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Road trip along the World Heritage Listed Coral Coast Highway

Day 1

Perth to the Pinnacles and Kalbarri

Make your journey to the beginning of your adventure by joining the Indian Ocean Drive north of Perth.

Starting in the coastal playground of Lancelin, it leads you to one of the most unique landscapes on Earth, the Pinnacles Desert of Nambung National Park.

Picnic at the Pinnacles or grab lunch at the fishing village of Cervantes.

The last stretch of the Indian Ocean Drive leads you to the windsurfing capital of Geraldton.

From here, you’re just one hour and 45 minutes away from the ultimate outback coast playground in Kalbarri National Park.

Where to Stay

Pinnacles Edge Resort

Cervantes ★ ★ ★ ★

Cervantes Pinnacles Edge Resort is 20 minutes’ walk from Lake Thetis and a 20 minutes’ drive from Jurien Bay and Nambung National Park, home is the Pinnacles moonscape is 25 minutes’ drive away.

from $171

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Day 2

Kalbarri National Park

Adventurers can spend a full day kayaking, hiking, climbing or abseiling in Kalbarri’s 400-million-year-old river gorges, or chasing the best local catch on a deep sea fishing charter.

Or you can choose to explore this 183,000-hectare national park at a slower pace, cruising the Murchison River and walking the trails to take in the region’s extraordinary beauty, spring wildflowers and rock formations, including the iconic Nature’s Window.

Where to Stay

Kalbarri Murchison View Apartments 

 Cervantes

Located in the heart of one of WA’s most spectacular national parks​, Kalbarri Murchison View Apartments are just 100m from Chinamans Beach on the Murchison River with gorgeous panoramic views. Choose from 2 or 3 bedroom, ground floor or upstairs apartments, with poolside or ocean views.

from $240

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Day 3

Kalbarri to Shark Bay and Monkey Mia

Pick up a picnic lunch in Kalbarri town and begin the two and a half hours’ drive north to enter Shark Bay World Heritage Area.

Just 30 minutes into the Shark Bay World Heritage Drive, you’ll reach your first stop at Hamelin Pool Stromatolites.

Here, you can get a glimpse of life on Earth over 3,500 million years ago as you gaze in awe at the stromatolites – the largest and oldest living fossils on the planet.

Another hour along Denham-Hamelin Road brings you to Shell Beach – one of the few places in the world where you’ll see a beach made entirely of billions of tiny shells, creating a dramatic coastal landscape.
On the last leg to Denham and Monkey Mia, take a short detour to Eagle Bluff for spectacular ocean vistas and birds-eye views of the marine life below, or Peron Homestead for some insights into pastoral life on a working station in the early 1900s.

Stay in Denham or Monkey Mia.

Where to Stay

On the Deck @ Shark Bay

Denham

On the Deck @ Shark Bay is a boutique Bed and Breakfast nestled in the Shark Bay World Heritage Area. The accommodation and facilities are located on a large deck overlooking where the outback red sand meets the beautiful waters of Shark Bay.

from $240

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Day 4

Monkey Mia

Wild dolphins have visited this shoreline virtually every day since the early 1960s, making it one of the world’s top spots for dolphin encounters.

Rise early and enjoy a magical morning meeting Monkey Mia’s famous bottlenose dolphins. Check out the Dolphin Information Centre, or enjoy the pristine white sand beach before lunch overlooking the bay.

Spend your afternoon meeting more of Shark Bay’s marine life – including the world’s largest population of dugongs – on a wildlife cruise or kayaking tour.

Or stay on dry land and meet some of the region’s 100 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 240 varieties of birds on an Indigenous cultural tour, or a 4WD tour of Francois Peron National Park.

A sunset cruise is a great way to complete your Monkey Mia mini adventure.

Where to Stay

RAC Monkey Mia Dolphin Resorty

Monkey Mia ★ ★ ★

RAC Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort is situated midway within the Shark Bay World Heritage Area, home to one of the world’s best-known dolphin encounters. With beachfront accommodation situated on the pristine shores of Shark Bay, the resort offers a truly unique experience in unspoiled surrounds.

from $292

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Day 5

Monkey Mia to Carnarvon

The tropical food bowl of Carnarvon is the southern gateway to World Heritage Listed Ningaloo Reef – the largest and one of the most accessible fringing reefs on Earth.

Stop for a lunch-time feast of seasonal seafood and tropical fruit flavours fresh from Carnarvon’s plantations and farms.

Explore the region’s history and heritage with a visit to the Gascoyne Aboriginal Heritage and Cultural Centre and Carnarvon Heritage Precinct.

Stay overnight in Carnarvon.

