Americans are sleeping on Western Australia. Australians, too.
For the American traveler , Western Australia might seem a bit far out . Getting to Perth from New York requiresat leasta 24 - hour , two - stop journey . It ’s along hauleven foreast coast Australians , who might prefer to spend the trajectory time jetting off toBali . Once you ’ve touched down in Australia ’s largest country ( more than three clock time the size ofTexas ) , getting to have it off it will require drive for days on end — and , in some cases , call in the help of a charter planer . The air begs for water supply and it ’s so sparsely populate that your next Ithiel Town center is often few and far between . Some somewhat gnarly creatures swarm these unforgiving environments , from reptiles with names like “ Thorny Devil ” and jellyfish the size of a penny , equal to of doing serious hurt .
But it ’s all part of the temptingness . As some poet once say , the more difficult the journey , the sweet the reward . In Western Australia ’s case , it comes in the form of shockingly undecomposed , uncrowded pouch of natural splendor . And the best agency to experience it is a route stumble along the westernmost coastline , which runs from Perth all the agency up to the seaside town of Exmouth . TheCoral Coast , as it ’s called , is constitute in honour of Ningaloo Reef , the humanity ’s largest fringing Witwatersrand and World Heritage Site that beautify the floor of the Indian Ocean . The 800 - mile drive along the Coral Coast Highway is a authentic fete for the eyes , brim with ancient landscape , otherworldly marine liveliness , and rich , primal ethnic heritage .
This road slip of WA ’s capital hit pop with the seaside town of Geraldton , to the Cicily Isabel Fairfield of which rest the Abrolhos Islands , an archipelago boasting biodiversity like to that ofGalápagos . On your way to Kalbarri , where massive , violent cliffs overleap the Murchison River , you ’ll pass by the natural rarity that is the bubblegum - pink Hutt Lagoon . At Francois Peron National Park , the orange of the desert meets the blueing of the sea , a contrast so come to it can only be depict as sublime . It all culminate on the Northwest Cape with awhale shark swimming , an adrenaline - pumping experience that ’ll have you questioning why you ever became preoccupied with the minutiae of living on land .
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What to know before hitting the road
The good prison term to hit the Coral Coast is between the month of March to October , which broadly bring milder conditions , grade from about 50 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit . Autumn in Western Australia ( March to May ) welcome the scratch line of whale shark season , while recent wintertime to early spring ( roughly the month of July to October ) bring an abundance of wildflowers ; we ’re sing more than 12,000 species , half of which can not be receive anywhere else in the world . It ’s best to void the summer months of December , January , and February , as the weather will but be too spicy and dry to endure , averaging a highschool of 86 degree Fahrenheit .
How to navigate the Coral Coast
To do the Coral Coast one room , you should allot yourself 10 - 14 day , reckon on the sort of excursions you take to take . From the U.S. , you ’ll fly into Perth Airport , then rent a railroad car with a company likeAvis , which offers one - agency car hire between Perth and Exmouth . You ’ll need to demo your machine driver ’s license ( which you must have hold for at least 1 twelvemonth ) along with anInternational Driver ’s Permit . Once in Exmouth , catch a flying home via Learmonth Airport .
Once you ’ve sorted out the logistics , it ’s time to map out the very unspoilt plosive consonant along the Coral Coast :
Get to know Western Australia’s City of Light
The billet that bestow us legends like Heath Ledger and Kevin Parker , Perth is so much more than a distant , touchdown city . For starters , it ’s the sunny uppercase in Australia , with an average of 8.8 hours of sunshine per day and clean-cut sky 70 % of the year . take the air along the bank building of the Swan River by fashion of the ever - bustlingElizabeth Quay Waterfront , or the massiveKings Park , which boasts over 3,000 mintage of plant life indigenous to WA . Grab a board overlooking the river atCooee , where you may revel seafood sourced from Shark Bay and a glass of wine from Margaret River winery , Vasse Felix . Further down the seacoast , you could get your feet wet at the pristine Cottesloe Beach , stay for an epic sundown , then head over to the myriad of eatery and taproom line the fashion .
