Western Australia’s Coral Coast & Ningaloo

Your tour starts in Perth at 8:30 am with a welcome meeting with your guide, before we head north along the Coral Coast, passing among the biggest dunes on this coastline. We then reach Nambung National Park, where we explore the limestone formations of the Pinnacles.

Further north, we stop in Cervantes, where you can choose a Western Rock Lobster lunch at a well-known lobster restaurant, with views across the Indian Ocean. We then pass through Jurien Bay, where you may see local marine life, before reaching the historic Leaning Trees of Greenough.

On arrival in Geraldton, we take an orientation drive past the city’s main sights, including the HMAS Sydney Memorial. Your evening is then free, with dinner and drinks as you wish and a chance to meet your fellow travellers.

Please note: driving distance today is approximately 440 km, with short, easy walks and lookout points.

We head north to the historic town of Northampton, where we visit the Ku’arlu Mangga (Good Nest) Community Art Gallery and chat with local First Nations artists. Next comes Hutt Lagoon and its Pink Lake, a favourite with photographers for its constantly shifting shades of pink.

In Kalbarri, you have time to relax before we head out in the evening on a Sunset Coastal Cliff Cruise, taking in Kalbarri’s red cliffs from the water as the sun drops into the Indian Ocean.

Please note: driving distance today is approximately 170 km.

Please note: today includes two short guided walks totalling 5 km; anyone who prefers not to walk that far can stay behind until the group returns.

We start in Kalbarri National Park, home to the Kalbarri Skywalk and Nature’s Window, both overlooking the Murchison River Gorge, with wide views over some of the state’s finest scenery. We then continue north towards the Shark Bay World Heritage Area.

On the way, we stop at Hamelin Pool Marine Nature Reserve to see the stromatolites, known as living fossils, and at Shell Beach, a shoreline made up entirely of countless tiny cockle shells.

In Monkey Mia, our evening brings a First Nations eco-cultural adventure, learning about the stories, customs and cultural knowledge of the Nhanda and Malgana people through storytelling, music and bush tucker.

Please note: driving distance today is approximately 400 km, with short, easy walks and lookout points.

Please note: your guide can assist with recommendations and bookings for tomorrow’s free day.

Today is yours to discover the Shark Bay World Heritage Area. You could stroll the beach and coastline for photos of the views, hire a kayak, make use of your accommodation’s facilities, or simply relax, with a walk along the beach at sunset.

If you would like more from the region, the following options are available.

Sunset Wildlife Cruise
You have the option to join a scenic evening cruise that shows off the marine life of Shark Bay.

Marine Life Experience
You can opt to join an outing with the chance of spotting dolphins, turtles, rays and the rarely seen dugong, also known as the sea cow.

Steep Point & Dirk Hartog Island Sightseeing and Snorkelling Adventure
You have the option to join a sightseeing and snorkelling adventure to Steep Point and Dirk Hartog Island.

Francois Peron National Park 4WD Adventure
You can opt for a 4WD adventure across the coastal landscapes of Francois Peron National Park.

Please note: your guide can assist with recommendations and bookings; booking ahead through us avoids missing out.

Please note: there is no driving today, with short, easy walks and lookout points.

We start the day with a wildlife encounter at Monkey Mia, where WA Parks and Wildlife experts introduce us to the bottlenose dolphins and share what they know about these marine mammals and their coastal home.

Leaving Shark Bay behind, we travel through the Gascoyne region towards Carnarvon. If time allows, you have the option of visiting a local aquarium, at your own expense, to learn about the marine life of the Coral Coast. In Carnarvon, we visit Gwoonwardu Mia, the Gascoyne Aboriginal Heritage and Cultural Centre, to learn about the long connection First Nations peoples have with this land.

We then follow the Gascoyne Food Trail, which showcases local growers of bananas, mangoes, avocados and other seasonal produce. If time allows, we also visit the Carnarvon & District History Museum before checking in to our accommodation. This evening, you can relax, take a stroll or find somewhere to eat in Carnarvon or Coral Bay.

Please note: driving distance today is approximately 350 km, with short, easy walks and lookout points.

We start at Coral Bay, gateway to Ningaloo Reef, a World Heritage-listed site and the biggest fringing reef anywhere. A 2-hour glass-bottom boat tour and snorkel with a local eco tour operator reveals up to 250 coral species and 500 fish species.

Further along the coast, we visit Vlamingh Head Lighthouse for wide views, before settling in to Exmouth for the night.

Please note: driving distance today is approximately 490 km, with short, easy walks and lookout points.

Today is yours to explore the Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area, whether you are after a marine encounter or the landscapes of Cape Range. You can also enjoy scenic walks, hikes and lookouts along the Ningaloo Coast.

The following options are available.

Seasonal Whale Shark or Humpback Cruise and Swimming Experiences
You have the option to join a seasonal cruise, with the chance to swim alongside whale sharks or look out for humpback whales.

Exmouth Glass Bottom Semi Submersible Snorkelling and Reef Viewing Tour
You can opt for a glass-bottom semi-submersible tour, with snorkelling and viewing of the coral gardens of Ningaloo Reef.

Yardie Creek Boat Tours
You have the option to join a boat tour along Yardie Creek in Cape Range National Park.

Please note: your guide can assist with recommendations and bookings; book ahead through us, as spaces are limited and there is very little public transport in Exmouth.

Please note: there is no driving today, with short, easy walks and lookout points.

After a relaxed breakfast and some free time in Exmouth, we set off for Charles Knife Canyon, where the outback meets the ocean and an inland lookout gives wide views across Cape Range National Park and Exmouth Gulf.

Continuing north, we visit the historic Krait and Potshot Memorial, then stop at Bullara Station, a working cattle station, from April to September, or at Coral Bay from October to March. In the afternoon, we head to Quobba to see the force of the sea at the blowholes, before reaching Carnarvon at the end of a full day.

Please note: driving distance today is approximately 500 km.

We start at the Carnarvon Space and Technology Museum. The site was built in the 1960s to back NASA’s Gemini, Apollo and Skylab missions, and shows how large a part Carnarvon played in Australia’s space story.

We then head south to Wooramel Station, a family-owned working pastoral station covering 356,000 acres, known for its naturally heated artesian bore baths (March to November) and a good spot for a bite to eat. Continuing through the Mid West, we pass through Geraldton before reaching the twin coastal towns of Dongara and Port Denison, where we explore their fishing heritage.

Please note: driving distance today is approximately 550 km.

We leave Port Denison for Carnamah, a rural town known for its farming heritage and pioneering past. We visit the historic Macpherson Homestead, where the stories of the early families who shaped the farming communities of the Mid West come to life, and pause for a photo with Carnamah’s Big Tractor, billed as the world’s largest.

We continue to a restored former railway station that now serves as a country tavern, for a taste of country hospitality. In the afternoon, we explore New Norcia, Australia’s only monastic town, admiring its architecture and heritage buildings in peaceful surroundings before returning to Perth. We reach the city at around 5:30 pm, where you are dropped off.

Please note: driving distance today is approximately 440 km.

Please note: the route or stops may change during seasonal weather fluctuations or park closures.