Embarking on a road trip to Coral Bay from Perth offers a thrilling adventure through Western Australia’s diverse landscapes. Here’s a detailed description of what to expect on this scenic journey:
Starting Point: Perth
Your journey begins in Perth, the vibrant capital city of Western Australia. After stocking up on supplies and perhaps exploring some local attractions like Kings Park or Fremantle, you’ll hit the road heading north.
Route: Perth to Coral Bay
The route to Coral Bay takes you through some of the most picturesque and varied landscapes in Australia:
Perth to Geraldton:
The first leg of the journey is a drive of approximately 4-5 hours along the Indian Ocean Drive. This scenic coastal route offers stunning views of pristine beaches, limestone cliffs, and the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean.
Geraldton to Carnarvon:
From Geraldton, continue north for another 4-5 hours to reach Carnarvon. This part of the journey crosses the iconic Coral Coast region, known for its wildflowers (in season), Shark Bay World Heritage Area, and the historic town of Carnarvon, famous for its tropical fruit plantations.
Carnarvon to Coral Bay:
The final stretch is about a 2-3 hour drive from Carnarvon to Coral Bay. This leg of the journey takes you through the red earth landscapes of the Gascoyne region, characterized by sparse vegetation and rugged terrain.
Scenic Highlights Along the Way:
Pinnacles Desert:
Near Cervantes, you can explore the otherworldly Pinnacles Desert, where eerie limestone formations rise from the desert sands.
Shark Bay: Consider a detour to Shark Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Area known for its unique wildlife, including dolphins, dugongs, and stromatolites (ancient microbial structures).
Francois Peron National Park: If time permits, a visit to Francois Peron National Park near Denham offers stunning coastal scenery, vibrant red cliffs, and opportunities to spot wildlife such as emus and kangaroos.
Arriving in Coral Bay:
As you approach Coral Bay, the landscape transitions to red earth meeting the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. The town itself is small and relaxed, offering a welcome retreat from the journey.
Accommodation
Peoples Park Caravan village has beach front sites as well as cabins for visitors.
Bayview resort has Units, chalets, cavaran and camping sites.
Top things to see and do
Explore Ningaloo Reef
Coral Bay faces a portion of the Earth’s largest fringing reef, Ningaloo Reef. The reef boasts over 300 different kinds of coral and 500 different types of fish. In Ningaloo Reef, snorkelling, kayaking and diving are year-round activities. During the Autumn, Winter and Spring school holidays, the Department of Parks and Wildlife run free activities for visitors, that highlight the local land and sea species
Swim with whale sharks
Although most charter boats leave from Exmouth, some are based at Coral Bay. Whale shark trips are available for the entire day from Coral Bay Eco trips and Ningaloo Reef Dive & Snorkel. These expeditions, which usually last eight to ten hours, start the day with snorkelling and use a spotter plane to locate the whales. To minimise disruption, tourists are divided into groups and given a maximum of one hour to swim with whale sharks once they are seen and within reach. On the way back, you’ll also get the opportunity to reef snorkel. All snorkel gear and fins are provided on these excursions, and you’re likely to also see manta rays, colourful fish and coral as part of the trip.
Swim with Humpback Whales
Ningaloo Reef Dive & Snorkel and Coral Eco Tours both take guests on eight-hour excursions. If you’re not eager to join them in the water, you can choose to watch from the sidelines as the humpbacks breach and slap their fins. Tour guides cannot guarantee that whales will be as eager to approach the tour boats as they are, so those who are keen to swim with them should be aware. The guides look for the whales using a spotter plane and drone; if they are found, you will be dropped down within the safe viewing zone, either directly in front of or next to the whales.
See turtles
You can catch sight of Coral Bay’s turtles on land and in the water. During the nesting season, from November to March, Maud’s Landing is a top hatching spot, just be sure to educate yourself on the rules for a positive observing experience. You can get as near as two metres in the sea, and from the bay, there are cruises specifically designed for this purpose. A glass bottom boat tour of turtles is offered by Coral Bay Eco Tours for three hours. The informed staff will also educate you on the many turtle species and how they build their nests. Alternatively, you can board Coastal Adventure Tours’ Coral Breeze catamaran, which sails to popular locations for turtle snorkelling and takes four hours.
