Highway 1 ( Australia ) - Wikipedia Highway 1 ( Australia ) Highway 1 Map of Highway 1, which is a ring road around Australia. A separate section in Tasmania connects Hobart to Burnie. General information Type Highway Length 14,500 km ( 9,010 mi ) History Highway 1 was established in 1955 Highway system Highways in Australia National Highway Freeways in Australia Australia 's Highway 1 is a network of highways that circumnavigate the country, joining all mainland state capitals. At a total length of approximately 14,500 km ( 9,000 mi ) it is among the longest national highways in the world, a list including the Trans - Siberian Highway ( over 11,000 km or 6,800 mi ) and the Trans - Canada Highway ( 8,030 km or 4,990 mi ). Every day more than a million people travel on a part of it. Contents 1 History 1.1 Route markers 2 Track 2.1 Route markers 3 Road conditions 4 Sights 5 Record 6 See also 7 References 8 External links 9 Further reading History Highway 1 was created as part of the National Route Numbering system, adopted in 1955. The route was compiled from an existing network of state and local roads and tracks. Highway 1 is the only route to reach across all Australian states and territories, with the exception of the Australian Capital Territory. Many of the other national routes are tributaries of Highway 1. Under the original Highway 1 scheme, certain major traffic routes that ran parallel to the main route were designated National Route Alternative 1. Most of these route designations have been replaced by either a state route designation, or an alpha - numeric route designation, depending on which state the section is in. An example of the Alternative 1 designation remaining is on the old Princes Highway route from Dandenong to South Melbourne in Victoria. Route markers The entirety of Highway 1 was originally marked with a National Route 1 shield ( black number on a white shield ). In 1974, the segments of the route that were declared part of the National Highway network were updated to use the National Highway shield ( gold number on a green shield ). Since that time, all states and territories except for Western Australia have adopted ( or are in the process of adopting ) alphanumeric route numbers. As a consequence, much of Highway 1 is now marked with a M1, A1 or B1 route marker ( depending on the route 's quality and importance ). A notable exception is in Tasmania, which was the first state to adopt alphanumeric route numbers but Highway 1 is still marked with a National Highway 1 shield. In South Australia, sections of Highway 1 which were once part of the National Highway are marked as A1 or M1 but retain the National Highway `` shield ''. Track Princes Highway, which is part of the Highway 1 network, at Moruya, New South Wales From Sydney, it heads southwards to Melbourne and then on to Adelaide via the Eastern Distributor, Southern Cross Drive, General Holmes Drive, The Grand Parade, President Avenue, Princes Highway ( NSW ), Princes Motorway, Princes Highway ( VIC ), Princes Freeway ( east ), Monash Freeway, CityLink, West Gate Freeway, Princes Freeway ( west ), Geelong Ring Road, Princes Highway ( SA ). From then on to Perth via Port Wakefield Road, Augusta Highway, Eyre Highway, Coolgardie - Esperance Highway, South Coast Highway and South Western Highway. It then heads to Darwin via Brand Highway, North West Coastal Highway, Great Northern Highway, Victoria Highway, and Stuart Highway. From Darwin, Highway 1 follows the Stuart Highway to Daly Waters, and thereafter the Carpentaria Highway to Borroloola. The Savannah Way is the largely unsignposted route for Highway 1 between the QLD / NT border, east of Borroloola, and Normanton, Queensland. From there, it follows the Gulf Developmental Road and Kennedy Highway to Cairns and southwards via Bruce Highway to Brisbane and then back to Sydney via the Pacific Motorway ( QLD / NSW ), Pacific Highway ( NSW ), Pacific Motorway ( NSW ), Pacific Highway ( Sydney ), Gore Hill Freeway, Warringah Freeway, Sydney Harbour Tunnel, and the Cahill Expressway. In Tasmania it starts at the Brooker Highway in Hobart and heads towards Launceston via the Midland Highway. At Launceston it becomes the Bass Highway to Burnie. Highway 1 ends at Burnie ; the Bass Highway continues to Marrawah on the west coast as Highway A2. Large sections of Highway 1 are shared with the Australian National Highway, though the two are not synonymous. For instance, the Princes Highway from Sydney to Melbourne is part of Highway 1, but is not part of the National Highway, which follows the Hume Highway and Freeway. Route markers State Segment Route marker Road ( s ) See also New South Wales QLD border to Ewingsdale M1 Pacific Motorway ( QLD / NSW ) Highway 1 ( New South Wales ) Ewingsdale to Tintenbar A1 Tintenbar to West Ballina M1 West Ballina to Newcastle A1 Pacific Highway ( NSW ) Newcastle to Wahroonga M1 Pacific Motorway ( NSW ) Wahroonga to Artarmon A1 Pacific Highway ( NSW ) Artarmon to Mascot M1 Gore Hill Freeway Warringah Freeway Sydney Harbour Tunnel Cahill Expressway Eastern Distributor Southern Cross Drive Mascot to Waterfall A1 General Holmes Drive The Grand Parade President Avenue Princes Highway ( NSW ) Waterfall to Yallah M1 Princes Motorway Yallah to VIC border A1 Princes Highway ( NSW ) Victoria NSW border to Traralgon A1 Princes Highway ( VIC ) Highway 1 ( Victoria ) Traralgon to Winchelsea M1 Princes Freeway ( east ) Monash Freeway CityLink ( southern link ) West Gate Freeway Princes Freeway ( west ) Geelong Ring Road Winchelsea to SA border A1 Princes Highway ( VIC ) South Australia VIC border to Tailem Bend B1 Princes Highway ( SA ) Highway 1 ( South Australia ) Tailem Bend to Murray Bridge National Highway A1 Princes Highway ( SA ) Murray Bridge to Glen Osmond National Highway M1 South Eastern Freeway Glen Osmond to Waterloo Corner A1 Glen Osmond Road Main North Road Port Wakefield Road Waterloo Corner to WA border National Highway A1 Augusta Highway Eyre Highway Western Australia SA border to Norseman National Highway 1 Eyre Highway Highway 1 ( Western Australia ) Norseman to Port Hedland National Route 1 Coolgardie -- Esperance Highway ( south ) South Coast Highway South Western Highway Robertson Drive Forrest Highway Old Coast Road Mandurah Road Ennis Avenue Patterson Road Rockingham Road Stock Road Leach Highway Kwinana Freeway Canning Highway Great Eastern Highway Morrison Road Great Northern Highway Brand Highway North West Coastal Highway Port Hedland to NT border National Highway 1 Great Northern Highway Victoria Highway Northern Territory WA border to Katherine National Highway 1 Victoria Highway Highway 1 ( Northern Territory ) Katherine to Daly Waters National Highway 1 Stuart Highway Daly Waters to QLD border National Route 1 Carpentaria Highway Savannah Way Queensland NT border to Cairns National Route 1 Savannah Way Gulf Developmental Road Kennedy Highway Captain Cook Highway Highway 1 ( Queensland ) Cairns to Cooroy A1 Bruce Highway Cooroy to NSW border M1 Bruce Highway Gateway Motorway Pacific Motorway ( QLD / NSW ) Tasmania Entire Route National Highway 1 Brooker Highway Midland Highway Brighton Bypass Bass Highway Highway 1 ( Tasmania ) Road conditions With such a vast and incomparable length, road conditions vary greatly ; from multi-lane freeways in populous urban and rural areas, to sealed two - laners in remote areas, such as the Nullarbor Plain, to single lane roads, such as in northern Queensland. Some stretches are very isolated, such as the Eyre Highway, which crosses the Nullarbor Plain, and the Great Northern Highway, which runs close to the north - western coastline. Isolated roadhouses serving the small amount of passing traffic are often the only signs of human activity for hundreds of kilometres. Highway 1 has been described as a `` death trap '', particularly two - lane sections in northern Queensland, due to driver fatigue. The vast distances between destinations and limited rest areas, especially those suitable to trucks, contribute to the problem. Sights Highway 1 covers practically every major inhabited part of Australia. Large capital cities, busy holiday resorts, dramatic coastlines, forests ranging from tropical to temperate gum forests, giant karri stands, scrubland, deserts, and huge tropical swamps are some of the variety of landscapes that can be found along the route. Stretches of Highway 1 are very popular with interstate and overseas tourists. A drive around Highway 1 with a major detour to Uluru and back again practically covers most of Australia. The number 1 shield became part of the bush landscape to many travellers, truckers, and country people. Record On the 18th June 2017 team ' Highway One to Hell ' set a new world record for a complete lap of Australia. While there have been previous attempts ( notably Motor Magazine 's 2004 record of 6 days, 8 hours and 52 minutes ) which skipped inland direct to Mt Isa, the ' Highway One to Hell ' team traveled the entire route of Highway 1 ( equaling 14280km ) in 5 days, 13 hours and 43 minutes. See also Australian Roads portal Highway 1 ( New South Wales ) Highway 1 ( Northern Territory ) Highway 1 ( Queensland ) Highway 1 ( South Australia ) Highway 1 ( Tasmania ) Highway 1 ( Victoria ) Highway 1 ( Western Australia ) Highways in Australia List of A1 roads List of highways numbered 1 References Jump up ^ `` Journeys '' ( PDF ). Tourism Australia. December 2010. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on 22 February 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2013. ^ Jump up to : Taylor, David ( 2012 ). The Highway One travel companion. Volume 1, Melbourne to Tweed Heads. Salisbury, Queensland : Boolarong Press. p. 9. ISBN 9780987218902. Jump up ^ Distance book ( 12 ed. ). Main Roads Western Australia. 2012. pp. 4 -- 5. ISBN 0 7309 7657 2. Retrieved 8 October 2012. ^ Jump up to : Doyle, John ( 31 December 2012 ). `` Australia 's Highway 1 '' ( MP3 ). Radio National Breakfast. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2013. Jump up ^ Caradvice.com.au - Around Australia speed record broken Jump up ^ Motormag.com.au - Around Australia in 6 days Jump up ^ Caradvice.com.au - Around Australia speed record broken External links Male, Andrew. `` National Highway One ''. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 4 October 2007. Retrieved 2 October 2007. Further reading Route map : Google KML file ( edit help ) Display on Google Maps Template : Attached KML / Highway 1 ( Australia ) KML is from Wikidata Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Highway 1 ( Australia ). Catherine Lawson ; David Bristow ( 2012 ). High Way One : The Ultimate Australian Road Trip. Australian Geographic. ISBN 9781742453439. Farwell, George ; McArdle, Brian ( 1966 ), Around Australia on Highway One, Thomas Nelson ( Australia ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Highway_1_(Australia)&oldid=789629427 '' Categories : Highways in Australia Highway 1 ( Australia ) Hidden categories : Use dmy dates from September 2015 Use Australian English from September 2015 All Wikipedia articles written in Australian English Articles using KML from Wikidata Talk Contents About Wikipedia Wikivoyage Deutsch Español فارسی עברית Norsk Polski Português 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 8 July 2017, at 14 : 32. 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Question: how long does it take to drive around the coast of australia
Answer: 6 days, 8 hours and 52 minutes