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Guest Post by Keith Erskine
The ‘Best of the West’ – Western AustraliaRoad Trip Itinerary
Western Australia is the biggest state by land area in Australia. It has some of the most remote, yet beautiful natural wonders to be found anywhere on the planet.
Some travellers spend months exploring and enjoying what Western Australia has to offer. Not all travellers have the luxury of unlimited time, so here is our suggested itinerary to see some of the best parts of this amazing state.
Margaret River
Perth to Margaret River: 271 kms
Margaret River attractions include world-class wineries, craft breweries, and magnificent surf beaches. The town itself is relaxed with boutiques stores, great coffee shops, and eateries.
Best Things to See and Do in Margaret River
- Take a drive down to Augusta/Cape Leeuwin lighthouse via Caves Road (54 km). The road snakes through beautiful old Jarrah eucalypt forests; the canopy from these massive trees dwarfing all who travel through. Detour into Hamelin Bay, where there’s a good chance to see the colony of stingrays that frequent the shallow waters near the boat ramp.
- Visit some the world-class wineries such as Stella Bella and Vasse Felix. Also consider stopping by some of the smaller, boutique wineries. Our pick is Stormflower. For a great experience, we recommend an e-Bike tour of some of the local wineries with Easy Ride Tours. Drop by the Brewhouse in the main street of Margaret River township to sample their range of craft beers while sitting on the outdoor deck.
- Love your surfing? If you’re in the area in late May/early June see the best surfers on the planet compete in the Margaret River Pro.
Wave Rock and Esperance
Perth to Wave Rock: 339 kms
Wave Rock to Esperance: 382 kms
Wave Rock is a unique formation near the town of Hyden. As its name suggests, the rock appears like an ocean wave that’s about to break. Visitors can climb up onto the rock and be treated to some breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape, particularly just before sunrise. There are walking trails around the rock of varying lengths. Take the short walk to Hippo’s Yawn to experience this remarkable cave.
Accommodation in Wave Rock
There is a great caravan park a few hundred meters from Wave Rock offering ensuite powered sites, powered and unpowered sites, backpacker accommodation and self-contained cabins. There is a well-stocked kiosk on-site to save the trip into the town of Hyden.
Continue south-east to Esperance. This is surely the jewel in the crown of south-west Western Australia, with pristine beaches, turquoise water and large tracts of the national park.
Things to See and Do in Esperance
- Drive down to Lucky Bay in Cape Le Grand National Park (62 kms) to see this beautiful pristine bay. Get up close and personal with the beach dwelling kangaroos that live in the area. Spend some time on the headlands and take in the view.
- Do the Great Ocean Drive, a 40-kilometer loop taking visitors along the magnificent coastline to see the progression of beaches and bays, such as Twilight Cove.
- Want to get up close with this part of the world? Walk the eight kilometres from town to Twilight Cove to fully appreciate the natural beauty.
- Stop at Taylor Street Quarters for a meal and a drink while looking out over the seascape.
Shark Bay
Perth to Shark Bay: 792 kms
This is a World Heritage-listed area, and it’s easy to see why. From a 4WD trip through Francois Peron National Park to an encounter with wild dolphins at Monkey Mia. Denham is the local township in the area, and the list is almost endless of what to see and do. There are holiday parks in Denham, but our pick is the Denham Seaside Caravan Park. It is close to town and has a small number of roomy self-contained cabins that are fully air-conditioned.
Things to See and Do in Shark Bay
- Head over to Monkey Mia to hand feed the wild dolphins that come around the jetty each day.
- Go for a half-day cruise with Greg on Aristocat 2 , a luxury 18-metre catamaran to see first-hand the abundance of marine life in the shallow waters; and get a look at dolphins, dugongs, turtles, rays and the odd shark (it is called Shark Bay, after all, J).
- Go on a 4WD tour through Francois Peron National Park.
- Go on a scenic boat tour of Steep Point, the westernmost point of the Australian mainland and snorkel within the pristine surrounding waters. Our choice is with Shark Bay Dive
- Have a drink and traditional pub grub at the Old Pub Shark Bay, right on the waterfront.
Exmouth
Shark Bay to Exmouth: 649 kms
Exmouth is the best gateway to the world acclaimed Ningaloo Reef. It’s as remote as anyone can imagine, but the journey is worth it. This is truly ‘big sky country’, where it’s sometimes difficult to see where the land ends and the sky begins. During the months of March through to August, the giant Whale Sharks are in the area. To swim with these gentle giants of the ocean is one of life’s great privileges.
Perth to Exmouth: 1249 kms
We stayed at Ningaloo Lodge, which has a great atmosphere, a generous outdoor area, and a very well-appointed community kitchen.
