to unforgettable road trips in Australia, this is one of the best. Drive from Adelaide to Sydney and experience 2 amazing yet different cities, travel through 3 states and experience the 3 longest Australian rivers: the Murray, Darling, and Murrumbidgee Rivers.
Depending on your exact route and how long you stay at the many possible stops, you can take this 1500kms road trip in around 5 to 7 days but you can also take it slowly and see & do even more in 10 to 14 days.
Adelaide to Loxton (251kms): meet the Mighty Murray River
Adelaide will be the starting point of your amazing road trip. And the timing of your Adelaide to Sydney road trip is just perfect as Spaceships Rentals has recently opened a depot in Adelaide.
This means you are able to pick up a compact campervan that drives like a good car, comes with unlimited kilometres and doesn’t charge you a one-way when travelling a route like from Adelaide to Sydney.
Collect your campervan and take some time to explore the National Park City. It’s also known as the 20-minute city, as you can get everywhere in 20 minutes. That’s the airport, the beach and the hills. Perfection!
Hahndorf: a little piece of Germany in Australia
When you’re ready to start your Adelaide to Sydney road trip, ease yourself in with a 1 hour (75km) drive to Murray Bridge, heading south east on the A3 and M1. You could call in at the heritage listed 19th century German settlement of Hahndorf, just out of Adelaide, to get a taste of its German style architecture and food. Anyone fancy a Bratwurst and Grünthal craft beer? Then definitely check out the Hahndorf Inn.
Check out what to do in Hahndorf and how to get the most out of your visit.
Taste of Germany in Hahndorf, South Australia | photo: Mark
Murray River: the longest river in Australia
Murray Bridge will be your first glimpse of the Murray River, the longest river in Australia at 2,530kms, flowing from the Australian Alps to the Southern Ocean at Murray Mouth near Goolwa in South Australia. Take some time to walk the trails, take a river cruise or go kayaking or fishing on the river, before finding out more about the area’s heritage from the indigenous Aboriginal people to the early European settlers.
Then take the Karoonda Highway/B55, to Loxton in Riverland, about a 2 hours/176kms drive north east. Loxton is on the south bank of the Murray River where it meets the Mallee River. You could free camp for the night on the riverbank at Thiele’s Sandbar or Rilli Reserve, or stay just south of the town in the Katarapko National Park. Wherever you stay, make sure you look up at the beautiful starry skies before turning in for the night.
Camping at Murray River | photo: Graham
Loxton to Wentworth (183kms): where two rivers meet
From Loxton, your route heads north for about 40kms on the B55 until you reach Renmark on the A20/Sturt highway. Renmark is in Riverland on the banks of the Murray River, and is another great spot for boat hire or a river cruise. Go water skiing or wakeboarding, explore the wetlands by kayak or just stroll around the beautiful rose garden.
Then head east on the Sturt Highway/A20 to Wentworth, a journey of about 1.5 hours/143 kms. The Sturt Highway is named after the 19th century English explorer, Captain Charles Sturt, who travelled extensively in the area, eventually proving that the west flowing rivers from New South Wales all flowed into the Murray river.
Wentworth is a small border town in the south west corner of New South Wales, but it’s where the third longest river in Australia, the River Darling, meets the Murray River.
This historic town is surrounded by beautiful countryside, but it is the confluence of the two great rivers that is its claim to fame. It is also home to the famous Old Wentworth Gaol, which you can now go inside – not for a long sentence, just for a short visit! And of course, there’s time to hit one of the riverside trails on foot or by bike or get on the water. Camp on the river at Fort Courage or Wanderers Crossing River Retreat.
Alternatively, head 30kms down the A79 to Mildura on the south bank of the Murray, for a quick visit to the state of Victoria. Relax in its tree lined streets or call in at one of the city’s bars or restaurants. It’s also home to the Old Mildura Station Homestead, with picnic tables, gardens and river views.
Wentworth to Hay (317kms): from Murray to Murrumbidgee
If you haven’t already, tip toe into Victoria at Mildura. The Murray River forms part of the state border between New South Wales and Victoria, and with Mildura on the south bank, you’re just inside Vic.
Stay on the border of New South Wales and Victoria and drive east on the Sturt Highway/A20 for about 160kms to the town of Balranald. Here you’ll discover Australia’s second longest river, the Murrumbidgee, where it too joins the Mighty Murray.
The 1485km Murrumbidgee means Big Water in the local Wiradjuri indigenous language, and is known for the towering Riverina Redgum trees that line the banks. Try your hand at fishing on the Five Rivers Fishing Trail or go bird watching in the wetlands on the Yanga Lake walking track, where you may be lucky enough to see a Sea Eagle among the 150 species of bird life.
Another 1.5 hours drive and 133kms through the vast, flat Hay Plains on the A20 brings you to the town of Hay. Take a free bike hire from the Information Centre in Moppet Street and explore the ‘Bidgee Riverside Trail. This is an all weather cycle track with heaps of info about the river and town dotted along the route. Have a picnic and take a swim in the ‘Bidgee River at Sandy Point Beach before watching a spectacular 360° sunset at the Sunset Viewing Point. You can also free camp for the night at Hay Sandy Point camp ground or at Sandy Point Beach Reserve.
