Share Bus West Coast Loop

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A 17 day shared minibus road trip from Perth up the coast to Exmouth, inland to Karijini and back to Perth: you rent a seat on a 12-seat minibus with a trailer of camping gear and travel with other backpackers.

Days

17 days

Age

18 to 35; drivers 21+

Start / finish

Perth / Perth

Return

See itinerary for details

Tour style

Shared minibus rental, not a guided tour. You and up to 11 other travellers share the driving, camping and cooking, with a recommended itinerary

Accommodation

Camping in shared tents, mostly at free camps
Campsite fees not included

Transport

12-seat Toyota Hiace minibus with camping trailer, fuel and insurance included

Meals

Not included — you cook with the equipment provided

Route

View map

Included experiences

Ningaloo Reef — snorkelling off the beach
Cape Range National Park — beaches
Monkey Mia — dolphins
Kalbarri National Park
Karijini National Park — gorges and waterfalls
Coral Bay and Exmouth

Pictures / Videos

Itinerary

Map

DAY 1: PERTH TO LANCELIN AND THE PINNACLES

Meet the group in Perth, pick up the minibus and do a food shop. This is a shared rental, so the route below is the recommended plan and your group can change it. Head north to Lancelin, a fishing town backed by huge white dunes, for sandboarding, kayaking or swimming. In the afternoon, see the Pinnacles at Cervantes, thousands of limestone pillars standing in yellow sand in Nambung National Park, some taller than a person and as strange as a landscape from another planet.

DAY 2: JURIEN BAY AND GREENHEAD

Enjoy some beach time, and see the Pinnacles in the morning if you missed them. At Jurien Bay you can snorkel with Australian sea lions, an endangered species found only in Australia, which are curious and playful in the water. Further up the coast, stop at Greenhead to see Dynamite Bay, a small sheltered bay with a barbecue area, swimming and walking trails. There's a free camp on a beach not far north.

Overnight: Free beach camp north of Greenhead

DAYS 3-4: HUTT LAGOON AND KALBARRI

Drive north, detouring to Hutt Lagoon, one of the easiest pink lakes in Australia to reach, coloured by a salt-loving alga packed with beta-carotene. Then on to Kalbarri, at the mouth of the Murchison River, and walk along the Kalbarri sea cliffs, which rise around 100 metres above the ocean. Give your second day to the gorge in Kalbarri National Park, cut 80 km through layered sandstone by the river. Nature's Window, a natural arch framing a river bend, is the famous stop, but one or two of the longer hikes show you far more.

DAYS 5-6: MONKEY MIA AND SHARK BAY

Head into the Shark Bay World Heritage Area, listed in 1991. Stop at Shell Beach, made of countless tiny cockle shells piled metres deep, at Eagle Bluff, where a clifftop boardwalk looks down on sharks, rays and turtles, and at Denham, the most westerly town in Australia. Then stay at Monkey Mia, where wild bottlenose dolphins have been swimming up to the beach since the 1960s. Laze by the water, play games and watch for marine life, or hire a kayak to paddle along the peninsula.

Overnight: Monkey Mia

DAY 7: HAMELIN POOL, CARNARVON AND THE QUOBBA BLOWHOLES

Leaving the peninsula, stop at Hamelin Pool, where stromatolites grow in water about twice as salty as the open sea: rocky mounds built by microbes, living examples of one of the earliest forms of life on earth. Head north to Carnarvon, a fruit-growing town on the Gascoyne River, which flows underground for most of the year, to shop or call at a farm for fresh mangoes. Nearby, at the Quobba Blowholes, swells force the sea up through the limestone ledge, sometimes as high as 20 metres, with a good snorkelling spot close by.

DAY 8: CORAL BAY

Coral Bay is a special place: a tiny town on a beautiful beach where you can snorkel the Ningaloo Reef straight off the sand. Ningaloo runs about 260 km down this coast and was World Heritage-listed in 2011. Coral starts only a few metres from shore, and the snorkelling gear comes in the trailer. Stay the night.

