Geraldton to Coral Bay road trip: Distance, driving time & best stops
The Geraldton to Coral Bay drive in Western Australia is 707km in distance, with a 7h14m driving time along sealed roads. Good road trip stops include Kalbarri, Shark Bay and Carnarvon.
This independent, Australia travel expert-researched guide is aimed at travellers planning a road trip itinerary from Geraldton to Coral Bay in Western Australia.
If you can do just one thing in Geraldton, make it an Abrolhos Islands day tour – full of bloodthirsty shipwreck mutiny stories, cute wildlife and world class Indian Ocean beaches. Other Geraldton experience options include fishing charters, whale-watching cruises and lobster pot-pulling tours. For great Geraldton accommodation deals, look here.
Coral Bay highlights include swimming with whale sharks – the biggest fish on earth, as well as snorkelling with wild manta rays and viewing turtles on a glass bottom boat. To see a fuller range of brilliant activities, come this way. To book Coral Bay accommodation (and the whole town can sell out – so book in advance), head over here.
To learn more about the Geraldton to Coral Bay drive, including the distance, driving time and the best stops along the route, read on…
Planning a Geraldton to Coral Bay road trip itinerary
The drive from Geraldton to Coral Bay forms a major stretch of the road trip from Perth to Broome up the coast of Western Australia. Geraldton is the largest town north of Perth, and Coral Bay is the southernmost primary gateway to the Ningaloo Reef.
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.
Geraldton to Coral Bay distance and driving time
By car along sealed roads, the distance from Geraldton to Coral Bay is 707km. That makes for a driving time of seven hours and 14 minutes.
Well, it does if you don’t make any detours along the way. And it is well worth adding side trips to Kalbarri, Shark Bay and Carnarvon to a Geraldton to Coral Bay road trip itinerary.
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.
Geraldton to Coral Bay drive via Kalbarri
The first leg of this extended journey, from Geraldton to Kalbarri, heads north on National Highway 1. It skims close to Glenfield Beach, then reaches the town of Northampton. From here, you can jig west to the quietly gorgeous Horrocks Beach.
The route then passes one of Australia’s increasingly famous pink lakes. The best lookout over Hutt Lagoon comes just before you get into Port Gregory.
Soon afterwards, you’ll reach the coastal section of Kalbarri National Park. There is a series of clifftop lookouts, most of which have a worthwhile walking track attached. Take your pick from Eagle Gorge, Pot Alley, Mushroom Rock, Red Bluff and the Blue Holes.
6 great Kalbarri experiences to book before you arrive
- See the colours of the giant cliffs change on a sunset cliffs cruise.
- Have fun catching the local lobsters on a lobster pot pulling tour.
- Learn about the area’s history, nature and wildlife on a Murchison River cruise.
- See migrating humpbacks on a seasonal whale-watching experience.
- Take a scenic flight to Monkey Mia for a dolphin-feeding encounter.
- Fly over the infamous Batavia shipwreck on an Abrolhos Islands tour by plane.
The town of Kalbarri is at the mouth of the Murchison River, and is increasingly becoming a popular coastal holiday destination.
Kalbarri accommodation possibilities with a pool include the Gecko Lodge B&B and Kalbarri Backpackers YHA. Another potential option is the Big River Ranch, which offers horse-riding tours.
Click through for the next section: Shark Bay.