Take a glass bottom boat tour
You don’t have to go into the water to enjoy a fully immersive marine experience. Miss Coral Bay II, a glass bottom boat at Ningaloo Coral Bay, offers year-round viewing cruises. The floor of the roomy sailboat serves as an observation platform as you unwind and take in the reef. The Nhanya Ku, which means “to gaze upon” in the Yamatji languages of the Indigenous people who live in the area, is a glass bottom boat operated by Coral Bay Eco Tours. If you’re looking for even more excitement, they also offer turtle trips and snorkelling excursions.
Learn to scuba dive
For your next dive or snorkel, the knowledgeable staff at Ningaloo Reef Dive & Snorkel offers a variety of multi-day courses that will earn you PADI certification. The three-day open water course, which begins in a classroom and covers all the necessary fundamentals, is their most well-liked instruction. After that, the instructors will test your skills in a pool before bringing you out for a thrilling boat dive. On their sailing catamaran, the Shore Thing, Sail Ningaloo provides live-aboard dive vacations for those want to dive in luxury and stay a few nights or longer on the water.
Book a kayak tour
Kayaks and other water gear are available for hire at Ningaloo Kayak Adventures, which occupies a prime location on the beach at the end of Main Street. They sell glass bottom canoes, kayaks, fins, snorkels, and stand-up paddle boards. Additionally, you may go above and beyond in quest of marine life by renting one of their underwater sea scooters and going on a guided trip. Scooter instruction is provided on the day, and you can travel up to five km around the reef.
Where to go four wheel driving
You can drive to the boat ramp located just off Monck Head Drive and drive south until you reach Five Finger Reef to fully experience driving along the coast. Make the most of your drive by making a stop at the excellent snorkelling locations located directly south of the ramp. For a long road trip, the four wheel drive trails that run along the coast from Coral Bay to Exmouth are a must. The cliffs to the north of Coral Bay offer breathtaking views. Once you bridge Yardie Creek, which is impassable at some times of the year, so proceed with caution. You can reach Oyster Bridge reef and the well-known Mauds Landing from the northern part of the bay.
Eating and Drinking
- Breakfast : Fins Café serves up some of the best breakfasts in town, while lunch and dinner are BYO. Along with great coffee, the bakery is well-known for its pies and pasties, classic vanilla slices, and smoothies. Vegetarian and gluten-free alternatives are also available.
- Lunch : Good pizza and a seafood platter to satisfy every craving can be found at Reef Café
- Dinner : Grab takeout fish and chips and head to the public picnic tables by the bay to watch the sun set. At Bills Bar, enjoy a cold one while taking advantage of their live music and steak and parmy nights.
- Dessert : Additionally, Sweet Coral Bay, a brand-new authentic Italian gelateria, has opened.
Best snorkelling spots
Going for a “drift snorkel,” in which you start at one spot on the reef and let the tide gently carry you along the reef, is a must-do activity at Coral Bay. Start by making your way to the main bay’s five-knot marker, which protrudes into the sea and is marked by an orange granite headland. Swim out to the dark water approximately 50 metres offshore, where the coral is located, and then watch the underwater wonders of Ningaloo gently float by you as you drift back into the harbour.
A massive coral bommie is located just off town beach. Find out how to swim or kayak there and hover over the three-meter-long living coral by asking at the information centre. Just remember not to sit or stand on the coral. Glass bottom boats frequently sail about it, and if you can dive down, you’ll be rewarded with views of the numerous, frequently big fish that are hiding beneath. At low tide, you can see it from the pub. Smaller coral bommies are located directly in front of the kayak cabin.
Getting there
Perth to Coral Bay is a 12-hour journey. It’s a good idea to stop on the way up because of the distance. Popular destinations with a range of lodging alternatives are Geraldton, Northampton, and Carnarvon.
You will need to allow extra time if you intend to spend any time in Kalbarri or Monkey Mia, as the North West Coastal Highway does not travel via them from Geraldton.
When to go
Nov – Mar: Hot temperatures and often windy. Turtle nesting is Dec-Feb, hatching Jan-Mar.
Apr – Oct: Beautiful one day, perfect the next. Sunny, warm days abound. Whale sharks visit Mar-Jul; humpback whales migrate from Jul-Oct.
