The wild beauty of Kalbarri, a small Mid-West coastal town 590km north of Perth, will knock your socks off, blow your mind, hit you for a six and sucker punch you in the jaw.
We’re not even exaggerating.
Rugged ocean cliffs will make tears trickle down your cheeks, towering red gorges will have you high fiving a higher source, and a furious ocean teamed with gentle sapphire rock pools will bring you to your knees.
But this travel guide isn’t actually about Kalbarri (even though, clearly, we’re a little bit obsessed with it).
Nope, right now we’re talking about all the great things to do on the way to Kalbarri. It is, after all, a long ole 6.5 hour drive (around 574km) from Perth, which isn’t for the faint-hearted. But this lengthy drive is made more palatable if you take the coast route and make these epic pitstops along the way.
Perth to Yanchep (55.3km, 43 minutes)
Your challenge with Yanchep is not what to do, but what not to do during your pitstop here. If you’re a snorkelling fiend, head straight to Yanchep lagoon where a curved reef creates a protected ocean mecca teaming with marine life. The reef is only 20m from the shore, making it easily accessible to all swimmers (reef shoes are recommended because it can be a little sharp in places). Yanchep lagoon is usually calm and clear as a whistle but do be careful when the tide comes in, as it can bring deceptively strong currents with it.
If snorkelling isn’t your jam, skip the Lagoon and head to Yanchep National Park instead. Here, you can stroll beneath towering marri trees, check out some impressive stalagmites and stalactites at Crystal Cave or lose your mind over the cuteness of kangaroos (which roam around freely) or koalas (the park has a specially-built viewing platform which offers a great peek at their smooshy little leaf-munching faces).
Yanchep to Lancelin (82km, 58 mins)
After another hour on the road pull in at Lancelin – a teeny beachside town known for its epic kitesurfing beaches and titanic sand dunes. If you’re feeling adventurous, hire a sandboard and take a skid down these lofty sand mountains. But if you’re feeling extra extra adventurous, level up with a quadbiking adventure through the dunes. Both are a heap of fun but here’s a hot tip – bring some goggles or some wraparound shades to avoid getting sand blasted in the eyes. And leave the chapstick at home, unless you want some seriously sandy chops.
Find it: Beacon Rd, Lancelin.
Lancelin to Nambung National Park (76.5km, 49 mins)
Hit the road again and, just under an hour later, you’ll lob in at the mighty Pinnacles. These eerie limestone structures were formed around 30,000 years ago when the sea receded and left deposits of seashells, which have been exposed over time thanks to gusty coastal winds. The result is a peculiar, enchanting and other-worldly landscape that looks straight out of a Hollywood sci-fi blockbuster. Give yourself at least an hour here to explore, snap some photos and drink in Mother Nature’s finest.
Nambung National Park to The Lobster Shack (22.7km, 27 mins)
Buckle up – next stop is the lunch pitstop and it’s an absolute cracker. The Lobster Shack is a seafood restaurant offering everything from fresh abalone to oysters, and chilli mussels to King prawn buckets. But the star of the show, as the name suggests, are the crays – aka the lobsters. Caught daily in local waters, these lobsters lob straight from the ocean to your plate; the flesh is succulent, sweet and perfectly paired with garlic butter. The restaurant has a million dollar oceanfront view, but the seagulls here are relentless – don’t leave your chippies unguarded!
Find it: 37 Catalonia St, Cervantes.
Cervantes to Hutt Lagoon, Port Gregory (353.2km, 3 hours, 53 mins)
It’s a long four-hour drive from Cervantes to Hutt Lagoon, home of a gargantuan bubblegum pink lake that will live in your mind rent-free forever. The colour of the lake is created by the a carotenoid-producing algae called Dunaliella salina, and can shift from Barbie-esque pink to gentle lilac to fireball red, depending on the season, time of day and amount of cloud cover overhead when you visit. For maximise flamingo pink hues, try and get there on a clear, sunny day and arrive at midday when the sun is overhead.
Find it: George Grey Dr, Yallatharra.
From Port Gregory, it’s just 36 minutes to Kalbarri – but that is a whole other adventure that we’ll take you through soon.
We love a self-drive, but if you’re not able to get behind the wheel, don’t stress: there are some great tours that will help you enjoy the incredible pitstops on the way to Kalbarri. These affiliate links are here for your convenience – they cost you no extra, and will simply link you through to the safe and secure Viator booking system. Booking a Viator tour through our website helps keep this free, independent and valuable information alive. Thanks for your support!
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