Carnarvon to Exmouth road trip, WA: Distance, drive time & stops

The drive from Carnarvon to Exmouth is 365km in distance, with a driving time of around 3h42m. The best attractions on the Carnarvon to Exmouth road trip are the Tropic of Capricorn sign, the Ningaloo Reef from Coral Bay and Charles Knife Canyon in the Cape Range National Park.

The drive from Carnarvon to Exmouth in Western Australia is a key part of a road trip from Perth to Broome up the west coast. It is not, by any stretch of the imagination, the most exciting road trip in Australia.

Indeed, the drive from Carnarvon to Exmouth is mostly along remorselessly straight roads through a lot of red dirt and empty nothing. Once out of Carnarvon and north of the Gascoyne River, Western Australia is very lightly populated.

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If you can do just one thing in Exmouth, make it snorkelling with whale sharks. Seeing the biggest fish on earth gracefully gliding towards you is utterly awe-inspiring. Out of whale shark season, other great Exmouth experiences include swimming with humpback whales, full day lagoon kayaking adventures, Cape Range National Park trekking tours, whale-watching cruises and snorkelling with turtles.

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Carnarvon to Exmouth distance and driving time

It’s possible to drive the full Carnarvon to Exmouth distance of 365km in one stint, but it’s a bit of a slog. The driving time from Carnarvon to Exmouth is around three hours and 42 minutes.

8 amazing Exmouth experiences to book in advance.

Swim with whale sharks – using a spotter plane for maximum shark snorkelling time. This is an experience you’ll genuinely remember forever.
Ningaloo wildlife adventure – see much more than just the whale sharks.
Full day kayaking tour – stopping to snorkel at parts of the reef the boats can’t reach.
Sunset cruise – with dolphin-spotting, snacks and drinks.
Cape Range trekking adventure.
Dive on the Ningaloo Reef.
Swim with humpback whales – they come after whale shark season is over.
Kayak and snorkel with turtles.

The first leg of the route, from Carnarvon to Coral Bay, follows National Route 1 for 142km. You then turn on to the Minilya-Exmouth Road shortly after the Minilya Roadhouse. From the junction, it’s another 78km until the turning for Coral Bay. If you need a photo stop, you’ll pass the Tropic of Capricorn marker on the way.

Carnarvon to Exmouth, WA: Coral Bay tours

There are several things to do in Coral Bay, most focused on the Ningaloo Reef. Coral Bay Eco Tours is among the companies that will take you swimming with whale sharks during the Ningaloo whale shark season.

Ningaloo Marine Interactions, however, runs full day reef tours focusing on coral, dugongs and manta rays.

You can also go drift snorkelling at Paradise Beach.

5 Coral Bay experiences to book before you arrive

Swim with whale sharks – with a dedicated spotter plane for more time in the water with them.
Go on a glass bottom boat cruise – perfect for non-swimmers.
Snorkel with turtles – on a boat tour that visits two top snorkelling sites.
Swim with humpback whales – they visit between June and October.
Swim with manta rays – available most of the year, with lunch & snorkelling gear included.

Best Coral Bay accommodation

The best Coral Bay accommodation options are…

For budget travellers: Coral Bay Backpackers.
For overall quality: Ningaloo Reef Resort.

The Coral Bay to Exmouth drive is 153m, mainly along the Minilya-Exmouth Road. The best stops are north of Learmonth Airport in the Cape Range National Park. You’ll need a 4WD vehicle to get to the likes of Charles Knife Canyon and Shothole Canyon, however.