5,378 stops · 89 highways · 24 states & regions
Find highway rest areas across Australia & New Zealand
Toilets, drinking water, truck bays, dump points and overnight rules for every stop, from the road authorities that run them. No app to install: find the next break on your highway and navigate there in one tap.
- Toilets
- Drinking water
- Picnic tables
- Shelter
- Truck parking
- Dump point
- Fuel
Rest areas near you
The 10 closest stops, by straight-line distance.
Rest areas by state and region
5,378 stops, organised by state, region and highway.
Australia 5,066 stops
- Western Australia 1,657
- Queensland 1,182
- New South Wales 1,157
- Victoria 491
- South Australia 435
- Tasmania 74
- Northern Territory 64
- Australian Capital Territory 6
New Zealand 312 stops
- Waikato 53
- Canterbury 40
- Manawatū-Whanganui 27
- West Coast 27
- Otago 26
- Marlborough 21
- Bay of Plenty 18
- Hawke's Bay 18
- Northland 17
- Wellington 17
- Southland 16
- Tasman 13
- Auckland 10
- Gisborne 4
- Nelson 4
- Taranaki 1
Rest areas along the main highways
Every stop in order from one end to the other, with the distance to the next toilet and truck bay.
- 1 Great Northern Highway Wyndham – Perth
- 1 North West Coastal Highway Port Hedland – Geraldton
- A1 Eyre Highway Norseman – Port Augusta
- A39 Newell Highway Goondiwindi – Tocumwal
- A1 Bruce Highway Cairns – Brisbane
- M31 Hume Highway Melbourne – Sydney
- A1 Princes Highway Murray Bridge – Sydney
- 94 Great Eastern Highway Perth – Kalgoorlie
- A15 New England Highway Yarraman – Newcastle
- A20 Sturt Highway Gawler – Adelong
- A32 Barrier Highway Riverton – Nyngan
- M1 Pacific Highway Brisbane – Sydney
Can I stay overnight at a rest area?
It depends on the state or country. The short version is below; each state page and every stop page repeats the rule that applies. Signs at the rest area always take precedence.
| Where | Rule in short |
|---|---|
| Queensland | You may stay up to 20 hours in any 24-hour period at a rest area, unless signs say otherwise. |
| New South Wales | The NSW Government says you must not camp in rest areas; no maximum stay is published. Stop to rest when tired and follow the signs. |
| Victoria | Resting or sleeping in a parked vehicle to manage driver fatigue is allowed; camping is not, unless it is authorised or signposted. |
| Western Australia | Overnight stays are only allowed at signposted 24-hour rest areas, for up to 24 consecutive hours. |
| South Australia | No state law prohibits camping at rest areas; the Department for Infrastructure and Transport discourages stays of more than 24 hours. |
| Northern Territory | Many rest stops are labelled either "24 hour overnight camping allowed" or "camping not permitted"; NT policy limits stays to 24 hours. |
| Tasmania | No statewide rule for rest areas; follow the signs and local council rules. |
| Australian Capital Territory | No territory rule for rest areas was found; follow the signs. |
| New Zealand | Resting or sleeping at the roadside to avoid fatigue is not freedom camping. Camping generally needs a certified self-contained vehicle, subject to council bylaws and DOC rules. |
Rules in Australia, with sources · Rules in New Zealand, with sources
Plan your breaks without an app
Everything you need to choose the right stop, straight from your browser.
The closest stops in one tap
Allow location access to see the ten nearest rest areas, truck bays and roadhouses and how far away they are.
Every stop along your highway
Highway pages list each stop in order with the distance between them, so you know where the next toilet or truck bay is.
Official facility information
Toilets, drinking water, shelters and picnic tables come from state road authorities, including what a stop does not have.
Built for truck drivers
Truck bays, heavy-vehicle rest areas and stops signed for light vehicles only are marked, to help plan your rest breaks.
