Road tripping between Ningaloo Reef and Perth is an adventure not to be missed as an add-on to a Sail Ningaloo holiday.
We recommend giving yourself lots of time and if you haven’t driven on roads in Western Australia like this before, make sure you are well prepared. Top up your fuel whenever you can to avoid running out between service stations and make sure you have plenty of water and food supplies in case of a breakdown.
Amazing deals for one way car hire through AVIS Exmouth – Fly one way – Road Trip the other!
Heading north bound instead? Check out our Drive Coral Bay to Broome page.
Carnarvon
Heading south from Coral Bay via Minilya roadhouse where the road meets the North West Highway, take a break in Carnarvon and stock up on any supplies you may need. Have a walk along the facine foreshore to stretch your legs or take a driving tour around the plantations, some of which offer fresh produce for sale as well as home-made jams, sauces and ice cream – Yum! The Carnarvon Space & Technology Museum is a must-do, the station was built to support NASA’s Gemini, Apollo and Skylab programs and is a treasure trove of interesting information and history. Gwoonwardu Mia is the Gascoyne Aboriginal Heritage and Cultural Centre and features a permanent exhibition which is well worth a visit.
There is a variety of accommodation available in town, or you can consider staying on Quobba station at the Blowholes campground (51kms), a great coastal camp and the blowholes themselves are pretty amazing to watch too. Just 1km south of the Blowholes is a calm coral-filled lagoon known to the locals as the ‘Aquarium’, with fish and shells in abundance and a white sandy beach, making it an ideal spot for snorkelling.
Wooramel Station Stay
As an alternative to over-nighting in Carnarvon, you could carry on a little further to stay overnight at Wooramel River Retreat (120km), a beautiful place to stop for the night. Go bird watching, follow river walking trails, explore the history of 4 generations on the station, take a self-guided 4WD tour of the station or simply relax in the naturally heated therapeutic artesian bore baths.
Shark Bay
Shark Bay offers so much to explore and experience. Leave the highway and head west to Denham and Monkey Mia, stopping at the stunning Shell Beach & Hamelin Pool along the way. Shell Beach is what it suggests…a beach of shells… millions of tiny white shells and no sand. Amazing! At Hamelin Pool you can view incredible Stromatolites, the oldest and largest living fossils on earth, best viewed at low tide.
Discover the fascinating history of the area at the Shark Bay Denham, or head out for an adventurous day exploring Francois Peron National Park, some of which is only accessible with a 4WD, or join a guided tour. Denham is also the gateway to Dirk Hartog Island National Park – the longest island in Western Australia, offering stunning natural beauty and untamed wilderness. Ocean Park operates day scuba diving and snorkelling tours out to the island but if you don’t have time for that, a visit to their Aquarium is a must-do, with tours every hour of the touch pools and aquarium, a great way to learn more about the local marine life.
Each morning, have the opportunity to meet the famous local Dolphin celebrities at Monkey Mia with an interactive talk from one of the local park rangers.
Kalbarri
Kalbarri offers visitors spectacular scenery of rugged inland gorges, dramatic coastal cliffs, sensational beaches and the tranquil Murchison River. Must visit spots in the Kalbarri National Park include the magnificent Kalbarri Skywalk recently opened, offering breathtaking views 100 metres above the million year old formed river gorges. For those keen on some short hiking trails, there are a number of lookouts and trails, including to one of WA’s most iconic natural attractions, Natures Window, which perfectly frames the river and is top on the list of photo opportunities. Pelican feeding is at 8:45am every morning on the Kalbarri foreshore, or for the thrill-seekers, join a quad bike tour or abseil adventure.
Hutt Lagoon (Pink Lake)
This can be a quick stop but the view is well worth it! The Pink Lake is a stunning hue of colour created by algae. Wander the shores to see the colour up close and check out the salt build up around the edges. Scenic flights over the lake are also available from Kalbarri to experience the striking colours from above.
Geraldton
Geraldton is a large coastal town known for its beautiful Mediterranean climate, where you can easily stock up on food, fuel and anything else you may need for your journey. It’s a great place to stop for the night, stroll the foreshore, take a swim and indulge at one of the many dining options which feature local produce & seafood. Geralton also has some of the best windsurfing and kitesurfing conditions in the world! For the history buffs, be sure to check out the Museum of Geraldton, as well as the HMAS Sydney II Memorial, Saint Francis Xavier Cathedral and the Point Moore Lighthouse.
Detour – Abrolhos Islands
The Abrolhos Islands consists of some 210 islands that are clustered into three main groups; the Wallabi, Pelsaert or Southern Group and Easter Groups and form the Houtman Abrolhos Islands National Park. The islands lie about 70kms west of Geraldton and can be reached via boat or scenic flight.
They abound with natural wonders, spectacular marine and bird life. The islands are also home to the historic Batavia shipwreck, what is generally acknowledged as being the earliest European structure in Australia. The islands are popular for fishing, snorkelling and scuba diving.
Jurien Bay
Known as the ‘Playground of the Turquoise Coast’ Jurien Bay is a great place to base yourself and tick off the Turquoise Coast bucket list items. Besides stand-up paddle boarding hire, fishing tours, cave and sand-boarding tours, we highly recommend joining a half day swimming with the Sea-Lions tour, where you can don a mask & snorkel and interact with these playful puppies of the sea!
If you’re visiting during wildflower season (June – October) head inland to Lesueur National Park when the park transforms into a wildflower wonderland. The Lesueur Scenic Drive takes you through the most scenic parts of the park & offers some incredible panoramic views.
Cervantes
Located 245 km north of Perth, Cervantes is a pleasant, rather underdeveloped, fishing village and holiday destination. Get a first hand look into the regions multi-million dollar Western Rock Lobster industry by taking a tour of the live lobster processing plant at The Lobster Shack. Follow the lobsters’ journey from craypot to cooking pot.
Nambung National Park, South East of Cervantes contains one of Australia’s most fascinating landscapes—The Pinnacles Desert. Out of the shifting yellow sands rise thousands of huge limestone pillars, standing in stark contrast to the surrounding low heathlands typical of this coast.
Last stop… Perth
Embrace the best of both worlds in Perth, where soft-sand beaches and scenic parks meet a thriving metropolis of small bars, creative restaurants and curated street art.
What an adventure you’ve had travelling Australia’s Coral Coast between Perth and Ningaloo! If you haven’t had enough and want to continue the road trip, Australia’s South West also offers some incredible scenery and road trip destinations including Margaret River, Albany, Denmark and Esperance as you head towards South Australia, or maybe save it for next time…. Either way, safe travels and please don’t hesitate to Contact Us for any assistance when planning your holiday to and from Ningaloo Reef.
