Perth to Coral Bay road trip: Distance, driving time & best stops

Perth to Coral Bay road trip: Distance, driving time & best stops

The Kalbarri detour

After Geraldton, you’re in for a very boring drive if you head straight north to Carnarvon and Coral Bay. You’re far better off adding Kalbarri and Shark Bay to the itinerary, even if they add to the journey time.

On the way from Geraldton to Kalbarri, good stops include the reef-flanked Horrocks Beach and Hutt Lagoon, the pink lake near Port Gregory.

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.

Kalbarri is a beach town in its own right, but the main attractions are in the surrounding Kalbarri National Park. Here, you can get great views of the Murchison River Gorge from Nature’s Window or the Kalbarri Skywalk. In the coastal section, Red Bluff is one of several dramatic lookouts with walks down to secluded beaches.

The Kalbarri Skywalk in Kalbarri National Park, Western Australia
The Kalbarri Skywalk in Kalbarri National Park, Western Australia. Photo courtesy of Tourism Western Australia.

Click through to the next section: Shark Bay.