If you want to see white sand beaches and crystal clear waters, rugged red outback desert, unrivalled marine life and the world’s longest fringing reef, you need to visit the Coral Coast.
Stretching over 1,100km across Western Australia, this unique coastline is the only place in Australia where you can experience both humpback and whale shark swims and they’re just two of the many incredible marine attractions in the region.
My Coral Coast itinerary was packed full of amazing places and I am so excited to share them with you in this blog! I swam with whale sharks, found my new favourite beach in Australia, spotted my first sea snake and discovered paradise on a patch of sand known as Turquoise Bay. Here are my 10 best Coral Coast spots for your bucket list (with a map to help you plan your trip!)
1. Pinnacles Desert
As you embark on your journey north of Perth, you’ll find destinations that offer spectacular experiences inland as well as on the water. Located at the southern gateway to the Coral Coast, the Pinnacles Desert of Nambung National Park is one of the major natural attractions in the region. Situated roughly two hours from the city, the Pinnacles Desert consists of amazing natural limestone structures formed approximately 25,000 to 30,000 years ago after the sea receded and left deposits of seashells. Over time, coastal winds removed the surrounding sand, leaving the pillars exposed to the elements.
As soon as I turned into the driveaway, I immediately felt as though I had been transported into another world. Thousands of tall limestone spires rise eerily out of the yellow desert to create a lunar-like landscape. I took the short 4.5km drive trail through the park and I found myself stopping on numerous times to admire the incredible work of mother nature. After roughly 10 minutes driving, I reached the main lookout where I spent some time hiking around the dunes and snapping some shots of the unique rock formations around me.
2. Hutt Lagoon
You’ve probably seen photos of this pink lake on social media. Sometimes bright bubblegum pink or occasionally even red, the waters of Hutt Lagoon can be an extraordinary sight as you approach the town of Kalbarri. Following the Indian Ocean Drive from Perth, you’ll reach Hutt Lagoon in just under six hours and it’s best stop at the designated car park on Port Gregory Road for the best views. If you’re keen to see the lake from above, I recommend booking a scenic flight from Geraldton to gain a whole new perspective of this stunning spot.
When I think of the Coral Coast, I often think of stunning turquoise oceans and rare marine life so you can imagine my surprise when I came across this impressive pink lake. The unusual pink hue comes from an extremely high level of salinity and it’s vibrancy can change depending on the season and time of day. According to most travel guides I read, summer is the best to visit as the sunlight is more intense and there’s less cloud coverage. I fortuitously hit the jackpot as it was around 12pm and in the middle of summer when I visited the lake and the colours were honestly breathtaking. After parking my car, I took a short walk down a track to admire the lake’s edge and it was really cool to see the glittering salt crystals up close.
3. Natural Window
There are some seriously amazing rock formations in Western Australia, and this is one of them. Situated within the spectacular Kalbarri National Park, the Natural Window Trail is a picturesque one-kilometre return walk through the rocky landscape. The Natural Window itself is one of the most unique rock formations in Australia because when viewed from the right angle, this wind-eroded opening perfectly frames the Murchison River below.
The Natural Window is the most popular and renowned attraction in all of Kalbarri and if you only have time to do one thing while here, this is it. The walk down to Natures Window requires taking some stairs and walking over rocks and if visiting with young kids, be careful of the steep edges. After roughly 10 minutes walking, I made it to the Natural Window and the views over the gorge were nothing short of amazing. I think visiting this spot at sunrise would be even more magical.
4. Kalbarri Skywalk
A guide to the Coral Coast would not be complete without mentioning one of the most spectacular lookouts in Western Australia, the Kalbarri Skywalk. This skywalk was a $24 million project set up by the Western Australian government to create a world class tourist attraction and the lookout was completed in June 2020. Venture out on the skywalks to enjoy incredible views of the gorge below and discover hidden fossils on the 400-million-year-old sandstone that makes up this incredible landscape.
Having travelled to most regions in Australia, I am yet to come across a lookout as special as this one. Perched right on the cliff top, the Kalbarri Skywalk consists of two 100-metre-high lookouts which continue 25 metres over the rim of Murchison Gorge. As you can imagine, walking across to the head of the lookout is an incredibly terrifying experience for anyone spooked of heights. But despite my fears, I decided to walk to the edge and look down to appreciate the stunning views of Murchison Gorge.
5. Monkey Mia
One of many highlights along the drive to the Coral Coast is the world-famous dolphin experience at Monkey Mia. This beautiful seaside town is part of the Shark Bay Marine Park, a World Heritage Site made up of red dirt dunes, long white beaches and some of the most clearest waters in WA. The main attraction here is of course the bottlenose dolphins, which have been coming up to the shore and interacting with humans for over 50 years!
During my epic Coral Coast adventure, I chose to book my first accommodation in Monkey Mia which meant I drove 9 hours from Perth all in the one day (which I don’t recommend!) The reason I chose to do this is so that I could stay at the RAC Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort and wake up with dolphins literally at my doorstep! After paying the $15 entry fee to access the conservation park, I met the rangers on the boardwalk for a briefing at 7:45am. From there, the rangers took us down to the beach where we were soon joined by half a dozen hungry dolphins. The rangers did a great job at controlling the experience and several lucky visitors were chosen to help offer a couple of fish to the dolphins.
