Route Planner Australia

Routenplaner24 is a free route planner for Australia. Enter a start and a destination to get the fastest route with live traffic, the distance in kilometres and turn-by-turn directions.

Route Planner Australia: route, distance and driving time

Australia is almost as big as the mainland United States, but most Australians live along the east and south-east coast. The drive from Sydney to Melbourne takes about nine hours, and on a road trip through the outback you can drive for hours without passing a town.

The Australia route planner calculates the fastest route between any two places free of charge, with live traffic, up to two alternative routes and turn-by-turn directions. Below you will find popular routes with distances in kilometres, how tolls work in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, tips for outback driving and the most important rules of the road.

Popular routes in Australia

Plan a route from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, the Gold Coast, Newcastle, Hobart or Darwin to anywhere in Australia. The table shows the distance and driving time for frequently searched routes. Click “Plan route” to load the start and destination into the route planner.

Route	Distance	Driving time*	Plan route
Sydney to Melbourne	875 km	9 h 10 min	Plan route
Sydney to Canberra	286 km	3 h 15 min	Plan route
Sydney to Brisbane	917 km	9 h 45 min	Plan route
Sydney to Newcastle	170 km	2 h 20 min	Plan route
Melbourne to Adelaide	726 km	8 h 25 min	Plan route
Melbourne to Canberra	668 km	7 h 10 min	Plan route
Brisbane to Gold Coast	78 km	1 h 15 min	Plan route
Brisbane to Byron Bay	165 km	2 h 5 min	Plan route
Brisbane to Cairns	1,701 km	20 h 15 min	Plan route
Perth to Margaret River	271 km	3 h 5 min	Plan route
Darwin to Alice Springs	1,498 km	17 h	Plan route
Hobart to Launceston	203 km	2 h 30 min	Plan route

* Driving time for the fastest route without breaks, calculated for normal traffic. “Plan route” calculates the route with live traffic and alternatives.

Tolls in Australia

There are no tolls on the highways between cities in Australia. Tolls apply only on some motorways, tunnels and bridges in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane – for example the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Harbour Tunnel, CityLink and EastLink in Melbourne and the Gateway Motorway in Brisbane.

All toll roads are electronic – there are no cash booths. Use a tag or a toll account, or buy a visitor’s pass (for example from Linkt) before your trip or within a few days after it; otherwise you will receive a toll notice with extra fees. With a rental car, ask how tolls are charged – most rental companies bill them to your card, often with a service fee.

Tasmania: to take your car from the mainland to Tasmania, use the Spirit of Tasmania ferry between Geelong and Devonport.

Rules of the road in Australia at a glance

Side of the road	drive on the left, overtake on the right
Built-up areas	50 km/h unless signs show otherwise; usually 40 km/h in school zones during school hours
Rural roads and motorways	usually 100 km/h, up to 110 km/h on motorways; on some highways in the Northern Territory up to 130 km/h
Drink-driving limit	0.05% blood alcohol for fully licensed drivers; zero alcohol for learner and provisional (P-plate) drivers
Mobile phones	holding a phone while driving is illegal; several states use cameras that detect phone use
Roundabouts	give way to vehicles already on the roundabout
Wildlife	kangaroos and other animals are most active at dawn and dusk – avoid driving in the outback at night
Emergency number	000 (112 also works from mobile phones)

As of November 2026. No liability for accuracy – rules and prices can change.

Tips for driving in Australia

Outback distances

Between towns there can be several hundred kilometres without fuel or mobile reception. Fill up at every opportunity, carry plenty of water and tell someone your route. Many rental agreements do not allow driving on unsealed roads.

Road trains

In the outback you will meet road trains more than 50 metres long. Overtaking them needs a long, clear stretch of road – be patient, and give them room.

Fatigue on long drives

Long, straight highways are tiring. Take a break at least every two hours – there are free rest areas along most highways.

Avoid city traffic and tolls

In Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane the motorways are often busy in the peak hours (about 7–9am and 4–7pm). If you want to avoid tolls, tick “Avoid options → Tolls” in the route planner.

Frequently asked questions

Are there toll roads in Australia?

Yes, but only in and around Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. They are fully electronic, so you need a tag, a toll account or a visitor’s pass – there are no cash booths. The highways between cities are free.

What is the speed limit in Australia?

50 km/h in built-up areas unless signposted otherwise, 100 km/h on most rural roads and up to 110 km/h on motorways. Some highways in the Northern Territory have limits of up to 130 km/h. School zones are usually 40 km/h during school hours.

How long is the drive from Sydney to Melbourne?

The fastest route along the Hume Highway is about 875 km long. Without breaks the driving time is about 9 hours and 10 minutes; with breaks, plan for 10 to 11 hours, or split the trip with an overnight stop, for example in Albury.

What is the drink-driving limit in Australia?

0.05% blood alcohol for fully licensed drivers in all states and territories. Learner and provisional drivers must have zero alcohol. Random breath tests are common.

Is it safe to drive at night in the outback?

It is best avoided. Kangaroos, cattle and other animals are most active at dawn, at dusk and at night, and a collision can seriously damage your car. Many rental companies also restrict driving in remote areas after dark.