Perth to Exmouth: 3 Week Coral Coast Campervan Trip
7 – 28 August · 21 nights · A west coast run from Perth up through the Pinnacles Desert, Kalbarri's gorges and Shark Bay's dolphins to the reef towns of Coral Bay and Exmouth, where snorkelling and gorge walks set the rhythm rather than the road.
Every campsite on this route is a real, named site from OpenStreetMap — pinned where it actually is, with its own website where there is one, so you can check it before you drive there.
Getting there: 199 km · 3 h 09 from Perth · Straightforward run north out of Perth on good sealed roads, with a choice of the inland highway or the slower coastal route through Lancelin's dune country — plenty of room for a 6m van either way.
Aug 7 - arrive
13:00Arrive Cervantes and check in
14:00Wander the small fishing town and jetty
18:00Sunset at Cervantes beach
Aug 8 - explore
07:30Early light at Pinnacles Desert, Nambung National Park
12:00Lunch back in Cervantes
14:00Short walk around Lake Thetis stromatolites
16:00Snorkel the sheltered reef at Hangover Bay
Aug 9 - depart
09:00Pack up and head north toward Kalbarri via Port Gregory
14:15Stop at Hutt Lagoon's pink lake near Port Gregory
Getting there: 390 km · 6 h 25 from Cervantes · Quiet rural highway with a worthwhile detour along the coast past Hutt Lagoon's pink water; the final approach into Kalbarri drops down to the river mouth on a well-graded road.
Aug 9 - arrive
17:30Check in to the caravan park at Kalbarri
18:15Evening stroll along the Murchison River foreshore
19:30Sunset at Kalbarri Skywalk
Aug 10 - explore
08:00Drive inland to Kalbarri National Park
09:00Walk to Nature's Window and The Loop
12:30Picnic lunch by the gorge
14:00Explore Z-Bend gorge lookout and trail
Aug 11 - explore
09:00Coastal cliff walks at Red Bluff and Natural Bridge
12:30Lunch in town
14:00Relax or swim at Chinaman's Beach
Aug 12 - depart
09:00Pack up and drive south then west toward Shark Bay via Hamelin Pool
13:00Stop at Hamelin Pool to see the living stromatolites
Getting there: 381 km · 6 h 19 from Kalbarri · Long open run across the North West Coastal Highway then down the Shark Bay peninsula, with worthwhile roadside stops at Hamelin Pool and Shell Beach; the road narrows a little on the peninsula but stays sealed all the way.
Aug 12 - arrive
17:00Check in at Denham
18:00Sunset walk along the Denham waterfront
Aug 13 - Shark Bay day
07:30Drive to Monkey Mia for the morning dolphin interaction
08:15Watch the wild dolphins come into shore at Monkey Mia
12:00Lunch at Monkey Mia
14:00Swim and walk at Shell Beach
Aug 14 - explore
09:00Drive out to Eagle Bluff lookout over the bay
11:00Visit Ocean Park Aquarium
14:00Kayak or swim at Little Lagoon
Aug 15 - explore
10:00Shark Bay World Heritage Discovery Centre
13:00Relaxed lunch and free afternoon in Denham
18:00Sunset over the bay
Aug 16 - depart
09:00Pack up and head back to the highway toward Carnarvon
Getting there: 326 km · 5 h 15 from Denham · Return leg along the Shark Bay road rejoins the North West Coastal Highway for an easy run north to Carnarvon, all sealed and gently undulating.
Aug 16 - arrive
16:30Check in to the caravan park in Carnarvon
17:30Wander the town and river foreshore
Aug 17 - explore
09:00Walk the historic One Mile Jetty
11:00Browse the plantation fruit and produce stalls
13:00Drive north to Point Quobba blowholes
14:00Watch the blowholes and beachcomb nearby
Aug 18 - depart
09:00Pack up and drive north toward Coral Bay
13:30Arrive into Coral Bay
5
18 – 22 August · Stop 5 of 6
Coral Bay
4 nightsNingaloo ReefGlass-bottom boat over the coralSnorkel at Skeleton Bay
Getting there: 238 km · 3 h 59 from Carnarvon · Quiet coastal highway before turning off onto the short spur road down to the bay; wide and easy for a large van, with the reef visible almost from the water's edge.
Aug 18 - arrive
14:00Check in at Coral Bay
15:00First snorkel straight off the main beach into Ningaloo Reef
Aug 19 - explore
09:00Snorkel the reef from Purdy Point drift snorkel
13:00Relaxed lunch by the bay
15:00Beach time and swim at Coral Bay
Aug 20 - explore
09:00Glass-bottom boat tour over the coral gardens
12:00Lunch in town
14:00Snorkel at Skeleton Bay
Aug 21 - explore
09:00Free morning to snorkel or relax on the beach
13:00Lunch by the water
15:00Walk out to the point for sunset
Aug 22 - depart
09:00Pack up and drive north to Exmouth
13:00Arrive into Exmouth
B
22 – 28 August · Stop 6 of 6
Exmouth
6 nightsNingaloo ReefTurquoise Bay snorkelYardie Creek Gorge
Getting there: 152 km · 2 h 53 from Coral Bay · Short, easy sealed run up the peninsula from Coral Bay, with the Cape Range hills coming into view as the road nears Exmouth.
Aug 22 - arrive
13:30Check in at Exmouth
15:00Wander the town and marina
18:00Sunset at Vlamingh Head Lighthouse
Aug 23 - explore
09:00Drive into Cape Range National Park
10:00Snorkel the drift at Turquoise Bay
13:00Picnic lunch at the bay
15:00Snorkel the coral heads at Oyster Stacks
Aug 24 - explore
09:00Drive to Yardie Creek Gorge
10:00Walk or boat the gorge at Yardie Creek
13:00Lunch back in the park
14:30Explore the range's rugged inland gorges on foot
Aug 25 - explore
08:00Morning boat tour to spot humpback whales offshore
13:00Lunch in town
15:00Relax on Exmouth's town beach
Aug 26 - explore
09:00Snorkel Lighthouse Bay's coral gardens
13:00Lunch by the water
15:00Free afternoon to relax at the campsite
Aug 27 - explore
10:00Visit the Ningaloo Centre to learn about the reef
12:30Lunch in Exmouth township
14:30Last snorkel of the trip at Turquoise Bay
Aug 28 - depart
09:00Pack up the van
10:30Final coffee overlooking the Ningaloo coast before the trip ends
A plan, not a promise. Campsites, roads and opening times can be wrong or out of date — check anything you'd be sorry to get wrong.
Campsites come from OpenStreetMap, which volunteers maintain. A site listed here may have closed, be full, open only in season, or be tagged wrong. We link the site’s own page where there is one, and pin it where OSM says it is — always confirm it exists, and book it yourself.
Distances and times are measured on real roads, not guessed. But a router doesn't know about roadworks, a closed pass, a ferry that stops running in October, or the height, width and weight limits that apply to a large campervan. Treat them as good numbers, not gospel.
The day-by-day plan is written by AI. Opening hours, prices, whether a thing runs in your season, and whether it suits your vehicle or your party can all be wrong. Check anything you'd be sorry to arrive and find shut.
Local rules are yours to know. Where you may park and sleep overnight, what a licence permits, and what the road demands of a big van vary by country and change without telling us.
Use your own judgement, and see our Terms for the rest.
Want this Australia campervan trip, but planned for you?
Different dates. A different start. Shorter driving days, or no toddler in the back. Change the shape of it and re-plan any stop — you get your own copy, and one link to share with everyone in the van.
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