Road trip from Perth to Broome (and back via Karijini)

Whilst its remoteness compels many to simply fly there, Broome presents arguably one of Australia’s best extended road trip opportunities, with the chance to savour plenty of other amazing sites along the way.

Taking an extended trip means the best of the sightseeing along the way as well as a good amount of time for drivers to rest between some lengthy drives.

Note: This Perth to Broome return road trip itinerary takes in more than 4,000 kilometres and needs thorough preparation and planning. See our advice on planning this trip at the end of the article.

Big road trips require manageable stretches mixed with short stopovers to rest and enjoy the surrounds. It's recommended you take a 15-minute break from driving every two hours and limit your driving to no more than eight hours a day.

Perth to Kalbarri

Distance: 570km (6hr 20min)

Reachable in a little over six hours and taking in the Indian Ocean coastline for parts of the way, Kalbarri is the perfect first stop on your Broome road trip. Set around the mouth of the Murchison River, there’s plenty to explore around this favourite West Aussie holiday getaway. You can go by foot along the ocean side or the river itself, or via a short trip in the car to the spectacular ocean cliffs and lookouts on the southern edge of town. For swimming, head to Blue Holes, a sheltered spot just a five-minute drive from town or walk there on the 2km Melaleuca Walk Trial.

Must see and do:

A visit to Kalbarri’s National Park and the new dual Skywalk is a must. For the more energetic hikers, tackling the Loop, an 8km trail (class four hike) at the base of the gorges near Nature’s Window is great, but not if it’s too warm. An alternative is hiring a kayak or canoe and paddling along the downstream stretch of the river. If you don’t have time, at least take in the Skywalk on the way to your next destination, Monkey Mia.

The exit stretch out of town goes right past the park entrance and it will only add an hour or two at most to the relatively short next leg.

Where to stay:

• The Kalbarri Tudor Holiday Park – brick villas, chalets and various accommodation options.

• Kalbarri Anchorage Holiday Park – for campers and caravanners, the Anchorage sits close to the river but a little more protected around from the marina jetty.

Kalbarri to Monkey Mia

Distance: 398km (4hr 30min)

The Overlander roadhouse lies at the gateway to the “pronged” peninsular and waters of Shark Bay. This turnoff from the North West Coastal Highway is the start of a 150km section of road that goes past Hamelin Pool and the prehistoric Stromatolites with purpose-built boardwalks for visitors while further on, another stop of interest is at Shell Beach. The road eventually takes you to Denham and then beyond that, Monkey Mia lies on the eastern side of the Peron Peninsular.

Must see and do:

A visit to Monkey Mia would not be complete without standing in the shallows to greet the region’s famous, visiting bottlenose dolphins. Time permitting (and four-wheel drive equipped) the Francois Peron National Park boasts some spectacularly vivid coastal landscapes to explore and photograph, particularly early morning or late afternoon.

Where to stay:

• RAC Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort – an award-winning, ocean side resort with a range of accommodation facilities and equipment for hire.

Monkey Mia to Coral Bay

Distance: 581km (6hr 30min)

It’s not far north off the junction back on the highway that the landscape becomes increasingly desolate. Australia’s semi-arid desert country is not far away. To break-up this long stretch consider a stop for lunch in Carnarvon. Your return from Broome includes a stay here but it's a good halfway point for a break on the way to Coral Bay.

North of Carnarvon the contrast between this changing landscape and the North West coastline becomes quite stunning with more than 200km of captivating Ningaloo Reef and picture-perfect sandy bays. At its heart is Coral Bay, perfectly located for those wanting to take advantage of this coral jewel and its marine attractions.

Must see and do:

Simply take in the coastline, whether that be standing in waist-deep water right in front of the settlement and watching the big, tame, spangled emperor swimming around you, or head out in any direction with some snorkelling gear – you won’t be disappointed. Coral Bay is where you get your first chance to swim with the 'Big 3' - manta rays, whale sharks and humpback whales. If you have time you could also scoot up to Exmouth for part of a day and check it out for a possible longer term visit in the future.

Where to stay:

• RAC Ningaloo Reef resort – apartment and studio style units.

