Day 1
Welcome to Perth
Welcome to Perth, Australia’s sunniest capital. Upon arrival, you’ll be transferred from the airport to your accommodation, where you can unwind and get ready to explore this vibrant city.
Perth blends natural beauty with modern charm, offering everything from white-sand beaches and lush green spaces to striking architecture and a creative street art scene. Don’t miss Kings Park & Botanic Garden, one of the largest inner-city parks in the world, with panoramic views over the Swan and Canning Rivers.
As evening falls, discover Perth’s lively dining scene in its urban villages and stylish small bars - perfect for a relaxing start before your coastal adventure begins tomorrow.
Overnight: Adina Apartment Hotel Perth Barrack Plaza or similar.
Day 2
Perth to Cervantes: The Pinnacles Desert - Approximate Distance: 200 km | 124 miles | Total Driving Time: 2 hours 15 mins
Pick up your rental vehicle this morning and set off along the Indian Ocean Drive toward the coastal town of Cervantes. Here, you’ll discover one of Australia’s most remarkable natural wonders: the Pinnacles Desert.
Located in Nambung National Park, the Pinnacles are striking limestone formations that rise from golden sands, creating an otherworldly landscape. These ancient pillars are especially captivating at dawn or dusk, when dramatic shadows stretch across the dunes. Explore the area via a scenic drive and walking trail, complete with a lookout offering panoramic views over the desert and surrounding park.
Overnight: Pinnacles Edge Resort Cervantes or similar.
Day 3
Cervantes to Kalbarri via Jurien Bay: Optional Sea Lion Tour - Approximate Distance: 410 km | 255 miles | Total Driving Time: 4 hours 30 mins
On the way to Kalbarri, you may choose to stop at Jurien Bay for a boat ride to see the breeding colonies of the Australian Sea Lion, a protected species only found on the coast of Western Australia. Keep an eye out for dolphins during the journey and spend 1-1.5 hours observing the curious sea lions once the vessel is anchored.
Later, arrive in Kalbarri - a popular holiday spot known for seaside cliffs, dramatic landscapes and wild pelicans.
Overnight: Kalbarri Edge Resort or similar.
Day 4
Optional Kalbarri Half Day Guided Canoeing and Hiking
Discover the stunning landscapes of Kalbarri National Park on a remote wilderness tour, driving along a real outback 4WD track leading to the river.
Descend into 4-Ways Gorge and step into your canoe for a peaceful paddle along a remote stretch of river. Enjoy a refreshing swim in hidden waterholes before hiking through stunning landscapes and climbing up a waterfall to return to the top of the gorge for your journey back.
Overnight: Kalbarri Edge Resort or similar.
Day 5
Kalbarri to Denham and Monkey Mia - Approximate Distance: 400 km | 249 miles | Total Driving Time: 4 hours 15 mins
Continue north to Denham and the Shark Bay World Heritage Area, known for its friendly dolphins. Visit the Hamelin Pool Stromatolites, among the world’s oldest living fossils, found in only two places globally. Stop by the Discovery and Visitor Centre to learn more, or unwind at Shell Beach.
Just beyond Denham, Monkey Mia Reserve offers red dunes, white beaches, and marine-rich waters. Spot wild dolphins, green turtles, dugongs, and, in warmer months, sea snakes, sharks, stingrays, manta rays, and whales.
Overnight: Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort or similar.
Day 6
Optional Francois Peron National Park 4WD Tour
Join a 4WD adventure with a local Aboriginal guide to explore Francois Peron National Park, where red desert sands meet the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. Visit scenic lookouts like Skipjack Point and Point Peron, offering stunning views of the bays.
Spot wildlife such as turtles, rays, sharks, dugongs, manta rays, birds, thorny devil lizards, echidnas, kangaroos, snakes, and other rare species. Weather permitting, enjoy a snorkel and swim in a sheltered bay before finishing with a dip in the natural hot tub at Peron Homestead.
Overnight: Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort or similar.
Day 7
Monkey Mia to Coral Bay - Approximate Distance: 585 km | 364 miles | Total Driving Time: 6 hours
Continue north and make a stop to admire the Carnarvon blowholes, which can reach up to 20 metres high and occur when the ocean forces water through sea caves and holes in the rock.
Upon arrival at the incredible Coral Bay & Ningaloo Reef; Australia's only fringing reef, where the coral starts at the water's edge, take time to explore this fantastic place.
Overnight: Ningaloo Coral Bay or similar.
