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Perth to Geraldton Weekend Road Trip + FREE Map

Chris and BecByChris and Bec
Aerial view of the red and white striped Point Moore Lighthouse in Geraldton with coastal dunes and the bright blue Indian Ocean behind it. Source. Tourism Western Australia.
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Most people treat Geraldton as a stopover on the way up the Coral Coast. But, after living in Perth most of our lives, we reckon it’s a truly underrated weekend escape from the city.

It’s got heapsss of things to do for everyone, whether you are a history buff or a beach fiend. There are great places to eat too, and it’s SO beautiful in wildflower season!

So this is the itinerary we’d do if we had a weekend in Geraldton. We’ve also added Jurien Bay as a bonus Monday if you can take the extra day off.

Screenshot of a map with coloured pins and a route showing all the different things to do on a Perth to Geraldton weekend road trip
Click to open the full interactive map in Google Maps

Road trip snapshot

  • Distance: ~860km round trip
  • Drive time: ~10 hours across the weekend
  • Areas covered: Geraldton, Cervantes, the Pinnacles, Lancelin. Add-on: Jurien Bay
  • Best time: Depends – for wildflowers, Aug to Oct. For beaches, Nov to Feb
  • Vehicle: 2WD is fine, it’s all sealed road the whole way.
  • Pet-friendly: Very, there are many dog-friendly beaches in Geraldton and they’re allowed in Lancelin sand dunes! But skip National Parks (like The Pinnacles)
  • Good for: Anyone after a beach and history-filled weekend away that doesn’t need a 4WD.
  • Aerial view looking straight down over Geraldton Beach where turquoise ocean waves meet a wide stretch of pale sand and coastal vegetation. Source. Tourism Western Australia.
    Geraldton Beach. Photo: Tourism Western Australia
  • HMAS Sydney II Memorial in Geraldton at sunset with the silver dome silhouetted against an orange sky and the circular Pool of Remembrance in the foreground. Source. Tourism Western Australia.
    HMAS Sydney II Memorial, Geraldton. Photo: Tourism Western Australia

Day 1: Perth > Geraldton (Friday)

  • Distance: ~424km
  • Drive time: ~4.5 hrs

Get on the road early to beat Friday traffic out of Perth! It’s a fairly straightforward drive, but you can break the trip at Jurien Bay and Dongara if needed.

  • Two cyclists ride along the Geraldton Foreshore Walk beside palm trees and green lawns on a bright sunny day. Source. Tourism Western Australia.
    Geraldton Foreshore Walk. Photo: Tourism Western Australia

If you roll into Geraldton by dinner, check out Skeetas Restaurant & Café at the marina, it’s a solid pick for fresh seafood with water views.

The Foreshore Hangout Lounge is great too if you’re after something more casual.

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Where to stay in Geraldton?

There are heaps of options!

For caravan parks, we like Belair Gardens Caravan Park as it’s near Point Moore. It’s great if you want a caravan park with a central location.

Drummond Cove Holiday Park is another good one, on the outskirts of town. Best if you want to disconnect a bit more from the city.

If you’d rather not camp, Ocean Centre Hotel or The Gerald Apartment Hotel are both close to the foreshore and a short drive from all the main attractions.

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Day 2: Geraldton (Saturday)

  • Distance: ~20-30km
  • Drive time: ~30 mins

Time to explore Geraldton!

Start with breakfast at Two Foreshore or AJ’s Beach Cafe, both right on the water. Then, here are some epic things to do today, take your pick:

Geraldton’s Beaches

  • Aerial view of three people standing at the waters edge on Town Beach in Geraldton with clear turquoise water washing onto the sand. Their long shadows stretch across the beach in the low sunlight. Source. Tourism Western Australia.
    Town Beach, Geraldton. Photo: Tourism Western Australia
  • Town Beach: Calm, family-friendly, and right on the foreshore. Good for swimming with young kids and there’s a playground and waterpark nearby.
  • St Georges Beach: A 15-minute walk from the foreshore, great for paddleboarding and beginner kitesurfing. Check out the rock pools at low tide.
  • Back Beach: The pick if anyone in your group surfs. Bigger waves and patrolled by lifesavers on summer weekends, but not great for swimming due to the swell.
  • Sunset Beach: A bit further north, quieter, and exactly what it sounds like, come here for golden hour!

