Whether it’s the sparkling, crystal-clear beaches, lush vineyards fringing karri forests, or the striking limestone formations situated in a coastal desert, Western Australia beckons to those seeking an unforgettable adventure. And without a doubt, the best way to explore WA is by road trip.
I grew up in Perth and have road-tripped nearly every corner of this vast state. In this article, I’ll share my comprehensive guide help you plan the ultimate adventure along Australia’s west coast, from start to finish.
Where to Start When Planning your WA Road Trip
It can feel SO overwhelming even knowing where to start when it’s time to begin planning your big Western Australia road trip adventure.
Besides being the largest state in Australia, covering a massive 2.5 million square kilometres, there are so many amazing things to see and do along the way – and I know the feeling of not wanting to miss out on a single thing!!
Let’s start by breaking it down into the basics, before jumping into some of my suggested itineraries for various trip durations.
How Long Do You Need?
Timing is everything when it comes to successfully planning your dream road trip in Western Australia. One of the most common mistakes I see people make is cramming too much in too short of a time.
For example, trying to cover Broome to Esperance in just 3 weeks – I think even 4 weeks is too short for this trip! You’d spend every other day in the car driving between locations, without enough time to actually enjoy the beautiful places you’re trying to squeeze in.
At a minimum, I would say you would need 10 – 14 days to comfortably cover a north of Perth road trip (e.g. Perth to Exmouth) and the same again for a south west road trip (e.g. Perth to Denmark and Albany via Margaret River). You should plan for 3 weeks if you plan to cover Esperance on this trip too.
When to Go?
As Western Australia is so vast, the seasons vary dramatically across the state.
For example, while Broome experiences its stormy monsoonal wet season in January, the South West, including Margaret River, enjoys sunny days perfect for beach hopping.
On the flip side, while Perth and the South West cop a drenching in the middle of winter, you’ll uncover balmy, beautiful warm days from Exmouth up to Broome.
The general rule of thumb is:
- Summer (November – March-ish): head south of Perth
- Winter (May – August-ish): head north of Perth
Where to Visit?
I have detailed itineraries for the most popular Western Australia road trips which I share in detail in the next section. For some general west coast Australia road trip inspiration, check out the following guides:
Car or Campervan?
This is a tricky one – both are great options!
Since I live in Perth, most of my Western Australia road trips have been done in my 2WD SUV, staying at accommodation along the way in the places we visit. I’ve also done a couple of campervan trips, and it is a great way to travel to have a bit more freedom and flexibility.
Car Hire
Popular rental chain companies include No Birds, Sixt and Thrifty. I recommend using Discover Cars to compare rental options to make sure you are getting the best deal – this platform offers benefits like free cancellation options, no hidden fees and competitive prices.
If you’re renting a car, expect to pay from around AUD $60 per day for a small hire car.
Campervan Hire
The daily campervan rental cost will vary widely depending on the features of the campervan, such as:
- Size
- Facilities (such as an in-built bathroom, and solar power)
- Quality and Type of Camper
Popular campervan companies in Western Australia include:
- Budget: JUCY and Travellers Autobarn
- Mid-Range: Britz and Apollo
- Luxury: StarRV
For mid-range campervans, prices typically start around the AUD $150 – 180 per day mark.
Camping in Western Australia
Free camping is fairly limited in Western Australia – you can’t just pull up to a beach and stay overnight (at least, legally). In popular tourist towns like Exmouth and Margaret River, rangers frequently patrol the areas, fining illegal campers.
There are three main options when it comes to camping in WA:
- Free camping / wild camping (free): Free campsites are quite limited in Western Australia. Download the WikiCamps app which is the best way to find these free camps – it’s well worth the small one-off fee.
- National Park camping ($): Camping in National Parks is strictly prohibited unless at designated campsites. These campsites usually cost around $10-15 per person, per night. Facilities will be limited, and are usually limited to just toilets, although some campsites may have a camp kitchen. Bookings can be made online up to 180 days in advance on the Explore Parks website.
