The Perfect Perth to Exmouth Road Trip: A 14-Day Coral Coast Adventure
Discover the ultimate 14-day Perth to Exmouth road trip packed with family-friendly adventures. Awesome beaches, national parks, campsites and more!
Embarking on a Perth to Exmouth road trip is like stepping into one of the most Instagramed tourist meccas. And for a pretty good reason! Over 14 days, you’ll explore dazzling beaches, quirky towns, rugged national parks, and vibrant marine life along Western Australia’s Coral Coast.
Here’s our idea of the ultimate Perth to Exmouth itinerary from our months of experience exploring this magical area:
14-Day Perth to Exmouth Road Trip Itinerary Overview
- Day 1-2: Perth to Jurien Bay
- Day 3: Jurien Bay to Kalbarri
- Day 4-5: Kalbarri
- Day 6-7: Shark Bay
- Day 8-9: Carnarvon and Coral Bay
- Day 10-14: Exmouth, Cape Range, and Ningaloo Reef
Day 1-2: Perth to Jurien Bay
Distance: ~220 km (2.5 hours)
Where to Stay: Jurien Bay Tourist Park, Sports Oval if peak season
Activities:
- Visit the Pinnacles Desert at Nambung National Park.
- Relax at Jurien Bay Beach (and cafe!) and let the kids explore the fantastic playground.
- Stop at the Jurien Bay Library for some family downtime.
We’ve stayed in Jurien Bay during Summer and Winter, and all year round, this is a lovely seaside town. During the Summer and Easter holidays, Jurien Bay gets packed out. If you haven’t booked a caravan site, try the sports oval, which offers over-flow camping. They open bookings just prior to the holidays, so keep checking.
The Jurien Bay Tourist Park is right on the beachfront, with lovely amenities and walking distance to everything you need. Click here to book. This place sells out fast!
Take the day to drive to Cervantes, a small town a few kilometers away from Jurien bay, then onto Nambung National Park. Trust me – the Pinnacles need to be seen! It’s like nothing we’ve experienced before. Standard entry fees apply, or get yourself a yearly pass. They’re worth it.
For the more adventurous, there is a skydive center that was always sending parachutes from the plane. I can’t speak from experience, but there were heaps of people lining up!
If you’re travelling with kids, the library is a lovely quiet place to spend an hour or so. They have puzzles and books (obviously!), but the staff were really friendly and a nice change of pace if you’re travelling longterm.
Day 3: Jurien Bay to Kalbarri (Stop in Geraldton)
Distance: ~380 km (4 hours)
Where to Stay: 24 hour RV stop in Geraldton if you have additional time spare, or on to Kalbarri
Activities:
- Stop in Geraldton to stock up on food and supplies at BCF, Bunnings, and Aldi. Don’t forget your fly net! The flies from here, heading north can get really bad!
- Let the kids play at Geraldton’s foreshore waterpark.
- Explore Kalbarri’s quaint town centre.
Our Tip: Stop at Geraldton for essentials in camping stores, Bunnings, Coles, Aldi, etc… this is your last stop for a long while heading north at reasonable prices.
If you have a few spare days, we recommend to stock up at Geraldton. There are a few free 24-hour RV stops within the town, but get there early as they’re very busy. There is a splash park and huge playground on the foreshore, plenty of cafes and restaurants and a neat town.
Geraldton is a town where I would be cautious leaving our Caravan unlocked in some places, but use your wits about you. We didn’t feel unsafe at any time, just be cautious.
Day 4-5: Kalbarri
Distance: Around town
Where to Stay: Kalbarri Tudor Holiday Park.
Activities:
- Enjoy a fun-filled day at one of Kalbarri’s playgrounds.
- Go 4WD driving on sandy trails near the coast.
- Walk along Kalbarri’s rugged coastline.
- Explore Kalbarri National Park, including Nature’s Window and Z-Bend Gorge.
- Hire a boat
Kalbarri was packed with adventures and you could easily stay for weeks! We ended up staying in Kalbarri for three weeks, and didn’t get board. The kids loved the local playgrounds (Jasmine found her love of ziplines!) 8.45am each morning pelicans are feed on the grass area – a must do!
We stayed at, and recommend the Kalbarri Tudor Holiday Park. It was probably the nicest caravan parks during our whole trip! It is smaller, a bit out of the way, quiet with a lovely pool area, kitchen and bathrooms. Click here to book.
If you love your 4wdriving, head north off road to Murchison House Station. Ask at the local shops or pubs for the current conditions, but you can get from Kalbarri to Murchison House Station off road.
Hiking: There are endless tracks along the cliffs to the south of Kalbarri. Start at Chinamans Beach, surf the waves if that’s your thing, admire the coastline and enjoy. Walk for kilometres or pick a lookout or 2 and take the car, whatever you feel like doing for the day.
Kalbarri National Park
You can’t visit Kalbarri without spending at least 1/2 a day in Kalbarri National Park! Walk around the Skywalk, which gives you views of the valley below. Hike the many gorges and get a photo at nature’s window. All spectacular places.
Day 6-7: Shark Bay (Denham and Monkey Mia)
Distance: ~380 km (4 hours)
Where to Stay: Shark Bay Caravan Park
Activities:
- Visit Monkey Mia for the dolphin experience (arrive by 7 am).
- Explore Denham town and its coastal charm.
- Take a dip in the Francois Peron National Park hot tubs (4WD required).
