You contrary thing, you. For many roadtrippers with their own wheels, West Coast = Best Coast.
The diversity of experiences available, rare wildlife spotting opportunities and emptiness of landscapes (hellooooo, perfect Instagram shot!) makes for a magical off the beaten path experience.
How much time you have really depends on how many places you can see, we have put together two itineraries, for 7 or 21 days but both can be adapted to fit any time frames.
We’d recommend you allow a little longer for the West Coast than the East coast, due to the sheer distance between some remote places on this itinerary.
Having said that, if you’re pushed for time, you could easily spend a few less days on Shark Bay and Exmouth or opt out of exploring the Kimberleys.
Australia West Coast 1 Week Itinerary
If you’re after a real Aussie adventure with less time, a speedy one-week road trip headed north from Perth cuts the mustard.
First drive to Karrijini National park for iconic red rock gorges, natural waterfalls, tree-climbing and camping under the clearest starry sky (so clear you can legit see the galaxies).
Then swing back to the coast starting with Exmouth and its incredible coral reefs, swimming with whale sharks and sundowners on the sand dunes.
Make your way back to Perth stopping at Coral bay, Monkey Mia, Shelly beach, the pinnacles and back down to Perth.
This is a really quick and rushed itinerary but will allow you to see all the main highlights in a short period of time.
Australia West Coast 3 Week Itinerary
This 21 day itinerary starts in Perth and travels north. The itinerary can be adapted as you go.
Day 1:
Starting our itinerary in Perth but before you hit the open road, we recommend you head to Rottnest Island to meet its gorgeous fuzzy residents and also see some of the most pristine beaches in the country.
Day 2:
Set off up the West Coast. It’s around a two-hour drive from Perth to Nambung National Park, home to the Pinnacles. After a day exploring here, bed down in your camper in Cervantes, a cute coastal town nearby.
Day 3:
Check out Cervantes’ Thirsty Point for views of the Indian Ocean after brekky, before driving the four and a half hours to Kalbarri, where there are plenty of campsite options.
Day 4:
Explore the spectacular Kalbarri National Park!
Day 5:
It’s around a four-hour drive to the first of your stops in the beautiful Shark Bay region. First stop, Shell Beach!
Day 6-8:
With so many gorgeous beaches and wildlife encounters fit to rival Blue Planet, you’ll want a few days to explore Francois Peron National Park, Monkey Mia’s wild dolphin feeding grounds and Shark Bay’s amply other sandy enclaves at your leisure – they’re all within a short drive of each other.
Day 9:
You can drive on to Coral Bay in three hours and pitch up for the night, or choose to rest and have lunch before continuing onto Ningaloo.
Day 10:
It’s a short drive from Coral Bay beach to Ningaloo, where you can spend the day diving with whale sharks, snorkelling with turtles or boat tripping out to see humpback whales.
Day 11:
Drive time between Ningaloo and Exmouth is under two hours. You’ll want to spend a few days in this heavenly beach bum’s paradise, soaking up more of the Ningaloo reef, and the marine life you missed at your last stop.
Day 13:
It’s an eight hour drive from Ningaloo to Karijini National Park, so make sure you’re well rested – camping overnight under a blanket of stars here is a must.
Day 14-15:
Rise early to take in Karijini’s landscapes on Day 14. On Day 15, set off on the five hour drive to Port Hedland for an overnight stop. These parts are remote, but there’s plenty of campsites with amenities.
Day 16:
Port Hedland to Eighty Mile Beach is a three hour drive. Although the sea full of nasty critters you wouldn’t want to swim with, sunrise, sunset and the endless empty tidal flats here are made for photo opportunities, beers and general zenning out.
Day 17:
On to Broome! Abandon your trusty campervan here, mount one of Australia’s million native camels (the Middx East does import them from here, you know) and ride down Cable Beach.
Days 18-20:
Optionally tag an off-road adventure in the Kimberley region onto the end of your West Coast roadie. This area needs4WD vehicle, so we recommend a tour.
Day 21
You could decide to continue travelling up the coast to Darwin, or start your journey down back to Perth or other destinations in Australia either by car or flight from Broome.
Australia’s East Coast really does get all the love, but the West Coast will steal your heart. It is generally less touristy than the East, and although it doesn’t have famous sights like the Great Barrier Reef and WhitSunday Islands, you will absolute love travelling in this region.
