Perth to Shark Bay road trip: Distance, drive time & stops
Perth to Shark Bay drive: Dongara and Geraldton
The nearby Lesueur National Park offers stunning wildflower carpets, but otherwise keep going to Dongara. This is the biggest town on the drive from Jurien Bay to Geraldton. There are several delightful walking trails in Dongara. The best combines the Irwin River Lookout and surfer-friendly Seaspray Beach.
Top Dongara experiences include a history and local produce walking tour, plus a behind-the-scenes tour at the Illegal Tender Rum Distillery.
The biggest town on the Perth to Shark Bay road trip is Geraldton.
6 cool Geraldton experiences you should book in advance
- (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED) Hear astonishing shipwreck stories, spot tiny wallabies and enjoy white sand beaches – on a full day Abrolhos Islands tour including scenic flight.
- See what you can reel in on an Abrolhos Islands fishing charter.
- Try your hand at lobster farming on lobster pot-pulling tours.
- Gasp at migrating humpbacks on a whale-watching cruise.
- Marvel at Hutt Lagoon from above on a pink lake scenic flight.
- Watch the sun set over the Indian Ocean on a Geraldton harbour sunset cruise.
The Perth to Geraldton drive takes around four-and-a-half hours. The Museum of Geraldton is the best tourist attraction here, mainly due to the stories of shipwrecks told inside.
Day trip to the Houtman-Abrolhos Islands?
The most famous of these shipwrecks is the Batavia. This Dutch ship crashed into the Houtman-Abrolhos Islands, leading to an astonishing tale of mass murder and survival. Geraldton Air Charter runs day tours to the islands.
The quickest route from Geraldton to Shark Bay goes inland, but you’re better off sticking to the coast and going via Kalbarri.
Click through to the next section: Via Kalbarri?