Kalbarri to Coral Bay road trip: Best stops, distance & drive time

Kalbarri to Coral Bay road trip: Shark Bay detour

If diverting to Shark Bay, make the stromatolites at Hamelin Pool your first stop. They look like black rocks, but they’re examples of the oldest living organisms on earth.

Keep going and you’ll pass the Ocean Park Aquarium, just south of Denham. This aquarium offers Shark Bay cruises and diving trips.

Other things to do in Denham include learning about the local environment and history at the Shark Bay World Heritage Discovery and Visitor Centre.

Denham accommodation options include the kitchenette-toting chalets at the Denham Seaside Caravan Park and the roomy Shark Bay Seafront Apartments.

Kalbarri to Coral Bay drive: Monkey Mia

Following the drive from Kalbarri to Denham, the leg from Denham to Monkey Mia only takes around 20 minutes. On the way you can swim at Little Lagoon or drive around the Francois Peron National Park. Here, Cape Peron offers red cliffs and white sand and Big Lagoon brims with marine life.

The prime attraction at Monkey Mia is the morning dolphin-feeding sessions.

The only accommodation is the RAC Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort, and there is a $15 per car Monkey Mia entry fee.

Next section: Monkey Mia to Coral Bay.