Perth to Exmouth Itinerary: Full Coral Coast Road Trip

If you are staring at a map trying to turn Perth to Exmouth into an actual plan, I have been exactly where you are. We drove this route ourselves. We worked out what was worth the stop and what we would skip next time. This is the Perth to Exmouth itinerary I wish someone had handed us before we left.

The full drive from Perth to Exmouth is around 1200 kilometres. Done straight through, it takes about 13 hours. Nobody should do that in one go. We spread ours over ten days, without Karijini National Park added in. If you want to weave Karijini into your Perth to Exmouth itinerary like we did, budget closer to two weeks for this stretch alone.

This Perth to Exmouth itinerary has real drive times, where we stayed, and what we would change. Think of it as a simple coral coast WA map in words, so you can see how each stop connects. Use the whole thing as your itinerary, or pull out the sections that suit your own WA road trip.

How to plan this Perth to Exmouth itinerary

Get your biggest drive day out of the way first. Head straight up to Exmouth, or inland to Karijini if that is part of your plan. Then work your way back down the coast to Perth. It sounds backwards, but it means you are not saving the longest day for when you are tired and ready for home. That is the order we followed, and the order this guide is written in.

Below is each stop, in the order we did them, heading north first and then working back south towards Perth.

If you have a few days in Perth first

I lived in Perth for just over a year, so I have my own shortlist of what is worth doing before you start the drive north (or after when you return back to Perth!). Rottnest Island is an easy day trip from the city, and it is worth going for the quokkas alone, though the beaches and bike trails are just as good a reason to visit.

Fremantle is train journey drive from the CBD and easy to fill a full day in. Wander the historic streets, work your way through a few of the cafes and breweries, and stop into the old Fremantle Prison if you like a bit of history mixed into your travel days.

For dinner, head to Il Lido in Cottesloe. It does proper Italian food, and it is a great spot to watch the surfers while you eat. Kings Park in the CBD rounds things out nicely, with sweeping views over the city and the river below. If you have a spare day or two before you start this Perth to Exmouth itinerary, that is exactly how I would spend it.

Exmouth

Exmouth was our first proper stop on this Perth to Exmouth road trip, and it earned every kilometre. We spent three nights here. That gave us time for a planned tour (scuba dive), plenty of snorkelling, a walk through Charles Knife Canyon, and evenings soaking up the laid back Exmouth vibe.

If diving or snorkelling Ningaloo Reef is on your list, base yourself in Exmouth. Charles Knife Canyon is worth the inland detour too. The lookout over the gorge is a completely different landscape to the reef just down the road.

Best time for this trip if heading all the way to Exmouth

Three nights felt right for us. You could stretch it to four if diving is a priority, or if you want a spare day in case conditions are not ideal.

Coral Bay

From Exmouth we headed down to Coral Bay. It is about 150 kilometres, roughly 1.5 hours south. We stayed one night here, basing ourselves at Bullara and driving in for the day. That worked well if you want a station stay with more room to move.

Coral Bay is smaller and more low key than Exmouth. The reef runs almost right up to the beach sou can swim right off the shore to Ningaloo Reef. It suits a slower pace, more beach days, more time in the water, less on the itinerary.

Quobba Blowholes and Carnarvon

Next was the drive down to the Quobba Blowholes, then on into Carnarvon. It is roughly 230 kilometres, around 2.5 hours from Coral Bay, depending on how long you linger at the blowholes.

We stayed one night in Carnarvon town. Honestly, there was not a lot going on. If I was doing this again, I would stay at the Quobba Roadhouse just outside of Carnarvon instead. It puts you closer to the blowholes and the coast.

That said, we did head to the beach for sunset and caught one of the most incredible moonrises we have seen. In the morning we stumbled onto a farmers market in town. It was full of fresh produce, and we picked up local honey and a spicy sauce from the well known Bumbaks. If your dates line up with the market, it is worth the stop for that alone.

We had planned to stay at Kennedy Range National Park from here, but the weather did not play along. We stayed in town instead. It was a bit disappointing, but there is plenty of accommodation in Carnarvon if the extra drive out to the Kennedys is not for you.

Shark Bay

From Carnarvon we drove to the Shark Bay area, staying at Wooramel Station as a base. It is a good option if you want somewhere central to come in and out of Shark Bay from. The drive into the actual Shark Bay townsite and World Heritage area does take a while, so plan ahead.

If you can book in advance, I would recommend staying in the campgrounds within Shark Bay itself, rather than using an outside base like we did. We ran out of time to explore properly here. If I was planning this again, I would give the area two full nights.

