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When most individuals plan a visit to Australia, their minds soar straight to Sydney’s harbour or Melbourne’s laneway cafés. Western Australia? Usually missed. And that’s a disgrace, as a result of WA has a shoreline longer than your complete size of the USA, stretching greater than 12,000 kilometres, and it’s wildly various.
From desert landscapes and considerable reefs within the north to towering karri forests and boutique wineries within the south, this can be a nook of the world greatest skilled by automobile, with the home windows down and the highway stretching endlessly forward.
Perth won’t have the excitement of the japanese cities, however its yard greater than makes up for it. A highway journey right here means pristine seashores with out the crowds, quirky little nation cities, and the type of ‘limitless blue sky’ surroundings that makes you’re feeling such as you’ve stumbled into the opening shot of a movie.
Whether or not you’re after a fast weekend getaway or a pack-the-boot-to-the-brim journey, these 5 highway journeys from Perth showcase the most effective of WA’s rugged magnificence and laid-back way of life.
1. Perth to Exmouth: The Epic Northwest Journey
Distance: 1,250 km (about 13–14 hours driving)
Finest for: Desert landscapes, distinctive wildlife, distant journey
In the event you’re up for the final word Australian highway journey, Exmouth is your prize on the finish of a really lengthy, very scenic drive. This isn’t a fast sprint – assume extra of an odyssey throughout WA’s huge northwest, the place the surroundings modifications from rolling farmland to crimson desert plains that stretch for miles underneath an enormous empty sky.
On the way in which, you’ll be able to cease in at Kalbarri Nationwide Park, the place the Murchison River has carved dramatic gorges into the earth, and Shark Bay, dwelling to the well-known dolphins of Monkey Mia. The drive itself is an immersion into the Australian outback – warmth rays shimmering on the bitumen, wedge-tailed eagles circling overhead, and kangaroos that may hop throughout the highway for those who’re not on the ball.
When you arrive in Exmouth, you’ll be hanging out for a chilly beer at one of many native breweries. Sit again, loosen up, take in the laid-back desert environment, and put together for just a few days of snorkelling, seaside hopping, and relishing in among the magical coastal sunsets.
In the event you time your journey between March and August, you’ll even have the chance to swim with whale sharks. There are just a few tour operators that mean you can be part of these mild giants as they glide gracefully by means of these waters.
Different highlights embrace:
- Cape Vary Nationwide Park, the place rugged limestone ranges meet turquoise bays.
- Turquoise Bay, well-known for its “drift snorkel”, the place the present carries you throughout a reef teeming with fish.
- Seasonal turtle nesting on the seashores.
It’s an extended haul, sure, nevertheless it’s additionally one of the iconic highway journeys in Australia – distant, uncooked, and unforgettable.
2. Perth to Margaret River: A Weekend Escape
Distance: 270 km (about 3 hours driving)
Finest for: Wine, meals, surf, and laid-back coastal allure
If Exmouth is the marathon, Margaret River is the straightforward dash. Simply three hours south of Perth, it’s the quintessential weekend escape for locals, and a should for guests wanting a style of WA’s meals and wine scene.
This is among the few locations on the earth the place top-class wineries, craft breweries, and fine-dining eating places sit aspect by aspect with surf breaks and lovely seashores. Spend the morning wine tasting amongst rolling vineyards, the afternoon exploring caves like Lake Cave or Jewel Cave, and the night watching the solar soften into the Indian Ocean at Surfers Level.
Some can’t-miss experiences:
- Wine tasting at iconic estates like Vasse Felix, Voyager, or Leeuwin.
- A protracted lunch at one of many many winery eating places (Glenarty Street and Amelia Park are private favourites).
- Espresso and boutiques in Margaret River city, with its artsy, relaxed vibe.
- Seashores like Redgate or Hamelin Bay, the place stingrays generally swim proper as much as shore.
It’s additionally an amazing base to discover extra of Western Australia’s surf coast, from world-class waves to mellow newbie breaks. For the surf followers, I’ve shared a few of my favorite spots on this information to Tamraght, a laid-back Moroccan surf village I spend a part of the 12 months in. Whereas on the alternative aspect of the globe, it shares the identical small city, coastal magic of Margaret River.
It’s the right mixture of indulgence and nature. Come for a weekend and also you’ll go away already planning your subsequent go to.
3. Perth to Denmark: Big Forests and Untouched Seashores
Distance: 420 km (about 5 hours driving)
Finest for: Lush forests, pristine seashores, wildlife encounters
Drive south-east from Perth and also you’ll finally swap the wheatbelt plains for towering karri and jarrah bushes, among the tallest hardwoods on the earth. That is the highway to Denmark, an alternate little city the place the forest meets the ocean.
