Coral Coast, Australia · Route map
On the Road: Western Australia's Wild Coast
Drive one of the world's most spectacular coastal routes, discovering pristine beaches, rugged national parks, and vibrant marine life from Perth to Exmouth.
- 1
Perth
1 night
Collect your car and explore coastal city vibes
- 2
Geraldton
1 night
Pink lakes, dramatic cliffs, and coastal hiking
- 3
Kalbarri
2 nights
Spectacular river gorges and ancient coastal landscapes
- 4
Shark Bay
1 night
Pristine white-sand beaches and diverse marine life
- 5
Exmouth
2 nights
World-class Ningaloo Reef and Cape Range hiking
- ✦5 stops · 7 nights
A sample from our journal — written by Waypora, kept as inspiration
Use this as a starting pointThe day-by-day
Perth Arrival and Coastal Sunset
Arrive into Perth Airport
Flight · Morning · Redcliffe
Pick up budget hire car
Car hire · Morning · Perth Airport
Collect your rental car from the airport terminal depot.
Book a standard 2WD with unlimited kilometres; you don't need a 4WD for this route.
Explore bohemian Fremantle's vintage strip
Excursion · Afternoon · Fremantle
Grab a cheap slice of woodfired pizza at Ruocco's on South Terrace.
Sunset walk along Cottesloe Beach
Excursion · Evening · Cottesloe
Skip the pricey restaurants and eat fish and chips on the grass as the sun sinks.
Overnight in Perth
Accommodation · Evening · Perth
Pinnacles and Coastal Drive North
Self-drive Perth to Geraldton via Nambung
Self-drive · Morning · Indian Ocean Drive
Drive north for roughly five hours along the Indian Ocean Drive.
Wander the otherworldly Pinnacles Desert
Excursion · Morning · Nambung National Park
Pay the single park entry fee which covers all state parks for the day.
Explore Geraldton's street art and Esplanade
Excursion · Afternoon · Geraldton
Walk up to the HMAS Sydney II Memorial for the best panoramic view of the town.
Overnight in Geraldton
Accommodation · Evening · Geraldton
Pink Lakes and Dramatic Cliffs
Self-drive Geraldton to Kalbarri
Self-drive · Morning · Coral Coast
Drive north for just under two hours.
Stop at the vibrant Hutt Lagoon
Excursion · Morning · Port Gregory
The pink hue is most intense on a clear day around mid-morning.
Coastal walk along Kalbarri's Red Bluff
Excursion · Afternoon · Kalbarri
Keep an eye out for migrating humpback whales from the lookout between June and November.
Overnight in Kalbarri
Accommodation · Evening · Kalbarri
Gorges and Skywalk Adventures
Peer through Nature's Window
Excursion · Morning · Kalbarri National Park
Arrive by 7:00 AM to beat the heat and the crowds.
Walk the thrilling Kalbarri Skywalk
Excursion · Afternoon · Kalbarri National Park
The two cantilevered viewing platforms offer spectacular, vertiginous views over the Murchison River Gorge.
Relax at the Murchison River mouth
At leisure · Evening · Kalbarri
Overnight in Kalbarri
Accommodation · Evening · Kalbarri
Ancient Stromatolites and Shell Beach
Self-drive Kalbarri to Shark Bay
Self-drive · Morning · Shark Bay
Drive four hours northeast into the World Heritage area.
Marvel at Hamelin Pool Stromatolites
Excursion · Afternoon · Hamelin Pool
These are the oldest and largest living fossils on Earth.
Swim at the snow-white Shell Beach
Excursion · Afternoon · Shark Bay
The beach is made entirely of tiny white cockle shells billions of layers deep.
Overnight in Shark Bay
Accommodation · Evening · Denham
Dolphin Encounters and Long Highway
See wild dolphins of Monkey Mia
Excursion · Morning · Monkey Mia
Only national park rangers feed the dolphins a small, strictly regulated fraction of their daily food.
Self-drive Shark Bay to Exmouth
Self-drive · Morning · Coral Coast
Drive approximately seven hours north via Carnarvon.
Stop at the Carnarvon cactus farm for a quick, quirky photo.
Overnight in Exmouth
Accommodation · Evening · Exmouth
Snorkelling Reefs and Canyons
Snorkel the incredible Turquoise Bay drift
Excursion · Morning · Cape Range National Park
Enter at the southern end, let the current carry you over the reef, and exit before the sandspit.
Hike the rugged Mandu Mandu Gorge
Excursion · Afternoon · Cape Range National Park
Look up to spot rare black-flanked rock-wallabies on the sheer canyon walls.
Overnight in Exmouth
Accommodation · Evening · Exmouth
Exmouth Departure
Drop off hire car at Learmonth Airport
Car hire · Morning · Learmonth
Arrive into Perth via domestic flight
Flight · Morning · Perth Airport
Fly from Learmonth back to Perth to connect to your journey home.
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