The Perth to Broome road trip is a must for any visitor to Western Australia. Known as one of the best drives in Western Australia, you’ll experience WA’s seemingly endless coastline for days on end. A 2200 km drive is well broken down for a two – three-week trip and there are plenty of places to stop on your travels. Without stopping the drive is a 22-hour trip spanning the length of the WA coast. The prime time to make this trip is between April and November to avoid the scorching summer heat.
Perth To Broome Road Trip: Part 1 – Perth To Jurien Bay – 2.5 hours
The first stop on your trip will be Jurien Bay, just a short 2.5 hours north of Perth. Jurien is the ideal spot to stop on your first night. You will pass through some great WA spots on your trip here. Passing the Lancelin Sand Dunes, great fun if you’re making the trip in your 4WD, you’ll make your way past a small fishing town called Cervantes. Home to The Pinnacles, these are a must-see and are famous for the limestone blocks formed 20 – 30,000 years ago. You’ll end your day in Jurien Bay with great fish and chips on the beach. Visiting the jetty and embracing the relaxed lifestyle of Jurien Bay is a great way to spend your evening. A great place to stay is the Summerstar Caravan Park in Jurien Bay. With unpowered sites available for $34 a night and powered sites available for $42, it offers a prime location.
Perth To Broome Road Trip: Part 2 – Jurien Bay to Kalbarri – 4 hours
The drive from Jurien Bay to Kalbarri is a view of what is to come. With beautiful views and little towns to pass through the day will fly by. You’ll pass through picturesque towns like Greenhead, where I’ve spent a few weekends with stunning beaches, and the bigger city of Geraldton where you can visit a beautiful WW2 memorial. After passing through Geraldton it is a short trip to Kalbarri, via Horrocks Beach for fish and chips and a beautiful beach view, for your evening stay. An ideal place to stay is the Summerstar Caravan Park in Kalbarri. With powered en-suite sites available for $60. Kalbarri is a place you could spend up to a week as there is so much to see and I would definitely recommend at least a few days here.
Best things to do in Kalbarri:
- Visit the Kalbarri National Park and see the Instagram famous ‘Natures Window’.
- The Pink Lake – Ideal to visit on your way from Geraldton (About 40 minutes south of Kalbarri).
Perth To Broome Road Trip: Part 3 – Kalbarri to Shark Bay – 3 hours
The drive from Kalbarri to Shark Bay is beautiful. You will experience different landscapes from the beauty of the National Park to the outback red dirt. The drive will take you through Hamelin Pools, famous for having the largest and most diverse examples of stromatolites (living fossils) in the world. When you arrive in Shark Bay, a trip to Monkey Mia is required! The opportunity to feed dolphins in the wild is not to be missed. I was lucky enough to feed a dolphin and it is an amazing experience, especially seeing as dolphins are my favourite animal. Please note a trip to Monkey Mia requires an entry fee of $15 per car and is still payable if you are staying at the RAC resort. The best place to stay is The Shark Bay Caravan Park which has large unpowered sites from $60.
Best things to do in Shark Bay:
- Feed the dolphins at Monkey Mia
- Shell Beach
Perth To Broome Road Trip: Part 4 – Shark Bay to Carnarvon – 2 hours 40 mins
The drive up to Carnarvon is again one of beauty. Carnarvon is known as ‘The Food Bowl’ of WA if you are interested in completing your 88 days of regional work on your travels see here. Carnarvon is also known for its natural wonders and indigenous history. The best place to stay while here is The Big 4 Carnarvon Caravan Park, which has unpowered sites with en-suites for $70.
