One of the best road trips in Australia is the drive in between Perth and Broome. This road trip largely follows the coastline of the state of Western Australia, although there are also some detours inland. While it’s a long drive between the two major destinations (over 2000km!) there’s no shortage of awesome experiences along the way, that you would miss out on if simply hopped on a flight. If you’re thinking of driving from Perth to Broome, or joining a tour between the two cities, here’s everything you need to know about the epic Perth to Broome road trip!
This article is written by guest author and Australian expert Shandos Cleaver, with edits and additions by Claire.
Planning Your Road Trip from Perth to Broome
Planning a road trip from Perth to Broome in Western Australia is an epic journey, and needs some careful preparation, especially if you plan to drive the route yourself. There are a few tour options that will allow you to join a group and not have to drive yourself, which may be better for solo travellers in particular,
Self-Drive vs Joining a Tour
Tours from Perth to Exmouth & Broome
If you are solo travelling in Australia or don’t feel like driving the whole +2000km journey, then there are a few options for tours, particularly between Perth and Exmouth. Tours don’t run every week, so plan ahead if you want to join a group tour.
Once you arrive at Exmouth there is a small airport near Exmouth (Learmonth) where you could catch a flight back to Perth. I couldn’t find direct flights from Exmouth to Broome, they all seemed to fly back to Perth first then a connecting flight up to Broome.
You could also take the bus the whole way from Perth to Broome, although you would miss out on all of these fabulous road trip stops. Another option could be to drive or join a tour between Perth and Exmouth, and then take the bus up to Broome. Buses run twice per week, you can check the timetable with Integrity Coach Lines here.
I (Claire) decided against going all the way to Broome as it was coming into the rainy season, so I joined a group tour from Perth to Exmouth. I spent a couple of days in Exmouth then took a flight back to Perth before heading on to Sydney a few days later.
Driving from Perth to Broome
If you are driving yourself, allow plenty of time for this epic road trip, ideally at least two weeks if possible so you can make the most of your journey and be able to enjoy all of the spectacular stops along the way.
If you have your own vehicle or are looking to hire a car or campervan to do the journey, consider a 4WD vehicle – as the Great Northern Highway is sealed some roads to side attractions may be dirt track or corrugated.
Make sure you have an emergency kit prepared for the trip – including a first aid kit, spare tyre, tyre repair kit, and plenty of food and water. A satellite phone or a personal locator beacon (PLB) is highly recommended, as mobile phone coverage can be patchy in remote areas.
Plan your stops and fuel stops carefully to make sure you don’t run out of fuel along the way. Don’t drive after sunset, as animals are most active around dawn and dusk, and avoid driving at night as kangaroos, cattle and other animals can wander into the roads that are generally unlit.
When to Go
The best time for this road trip is during the dry season (from May to October). The temperatures are cooler, and it’s generally safer to drive. During the wet season, extreme heat and heavy rains can make the roads hazardous, and many remote areas become inaccessible so it isn’t recommended to drive further north than Exmouth in the rainy season.
The Best Things to Do on a Perth to Broome Road Trip
And along the way make sure you tick off all these must-do experiences on a Perth to Broome road trip…
Visit a Community of Benedictine Monks
Not far north of Perth is one of the oddest sights on this road trip, New Norcia. A living community of Benedictine Monks, New Norcia is unique as the only monastic town in Australia. Before visiting the area, I had no idea there were any monks in Australia!
The community was first established in 1847 by Spanish Benedictine Monks. For many years it was also an Aboriginal mission. The community has a fascinating but at times sad history.
New Norcia is home to some beautiful Spanish-style buildings and it’s worthwhile joining one of the regular guided tours to find out more. Tours run nearly every day of the year at 11am and 1:30pm, check the current opening times and prices here.
Gaze Upon the Pinnacles
After New Norcia, head back out to the coast, or alternatively head straight up the coast from Perth. After about a 200km drive you’ll reach the mysterious limestone formations known as the Pinnacles.
Looming up to 3m high from the desert sands, just inland from the coast, they were originally mistaken by Dutch sailors for the remains of a ruined city. For the best photo opportunities, it’s best to visit the Pinnacles late in the day, close to sunset. You’ll also avoid the heat of the day as it can get extremely hot in the desert!
Choose between driving around the 4km loop drive or follow one of the walking paths. Allow at least an hour for your visit, and take care not to stray off the paths as it’s easy to lose your bearings. You can also visit the Pinnacles as a day trip from Perth if you prefer.
Look through Nature’s Window at Kalbarri
About 400km north of the Pinnacles is the township of Kalbarri. The town is situated on the banks of the Murchison River, which passes through a beautiful gorge on its final 80km run to the coast, contained within Kalbarri National Park.
A visit to Kalbarri National Park is a must-do, especially thanks to its magnificent lookouts. One of the top lookouts is Nature’s Window, a natural archway that frames a beautiful view. The archway is reached by an easy 800m loop walking track.
Don’t also miss the Kalbarri Skywalk, which opened in 2020. The Skywalk is home to two 100m-high lookouts that extend 25m and 17m out over the rim of the gorge below. It’s about a 30-minute drive outside of Kalbarri to the attractions in the national park.
Visit a True Shell Beach
Head back out to the NW Coastal Highway and keep heading north until the turn-off to Shark Bay. It’s about a 300km drive from Kalbarri to the southern end of this marine park and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The waters of Shark Bay are even saltier than typical, due to being cut off by a peninsula. This has led to a certain species of cockle shell to thrive and the creation of a “Shell Beach”.
