Perth to Broome road trip: Coastal route distance & best stops
Perth to Broome coastal drive: Cervantes to Dongara
From Cervantes to Jurien Bay, it’s only 17 minutes. If you’re going to stop anywhere on this short section of the journey, make it the Molah Hill Lookout on the edge of the Southern Beekeepers Nature Reserve.
Things to do in Jurien Bay include snorkelling with sea lions and marvelling at wildflowers in Lesueur National Park. You can also skydive here, landing on the beach.
It’s another 196km from Jurien Bay to Geraldton. The Indian Ocean Drive heads past Drovers Cave National Park and Green Head before entering Leeman. After Leeman, the Indian Ocean lies to the west and the Beekeepers Nature Reserve to the east.
The Jurien Bay to Geraldton drive then goes past Illawong Beach, Freshwater Bay and the Cliffhead Rest Area before joining Highway 1. During this particular stretch, Highway 1 is known as the Brand Highway.
Dongara, the largest town on the Jurien Bay to Geraldton drive, is on the Brand Highway. 5 Mile Beach and 7 Mile Beach are highlights here, but you can drop by at Russ Cottage for a local history lesson.
Perth to Broome road trip: Greenough River Beach and Geraldton
Further north, the Devlin Pool Lookout is a decent photo stop, while the Greenough River Beach has an attractive lake behind it.
The Dongara to Geraldton drive enters Geraldton’s southern suburbs shortly afterwards.
6 cool Geraldton experiences you should book in advance
- (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED) Hear astonishing shipwreck stories, spot tiny wallabies and enjoy white sand beaches – on a full day Abrolhos Islands tour including scenic flight.
- See what you can reel in on an Abrolhos Islands fishing charter.
- Try your hand at lobster farming on lobster pot-pulling tours.
- Gasp at migrating humpbacks on a whale-watching cruise.
- Marvel at Hutt Lagoon from above on a pink lake scenic flight.
- Watch the sun set over the Indian Ocean on a Geraldton harbour sunset cruise.
Things to do in Geraldton include the Museum of Geraldton, which has some fantastic sections on shipwrecks, and the St Francis Xavier Cathedral.
Geraldton is best used as a base for tours, however. Options include fishing charters, full day tours to the Houtman-Abrolhos Islands and lobster pot pulling adventures. There are also whale-watching cruises and scenic flights over the Hutt Lagoon pink lake.
Geraldton accommodation recommendations
Booking site Wotif offers Geraldton accommodation for from $119 a night. Search for the best deals here.
However, the following places to stay in Geraldton are particularly worth considering.
- For central location: Gerald Apartment Hotel.
- For low prices, but with a pool: Ibis Styles.
- To be by the beach: Ocean Centre Hotel.
- For overall quality: Mantra Geraldton.
Click through to next section: Geraldton to Kalbarri National Park.