A Journey through WA: A 3-4 Month Itinerary
Welcome to an epic Western Australian road trip! We know that planning a trip of this scale can be overwhelming, especially if you’re a meticulous planner. We hope that our extensive itinerary will serve as a valuable resource, giving you a starting point for your own adventure. Even though we’ve shared our experiences, remember that there are plenty of hidden gems and unexplored points of interest. Feel free to add your own suggestions and share your experiences in the comments. If you find our journey inspiring, there’s no doubt that WA will have you planning a return visit, perhaps over a span of six months. We have added our suggested amount of nights to stay in each place.
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty details, here are some of our top tips for your WA adventure:
Favourites So Far: A sneak peek into our top destinations:
- Lucky Bay Campground & Cape Le Grand: Frenchman’s Peak hike is a must.
- Margaret River Region: Food, wine, and gorgeous landscapes.
- Monkey Mia RAC & Surrounding Area: A perfect blend of beachside bliss and wildlife encounters.
- Ningaloo Coast: Snorkeling, wildlife, and pristine beaches.
- Cape Range National Park: Adventure, nature, amazing snorkeling and the great outdoors.
- Karijini: A mesmerizing landscape for hiking and exploring.
Hot Tips for a Smoother Journey
- Time of Year: We travelled WA from April – July, we found the south pretty chilly and used wetsuits for swimming but overall if the sun was out, it was beautiful.
- WikiCamps App: Plan your camping spots and points of interest. Read reviews and access information offline. You can find info and reviews for all of the spots we’ve mentioned below on Wikicamps
- Polarsteps App: Track your journey automatically, add photos, and compile your adventure into a photo book.
- RAC Membership: Get discounts at RAC parks and more.
- WA National Parks Pass: Buy an annual pass (half-price with an RAC membership) and save.
- G’DAY Membership: It’s a valuable addition for your travels to get discounds at G’Day caravan parks, you can also use the G’Day app to search for sites.
- Starlink: Consider Starlink for internet, especially in remote areas.
- Nullarbor: Like any other road, there are camps and petrol stations along the way, with Telstra service (no other carriers) and phone booths at major roadhouses.
- GoPro and Drone: Invest in these to capture your unforgettable moments.
- Booking Ahead: Secure your spots in advance for places you can’t miss. Our top picks would be: Ningaloo, Cape Range, Lucky Bay – Esperance & Monkey Mia
- Check for Restrictions: Keep an eye on government websites for border crossings and food restrictions.
The Epic Itinerary (South to North)
The Nullarbor
2 Nights at Ceduna Foreshore Caravan Park: (Great base to start the Nullarbor from)
- Great kids playground on the foreshore
- Try crabbing off the jetty. Don’t forget to check out the State requirements in South Australia.
Sights to see along the Nullarbor:
- Windmill Museum
- Lake McDonnell
- Madura Caves (20 mins off the HWY, a fun little detour to break up the drive)
- Bunda Cliffs
- Great Australian Bight
- Scenic Lookout
1 Night at Border Village Gravel Pit:
- Be aware of fruit, veg, and honey restrictions across the WA border (check out the WA quarantine website for current info).
- Make a 20-minute detour to explore Madura Caves (you can find directions on Wikicamps).
1 Night at Baxter Rest Area
The South Coast of Western Australia
5 Nighta at Lucky Bay Campground: (MUST BOOK AHEAD)
- Amazing campground with toilets, showers and a camp kitchen
- Go hiking at Frenchman’s Peak (or enjoy one of the many hikes in the area)
- Drive down onto Lucky Bay beach and enjoy the amazing white sand and turquoise water
- Visit Little Hellfire Bay
- Drive into Esperance on the beach
2 Nights at Esperance RAC:
- Explore the Great Ocean Drive and numerous beautiful beaches.
- Check out Wharton Beach
- Visit the Stonehenge Replica
- Get delicious treats from Bread Local (open on Fridays only)
(We skipped Bremer Bay to visit Wave Rock, but Bremer Bay is highly recommended!)
1 Night at Varley Overnight Stay or Wave Rock Caravan Park which includes entry to wave rock and salt pool (if available):
- Yummylicious Lolly shop – Ravensthorpe
- silo art Ravensthorpe
- Wave Rock
- Hippo’s Yawn
- Mulka’s Cave
- Salt pool
- Lace and tin soldier museum
- Tin horse Highway (on the way to Kulin)
1 Night at Kulin RV Free Camp:
- Don’t miss the Kulin Big Waterslide (closes in winter).
