backpacker trip west coast australia

After meeting the group and doing a food shop, head to Lancelin to play on giant sand dunes and go sandboarding, kayaking or swimming.

In the afternoon check out the world-famous ‘alien’ Pinnacles at Cervantes!

Enjoy some beach time, and view the Pinnacles in the morning if you didn’t get the chance the day before.

At Jurien Bay you have the opportunity to snorkel with friendly sea lions. Heading up the coast, you can stop at Greenhead where you can see the Dynamite Bay and enjoy a BBQ, swim, or one of the walking trails.

There is a free camp on a beach not too far north of Greenhead.

There’s a little bit more driving as you can continue the drive North.

On your way to Kalbarri make sure you detour to see ‘Hutt Lagoon’, one of the more accessible and pink ‘pink lakes’ in Australia.

Then head towards Kalbarri and stop at the Kalbarri Sea Cliffs for some beautiful walks and dramatic sea views.

The gorge near Kalbarri (Murchison Gorge) deserves a whole day, so it’s best to check it out on your second day in the area.

You can see the famous Nature’s Window here, but we recommend doing one or two of the longer hikes to make the most of what this location has to offer.

Head towards Monkey Mia stopping at sights like Shell Beach, Eagle Bluff and the town of Denham on the way.
Monkey Mia is famous for being able to spot dolphins off the beach! Stay overnight at Monkey Mia. Laze by the beach, play games, and spot marine animals and wildlife during the day.

Kayak hire is also available if you feel like being more adventurous and exploring the peninsula.

After leaving the Peninsula, at Hamelin Pool, you can see old stromatolites. Once you’ve checked them out, head North to Carnarvon, and stop in town to grocery shop or pass by a local farm for fresh mangoes and produce.

Nearby are the Quobba Blowholes which are quite impressive, and close to them there is also a good snorkelling spot.

Coral Bay is a special place! It’s a very small town with a beautiful beach. The most special part is that you can snorkel the Ningaloo Reef right off the coast! Stay here for a night.

Cape Range National Park is an amazing place; camp here if you can! There is world-class snorkelling at oyster stacks. Or you can visit one of the most beautiful beaches in existence at Turquoise Bay. There is also some nice hiking available at Yardie Creek and Charles Knife Canyon.

We recommend spending most of Day 10 inside Cape Range National Park and heading out to Exmouth in the afternoon.
Do any tours on Day 11 (like seeing whale sharks, or a diving tour), as well as exploring Exmouth. Then drive a couple of hours towards Karijini National Park before setting up camp for the night.

It’s a long drive to Karijini, but once you are there set up a camp for a few nights – there’s a lot to see.

You should spend 3 full days here. There are falls, pools, hikes, gorges – look up some pictures. If you stop at a tourist information centre on the way you’ll be able to get some maps, and possibly join an abseiling/canyoning tour if you feel adventurous.

Make sure you leave Karijini by the early afternoon of the 15th day to make sure you have enough time to get to Perth.

Spend the morning in Karijini, but start heading to Perth by the afternoon of Day 15.

The Great Northern Highway is the quickest route back to Perth, but there are still a few interesting spots to check out.

You can stop at Meekatharra for lunch and to explore; perhaps walking the 3km heritage trail. When you reach Cue you can find historical buildings from the Gold Rush.

Journey towards Perth. Stop by New Norcia – the town of monks, then head into Perth to enjoy the afternoon.