Perth to Broome 'Coastal Bliss' - Itinerary

Welcome to Perth! On arrival you will transferred from the airport to your accommodation where you can settle in  and relax in Australia's sunniest capital city.

With soft sandy beaches, epic skyscrapers, huge green parks and a thriving street art scene, Perth is a fascinating town to explore. It's home to one of the biggest city parks in the world – Kings Park & Botanic Garden – right in the heart of town. This is a great place to get your bearings with sweeping views of the Swan and Canning rivers.

Perth's urban villages and small bar-bistros offer plenty of dining options to fuel you up for exciting adventures along the Western Australian Coast tomorrow.

Accommodation: Perth - 1 Night

Collect your rental vehicle this morning and begin your adventure by travelling along the Indian Ocean Drive to the coastal fishing town of Cervantes and one of Australia’s most unique landscapes: the Pinnacles Desert. Located in the Nambung National Park, ancient limestone pillars known as the Pinnacles rise straight out of the sand and are a must see for visitors to Cervantes. The formations are best seen at dawn or dusk when they cast long, strange shadows over the rippling yellow sand dunes. Get up close to the Pinnacles on a scenic drive and walking trail that includes an amazing lookout over the Nambung National Park.

Approximate Distance: 200 km | 124 miles   Total Driving Time: 2 hours 15 mins

Accommodation: Cervantes - 1 Night

En route to your next destination, Kalbarri, stop at Jurien Bay for an easy 15 minute boat ride to the island-based breeding colonies of the Australian Sea Lion.

Jurien Bay Sea Lion Tour
The Australian Sea Lion is a protected species found only on the coasts of Western Australia. Here in Jurien Bay you can interact with and experience the sea lions in their natural habitat. Watch for dolphins during your short boat journey, and when your vessel is anchored you'll have around 1 - 1.5 hours to watch the curious sea lions as they come to interact with their visitors.

Kalbarri: Where the Outback meets the Sea
Sitting at the mouth of the Murchison River, the popular holiday spot of Kalbarri is known for its seaside cliffs, estuary beach and wild pelicans. Discover 400 million year old river gorges, dramatic coastal rock formations and a rainbow of wildflowers as you explore the secrets of this ancient landscape tomorrow.

Approximate Distance: 410 km | 255 miles   Total Driving Time: 4 hours 30 mins

Accommodation: Kalbarri - 2 Nights

On Kalbarri's doorstep you can explore spectacular 400 million year old river gorges, dramatic coastal rock formations and a kaleidoscope of wildflowers. Hop on a Murchison River cruise, hire a paddle boat or hit the water in a kayak. Take in views from the lookouts, hike the walk trails. Swim or surf from one of the many beaches. Throw in a line from the shore or jump aboard a fishing charter to chase the catch of a lifetime.

Continue north to Denham and the Shark Bay World Heritage Area – famous for its friendly dolphins. Keep an eye out for the world’s oldest living fossils - the Hamelin Pool Stromatolites, believed to be about 3.5 billion years old. This is one of only two places in the world that they can be seen. Head to the Discovery and Visitor Centre to learn about Shark Bay’s hidden treasures or relax at Shell Beach and enjoy the sunshine.

Just north of Denham, the Monkey Mia Reserve is surrounded by red sand dunes, white sandy beaches and waters brimming with marine wildlife. Scientists from all over the world come to Monkey Mia to unravel the mysteries of the marine world including wild dolphins, green turtles, and dugongs. During warmer months, you can also find sea snakes, sharks, sting-rays and even manta rays and whales.

Approximate Distance: 400 km | 249 miles   Total Driving Time: 4 hours 15 mins

Accommodation: Monkey Mia - 2 Nights

Join an unforgettable 4WD adventure with a local Aboriginal guide and explore the amazing Francois Peron National Park. Immerse yourself in nature and culture of this world-class park, where the red desert sands meet the Indian Ocean's beautiful turquoise waters. Visit fantastic lookouts like Skipjack Point, Point Peron and many other scenic locations which provide breathtaking views across the beautiful bays.

