Australia’s Coral Coast stretches an impressive 1,100 kilometres through the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef, the ancient Pinnacles, wildflower country near Mullewa and all the way to Cervantes, which is about two hours north of Perth.
In this kaleidoscopic stretch of colourful coast where ancient landscapes meet blue seas, discover rich Indigenous history and unbeatable animal encounters. It’s a perfect road trip for families or a group of friends after exciting adventures in the great outdoors.
Start your journey at Ningaloo Reef
The Ningaloo Reef is the world’s largest fringing reef, and a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site stretching 300 kilometres. After departing from Monkey Mia, sign up for a three-, five-, or eight-night tour with Sail Ningaloo, where you’ll dive among the reef, swim with marine life, and kayak through secluded lagoons.
Expect to meet humpback whales, manta rays, reef sharks, dolphins, and plenty of colourful fish. On board the luxury vessel, you’ll also be treated to gourmet meals and enjoy sleeping beneath the stars.
With over 25 years of experience on the Ningaloo Coast, Ningaloo Marine Interactions is perfect for those wanting to encounter animals up close. The eco-friendly tours adhere to strict guidelines to protect the area’s megafauna, but that doesn’t stop guests from having the time of their lives.
On the Best of Ningaloo Tour, spend an entire day searching for and snorkelling with manta rays. A spotter aircraft guides the boat to the best locations for these majestic and completely harmless animals, and then it’s simply a matter of diving in to enjoy time with them. All equipment, food and photos are provided.
Marine lovers will adore Monkey Mia
Monkey Mia is a coastal town famous for the bottlenose dolphins that interact with visitors in the calm waters of Shark Bay. Though the dolphins are wild, meaning their visits and numbers can vary, they usually come close to shore several times a day when the Parks and Wildlife officers feed them fish.
To get even closer to these magnificent creatures, Perfect Nature Cruises depart on daily eco-certified tours of the Monkey Mia Marine Park, where you might encounter dugongs, dolphins, turtles, rays and sea snakes. The knowledgeable guides offer informative commentary throughout the cruise, so you’ll learn all about the wildlife and the conservation efforts currently underway to protect them.
Perfect Nature Cruises is the only operator licensed to interact with marine animals in the reserve, so stepping aboard the catamaran promises an experience you won’t find anywhere else.
After working up an appetite, check out Boughshed Restaurant in the RAC Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort, which is also a great place to stay. Just metres from the shores of Dolphin Beach, this restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with a seasonal menu featuring fresh local ingredients.
For breakfast, expect cafe classics, while dinner is elevated Australian cuisine. Think kangaroo tartare with quinoa crisp and preserved egg yolk, beef cheek with celeriac puree and dressed red cabbage, and grilled snapper with charred cos, toasted almonds and lemon gel.
Pelicans and the pink lake in Kalbarri
When you’ve had your fill of Monkey Mia, head further south on the Coral Coast to the town of Kalbarri, located at the mouth of the Murchison River. The main attractions in this seaside spot include swimming, surfing, hiking, fishing and whale watching (depending on the season).
Every morning at 8:45 am, the Kalbarri foreshore welcomes the local pelican population, and volunteers meet them there to offer visitors an educational talk. You can even feed one of these friendly birds a fish.
Travel to Kalbarri National Park where you can gaze through Nature’s Window – an iconic natural attraction formed over thousands of years as Tumblagooda sandstone eroded due to wild weather. The hole in the rock perfectly frames an upstream view of the Murchison River, making for a great photo opportunity.
The Park is also home to the Kalbarri Skywalk, which looks out over an 80 kilometre gorge cut through red and white banded sandstone by the river. If you’re travelling during spring you’ll also be treated to thousands of colourful wildflowers peppered across the plains.
Before departing for your next destination, take a day trip from Kalbarri with D’Guy Journeys. The Pink Lake Tour takes visitors to Hutt Lagoon, which is famous for its bubblegum pink colour, created by algae that contain beta-carotene (the same pigment that gives carrots their colour).