The route takes you thru Walpole, the place you’ll be able to stroll among the many treetops on the Valley of the Giants Tree Prime Stroll – a suspension bridge that sways gently 40 metres above the forest ground. The drive itself is a spotlight, with winding roads shaded by forests that appear to hum with life.
As soon as in Denmark, you’ll discover a mixture of tranquil inlets, wild surf seashores, and boutique wineries. Greens Pool and Elephant Rocks are two of essentially the most photogenic swimming spots in Australia, with turquoise water and large boulders that resemble elephants lazing within the shallows.
From June to October, the southern coast additionally turns into a major spot for whale watching, as humpbacks and southern rights migrate alongside the coast.
Denmark has a mild, nearly mystical vitality. It’s the type of place the place time slows down, and a easy stroll by means of the forest appears like medication.
4. Perth to Nannup: A Quirky Nation Retreat
Distance: 265 km (about 3 hours driving)
Finest for: Rest, quirky retailers, reasonably priced retreats
Nestled alongside the Blackwood River, Nannup is commonly missed by travellers racing towards Margaret River or Albany. However that’s precisely what makes it particular. This underrated tiny city has a unusual allure, with vibrant shopfronts, vintage shops, and a lot of native artists promoting their wares.
Nannup is surrounded by forest, and in spring the area bursts into color throughout the Nannup Flower and Backyard Pageant, with tulips, daffodils, and wildflowers spilling into each nook. The close by Blackwood River is ideal for kayaking or simply lazing on the banks with a picnic.
One in every of Nannup’s greatest attracts is its distinctive vacation properties. There’s an abundance of reasonably priced and superbly designed cottages, farm stays, and eco-retreats, many tucked away within the bush with wooden fires and massive verandahs for stargazing. It’s a slower, quieter type of escape – good for recharging.
In the event you’re after a highway journey that appears like stepping again in time to small-town Australia, Nannup is your spot.
5. Perth to Coral Bay: Ningaloo’s Laid-Again Cousin
Distance: 1,120 km (about 12 hours driving)
Finest for: Snorkelling, beachside tenting, barefoot residing
If Exmouth is the bustling base for exploring Ningaloo Reef, Coral Bay is its sleepier sibling. A tiny coastal settlement with one foremost avenue and a handful of cafés, Coral Bay is all about slowing down and sinking into seaside life.
Right here, the reef comes proper to shore. You possibly can stroll into the water, stick your head underneath, and end up in a world of coral bommies, tropical fish, and, for those who’re fortunate, a manta ray or two. There are few locations on the earth the place such unimaginable snorkelling is only a hop, skip and a soar out of your spot on the sand.
Coral Bay has a barefoot, backpacker-friendly vibe, with caravan parks, beachside bars, and tour operators providing every little thing from glass-bottom boat rides to fishing charters. It’s additionally a gateway to a few of Ningaloo’s greatest wildlife encounters, reminiscent of manta rays, whale sharks and humpback whales.
It’s distant, sure, nevertheless it captures the essence of Western Australia: uncooked nature, unpretentious allure, and a way of journey that makes your time in paradise that additional bit particular.
Suggestions for Street Tripping in Western Australia
Earlier than you hit the highway, just a few sensible notes:
- Distances are large. WA is huge, and journey instances can shock you. At all times verify your gasoline earlier than leaving cities, particularly on the northern routes. And pack loads of water.
- Finest time to journey: The north is greatest visited between April and October (dry season), whereas the south is gorgeous year-round however notably lush in spring.
- Lodging: From boutique retreats to outback caravan parks, you’ll discover a vary of stays, however e-book forward throughout college holidays.
Driving security: Be careful for wildlife, particularly at daybreak and nightfall when kangaroos are most energetic.
Why Western Australia Deserves a Spot on Your Itinerary
It’s simple to underestimate Western Australia while you’re mapping out an Aussie journey. However those that make an effort are rewarded with landscapes and experiences that rival something on the East Coast – with out the crowds.
From the desert roads to Exmouth, the vines of Margaret River, the forests of Denmark, the hidden allure of Nannup, and the reef-fringed shores of Coral Bay, these 5 highway journeys present simply how various and extraordinary this nook of Australia actually is.
So for those who’ve ever dreamed of lengthy, open roads, limitless skies, and the type of pure magnificence that lingers in your reminiscence lengthy after the journey ends, WA is asking. Pack the automobile, cue the highway journey playlist, and go see what everybody else is lacking.
Jessie runs daytripsetc.com
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