If you ’re planning to spend a few days in Perth , pop over to the neighboring port of Fremantle , or “ Freo ” as local anaesthetic like to call it . There ’s a lot of nautical history in Perth ’s old town , and you’re able to get a taste of it at theWA Shipwrecks Museum , which house relics from the infamous 17th century Dutch Batavia wreck . Grab a beer atGage Roads Brewing Companybefore taking aSeaLinkferry toRottnest Island , or Wadjemup , as it is screw by its traditional owners , the Whadjuk Noongar hoi polloi . There ’s lots to do on this immaculate patch of land , from biking to snorkel diving , but you ’re really here for one matter : quokkas . Rottnest contains the humankind ’s largest quokka population , so there ’s a good chance you ’ll see the animated cartoon - similar critters up tight . Keep in mind , though , that they are nocturnal , so early mornings and previous afternoons allow the good spotting opportunities .
Make your way to Geraldton for an island adventure
From Perth , it ’s about a four - 60 minutes drive to Geraldton . You ’ve got endless options for stops along the Indian Ocean Drive , like the townsfolk ofLancelin , where you could go sandboarding on Western Australia ’s turgid sand dune , orCervantes , where you ’ll desire to snaffle a bit of local rock’n’roll lobster . For a bit of geological history , head toLake Thetisto take a look at the stromatolites and strombalites , some of the old living dodo on worldly concern , orNambung National Parkwhere 30,000 - class - old limestone spires holler Pinnacles grow from the ground . Over inJurien Bay , you ’ll likely spot rare Australian ocean Leo lazing in the sunshine .
Once in Geraldton , consecrate a day to an excursion to theAbrolhos Islands , site about 40 miles west . The Houtman Abrolhos Islands , as they are properly call in , were pick up by Fredrick de Houtman in 1619 . The discussion “ Abrolhos ” is think to be a contraction of the Portuguese expression “ Abri Vossosolhos , ” understood by sailors as “ keep an eye on out for danger . ” That ’s because this archipelago of 122 island is fence in by unreliable reef , which take the blame for the Batavia wreck of 1629 . There ’s some other sinister , nautical history associated with these island — mutiny , starvation , mass murder , etc.—but today it ’s a passive paradise teeming with diverse wildlife rival that ofGalápagos . More than 90 metal money of seabirds inhabit the island , including noddies , fish hawk , and white breasted sea eagles . You might also spot Tamar wallaby , pythons , and Burton ’s legless lizards . Book a charter withShine Aviationand wonder at the turquoise flyover before setting up bivouac for a twenty-four hour period of snorkel diving , sportfishing , or diving .
Head to Kalbarri by way of a pink lake
Next up : the red rocks ofKalbarri National Park , about a 2 - hour drive from Geraldton . Along the Brand Highway , you ’ll see an abundance of charmingly flaky , horizontally leaning trees , dead set as such by the sandlike wind that blow off the coast of the Indian Ocean , before passing byHutt Lagoon , otherwise cognise as Pink Lake . The lake pay back its Pepto Bismol - pinkish chromaticity from the nuclear fusion of table salt and a carotenoid - producing alga . calculate on the season , time of 24-hour interval , and amount of cloud cover , the colors can range from ruby , pallid pink , and lilac . There are a number of heavy observation tower points along Port Gregory Road , and if you time it for sundown , you ’ll experience a pretty wizard fluctuation of rose light .
Upon come in Kalbarri , fire up atFinlay ’s , an open - air eatery decked out in kitschy road signs and charge plate dolphin . Order the like an expert - battered fish and chips , then wash it all down with an in - mansion beer . When you ’re ready to explore Kalbarri National Park , park your car at The Loop and make a beeline forNature ’s Window , a rock candy formation with a instinctive viewing hole that overlooks the upstream view of the Murchison River . If you fancy a more thought-provoking wage increase , head to the Z Bend and embark on theZ Bend River Trail , which will lead you deep down into the crimson - and - white striped gorge .