- Caravan Parks ($$): Privately managed caravan parks, with options for unpowered and powered sites. Facilities include a kitchen, laundry and sometimes a pool. Expect to pay anywhere from $35 to 50 a night, or sometimes more during peak season. Hipcamp is another option to find campsites on private properties.
Tip: Campsites in popular national parks such as Cape Range National Park during peak season (June – August) book out very quickly. Try to book 180 days in advance when bookings are released, or check the Explore Parks website daily for cancellations closer to your camping dates.
Get more tips and tricks for securing these popular camping spots in my complete guide to Camping in Western Australia.
Essential Driving Tips
Like the rest of Australia, vehicles drive on the left-hand side of the road. If you have a valid overseas licence in English, you do not need an International Driving Permit (IDP). If it’s not in English, you’ll need an official English translation or an IDP.
These are some of my key tips for driving in Western Australia:
- Wildlife Hazards: Avoid driving at dawn, dusk, or in the evenings in regional areas to reduce the risk of hitting wildlife, such as kangaroos.
- Rest Breaks: Take regular stops to stretch your legs or have a coffee break.
- Planning Stops: Food and fuel stops can be scarce in rural regions. Plan ahead on where to stop, keeping in mind that you might not have phone reception in some places. Use the FuelWatch WA website to locate petrol stations and compare prices to plan your fuel stops effectively. PetrolSpy is an alternative app-based tool.
- Essentials for Road Trips: If you’re setting off on a long road trip, make sure to carry extra food, water, a first aid kit, and a spare tyre.
- Overtaking Caution: Be careful when overtaking on roads, especially on highways where speed limits can range up to 110 km/h. You’ll encounter many vehicles towing caravans or long road trains which require a bigger gap in traffic to safely overtake.
Road Trip Itineraries
Here are my top recommended road trip itineraries across Western Australia.
North
Perth to the Pinnacles
- Best Time of Year: All-Year Round (but beware of the flies in summer! A fly net is recommended)
- How Long Do You Need: Day trip or weekend trip
The Perth to Pinnacles road trip offers a scenic adventure from the city to Nambung National Park, showcasing the unique limestone formations of the Pinnacles. Highlights include exploring the Pinnacles on foot or by car, dining at the Lobster Shack in Cervantes, and sandboarding at the Lancelin Sand Dunes.
Optional stops include Yanchep National Park for wildlife spotting, making this one of the best day trips from Perth. It’s a great day trip from Perth, or spend a couple of nights for a slower-paced weekend adventure.
Read my full Perth to the Pinnacles guide here.
Perth to Kalbarri
- Best Time of Year: April to October
- How Long Do You Need: 5 – 7 days
The Perth to Kalbarri road trip is a captivating journey along Western Australia’s Coral Coast, featuring stunning stops like the Lancelin Sand Dunes, the Pinnacles Desert, Jurien Bay, and the famous Hutt Lagoon Pink Lake.
The itinerary culminates in Kalbarri, known for its striking National Park with rugged gorges, adventurous hikes and scenic lookouts.
Read my full Perth to Kalbarri Road Trip guide here.
Perth to Exmouth
- Best Time of Year: April to October
- How Long Do You Need: 7 – 10 days
This is one of my all-time favourite road trips in Western Australia. You’ll adventure along the entire length of Australia’s Coral Coast, with stops at the Pinnacles, Kalbarri, Monkey Mia and Shark Bay before arriving in Exmouth, home to the acclaimed Ningaloo Reef.
If you have a few extra days, you could extend this itinerary to include a trip to the spectacular Karijini National Park, best known for its remarkable gorge hikes and tranquil swimming holes.
Read my full Perth to Exmouth Road Trip guide here.
Mid-West Wildflower Road Trip
- Best Time of Year: Late August to September
- How Long Do You Need: 2 – 3 days
Wildflower season in Western Australia is a spectacle to behold as over 12,000 species of native wildflowers begin to bloom across the state.
The best way to set off on a Western Australia wildflower road trip to witness the vibrant blooms is in the mid-West region, inland of Geraldton, at Coalseam Conservation Park and surrounding areas like Mingenew and Mullewa where carpets of everlastings can be found in September.
