Things to do in Geraldton, Western Australia

The best things to do in Geraldton include day tours to the Houtman-Abrolhos Islands and the Museum of Geraldton. Other Geraldton attractions of note are the Point Moore Lighthouse and the Geraldton Water Park.

Geraldton is one of those Western Australian towns that feels like it has potential to be bigger than it is. 415km north of Perth, Geraldton is a logical staging post on the coastal drive between Perth and Broome. If you want to break the journey on the way to the stromatolites and dolphin feeding of Shark Bay, or the whale shark snorkelling on the Ningaloo Reef, Geraldton should fit the bill.

Geraldton feels strangely underpowered, however, with a population of around 37,000 in the urban area. It’s a port city that acts as a hub for the local fishing, mining, wheat and livestock industries. But it is one of the most reliably sunny places on earth and feels like it could be making more of what it has got. There aren’t as many Geraldton activities and attractions as there might be.

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.

Things to do in Geraldton, WA: Houtman-Abrolhos Islands day tours

In terms of things to do in Geraldton, there is one clear winner. The underrated Houtman-Abrolhos Islands are 60km to the west. These islands have fringing reefs, white sand beaches and more than their fair share of cute wallabies.

Turtle Bay on East Wallabi Island in the Houtman-Abrolhos Islands can be reached on a day tour from Geraldton. Photo by David Whitley/ Australia Travel Questions

Geraldton Air Charter runs day tours out to the Houtman-Abrolhos Islands. These take in the natural beauty, but also tell the astonishing tale of the Batavia shipwreck. This dark tale of mutiny, slaughter and eventual rescue led to the first European settlers arriving in Australia. As such, it’s one of the country’s most important historic sites.

Remnants from the Batavia and the other ship wrecked around the Houtman-Abrolhos are the star attractions at the Museum of Geraldton. It’s part of the multi-site Western Australian Museum, and covers similar ground to the WA Shipwrecks Museum in Fremantle.

The best time to visit the Abrolhos Islands is between April and November, avoiding roasting summer temperatures.

Other things to do in Geraldton, WA

Otherwise, Geraldton is thin on the ground for attractions. The HMAS Sydney II Memorial, Point Moore Lighthouse and St Francis Xavier Cathedral are all relatively nice to look at, but won’t detain you for long. Strolling along the Esplanade is pleasant, while Town Beach, Greys Beach and Champion Bay are pretty good spots to lay down a towel.

The grandly-titled Geraldton Water Park on the foreshore is one of the best things to do in Geraldton with kids, although don’t go expecting big slides and rapids rides. This is essentially an oversized playground with fountains, small pools to splash in and hanging buckets to turn over. Children love it, though.

There are direct flights from Perth to Geraldton, and rental cars at Geraldton Airport aren’t outrageously expensive. Alternatively, the Perth to Geraldton bus takes six hours.

Geraldton accommodation recommendations

Booking site Wotif offers Geraldton accommodation for from $119 a night. Search for the best deals here.

However, the following places to stay in Geraldton are particularly worth considering.

For central location: Gerald Apartment Hotel.
For low prices, but with a pool: Ibis Styles.
To be by the beach: Ocean Centre Hotel.
For overall quality: Mantra Geraldton.

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