Russ,

Take the freeway to Burns Beach Rd, straight ahead at the roundabout then left into Wanneroo Rd. Fuel can be found at Neerabup north of Wanneroo or if you take a short detour you'll find it at Lancelin, Cervantes, Jurien, Greenhead etc.

I take it you won't be towing so depending what you are driving if you fill up at Joondalup or Neerabup you'll be able to travel non stop all the way.

Have a safe trip and post pics

 You will have to get off at burns beach and turn rightat the end of the freeway and turn left onto wanneroo road that will take you all the way past leeman then will turn onto brand hwy, there ire servos in most towns along the way.

Cheers Matt 

if your going to armadale just take the brand and save yourself the extra km's. the new coast road only really works if your north of the river. Cataby servo is 25 hours a day and 8 days a week according to their sign and pretty well half way between Perth and Gero. If your going purely for a sight see on the way then Jurien is your best best as you don't leave the highway, not sure on opening hours i wouldn't gamble on a sunday and not after 5pm. Others may be able to fill you in on hours of operation, It's a nice drive but i'll stick to the brand hwy. Caravans galore will be on that road now if not already, not many overtaking opportunities if your behind traffic.

Second that. Just take brand. Fuel at the s bend is heaps cheaper too. if u leave by 4 u'll beat the traffic outta perth. got stuck once with overlander / billabong being packed so I carry 3 jerry's in case.  i stop s bend, carnarvon, minilya  and depending on traffic or strong headwinds, jerrys somewhere in between. most times don't need jerry's but fuels exy in exy so it doesn't go to waste_ have a good trip_ 22 sleeps and l'll be doing it too

Go the Brand hwy Russ, the coast road from where you are is adding extra Kms that you don't need. If you do I think there aren't any 24 hour fuels from Neerabup through to Dongara

Once Anzac day is over signals the unofficial flood of seagulls with their caravans heading up this way and most use the coast road becuase there are less hills and stop over parks.

 thanks for the feed back guys. looks like the Brand might be the way were heading. looking at stopping at making it to Carnarvon on sunday then through to CB on monday. only driving a falcon wagon loaded up so no towing this time around.

too easy then, canarvon is only 8 hours away then a leisurly 2.5 to CB the next day so daylight driving all the way, enjoy the break Faulkners.