Another way if you don't want to pass through Adelaide is to take the Horrocks Highway from Port Augusta down to where it joins the Sturt Highway north of Gawler then continue heading east to Mildura. From Mildura head south on the Calder Highway that goes right into Melbourne. (Note that the last few kilometres are a toll road!)
Not sure how much longer that way is but it is mostly straight roads all the way. The roads also pass through some nice towns with good caravan parks.
Our preferred route - travelled a number of times is: some 25-30kms along the A1 from Port Augusta, turn east to Wilmington, then Orroroo, Peterborough, Terowie, Burra, Morgan, Renmark, Mildura, down the Calder Highway to Melbourne.
This route avoids any significant hilly or bendy sections - apart from a few kms through Horrocks Pass, which is nowhere near the gradients etc of the Adelaide Hills further south. No major urban areas to negotiate - you do not even need to go right into Mildura, just the edge of it. The alternate Calder Highway bypasses Bendigo. Usually good roads.
We usually take 2 or 3 days to do Melbourne to Port Augusta or beyond, but we try not to do long days. Could be done with only one overnight stop, if you are in a hurry.
There are good caravan park options to stay, if that is your style, along this route: Peterborough, Burra, Morgan, Renmark, Mildura, Charlton, Marong.
I thought the op asked for the BEST and
MOST DIRECT route...
Which the first reply gave...
So scratching me head why people are saying go via Mildura, which is 5 hrs from Melb at least on single lane hwys for most of it,
Must be missing something...
The climb out of Adelaide is no big deal. Nice 4 lane highway. My Ranger tows my 3 tonne van up there pretty much on the speed limit most of the way without trouble. Nothing like some of the climbs in the Great Dividing Range like Mt Brown for instance.
I thought the op asked for the BEST and MOST DIRECT route... Which the first reply gave... So scratching me head why people are saying go via Mildura, which is 5 hrs from Melb at least on single lane hwys for most of it, Must be missing something...
Gday...
Mr Google is always your friend ....
[EDIT: as an aside ... I reckon the trip via Mildura would have far less traffic and 'traffic control stops' than going down, through and out of Adelaide]
Cheers - John
-- Edited by rockylizard on Saturday 11th of May 2019 09:44:42 AM
My post did say if you didn't want to drive through Adelaide then the way through Mildura was an option. For the extra 60kms noted by the map provided by Rockylizard would easily be taken care of by the mostly open roads.
That said, Adelaide is mostly laid out in square grids and is generally straightforward to pass through. But like any large city there are traffic lights, pedestrian crossings, school zones, heavy traffic and so on.
I might add that the first time I drove through Adelaide I ended up going right through the main central CBD! Luckily, I wasn't towing the van.