6. Point Quobba Blowhole
Located just 75 kilometres North of Carnarvon on a flat bitumen road, the Point Quobba Blowholes are a force to be reckoned with. Powerful ocean swells force water through sea caves and erupts jets of water into the air, sometimes 20 metres high! Just a short drive from the blow holes will take you to Point Quobba, a calm coral filled lagoon that is perfect for snorkelling and sunbathing. Although this is serene, it’s best to maintain caution as a dangerous swell can easily turn into king waves which are capable of crashing over the top of the rock ledges.
As I pulled into the turnoff for the blowholes, I passed the iconic “King Waves Kill” sign which let me know that I was in the right place. Seeing the massive jets of water spill out of the blow holes and hearing the waves crashing below was both a calming and terrifying experience. Although I maintained distance from the edge, some unsuspecting tourists managed to wander too close and got absolutely drenched from the seaspray. Back in 2013, a young Malaysian fisherman lost he’s life here so please be careful when visiting this unique natural spot.
7. Ningaloo Reef
You may have heard of the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland but have you heard of the Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia? The Ningaloo is the world’s largest fringing reef and can be reached by just a short swim from Exmouth or Coral Bay! Covering more than 5,000 square kilometres of ocean, the Ningaloo Reef is home to over 500 species of fish, graceful manta rays and turtles as well as over 300 varieties of coral! The Ningaloo is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list for its incredible biodiversity and it’s one of the few places in the world where you can swim with the largest fish in the ocean, the gentle whale shark.
During my visit to Coral Bay, I booked a full day tour with Coral Bay Eco Tours where they took us out to the Ningaloo Reef in search of whale sharks! Although the main goal of the tour was to snorkel with whale sharks, we spotted all sorts of marine life along the way including tiger sharks, sea turtles, manta rays and even sea snakes! Eventually the helicopter above gave the signal to our captain, and we were ushered to the rear of the boat where we were going to start our first encounter with the mighty whale shark. After putting on my snorkelling gear and jumping in the freezing cold water, I noticed a massive silhouette swimming towards me. Eventually my vision became clearer and I was looking directly at a 10 metre whale shark who was innocently feeding on plankton nearby. To this day, this remains one of my favourite moments travelling and this moment really gave me a better appreciation of our incredible marine life here in Australia.
8. Vlamingh Head Lighthouse
For some of the best sunset views on the Coral Coast, it’s hard to go past the Vlamingh Head Lighthouse. Located approximately 17 kilometres from Exmouth, the Vlamingh Head Lighthouse Scenic Drive offers breathtaking views of the North West Cape as you drive up the hill to the lighthouse. Take in the sweeping panoramic views over the Indian ocean and the Ningaloo reef and be sure to keep a lookout for migrating humpback whales during the migration season!
I drove up to Vlamingh Head Lighthouse on my last night in Exmouth and the vibes here were immaculate. Some locals brought along a speaker and some deck chairs and some were even having a barbecue with their mates. After parking my car on the hill, I checked out the interpretive displays to learn about the 100-plus year-old lighthouse and fascinating history of North West Cape. On the edge of the lookout, you can also discover the site of an old World War II radar station and anti-aircraft positions.
9. Turquoise Bay
It would be impossible for me to create a list of the best spots on the Coral Coast without including one of the best beaches in Australia. Turquoise Bay is located approximately 60 kilometres from Exmouth within the incredibly picturesque Cape Range National Park. Famous for it’s white sandy chores and crystal clear waters, Turquoise Bay is the perfect spot to spend the day relaxing, swimming and snorkelling. Dive into the pristine waters and be in awe of the abundance of marine life and beauty of Ningaloo Marine Park.
I took the short drive out to Turquoise Bay on my last morning in Exmouth and it’s safe to say this won’t be my last visit here. The water clarity at this beach was another level and the fact that I could swim to the Ningaloo Reef blew my mind. After a few minutes snorkelling, I immediately came across all sorts of marine life including turtles, squid and colourful coral. Before I hopped in the water I did some research and it’s strongly advised that you get out of the water well before the northern point of the beach. The currents can be very strong at Turquoise Bay so it might be worth checking out the nearby Osprey Bay.
10. Charles Knife Canyon
Terrific ocean views from the top of a canyon? Yes please! The Charles Knife Canyon drive takes you on a winding road up to the top of Cape Range and offers spectacular views over the waters of Exmouth Gulf. You will come across several scenic lookouts along this 11-kilometre long gravel road but my favourite one had to be Thomas Carter lookout which looks down into Shothole Canyon. The Canyon itself rises to 320m above sea level, and is 13km long and 20km wide!
I woke up bright and early on my last morning in Exmouth to venture out to Charles Knife Canyon and this was one of my most memorable mornings on the road. Few months prior to my trip, I started following the journey of Chiara and Matteo (@livelovelaughexplore_) two free-spirited Italian travellers who were embarking on an epic lap around Australia. As I pulled up into the car park of Charles Knife Canyon at 5am, I instantly recognised the car next to me and the drivers! (isn’t it funny the power of Instagram?) After giving them a warm hello and introducing myself, we spent the morning soaking in the views and capturing some incredible shots as we took in the sunrise over the canyon.
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