Western Australia is home to some of the most breathtaking and epic road trips in the world and one of them you definitely should put on your Aussie bucket list is the road trip from Perth to Broome. After living in Australia for almost one year and traveling around in our converted 4×4 campervan, this road trip was a dream coming true!
The most beautiful beaches, remote campsites, fascinating gorges, unique wildlife, and the most scenic views literally everywhere… Making a road trip in Western Australia is a MUST-DO and the route from Perth to Broome will bring you to some of the most beautiful places in Australia.
Read on to discover our complete road trip itinerary from Perth to Broome, all our favorite places to visit, unique camping spots and so many more useful tips to plan the best road trip in Western Australia.
How to get to Western Australia
First things first, how to get to Western Australia.
The easiest and best way is to fly to Perth, which is the largest and capital city of Western Australia.
Normally we always use Skyscanner to find & book the best flights, but for this trip we booked our flights to Perth with trip.com. (check below the best rates) Once you arrive in Perth, you can grab a taxi to the city center with Didi, Ola, or Uber (AUD 27/€17) or take the shuttle bus. (AUD 20/€12)
Tip: Try to look for flights from Bali to Perth, like we did. From Bali, it’s only a 3,5-hour flight, and prices for a one-way flight ticket are around $100 per person. (€82)
Read also: Best websites to find the cheapest flights
How to get from Perth to Broome: renting a car or campervan
Once you’ve arrived in Perth, there are a few options on how to get to Broome.
First of all, renting a car is the easiest option but expensive if you are planning to make a road trip in Western Australia. Count between AUD75-105 per day or €46-65. Also if you rent your car from Perth and drop it off in Broome, the rental company will charge you a one-way fee. (which can be expensive)
Tip: if you want to save money, try to check to rent a car in the other way. Often it’s less expensive and without a one-way fee if you start your road trip in Western Australia from Broome. (but then you’ll need an extra flight to Broome of course)
Another option is to rent a campervan. The price is almost the same as renting a car (around AUD80-120 or €50-75 for a 2 person camper) but you won’t need to book accommodation which will save you a LOT of money!
We highly recommend checking out the campervans of Travellersautobarn, Wicked Campers, Maui or Britz, which are in our opinion the best rental companies in Western Australia.
Check here the best rates for a rental car
Staying longer in Australia? Buy your own car!
Last but not least, if you stay longer in Australia like we did, we would definitely recommend buying your own car. You’ll pay a lot of money at once, but you will save so much as you’ll be selling the car/campervan again afterward.
We bought a Toyota Landcruiser Prado 4×4 and converted it into our little home on wheels. We always dreamed of living the van life in Australia and owning our own camper van, but we are so happy we bought this 4×4.
In Western Australia and also in Northern Territory there are so many remote places or beaches you can only access by 4WD, which would have been impossible by a normal car. So if you’re looking for the ultimate adventure, want to drive over beaches and camp remotely during your road trip in Western Australia, then a 4WD is your way to go!
When we were searching for our 4WD, we used the website of Gumtree and Carsales but also Marketplace on Facebook and Facebook groups like Backpacker Cars Australia. With a budget of AUD5000 or €3100, you’re sure to find a good secondhand car.
Best time to visit Western Australia
Every season in Australia has its own charm, but for the road trip from Perth to Broome along the coast of Northern Western Australia, the best time to visit is between April and November. (winter or dry season) The days are sunny, the skies are clear and the weather is pleasantly warm with average temperatures between 16°C and 30°C.
Also during winter or dry season, it’s the best time to spot manta rays (May to November), whale sharks (June-July), humpback whales (July to November), dolphins, and the very rare dugongs!
From Perth to Broome: the best road trip in Western Australia
START Perth | END Broome
DURATION 21 days
DISTANCE 3900 km
METHOD OF TRANSPORT 4×4, camper van or rental car (we did it with our converted Landcruiser Prado)
BEST TIME OF YEAR April-November (winter or dry season)
WHEN DID WE GO July-August 2020
HIGHLIGHTS Perth, Yanchep National Park, Lancelin Sand Dunes, The Pinnacles, Hutt Lagoon, Kalbarri National Park, Monkey Mia, Francois Peron National Park, Carnarvon, Coral Bay, Exmouth, Ningaloo Reef, Cape Range National Park, Karijini National Park, Eighty Mile Beach, Broome
Day 1: Perth to Jurien Bay
Travel distance: 219 km – 2h 20m
Campsite: Jurien Bay Tourist Park A$20 per night
We started our road trip in Western Australia along the Coral Coast from Perth to Broome end of July. As we lived in Perth for a few weeks and also worked on a farm before, our itinerary starts from the day we left Perth.
