Australia's Coral Coast Drive
A coastal drive from Perth north along the Indian Ocean for about 1,250 km to Exmouth, passing the Pinnacles, Kalbarri, Shark Bay and Ningaloo Reef.
The Australian Coral Coast is a coastal self-drive route promoted by Tourism Western Australia. It runs north from Perth along the Indian Ocean for about 1,250 km to Exmouth, and you can return the same way or take an inland road back. The southern section follows the Indian Ocean Drive, past the Lancelin sand dunes, the Pinnacles near Cervantes and Geraldton. The middle section enters Kalbarri National Park, with Nature's Window, the Skywalk, Z-Bend and red coastal cliffs, as well as the nearby Hutt Lagoon, which is pink. Continue north to the Shark Bay World Heritage Area to see shell beaches, the Hamelin Pool stromatolites, wild dolphins at Monkey Mia, and the red sand and blue sea of Peron Peninsula. Finally, pass Carnarvon to reach Coral Bay and Exmouth, where you can snorkel straight off the beach at Ningaloo Reef and, in season, go out to swim with whale sharks and manta rays. Allow 7 to 14 days. Towns in the north can be 200 to 300 km apart, so fill up on fuel and water in advance, and avoid driving at dusk and at night because of kangaroos, cattle and road trains. Parts of Cape Range National Park and François Peron National Park require four-wheel drive.