Kalbarri

Kalbarri was one of the biggest surprises of the whole trip. We stayed at Big River Ranch, tucked between the town centre and the national park. That made it easy to get into Kalbarri National Park early.

We did the classics, Natures Window, the Skywalk, and one of the gorge trails, Z Bend. But it was the coastal side of the park that really caught us off guard. We had not read much about the coastal hikes before arriving. Once we picked up the visitor map in town, we found trails like Mushroom Rock that we had not planned for at all. The rugged coastline here is a different kind of beautiful to the gorges. We were lucky enough to spot whales while walking it.

The town itself is worth a slow afternoon too. Walk along the beach and watch the fishing families and the pelicans. Then head to Finlays for a drink and a bite. We turned up on a whim and caught live music, which made the night. I would suggest at least two nights in Kalbarri to do the national park and the coast justice.

Geraldton and the run back to Perth

The final leg brings you back toward Perth through Geraldton. We only stopped for coffee on our way through, but there is more to see if you have time up your sleeve, including the Pinnacles Desert if you have not visited before.

This is also where the trip naturally winds down. After the reef, the gorges, and the outback towns further north, Geraldton and the stretch south feel like the transition back into city pace.

Practical info for planning your Perth to Exmouth itinerary

Timing: Ten days covers the Perth to Exmouth loop comfortably, without Karijini. Add Karijini and you are looking at closer to two weeks.

Seasonality: The Coral Coast is best tackled outside the peak of summer. The heat further north gets harder going, especially around Exmouth and Coral Bay. Check conditions before you travel, particularly for road closures around Kennedy Range and Shark Bay after rain. The Australia’s Coral Coast visitor guide is a handy spot to check current conditions and events along the route before you leave.

Costs: Budget for fuel across long, remote stretches, national park entry fees where relevant, and accommodation that ranges from station stays to caravan parks and campgrounds. Stations like Bullara and Wooramel tend to be more affordable than town based options.

Permits: A WA national park pass is worth sorting before you go, if you plan to visit more than one or two parks. It works out cheaper than paying single entry fees at each gate.

Camping stations along the route: I include all the stations we stayed along this route in this guide here.

Coral Coast WA map: rough distances between stops

• Perth to Exmouth direct: around 1200 kilometres, about 13 hours
• Exmouth to Coral Bay: around 150 kilometres, about 1.5 hours
• Coral Bay to Carnarvon area: around 230 kilometres, about 2.5 hours
• Carnarvon to Shark Bay area: allow half a day once you factor in the drive into the townsite
• Shark Bay area to Kalbarri: a few hours, depending on your base
• Kalbarri to Geraldton: a shorter, easier stretch as you head back toward Perth
• Geraldton to Perth: the final leg home

Perth to Exmouth itinerary FAQ

How long does the Perth to Exmouth drive take? Around 13 hours and 1200 kilometres, if driven straight through. Almost nobody does this in one go. Most people spread this Perth to Exmouth itinerary over several days, stopping along the Coral Coast.

How many days do you need for a Coral Coast WA road trip? We took ten days for the Perth to Exmouth loop, without Karijini. If you are adding Karijini National Park into the mix, plan for closer to two weeks.

Should I drive north to Exmouth first, or work my way up slowly? We would recommend getting the biggest drive day done early. Head straight up to Exmouth, or inland to Karijini, first. Then work your way back down the coast. It makes the return leg feel easier.

Is Coral Bay or Exmouth better for snorkelling Ningaloo Reef? Both give you access to Ningaloo. Coral Bay has the reef right off the beach for easy snorkelling. Exmouth is the better base if you want to add diving, or explore Charles Knife Canyon as well.

Where is the best place to stay in Carnarvon? We stayed in Carnarvon town and found it a bit quiet. In hindsight, the Quobba Roadhouse just outside of town would have put us closer to the blowholes and the coast.

Final thoughts on your Perth to Exmouth itinerary

This stretch of coastline packs in more variety than you would expect. Reef towns, red gorges, a working farmers market, blowholes, and a moonrise that is still one of the best we have seen. Take your time with it. Build in a buffer day for weather. Do not be afraid to change plans on a whim, some of our favourite moments on this trip were the ones we had not planned at all.

If you are mapping out your own Perth to Exmouth itinerary, start with the sections above and adjust the nights to suit your pace. Use the distances as a rough guide, not gospel. Whichever way you build your Perth to Exmouth itinerary, the Coral Coast rewards a bit of flexibility.

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