Things to See and Do in Exmouth
- An absolute ‘must do’ at Exmouth; – swim with the Whale Sharks on Ningaloo Reef. We went with Ocean Eco Adventures , and during 9 snorkelling drops, got up close to a Whale Shark on almost every occasion. These guys are very sophisticated and use ultralight aircraft to spot the location of the Whale Sharks. The boat then moves into position to maximise the opportunity to see one as it swims gently by.
- If it’s the full moon, drive up to the old lighthouse and take in the sheer majesty of the view as the moon rises (and sets) over the ocean.
- To see the reef from a completely different perspective, take an ultralight flight! Birds Eye View will give you that experience.
- Do a kayak tour or boat tour around the reef or along Yardie Creek.
Eighty Mile Beach
Exmouth to Karratha: 553kms
Karratha to Eighty Mile Beach: 596 kms
A stopover in Karratha is a sensible break on the way into Eighty Mile Beach. While the economy is underpinned by iron ore and gas exports, there is still beauty to be found a short drive from the town centre.
There’s only one place to stay at Eighty Mile Beach – the Eighty Mile Beach Caravan Park. It is a very well maintained park, with five (5) self-contained cabins and a mix of powered and unpowered grassed sites.
Things to See and Do in Eighty Mile Beach
- Drive out of Karratha towards Dampier and visit Hearson’s Cove (27 kms). Time it later in the day and be rewarded with some of the most beautiful sunsets ever seen.
- Visit Karratha’s Red Earth Arts Precinct to experience the modern cultural hub for this region.
- Walk along Eighty Mile Beach, enjoy the remoteness and be amazed at a beach that is tiled with seashells as far as the eye can see.
- Sit on the purpose-built viewing platform near the caravan park; and watch the sun sink over the ocean.
Broome
Eighty Mile Beach to Broome: 236 kms
Perth to Broome Total Distance: 2249 kms
Broome has a different feel to it, compared to the other attractions along the way. You either love it, or you don’t. It is a much more ‘touristy’ place.
Visitors from all over the world fly into the town, and the facilities are geared towards this market. Having said that, nothing can dent the sheer beauty of places like Cable Beach.
It is also the departure point for tours that take visitors out to see some of the wonders of the nearby Kimberley Region.
Things to Do in Broome
- Spend a few hours soaking up the sun on Cable Beach. If you’re inclined, take a camel ride along the beach at sunset.
- Take a seaplane tour out to Horizontal Falls, and board a high powered jet boat to fully appreciate the power of the tidal forces in the region.
- Have a drink and snack at Zanders on Cable Beach to relax and watch the sunset. Be warned: their prices are savage, but the location is second to none.
Kununurra
Broome to Kununurra (via Fitzroy Crossing/Halls Creek): 1,042 kms
The trip into Kununurra via Fitzroy Crossing/Halls Creek is best done over two days. We recommend a stopover at the Halls Creek Motel to break the journey. The accommodation is excellent and the bar/restaurant (Russian Jack’s) has a very good menu and a relaxed atmosphere.
Broome to Kununurra (via Gibb River Road): 916 kms
The Gibb River Road runs from Derby to the Great Northern Highway and is 600kms or so of unsealed road. It is considered as one of the best 4WD drives in the world. Always check the condition of the road before travelling it; and make sure your vehicle is up to it.
There’s so much to see along the Gibb River Road, it’s much more than getting from A to B. Gorges like Windjana Gorge and the stunning Emma Gorge and the sheer majesty of the King Leopold Ranges to name a few.
Towards the Kununurra end of the Gibb River Road, there’s El Questro Station; which is worth a visit, even if it’s a day trip. Allow at least seven days to take it all in.
Here’s a sample itinerary of the Gibb River Road to help you plan your trip – https://www.australiasnorthwest.com/page/gibb-river-road-self-drive-road-trip.
Things to See and Do in Kununurra
- Take a scenic flight out over Purnululu and the Bungle Bungles and get a look at this unique geographic location
- Head out to El Questro Station (103 kms from Kununurra – last 16 kms into El Questro unsealed, but well-maintained road).
- On the way back from El Questro Station, swing into Emma Gorge for a walk up the gorge itself. It’s a rocky path, but the view is worth it when you get to the end.
- Head out to Ivanhoe Crossing, where the causeway across the Ord River has water spilling over it to make for an interesting driving experience.
Summary
This is our ‘Best of the West’ itinerary. There are many more beautiful places to see and experience in Western Australia, but this is our pick. Four weeks should be put aside for this itinerary. However, you can take months, or even a full year to do this remarkable state justice. Happy traveling!
Now that you have read on Perth itinerary, need more on Australian Outback?
What to pack for an Australian Outback Road Trip?
How to plan a trip to Northern Territory
About the Author
Marise & Keith have been traveling around Australia to incredible places. As their Travelblog Travellin’ Lite suggests, they focus on low impact, self-guided, minimalist travel. For Great Road Trips, check out their Blog.
