8 best places to visit on WA’s Coral Coast

Western Australia’s Coral Coast begins at the town of Cervantes, approximately two hours north of Perth and continues north along 1,100 kilometres of coastline and outback to Exmouth. Families love the Coral Coast for its uninterrupted stretches of coral reefs that you can access from the shoreline, white sandy beaches, diverse marine life (whale sharks as a highlight), pristine islands and seasonal wildflowers.

You can visit sites of the rarest natural beauty, like the Pinnacles and the Pink Lake, play with wild dolphins and swim with enormous whale sharks. The Coral Coast has a huge number of family-centric activities on offer. Many of which are not available anywhere else in the world.

The 1,200-kilometre Coral Coast Highway, running between Perth and Exmouth, is the backbone of the Coral Coast and the ultimate road trip. Most people choose to travel south to north after landing in Perth, stopping at Cervantes to explore the alien landscape of the Pinnacles Desert with its stunning natural limestone columns, Carnarvon to sample the freshest bananas and mangos from the local plantations and Cape Range National Park for a snorkel at Lakeside or Turquoise Bay. It’s generally recommended to take around 10 days to complete the one-way trip at an enjoyable pace.

The Coral Coast is spectacular for wildflowers with the season lasting from June to early October. WA’s Wildflower Country encompasses Carnamah, Coorow, Dalwallinu, Greater Geraldton – including Mullewa, Moora, Morowa, Mingenew, Perenjori and Three Springs.

From Shark Bay and Ningaloo Reef to the ancient gorges of Kalbarri, the Coral Coast is a cornucopia of wild wonders.

Exmouth

This small town promises sun, sand, and swimming with seriously big fish. You can take the family out on a glass-bottom boat tour, see emus wandering the streets, soar in the skies on a microlight flight over the Ningaloo Reef and Cape Range National Park, visit the Milyering Discovery Centre to learn about the region and see displays on the Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area. The Gulf hosts an estimated 40,000 humpbacks annually, making it something of a cetacean superhighway. Exmouth is known as the gateway to the pristine Ningaloo Reef. It might be small, but it has a full range of accommodation and sunny warm weather all the year round.

Ningaloo Reef and Coral Bay

Western Australia’s Ningaloo Reef is a fantastic holiday destination for families. Ningaloo Marine Park has the longest fringing reef in the world. Stretching along 300 kilometres of coastline, Ningaloo is one of the few places in the world where you can easily access the reef right off Coral Bay’s main beach. Ningaloo’s turquoise water and coral gardens are teeming with sea turtles, tropical fish, manta rays, reef sharks and, at the right time of year, whale sharks. Ningaloo Reef is easily explored by a glass-bottom boat or snorkelling. There are a host of tourism agencies in the area offering whale shark swimming experiences. Peak whale shark season starts in March and runs through to the end of July.

Cervantes

Known for its pristine beaches and abundant marine life at Hangover Bay and Kangaroo Point, Cervantes is also the gateway to the Pinnacles Desert, a surreal landscape of towering limestone spires that create an otherworldly spectacle. The Pinnacles of Nambung National Park are the major natural attraction in the Coral Coast region. These amazing natural limestone structures, some standing as high as five metres, were formed approximately 25,000 to 30,000 years ago, after the sea receded and left deposits of sea shells. Over time, coastal winds removed the surrounding sand, leaving the pillars exposed to the elements.

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Lancelin

Along with epic sand dunes ideal for sandboarding, 4WDing, and quad biking, Lancelin Bay offers safe swimming and snorkelling and is renowned for kitesurfing and windsurfing, while Back Beach’s waves are ideal for surfers of all levels.

Hutt Lagoon

Hutt Lagoon is famous for its striking pink hue caused by algae. This unique lagoon provides a stunning backdrop for family photos. Discover Australia’s 12 best best pink lakes here. 

Shark Bay

This UNESCO World Heritage site encompasses Denham, a relaxed base for exploring; Monkey Mia and its dolphin encounters; and Hamelin Pool, a protected marine reserve and home to a diverse collection of stromatolites, protected by the newly created Purungunya Conservation Estate.

Shark Bay contains a concentrated dose of the magic that permeates the Coral Coast. Its colourful and diverse landscapes, awe-inspiring examples of Earth’s ecological processes and variety of exceedingly rare flora and fauna are all attributable to Shark Bay’s World Heritage listing. There’s no shortage of spectacular white sandy beaches in Denham, but for a truly out-of-this-world family beach day, head to world-famous Shell Beach, where, instead of sand, the shoreline is covered with millions of tiny shells up to 10 metres deep. Kids will also love spotting dugongs from coastal vantage points like Eagle Bluff.

Take a tour with Wula Gura Nyinda Eco Cultural Adventures

Join Wula Gura Nyinda Eco Cultural Adventures invites families to immerse in nature and indigenous culture to discover the ancient traditions of local Aboriginal people. Learn how they have survived for thousands of years in this unique saltwater playground. Visit the world-class Francois Peron National Park, Hamelin Pool Stromatolites and the magnificent Dirk Hartog Island, the largest island in Western Australia. Tours include walking, 4WDing, didgeridoo dreaming, kayaking and SUP tours, overnight safaris and youth camps.

Kalbarri and Kalbarri National Park

Located at the mouth of the Murchison River, Kalbarri is a favourite destination among adventure-loving families. The limestone reef and abundant marine life at Blue Holes make it a spectacular snorkelling spot, plus the protected waters and rock pools are super safe for kids.

Kalbarri National Park has stunning river gorges and 400-million-year-old, wind-carved cliffs which can be explored on family friendly trails, such as the walk to Nature’s Window. Nature’s Window is one of Western Australia’s most iconic natural attractions, formed from layers of Tumblagooda Sandstone. The natural rock arch perfectly frames the rugged upstream view of the Murchison River: the perfect setting for a family photo to last through the ages.

Geraldton

Geraldton has a delightful combination of coffee culture, street art, inner-city beaches and watersports galore. Take advantage of the year-round wind and swell by hiring surfing, kite surfing or windsurfing equipment. Check out the ethereal Pink Lake (caused by a type of algae) at nearby Hutt Lagoon; or shop for coloured pearls grown at the Abrolhos Islands, the 120 coral atolls just off the coast. Visitors to Geraldton are also perfectly placed to explore one of the world’s most magnificent displays of spring wildflowers at Coalseam Conservation Park.

When is the best time to visit WA’s Coral Coast?

The Coral Coast is generally warm and dry year-round. Temperatures in summer can be extreme, however – carrying a moderate risk of tropical cyclones – so it is generally recommended to visit between March and October. The largest concentration of seasonal activities is also available during this period, although increased demand can affect accommodation pricing and availability. Peak whale shark season starts in March and runs through to the end of July.