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

Exmouth to Ningaloo Reef

But you’re not going all the way from Perth to Exmouth to visit the admittedly rapidly improving town. You want to get to the Ningaloo Reef, and the reef is on the other side of the North West Cape.

To get to the Tantabiddi Boat Ramp, where most Ningaloo Reef snorkelling and diving cruises depart from, it’s a half hour drive. Then, further down the North West Cape Peninsula are a series of gorgeous bays and white sand beaches, many of which have camp sites behind them.

These Ningaloo Reef beaches are often only 100 metres or so from the Reef. The water is often pretty shallow, so most of that beach to reef distance can be covered by leisurely wading.

Turquoise Bay and Osprey Bay are justifiably popular Ningaloo Reef beaches, but the sealed road ends at Yardie Creek – 88km or just over an hour’s drive from Exmouth. 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.

Turquoise Bay in the Cape Range National Park, Western Australia. Photo courtesy of Tourism Western Australia.

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.