Little-known Cape Keraudren sits strategically to break up the drive between Karijini and Broome. But it’s more than just a handy rest stop. This pretty peninsula boasts emerald-green creeks, sweeping Indian Ocean views, and a decent chance to spot whales breaching offshore.
Home to the marine life-rich Ningaloo Reef, this breathtaking coastal park rivals the east coast’s Great Barrier Reef. Snorkel amid kaleidoscopic coral or hike across razor-thin canyon trails. Beautiful beaches reside along the peninsula, and nearby Exmouth offers a handy base to re-stock supplies.
Tiny Coral Bay punches well above its weight in the beautiful beach stakes. Straddling a dazzling turquoise-tinged cove, this easy-going seaside town is among the most scenic on the west coast. If you tire of gazing out to sea, rent a kayak or snorkel to explore offshore.
Remote, rugged, and well off the beaten track, the Dampier Peninsula offers plenty of adventure for seclusion-seekers in a high-clearance 4WD. Kick back at stunning seaside campsites like Pender Bay or James Price Point and savour those middle-of-nowhere vibes.
A classic Kimberley destination, El Questro hosts a plethora of picturesque hot springs and gorgeous red-ochre gorges. The good news for 2WD explorers is a slew of the most sought-after sites are accessible (depending on current conditions).
An outback oasis of sun-scorched gorgeous and ice-cold swimming holes, this magnificent national park is a highlight of WA. From picture-perfect falls to cragged slot canyons and dramatic orange chasms, Karijini has got it all.
You won’t have to leave the tarmac to reach Lake Argyle, a scenic freshwater reservoir rich in exotic flora and fauna. Jump on a cruise to get an up-close view or gaze over the landscape from the Lake Argyle Resort infinity pool.
World Heritage-listed Purnululu is well worth the rough 4WD-only roads for its cragged canyons and dome-shaped spires. The Insta-famous Echidna Chasm offers a mind-bending photo op when the sun’s rays pierce through cracks around midday.
Towering ocean cliffs, verdant coastal heath, and pristine beaches comprise this scenic peninsula halfway down the coast. Pop into Monkey Mia to gawk at hungry dolphins and Shell Beach to trudge along tiny sand-like cockles.
Grab a 4WD to cruise through the corrugated, creek crossing-strewn tracks to Windjana Gorge, where jaw-dropping nature walks await. Further down the dusty, bumpy road lies Tunnel Creek, a cave-exploring playground with a crisp underground river.
Home to 17,000 inhabitants, Broome brings a brilliant blend of Aussie outback charm and bustling beach resort vibes.
The town’s (and some say Australia’s) most iconic sandy stretch is Cable Beach, a 22km sugary white strip with calm lapping waves. Each evening, locals and tourists arrive en masse to sink refreshing beverages as the sun sinks over the horizon. Feel free to BYO 4WD, or, for the quintessential Broome experience, hop on a sunset camel ride.
Take a stroll around Gantheaume Point to see the Kimberley’s emblematic red-rock cliffs. Keep an eye out for million-year-old dinosaur footprints as you clamber around the cragged peninsula. Or, better yet, paddle about the shoreline on a kayak tour. Nearby, Gantheaume Beach offers sweeping Indian Ocean views—and, thanks to its hard-packed sand, you can drive on the beach in a 2WD campervan.
On the other side of the city, Town Beach is a picturesque spot overlooking murky ocean mangroves. Head to Roebuck Bay Lookout for top-notch panoramas and meander down Streeter’s Jetty to get up close with birdlife-rich wetlands.
Historic Chinatown houses the lion’s share of Broome’s restaurants, and bars, including the famous Matso Brewery—the ginger beer here is on point. You don’t have to be a movie buff to enjoy a flick at Sun Pictures, the world’s longest-running outdoor cinema. Established in 1913, this charming single-screen complex still retains most of its original décor.
Broome was founded as a pearling port in 1880, and its lustrous oyster industry continues to thrive today. Check out the Cygnet Bay or Willie Creek pearl showrooms (both in Chinatown) to window shop for precious jewellery. Or, if you’d prefer to see the production process in action, take a tour of the Willie Creek Pearl Farm.
As the gateway to the Kimberley, Broome puts you within reach of numerous iconic Aussie outback adventures. Or, you can follow the coast south to gaze at an endless array of picture-perfect shorelines.
Spanning 423,517 km² (three times the size of England), the Kimberley is a vast, sparsely-populated land. Home to rugged ranges, gorgeous ochre gorges, semi-arid savannah lands, and far-flung coastlines, it’s one of the world’s largest, mostly uninhabited wilderness regions.
Only a smattering of towns punctuate the endless arid landscape—35,000 people live in the entire region, and almost half of those reside in Broome.
Due to this immense isolation, many top Kimberley attractions require a 4WD. Those that don’t often involve long corrugated roads. Your campervan rental company will have strict rules about where you can take a 2WD. Check first before planning your itinerary.
Preparation is paramount out here. Stifling heat, minimal water, vast distances, rough roads, and infrequent phone service demand complete self-sufficiency.
Broome sits at the doorstep of the Dampier Peninsula, a sprawling expanse of pindan bush, tidal flats, and mangrove creeks. Despite a recently paved road slicing through the centre, many top attractions lie at the end of rough, 4WD-only tracks.
If you’ve got a capable, high-clearance vehicle, the most notable Dampier sites include Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm, Cape Leveque, Lombadina, Beagle Bay, Pender Bay, One Arm Point, Middle Lagoon, and James Price Point—the latter may be accessible to 2WD’s.