- Great playground near the free camp
- Visit the pub across the road for a yummy feed
On the Way to Albany:
- Stop by the all-ages playground in Katanning or take the Castle Rock Walk in Porongurup.
3 Nights at Albany Big4 Middleton Beach:
- Great caravan park with heated spa, playground and jumping pillow right on the beach
- Low cost camping option: Cosy Corner East
- Whaling Station
- Anzac museum
- The gap and natural bridge
- Explore Albany’s fascinating history and natural attractions.
On the Way to Walpole:
- Visit Elephant Rocks and Greens Pool.
- Explore Ducketts Mill Cheese and Wine.
- Spend time at an alpaca farm.
2 Nights at Walpole Rest Point Caravan Park:
- Relax, fish off the jetty, and visit the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk.
Margaret River Region Highlights
6 Nights at Busselton Mandalay Holiday Resort:
- This is a fantastic resort, amazing customer service, great pool, slide, multiple kids playgrounds and activities.
- Use this as your base to explore the Margaret River region and surrounding areas.
- Busselton Jetty and Aquarium
- Busselton Foreshore
- Claudio’s Bakehouse Busselton
- Canal Rocks Yallingup
- Injidup Natural Spa Yallingup
- Swings & Roundabouts Restaurant & Winery Yallingup
- Yallingup Maze
- Ngilgi Cave Yallingup
- Sunset at Yallingup Beach
- Yallingup Woodfired Bakery (amazing sourdough)
- Simmo’s Ice Cream Dunsborough
- Meelup Beach Dunsborough
- Cape Naturaliste
- The Berry Farm
- Hamelin Bay
- Jewel Cave
- Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse
On the Way from Busselton to Perth:
- Dolphin Discovery Centre in Bunbury
- Go on some walking adventures to find the Mandurah Giants
- Visit the Lake Clifton Thrombolites.
Perth Highlights
6 Nights in Perth at Karrinyup Waters Resort:
- Sunsets at Cottesloe Beach and Gooseberry Hill
- Optus Stadium Parklands
- Elizabeth Quay
- Rio Tinto Naturescape
- Rottnest Island
- Penguin Island
- Kings Park
- Free CAT Buses
- Lesmurdie Falls
- Bathers Beach
- Little Ferry Co – Hop on and off solar ferries
- Yanchep Lagoon Snorkeling
- Hillary’s
- Scarborough Beach
- Rottnest Island
- Scitech
On the Way to Jurien Bay:
- Stay at Nambung Station
- Slide down the Lancelin Sand Dunes
- Explore The Pinnacles
3 Nights at Jurien Bay, Sandy Cape Campground:
- Enjoy beautiful beaches and, if possible, go swimming with sea lions in Jurien Bay.
2 Nights at Lucky Bay Campground
- Check out the beautiful Hutt Lagoon (Pink Lake)
2 Nights in Kalbarri at Big River Ranch:
- Visit Kalbarri National Park
- Take the Lobster Pot Pull Tour.
- Explore the coastal cliffs and lookout points.
Monkey Mia and Surroundings
5 Nights at Monkey Mia RAC:
- Discover the paradise-like resort with a beautiful pool, excellent restaurants (don’t miss happy hour!), and a beautiful ocean view.
- Bring your stand up paddle boards or hire some on the beach.
- Enjoy the daily dolphin feedings or just watch them swim by while you are relaxing on the beach
- Ocean Park Aquarium
- Denham Foreshore
- Shell Beach
- Francois Peron National Park (4WD Only) – Visit Skipjack Point and Bottle Bay
2 Nights at Big Lagoon – arrive early to secure a spot!
1 Night at Eagles Bluff (Just Outside of Denham):
- Enjoy a secluded campsite with a mesmerizing view.
1 Night at Wooramel River Retreat
- Don’t miss visiting the Space Museum at Carnarvon.
- Carnarvon Woolies is the last one before Ningaloo/Exmouth.
2 Nights at Quobba Blowholes
- Check out The Aquarium for good snorkeling.
2 Nights at Coral Bay
- Visit Five Fingers Reef.
