Nature Lovers Australia

Nature lovers take note: 3-week road trip Australia from Broome to Perth

The west coast of Australia is known for its pristine nature, vast beaches and adventurous atmosphere. Unlike the east coast, it's much quieter and less touristy, giving you a real sense of "the real Australia". From the red cliffs in Kalbarri to the turquoise waters near Exmouth and the white sandy beaches of Esperance – the west coast offers an impressive variety of rugged coastlines, desert landscapes and tropical paradises.

In this blog I'll take you along on a 3-week road trip from Broome to Perth that I did myself in October 2024. Western Australia is my personal favourite state in Australia and guarantees a real adventure.

Please note!
This road trip is largely determined by the type of transport you choose. You can complete the route with either a campervan or a 4WD. With a campervan, you can still visit all the highlights while being better protected against changing weather conditions and enjoying the comfort of your own home on wheels along the way. If you travel with a 4WD, on the other hand, you get the freedom to discover more remote spots and add an extra touch of adventure to your journey.

In this blog, I'm focusing on travelling with a campervan, as this is the most accessible and popular way to explore Australia's west coast.

Would you prefer to go off the beaten path and learn more about places that can only be reached with a 4WD? Feel free to contact us – we're happy to help you with personalized advice!

After working a whole season in the Kimberley (Northwest Australia), we started our road trip in Broome at the beginning of October. During our stay there, we visited Gantheaume Point, a special place where you can see, at low tide, the ancient dinosaur footprints in the rocks. You'll also find a beautiful beach there where you can even drive your car onto. The ideal spot to spend a relaxed afternoon and unwind a bit before the road trip begins.

The next day we drove to Coconut Wells, a stunning location about 20 kilometers north of Broome. This spot transforms into a large natural lagoon at high tide and into several rock pools at low tide. You can enjoy lovely walks along the water or relax floating on an inflatable while taking in the peace and the views.

If you're interested in the pearl history of Broome, it's worth visiting the Broome Historical Museum. You'll be amazed at how much the Netherlands is involved in Broome's history! A visit to Willie Creek Pearl Farm is also an absolute must do. You can drive there yourself (with a 4wd) or be picked up by minibus from Broome. Experience a wonderful cruise on the blue waters of Willie Creek and witness a pearl harvest presentation.

This day was entirely dedicated to covering distance towards our next destination: Karijini National Park. Since the distance was too great to cover in one day, we chose a stopover in South Hedland. The area here is mainly industrial, so we didn't do much. We had a swim at the campsite and fired up the barbecue in the evening.

Karijini National Park, located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, is one of the country's most impressive natural parks. The park is renowned for its deep red-colored gorges, crystal-clear waterholes, and waterfalls hidden among the rocks. Here you can hike through ancient ravines, swim in refreshing natural pools, and enjoy panoramic views across the rugged outback. Karijini is raw, remote, and breathtakingly beautiful. A place where nature remains pure and untouched.

We arrived at the park just before lunchtime and stayed at Dales Campground during our first night. In the afternoon we walked through Dales Gorge, enjoyed the Fortescue Falls and swam in Fern and Circular Pool.

The next day we drove towards Karijini Eco Retreat & Savannah Camp Ground which is located in the middle of the park. We stayed here for the second and third night. During the day we visited Hancock and Weano Gorge. Both very impressive and fantastic to walk through. Expect small descents, stair climbing and scrambling between narrow rock crevices. At the end, a lovely dip in the pleasant water awaits. On a warm day very welcome and every step towards it is more than worth it.

After that, we went to see the Joffre Falls. The water was still flowing but to a lesser extent. The earlier in the season you are here, the more spectacular it will be!

The next morning, Hamersley Gorge was on the schedule. This was one of our favorites! After a steep walk down, you arrive at a beautiful oasis with small waterfalls where you can swim wonderfully. If you really want an adventure, follow the water as far as you can until you reach a kind of island. This is about 15 minutes of swimming, but you're guaranteed to have the entire place to yourself!

Please note!
You can only reach Hamersley Gorge with a 4-wheel drive!