 

Where to Stay

Coral Coast Tourist Park

Carnarvon

Located in the heart of Carnarvon, Coral Coast Tourist Park is walking distance from the town centre and magnificent waterways. Choose from a range of accommodation including self-contained park homes, cabins or an ensuite or standard site with annex pad.

from $118

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Day 6

Carnarvon to South Ningaloo

Take a detour by four wheel drive to some of the most secluded spots on the Ningaloo coast, where you can step straight off the beaches into the bluest ocean and snorkel with some of the 500 species of fish and 300 varieties of coral that call the reef home.

Drivers are advised to contact Carnarvon Tourist Centre to check road conditions and stock up on water, food and fuel before making this journey.

Take Blowholes Road and stop to witness the powerful force of the ocean swell at the Blowholes, before following the unsealed road to South Ningaloo.

Experience some of Ningaloo’s top snorkel trails, swimming beaches, fishing spots and surf breaks at Bluff Barrel, the Tombstones, Three Mile Camp and Gnaraloo Bay.

Stay a night or two at Quobba Station, Red Bluff, Three Mile Camp or Gnaraloo. Options range from camping and basic cabins to glamping in luxury eco tents.

 

Day 7

Carnarvon to Coral Bay

Take the three hour journey from Carnarvon to the chilled-out seaside town of Coral Bay – the only place in Western Australia that provides direct access to Ningaloo Reef.

Allow more time if you’re heading from South Ningaloo and travelling back to Blowholes Road to reach the North West Coastal Highway.

Here, in the calm, sheltered waters of the bay, you’re just a short snorkel or glass-bottom boat ride from Ningaloo’s coral gardens all of which are part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Stay an extra night and get up close and personal with the largest fish in the ocean – the whale shark. They visit Ningaloo Reef every year between March and July.

Explore the outer reef on a sea kayak, dive charter or snorkel tour and you will also discover humpback whales, turtles, and manta rays.

Being able to snorkel with graceful manta rays all year round is unique to Coral Bay aswell as being one of the only places on earth you can swim with Humpback Whales (and the only place in Australia you can snorkel with them in July).

Coral Bay has it all with the beach easily accessible from the front step of your accommodation – all just metres away and offers very safe swimming and snorkelling spots for all ages and abilities.

Try catching your own dinner on a deep-sea fishing charter, or choose from a small selection of cafes and restaurants.

Where to Stay

Ningaloo Caravan and Holiday Resort

Exmouth

Ningaloo Caravan and Holiday Resort offers simple sophistication and laid-back holiday atmosphere whether relaxing around the pool or enjoying the onsite dining experience of the BBQ Father restaurant.

Day 8

Coral Bay to Exmouth

At the northern tip of the Ningaloo Reef, Exmouth is another great place to swim with whale sharks.

Stop by the Exmouth Visitor Centre to pick up maps and check out the full array of guided tours available.

A glass-bottom boat, snorkel or dive tour to the outer reef will also bring you to the year-round playgrounds of dolphins, turtles, dugongs and manta rays.

Two must-dos for divers include Navy Pier – one of Australia’s top 10 dive sites – and an overnight trip to the Murion Islands.

There are also big drawcards here for surfers at the reef break on Surfers Beach, and world-class big-game chasing thrills for anglers too.

Choose from a good variety of accommodation options in Exmouth and on the cape and stay a couple of nights.

Where to Stay

Mantarays Ningaloo Beach Resort

Exmouth ★ ★ ★ ★

Mantarays Ningaloo is your gateway to the world heritage listed Ningaloo Reef and the Cape Range National Park. The deluxe development includes a range of hotel rooms and one and two bedroom self-contained apartments and bungalows.

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Day 9

Exmouth to Cape Range National Park return

Join a guided tour, or pack a picnic and head off early to explore Ningaloo Marine Park and Cape Range National Park at your own pace.

Drive carefully, watching out for kangaroos, emus and lizards, and take your pick from a string of stunning lagoons, white-sand beaches and snorkel trails, including Turquoise Bay.

For a striking contrast, take a wildlife cruise (seasonal) or self-guided bushwalk up the rugged red canyon of Yardie Creek.

Finish your day on the cape with an Indian Ocean sunset and humpback whale spotting (June and November) at Vlamingh Head Lighthouse, before returning to Exmouth.

Where to Stay

Exmouth Escape Resort

Exmouth ★ ★ ★ ★

Matching style, with practicality, the resort is perfectly located with Exmouth town and Ningaloo Reef on yours doorstep. The apartments are ideal for couples, families and groups to travel comfortably together.

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Day 10

Exmouth to Perth

If you made arrangements to leave your hire car at Learmonth Airport*, near Exmouth, you can hop on a direct flight that will get you back to Perth in one and a half hours. Alternatively, retrace your tracks back to Perth by road, breaking the 14-hour drive with a stay in Carnarvon, Kalbarri or Geraldton.

Rent a car and explore Coral Coast