Western Australia’s vast coast offers travelers among the best road trips in the country. While many visitors stick to the classic tourist spots in Sydney, Melbourne, and the Great Barrier Reef, Western Australia deserves consideration when preparing a trip to australia.Follow this 10-day journey in the west coast of Australia to hit the popular features of WA inside a short time. Between wildlife experiences, unique rock formations, and incredible national parks, there’s something for everybody.
10 Perth
Start the journey along Australia's wild west coast by flying into WA’s capital, Perth. This vibrant coastal city has lots of white sand beaches and turquoise waters it offers fantastic shopping as well as an exciting craft beer scene.
While visiting Perth, take a look at some of the local coffee houses to get a taste of Australia’s infamous coffee culture.
9 Perth to Geraldton
After picking up their car rental, travelers can hit the road and make your way Geraldton. While the driving distance is 415 km, taking approximately 4.5 hours, there are lots of stops along the way to interrupt in the trip.
Make a stop in the Pinnacles Desert, that is a natural grouping of limestone formations in Namburg National Park. Another worthwhile stop on the way is Jurien Bay, a peaceful coastal town in WA’s Wheatbelt.
8 Geraldton to Kalbarri
The next day, drive 129 km from Geraldton to Kalbarri National Park. This is a short 1.5-hour journey to a spectacular park with red rock formations and vast gorges. On the way, stop at the Pink Lake (Hutt Lagoon). This excellent natural feature from the region has become popular on Instagram recently. The river appears pink since it includes a large quantities of carotenoid-producing algae.
7 Kalbarri National Park
Take a day off from driving and soak in the great thing about Kalbarri National Park with a few epic hiking and exploring. Wake up early and beat the heat with a hike around the 9 km Loop Trail that leads towards the iconic rock formation known as Nature’s Window.
In the afternoon, enjoy the 700-meter Rose Graham River Walk that leads to the fringe of the Murchison River. This can be a good way to swim or kayak for cooling off following a busy day in the sun.
6 Kalbarri to Coral Bay
Pack up and continue the drive north traveling 268 km to Shark Bay. Make a pit stop here to determine Monkey Mia. This beach spot is well known because of its wild dolphins that approach the shore as much as three times every day for feeding. While seeing a dolphin here isn’t guaranteed, chances are high having a 99% dolphin attendance rate. Feedings end at 12 pm so make sure to arrive here in the morning for an opportunity to determine the dolphins.
There are also possibilities to see other ocean wildlife here like turtles, stingrays, and much more. The drive from Shark Bay to Coral Bay is nearly five hours, covering 486 km.
5 Coral Bay to Exmouth
Drive a short distance from Coral Bay to Exmouth for a few from the highlights of this Wa itinerary. After just 152 km, visitors get to one of the best spots to determine ocean wildlife on the west coast.
Start at Coral Bay by taking an excursion inside a glass-bottom boat, consuming the colorful reef below. Then, visit Ningaloo Reef to swim with whale sharks. This experience is seasonal, only accessible from mid-March to mid-July.
Those visiting later in the year may have a opportunity to have a different excursion that is sure to top anyone’s Australian bucket list: swimming with humpback whales. This once-in-a-lifetime experience is possible in Exmouth between August and November every year.
4 Exmouth to Karijini
On the next leg of the trip, head to Karijini National Park. The drive from Exmouth takes around 8 hours, which makes it among the longest stretches of this Australian adventure. There are not many places to prevent along the way so be sure to have a fun playlist of favorite songs or podcasts ready for entertainment through the drive.
To refuel or pick up food, stop off in Tom Price before arriving at Karijini National Park, one of Australia’s most spectacular destinations.
3 Karijini National Park
Spend a minumum of one full day in Karijini to understand all of the natural beauty of northwestern Oz. For travelers who have the flexibility to include a couple of days for their trip, this is an excellent destination to stay for one or two additional nights to be fully immersed within the history of this region.
Dramatic red rock cliffs make an impressive backdrop for hiking and the blue waters at Hamsley Gorge are ideal for trying to cool off after a busy day.
2 Karijini to Broome
The drive from Karijini to Broome is long, covering 938 km and taking almost 10 hours. Break up the day by starting early and making stops along the way. Have brunch in Port Headland, one of the largest towns in WA’s Pilbara region.
In a special afternoon, stop at Eighty-Mile Beach to unwind under the sun around the clean pristine or cool-down within the turquoise water. By nightfall, arrive at the final destination of the trip, Broome.
1 Broome
Broome is in Australia’s Kimberly region and it is a resort town. There’s so much to do here that travelers could easily extend their trip to spend one more three or four days exploring. Visit the red cliffs at Gantheaume Point or see 120-million-year-old fossilized dinosaur footprints at Roebuck Bay.
Broome can also be home to Australia’s most remote brewery, called Matso’s Brewery, so it’s worth going for a tour and carrying out a tasting. End this epic coastal roast trip by watching the sunset on the famous Cable Beach before catching a flight ticket home the next morning.