This day was once again all about covering a good distance driving towards Exmouth. You can certainly do this in one day, but if you have the time it's better to plan an overnight stop along the way. We chose to drive a good stretch this day and stay overnight at Bullara Station Stay, about 120km from Exmouth.

It's one of the most unique station stays I've ever visited. There's a fantastic atmosphere and a number of unique old farm machinery pieces around the camp.
This is one of those campsites where you see the real Australian vibe reflected everywhere. From the campsites to even the showers!

Along the way we came across these abandoned dump trucks. As tall as a house!

Since the drive to Exmouth wasn't that long anymore, we took our time. When we arrived, we were immediately enthusiastic. It's a really nice place where we wanted to stay longer than we had initially planned.

During your stay here, you can snorkel at Turquoise Bay & Oyster Stacks. As part of the Ningaloo Reef, you can expect pearl-white beaches and crystal-clear blue water. If you love the beach, you can easily spend a full day here, alternating between snorkeling and relaxing in the sun. On the way back, you can enjoy the sunset at Vlamingh Head Lighthouse!

After a day of swimming and relaxing on the beach, it's wonderful to explore Cape Range National Park. Depending on the time of year, it's wise to start early to avoid the worst of the heat.

Off to the next oasis! After spending a few wonderful days in Exmouth, it was time for the next paradise; Coral Bay! This charming coastal town is located directly on the Ningaloo Reef, one of the few places in the world where the coral reef is so close to the shore that you can literally snorkel there straight from the beach. This town is quite a bit smaller than Exmouth and there are only a handful of cafes, a small supermarket and one petrol station.

We stayed here for two days and during our stay we snorkeled from the beach at Bill's Bay, took a glass-bottom boat tour with Coral Bay Eco Tours and enjoyed the tranquility at Paradise Beach. During the boat tour, we could see the coral through the glass bottom while sailing. You sail a bit away from the beach to a coral area that you can't reach from the shore. Here we did a snorkel trip and it was incredible what we encountered. From the most colorful fish to turtles and more!

A nice place to grab a bite and a drink in the evening is Bills Bar. On weekends there's often live music and it can easily turn into a real dance party!

After Coral Bay, we headed towards Monkey Mia, a drive of over six hours. To break up the distance, we decided to make a stop along the way at Wooramel River Retreat. This special place, still an active cattle and goat station, offers an authentic outback experience in the heart of the Australian wilderness.

Alongside the beautifully situated camping spots, you'll find a cozy café, naturally heated hot pools, and several campfires where everyone gathers in the evening for a beer. It's the perfect place to unwind, do absolutely nothing, and fully enjoy the peace and nature around you.

The next day we continued our journey towards Monkey Mia. Fortunately it wasn't far anymore and we arrived towards the end of the morning. We took it nice and easy for the rest of the day and enjoyed the resort where we stayed (it has a campground attached).

Feeding dolphins at Monkey Mia beach Every morning between 7:45 AM and 12:00 PM, the famous wild dolphins come right up to the shore. Rangers from the Department of Parks and Wildlife explain their behavior, and a few visitors are allowed to help with feeding. It's a special moment – calm and completely different from commercial shows.

Around midday we arrived in Kalbarri. It's a charming coastal town located at the mouth of the Murchison River, about 6 hours' drive north of Perth. It's one of the most popular destinations along Australia's west coast, and rightly so. The area combines dramatic red cliffs, tropical blue ocean and impressive river gorges in the middle of the desert.

Along the coast you'll find the Kalbarri Coastal Cliffs, a series of lookout points over the ocean where waves crash against the red-orange rocks. Places like Red Bluff, Pot Alley and Natural Bridge are all easily accessible with a regular car and perfectly showcase how rugged and beautiful Western Australia can be.

After we had lunch in the village, we continued driving to visit the above-mentioned spots along the coast. You don't need that much time at each location, so it's very easy to do in an afternoon. Pot Alley was our favorite. The water rushes into this inlet with tremendous force and makes it a spectacular experience.