Ningaloo Coast Adventures
It can be hard to choose where to stay along the Ningaloo Coast and Cape Range National Park. Check out our Ningaloo Coast guide to decide what’s best for you. You will need to BOOK AHEAD for all of these campgrounds as they fill up very fast! Depending on how much time you have, these are our suggestions below:
4 Nights at South Lefroy
- Snorkel out 100m and then drift snorkel down the beach
- See reef sharks, turtles, stingrays and so many colourful fish
- Go fishing and enjoy the catch for dinner
4 Nights at Winderabandi
- Bring your boat, kayak or stand up paddle board for exploring
- Swim/paddle out to the breakwall for a unique snorkelling experience
- Spot the dolphins and matarays
4 Nights at Osprey Bay Campground in Cape Range National Park
- Snorkel out and see the turtles at Osprey Bay
- Visit Oyster Stacks and Yardie Creek Gorge Walk.
- Enjoy snorkeling at Turquoise Bay Drift Loop.
3 Nights at Exmouth RAC:
- Explore the town and its beautiful beaches and natural attractions.
- Book a Whale Shark Swim (a must do when you are in the area!)
- Don’t forget to explore the Cape Range Canyons
- There are 2 IGA’s and a great bakery for treats.
2 Nights at Bullara Station
1 Night at Cheela Plains Station on the way to Karijini OR Cleaverville Beach Campground if going to Karratha
Exploring Karijini
2 Nights in Tom Price:
- Hamersley Gorge
- Sunset Drive up Mt. Nameless Lookout
- Great Coles to stock up on fresh fruit and veg
2-3 Nights at Dales Campground or Karijini Overflow Campground:
- Visit the Visitors Centre when you first get there for a kids activity book
- Explore Dales Gorge
- Weano Gorge
- Hancock Gorge
- Joffre, Knox
- Kalamina Gorges.
2 Nights at Cape Keraudren (Cliff Camp, Sandy Beach, or Top Camp):
2 Nights at Barn Hill Station
- Beautiful beach and fun kids’ play area
- Visit the cafe, order a pizza for dinner, and enjoy fresh bread in the mornings
Broome Highlights
5 Nights at Broome Caravan Park:
- Camel Rides and Cable Beach
- Swimming and Boogie Boarding on Cable Beach
- Visit Willie Creek Pearl Farm
- Dinosaur Footprints (Check for low tide)
- Gantheume Point
- Riddell Beach
- Coconut Wells
- Malcolm Douglas Crocodile Park
- The Aarli (Asian Fusion Restaurant)
- Night Markets and Weekend Markets
- Sun Pictures Outdoor Cinema
- Stairway to the Moon (Check dates for full moon)
- Consider a visit to Horizontal Falls (if it fits your budget)
3 Nights in the Dampier Peninsular
- Barred Creek
- Quandong Point
- James Price Point
If you are feeling adventurous, travel the Gibb River Rd. from here or if you are like us and wanted to stay on the HWY check out the suggestions below:
1 Night at Mimbi Caves Campground and Tour:
- A great campground and tour of the caves by the locals, book online.
2 Nights in the Bungle Bungles – 1 Night at Leychesters Rest Area and 1 Night at Spring Creek Rest Area (left van there while we drove into the Bungle Bungles:
- Make sure to explore the National Park.
- Drive in as early as possible to give yourself time to explore
- Road is rough with a few water crossings so drive to conditions
5 Nights at El Questro Station
- Explore Zebedee Falls, Emma Gorge, El Questro Gorge, and Branco’s Lookout.
2 Nights at Kununurra
- Explore the Grotto, Molly Springs, Ivanhoe Crossing, and the free town water park.
2 Nights in Lake Argyle Caravan Park:
- Enjoy the amenities, an infinity pool, and a memorable sunset cruise.
And just like that, the incredible trip through WA is over – we went across the Northern Territory on the way back to Central QLD so we included a couple of bonus spots in the NT.
2 Nights at Katherine Farmstay:
- Great for the kids – lots of animals with daily feedings.
- Visit Cutta Cutta Caves and Katherine Gorge.
- Take a dip in the hot springs
2 Nights in Mataranka – Little Roper Stock Camp:
- An amazing spot to stay with the kids – animals, reptiles, hay bale playground, campfire dinners and Jonny cakes for breaky
- Bitter Springs is beautiful – bring your snorkel to explore the underwater wonderland and don’t forget your noodles to float down the river then walk back up to do it all over again
- Mataranka Springs – more like a pool, it is also nice but can get crowded
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