Day 8
Optional Swim With Manta Rays
Search for Manta Rays in the clear waters of Coral Bay on an eco-interaction tour that uses a spotter aircraft to locate them. Once found, the boat will take you to areas where you may have the chance to snorkel with these large, harmless creatures.
While snorkelling among coral gardens, you may also see turtles, dolphins, and dugongs.
Overnight: Ningaloo Coral Bay or similar.
Day 9
Coral Bay to Exmouth - Approximate Distance: 155 km | 96 miles | Total Driving Time: 1 hour 45 mins
Continue along the coast to Exmouth on Western Australia’s North West Cape. It’s a base for exploring Cape Range National Park and the northern part of Ningaloo Marine Park. The area is known for opportunities to swim with whale sharks and humpback whales.
Cape Range National Park features canyons, limestone ranges, and 50 kilometres of unspoiled coastline.
Overnight: Mantarays Ningaloo Beach Resort, Exmouth or similar.
Day 10
Optional Marine Adventures in Exmouth
Join an ocean adventure with Exmouth Dive Centre, with experiences varying by season:
Whale Shark Swim (March to August): Swim and snorkel alongside whale sharks, the world’s largest fish, as they pass through the waters off the Northwest Cape.
Humpback Whale Swim (August to November): Swim with humpback whales or observe them from the boat as they migrate past Exmouth.
Snorkel the Reef (rest of the year): Explore the coral reefs of the Muiron Islands and Ningaloo Reef on a guided snorkelling tour.
Overnight: Mantarays Ningaloo Beach Resort, Exmouth or similar.
Day 11
Travel to Karratha - Approximate Distance: 550 km | 342 miles | Total Driving Time: 6 hours
Travel along National Route 1 from Exmouth to Karratha, a long drive made enjoyable by quiet beaches and hidden swimming spots along the way. Karratha is a satellite town that supports the port and mining operations of the Pilbara region.
Overnight: Best Western Plus The Ranges Karratha or similar.
Day 12
Travel to Karijini National Park - Approximate Distance: 475 km | 295 miles | Total Driving Time: 5 hours 15 mins
Prepare for a full day's drive from Karratha to the remote Karijini National Park, known for its striking red sands and dramatic landscapes. Located in the Pilbara region, it is Western Australia's second-largest national park, shaped over two billion years.
The park features deep gorges, creeks, and chasms up to 100 metres deep. Wildlife includes red kangaroos, rock-wallabies, echidnas, geckos, goannas, dragons, snakes, and large termite mounds scattered across the landscape.
Overnight: Karijini Eco Retreat, Karijini National Park or similar.
Day 13
Explore Karijini National Park at Your Leisure
Suggested Activity: Karijini Guided Coach Tour
Spend two days exploring the Outback with a full-day guided tour on an air-conditioned coach. This tour covers key highlights like Oxers and Circular Pool Lookouts, a walk through Weano Gorge, Joffre Falls, and a swim in Fern Pool.
A local guide provides historical and cultural insights and access to rugged areas of the park where rental vehicles are not allowed.
Overnight: Karijini Eco Retreat, Karijini National Park or similar.
Day 14
Karijini to Port Hedland - Staircase to the Moon - Approximate Distance: 375 km | 233 miles | Total Driving Time: 4 hours 30 mins
Head to Western Australia’s Pilbara region, known for its rich cultural heritage, red earth, and vast mineral resources. Port Hedland serves as a key hub for resource activity and plays a major role in the Australian economy.
If timed right, you may see the Staircase to the Moon—a natural phenomenon where a full moon reflects on exposed mudflats at low tide, creating the illusion of a staircase reaching to the moon.
Overnight: Discovery Park Port Hedland or similar.
Day 15
Port Hedland to Broome - A Spectacular Sunset - Approximate Distance: 610 km | 379 miles Total Driving Time: 6 hours 30 mins
Drive to your final destination, Broome, a relaxed coastal town in the Kimberley region known as "the pearl of the North" for its South Sea pearl industry. The discovery of pearl shells in the 1880s led to a thriving multicultural community, reflected today in Chinatown’s old corrugated iron buildings.
End your day at Cable Beach, with 22 kilometres of white sand and calm waters, perfect for sunset. For a memorable finish, consider a sunset camel ride along the beach (own expense, 100kg weight limit).
Overnight: Cable Beach Club Resort, Broome or similar.
Day 16
Depart Broome
Say farewell to Broome today as you board your onward flight, taking with you the magical memories of a truly exceptional Australian experience.