Look for turtles, rays, sharks, dugongs, manta rays, birds, and much more. We also look for the amazing thorny devil lizard, the elusive echidna, kangaroos, snakes and other rare and endangered wildlife.

Guests can even enjoy a refreshing snorkel and swim in one the many sheltered bays, if weather permits. Your tour finishes with a relaxing dip in the natural hot tub at the Peron Homestead.

Included Meals: Lunch

After departing from Monkey Mia, continue north and stop off to marvel at the Carnarvon blowholes which can reach up to 20 meters high. This natural spectacle is caused by the ocean forcing water through the sea caves and up through holes in the rock.

Coral Bay & Ningaloo Reef
Arrive at the amazing Coral Bay & Ningaloo Reef; this is Australia's only fringing reef where the coral starts right at the water's edge.

Approximate Distance: 585 km | 364 miles   Total Driving Time: 6 hours 

Accommodation: Coral Bay - 2 Nights

You could spend your days in Coral Bay on the pristine beaches, reading a book and getting a little sun but Coral Bay is a marine paradise and one of WA's premier holiday destinations. So now is your opportunity to experience some of the most magical wildlife encounters on a diving or snorkelling tour, swim with Whale Sharks or Manta Rays (seasonal) or join a whale watching tour.

Experience a magical sunset over the Indian Ocean while discovering the wonders of the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef. A sunset cruise is the perfect time to relax, laugh and enjoy good food and company. Bring along your favorite drink and savour a complimentary grazing platter as you keep an eye out for the incredible wildlife that calls Ningaloo Reef home. 

Continue along the coast to Exmouth, a small resort town on Western Australia’s North West Cape. Exmouth is the perfect base to explore the grandiose landscapes of the Cape Range National Park and the northern reaches of the Ningaloo Marine Park. Visitors flock here from around the world to swim with whale sharks and humpback whales. Exmouth is also the gateway to the rugged Cape Range National Park, which features breathtaking canyons, limestone ranges and 50 kilometres of unspoiled coastline.

Approximate Distance: 155 km | 96 miles   Total Driving Time: 1 hour 45 mins

Accommodation: Exmouth - 2 Nights

Embark on an exciting ocean adventure today with Exmouth Dive Centre. Depending on the time of year you travel, you will be able to experience the following:

Whale Shark Swim (March to August)
Swim and snorkel with gentle Whale Sharks, getting up close and personal with the world’s largest fish as they cruise the waters of Western Australia’s Northwest Cape.

Humpback Whale Swim (August to November)
Thousands of humpback whales grace the waters off Exmouth between June through to the end of October. You will have the opportunity to swim with them, or observe them from the comfort of the boat if you prefer.

Snorkel the Reef by Boat (rest of the year)
Snorkel the Muiron Islands and Ningaloo Reef for a holiday experience you’ll never forget. Enjoy a genuine coral reef adventure in a location unlike anywhere else in the world.

It's another beautiful day in Western Australia as you take to National Route 1 up the coast to Karratha. It’s a big drive from Exmouth to Karratha, but the gorgeous beaches, and secret swimming spots free from tourists make it feel like it just isn’t long enough. Karratha is a satellite town supporting the local port and mining operations in the Pilbara.

Approximate Distance: 550 km | 342 miles   Total Driving Time: 6 hours

Accommodation: Karratha - 2 Nights 

Discover the charm of Karratha on a free day! You might like to start the day with a hike at the Yaburara Heritage Trail for stunning views and Aboriginal rock art. Head to Hearson’s Cove to relax by the turquoise waters or explore the unique Staircase to the Moon phenomenon (seasonal). Or visit the Red Earth Arts Precinct for a cultural fix or delve into local history at the Karratha Visitor Centre. End your day with a picturesque sunset at Dampier’s Mermaid Beach. Adventure and tranquility await!

