We truly believe that everyone visiting or living in Western Australia should experience the beauty of this road trip at least once in their life.
Not only is it a great way to escape the cold winter months in Perth, but it’s also a great way to experience the incredible diverse nature and marine life in WA.
We have included everything you need to know based on our own experience to make this epic Perth to Exmouth road trip an unforgettable experience.
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Overview
Day 1: Perth to Kalbarri
Day 2: Kalbarri
Day 3: Kalbarri to Monkey Mia
Day 4: Monkey Mia
Day 5: Monkey Mia to Exmouth
Day 6: Ningaloo Reef
Day 7: Whale Shark tour (optional)
Day 8: Ningaloo Reef
Day 9: Exmouth to Wooramel River Station
Day 10: Return to Perth
Perth to Exmouth Road Trip Planning
Vehicle Rental
There are a few different options when it comes to vehicle rentals, so you will need to choose whichever option suits your personal needs the most.
We personally rented a campervan, which we highly recommend and we would probably choose this option again in the future.
While we had to miss out on a few locations due to them being 4WD only, we honestly didn’t think we missed out on much. We felt the most limited in Shark Bay due to Francois Peron National Park being 4WD only BUT there are ways around it, which we will share later in this post.
By being in a campervan, it allowed us to leave our campsite and stay out all day as we had all of our belongings, food and water etc with us at all times. We found this really handy especially if you are basing yourself in Exmouth as the drive between Exmouth and where most activities are located is about 1 hour apart.
Permits
Most of the activities we recommend in this post are located within National Parks, so we would highly recommend purchasing a 14-day Park Pass as day passes will quickly add up. You can purchase a Park Pass online here, just remember to print it out before your trip as it will need to be displayed in the window.
Tip: Look for online promo codes when purchasing your pass, we found a cheeky 50% off promo code just by doing a quick google search.
Tours to book in advance
If you are planning on doing the iconic whale shark tour in Exmouth, we can’t stress enough to book that well in advance. There are about 15 different tour providers in Exmouth and majority of them sell out weeks in advance. So please don’t sleep on this one as you will unfortunately end up missing out.
The tours in Exmouth are run ethically which means tour sizes are restricted to a certain number of people, so when the tour sells out, there is nothing they can do to get you on that boat besides putting you on a waitlist and hope for the best.
Best time to visit
The best time to do this Perth to Exmouth road trip is during autumn or winter.
Autumn (March-May) is probably favourable as all the locations along the way will be warm enough for swimming and outdoor activities.
Winter (June-August) is also a great time to go but Kalbarri and Monkey Mia might be a bit chillier.
Both autumn and winter are within the whale shark season in Exmouth. However, please keep in mind that they are wild animals and sightings are never guaranteed.
We wouldn’t recommend visiting Exmouth during summer as the weather can be quite extreme, it can get very hot and the flies are a nightmare.
If you are visiting Western Australia during summer, we would recommend exploring the Southwest region instead. Check out our Margaret River Itinerary here or Albany Itinerary here.
Perth to Exmouth Road Trip Itinerary
Day 1 – Perth to Kalbarri
Time to kick off this epic Perth to Exmouth road trip and make your way to Kalbarri.
It’s about a 6 hour drive, so make sure you are stocked up on snacks, coffee and have a bomb playlist ready to keep the vibes high!
Consider breaking up the drive by stopping at The Pinnacles Desert in Nambung National Park about 2 hours from Perth.
Drive another 3 hours, 45 minutes and make another stop at Gregory, home to the iconic pink lake, Hutt Lagoon.
Known for its vibrant pink colours and a great opportunity to snap some cool photos.
Another 45 minutes of driving and you’ll arrive at Kalbarri. Get checked in at your accommodation, freshen up and head down to Pot Alley to relax, do some whale watching and watch the sunset.
Where to stay
Kalbarri probably has the most accommodation options out of all the locations on this Perth to Exmouth road trip, but some great options are Kalbarri Tudor Holiday Park, Kalbarri Murchison View Apartments or Kalbarri Red Bluff Tourist Park.
Day 2 – Kalbarri
We hope you are early birds, because the first activity we’d highly recommend doing in Kalbarri, is watching the sunrise at Kalbarri Skywalk.
It’s a once in a lifetime experience watching the sky transform into a golden colour and it’s without a doubt worth the early wakeup.
But hey, one of the perks about this being a winter road trip is the later sunrise!
Once you’ve soaked up all the beauty at Kalbarri Skywalk, head over to Nature’s Window for the raw beauty of Kalbarri and snap a few cool photos.
You might have seen the iconic ‘cliff hanging’ photos on Instagram, these are taken just next to Nature’s Window!