Of course, you’ll need to count 1 or 2 more days if you want to explore Perth city, visit Rottnest Island or Fremantle too.
From Perth, we drove towards Jurien Bay, which is about a 2,5-hour drive. Along the way you’ll have lots of highlights and places to visit, so count one full day to get to Jurien Bay.
Our first stop was Yanchep National Park where we saw koalas in the wild for the first time in our lives. They are the cutest! Many parts of Yanchep National Park were closed due to Covid-19 so we continued our drive to Lancelin Sand Dunes where we had a quick lunch. In Lancelin we drove with our car through the dunes and took some amazing drone shots. (also a good spot for sandboarding or quad biking
Our last stop of the day was The Pinnacles where we ended our first day of this amazing road trip in Western Australia with an amazing sunset and stayed to shoot the Milky Way in all its glory. It was New Moon that day which was the perfect moment for stargazing and capture the Milky Way with our camera.
Day 2-3: Kalbarri National Park
Travel distance: 351 km – 3h 50m
Campsite: Tudor Holiday Park A$40 per night
The drive from Jurien Bay to Kalbarri National Park is quite long and there are not so many highlights along this drive. A lot of people stop in Geraldton, but we decided to skip this town and drive straight away to the beautiful Hutt Lagoon.
Hutt Lagoon is a pink salt lake and we just couldn’t believe our eyes the moment we arrived here. We always thought people photoshopped all those pretty pink pictures, but hell no… Hutt Lagoon is really as pink as photos suggest and so real!
After losing a few hours of shooting here and having lunch next to the lake, we continued our way to Kalbarri where we arrived right before sunset. We went to Town Beach which has a lovely bar and a little park with beautiful palm trees to watch the sun go down.
The next day, we put on our alarms and woke up super early to watch the sunrise at Nature’s Window in Kalbarri National Park. Wow, it’s so incredibly beautiful up there!
We visited Kalbarri National Park to do some of the beautiful hikes and explore the many breathtaking gorges. Our sunrise mission to Nature’s Window was amazing! A 30-minute walk down the stairs from the parking area led us to this beautiful rock formation. When we arrived back at the parking, we made breakfast in our converted jeep and drove to the Kalbarri Skywalk which is a beautiful lookout platform. The Kalbarri Skywalk is opened in 2020 and ideal for those who don’t like to hike too much but want to see the stunning scenery of Kalbarri National Park.
Right before lunch, we started the Z Bend River Trail in Kalbarri National Park, which is a 2,5km return hike that takes you down into the gorge where you can have a swim and enjoy the stunning scenery. Quite an adventurous hike with some very steep parts in the beginning, but definitely worth it!
After a day of hiking, we also visited some other beautiful places in Kalbarri like Red Bluff and Mushroom Rock, which are both offering spectacular ocean views of the Indian Ocean. Right before sunset, we returned to our favorite place in Kalbarri National Park, Nature’s Window, to do some shoots for fashion brands we’re collaborating with and to shoot the Milky Way once again. These moments made our road trip in Western Australia just magical!
Day 4-5: Monkey Mia
Travel distance: 400 km – 4h
Campsite: RAC Monkey Mia Resort A$45 per night + AUD15 park fee/day
On day 4, we went to Monkey Mia which was a 4-hour drive from Kalbarri National Park. We were super excited to go to Monkey Mia as it’s the only place in Western Australia where you can swim with dolphins in their natural habitat.
We stayed at RAC Monkey Mia Resort, which is the only place where you can stay and watch the dolphins that are visiting the beach every day for a little morning feed. There is a A$15 park fee to pay per person/day (or A$25 for a one-month pass which we took as we stayed longer) which goes directly to the dolphin interaction program who are protecting these beautiful animals for years.
After the morning feeding session, which was in our eyes a bit disappointing, we had a better chance of swimming with them when we’re lying on the beach. We just had to stand in the water to see the dolphins swimming around us. Such an unforgettable experience to add to your road trip from Perth to Broome.
We booked 2 nights at RAC Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort but extended with another 5 afterward, and basically spend our days at the beach relaxing and spotting dolphins the whole time.
We didn’t mind staying longer at RAC Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort as it was our favorite campsite during our road trip in Western Australia. The most modern facilities, super clean showers, right at the beach, a super relaxed atmosphere, a beach bar with a daily happy hour, and dolphins right in front of us. We could stay forever in Monkey Mia!