Overnight: Coral Bay

DAY 9: CAPE RANGE NATIONAL PARK

Camp in Cape Range National Park if you can. Snorkel the Oyster Stacks, rocky pillars crusted with oysters and ringed by fish, best at high tide, or visit Turquoise Bay, one of the most beautiful beaches anywhere. For a hike, walk the gorge at Yardie Creek, home to black-footed rock-wallabies, or the rim of Charles Knife Canyon, with views over the range.

Overnight: Cape Range National Park (camping, if you can get a spot)

DAYS 10-11: CAPE RANGE AND EXMOUTH

Spend most of day 10 in Cape Range, then head to Exmouth in the afternoon, a town founded in 1967 to support the American naval communications station on the cape. Day 11 is for tours, if you want one, at an extra cost: swimming with whale sharks, the biggest fish in the sea, or a dive trip. Look around town, then drive a couple of hours towards Karijini and set up camp for the night.

DAYS 12-15: KARIJINI NATIONAL PARK

It's a long drive inland to Karijini National Park, so set up camp for a few nights and give it three full days. There are falls, pools, hikes and deep gorges cut through rock about 2.5 billion years old. Stop at a visitor centre on the way for maps, and if you're feeling bold, join an abseiling or canyoning tour, for an extra cost. Leave by the early afternoon of day 15 so there's time to reach Perth.

Overnight: Karijini National Park (camping)

DAYS 15-16: KARIJINI TOWARDS PERTH

The Great Northern Highway is the quickest way back south, and there are still a few places worth a stop. Have lunch in Meekatharra, a mining town on the edge of the Murchison goldfields, and perhaps walk its 3 km heritage trail. In Cue, the stone buildings along the main street date from the gold rush of the 1890s.

DAY 17: NEW NORCIA TO PERTH

On the last day, stop at New Norcia, a town founded by Spanish Benedictine monks in 1846 and still Australia's only monastic town, with its Spanish-style buildings and bakery. Then drive on into Perth to enjoy the afternoon with your new mates.

Map

Good to know

Suits: The target age group is 18 to 35.
Driving: You rent your seat as a driver or a non-driver. Drivers share the driving and must be 21 or over; non-drivers must never drive. Anyone with a regular driver's licence can drive the minibus.
Fitness: Moderate — lots of hiking, snorkelling and exercise.
Please note: A few days before your trip you get a full guidebook with free and paid activities, recommended campsites, discounts and sights to see.

What to bring

Sleeping bag
Water bottle
Sunscreen
Torch
Appropriate clothing and shoes
Luggage limited to about 20 kg: one big bag and one day bag or small backpack

What is included

Toyota Hiace minibus, to drive to the places you choose (not on 4WD roads)
Fully equipped trailer with camping and cooking equipment
Consumables such as toilet paper, oil, salt and pepper, gas and bin bags
Recommended itinerary
Guidebook of activities and free and paid campsites
Fuel for unlimited kilometres
Comprehensive insurance with roadside assistance
National park entries

Not included

Sleeping bag (for hygiene reasons)
Campsite fees — tents and a list of recommended free and paid campsites are provided
Food

FAQ

Preparing for the trip

Do I need travel insurance?

Insurance is important in protecting visitors from loss or damange of goods, medical problems, cancelation by passengers or other casualties. Its highly recommended. Some tours on this website require you to have travel insurance. If you are Australian then it is not necessary.

Where can I get more information about this trip?

If you find that this tour page doesn't answer all your questions, then please get in contact with us! Our passionate team are always available to answer any queries you may have.

What immunisations do I need?

For the latest information on immunisations, we strongly recommend you or contact the Travellers Medical and Vaccination Centre (www.traveldoctor.com.au) to discuss health requirements for your trip. They will advise you about appropriate inoculations.

Do I need to take any medical supplies?

It is not necessary to bring any medical supplies other than any personal items you may require. Each tour carries a first aid box, and the tour guides are all certified in First Aid.