Hay to Wagga Wagga 268kms: so good they named it twice!
Head further east, calling in at the art deco town of Leeton on your way. There’s more cycling, trail walking and bird watching at the Turkey Flat or Fiveboughs wetlands, or enjoy the region’s superb food and drink from the Riverina region.
It’s another 100km to the town of Wagga Wagga. As you arrive, you'll be welcomed by the distinctive sound of Cockatoos, a familiar and beloved sight in the region. Wagga is the Wiradjuri word for crow, and the indigenous people repeat the word to make it plural, so Wagga is “crow” and Wagga Wagga is “many crows.”
It’s the largest inland city in NSW, so enjoy the bars and restaurants on your stop. It sits on the banks of the Murrumbidgee, with Riverside Wagga Beach a great place to unwind and watch the river roll by. Kayak on the river or take a hike on the Wiradjuri trail, which takes in the wildlife along the river and into the hills, giving views back to the city. Visit the Wagga Wagga Botanic Gardens to see native plants, or the Art Gallery with an impressive collection of Glass Art. Camp on a working farm at Retreat Shearer’s Quarters or Karoola Station.
Don't forget to keep an eye out for the Sulphur-crested Cockatoos - they make for fantastic photographs, perfect for sharing on the Gram!
Cockatoo possing for the Gram | photo: Megan
Wagga Wagga to Bathurst (314kms): Central Tablelands to Australia’s oldest inland city
Now you have reached the end of the Sturt Highway, your route heads north east up the Olympic Highway/A41. It’s a 300km drive up to Australia’s oldest inland city, Bathurst, but there is a choice of stops to break up your journey.
After around 90 kms, you’ll reach Cootamundra, birthplace of the legendary cricketer Sir Donald Bradman. 89 Adams Street was a small private hospital, run by Granny Scholz, who was the midwife at Bradman’s birth in 1908. He went onto to be the best batsman in the history of cricket, so this museum celebrating his life and career is a must for cricket fans.
If you need a sugar hit on the road, try Poppa’s Fudge & Jam Factory in Young, 50kms on. Stop to buy some of their artisan fudges to keep you going on your trip. A further 70kms takes you to Cowra, the scene of the largest mass Prisoner of War breakout in history. In August 1944, 1000 Japanese POWs launched a mass break out. 234 Japanese and 5 Australian soldiers were killed, but this tragedy fostered a friendship between the people of Cowra and Japan that has lasted to this day. Visit the POW campsite and tranquil Japanese Gardens and Cultural Centre, testament to the reconciliation that followed the tragedy of war.
Drive on to Bathurst, on the banks of another river, the Macquarie, a little shorter than the other rivers at just 960kms in length! Bathurst grew up out of the Gold Rush in 1815, and its rich architecture and history is a reminder of those times.
Visiting Bathurst means you can tick off an item of the list of best things to do in New South Wales. We did add Bathurst for a reason to that list.
Drop by the Bathhurst Courthouse or Abercrombie House for a taste of that heritage, or check out the Art Gallery, Machattie Park or Rail Museum. For motor sport enthusiasts, the Mount Panorama race track is worth a visit. Get a taste of Craft Beer at Cosmo Brewing or sip a Bathurst Blue Mountain Gin at the end of the day’s driving.
Stay at the Village Camp ground at the Hill End Township or the Rockytop Family Retreat with 3 camp grounds on the Macquarie River. There’s free camping at The Turon River with a choice of camp grounds.
Get ready for Bathurst
Bathurst to Sydney (200kms): through the Blue Mountains
The last leg of your trip takes you into Sydney but first, it's time for a day’s hiking in the magnificent Blue Mountains. Get an early start and head 100kms down the Great Western Highway/A32 to Katoomba in the Blue Mountains National Park.
The Three Sisters Walk is an accessible trail that will give you spectacular views of the Blue Mountains National Park and iconic Three Sisters, a series of 3 rock peaks formed around 200 million years ago, with the tallest point at 922 metres high. If you have more time, there are other longer hikes and trails nearby.
According to one Aboriginal legend, the 3 sisters, Meehni, Wimlah and Gunnedoo of the Katoomba tribe fell in love with 3 brothers from the rival Nepean tribe. The brothers planned to capture the sisters in a tribal battle, so to prevent them from harm, the Katoomba witchdoctor turned the sisters into stone. Legend has it that he too was killed in the battle, but was the only one who could turn them back into women, so there they have remained ever since.
There are other myths and legends you will discover on your journey to this amazing ancient place.
Set your controls for the big city: Sydney
Then it’s another 100kms back down through the Blue Mountains National Park and onto the M4 into Sydney, and the end of your one way campervan road trip from Adelaide to Sydney. Just make sure you leave time to see the sights and get those photos at Harbour Bridge and the Opera House or on Bondi Beach.
Of course the choice of your route is yours, but we hope this itinerary gives you the chance to see the 3 longest rivers in Australia on one epic road trip. It has the rivers, the plains and mountains, as well as Australia’s cultural heritage, amazing natural beauty and wildlife with fantastic hikes and activities on the rivers. Do it all, or just do parts. With a one way, unlimited kilometres Spaceships campervan, you can go where you want and stay where you want! The freedom to explore.