Day 6: Francois Peron National Park
Travel distance: 71 km – 1h 30m
Campsite: South Gregories, Gregories, Bottle Bay or Big Lagoon A$13 per night + A$15 park fee
After relaxing for a few days and playing with the dolphins at Monkey Mia, we drove to Francois Peron National Park, one of our absolute favorite stops along the coast of Western Australia.
Francois Peron National Park is a remote and rugged area located in the Shark Bay World Heritage Sanctuary, which can ONLY be entered by 4WD! (be aware of this if you plan on following our road trip in Western Australia)
At the entrance of the park is an air compressor station where we deflated Coco’s tires (to 20psi) and that’s when the real adventure started. We first stopped at the incredibly beautiful Big Lagoon and continued afterward our drive along soft red sandy tracks to Cape Peron. We never saw so many beautiful colors together. Red dunes, white beaches, and crystal blue waters.
We did the Wanamalu Trail between Cape Peron and Skipjack Point, which is a 1,5 km walk along the rough red limestone cliffs. During our walk, we were lucky to spot a group of dolphins and manta rays in the turquoise blue waters. The feelings that came over us were indescribable, Francois Peron National Park is simply unique and mindblowing!
There are 5 campsites in Francois Peron National Park where you can stay and we decided to set camp at South Gregories. Most scenic views, a sky full of stars, the sounds of the ocean, and just the two of us… Everything you need for a magical night!
Day 7: Carnarvon
? Travel distance: 367 km – 4h 10m
⛺ Campsite: Summerstar Carnarvon Park A$30 per night
The next day we drove from Francois Peron National Park to Carnarvon and quickly stopped along the road at Shell Beach. Crystal-clear water and super cute little white shells everywhere, such a lovely stop to take some photos!
The drive to Carnarvon was about 4 hours, and when we arrived at our campsite we went straight to the famous Cactus Garden. We found this place on Instagram, but still kind of a hidden gem as we were the only ones here. In fact, it’s just a garden in front of someone’s home and they have a donation box where you can leave some dollars in. Funny right!?
Another amazing thing to do in Carnarvon is the lovely Fruit Loop Drive which is a loop where you drive past many fruit plantations and where you can stop to buy some fresh products from local farmers. We stopped at Bumbak’s Mango farm where we had a yummy mango ice-cream. It is worth a visit when you’re in Carnarvon!
Last but not least, there’s also the Carnarvon Space & Technology Museum to visit, which is highly recommended if you have some extra time. Lots of interesting and interactive areas like the Apollo simulation and FREE coffee facilities. We spent a few hours here the morning before we left for our next stop at Quobba Station.
Tip: Go to the Cactus garden in the afternoon to have the best light for photos
Day 8: Quobba Station
? Travel distance: 83 km – 1h
⛺ Campsite: Quobba Station A$30 per night
When we continued our road trip in Western Australia and drove to the blowholes in Quobba, we spotted humpback whales jumping out of the ocean, so we decided to search for a campsite nearby and ended up staying at Quobba Station which was definitely worth stopping!
Quobba Station is a remote wilderness campground with the most stunning beach views and it’s an amazing place to stay for a couple of nights. We saw groups of dolphins right in front of us, and 3 humpback whales jumping out of the ocean. Every time we think about this place, we just start smiling. It’s a small detour on your way from Perth to Broome but in our opinion a must-visit when you plan a road trip in Western Australia.
Day 9-10: Coral Bay
? Travel distance: 272 km – 2h 45m
⛺ Campsite: Peoples Park A$48 per person/night
After days of exploring and driving through the red sands, we were so happy to arrive at Coral Bay, a cute little beach town situated right on the doorstep of the beautiful Ningaloo Reef.
Ningaloo Reef is Australia’s only fringing reef and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage list for its incredible biodiversity. The moment we arrived, we couldn’t wait to grab our snorkels and go into the water. Depending on the time of year, you can see and swim with whale sharks, humpback whales, and manta rays!
The moment we arrived in Coral Bay, it was the perfect time of the year to swim with manta rays and so we booked a tour with Ningaloo Reef and Dive to see these cool creatures. The tour was amazing and we can only highly recommend it! We had a professional photographer with us on board who took some pretty underwater photos for us.
In Coral Bay, we booked a campsite at Peoples Park, which is located right in front of the main beach, Bill’s Bay. We just needed to cross the road to get into the ocean and enjoy some snorkeling.
P.s: did you know you can find one of the largest brain corals in the Southern Hemisphere at Coral Bay? We tried to find it but had a very strong current, but heard so many amazing stories about this beautiful piece of coral.