My guide here covers when to visit, driving routes, camping options, and the best spots to see the region’s famous everlastings and rare wreath flowers.
South
Perth to Margaret River
- Best Time of Year: October to April
- How Long Do You Need: 3 – 5 days
This is the perfect road trip from Perth if you only have a few nights.
Drive from Perth to Margaret River to explore the beautiful coastline, towering karri forests and scenic wineries. There are plenty of fabulous foodie offerings to sample along with the world-class wines. You can embark on this road trip any time of the year, but if you want to make the most of the incredible beaches, time your visit from October to April.
More guides here:
- The Ultimate 3 Day Margaret River Itinerary
- 7 Must-See Stops on a Perth to Margaret River Road Trip
- 35 Best Things to Do in Margaret River
Perth to Denmark and Albany via Margaret River
- Best Time of Year: October to April
- How Long Do You Need: 7 – 14 days
Get ready for a scenic road trip along the south coast of Western Australia, travelling from Perth to Albany via Margaret River and Denmark, and discover some of the region’s best natural attractions including breathtaking coastal and forest landscapes. You can cover the best of the region in just 7 days, but there’s enough to explore that you could take a full 2 weeks or longer.
Read my full Best of the South West Road Trip guide here.
Perth to Esperance
- Best Time of Year: November to March
- How Long Do You Need: 5+ days
Venture to Esperance, a small town on the remote south coast of WA, home to some of the best beaches in Australia.
Driving directly from Perth to Esperance via Wave Rock will take about 8 hours, but it’s worth the long drive once you lay eyes on the impossibly blue beaches of Esperance. If you have more time up your sleeve, consider doing the Perth to Denmark via Margaret River road trip, and then add on Esperance for the ultimate south west WA adventure.
More guides here:
- Ultimate Perth to Esperance Road Trip Guide
- Top 12 Must See Beaches in Esperance
- 21 Best Things to Do in Esperance
North & South – 4 Week Western Australia Itinerary
- Best Time of Year: April – June (starting in the South West) or August – October (starting in the North)
- How Long Do You Need: 4 weeks
This is the ultimate West Coast Australia itinerary! You’ll cover over 1,500 kilometres of Western Australia’s epic coastline while visiting jaw-dropping natural attractions between Albany and Denmark in the south west all the way to Exmouth in the north.
If you have an extra 4 – 5 days, I’d add on Esperance, and if you have an extra 10 days, you could add on Broome.
What Next?
Hopefully, I’ve now given you some inspiration and ideas to kickstart your planning of the perfect WA adventure.
I’ve got a couple of other resources that will help you plan your dream trip.
WA Road Trip & Travel Tips Facebook Group
Want more help planning your Western Australia Road Trip? Join our community of like-minded adventurers!
Sharing travel tips and tricks, detailed itineraries, practical travel advice and local recommendations to help you plan the ULTIMATE road trip.
Western Australia Road Trip Guide eBook
If you’ve found this blog post useful, you might want to check out my new eBook! The maps in this article have been taken from this guide, which includes easy-to-follow day-by-day itineraries to go with each map.
From a lifetime of exploring Western Australia by car, I’ve written the ultimate guide to help you navigate planning your dream trip to WA with ease. My Western Australia Travel Guide eBook is the ultimate resource packed with everything you need to know to plan your perfect adventure.
The 90+ page eBook includes sections on: the best time to visit each location, how to get around, more travel tips and essential information, detailed destination guides for all the locations I recommend you visit as well as 7 efficient and optimized itineraries for trips ranging from 1 to 4 weeks.
You’ll find more information and a link to purchase the eBook here.
Final Thoughts
That wraps up this ultimate guide on planning the ultimate west coast Australia road trip. Some planning is required to optimise your trip to make the most of the incredible natural attractions that await, but it is SO worth it for the experience that awaits.
I hope this guide has been helpful, feel free to pop any questions in the comment box below or please join us in my free Facebook Group.
Plus you can view all my Western Australia blog posts here for even more travel inspiration.