Australia
Western Australia
Must-Stop Destinations Between Perth and Exmouth
November 15, 2023 • Renee Nathan Helms
9 min read
November 15, 2023 • Renee Nathan Helms
9 min read
Perth (Boorloo) to Exmouth (Warnangoora) is one of the great camping and caravanning trips in Western Australia. At roughly 1,200km one-way it's ideal as a stand-alone road trip, or as part of a longer adventure. Here, Renee shares some of the (many) reasons why it ranks among the country's best coastal drives.
Australia is pretty blessed in the coastline department, and we’ve been lucky enough to explore a large part of it. So after some pretty extensive travels, choosing our favourite stretch of coast would be like choosing a favourite child. But the piece of coast that runs from Perth to Exmouth has to be up there towards the top of the list.
Not only does it have one of the best and most easily accessible coral reefs in the world, it’s also got some amazing beachside camping areas, fantastic wildlife experiences, and you can experience red sands, ancient rocks, white beaches and pink lakes along the journey. So, let’s start from Perth, head north, and see what we find shall we?
Heading north from Perth along the Indian Ocean Drive, one of the first stops most people make (which can also be done as a day trip from Perth) is Cervantes to visit Nambung National Park, where you’ll find the amazing rock formations that form The Pinnacles.
Here you’ll find thousands of large limestone pillars rising up from the desert across the sand as far as the eye can see. In fact, to properly explore them you need to take your car on a looping drive through the sand, with designated places to stop off and explore further by foot. Allocate a couple of hours for your visit and note that camping is not available in the immediate area. Also, like most WA national parks, there is an entry fee per vehicle – but it’s well worth it!
Consider staying at either BIG4 Tasman Holiday Park Ledge Point or RAC Cervantes Holiday Park, both are great options on this leg of the journey.
This stretch of coast has a wide variety of marine creatures to get up close and personal with, particularly once you get up further north – whale sharks, sea turtles, humpback whales and manta rays to name a few. But sea lions must be arguably some of the most playful and interactive of the sea life on offer. They don’t call them the dogs of the ocean for nothing!
They’re heaps of fun and seem to love swimming with humans as much as humans love swimming with them. There’s only a few places in Australia you can swim with sea lions, and Jurien Bay is one of them, so if this is something that sounds like your cup of tea make sure you stop in and book a tour to visit them for yourself.
A lovely place to base yourself out while exploring this area is Dongara Tourist Park, complete with a "Bali" style BBQ pergola to relax with family and friends.
Hutt Lagoon or just ‘The Pink Lake’ as it’s probably more colloquially known, is conveniently located directly beside the Coral Coast Highway, meaning all you need to do to see it is pull your car over into one of the lookouts.
The intensity of its pink colour depends on local conditions and sunlight – try and visit around the middle of the day when the sun is out to see the colours at their most bold. Hutt Lagoon is one of a handful of pink lakes to be found around Australia, but is probably one of the more impressive and accessible options so it’s definitely worth a stop.
If you're looking to stay nearby, the Geraldton area is a great spot to call home for the night, with Drummond Cove Holiday Park and BIG4 Sunset Beach being our recommendations
This little-known gem is also home to one of our all-time favourite campsites. Found between Hutt Lagoon and Kalbarri (Wurdimarlu), it’s a beautiful spot right on the beach. Plus, if you have a 4x4 you can head off into the dunes to find the perfect secluded place to camp up all to yourselves. You’ll have wide open starry skies, a beach to yourself, and it’s the perfect place to throw in a line.
The Kalbarri (Wurdimarlu) area, where the Murchison River meets the sea, is the perfect mix of ocean, river and sandstone gorge, and as such has a wide variety of things to see and do. Most people at the very least stop in to take a picture at Nature’s Window – a perfectly formed natural rock window which frames the beautiful view of the gorge below. But don’t let that be the end of your visit – there’s some lovely hikes through the gorge, great places to go for a fish or a kayak, beautiful beaches to stop in for a swim, and a stunning array of wildflowers if you’re lucky enough to visit in the season (July to Oct). Plus, the newly opened Kalbarri Skywalk looks pretty cool – we’re going to have to go back and check that one out for ourselves.