Day 11-14: Exmouth & Cape Range National Park
? Travel distance: 153 km – 1h 40m
⛺ Campsite: Bullara Station A$28 per night
From Coral Bay to Exmouth was only a 1,5-hour drive, so we left Coral Bay in the afternoon. We first caught up with our friends Max & Emily and decided to watch the sunset at Charles Knife Canyon together. We packed some snacks, put our blanket right at the side of the edge, took some amazing photos, and just enjoyed the stunning views. Charles Knife Canyon is very similar to Kalbarri National Park and we still can’t decide which is our favorite place to watch the sunset.
We decided to stay 3 nights in Exmouth as there are so many things to do. We first booked a trip with Ningaloo Discovery and went on a humpback whale tour with them. Seeing humpback whales from close was on our bucket list for years, so we were pretty excited the moment we entered the water and encountered these huge creatures… We couldn’t get the photos or videos we hoped for, but overall it was one of the most amazing experiences of our road trip from Perth to Broome.
The day after our humpback trip, we went back again with Max & Em to watch the sunrise at Charles Knife Canyon. We chose to hike the Charles Knife Ridge Walk and couldn’t believe our eyes how stunning it was. Watching the sunrise at Charles Knife Canyon was definitely one of the highlights of our road trip in Western Australia.
On our last day in Exmouth, we did another sunrise mission at Yardie Creek and visited all the beaches around the area. Our favorite beach was Turquoise Bay where we did the drift snorkel right from the shore. We saw two turtles, a reef shark, and lots of beautiful coral.
At the end of our last day in Exmouth, we went to the Vlaming Head Lighthouse, another lovely spot to watch sunset and spot humpback whales right from the top. Take a blanket, a bottle of wine, and enjoy… This place is amazing!
Tip: when you plan your road trip from Perth to Broome between November and March, definitely visit Jurabi Turtle Center too where you can witness beautiful moments of hatching and seeing baby turtles making their way to the ocean.
Day 14: Rest stop to break the way to Karijini National Park
? Travel distance: 341 km – 3h 45m
⛺ Campsite: Barradale Rest Area or House Creek Rest Area free campsite
We left Exmouth in the late afternoon as we visited Yardie Creek with sunrise and snorkeled at Turquoise Bay afterward, so decided to break the long way up to Karijini National Park and stayed at a free campsite along the way, called Barradale Rest Area.
Tip: we use the apps of Wikicamps and Campermate to find all our campsites and free spots during our road trip in Western Australia. You can read all the most recent reviews, see some photos and check if there are toilets, showers, and drinking water. Super useful!
Day 15: Tom Price
? Travel distance: 334 km – 4h 30m
⛺ Campsite: Tom Price Tourist Park A$40 per night
Early in the morning we left the free rest area and drove towards Tom Price. Tom Price is the only town located near the entrance of Karijini National Park where you can go to the visitor center and find a Coles supermarket to do some groceries.
There are so many different hiking trails and many beautiful places to see in Karijini National Park, so we decided to stay also 2 nights at the Dales Campground in Karijini National Park.
We spent our first night in Tom Price because it was the perfect base to explore the Hamersly Gorge which is located on the West side of Karijini National Park and a detour if you stay inside Karijini National Park. The Hamersley Gorge was a short steep and challenging walk down from the car park but once we arrived at the floor of the gorge we were amazed by its beauty. We hiked up the pools to the stunning waterfall and had a swim in the icy-cold water of the natural pool. a great place to spend an afternoon.
Day 16-18: Karijini National Park
? Travel distance: 110 km – 1h 30m
⛺ Campsite: Dales overflow Camping A$13 per night
On day 2, we entered Karijini National Park and did the hiking trail to the Knox Gorge first. On our way back we had a look at the Joffre Falls Lookout before we hiked down into the Joffre Gorge. Both trails are very adventurous but once you reached the bottom of these gorges it is more than worth it! We were literally blown away by how beautiful these hiking trails are but we needed to be careful as they are both quite dangerous and very slippery.
Tip: If you also planned to visit Karijini National Park on your road trip in Western Australia we recommend doing the Joffre Gorge before sunset as the light creates a beautiful reflection on the water.
We spent the first night in Karijini National Park at the Dales overflow Campground as the main campgrounds were fully booked. It’s the only camping where you have a water tap, so we were very happy we needed to stay here. We advise booking your campsites in advance if you plan your road trip from Perth to Broome during the peak season.