Caravans and motorhomes
Find dump points, drinking water, 24-hour rest areas and the overnight rules for each state and for New Zealand.
Open data, refreshed weekly
Listings are rebuilt every week from OpenStreetMap and government open data, and anyone can report a correction.
Rest area, truck bay or roadhouse?
Australian and New Zealand highways have several kinds of stops. This directory uses the names road authorities use, so you know what to expect before you pull in.
| On this site | What it means |
|---|---|
| Rest area | A roadside stop with parking and often toilets, tables and a shelter, run by the road authority or the local council. |
| Truck bay | Parking for heavy vehicles, from a sealed bay to a heavy-vehicle rest area with toilets. Some are signed for heavy vehicles only. |
| Service centre | A stop with fuel and food, from a motorway service centre to an outback roadhouse. |
| 24-hour rest area | In Western Australia, a signposted rest area where you may stay up to 24 hours. Elsewhere, check the state rules and the signs. |
| Dump point | A place to empty the toilet and waste-water tanks of a caravan or motorhome. |
| Driver Reviver | Volunteer-run stops offering free tea and coffee at some rest areas in holiday periods. |
| Freedom camping | In New Zealand, camping outside a campground. Allowed in many places for certified self-contained vehicles, subject to council and DOC rules. |
| DOC campsite | A campsite run by New Zealand’s Department of Conservation. Most charge a fee. |
Tips for long drives
- Take a break every two hours Fatigue is a major cause of crashes on long country drives. Stop, stretch and swap drivers if you can.
- Plan fuel, water and toilets In the outback the next stop can be hundreds of kilometres away. Check the highway page before you set off and carry water.
- Leave truck bays for trucks Heavy-vehicle drivers must take rest breaks by law. Parking a car or caravan in a truck bay can leave them nowhere to stop.
- Watch for wildlife Kangaroos and other animals are most active around dawn and dusk. Slow down and take extra care at those times.
- Give road trains room Road trains are very long and slow to stop. Overtake only with plenty of clear road ahead.
- Take your rubbish with you Many rest areas have no bins or are rarely serviced. Leave the stop as you would like to find it.
- Check road conditions Floods, fires and roadworks close roads. Check the state traffic website or NZTA before long trips.
- Check whether you need a permit Some roads through Aboriginal land, such as the Great Central Road in Western Australia and many roads in the Northern Territory away from the main highways, need a permit. Check with the land council before you go.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find the closest rest area?
Tap "Rest areas near me" at the top of this page and allow location access, or pick a state, region or highway to see every stop along your route.
Can I sleep overnight at a rest area in Australia?
It depends on the state, and signs at the rest area always take precedence. See the overnight rules page for Australia, which sets out each state’s rule with links to the official sources.
Can cars and caravans park in truck bays?
Bays signed for heavy vehicles are for trucks only. Truck drivers are legally required to take rest breaks, and cars or caravans in truck bays can leave them without a safe place to stop. Use the rest area or light-vehicle parking instead.
Where can I empty my caravan toilet?
Look for the dump point icon. Road authorities record dump points at some rest areas, and many towns have council dump points that may not be listed here yet.
Is freedom camping allowed at New Zealand rest areas?
Resting or sleeping in your vehicle at the roadside to avoid driver fatigue is not freedom camping. Camping is governed by council bylaws and DOC rules, and generally needs a certified self-contained vehicle. See the freedom camping page for New Zealand.
Where does the information come from?
Locations come from OpenStreetMap. Facilities come from road authorities and government open data where it exists: Transport for NSW, Main Roads WA, DIT South Australia, TMR Queensland, State Growth Tasmania, the ACT Government and New Zealand’s Department of Conservation. The directory is rebuilt every week.
How accurate is it?
Official data is only as current as the publisher’s latest release, and some state datasets are several years old. Each stop page says where its information comes from and when. Check signs on site and tell us if anything is wrong.