Coral Coast Road Trip
The Coral Coast Highway trip runs from Perth to Exmouth and back over 3,277 km and eight to eleven days. It takes in the Pinnacles, Geraldton, Kalbarri, Shark Bay, Monkey Mia, Carnarvon and Ningaloo Reef, and ends with a flight from Exmouth to Perth or a drive back by road. A one-way hire to Exmouth is a different booking.
Updated
Key facts
- Trip length
- 3,277 km return from Perth to Exmouth
- Trip duration
- Eight to eleven days
- Early stops
- The Pinnacles and Geraldton
- Middle stops
- Kalbarri National Park, Shark Bay and Monkey Mia
- Northern stops
- Carnarvon and Ningaloo Reef
- Exmouth choice
- Fly from Exmouth to Perth or retrace the route by road
Perth to Perth via Exmouth
3,277 km return
Perth
Collect the car for the northbound Coral Coast route; the 3,277 km total includes the drive back to Perth.
The Pinnacles
First major stop north of Perth. Allow park time before committing to a long first day.
Geraldton and Kalbarri
Consider an overnight split here rather than driving Perth to Kalbarri in one day.
Shark Bay and Monkey Mia
The peninsula detour deserves its own time; the separate Monkey Mia guide covers that destination drive.
Carnarvon
Next northbound stop before the Ningaloo section. Check any remote side-road plan against the rental agreement.
Coral Bay
Tours to Ningaloo Reef run from Coral Bay or Exmouth.
Exmouth
Northern end of the trip. Fly to Perth or drive back; a flight home needs a one-way car return.
Perth return
Allow a substantial southbound driving allocation; a flight from Exmouth needs a one-way car return.
- Perth via Exmouth
How long is the Coral Coast road trip?
The Perth to Exmouth return is 3,277 km over eight to eleven days. The distance includes the return leg, so do not use it as the one-way distance to Exmouth.
Which stops organise the route?
Travel north past the Pinnacles and Geraldton, then visit Hutt Lagoon and Kalbarri National Park, followed by Shark Bay and Monkey Mia. Carnarvon comes before the Ningaloo Reef section, where tours run from Coral Bay or Exmouth.
Should you return the car to Perth or Exmouth?
You can retrace the route by road to Perth or fly from Exmouth to Perth. If flying, search with an Exmouth car return and confirm that the one-way booking and charges are available before paying.
What makes the hire plan practical?
Pick up at Perth Airport or Perth city for the full northbound trip. Allocate the driving days before adding park detours, and check the agreement if an intended side road is unsealed.
Check the kilometre allowance and the roads your agreement excludes before booking. A larger vehicle does not by itself remove an agreement exclusion, so keep a normal car plan to permitted roads and choose an accessible stop when a remote track is excluded.
How can you divide the northbound Coral Coast drive?
Perth to Kalbarri combines a long drive with the Pinnacles, so a slower eight to eleven day trip can split this first stretch with a night around Geraldton. Continue from Kalbarri to Shark Bay and Monkey Mia, then Carnarvon and on to Exmouth. Give Shark Bay its own time if the peninsula detour matters to you.
Do not add remote side trips to a standard rental plan without checking the road surface and your agreement. The coastal towns give a workable sequence without promising access to every optional track.
An extra night between Perth and Kalbarri leaves time at the Pinnacles, and another night in Shark Bay makes the peninsula a stop rather than a rushed detour. The exact overnight towns can fit your interests and available accommodation.
Where do Ningaloo and the Perth return fit?
Ningaloo Reef is the turning point of the trip. Do not collapse the southbound return into a single day: if your booking requires a Perth return, allocate the long southbound leg explicitly; if you fly from Exmouth, search the actual one-way car return and compare its full charges before reserving flights.
Do not read the 3,277 km whole-trip figure as a distance to Exmouth. If the one-way search cannot return a car in Exmouth, the road return must be part of the hire dates.
How is this different from the Monkey Mia drive?
The Monkey Mia guide handles a single Shark Bay destination from Perth. This page covers the longer Perth to Exmouth and back sequence, with Kalbarri, Shark Bay, Carnarvon and Ningaloo each changing the overnight plan. Use the shorter guide if Monkey Mia is the endpoint, rather than adopting the 3,277 km return figure for a much smaller trip.
Compare cars at Perth Airport
Prices are shown in Australian dollars. Check the pickup point and what the agreement allows on the roads in this guide before you book.
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Questions people ask
How many days for the Coral Coast Highway?
Allow eight to eleven days for the Perth to Exmouth return trip.
How long is the Perth to Exmouth return route?
The Perth return itinerary is 3,277 km.
Can I drop a Perth hire car at Exmouth?
Only if the reservation permits the Learmonth or Exmouth return and shows any one-way charge.
Does the trip include Shark Bay?
Yes. Shark Bay sits between Kalbarri and Carnarvon on the route.
Can I fly home from Exmouth?
Yes. You can fly from Exmouth to Perth or retrace your steps by road. A flight home means the car needs a one-way return in Exmouth or Learmonth.