The next morning we went to Weano Gorge, Hancock Gorge, Handrail Gorge and Kermits Pool, which we all highly recommend. We started early in the morning to avoid the hot temperatures and walk down into the Hancock Gorge. This hike is a short but very adventurous one and not for beginners. We filled our backpack with enough water, our camera’s and some snacks before we went into the gorge.
Once we reached the river we had to walk through the water, climb along the rocky walls to finally reach the Kermits Pool. At the Kermit Pool, we had a refreshing swim and took some great photos before we went back.
Once we arrived back at the car park, we had some breakfast and continued to the Weano Gorge. The Weano Gorge is a challenging but very beautiful hiking trail that ends down into the handrail Gorge.
We woke up early on our last day in Karijini National Park to visit the Fortescue Falls and Fern Pool where we enjoyed a swim before the long drive to our next stop. These are the most visited places in Karijini National Park as they are located next to the main campground and the perfect place to cool down when it’s very hot.
In the surrounding area are many more hikes but due to covid and controlled bush-fires, they were closed.
Tip: On this website, you’ll find all the information about campsites in the national parks of Western Australia
Day 19: Eighty Mile Beach
? Travel distance: 579 km – 6h 15m
⛺ Campsite: Eighty Mile Beach Caravan Park A$33 per night
The longest drive of this road trip in Western Australia was the way from Karijini National Park to Eighty Mile beach but it’s definitely the best place to stop before you get to Broome. You can either choose to stop in Port Hedland but we didn’t like the city and drove to Eighty Mile Beach Caravan Park to stay for the night.
Eighty Mile Beach is famous for its fishing and long beautiful sandy beach. We were not allowed to swim at Eighty Mile Beach because of salt-water crocs and jellyfishes but loved driving on the beach with our 4WD and going for a morning run.
Eighty Mile Beach is the perfect place to relax for a day and to enjoy an amazing sunset with a glass of wine.
Day 19-21: Broome
? Travel distance: 376 km – 3h 50m
⛺Campsite: Cable Beach Caravan Park A$48 per night
? Hotel: Kimberley Sands Resort
Our last stop on this epic road trip in Western Australia was Broome.
We left 80 Mile Beach in the morning, drove for 4 hours, did some groceries, checked in at our new caravan park, and went straight to Cable Beach for sunset. Wow, this place was even more beautiful than we imagined!
Cable Beach in Broome has been on our bucket list for years. It’s one of the most iconic beaches in the world, and for good reason. The famous camel train, the most stunning sunsets, and a laidback atmosphere. We bet you’ll love it here too.
Besides Cable Beach, there are also a few other amazing places to visit in Broome. Roebuck Bay for example, is a super cool mangrove beach with beautiful orange contrasts facing turquoise waters. An amazing spot to fly a drone!
We also liked Gantheaume Point where you can spot footprints of dinosaurs that are over 130 million years old and swim in one of the hidden rock pools. So good to cool down during the day.
On our last night, we went to the Mangrove Hotel where we witnessed the Staircase of the Moon. It’s a natural phenomenon every month when the full moon rises and creates the illusion of a staircase by reflecting the waters of Roebuck Bay in Broome. So unique and definitely worth planning your road trip in Western Australia around this event so you can witness it too!
Some final words about this road trip in Western Australia
We hope we have inspired you with this epic Western Australia road trip itinerary. It was such a bucket list experience for us to drive from Perth to Broome and explore all those beautiful places in Western Australia. Our favorite places during this road trip in Western Australia were definitely Kalbarri National Park, Karijini National Park, and Broome.
Hopefully, our experiences, tips, and information can help you to plan your own road trip in Western Australia.
If you have any questions, feel free to add a comment below or send us a message by email, and on our Instagram, you can rewatch all the stories of this amazing trip under the highlights “North WA” & “North WA II”. Enjoy!
Love, Valerie
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7 comments
what an awesome story about travelling around Australia in 4×4. I feel trully inspired to have read it. You have made me want to do it myself.
Beautiful couple who inspires us every day! Even we cannot travel ourselves, it feels like being on holiday every time you read their story and see their beautiful pictures.
Thank you soo much for those sweet words! We really hope everyone can travel again soon.
Lots of love,
Mik & Valerie
Val & Mike jullie zijn echt zo
Inspirerend . Ik geniet echt elke dag v jullie stories en door jullie wil ik ineens naar Australië , wat me ervoor totaal niet aantrok . Ik hoop nog lang te mogen genieten ! You Guys ROCK ?
Toppers ♥️
Thank you Marliesje! ♥️
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