Western Australia covers large distances, and without a clear route, visitors often miss important places or spend time on long, unplanned detours with little value.
Without local insight or proper guidance, road trips lose impact. Travellers pass by natural features, historic places, or cultural sites without knowing their importance or where to stop safely.
This guide lists WA road trips that offer purpose and structure. From coastlines and national parks to quiet inland towns, these routes give more reasons to pull over, slow down, and stay longer.
Margaret River Region
Wineries and Scenic Drives
Margaret River is about three hours south of Perth. Known for its wine, forests, and open coastlines, it offers strong day-trip and overnight loops. Vineyards sit beside farmland, bushland, and winding forest roads.
Cellar doors often include tasting rooms, shaded outdoor seating, and links to local producers supplying bread, meat, and preserves. Many are open midweek and weekends year-round.
Cultural Significance and Local Knowledge
Margaret River sits on Wadandi Boodja. Visitors can attend storytelling sessions, bush walks, or art exhibitions in town galleries or cultural centres. This adds more value to the stop than food and wine alone.
Cape Leeuwin and the Lighthouse
Cape Leeuwin marks the southern tip of mainland Western Australia. The lighthouse operates as both a navigation point and cultural site. Signage explains shipwrecks, early lighthouse keepers, and the layout of ocean currents where the Indian and Southern Oceans meet.
The viewing area includes boardwalks, ocean lookout points, and strong visual markers during sunrise and late afternoon. Parking and toilet facilities are available. Entry to the lighthouse tower is through guided sessions, but surrounding areas are open during daylight.
Nearby Augusta offers fuel, food stops, and picnic areas. Visitors often combine this loop with the Margaret River region for a complete coastal circuit.
The Coral Coast Highway
The Coral Coast Highway runs from Perth to Exmouth, covering over 1,200 km. It includes highlights like Nambung National Park, Kalbarri, Shark Bay, and Ningaloo Reef.
Most stops include short walks, reef access, or photo points. Travellers can break up the journey with overnight stays or complete parts of the route across one to two weeks.
Nambung National Park
Located near Cervantes, Nambung National Park is home to the Pinnacles — limestone pillars formed over thousands of years through erosion and fossilisation. The desert landscape provides unique photo settings, especially at sunrise and sunset when shadows stretch across the sand.
A 4 km drive-through loop allows slow access around the formations. A nearby discovery centre explains the geology and local wildlife including emus, kangaroos, and reptiles found across the reserve.
The nearby town of Cervantes offers accommodation, fish markets, and fuel, making it a suitable overnight stop.
Ningaloo Reef and Cape Range
Cape Range National Park lines the western edge of Exmouth. Its canyons and gorges cut into rocky ground and reach the coast where Ningaloo Reef sits just offshore.
Coastal stops include:
- Yardie Creek
- Turquoise Bay
- Osprey Bay
- Lakeside snorkelling point
Snorkelling gear is available from Exmouth stores. Carparks provide access to the beach, with signage noting safe entry zones and current conditions. Walk trails in the gorges suit short hikes and lead to natural platforms with reef or range views.
Swimming with Marine Species
Marine wildlife is active across most of the year near Ningaloo. Swimming with whale sharks, humpback whales, and manta rays is available through licensed operators.
- Whale sharks pass through March to July
- Humpback whales migrate between July and October
- Manta rays move along the reef all year
Tour operators follow strict codes around approach distance, group size, and duration of time in the water. Bookings fill fast during school holiday months and reef events.
Monkey Mia and Shark Bay
Monkey Mia is located inside the Shark Bay Marine Reserve. Each morning, wild dolphins visit the shallows, and viewing platforms allow guests to observe their movements. These visits are voluntary, and staff manage distance between animals and guests.
Nearby sites include:
- Shell Beach (made entirely of cockle shells)
- Hamelin Pool stromatolites
- Peron Peninsula walking tracks
Shark Bay’s inland areas include red sand tracks, low bush scrub, and high-salt lakes. Interpretive signs cover soil types, salinity changes, and how early settlers adapted farming methods in the zone.
Hutt Lagoon
Just north of Port Gregory, Hutt Lagoon contains algae that produce beta-carotene, which gives the water a pink colour under certain conditions. The shade ranges from pale pink to deep magenta depending on time of day and angle of light.
Visitors can view the lagoon from parking zones off George Grey Drive or walk along gravel access paths. The site has no entry fee and is open throughout the year.
Nearby towns such as Kalbarri and Northampton offer services and accommodation for longer stays.
Esperance and Lucky Bay
Esperance is home to white beaches, clear water, and Cape Le Grand National Park. Lucky Bay is a key stop where kangaroos are often seen lying on the sand or near the dune line.
Coastal drives include:
- Twilight Beach Road
- Great Ocean Drive
- Dempster Head walking loop
Rocky islands sit offshore and are visible from the coast. Inland, Frenchman Peak offers a short walk with wide views across the coastline. Cape Le Grand has formal campgrounds and well-marked trails.
Inland Attractions Near Esperance
Beyond beaches, Esperance includes wetlands, lakes, and viewing platforms. Lake Warden and Pink Lake Trail include signage explaining salt movement, algae blooms, and changes in colour over time.
Trips can include inland farms, art trails, or drive-through loops toward Ravensthorpe and Munglinup. These areas show a shift from coastal vegetation to grain production and native bush zones.
Kojonup as a Cultural Stop
Kojonup sits on the Albany Highway, linking Perth and WA’s southern coast. It serves as a useful inland base for travellers planning loops through the Great Southern region.
The Kodja Place features a rose maze, local story paths, and displays representing Noongar, settler, and migrant voices. Trails lead from the property into reserves with native birds, wildflowers, and sculptures built into the bush.
Nearby, Myrtle Benn Flora and Fauna Sanctuary offers walking access through native orchids and seasonal bush settings. This is a calm and respectful stop for guests interested in WA’s local history beyond major highways.
Stay at Cornwall House Accommodation
Cornwall House sits directly on Albany Highway and gives guests access to heritage sites, walking trails, and nearby food venues. Its private rooms, modern bathrooms, and reverse-cycle systems provide a break from the road between larger regional centres.
Guests can check in at any time and start walks directly from the property, or visit key road trip stops within short driving range. Book your stay at Cornwall House Accommodation and connect inland cultural stops with coastal drives in your WA road trip plan.
