When most individuals plan a visit to Australia, their minds bounce straight to Sydney’s harbour or Melbourne’s laneway cafés. Western Australia? Usually ignored. And that’s a disgrace, as a result of WA has a shoreline longer than your complete size of the US, stretching greater than 12,000 kilometres, and it’s wildly numerous.
From desert landscapes and considerable reefs within the north to towering karri forests and boutique wineries within the south, this can be a nook of the world greatest skilled by automobile, with the home windows down and the street stretching endlessly forward.
Perth may not have the thrill of the jap cities, however its yard greater than makes up for it. A street journey right here means pristine seashores with out the crowds, quirky little nation cities, and the sort of ‘limitless blue sky’ surroundings that makes you are feeling such as you’ve stumbled into the opening shot of a movie.
Whether or not you’re after a fast weekend getaway or a pack-the-boot-to-the-brim journey, these 5 street journeys from Perth showcase the very best of WA’s rugged magnificence and laid-back way of life.
1. Perth to Exmouth: The Epic Northwest Journey
Distance: 1,250 km (about 13–14 hours driving)
Greatest for: Desert landscapes, distinctive wildlife, distant journey
In the event you’re up for the last word Australian street journey, Exmouth is your prize on the finish of a really lengthy, very scenic drive. This isn’t a fast sprint – assume extra of an odyssey throughout WA’s huge northwest, the place the surroundings modifications from rolling farmland to crimson desert plains that stretch for miles below an enormous empty sky.
On the best way, you’ll be able to cease in at Kalbarri Nationwide Park, the place the Murchison River has carved dramatic gorges into the earth, and Shark Bay, house to the well-known dolphins of Monkey Mia. The drive itself is an immersion into the Australian outback – warmth rays shimmering on the bitumen, wedge-tailed eagles circling overhead, and kangaroos that may hop throughout the street if you happen to’re not on the ball.
When you arrive in Exmouth, you’ll be hanging out for a chilly beer at one of many native breweries. Sit again, chill out, take in the laid-back desert environment, and put together for just a few days of snorkelling, seashore hopping, and relishing in among the magical coastal sunsets.
In the event you time your journey between March and August, you’ll even have the chance to swim with whale sharks. There are just a few tour operators that permit you to be a part of these mild giants as they glide gracefully by way of these waters.
Different highlights embrace:
- Cape Vary Nationwide Park, the place rugged limestone ranges meet turquoise bays.
- Turquoise Bay, well-known for its “drift snorkel”, the place the present carries you throughout a reef teeming with fish.
- Seasonal turtle nesting on the seashores.
It’s a protracted haul, sure, however it’s additionally some of the iconic street journeys in Australia – distant, uncooked, and unforgettable.
2. Perth to Margaret River: A Weekend Escape
Distance: 270 km (about 3 hours driving)
Greatest for: Wine, meals, surf, and laid-back coastal allure
If Exmouth is the marathon, Margaret River is the simple dash. Simply three hours south of Perth, it’s the quintessential weekend escape for locals, and a should for guests wanting a style of WA’s meals and wine scene.
This is among the few locations on the earth the place top-class wineries, craft breweries, and fine-dining eating places sit aspect by aspect with surf breaks and beautiful seashores. Spend the morning wine tasting amongst rolling vineyards, the afternoon exploring caves like Lake Cave or Jewel Cave, and the night watching the solar soften into the Indian Ocean at Surfers Level.
Some can’t-miss experiences:
- Wine tasting at iconic estates like Vasse Felix, Voyager, or Leeuwin.
- An extended lunch at one of many many winery eating places (Glenarty Highway and Amelia Park are private favourites).
- Espresso and boutiques in Margaret River city, with its artsy, relaxed vibe.
- Seashores like Redgate or Hamelin Bay, the place stingrays typically swim proper as much as shore.
It’s additionally a terrific base to discover extra of Western Australia’s surf coast, from world-class waves to mellow newbie breaks. For the surf followers, I’ve shared a few of my favorite spots on this information to Tamraght, a laid-back Moroccan surf village I spend a part of the yr in. Whereas on the other aspect of the globe, it shares the identical small city, coastal magic of Margaret River.
It’s the proper mixture of indulgence and nature. Come for a weekend and also you’ll go away already planning your subsequent go to.
3. Perth to Denmark: Large Forests and Untouched Seashores
Distance: 420 km (about 5 hours driving)
Greatest for: Lush forests, pristine seashores, wildlife encounters
Drive south-east from Perth and also you’ll finally swap the wheatbelt plains for towering karri and jarrah timber, among the tallest hardwoods on the earth. That is the street to Denmark, another little city the place the forest meets the ocean.
