Denham to Exmouth road trip: Best stops, distance & time

Denham to Exmouth drive: The Minilya – Exmouth Road

The final 153km from Coral Bay to Exmouth takes around one hour and 38 minutes. Most of the monotonous drive is along the Minilya – Exmouth Road.

Aside from massive sheep stations, there is nothing until you reach Learmonth Airport and its solar observatory.

The Learmonth Jetty on the Exmouth Gulf is reasonably photogenic and a good fishing spot.

Further along the road, those with a 4WD vehicle can explore the rugged Cape Range National Park. Charles Knife Canyon and Shothole Canyon are relatively easy to get to.

On the way into Exmouth, you can also stop at Pebble Beach.

✅ Find the best tours and experiences in Western Australia right here. ✅

Most Ningaloo Reef whale shark swimming cruises, scenic flights and Ningaloo Reef kayaking tours pick up from Exmouth. It’s also possible to swim with humpback whales.

Exmouth accommodation picks include the Mantarays Ningaloo Reef Resort, Exmouth Escape Resort and Ningaloo Lodge.

A whale shark on the Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. Photo courtesy of Tourism Western Australia.

Exmouth to Turquoise Bay and the Ningaloo Reef

However, for most people, the town is a base for exploring the other side of the North West Cape. Ningaloo Reef tours usually leave from the Tantabiddi Boat Ramp, a half hour drive away past the Vlamingh Head Lighthouse and Mauritius Beach.

Further along are a series of staggering white sand beaches, from which the Ningaloo Reef is often about 100 metres offshore.

Turquoise Bay and Osprey Bay are arguably the most attractive of these beaches, wile Yardie Creek boat tours head the other way into Cape Range National Park.

Tick off 9 Australian bucket list experiences

Take Blue Mountains day tour from Sydney – with kangaroo-feeding at a wildlife park, Scenic World tickets and a Parramatta River cruise.
Snorkel or dive on the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns.
Do Australia’s most spectacular drive on a Great Ocean Road day tour from Melbourne.
Drive along the beach on a 4WD day tour of Fraser Island, the world’s biggest sand island.
Have a dune-top barbecue dinner and stargazing session in the shadow of Uluru.
See penguins on Phillip Island – and more native wildlife at the Moonlit Sanctuary – on a day trip from Melbourne.
Go snorkelling, sandboarding and kayaking on Moreton Island from Brisbane.
Meet gloriously cute quokkas on Rottnest Island near Perth with a ferry and bike hire package.
Kayak with dolphins in Byron Bay.