Before you go:

• Travel Adaptor - Type I

• Visa required - register online

• Entry fees for visiting the National Parks.

• Austalian customs and biosecurity FAQS

• Travel Guide: Lonely Planet Western Australia and Planning Map

• Best time to explore the region is April, September and October.

• Sign up for great travel stories and ideas on National Geographic online !

Car Rental one way offer on the Coral Coast Highway: <Learn more>

• Drive north and fly south...Pick up your hire car in Perth and head north along the Coral Coast Highway towards Exmouth, then catch a flight home from Exmouth's Learmonth Airport.

• This Drive and Fly Holiday is usually offered between April 1st to October 31st of each year.

DAY 1

• Arrive at Perth airport and transfer to your hotel. <where to stay>

• Perth the largest city in Western Australia is surrounded by the Indian Ocean on one side and the Australian outback on the other. Perth is known for its glorious beaches, amazing sunsets, low pollution, green spaces and fine dining experiences, plus has more hours of sunshine than any other city in Australia.

• If time permits, explore or dine in Northbridge. Many nationalities live there, resulting in a wide range of ethnic and international cuisine options. Go here for a good meal and a relaxing evening.

• Overnight: Perth

DAY 2

• Discover the sailing town of Fremantle.

  • Fremantle is known for its maritime history, Victorian architecture and the largest convict-built prison in Australia.

• Enjoy the bustling Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbor, a perfect place for a fish and chip lunch.

• In the afternoon, depart for Nambung National Park to discover the Pinnacles.

• Overnight: Cervantes

• Distance: Fremantle —-> Cervantes, 2.5 hrs.

DAY 3

• Explore The Pinnacles at Nambung Park - a region with impressive limestone pillars.

  • Desert View Trail: A short but excellent walk looping through the unusual formations of the Pinnacles.

    • Distance: 2 km, 1 hour.  Difficulty: Easy.

    • Trail starts at the Discovery Center car park. <directions>

• Afterward in the afternoon drive to Kalbarri.

  • The coastal town of Kalbarri makes for a perfect base for visiting Kalbarri Park.

• Overnight: Kalbarri (2 nights) <where to stay>

• Distance:

  Cervantes ---> Kalbarri Park. 4.5 hrs. / 380 km.

DAY 4

• Discover Kalbarri National Park - known for its stunning red colored river gorges and surf pounded coastal cliffs. <Map>

• Kalbarri Park brochure.

• The Loop and the Z-Bend Gorge are two (2) impressive gorges.

  • The walk around the Loop, starts at Nature’s Window takes 6 hours.

    • Directions to the starting point.

  • Z Bend trail is a easy 2.5 km roundtrip trail.

    • Directions to the starting point.

• Bigurda Trail - lookouts dot the impressive coastal trail south of Kalbarri town.

  • The trail (8 km one-way) follows the cliff tops between Eagle Gorge and Natural Bridge.

  • Make arrangement to be dropped off at Eagle Gorge and hike south along the coastal cliffs for 3 to 5 hours, finishing up at the Natural Bridge and then be picked up rather than returning back.

  • From July to November you may spot migrating whales.

• Overnight: Kalbarri.

DAYS 5-6

• Depart Kalbarri to Monkey Mia resort area.

• Shark Bay Marine Park and World Heritage site. The main attraction is the bottlenose dolphins that have been visiting the shore for more than 50 years. 

  -Our opinion: unless you have small children forgo the Marine Park.

• Explore Francois Peron Park - known for its wonderful contrasts of white beach, red cliffs and blue waters. The walk provides excellent views of the coastline.

  • Take the Wanamalu Trail between Cape Peron and Skipjack Point. Great views.  Distance: 3.6 km (2.2 miles), 90 minutes.

    <Learn more about Skipjack Point>

  • Cape Peron attracts an impressive array of marine life. At the plunging red sea cliffs of Bottle Bay at Cape Peron, you can see dugong, manta rays, turtles and possibly sharks swimming in the water below.

  • Many areas are accessible by 4x4 vehicles only. Tour operators are available to bring visitors to the park.

• Overnight: Monkey Mia, (2 nights). We recommend Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort.

• Distance: Kalbarri ---> Monkey Mia, 4 hrs.

DAY 7

• Depart Monkey Mia to Coral Bay, a long 6-hour drive.

• Coral Bay is a small seaside location, a marine paradise for nature lovers, a Western Australian family holiday destination and home to WA's largest Manta Ray population which you can swim with.

• Overnight: Coral Bay (3 nights)

• Distance:

  Monkey Mia —-> Coral Bay- the beginning of the Ningaloo coast, 6 hrs.

DAYS 8-9

• Two (2) relaxing days at the Coral Bay region.

• The Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area is regarded as one of the last great ocean paradises in the world. It is 270 km. long and is Australia's largest fringing coral reef and positioned very close to a landmass.

• At Coral Bay you can walk straight off the beach to snorkel at the reef.

  • Monthly beach water temperature.

• Ningaloo Reef stretches from Coral Bay to Exmouth. <Learn More>

• Tours and things to do. <read more>

• Overnight: Coral Bay.

DAY 10

• Depart Coral Bay at your leisure to Exmouth and the northern Ningaloo - a staggering region of marine life.

  • Exmouth serves as a hub for water sports activities. 

• Best tour operators to capture the ocean life: Three Islands and Kings Ningaloo Reef Tours.

• Overnight: Exmouth (3 nights). We recommend the Mantarays Ningaloo Beach Resort.

• Distance: Coral Bay —-> Exmouth, 2 hrs.

DAYS 11-12

• Explore more of the Coral Coast region.

• Ningaloo Reef - runs within very close proximity to the shoreline. In most places along the reef’s length, coral gardens with tropical fish lay mere footsteps from the beach. This makes the Ningaloo Reef Australia's easiest access coral reef experience.

• The outer edge of the Ningaloo Reef protects a crystal-clear lagoon that is on average only 2-4 meters deep and incredibly rich in marine life. It is a wonderland for nature loving snorkelers, no matter what their age or ability may be.

• Ningaloo Ecology cruises - runs a variety of tours including a glass bottom boat.

• Engage in some Ningaloo Diving.

• Cape Range National Park - a spectacular place of rugged limestone ranges, breathtaking deep canyons such as Yardie Creek surrounded by pristine beaches, in particular Turquoise Bay.

  • Ningaloo Safari Tours - runs guided tours daily to explore the Cape Range Park.

DAY 13

• End of your adventure or depart Exmouth to another Australian destination.

• Historical Weather Data-click here.

• Hot season / summer is mid-December to mid-March.

• Dry periods are January through April and October through December.

• The warmest months are January and February.

• The coolest months are July and August.

• May through August are the wettest months.

• Monthly water temperature for Coral Bay-Ningaloo Reef region.

• Sunrise/Sunset time.