What Australians Call “Freeways” — And How It Varies Across the Country

Australians most commonly use “motorway” (especially in New South Wales and Queensland) and “freeway” (notably in Victoria and Western Australia) to describe high-speed, limited-access roads; you’ll also hear “expressway” in South Australia and “parkway” in the Australian Capital Territory, with “highway” generally referring to longer intercity routes that may not be fully access-controlled.

How the terminology varies by state and territory

While the road type is broadly the same—multi-lane, grade-separated, limited-access carriageways—the preferred term changes with local practice and history. Here’s how the naming convention typically breaks down across Australia.

• New South Wales: “Motorway” is standard (e.g., M1 Pacific Motorway, M2 Hills Motorway, M4 Western Motorway). Older routes were once branded “freeways” (the F3 Freeway is now the M1 Pacific Motorway).
• Queensland: “Motorway” predominates (e.g., M1 Pacific Motorway, Gateway Motorway, Logan Motorway). Some legacy names use “Expressway” (e.g., Riverside Expressway in central Brisbane).
• Victoria: “Freeway” is the norm (e.g., Monash Freeway M1, Eastern Freeway M3, Tullamarine Freeway M2, West Gate Freeway M1). Toll corridors like CityLink are functionally freeways.
• Western Australia: “Freeway” is widely used (e.g., Kwinana Freeway, Mitchell Freeway, Graham Farmer Freeway), though some high-standard corridors are named “Highway” (e.g., Forrest Highway).
• South Australia: A mix—“South Eastern Freeway” (M1) coexists with “Northern Expressway” and “Southern Expressway,” and the major north–south corridor is branded the “North–South Motorway.”
• Australian Capital Territory: “Parkway” is common for limited-access arterials (e.g., Tuggeranong Parkway, Majura Parkway, Parkes Way), aligning with the territory’s planning terminology.
• Tasmania and Northern Territory: “Highway” dominates (e.g., Brooker Highway, Southern Outlet, Stuart Highway), with fewer routes formally titled “motorway” or “freeway,” even when parts are built to freeway standard.

In practice, drivers will encounter consistent road standards regardless of the label; the differences are chiefly historical and regional branding choices.

How these roads are classified and signed

Across Australia, the alphanumeric route system uses an “M” prefix for motorway-standard corridors (high speed, fully or mostly grade-separated). The name on the sign—motorway, freeway, expressway, or parkway—reflects local convention, but the “M” route code signals the standard. Tolling status doesn’t change the naming convention: a tolled link can still be a motorway/freeway.

The points below outline how naming, standards, and numbering interact for drivers and map users.

• “M” routes indicate motorway-grade design and priority for through traffic (e.g., M1, M2, M3), irrespective of the formal road name.
• Legacy names persist: some routes transitioned from “Freeway” (F-routes) to “Motorway” (M-routes), especially in NSW after alphanumeric numbering was adopted in the 2010s.
• “Highway” often denotes a long-distance arterial that can include at-grade intersections and varying standards; sections may be upgraded to M-standard over time.
• “Expressway” and “Parkway” are jurisdiction-specific labels for limited-access corridors, functionally similar to motorways/freeways.
• Toll status is separate from classification; for example, Sydney’s WestConnex components (M4, M8) are motorways whether surface or tunnelled.

Taken together, the name on the gantry tells you where you are, while the “M” shield tells you the performance and access standard you can expect.

Examples you’ll hear on the road

From traffic reports to navigation prompts, these common names illustrate the regional preferences and help visitors decode local terminology quickly.

• Sydney/NSW: M1 Pacific Motorway, M2 Hills Motorway, M7 Westlink, M4 and M8 (WestConnex), M11 NorthConnex.
• Brisbane/QLD: M1 Pacific Motorway, Gateway Motorway, Logan Motorway, Centenary Motorway, Riverside Expressway.
• Melbourne/VIC: Monash Freeway (M1), West Gate Freeway (M1), Eastern Freeway (M3), Tullamarine Freeway (M2), CityLink.
• Perth/WA: Kwinana Freeway, Mitchell Freeway, Graham Farmer Freeway, Forrest Highway (freeway-standard in parts).
• Adelaide/SA: South Eastern Freeway (M1), Northern and Southern Expressways, North–South Motorway.
• Canberra/ACT: Tuggeranong Parkway, Majura Parkway, Parkes Way.
• Hobart/TAS and NT: Brooker Highway, Tasman Highway, Southern Outlet; Stuart Highway, Tiger Brennan Drive (expressway-standard sections).

These examples show that while the function is similar nationwide, the labels reflect each state or territory’s history and planning language.

Why “freeway” isn’t universal

Australia blends British and North American road nomenclature. States like Victoria and Western Australia adopted “freeway” during mid-to-late 20th-century expansion, while New South Wales and Queensland gravitated to the UK-leaning “motorway.” South Australia’s “expressway” and the ACT’s “parkway” align with local planning traditions. The result is a patchwork of names for broadly the same road type.

Bottom line

Expect “motorway” in NSW and Queensland, “freeway” in Victoria and Western Australia, “expressway” in parts of South Australia, and “parkway” around Canberra—backed by “M” route numbers that indicate motorway-grade standards nationwide.

What are highways called in Australia?

motorways
“M” routes are primary traffic routes, called motorways in some states. These are typically dual carriageway, freeway-standard highways, but may also be used for rural roads that are nearly at freeway-standard, or at least are dual carriageways.

What are the six types of roads in Australia?

Types of Roads in Australia

• Freeways. Freeways, also known as motorways or expressways, serve as the high-speed lifelines of Australia’s extensive road network.
• Ramps.
• Major Highways.
• Minor Highways.
• Primary Streets.
• Streets.
• Special-Purpose Roads.

What is an interstate in Australia?

Australian. to or into another state.

What is a freeway in Australia?

A motorway (freeway or expressway), is usually a high-speed road with more than one lane in each direction. Know the rules and drive safely on NSW motorways.