Explore Coral Bay

Coral Bay is quite simply a marine wonderland. There are endless adventures to be had both in and on the water around this part of the Ningaloo coast. The area is world-renowned for the tours that take you out to swim with whale sharks, manta rays and humpback whales. Ningaloo Reef is the only place in Australia and one of the few places in the world where you can swim with all three from a single location and the coast between Coral Bay and Exmouth is where it all happens. Even just snorkelling in the crystal clear waters here is an unforgettable experience.

The whale shark swim season runs from late February to the end of June from Coral Bay and the end of July from Exmouth. For humpback’s, the season is July to October in Coral Bay and from August October in Exmouth, while manta ray swims are available year-round from Coral Bay.

Keen anglers can experience deep-sea fishing at its best here, too, on a fishing charter. And for four-wheel drivers, there's a network of off-road tracks to explore. Check out the tracks at Oyster Bridge and Five Fingers Reef.

Coral Bay to Karratha

Distance: 522km (approx. 6hr)

It’s time to set your sights on Karratha. The best and shortest route on what are now excellent highway roads is to head north out of Coral Bay towards Exmouth for around 55km until you reach the well-signposted Burkett Road turnoff. This 78km section across the bottom of the Gulf goes back out on the North West Coastal Highway, chopping off a lot of distance in the process.

Karratha is a large, modern regional mining hub with excellent facilities and services. It’s a good spot to grab some supplies before continuing on. A one-night stay won’t allow for much long-range exploring but there’s still plenty to see in a circuit out to Dampier, the Burrup Peninsula and the Gas Plant visitor centre, and Hearson’s Cove.

Must see and do:

If the timing works, a look at the Burrup Peninsula’s famous Aboriginal rock art is an absolute must. Clinton Walker from Ngurrangga Tours will provide expert guidance on these 50,000-year-old remnants of Aboriginal history and culture, dotted everywhere across the peninsula.

The start of the next leg can also be combined with short stops at what’s left of the historic townsite of Cossack and the sleepy little prawning settlement at Point Samson. Don’t miss the fish and chips from here.

Where to stay:

• The Karratha Central Apartments - conveniently located in the New Town Quarter.

Karratha to Eighty Mile Beach

Distance: 485km (minimum 5hr 30min)

Breaking the 840km haul from Karratha to Broome with an overnight stay at Eighty Mile Beach makes for a much easier drive. It also gives you more time to check out the sights at Cossack, Point Samson and the famous Whim Creek pub, along the way. The name says it all for Eighty Mile; it’s a seemingly never-ending, flat expanse of tidal beach.

Must see and do:

This is the place for an extended beach walk. Or if you’re a keen angler, break out the rod when the tide is coming in – northern threadfin salmon are often caught here as they cruise in with the rising waters.

Where to stay:

• Eighty Mile Beach Caravan Park – shady powered and unpowered sites with some self-contained cabins.

Eighty Mile to Broome

Distance: 376km (4hr 30min)

From Eighty Mile up to Roebuck Bay and into Broome, is a relatively short jaunt and half a day on the road. You’ll have plenty of time to arrive and settle in properly before firming up the plans for making the most of your 'Broome time'.

For your first night in town, head to Cable Beach to sit and watch one of Broome's legendary sunsets, then settle in for a meal with stunning views at the Mangrove Hotel.

Where to stay:

• RAC Cable Beach Holiday Park – comfortable accommodation options within a great park and walking distance from Cable Beach.

Enjoy Broome

If your timing is right, you might get to see Broome's Staircase to the Moon - a phenomenon that occurs when light from a full moon floods Broome's tidal flats giving the effect of a glittering staircase that rises into the night sky. Check at the Broome Visitor Centre for dates.

Broome's Sun Pictures is the world's oldest operating picture garden and it's well worth taking a night out to watch a movie under the starry Broome skies.

Even older still are Broome's dinosaur footprints preserved in the rocks around Gantheaume Point. You can visit on your own or take a guided tour to be shown some of the most impressive prints.

A day trip up the Dampier Peninsula is a must and with a four-wheel drive you can extend the trip beyond Willie Creek. Call in to the famous Sacred Heart Church at Beagle Bay and then take in the amazing colours of Cape Leveque and the Kooljaman wilderness camp.

The end of your time in Broome marks the start of your return leg. Time the drive to be in Port Hedland by late afternoon so you’ve got time to settle in to your overnight accommodation and check any last minute details before the early morning start for Karijini.

