Your Australia’s Coral Coast road trip departs from Perth and takes you along 1250km of rugged landscapes and breathtaking coastlines all the way to Exmouth. You can expect to find stretches of undisturbed white sandy beaches, an abundance of unique wildlife, colourful wild flowers(seasonal), ancient gorges and a World heritage listed reef filled with marine life.
In this blog we share some of the best known and loved places along Australia’s Coral Coast and hope to inspire you to visit this truely remarkable area of Western Australia. We loved the Coral Coast region not only for it’s natural beauty but also because some parts are relatively untouched and unspoiled giving it an even greater attraction in our eyes.
Check out our Youtube video from parts of Coral coast trip below.
Pinnacles
The first destination heading along Australia’s Coral Coast is the Pinnacles, located in Nambung National Park. The rock formations are so unique comprising of all different shapes and sizes. The Pinnacles are amazing natural limestone structures, formed approximately 25,000 to 30,000 years ago after the sea receded and left deposits of sea shells. Over time, coastal winds removed the surrounding sand, leaving the pillars exposed to the elements. You can take your time on your very own self drive through the park. Inside is a shop and cafe open from 8-4 where you can buy souvenirs or grab a coffee. Access to the park is open 24hrs and we found the best time to visit was for sunrise or sunset when you get beautiful golden light.
Hutt Lagoon
A visit to Western Australia’s famous Pink lake is a must do on this trip. Do you know why it gets it pink hue? This is due to the carotenoid producing algae ‘Dunaliella salina’ algae bloom which is a source of beta-carotene. The lagoon contains the worlds largest micro algae production plant. The lakes colours can range from hot pink to lilac depending on the time of day, season and the amount of cloud cover. The best time to see the most vibrant colours is mid morning on a cloudless day.
Kalbarri
The land of hot sunny days, red dirt roads, dramatic coastal cliffs, unique land formations and beautiful gorges. It offers a variety of activities for all ages and is an ideal place for all outdoor enthusiasts!
We really loved exploring Kalbarri National Park. Stepping into this park is like stepping into another world. The 400 million year old landscape is truly something you’ve got to witness with your own eyes. The National Park covers approximately 186,000 hectares which makes it one of the most spectacular in Western Australia.
When visiting Kalbarri we had to see the newly developed twin Sky Walk at Inyaka Wookai Watju site in Kalbarri National Park. With epic views of the gorge and the Murchison River, venture beyond the edge of the 100 meter drop. You feel like you’re walking on air when you step onto the 25 or 17 meter long lookout giving you spectacular views.
The perfect way to start the morning for the Adrenalin type!
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Natures Window
One of our highlights was waking up for sunrise over “Nature’s Window” in Kalbarri National Park. Nature’s Window is one of Western Australia’s most iconic natural attractions, formed thousands of years ago by natural erosion of Tumblagooda Sandstone.
The natural arch rock formation frames the incredible Murchison River. The whole area around Natures Window gives you unreal views of the gorges and national park. This location is a photographers favourite. If you pick the right time of the year you can capture the sunrise through the rock window.
Z Bend Lookout
We couldn’t get enough of this scenic view from the Z bend lookout in Kalbarri. The look overhangs a sharp bend in the Murchison River and is a great option for those who want to take in the breathtaking views without doing the hike.
Z Bend River trail takes you down to the very bottom of gorge. The trail starts with a steep decent and a few ladder climbs before leading down into the the Murchison River with spectacular scenery. You can also have a refreshing dip at the bottom.
Blue Holes beach is known for its amazing snorkelling and marine life. Sections of the protected reef are often exposed at low tide and make for a great spot to enjoy floating in the rock pools.
Shell Beach
Shell Beach is well know for….. you guessed it- Shells! This beautiful snowy white beach is made up of billions of crushed shells stretching as far as 70 km and 10 meters deep. You must stop at this unique beach to snap a photo!
Shark Bay
Shark Bay is renown for its turquoise waters, white sandy beaches, vibrant red sand dunes and abundance of wildlife. It became Western Australia’s first World Heritage listed area in 1991. Shark Bay has 12 species of seagrass which cover over 4000 square kilometres. This is a vital food source for one of the most stable Dugong populations in the world, with over 10,000 dugongs inhabiting the Shark Bay region.
We would have loved to spend more time in Shark Bay, unfortunately we only had time for a day visit. Not having a 4WD also meant that we couldn’t drive further into the stunning Francois Peron National Park. We did however drive through the town and see the Hamelin Pool stromatolites. There is plenty to do in Shark Bay and we have been told to do the following activities when we visit next. Meet the Dugongs on a wildlife cruise, drive through Francois Peron National park on 4WD tour, get up close with the world famous dolphins at Monkey Mia and learn the history of the Malgana people.
Coral Bay
Coral Bay is a marine paradise where you can stay directly across from the calm bays and Ningaloo Reef. Once in the water you will understand why it gets its name from the beautiful coral gardens which are located just meters from its white sandy beaches. This tiny seaside location is definitely a favourite to visit and a haven for all ocean and wildlife lovers.