The town itself has a relaxed, typically Australian atmosphere: small cafés, friendly locals and views over the river where pelicans often swim. But the real highlight lies just outside the village – in Kalbarri National Park, where we drove the next morning.

This national park is renowned for its spectacular rock formations and deep gorges carved out by the Murchison River. The most famous spot is undoubtedly Nature's Window – a natural window in the rock with views over the gorge. The Kalbarri Skywalk, two glass platforms high above the valley, also offers a breathtaking panorama over the rugged landscape. It's best to head to the park right after it opens. This is the coolest time of day and it's still quiet.

After visiting Kalbarri National Park, it was time to drive on to Geraldton. Fortunately, this was only a short distance, so we had time for a stop along the way. And what a stop it was. Just 40 minutes' drive from Kalbarri lies Hutt Lagoon Pink Lake, one of the most photogenic spots on the west coast!

The best time to visit the lake is around midday, when the sun is high and the water reflects most intensely. On clear days it almost seems as if the lake is made of neon light – a surreal sight that's perfect for photographs.

The view is most beautiful at the small town of Port Gregory, where you can park right next to the shore. Here you can admire the intensely pink color up close. Another way to see the spectacle is from the air: scenic flights regularly depart from Geraldton or Kalbarri that fly over the lagoon and the coast. An unforgettable experience!

After that we drove on to Geraldton and found a spot to spend the night. In the evening we took a walk along the beach and had a bite to eat at Skeetas Restaurant Bar & Cafe. The next morning we visited the Museum of Geraldton. This museum also has many Dutch influences, particularly about the Golden Age and the VOC.

After the museum we drove on to the Pinnacles Desert. This area consists of thousands of bizarre limestone formations, some only 30 cm high, others up to 4 metres. They were formed from ancient shells that have been shaped by wind and erosion into these 'otherworldly' pillars.

We arrived here towards the end of the afternoon and that was ideal. The colors are truly spectacular, especially at sunrise or sunset, when the light sweeps gold and orange across the sand. We were able to enjoy this at sunset and it was more than worth it!

Drop by the Pinnacles Desert Discovery Centre beforehand. This visitor center is located at the park entrance. Here you'll learn how the pinnacles were formed, about the area's flora and fauna, and the cultural significance for the local Aboriginals (the Yued people). You then have two options to explore the park (best to do both):

After that, we drove a bit back north to stay overnight at the RAC Cervantes Holiday Park. This drive is only 15 minutes and therefore not far at all.

From Cervantes, we started our final drive towards Perth. However, there was one more stop along the way where we wanted to spend some time: the Lancelin Sand Dunes. These are enormous, rolling sand dunes that almost make you feel like you're standing in the middle of a desert. The bright white sand contrasts sharply with the blue sky and the ocean in the background, making it once again one of the most photogenic spots on Australia's west coast.

The dunes are free to visit and form a true paradise for adventurers and nature lovers.

What can you do at the Lancelin Sand Dunes

After an hour of sandboarding, our energy levels were pretty low, so we continued on towards Perth. From Lancelin it was only another 1.5 hours, and by late afternoon we were driving into the big city—or at least it felt like the big city after all those weeks on the road. Of all the cities in Australia, Perth is my personal favorite because it more or less feels like a large town. No crazy crowds, beautifully situated by the sea, and there's plenty to do. We stayed there for two more nights with our camper, and we chose to do this in Fremantle at Discovery Parks – Coogee Beach. This campsite is a 10-minute drive from the center of Fremantle and is right on the beach.

We mainly used our last two days to explore Fremantle. This vibrant port city is a perfect mix of historic charm and relaxed coastal living. The city breathes character. From the old colonial buildings to the bustling cafés, markets and street musicians that create a cozy, creative vibe.

Fremantle is small enough to explore in one or two days, but rich in atmosphere and attractions. It's therefore a popular first or last stop for travellers starting or finishing their road trip through Western Australia.

There are countless cozy cafés and good restaurants in Fremantle. Are you looking for something specific? Feel free to contact us!