Will I be able to use my mobile whilst on tour?

You can use your mobile while touring in Australia or New Zealand, but coverage may be limited in remote areas. For best connectivity, consider purchasing a local SIM card or an international roaming plan.

How fit do I need to be?

These tours are designed to be fun, informative and active, and can be enjoyed by anyone with a moderate degree of fitness and agility. Travellers should be comfortable with hiking or walking up to 5km each day.

What should I pack?

Depending on where in Australia or New Zealand you decide to visit, your luggage will vary. For exact information please visit the "What to bring" section of each tour page.

Private tours and families

Is it possible to travel in a private group?

If you are looking for a private tour based on one of these trips, please contact us directly and we may be able to help. Over the years we have worked with families, groups of friends, schools, clubs and charities to put together the perfect trip.

Booking the trip

Do I have to book this tour online?

Definitely not. Our website is designed to make is easy and convenient for you to schedule your tour. However we understand sometimes its nice to talk to someone directly. So by all means give us a call and we can organise your trip over the phone.

If I book more than one tour can I get a discount?

Absolutely! If you are booking multiple tours then we may be able to offer you a discount. Send us an email at info@lostinaustralia.org and let us know what you thinking of doing and we can put together a price for you.Also, be sure to look out for monthly specials on tours. We often have some great bargains.

Does the tour price include flights?

No. Tour prices do not include any travel arrangements other than for the duration of the tour itself. If you need assistance with booking flights or buses our travel team and certainly help - Just ask!

How far in advance do I need to book my tour?

As a rule of thumb, try to book at least 2 weeks prior to departure, this will usually get you a seat on the date you want. That being said, we cannot guarantee that spaces will be available at the time of your booking so, if you can, book as soon as possible. Bookings can still be made right up until the departure date of the tour if seats are available. If you know when you'd like to travel, please contact us and we will let you know if you need to book soon or if you have time.

How do I know when a tour is available?

You can check the departure dates of tours by using our calendar on the top right hand corner of the tour page. This will tell you what days the tour departs. For availability of seats please contact us directly at info@lostinaustralia.org or call us.

If I make a deposit only, when will I need to pay the balance?

Balance on tours need to be paid at least 30 days prior to departure. Failure to do so could result is the cancellation of your seat with a fee charged. If you need more time to clear your balance then let us know ASAP and arrangements can be made.

Who travels with us

Is it ok to travel alone on one of these tours?

Plenty of travellers book these tours on their own. Solo travellers are very much welcomed and encouraged. During your outback adventure you'll meet new and interesting people and forge relationships that last a lifetime.Solo travellers will usually share a room with a travelling companion of the same sex, but even if you do get your own room you won't be charged extra. On camping tours there are generally enough tents available that you can have your own if you choose to.For more information please contact us directly.

Cost and Fees

Do I need to tip the guide?

If you had an amazing time on tour and wish to tip your guide, that is completely up to you. Tipping is not customary in Australia and is not at all expected.

Will I need additional money?

Travellers are advised to bring some cash, as ATMs and banks can be few and far between in the remote parts of the trip. It is handy to have some extra cash, as the tour does stop by local shops and cafes.

Are there any hidden fees I need to know about?

Our tour prices are completely transparent. There are no additional fees involved that are not included in the overall tour price shown. If you wish to do optional activities such as helicopter rides or wildlife safaris, then an extra cost may be needed. However, this will always be made clear at the time of your booking.

What does Paid Locally mean?

Some tours require you to pay national park fees directly, in cash, to the tour guide on the morning of departure. Rest assured this will be subtracted from the tour price when reserving your tour.

Whilst on tour

Can I book extra accommodation for the start and end of the tour?

We know our country inside and out and would be happy to give you good recommodations. Please contact us for recommendations.

Where do I meet the tour?

For pick-up times and locations, please check the "Start/Finish" section directly under the itinerary, which lists every pick-up point and its time.There is a lot of information there to help you plan your flights and arrival.Please review it carefully, as pick-ups can vary from tour to tour.