Beyond the hike , there are a number of activities to prefer from at Kalbarri — kayaking , canyoning , abseiling , etc.—but the newSkywalkis a must - see . Ascended about 300 feet from the oesophagus , the suspended trail will make you feel as though you ’re float on air . Kalbarri is part of the traditional land of the Nanda people , and you ’ll find local autochthonic art scattered throughout the structure . Pro tip : Visiting Kalbarri in the Spring will promise blankets of over 1,200 different wildflowers .
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See how orange sands meet blue waters in Shark Bay
call back learning about complementary colors in your middle school art category ? AtFrancois Peron National Park , traditionally owned by the Malgana and Nhanda hoi polloi , you will see the breathtaking juxtaposition of rust - cherry-red cliffs and turquoise waters . Try your luck spotting dugong at theSkipjack Point Lookoutor put up camp right on on the beach atBottle Bay . Keep in head , though , that you will need a four - bike ride fomite to push to the northern reach . Consider booking a spell with Darren “ Capes ” Capewell ofWula Gura Nyindato see the area ’s floral and fauna through the eyes of one of its original custodians . Capes will encourage you to feel , rather than see , all the dish that exists in the park , from the acacia and eucalyptus trees , to the local mullet that he grills for dinner . It ’s so remote out here , that you may come pretty tight to stimulate an entire home park to yourself — pretty unheard of in the States .
Swim with the biggest fish in the sea at Exmouth
The lulu that awaits at the final stretch is worth the six - hour parkway . On your path from Shark Bay to Exmouth , the northern gateway to Ningaloo Reef andCape Range National Park , see blockade over halfway through to breather in Coral Bay , home toNingaloo Reef Marine Park , which boasts over 500 species of fish and 300 varieties of coral . It ’s a “ fringe ” Rand , meaning you’re able to take just a few footprint from the beach and see an octopus or sea turtleneck glide underneath your mask . For a truly unplugged experience , treat yourself to a voguish , safari - style tent atSal Salis Ningaloo Reef , nestle in the sand dune of Cape Range National Park . There ’s no Wi - Fi at this resort that ’s thoughtfully make around the surround , so all you ’re left to do is swing from your hummock , spend your dayspring snorkel diving , and completely unwind . With only 16 tents and shared dinners across a prospicient table , you ’re also bound to make a few friend .
When you ’re quick to stretch your legs , make for the many hike trails of Cape Range National Park , whose arid , limestone ranges are pepper with spinifex bushes and Red Kangaroos . Notable plenty includeMandu Mandu Gorge , which you’re able to access from a scenic walk trail;Yardie Creek , where water from the sea provides a habitat for mangroves and rock wallabies ; andShothole Canyon , colored by three , vivacious rock and roll layer — Trealla , Tulki , and Mandu limestone . The parkland is also chiseled with over 700 caves , many of which are say to be undiscovered . Over in the aloofness , you ’ll see the grim horizon of Ningaloo Marine Park .
The best is saved for last in Exmouth , where you ’ll chase the spotted backs of the largest fish in the ocean . Book a tour withExmouth Dive & Whalesharks Ningaloo , whose experienced scout will brief you on data about whale shark , as well as how to best respect their boundary . A spotter planer alerts the boat when a whale shark is in sight , after which you quickly slip off the gravy holder in your flippers , plunge into the deep blue , and get up near . You ’ll be astounded by how little you ’ll finger next to these massive beaut — tears are not uncommon . When your session of aquatic therapy is over , and life continues ashore , snaffle a meal atWhalebone Brewing Co , a laid - back brewery with live music , tyke - favorable expanse , and top - snick pizzas — the perfect locale for share giant tales . Your journey ends here , at what sense like the edge of Australia , because it is .
Photos by Jessica Sulima for Thrillist
Gage Roads Brew Co
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Photos by Jessica Sulima for Thrillist
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