Perth to Coral Bay road trip: Distance, driving time & best stops
The drive from Perth to Coral Bay in Western Australia along sealed roads covers a distance of 1,125km in a driving time of 12h33m. The best road trip stops along the way include Lancelin, Geraldton and Shark Bay.
This independent, expert-researched guide is aimed at travellers planning a road trip itinerary from Perth to Coral Bay in Western Australia.
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.
Planning a Perth to Coral Bay road trip itinerary.
The drive from Perth to Coral Bay takes you to the southern end of the Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia.
Perth offers gold pouring experiences at the Perth Mint, Rottnest Island day trips, and scenic Swan River cruises. To book Perth tours and experiences, head here. For Perth accommodation deals, book here.
Coral Bay, meanwhile, is on its way to becoming a resort town, but don’t fear – it’s a long way from being overrun by big developments. Besides, the sea is more interesting than the land – in Coral Bay, you can swim with whale sharks. Or humpback whales. Or manta rays.
It is not a short drive, though. So aim for a Perth to Coral Bay road trip, with plenty of stops along the way. This guide should help you plot out your itinerary
Perth to Coral Bay distance and driving time
The distance from Perth to Carnarvon by car is 1,125km, which makes for a driving time of around 12 hours and 33 minutes. The best road trip stops along the way are Lancelin, Geraldton, Shark Bay and Carnarvon. The road to Coral Bay is sealed.
✅ Find the best tours and experiences in Western Australia right here. ✅
The best places to stay in Perth
You can check out deals on a wide range of Perth accommodation options. But these are some of the best choices.
- The swankiest address in town: COMO The Treasury.
- The cool, fun one in the centre of the action: The Alex.
- For quality apartments next to Kings Park: Quest Kings Park.
- For quality apartments by the beach: Seashells Scarborough.
- On a backpacker budget: Spinners Hostel.
Perth to Coral Bay, Lancelin, Jurien Bay and Dongara
It’s 415km from Perth to Geraldton, and that drive goes past Lancelin, Cervantes, Jurien Bay and Dongara.
Lancelin offers surfing and sandboarding down the massive Lancelin dunes. Cervantes has great beaches and snorkelling, while also being the gateway to the eerie moonscape of the Pinnacles in the Nambung National Park.
Four Lancelin experiences to book in advance
- Full day Pinnacles and Lancelin dunes tour from Perth.
- All terrain vehicle and sandboarding tour – conquer the massive dunes the fun way.
- Single-seater or two-seater quad bike hire.
- Lancelin dunes sandboard hire – see how fast you can whizz down the dunes.
Jurien Bay offers white sand, swimming with sea lions and beach skydives. The wildflower-packed Leseuer National Park is nearby, too.
From Jurien Bay to Geraldton along the Brand Highway, the biggest town is Dongara. The beaches are the main attraction here, although there are several interesting walking trails that combine heritage and nature.
Top Dongara experiences include a history and local produce walking tour, plus a behind-the-scenes tour at the Illegal Tender Rum Distillery.
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.
Click through to the next section: Geraldton highlights.