Police have arrested a 12-year-old boy who was attempting to drive across Australia - 14 hours into his epic journey.

The youngster was picked up in the mining town of Broken Hill, more than 800 miles (1,300km) from his starting point in New South Wales.

He had apparently driven across the entire state on his own.

"Checks revealed the driver to be a 12-year-old boy (who) was travelling from Kendall NSW on his way to Perth," said state police.

A spokesperson for the force said he was stopped after officers spotted the bumper dragging along the ground.


"Officers from Broken Hill Highway Patrol stopped a motor vehicle on the Barrier Highway due to defects which made the vehicle hazardous," said the police statement.

Further inquiries are continuing into how the boy came to be driving the vehicle and why he wanted to get to Perth.