The Perth to Exmouth road trip is a trip all visitors to Australia should make. The 1250 km drive passes through beautiful beach towns, stunning national parks, and historical sites. Making this drive is best prepared for between March and August and at the latest October. This allows you to miss the Australian summer and encompasses whale season in Exmouth, something not to miss. For a Perth to Exmouth road trip, I’d recommend at least 2 weeks. This will allow you the time to do the journey at leisure and ensure you can witness as much of WA’s beauty as possible.
Perth To Exmouth Road Trip: Part 1 – Perth to Jurien Bay – 2.5 hours
Starting your Perth to Exmouth road trip by travelling to Jurien Bay for your first night is perfect. You pass through beautiful points such as Yanchep National Park. I would recommend buying a Parks Pass, this will allow you to enter as many national parks during your trip as you like. It is a more cost-efficient way of travelling instead of paying $15 per National Park. A beautiful location and home to koalas which you’ll find in their enclosure. It can be a fun game to try and spot them hiding in their trees. There is a beautiful old pub in the national park which is great for a drink in the sun. From Yanchep, you’ll head north up to Lancelin where, if you have a 4WD you can have fun on the Lancelin sand dunes. A great activity not to be missed! Your next stop should be Cervantes, a small beach town but home to Lake Thetis. A home to stromatolites, living fossils, these are only found in certain locations around the world and are worth exploring! Your last stop before arriving in Jurien Bay for the night will be The Pinnacles Desert. A fee of $15 is applicable to enter the park but will be covered by your national parks pass if you have purchased a pass. A home to limestone blocks dating back over 30,000 years it is a site well worth embracing and a very cool experience. You’ll end your day in Jurien Bay. A quaint beachside town with a beautiful jetty and a great fish and chip shop!
Where to stay in Jurien Bay:
- Unpowered site – $34
- Powered camping site – $42
For a more bushland camping option:
- Unpowered campsites for tents for $17 a night
What to do while in Jurien Bay:
Perth To Exmouth Road Trip: Part 2 – Jurien Bay to Kalbarri – 4 hours
The next leg of your road trip will take you from Jurien Bay up to Kalbarri. You’ll pass through beautiful beach towns, vast national parks, and plenty of red dirt! The first larger town you’ll pass through is Dongara and a ‘must do’ whilst there is the Illegal Tender Rum Co Tour. Whether you are a rum drinker or not it is a fascinating tour walking you through the distilling process. The next stop is Geraldton, one of the larger cities in WA after Perth. There is plenty to see in Geraldton but a ‘must see’ is the HMAS Sydney II Memorial. A WW2 memorial for the lost soldiers. Following the more serious nature of the WW2 memorial, you may be looking for a more relaxed vibe and you’ll find that at Horrocks Beach. This beach is ideal for exploring its rock pools, fishing and paddle boarding. Just 25 minutes north of Horrocks Beach is The Pink Lake Lookout! This is a spectacular sight and one that must be seen on your travels. A lake that is pink in colour, it was different from anything I’d ever seen and I was amazed by its beauty. You’ll end your journey for the day by making the 45-minute trip north to Kalbarri where you can spend the night. Kalbarri is a place I would recommend spending more time if you can spare it as there is so much to see.
Where to stay in Kalbarri:
Kalbarri Red Bluff Tourist Park
- Powered ensuite camping site – $60
Kalbarri Anchorage Caravan Park
- Unpowered camp site – $38
- Powered camp Site – $42
What To Do While In Kalbarri:
- Kalbarri National Park – Nature’s Window and Kalbarri Sky Walk
- Kalbarri National Park Hikes – Loop and Z Bend Gorge – A 10km hike, I did this hike with my partner and I would recommend taking plenty of water. It is a beautiful walk but challenging at points. We undertook the hike with minimal water, which is against the guidelines!
- Kalbarri Coastal Cliffs
- Red Bluff Lookout – Ideal for the most amazing sunsets
Perth To Exmouth Road Trip – Kalbarri to Shark Bay – 3 hours
The next stage of your Perth to Exmouth road trip will take you from Kalbarri up to Shark Bay. This leg of your trip will take you past Hamilton Pools. Famous for having the largest and most diverse examples of stromatolites (living fossils) in the world. These are extremely similar to those found in Lake Thetis earlier in your trip but on a larger scale! This may be something that interests you to see on a greater scale and with more diverse rock pools. From here you’ll drive past Shell Beach. One of the most incredible and different beaches you’ll ever see. Instead of sand, the entire beach is covered in tiny shells which are stunning and awe-inspiring. From here make your way up to Shark Bay, a World Heritage Site, and find somewhere to stay. You can spend a good few days here if you wish as there is plenty to see and experience.
Where to stay in Shark Bay:
- Large unpowered site – $60
- Unpowered site – $58 for 2 people
- Powered site – $68 for 2 people
What to do in Shark Bay:
- Visit Monkey Mia – see and feed the dolphins. A great experience I was able to enjoy especially as dolphins are my favourite animal. I never thought I’d get the opportunity to feed one!
- Visit Dirk Hartog Island National Park
- Visit Francois Peron National Park
- Visit the Shark Bay Heritage and Visitor Center, and learn about the World Heritage Site.
Perth To Exmouth Road Trip – Shark Bay To Exmouth – 7 hours
The final leg of your Perth to Exmouth road trip is one to savor although it is the longest leg. The beautiful sites don’t end here and you will pass through a variety of landscapes on this drive. Passing through the ‘Food Bowl’ of WA in Carnarvon, you’ll pass the Quobba Blow Holes which are a sight to behold. You’ll be able to witness the true might of the sea. As you make your way further north you will reach Coral Bay. With its pristine white sandy beaches, Coral Bay offers the perfect introduction to the wonders of the Ningaloo Reef. From here you can make your way to Exmouth where you will be able to enjoy the fruits of your long road trip.
Where to stay in Exmouth:
- Unpowered site – $50 per night
- Powered site – $60 per night
- Unpowered Sites – $59 (No RAC membership) or $45 (With RAC membership)
- Powered sites – $65 (No RAC membership) or $59 (With RAC membership) You can get both pet-friendly and no-pet sites
What to do in Exmouth:
- Swim with the whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef –
- Vist Cape Range National Park
- Visit Turquoise Bay
- Visit Vlamigh Head LightHouse
Perth To Exmouth Road Trip – Conclusion
The Perth to Exmouth Road trip is one to be embraced. You will pass through some of Australia’s most beautiful scenery and landmarks. If you are looking to continue your road trip further north to Broome, check out my Perth To Broome road trip here. If you are completing a loop around Australia and are continuing even further after your Perth to Exmouth road trip why not check out Darwin, you’ll find the best activities and work options in the area here. Take your time with the trip and enjoy every minute of this stunning drive.