The route takes you thru Walpole, the place you’ll be able to stroll among the many treetops on the Valley of the Giants Tree Prime Stroll – a suspension bridge that sways gently 40 metres above the forest flooring. The drive itself is a spotlight, with winding roads shaded by forests that appear to hum with life.
As soon as in Denmark, you’ll discover a mixture of tranquil inlets, wild surf seashores, and boutique wineries. Greens Pool and Elephant Rocks are two of probably the most photogenic swimming spots in Australia, with turquoise water and big boulders that resemble elephants lazing within the shallows.
From June to October, the southern coast additionally turns into a major spot for whale watching, as humpbacks and southern rights migrate alongside the coast.
Denmark has a mild, virtually mystical power. It’s the sort of place the place time slows down, and a easy stroll by way of the forest seems like medication.
4. Perth to Nannup: A Quirky Nation Retreat
Distance: 265 km (about 3 hours driving)
Greatest for: Leisure, quirky retailers, inexpensive retreats
Nestled alongside the Blackwood River, Nannup is usually ignored by travellers racing towards Margaret River or Albany. However that’s precisely what makes it particular. This underrated tiny city has a unusual allure, with vibrant shopfronts, vintage shops, and a lot of native artists promoting their wares.
Nannup is surrounded by forest, and in spring the area bursts into color through the Nannup Flower and Backyard Pageant, with tulips, daffodils, and wildflowers spilling into each nook. The close by Blackwood River is ideal for kayaking or simply lazing on the banks with a picnic.
One among Nannup’s largest attracts is its distinctive vacation properties. There’s an abundance of inexpensive and superbly designed cottages, farm stays, and eco-retreats, many tucked away within the bush with wooden fires and massive verandahs for stargazing. It’s a slower, quieter sort of escape – good for recharging.
In the event you’re after a street journey that seems like stepping again in time to small-town Australia, Nannup is your spot.
5. Perth to Coral Bay: Ningaloo’s Laid-Again Cousin
Distance: 1,120 km (about 12 hours driving)
Greatest for: Snorkelling, beachside tenting, barefoot residing
If Exmouth is the bustling base for exploring Ningaloo Reef, Coral Bay is its sleepier sibling. A tiny coastal settlement with one predominant road and a handful of cafés, Coral Bay is all about slowing down and sinking into seashore life.
Right here, the reef comes proper to shore. You’ll be able to stroll into the water, stick your head below, and end up in a world of coral bommies, tropical fish, and, if you happen to’re fortunate, a manta ray or two. There are few locations on the earth the place such unbelievable snorkelling is only a hop, skip and a bounce out of your spot on the sand.
Coral Bay has a barefoot, backpacker-friendly vibe, with caravan parks, beachside bars, and tour operators providing all the things from glass-bottom boat rides to fishing charters. It’s additionally a gateway to a few of Ningaloo’s greatest wildlife encounters, resembling manta rays, whale sharks and humpback whales.
It’s distant, sure, however it captures the essence of Western Australia: uncooked nature, unpretentious allure, and a way of journey that makes your time in paradise that additional bit particular.
Suggestions for Highway Tripping in Western Australia
Earlier than you hit the street, just a few sensible notes:
- Distances are large. WA is huge, and journey occasions can shock you. All the time test your gas earlier than leaving cities, particularly on the northern routes. And pack loads of water.
- Greatest time to journey: The north is greatest visited between April and October (dry season), whereas the south is gorgeous year-round however notably lush in spring.
- Lodging: From boutique retreats to outback caravan parks, you’ll discover a vary of stays, however e book forward throughout college holidays.
Driving security: Be careful for wildlife, particularly at daybreak and nightfall when kangaroos are most energetic.
Why Western Australia Deserves a Spot on Your Itinerary
It’s straightforward to underestimate Western Australia while you’re mapping out an Aussie journey. However those that make an effort are rewarded with landscapes and experiences that rival something on the East Coast – with out the crowds.
From the desert roads to Exmouth, the vines of Margaret River, the forests of Denmark, the hidden allure of Nannup, and the reef-fringed shores of Coral Bay, these 5 street journeys present simply how numerous and extraordinary this nook of Australia actually is.
So if you happen to’ve ever dreamed of lengthy, open roads, limitless skies, and the sort of pure magnificence that lingers in your reminiscence lengthy after the journey ends, WA is asking. Pack the automobile, cue the street journey playlist, and go see what everybody else is lacking.
Jessie runs daytripsetc.com