From there, it’s time to get your exercise and steps in and start the Z-Bend Lookout Trail and/or Z-Bend River Trail if you’re feeling up for a more difficult hike.
The Z-Bend Lookout Trail is a moderately easy 1.2 km return walk and classified as a Class 3 whereas the Z-Bend River Trail is a 2.6 km return walk and classified as a Class 4.
Tip: If you’re heading back towards Kalbarri around sunset time, a great spot to stop is Meanarra Hill Lookout which is on the way back from the National Park.
Day 3: Kalbarri to Shark Bay
On your way to Shark Bay from Kalbarri, a few highlights to stop at along the way include the iconic Shell Beach which is a beach full of shells instead of sand!
It’s safe to swim here if you want to spend a bit of time relaxing before heading further into Shark Bay.
If you are interested in unique nature and geology you can also stop at Hamelin Pool to check out the Stomatolites known as the ‘living fossils’.
Tip: There are no shops besides the resort shop in Monkey Mia which is a little pricey and only has limited variety, so it might be worth stopping in at Denham on the way and stocking up at the local IGA.
Where to stay
Accommodation options are limited to RAC Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort if you are staying in Monkey Mia, so we would recommend booking this in advance, especially if you are travelling during school holidays in July.
Not to worry though, RAC is a great place to stay and offers both powered/unpowered sites and villas and the facilities are really good.
We personally stayed at RAC in Monkey Mia as it suited us the best for the relaxing vibe we were going for, but if you want to stay somewhere that’s a little busier, then we’d recommend staying around Denham instead.
Day 4: Shark Bay
You might have heard other people say that Francois Peron National Park is accessible with a 4WD only which technically is true, BUT if you like us opted to do this epic Perth to Exmouth road trip with a campervan, then we have a hack to getting to Francois National Park without the 4WD!
Just outside the Monkey Bar, you will find Mick’s beach hut and for just $90 you can rent a double kayak for the whole day and head out on a fun adventure towards Francois Peron NP.
The price for the kayak also includes snorkels, a beach umbrella and a dry bag to keep your camera gear etc dry. You can find all the prices here.
Mick usually opens his beach hut up at around 9-10 am in the morning and you can find his phone number on the door.
We can’t recommend doing this activity enough, we had so much fun cruising along the red cliffs of Shark Bay and it’s a great way to spot marine life too.
Day 5: Shark Bay to Exmouth
The drive from Monkey Mia to Exmouth is about 7 hours so we’d recommend getting an early start to avoid driving in the dark as it can be dangerous with all the wildlife.
On the way out from Monkey Mia, make a quick stop at the Little Lagoon and go for a snorkel if you feel up for it.
Tip: wear reefwalker shoes (link to amazon) and be careful with where you step as there are stonefish around this area.
Other stops that are completely optional but ones we’d recommend are the Cactus Garden in Carnarvon, Quobba Blowholes and the famous King Waves Kill sign and Coral Bay.
Where to stay
If this is your first time to Exmouth, you might want to consider staying closer to Exmouth town at either RAC Exmouth Cape Holiday Park or Mantarays Ningaloo Beach Resort as it can feel more comforting being close to an IGA and having more people around etc.
Otherwise, Yardie Homestead is also a great option as it’s located a little closer towards the Ningaloo Reef where majority of the activities will be located.
If you’re heading out on this Perth to Exmouth road trip in a campervan and you’re a type A planner, then definitely book a camping spot at Osprey Bay, it’s one of the most sought after camping spots in ALL of Western Australia and literally books out 6 months in advance.
Day 6: Ningaloo Reef
You’ve made it to the final stop of this epic Perth to Exmouth road trip and it’s time to start exploring Exmouth and the Ningaloo Reef.
Head out to Yardie Creek Gorge Trail and enjoy stunning views of the ancient Yardie Creek Gorge.
The walk is about 1.5 km return and is a pretty easy walk on a well defined path.
You’ll be able to spot little rock-wallabies, lots of birds and fruit bats along the way.
It’s also possible to join a boat tour which goes for about an hour on the protected waters of Yardie Creek.
One of the highlights on our whole trip was snorkelling at Osprey Bay as we were able to spot lots of turtles right from the beach. It was an incredible experience that we will never forget.
Reminder: Please do not attempt to touch the turtles, they are wild animals. We unfortunately saw a mom encouraging her children to touch a turtle as she wanted a photo of it and it was so cruel to watch.
Another great snorkelling spot right next to Osprey Bay is Sandy Bay. They offer similar experiences but if you are looking for a bit of variety, this is a great option.
Start heading back towards Exmouth in the afternoon and park up at Vlaming Head Lighthouse for stunning sunset views.
Tip: Bring mozzie repellent for Vlaming Head Lighthouse or stay inside your car as there can be lots around there.