Grab your snorkel gear, walk down to the local bay and snorkel around the calm and protected Bills Bay and Purdy Point. These are both sanctuary zones meaning there are plenty to see while snorkelling. See if you can spot the worlds largest brain coral!
The Ningaloo Coral Coast World Heritage area is regarded as one of the last great ocean paradises and Australia’s largest fringing reef stretching 300 km. This part of the reef is a manta ray hotspot and is lucky enough to have about 80 ‘resident’ manta rays.
No visit to Coral Bay is complete without exploring the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Listed Ningaloo Coast on an eco tour. We booked our tour with Coastal Adventure Tours which we highly reccomend. ‘The Best of Ningaloo and Manta Tour‘ is the perfect way to see a wide range of various marine life Coral Bay has to offer. We had an amazing day out with the crew, learning all about Coral Bay and its marine life. Lunch is included and you also have a very talented photographer ready to snap your photo!
Click here to book your Coastal Adventure tour. *The photos below were taken by the very talented tour photographer Jake Wilton. Check out his amazing work here.
Exmouth
Situated at the northern gateway of the Ningaloo Coast World heritage area is Exmouth. Here is the perfect place to explore the spectacular landscapes of the Cape Range National park and the underwater wonders of the Ningaloo reef.
Cape Range National Park
The beautiful Cape Range National Park covers just over 50,00 hectares of deep canyons, stunning gorges and pristine beaches. Pack your sunscreen, beach towels and snorkel gear with you for a full day out. What’s so great about the Ningaloo Reef is that you don’t need to boat to snorkel the reef. The reef is located just off the shore so head out with you snorkel gear and enjoy the self drift snorkel spots. The best being Turquoise Bay, Oyster Stacks and Lakeside.
Swim with the worlds largest fish along Australia’s coral coast!
Enjoy a once in a life time experience swimming with the worlds LARGEST fish (and shark)- The Whale Shark. We booked a Whale Shark tour with Ningaloo Discovery and highly recommend them. The day starts sailing to the first snorkel spot on their 60ft catamaran. See an abundance of coral and marine life before getting up close and personal with the Whale Sharks. We were very fortunate to have swam with 4 different Whale Sharks. I loved swimming along side them and marvelling at their sheer size. They truely are the most majestic creatures of the ocean.
Lunch is included in the price and you can expect a variety of delicious salads, pasta and meat. After lunch you have one more opportunity to jump into the calm waters of the lagoon. See if you can spot a turtle before we making the journey back to the jetty. We had the most amazing day with the crew at Ningaloo Discovery and we hope you have added swimming with the Whale Sharks to your bucket list.
Book your Whale Shark tour here.
For a beautiful short, easy hike we would recommend the Yardie Creek Trail hike. The trail starts at the southern end of Cape Range National park, which takes a little over 1 hour to drive there from town. The trail starts at the Yardie Creek boat ramp and follows a short path along the creek before you take the unmarked trail over the rocks. We would recommend going for sunrise to take the best pictures and to beat the heat. Be sure to give yourself enough time in the morning to get there before sunrise. Also drive with caution and watch out for wildlife on the road.
Charles Knife Canyon
For sunset drive 21km south of exmouth to Charles Knife Canyon. Take the gravel road up to the top for impressive views of the multi coloured gorges of Charles Knife Canyon. The range is 320m above sea level which makes it the same height as the Eiffel Tower. We have been for both sunset and sunrise. Sunset take up a picnic blankets, snacks, a bottle of wine and watch the sunset over the ocean. For sunrise follow one of the trails over the ridges and watch the sunrise from the other side.
Could Exmouth be the best town in Australia’s Coral Coast?
Another great spot fro sunset is up to Vlamingh Head Lighthouse. Drive right up to the lighthouse or simply pull to the side of the road for breathtaking views of the North West Cape and the Ningaloo Reef. This place is one of the only places in Western Australia where you can watch the sun setting AND the sun rising. If you’re lucky to be in Exmouth between July and October, the Humpbacks pass through for their annual migration. The top of the hill is a great vantage point to see them.
Dive the world famous Exmouth Navy Pier with Dive Ningaloo. The pier has been voted as one of the top 10 dive sites in Australia, one of the top shore dives in the world and it is right here in Exmouth. There was an abundance of fish, a huge local grouper and pier itself is covered with soft corals and sponges. Dive Ningaloo currently hold the only licence for operating scuba diving tours at the Navy Pier.
Click here to book your dives in Exmouth
For a small town Exmouth sure packs a punch when it comes to atmosphere and Great food. To taste some locally brewed beer and delicious pizzas- look no further than Whalebone Brewery. For healthy vegetarian food and a cool hang out spot check out The Social Society. If you have a sweet tooth and love great coffee like me then the Earlybird Cafe is just the cafe for you.
Thank you for reading about the best places to visit along Australia’s Coral Coast.
We hope this blog has helped you plan for your next trip along Australia’s Coral Coast. We have no doubt that you will fall in love with all these places just like we did. There are still so many places along Australia’s Coral Coast starting from Perth to Exmouth that we are yet to visit. If you have any recommendations we would love to read about them in the comment section below.
For more inspiration about road trips in Australia, check out our road trips guides on the Kimberley, South Australia, Tasmania and Darwin.
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