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Day 1: Perth to Kalbarri
Free-spirited, we cruise up the Coral Coast, where ironically it feels like our adventure begins in the desert. Stop at Nambung National Park to explore The Pinnacles, where ancient limestone spires jut spookily from the surface. It's then on to Geraldton, a township renowned for rock lobster, pearls and shipwrecks; if time permits, enjoy a visit to the pink lake (seasonal) before spending the night in Kalbarri.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Accom: Hostel, Kalbarri
Included: Nambung National Park (Pinnacles) entrance
Drive: ~600 km (approx. 2 km walking)
Day 2: Kalbarri National Park to Shark Bay
With endless beauty, it's easy to imagine dinosaurs roaming the ancient interconnecting gorges of Kalbarri National Park. Carved by the Murchison River and lined with red river gums, the towering cliffs are striped blood-red and contrast spectacularly with the azure hidden waterholes. The best vantage points are Nature's Window and the Z-Bend lookouts — or, for the ultimate rush, there's the option of abseiling down. Toast the day in Denham, the gateway to Shark Bay.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accom: Hostel, Monkey Mia
Included: Kalbarri National Park entrance
Drive: ~470 km (approx. 5 km walking)
Day 3: Shark Bay to Coral Bay
Be blown away by the mysterious creatures of the big blue at Monkey Mia. With over 4,000 square kilometres of seagrass along the seabed, Shark Bay attracts turtles, whale sharks, bottlenose dolphins and dugongs. The wonder continues with the three-billion-year-old Stromatolites, a carpet-like sculpture beside the sea at Hamelin Pool. Watch the sun sink and the stars come out at Coral Bay.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accom: Hostel, Coral Bay
Included: Monkey Mia dolphins
Drive: ~6.5 hours (approx. 2 km walking)
Day 4: Coral Bay
The day is yours to explore paradise on Earth at Ningaloo Reef. Float the day away — but put your head under to see an explosion of colour from 250 species of coral and over 500 species of fish. For the braver, take a boat tour (additional cost) to swim beside turtles and manta rays, or snorkel the Ningaloo Reef just metres from shore. Blissfully salty and sandy, we spend the night in Exmouth.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accom: Hostel, Exmouth
Included: Ningaloo Reef Marine Park
Options: Snorkel with manta rays (half day), beach snorkelling (own expense), whale watching (3 hours, seasonal), glass-bottom boat cruises
Drive: ~185 km (approx. 2 km walking)
Day 5: Exmouth & Cape Range National Park
After breakfast, choose to swim with the whale sharks (additional cost), the gentle giants of the ocean — or spend the day exploring Cape Range National Park, the result of ancient reefs pushing out from under the sea. Known for its rugged limestone ranges, deep canyons and beautiful beaches, you'll spot emus, euros, red kangaroos, bungarras, bustards and many birds. Take multiple dips at Turquoise Bay before revelling in the last golden rays at Vlamingh Head Lighthouse.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accom: Hostel, Exmouth
Options: Snorkel with whale sharks (own expense), snorkel at Turquoise Bay (own expense)
Drive: ~180 km (approx. 2 km walking)
Day 6: Exmouth to Northbrook Farm
On the road again, we head south — get comfy and switch off as the colours of the outback speed by. A pit stop in Carnarvon is a no-brainer; it supplies most of Western Australia with prawns, scallops, crabs, fish, fruit and vegetables. We travel south through the outback to our overnight stop at Northbrook Farm near Northampton. For our last night together, get a taste of real country life — feeding animals, playing farmhand and listening to local stories under the stars.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accom: Northbrook Farmstay
Included: Visit a banana plantation
Drive: ~780 km (approx. 2 km walking)
Day 7: Northbrook to Perth
We leave the farmstay for Geraldton, visiting the HMAS Sydney Memorial lookout to learn about the area's colourful history, plus the St Francis Xavier Cathedral and Point Moore Lighthouse. Meandering back towards Perth, we stop at Greenough Wildlife Park, a sanctuary promoting conservation and animal rescue — get up close to dingoes, emus, orphan kangaroo joeys and saltwater crocodiles, and even handle lizards and snakes. We then head to the incredible white sand dunes of Lancelin to test your skills at sandboarding, before first drop-offs in Perth around 6:30pm.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Included: Greenough Wildlife Park entrance
Drive: ~490 km (approx. 1 km walking)
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