Day 7: Whale Shark Tour
Swimming with whale sharks is one of the most unique things to do in Exmouth and it is something that deserves a spot on every travellers bucket list.
There are about 15 different tour operators in Exmouth and majority of them sell out weeks in advance, so we would really highly recommend getting this activity booked in early if it’s something you’re interested in doing.
We booked through Ningaloo Whale Shark n Dive and had a great experience. We got to swim with at least 5 different whale sharks in the most ethical way.
All the snorkel gear and wet suits etc were included in the price and we also had a morning tea, drinks and lunch included as well as free photos and videos taken by a professional underwater photographer.
The tours are a little pricey but in our honest opinion, it is 100% worth it.
Celebrate ticking off this bucket list item with dinner at Whalebone Brewing Co.
Day 8: Ningaloo Reef
After an action packed day yesterday and trying to keep up with the whale sharks, the best way to recover is by relaxing at the beautiful Ningaloo beaches, doing a few snorkels and finishing strong with a beautiful sunset.
Start the morning at Lakeside which is a favourite snorkel spot for many locals and visitors.
You won’t be able to search for it on Google Maps, so if you type in Milyering Discovery Centre, it’ll take you in the right direction. You’ll need to continue down a little further past the Discovery Centre and once you get to the parking lot for Lakeside, there’s also about a 20 minute walk along the beach to get to the right snorkel spot.
Next we’d recommend heading to Turquoise Bay and doing the drift snorkel.
It’s a fun way to explore the underwater world and there’s lots of marine life to see there. We spotted a handful of turtles, a big stingray and many interesting fish species.
Important: You’ll need to exit the water before you get to the sandy tip as the current gets stronger there. There will be signs on the beach showing you exactly where to snorkel and when to get out.
The last snorkel spot we’d recommend is Oyster Stacks which we really liked because it was a little different to the other snorkel spots. However, you’ll need to time this right around the tide as it’s only accessible when the tide is high.
Finish the day by stopping in at Mandu Mandu Gorge and walk up to the peak and watch the sun set over the Ningaloo Reef.
Tip: Wear good shoes as the beginning of the trail includes walking on small and big pebbles.
Day 9: Exmouth to Wooramel River Station
Last day of this epic Perth to Exmouth Road Trip before heading back to Perth!
Get an early start to the day and head out to Charles Knife Canyon and set up a little picnic rug to watch the sunrise there, it’s absolutely magical and one of our top 3 sunrise spots of all time.
It’s about 25 minutes to get there from Exmouth and is accessible by 2WD.
The parking lot is located right next to the top of the canyon so no hiking is necessary, although there are options for it if you feel like exploring the location more.
Once you’ve soaked up all the breathtaking views, we’d suggest starting the trek back towards Perth and drive towards Wooramel River Station.
It’s about 4 hours and 45 minutes from Charles Knife Canyon and will help break the drive back to Perth up.
At Wooramel River Station, you’ll find naturally heated artesian bore baths and private fire pits, which is a nice and cosy way to chat about all the highlights and memories you’ve made.
Day 10: End of Perth to Exmouth Road Trip
Sadly, all epic road trips must come to an end eventually and it’s time to start the drive back to Perth.
It’s about 8 hours of driving from Wooramel River Station and we’d recommend taking plenty of rest stops along the way to help reduce driving fatigueness.
Perth to Exmouth Road Trip Safety tips
Being in one of the more remote areas of Western Australia, you’ll want to make sure you are prepared accordingly.
It’s important to always keep extra diesel/fuel jerry cans as fuel stations can be few and far between and you never know the conditions of the stations in those areas.
We arrived at a fuel station on our way up to Exmouth and the only petrol pump they had was out of order. Luckily, the diesel pump was still working as we otherwise wouldn’t have made it to the next fuel station!
It’s also essential to always carry a first aid kit and have extra water with you in case you break down somewhere.
We would recommend downloading an offline Google Maps as you will likely have moments with no reception, especially around Ningaloo.
What to bring on your Perth to Exmouth Road Trip
- Comfortable clothes for light activities, driving etc
- Active clothes for hiking and exploring
- Bathers, we’d recommend bringing a few options to allow them to dry.
- Beach towels and regular towels for the campsites
- Snorkel gear
- Dry bag
- Reef shoes
- Stinger suit
- Reef safe sunscreen
- Warmer clothes for cooler evenings
- A jacket
- Games, books or other activities for campsite evenings
- Camera
- Underwater camera and drone – these are our exact ones.
- Chargers and powerbank
- Torchlight
We hope you found this guide helpful and you feel ready to tackle the most epic Perth to Exmouth Road Trip!
It’s truly an unforgettable experience and a must do if you are visiting or living in Western Australia.