This 110km long stretch of beach is entirely made up of shells, up to 7m to 10m deep. It’s one of only a couple of beaches like it worldwide. (Most so- called “shell” beaches are actually mixed with sand.) The shells are blindingly white and beautiful to see.
Along the way, you can also stop off at the nearby Hamelin Pools. The pools are home to stromatolites growing in the shallow, salty water, modern examples of the earliest form of life on land. The adjacent boardwalk was damaged by a cyclone in 2021 but will hopefully soon be repaired.
Eagle Bluff is another nice little stop-off with a short boardwalk along the cliffs with spectacular views of Shark Bay Marine Park.
Feed the Dolphins at Monkey Mia
Before returning to the highway and heading further north, firstly detour further along the peninsula that borders Shark Bay. It’s another 70km drive to the tourist resort of Monkey Mia, passing through the small town of Denham along the way.
Monkey Mia has long been famous for the dolphins fed on its beach each morning. I don’t usually recommend interactions like this with wild animals but there are strict conservation regulations, with up to three supervised feeds each day.
If you’re lucky, you’ll be one of the few audience members chosen to hand-feed one of the dolphins a fish. I’ve been a dolphin lover all my life and it was an amazing experience to be one of those selected to get up close on my first visit!
Everyone else lines up on the sand at the edge of the water, and aren’t allowed to touch the animals – even without feeding it was still a special experience to see these animals who came right up to the shore!
Feast on the Local Produce at Carnarvon
Loop back around Shark Bay and continue north to Carnarvon, the largest town in the region. It’s about a 350km trip from Monkey Mia including the loop around Shark Bay.
The town of Carnarvon is famous for its historic One Mile Jetty. Built in 1897, you could previously walk along the jetty or take a tram to the end of it, but it has been closed in recent years due to cyclone damage.
Carnarvon is also well-known as a fruit-growing area. Key crops include bananas, grapes, tomatoes, melons and mangos. Head out on the “Fruit Loop Drive” through the plantations, stopping at the farm shops and roadside stalls along the way. Or visit the Farmers Market held every Saturday morning.
Swim with Whale Sharks or Manta Rays at Ningaloo Reef
About halfway between Perth and Broome is the spectacular Ningaloo Reef, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s a beautiful spot to dive or snorkel year round but is particularly popular between April and July thanks to the whale shark season.
During these months, boat trips head out to the reef each day, offering you the chance to swim with these gentle giants of the sea. While it’s not the only place in the world you can do this, in Australia it’s operated in an ecologically sound manner. Plus the use of spotter planes means a high success rate.
If one big creature isn’t enough, you can also snorkel and dive with manta rays, that are present year-round in part of the reef. Another newer offering is the chance to swim with humpback whales, a seasonal visitor to the area.
The largest town in the region is Exmouth, located about 370km north of Carnarvon, and the main departure point for whale shark trips. Exmouth is worth spending a day or two to break the drive between Perth and Broome.
Another jumping-off point for the Ningaloo Reef is Coral Bay, a small village about 150km south of Exmouth, with year-round manta ray tours on offer, as well as glass-bottomed boats and snorkeling tours.
Drift Snorkel at Turquoise Bay
Whilst visiting Ningaloo Reef, it’s also a must to drive around from Exmouth to the Cape Range National Park. Inside Cape Range there’s a variety of walks that you can do, as well as highly-prized beach camping sites. But its most popular attraction is snorkelling the reef, which at times is just metres off the beach.
My top pick for snorkelling is Turquoise Bay, about a 60km drive from Exmouth. If you’re game, you can do a “drift snorkel”. Let the current take you along the shore, while you view the beautiful coral gardens and colourful fish life, then swim back to shore and walk along the sand to your starting point.
Explore the Gorges of Karijini National Park
After exploring the coastline of Exmouth, start heading inland to the spectacular Karijini National Park – allow all day for the 650km drive.
This national park is home to an ancient landscape with multiple gorges cutting through it – choose to gaze into them, walk through them or even go canyoning, if you’re up for an adventure!
Allow at least a few days to explore the area, with both bush camping and glamping options available around the park. Don’t forget your camera, with some magnificent photo opportunities. There’s also some great swimming holes – my pick is Fern Pool at Dales Gorge.
And On To Broome…
From Karijini, head north and return to the coast at the industrial town of Port Hedland. Then continue along the coast to your final destination of Broome.
It’s about a 850km drive from Karijini to Broome, but the roads are long and straight and there isn’t much to do along this section, so it’s possible to complete in a long day. Alternatively, break up the drive at one of the free rest areas along the way.
And once you arrive in Broome? Spend some time chilling out in this beautiful town, including relaxing at the famous Cable Beach, and sampling the local mango beer.
Enjoy Your Australian Road Trip!
No matter how you decide to drive from Perth to Broome, you’re sure to have an amazing time. The landscape and coastline in Western Australia are simply stunning, and being able to have nature experiences like snorkelling with whale sharks makes this road trip in Australia even more special.
About the Author
Shandos Cleaver is an Australian travel writer who specialises in dog-friendly travel. She runs the website Travelnuity: Dog-Friendly Travel and recently published her first book, “Off the Leash in Australia”. She has travelled around Australia multiple times, both with and without her dog, and especially loves road-tripping in Western Australia.