The drive to the lake will take you past the Kalbarri coastal cliffs, which drop 100 metres into the Indian Ocean. The ocean has forged many unique rock formations in the sandstone, including the Natural Bridge and Island Rock, that your guide will point out along the way.
For a bite to eat, Finlay’s is an open-air restaurant and brewery combining freshly-caught seafood with craft beers. You can expect classic pub grub, beer-tasting paddles, a courtyard that’s kid and dog-friendly, as well as live music from top local talent on the weekends.
A four-minute walk from the beach, Kalbarri Tudor Holiday Park is an ideal accommodation option with caravan and camp sites, units, cabins and self-contained villas. Kids will love the playground and TV room, while adults will enjoy the heated swimming pool, camp kitchen and barbecue shelters with free gas BBQs.
From land to ocean at Jurien Bay
Around four hours further down the Coral Coast highway is the coastal oasis of Jurien Bay, known for its white sandy beaches and colony of playful sea lions. It’s common to spot endangered Australian sea lions lazing in the sun on the beaches of Jurien Bay Marine Park, where 21 per cent of the WA population live and breed.
To observe the sea lions in their natural habitat, join Turquoise Safaris for a Sea Lion Tour and head out into the waters of Jurien Bay to swim with them. These ‘puppies of the sea’ are known to glide, spin and play with snorkellers in the crystal-clear waters.
The calm waters of the picture-perfect bay are also perfect for swimming amongst schools of fish, and admiring the brightly coloured reefs.
Those who’d rather stay on dry land should head to Lesueur National Park – a certified global biodiversity hotspot containing 10 per cent of WA’s known flora. The 18.5 kilometre, one-way loop road allows you to explore all that the park has to offer, including more than 100 species of bird.
Thrill seekers can view the stunning natural scenery from above with Skydive Jurien Bay, where you’ll jump from a height of 15,000 feet and free fall over the amazing Coral Coast. Once your parachute is released, you can take in unbeatable views of the reefs, beaches and national parks reaching up to meet you. The tandem dives mean you’re paired with an expert who will keep you safe and help you land safely.
Before the next leg of your journey, rest at Jurien Bay Tourist Park to stay right on the beachfront. The park features two-bedroom holiday units, one-bedroom units, powered and unpowered sites. The pet-friendly spot is great for families, and boasts a barbecue area, free wifi, and a giant jumping pillow for the kids.
Limestone and galaxies at Nambung National Park
To conclude your once-in-a-lifetime Coral Coast journey, head to Nambung National Park. Within an hours’ drive of Perth, this park contains white sand desert, coastal plains and stunning beaches.
The park is most famous for the Pinnacles Desert, which contains thousands of jagged, sharp columns of limestone that rise from the sand. Reaching up to 3.5 metres, these structures were formed approximately 30,000 years ago when the sea receded and left deposits of sea shells.
Over time, winds removed the surrounding sand to reveal the striking pillars. The site is incredible to visit after dark, when you can watch the galaxy sprawl across the night sky.
Make sure to also check out Lake Thetis, which is surrounded by stromatolite-building microorganisms that resemble the earliest forms of life on Earth. To tour this park with an expert, you can sign up for a Pinnacle Desert and 4WD Adventure Day Tour with Australian Pinnacle Tours.
The full-day experience takes you off-road driving over sand dunes, sand boarding, feeding kangaroos and photographing koalas, before taking in the Pinnacles.
Located right beside Nambung National Park is Nambung Station – a 5,000 acre working cattle farm and nature-based caravan park. Choose from self-contained accommodation, onsite vans or the spacious caravan park beside a historic shearing shed, and experience authentic station life.
Take a personalised tour through the station, including a walk into the Painted Desert, which is a secluded section of the national park not typically seen by tourists.
The fire pit and camp kitchen are great places to unwind after a busy day, and you’re sure to see animals roaming about.
Loved reading about The Coral Coast? You might want to read about the Best Marine Experiences in WA.
Rex flies to Monkey Mia on the Coral Coast. Check out the route map below and BOOK your next adventure!
