Perth to Karratha road trip: Coastal route distance & best stops
The best stops along on a Perth to Karratha coastal road trip are Jurien Bay, Geraldton, Kalbarri, Shark Bay and the Ningaloo Reef. The distance from Perth to Karratha along the coastal route is 1,527km, with a driving time of around 15h53m.
A Perth to Karratha road trip along the coast of Western Australia is an epic drive, with many great sights and experiences to pack in along the way. Most, though, will be using Karratha as an overnight stay on the longer Perth to Broome road trip.
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.
Karratha accommodation is fairly scarce. Find the best options and book in advance here.
This guide should help you plan the perfect Perth to Karratha road trip, picking the best stops along the way. Click on the links for more detailed guides to the individual attractions and towns.
Perth to Karratha distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Perth to Karratha is 1,527km. This makes for a driving time of around 15 hours and 53 minutes.
However, you can add a few hours if planning to make detours to Kalbarri, Shark Bay and the Ningaloo Reef. And, quite frankly, you should be making those detours. They’re absolutely worth it.
DON’T MISS OUT! 9 fabulous Perth experiences to book today ✅
- ✅ See the Rottnest Island quokkas the smart way – with a ferry and bike package.
- ✅ Be amazed by the abundant wildlife – on a dolphin, penguin and sealion cruise.
- ✅ See clear night skies in a moon-like desert – on a Pinnacles stargazing experience.
- ✅ Indulge in chocolate, cheese & premium wines – on a Swan Valley food and wine tour.
- ✅ See the city sunset from the water – on a Swan River dinner cruise.
- ✅ Watch gold being melted and poured – on a Perth Mint gold tour.
- ✅ Combine nature with imperious city views – on Kings Park Segway tour.
- ✅ Face your fears and get the thrill of your life on a – on a 15,000ft skydive.
- ✅ Find all the best hidden hangouts – on a small bar and street art tour.
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 Karratha road trip: Perth to Hangover Bay
From Perth, the drive heads through northern suburbia towards the Yanchep National Park. Here, you’ll find the Yanchep Crystal Cave and Treetops Adventure Yanchep.
The beach town of Yanchep, by the Yanchep Lagoon, is a short detour off the highway.
There are a few more beach communities, such as Seabird and Ledge Point, on the way up to Lancelin – one of the best stops on the Perth to Jurien Bay section of the Perth to Karratha road trip.
The best things to do in Lancelin include 4WD tours of the Lancelin Dunes and surfing at Back Beach. Four star Lancelin Lodge is the best place to stay in Lancelin.
Road trip essentials that many travellers forget
Search on the web, and you’ll find ludicrously long lists of equipment to take on a road trip. Australia Travel Questions isn’t going to do that to you. But it is worth buying the following road trip items before setting off. Click through for a good range of options.
- Charging cables – yes, you’ll probably need a spare at some point.
- Car charger adaptor – in case your rental car has the old-fashioned cigarette lighter rather than a USB.
- Multi USB charger – for those hotel rooms that don’t have enough power sockets.
- Fold-up chairs – to make anywhere a picnic spot.
- A really good water bottle – go for a bigger one than usual to last the longer drives.
- Packing cubes – save space but, more importantly, avoid unpacking everything every night.
After the Perth to Lancelin leg, comes Cervantes. On the way, the Nilgen Lookout and Wedge Lookout are worth pulling over for as photo stops.
The most important stop on the Perth to Cervantes leg of the journey, however, is Nambung National Park. This park is home to the Pinnacles Desert, a moonscape-esque collection of weird, jutting rock formations.
The best things to do in Cervantes include seeing the stromatolites at Lake Thetis and snorkelling at Hangover Bay.
Click through to the next section: Cervantes to Geraldton.