Stock up on snacks: it's a full day's drive from Karratha to the deep red sands of remote Karijini National Park. But your prize will be some of the most spectacular landscapes in Australia, from dramatic creeks & gorges to towering chasms up to 100 metres deep. Situated in the dynamic Pilbara region, the Karijini National Park is the second largest National Park in Western Australia, and has been carved out over the course of two billion years.

This isolated wonderland is home to red kangaroos, rock-wallabies, echidnas, geckos, goannas, dragons and snakes. Not to mention the termites, whose giant mounds are a feature of the landscape.

Approximate Distance: 475 km | 295 miles   Total Driving Time: 5 hours 15 mins

Accommodation: Karijini National Park - 2 Nights

Suggested Activity: Karijini Guided Coach Tour

With two whole days to discover the Outback, we recommend getting your bearings with a full-day guided tour (with an air-conditioned coach to keep you cool in the outback heat!)

It's a great way to survey the highlights of the park, including spectacular views from Oxers and Circular Pool Lookouts, a walk through Weano Gorge, Joffre Falls and a peaceful swim in the Fern Pool.

Touring the park with a local guide gives you historical and cultural insights you could otherwise miss, as well as access to more rugged areas of the park where car rental companies do not permit you to take their vehicles.

Get set to head to Western Australia’s famous Pilbara region, known for its rich cultural landscape, red earth, and vast mineral deposits. Port Hedland is a hub for major resource activity and is a powerhouse of the Australian economy. If the dates are right you may witness the Staircase to the Moon.

This natural phenomenon is caused by the rising of a full moon reflecting on the exposed mudflats at extremely low tide - creating a beautiful optical illusion of a staircase reaching up to the moon (check for dates).

Approximate Distance: 375 km | 233 miles   Total Driving Time: 4 hours 30 mins

Accommodation: Port Hedland - 1 Night

Today you will drive onwards to your final destination: Broome, a welcoming and laid-back oceanside town in the Kimberley region. Broome is known as "the pearl of the North" due to the beautiful South Sea pearls harvested here. Pearl shells were discovered here in the 1880s, creating an industry that brought Aboriginal, Malay, Chinese, Japanese, European and Filipino cultures together as it grew and thrived. Broome's multicultural history can be seen in Chinatown's distinctive old corrugated iron buildings, which once housed noodle restaurants, boarding houses and shops for the workers.

Sunset at Cable Beach
With 22 kilometres (14 miles) of white sand and warm water with gentle waves, sunset at Cable Beach is the perfect way to end your last night in Australia. Perhaps make the end of your trip more memorable with a sunset camel ride along the beach! (own expense, 100kg weight limit).

Approximate Distance: 610 km | 379 miles   Total Driving Time: 6 hours 30 mins

Accommodation: Broome - 1 Night

Broome is a unique town, on a peninsula, where one of the world's last great wildernesses meets the Indian Ocean. Broome's exotic pearling town past has left a rich history and a unique multi-cultural mix of people. Pristine waters, wide empty beaches, abundant wildlife, tropical climate and breath-taking colours attract thousands of visitors each year. Check out the Broome Bird Observatory it is the ultimate paradise for bird enthusiasts. See dinosaur footprints at Gantheaume Point. Broome is renowned for being a location where many fossilised dinosaur trackways are visible. Catch a movie at Sun Pictures - the world's oldest operating picture gardens.

Sunset at Cable Beach
With 22 kilometres (14 miles) of white sand and warm water with gentle waves, sunset at Cable Beach is the perfect way to end your last night in Australia. Perhaps make the end of your trip more memorable with a sunset camel ride along the beach! (own expense, 100kg weight limit).

Say farewell to Broome today as you board your onward flight, taking with you the magical memories of a truly exceptional Australian experience. We know you will enjoy your 16 Day Perth to Broome Self Drive vacation and we hope you will return soon to discover even more highlights of this incredible continent.