East of the Dampier Peninsula sits Derby, one of the “larger” Kimberley towns. The Derby Jetty is a top spot to watch a purple sunset over the mudflats. Also, visit the Boab Prison Tree, where indigenous enslaved people were incarcerated inside a bulbous hollowed trunk during WW2.
Bumpy dirt roads (2WD possible but usually not recommended) venture off the Northern Highway to Windjana Gorge, where crocodiles sun themselves between stark red canyon walls. Further down the track, Tunnel Creek is a water-carved limestone cavern home to freshwater crocs and bats—hike and swim through the tunnel if you dare.
The spectacular Wolfe Creek Crater is a long and dusty detour (2WD possible) from the highway. A 3km walk around the crater rim highlights the magnitude of a 300-millennia-old meteor strike.
Further along the Great Northern Highway, you’ll find the turn-off for Purnululu National Park (strictly 4WD only). The big attraction is the Bungle Bungles, a jagged ensemble of beehive-like rock formations intertwined with creeks, gorges, and canyons. Hit Echidna Chasm at midday for a photogenic light show.
Next up is El Questro, a 700,000-acre cattle station-cum-wilderness park chock full of salt flats, thermal springs, and rainforest. A 2WD will get you to Emma Gorge, where you can swim with freshwater (non-bitey) crocodiles by a picturesque waterfall. A conventional vehicle will also get you into Amalia Gorge and Zebedee Springs—the latter is a brilliant spot to soak.
Stop for a swim at the Grotto and bird/croc-watching at Marlgu Billabong as you take the paved road towards Windham. There’s a famous Giant Crocodile statue and the Fiver Rivers Lookout, which affords epic sunset vistas.
Near the Northern Territory border lies Kununurra, a sizeable town and much-needed resupply point. Leave early to beat the heat on scenic walks through Kelly’s Knob and Mirima National Park.
If you’ve come this far, you’d be mad to miss Lake Argyle. Nestled amid billion-year-old landscapes, this humungous artificial lake is a sight to behold. You’ll get the best views at the Lake Argyle Resort infinity pool.
Cruising west of Broome takes you through some of Australia’s most pristine coastlines—plus a whole lot of nothing in-between.
Eighty Mile Beach is a pleasant place to break up the drive, thanks to its waterfront campsite and spectacular sunsets. Another potential stopover is Cape Keraudren, where spectacular council-run campsites receive visits from migrating whales.
The first sizeable coastal town is Port Hedland, which sprung up to service the world’s largest bulk export port. Boat tours around the harbour provide insight into its mind-boggling scale.
Further west lies Cossack, an eerie old ghost town with well-restored bluestone buildings. Just up the road, Point Samson is an easy-going beach village home to the stunning Honeymoon Cove.
Next up is Karratha, a modern industrial city built to service the nearby Dampier Port. Load up on supplies and pay a visit to Burrup Peninsula for a swim at Hearson Cove.
A 6-hour drive gets you to the town of Exmouth, A.K.A, the gateway to Ningaloo Marine Park. Teeming with technicoloured reefs and vibrant marine-life, this immersive underwater world is WA’s answer to the Great Barrier Reef.
Campsites inside Cape Range National Park put you right next to the action, though they tend to fill up quickly. Hit Turquoise Bay and Oyster Stacks for snorkelling or Yardie Creek and Mandu Mandu Gorge for hiking. Whaleshark snorkelling tours run from March to August.
On the tip of the peninsula, Jurabi Turtle Centre offers guided hatchery tours. Nearby, the Tristle Turtle Nookery is a non-descript beach that packs out with boney-shelled reptiles in mating season (Oct-Apr).
Hit the Vlamingh Head Lighthouse for sweeping views and Bundegi Beach or Town Beach for scenic swims. Hikers should check out the east end of the national park to tackle Charles Knife and Shothole Canyon.
One and a half hours south of Exmouth lies Coral Bay, a staggeringly scenic beach town with top-notch snorkelling just offshore.
The next bucket-list destination is Shark Bay, a stunning windswept peninsula home to the seaside settlement of Denham.
Stop at Shell Beach to admire the world’s only cockle-comprised coastline and Eagle Bluff Lookout for epic clifftop views. The picturesque holiday park at Monkey Mia puts on a popular dolphin-feeding display daily.
Return via Francois Peron National Park to see historic old abodes and soak in a thermal tub. Nearby, Little Lagoon is a spectacular place to sunbathe and swim.
Veering off the NW Coastal Highway at Port Headland leads you to Karijini National Park, one of Australia’s most spectacular outback sites. A dreamscape of twisted slot canyons, towering chasms, and plunging falls, these spectacular pindan lands are a highlight of any trip to WA.
Allow several days to explore breathtaking sites like Joffre Gorge, Hancock Gorge, Fern Pool, Weano Gorge, Fortescue Falls, and Knox Gorge. Hikers should head off early to summit Mount Bruce before the sun’s rays start to scorch. On Karijini’s northern border, Hamersley Gorge is well worth the detour for its trickling cascades and picture-perfect pools.
Wherever you go, bring swimmers. Many Karijini hikes terminate at a refreshing natural pool.
Return to the NW Highway via the paved route to Nanutarra. Or, if you’re feeling adventurous, take the Rio Tinto Road (permits available in Tom Price) through the seldom-explored Millstream Chichester National Park.
Travellers with more time might add on Marble Bar, a tiny mining town dubbed the hottest place in Australia. Old-timey museums, cragged rock formations, and stunning waterside campsites make for a pleasant little side trip.
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