Broome to Port Hedland

Distance: 610km (6hr 30min)

This is the start of your return leg. Time the drive to be in Port Hedland by late afternoon so you’ve got time to settle in to your overnight accommodation and check any last minute details before the early morning start for Karijini.

Where to stay:

• Hospitality Port Hedland – functional, well located, motel style accommodation.

Port Hedland to Karijini National Park

Distance: 335km (minimum 4hr)

Head out very early 42km west, for the turnoff for the Great Northern Highway towards Newman. This southwards journey is the route to Karijini, with the next important stop being Auski Roadhouse to refuel.

Continue on for 35km, turn right onto Karijini Drive until reaching the eastern entry point to Karijini National Park. Follow the signs to the Karijini Visitor Centre - the essential starting point to exploring the magical gorges and swimming holes throughout this unforgettable Pilbara highlight.

The early start will provide plenty of time for you take in some afternoon excursions in the park and then settle in at the Eco Retreat or Dale’s Campground. Two-wheel drive vehicles can negotiate most of the park’s roads quite easily, with care and slow speeds on the corrugated section, but four-wheel drives will certainly get to more of the isolated sites.

Must see and do:

Dale’s Gorge, Fern Pool, Fortescue Falls and other park sites, depending on your energy levels and taste. Staring up at the Milky Way at night here is as good as it gets anywhere in central Australia.

Where to Stay:

• Dale’s Gorge Camping area – camping and caravans.

• Karijini Eco Retreat – cabins and various eco tent options.

Karijini to Tom Price

Distance: 72km (minimum 1hr)

Use most of the day to take in other spots of interest in the park before leaving for Tom Price, a short one-hour trip to the west. Resting up here overnight is important for the early launch into the long stretch ahead. A look around this long established, iron ore mining town gives some insight into life in this part of the world. Take a trip to the supermarket here if you need to stock up.

Where to stay:

• Tom Price Motel – also has a restaurant and bar.

Tom Price to Carnarvon

Distance: 661km (minimum 7hr)

The way back to the North West Coastal Highway from Tom Price is on the sealed, arterial road to Nanaturra Roadhouse, 296km to the west. A decent rest stop, refueling and a walk over to the 240m-long Ashburton River bridge nearby to stretch the legs, is just the ticket before tackling the second half of the trek to Carnarvon.

Must see and do:

Arrive with a few hours of daylight and there’s the prospect of picking up some fresh mangoes, bananas or other produce from farms that sell direct to the public. Carnarvon’s Space and Technology Museum is also worth a look, especially around the critical role it played in NASA’s first Moon Landing.

Where to stay:

• Wintersun Caravan and Tourist Park – Chalets and camping sites.

Carnarvon to Cervantes

Distance: 698km (minimum 7hr 20min)

Cervantes is the quintessential, mid-west, cray fishing town. Laid back and relaxing, it has that ideal atmosphere to enjoy the last leg of an epic holiday road trip.

Must see or do:

No stay at Cervantes is complete without satisfying the taste buds at the famous eatery, the Lobster Shack. Within easy driving distance, the intriguing landscape of the Pinnacles is definitely something worth seeing.

Where to stay:

• RAC Cervantes Holiday Park – comfortable two or three-bedroom villas and various camping facilities.

Preparation and planning

Avoid the warmest months, cyclone season in the north and the poorest road conditions unless you have a suitable four-wheel drive.

Allow plenty of lead-up time to book things in advance and prepare your vehicle. Make sure it’s serviced and that the tyres and battery are in good condition, and consider what extra equipment might be needed.

Carry some tools, a good First Aid kit, some basic vehicle spare parts and make sure you have capacity to carry additional fuel and water.

Depending on how far off the sealed highway you intend to travel, a second spare tyre, satellite phone and vehicle recovery gear may also be worth thinking about.

Most importantly for any extensive road trip is a good quality map. Relying on the internet when travelling is not always a reliable choice. Sourcing accurate and reliable maps or map books such as those from HEMA Australia, make planning the trip easier and ultimately, safer. RAC members get discounts on HEMA maps and guides in the RAC Online Shop.

Also consider downloading a mapping app such as Avenza which uses the GPS on your phone and will keep you connected to maps even when you’re out of range.

Image Credits: Tourism Western Australia

By: John Bormolini