Denham is a quaint little town. The best part was the emus walking down the middle of the street! You don’t need to spend much time in the town itself, but it is a good base from which to explore the nearby attractions.
We found the Shark Bay Caravan Park to be a neat, tidy place to call home for a night or two. It was close to everything, with clean facilities at a reasonable rate. Click here to book.
Little Lagoon is a nice spot to visit which is only minutes from the town center.
Warning: Educate yourself on stonefish. They are in the estuaries and lagoons in this section of Australia. They look like a stone, sit on the sand and have a very painful sting which can be deadly. Ask at the visitor centre for more details.
Monkey Mia
Monkey Mia is THE place to see dolphins close up! You can stay in the resort – Monkey Mia is pretty much only a resort, but we chose to stay in Denham and drive due to the cost of staying in the resort.
The dolphin feeding happens early most days. Get there early. On the first day, we got there around 8.30 to find they had already done their feed for the day. The dolphins are wild, so the staff are only allowed to feed them once in the morning when they get there anytime from 7am.
Francois Peron National Park
Between Denham and Monkey Mia is Francois Peron National Park. If you love 4wdriving, make a detour to drive into this park! There is camping available via 4wd tracks, but the first part of the park takes you to the homestead ruins, interactive history tours and a hot tub!
On a hot summer day, it is actually refreshing to jump into the hot artesian tubs in Peron Station! I would recommend only a 4wdrive to the station, but check at the visitor’s centre for road conditions if you plan to take a 2wdrive.
Day 8-9: Carnarvon
Distance: ~350 km (4 hours)
Where to Stay: Wooramel Station or Carnarvon
Activities:
- Enjoy the atmosphere at Wooramel Station
- Stop in Carnarvon to stock up on food and visit the Space Museum.
- Enjoy the foreshore park and fresh mangoes in Carnarvon.
- Relax on the pristine beaches of Coral Bay.
Here, we can’t decide what is better – if you have a spare night, stay at Wooramel Station. It is an awesome little find, with nice camp sites, hot artesian tubs and they provide delicious meals most nights of the week. They also do a great coffee in their cafe. It is a hidden oasis.
Do yourself a favour and stop at this magical place! Wooramel Station won’t disappoint! Camping spots, Glamping or gorgeous self contained apartments. Click here to book.
Then, make your way to Carnarvon which has many caravan parks you can choose from. We went for the Discovery Parks which had a jumpy pillow! While in Carnarvon, spend a few hours at the space museum, it is a really interesting place. Recommended for both kids and adults!
Stop into the local shops and get yourself some fresh mango and dragonfruit, it is your first taste of the tropics.
Quobba Blowholes
Either as a day trip from Carnarvon or on your way further north, stop at the Quobba Blowholes and Aquarium. Don’t forget your snorkel, jump in the water and check out all the fish. It’s called the aquarium for a reason!
From Quobba Blowholes, you do need to backtrack to close to Carvnarvon, so it doesn’t matter if you visit while on your way or leave your base in Carnarvon.
Day 10-14: Exmouth, Cape Range, and Ningaloo Reef
Distance: ~150 km from Coral Bay to Exmouth (2 hours)
Where to Stay: Ningaloo Caravan and Holiday Resort or campsites in Cape Range National Park
Activities:
- Visit the Exmouth Museum and Aquarium to learn about local history.
- Explore Cape Range National Park and Ningaloo Reef.
- Snorkel and spot marine life at Turquoise Bay.
- Plan a turtle tour and check out the lighthouse.
Exmouth was a mix of fascinating history and awe-inspiring nature. The museum gave us a unique look into the American influence on the town. Visit the museum and aquarium, but allow plenty of time! We found the stories behind the strange communication wire setup really interesting. You’ll see what I mean when you get there!
We stayed at the Ningaloo Caravan and Holiday Resort. It is a short walk to shops, but it also has a fantastic restaurant, pool area and is for sure a resort. Treat yourself here!
Cape Range National Park
If you are travelling with a caravan, try to get a campsite on the Ningaloo side of the peninsula. You’ll need to book months in advance or be very flexible with your travels and grab a last minute cancellation. These campsites sell out fast for a reason!
If you’d rather stay in hotels, it is possible to visit the Ningaloo on day drives, or take a tour.
We loved Kurrajong campground, but every campground offers great views of the beach or the ranges, most have toilets, and are accessible with a 2wd car. Book via the Explore Parks WA website.
Ningaloo Reef
The Ningaloo reef is just something that you must visit! There is so much marine life, and so close to the shore! You can even look for turtles depending on the time of year.
If you’re after the top snorkelling spots, check out this article.
Snorkel with the Turtles for 2.5hrs on this amazing turtle tour! with a max of 12 people per tour, you get a personal touch, but book quickly as spots fill fast.
The main attraction on the Ningaloo reef is the chance to swim with whale sharks. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and highly recommended.
Book your whale shark swim here. Our tip: don’t wait until you get to Exmouth, these tours are so popular and usually sell out months in advance.
There are a few dangers around the coast, so check out this article so you’re prepared before you go.
Wrapping Up Your Epic Family Road Trip Adventure
A Perth to Exmouth road trip offers adventure at every turn, from otherworldly landscapes and sparkling beaches to unique wildlife and cozy towns.
With so much to explore, this journey is perfect for families, adventurers, or anyone seeking a taste of Western Australia’s beauty. Pack up, hit the road, and let the Coral Coast work its magic!
The hardest part… trying to fit it all into just 14 days! There is so much more to see, but this is our selection of our favs.