Best things to do in Carnarvon:
- Visit Kennedy Range National Park
- Visit The Quobba Blowholes
Perth To Broome Road Trip: Part 5 – Carnarvon to Exmouth- 4 hours
Setting off early from Carnarvon is your best option. You’ll be able to visit the Quobba Blowholes on your way out of Carnarvon you will be ideally situated to continue up to Exmouth. You won’t want to miss Coral Bay, a delightful tiny fishing village en-route. With pristine beaches and perfect snorkeling, it is somewhere not to miss. From there you will have access to Ningaloo Reef, famous for its whale sharks! Take the time to swim with these majestic creatures for a once-in-a-lifetime experience! When staying in Exmouth there are a variety of options but a great option is the Big 4 Caravan Park. With powered sites from $54 or unpowered sites from $44 a night it is somewhere very worthwhile.
Best things to do in Exmouth:
- Swim with the Whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef
- Visit Turquoise Bay
- Vlahmigh Head Lighthouse
Perth To Broome Road Trip: Part 6 – Exmouth to Karratha – 6 hours
As this is the longest part of the trip so far as a singular journey it is definitely a good idea to break it up! There are some great stops to see on your way to Karratha. Visit Charles Knife Canyon, which has a great, moderately difficult, 6 km hike for adventurous travellers. Found just outside of Learmonth it is just a 25-minute drive from the center of Exmouth. From there you’ll start the trip to Karratha and pass through Onslow and Miaree, where you’ll have the option to swim in the river and go on the rope swing! A great way to relax after a fairly long drive! When you arrive in Karratha the best place to stay is The Karratha Caravan Park with powered sites from $40 a night. A great bonus about this caravan park is the offer of free washing machines which are ideal after a long trip especially when camping.
The best things to do in Karratha:
- Karratha Tank Hill Lookout
- Explore Burrup and have a go at the Jump Up if you are experienced in 4WDing
- Explore Dampier
- Take an aboriginal guided rock art tour
Perth To Broome Road Trip: Part 7 – Karratha to Eighty Mile Beach – 5 hours
By now you’re coming towards the end of the road trip and are almost in Broome! A 5-hour drive to Eighty Mile Beach will give you time to relax on beautiful beaches. This part of the drive will take you through Port Hedland where you can do some whale watching for scenic viewpoints between June and October. Once you arrive at Eighty Mile Beach you will be able to set up for your evening stay at Eighty Mile Beach Caravan Park located just minutes from the beach. You can book an unpowered site for $35 a night or a powered site for $40 a night.
Best things to do in Eighty Mile Beach:
- Beach Combing
- Bird watching – Eighty Mile Beach is one of the most important shorebird sites in the country. Hundreds of thousands of birds migrate here to eat every year.
- Beach fishing
Perth To Broome Road Trip: Part 8 – Eighty Mile Beach to Broome – The final Stretch – 3 hours
The final stretch of your Perth to Broome road trip is Eighty Mile Beach to Broome. A stunning stretch of road. You will pass through Barn Hill Station where you can explore the rockpools and get a pizza! Something you definitely might be craving after just a long trip up the coast! You will end your day in Broome and the road trip is complete! You can spend your night at The Pistol Club Overflow for $30 a night. This is Australian bush camping at its finest. You are unable to book here however so it is recommended you arrive early! For information on what to do in Broome see here.
Best things to do in Broome
- Visit Cable Beach. Visit during the day to see dinosaur footprints! At night you will see camels walking up and down the beach.
- Visit Gantheaume Point
- Malcolm Douglas Crocodile Park – $35 entry, you can hold a baby crocodile and watch a feeding at 3pm!
Perth To Broome Road Trip – Conclusion
The Perth to Broome road trip is a must-do for all backpackers. It is a scenic drive that will take you through so many of the key landmarks found on the WA coastline. This is a trip that is best enjoyed without a timeline just set off and live each day to its fullest. Use this post as a guide and spend your days embracing Australian life. When you arrive back in Perth you should visit Fremantle! Another beautiful town about 20 minutes south of Perth CBD. However, if you are looking to continue your road trip north or are completing a loop around Australia continue on to Darwin. The most important thing is to enjoy the ride.