Now some would argue that the Coral Coast Highway ends here, and sure if you’re out of time and need to head back to Perth then here is a good place to turn around. However, we believe the best is yet to come. If you can spare another week (or more!), keep heading north.
For those not travelling in 4WD's, or looking for some added facilities and comforts, Tasman Holiday Park Kalbarri and Kalbarri Anchorage Holiday Village are two fantastic places to stay in the area.
The Shark Bay World Heritage Area (Gathaagudu / Gutharraguda), which encompasses areas like Monkey Mia, Denham, Francois Peron National Park, Steep Point and Dirk Hartog Island, is one of our all-time faves. But it does require a bit of extra time, and a 4x4 to see the best parts of it. If you’ve got another week to spare, or even just a few nights, then we definitely recommend detouring in and checking out at least part of this area.
You can venture out to the western-most point of the country at Steep Point, spot whales, sharks, turtles, dolphins, sea lions, and maybe even a dugong right from the shore, throw in a rod and almost guarantee you’ll catch a fish (if we did, anyone can!), and see the stunning contrast of red dunes, white sand and blue water at Francois Peron National Park.
RAC Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort and Tasman Holiday Park Denham Seaside are our top accommodation picks for this region.
Carnarvon itself is a great little town – it’s the perfect place to stop in and stock up on supplies and we recommend a visit to the Space & Technology Museum while you’re in town. But for us personally the real magic lies just a little out of town and will require a bit of a detour from the main road.
About 45 mins drive towards the coast lies Point Quobba, which is home to the Quobba Blowholes, which in and of themselves are pretty cool. But the best part is just a little further past the blowholes where you’ll find the aptly named ‘Aquarium’.
A fantastic rockpool area just off the shore that holds a spectacular array of sea life and is a fantastic place to jump in for a snorkel. It’s nice and sheltered from the outer waves, isn’t too deep, and is particularly great for kids or novice snorkellers to practice their skills. Just keep an eye on the tide – it needs to be on the higher side to ensure there’s enough water to snorkel above the coral and rocks without doing yourself an injury. There’s also a great little camping area here if you want to extend your stay – we did.
Two great places to stay while in the area are BIG4 Plantation Caravan Park and the Norwesta Lifestyle Park
Nestled along the stunning coastline of Western Australia, Coral Bay stands out as a must-visit destination on the journey to Exmouth. This idyllic coastal town, known for its pristine white sandy beaches and crystal-clear turquoise waters, offers a mesmerising underwater world teeming with vibrant marine life.
Make sure you check out the Turtle Cliff Lookout Walk. It offers panoramic views of the Indian Ocean, rugged limestone cliffs and turtles as they come ashore for nesting season in the summer!
Janes Bay Campground is a great place for an off-the-grid place to stop for the night by the coast.
This is a place that really needs no introduction, and is often the reason that so many people take this coastal route along the Coral Coast - and for good reason!
Ningaloo Reef ((Nyinggulu)) is a UNESCO World Heritage site and offers a captivating underwater world that rivals any other in the world. Snorkelling and diving enthusiasts are treated to the breathtaking spectacle of diverse marine life, including majestic whale sharks, vibrant coral gardens, and playful dolphins. The region's untouched and remote character enhances the sense of exploration, making it a destination of its own right. Make sure to check out our Highlights of the Ningaloo Reef for some great local recommendations on things to do and places to stay.
Congratulations, you made it!
What a journey.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this stretch of coast as much as we did, and we know you will love Exmouth!
This is an ideal base camp for exploring this entire area, and we have put together a Highlights of Exmouth guide to help you plan out your time in this amazing coastal town.
Whether your journey leads you inland back to Perth or north to continue the adventure, we're confident you'll love exploring this epic coastal route.
