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Coral Coast Highway: Perth to Exmouth – Route Guide

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A whale shark cruising Ningaloo's clear water
Photo: Sylke Rohrlach from Sydney · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Drive the Coral Coast Highway from Perth to Exmouth over ten days, with overnight stops at Cervantes, Geraldton, Kalbarri, Shark Bay, Carnarvon and Coral Bay. Explore the Pinnacles, Kalbarri gorges, Shark Bay heritage, the Ningaloo coast and Cape Range along the way. Wildlife sightings, swims and boat tours are optional and never guaranteed.

Coral Coast Highway: Perth to Exmouth is a 1250 km one-way journey (self-drive). It works best as a 10-day trip; the plan below is the 10-day version for June, built from 10 verified places, with planned transit times, opening hours and daylight checked.

10
days
1250km
distance
8
Stops
10
curated stops

View ready-made plans 10-day plan · best time to go

The route

Perth→ 200 kmCervantes (Pinnacles)→ 220 kmGeraldton→ 170 kmKalbarri→ 240 kmShark Bay (Monkey Mia)→ 75 kmCarnarvon→ 185 kmCoral Bay→ 160 kmExmouth (Ningaloo)

What you'll see

Perth and Kings Park orientation
Orient yourself above the Swan River in Kings Park, then prepare the car and supplies for the long northbound highway.
Perth
Pinnacles Desert and Lake Thetis circuit
Walk among the Pinnacles with the discovery-centre context, then compare their limestone story with Lake Thetis’s living thrombolites.
Cervantes (Pinnacles)
Geraldton maritime heritage circuit
Connect the HMAS Sydney II Memorial with the Museum of Geraldton’s shipwreck, Yamaji and Mid West galleries.
Geraldton
Kalbarri coastal cliffs circuit
Trace Kalbarri’s ocean side from Red Bluff through a selection of open, signed coastal-cliff lookouts.
Kalbarri
Monkey Mia conservation park morning
Spend an unhurried morning in Monkey Mia Conservation Park, with its dolphin protocol, coastal trail and Malgana country context.
Shark Bay (Monkey Mia)
Carnarvon Gwoonwardu Mia and heritage walk
Listen to the Gascoyne’s five Aboriginal language groups at Gwoonwardu Mia, then follow Carnarvon’s public heritage walk.
Carnarvon
Coral Bay shore and reef orientation
Slow down on the Coral Bay shore and learn how the town meets the protected Ningaloo lagoon before choosing any optional water activity.
Coral Bay
Cape Range and Vlamingh Head circuit
Finish with a condition-led Cape Range day, linking the World Heritage coast and limestone range to Vlamingh Head’s lighthouse view.
Exmouth (Ningaloo)

Choose your length

10-day plan10 stops · 23.8 h transit1 stops/day · 2.4 h transit/daySee the full plan →

When to go

Best months: April, May, June, July, August, September, October

The highway remains possible, but extreme heat, bushfire, tropical-weather and long-distance driving conditions make live road, park and weather checks essential. Start early and change the day rather than drive tired or into a closure.

See the month-by-month breakdown →

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View ready-made plans