Driving from Perth north to Geraldton offers easy and scenic access to the stunning Coral and Turquoise Coasts, with their golden beaches, reefs scattered with shipwrecks, remote coastal towns, fields of wildflowers and field of spectacular limestone formations, The Pinnacles.
The Indian Ocean Drive is a relatively new highway, having opened in late 2010. It gives standard cars access to many of Western Australia’s previously remote 4WD-only areas. The road follows the coast from Perth to south of Dongara, where it joins the Brand Highway. As well as sweeping views of pristine beaches, this party of your road trip darts inland through farmland, national parks and, during Spring, passes by fields carpeted with wildflowers.
Image by: Australia’s Coral Coast
A self-drive holiday allows the freedom to explore this stunning part of Western Australia at your own pace. Between Perth and Geraldton there are accommodation options to suit all budgets and tastes, from caravan and camping parks, to motels, hotels and resorts. Local fishermen supply the area’s eateries with fresh-caught seafood, including rock lobster and crayfish.
Image by: Australia’s Coral Coast
Driving direct from Perth to Geraldton takes about five hours, but that would mean missing out on exploring many unique sights and experiences.
Koalas and limestone stalagmites at Yanchep National Park
Get up close to koalas on the 240-metre Koala Boardwalk. Meet western grey kangaroos and other local wildlife on the walking trails and be awed by the impressive limestone stalagmites in the Crystal Cave. Learn more about the local Aboriginal heritage from the park’s indigenous guides; take a lake boat tour or hire a row boat and enjoy a lakeside picnic.
Learn about gravity waves, scale a leaning tower and look to the stars
The Gravity Discovery Centre and Gingin Observatory, 25km north of Yanchep, is an interactive science hub for kids big and small, with a fun focus on physics and astronomy. Its ‘leaning tower of Gingin’, at 45-metres high has a tilt of 15 degrees – for perspective, Italy’s leaning Tower of Pisa tilts just 5.5 degrees. Gingin offers fearless and fit visitors panoramic views of the Wallingup Plains, to the Darling Scarp. For added fun, you can even drop water balloons from the top – yes, this attraction really is for kids big and small.
Dine on fresh caught crayfish at Ledge Point
On your way to the Nambung National Park, drop into to Ledge Point for some freshly caught crayfish.
Sand surfing at Lancelin
Experience sand surfing at these famous giant dunes, where you can hire sand boards or take a guided dune buggy tour.
Wedge Island
For a scenic and invigorating pit-stop, visit the Wedge Island Lookout and take in the view to this remote island nature reserve located 300m offshore.
Beach shack settlements
About 150km north of Perth are two unofficial shack settlements, called Wedge and Grey. Built between the 1950s and 1990s by fishermen and pastoralists, they are now inhabited by retirees and Perth residents during holidays and weekend breaks. Some of the makeshift huts use wind-powered generators, solar panels and rain-water tanks to provide home comforts.
Bask with Sea Lions
Cervantes is the gateway to the Turquoise Coast and an ideal base for exploring local attractions such as the Nambung National Park, The Pinnacles, the stromatolites at Lake Thetis and the Jurien Bay Marine Park, where sea lions bask on the rocks. At sunset, take a stroll along Jurien Bay’s 2km Turquoise Way beachside walk, or head to Tea Tree Point Scenic Lookout.
The Nambung National Park and the Pinnacles
The Pinnacles are a dramatic ‘field’ of ancient limestone spires, three to four metres high. But before exploring these natural wonders by scenic drive or walking trail, it’s a must to visit the park’s Desert Discovery Centre to learn how The Pinnacles were formed.
Visit a National Trust town
Greenough Hamlet is a National Trust town 42km north of Dongara, where the trees survive despite being permanently bent over by 90 degrees, thanks to the strong coastal winds.
Welcome to Geraldton
Image by: Australia’s Coral Coast
At your final destination, you can indulge in meals of fresh-caught western rock lobster; visit the wreck of the Batavia, which ran aground in 1629; take a day-trip by boat or plane to the nearby coral-fringed Abrolhos Islands to fish, dive and snorkeling in the clear warm water, or visit internationally renowned windsurfing location, Coronation Beach.
History and architecture buffs should visit Geraldton’s Spanish missionary-style St Francis Xavier Catholic Cathedral, the Western Australian Maritime Museum, Moore Point Lighthouse and the local memorial for the 645 crew members of HMAS Sydney, sunk by the German cruiser, Kormoran, in 1941.
Plan a safe, affordable road trip
For any Australian driving holiday you need a safe, reliable vehicle.
Bayswater Car Rental offers a choice from the latest automatic models, all less than three years old, with air bags, ABS brakes and 5-star Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) ratings.
Car pick-up is available from any of four convenient locations – Perth CBD, Freemantle, Subiaco and Bayswater (near the airport). A seven-day car hire package provides ample time to explore Australia’s Coral Coast, from Perth, north to Geraldton, which is a distance within Bayswater’s standard 500km area of use.
Start planning your scenic road trip with a visit to the Bayswater Car Rental specials page. Note, if you plan to travel further than 500km from Perth, an additional remote fee applies.
Posted By Karl
Updated : 18th March 2018 | Words : 923 | Views : 38987
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