Afternoons tend to get windy, it’s part of why Geraldton’s such a big wind and kitesurfing destination. So if you want calmer water, get to the beach earlier in the day.

Museums and history

  • St Francis Xavier Cathedral in Geraldton illuminated in golden light at night with its twin towers rising above a large circular labyrinth in the courtyard. Source. Tourism Western Australia.
    St Francis Xavier Cathedral, Geraldton. Photo: Tourism Western Australia
  • HMAS Sydney II Memorial on Mount Scott is great for history buffs, with sweeping views over the city and coast. Open all day, but there’s a volunteer-led tour daily at 10.30am.
  • Museum of Geraldton on the marina. Entry is free and it’s open daily from 9.30am to 3pm, with a highlights tour at 11.30am covering the shipwreck history of the region, including the Batavia.
  • St Francis Xavier Cathedral, one of the most striking buildings in town, especially at night when it lights up.
  • Point Moore Lighthouse, an active lighthouse first lit in 1878, iconic with its red and white stripes. Epic spot for sunset, too!

Day 3: Geraldton > Perth (Sunday)

  • Distance: ~440km
  • Drive time: ~5.5 hrs (plus stops)

Today is a bit of a long driving day, but first kick it off with one last dip at the beach!

  • Aerial view of the red and white striped Point Moore Lighthouse in Geraldton with coastal dunes and the bright blue Indian Ocean behind it. Source. Tourism Western Australia.
    Point Moore Lighthouse, Geraldton. Photo: Tourism Western Australia

On your way out of town, stop at Central Greenough Historic Settlement, about 20 minutes south.

It’s a beautifully preserved 19th-century settlement with 11 original stone buildings, open daily from 8.30am to 3pm.

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If you’re visiting between August and October, definitely make the 30-minute detour inland to Lesueur National Park. It’s one of the best wildflower spots in WA!

From there, make your way to Cervantes and stop in at Nambung National Park to see the Pinnacles.

It’s this big desert with thousands of limestone pillars rising straight out of the yellow sand, some almost 4m tall! It really feels like you’ve landed on another planet.

  • An aerial shot captures three happy people in the midst of the Pinnacles Desert, with the long shadows of the limestone formations stretching across the sandy terrain in the warm light of the setting sun.
  • A woman walks among the limestone formations of the Pinnacles Desert in Australia, her back to the camera, holding a hat. The warm glow of the setting sun bathes the scene in golden light, casting long shadows on the sandy ground.

Grab lunch in Cervantes before you go. Lobster Shack is a local institution known for its fresh rock lobster and fish and chips overlooking the water.

Then continue on to Lancelin for your last stop. It’s a great spot to stretch your legs at the famous sand dunes, sandboards are available to hire if you want to give it a go!

From Lancelin, it’s a straightforward 1.5-hour drive back into Perth to finish the trip.

Lancelin is another easy escape from Perth! Here’s our weekend itinerary if you’re keen.

Bonus Monday: Jurien Bay

Got an extra day up your sleeve? Jurien Bay deserves more than a quick drive-through.

  • Two seals resting on the sandy beach at Seal Bay, Kangaroo Island, South Australia, with gentle ocean waves in the background.
    Seal buddies basking in paradise!

It’s a small, beautiful coastal town, well known for its colonies of Australian sea lions. You can even get in the water and snorkel with them!

And the town is dog-friendly too, with a few off-lead beaches to choose from.

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Just try to get there on Sunday evening and stay there overnight, so you have the full day to explore.

There’s plenty to keep you busy in the area, honestly enough for a weekend trip of its own:

  • Snorkel around Jurien Bay Marine Park
  • Go skydiving! We’ve done it before at Rottnest Island and it was incredible, 100% recommend it.
  • Fish off the jetty

Planning your road trip

Best time to go

The best time really depends on what you want to do.

Summer is epic for kitesurfing and windsurfing – Geraldton’s known for its wind, so it’s the best season for that.

But it’s also peak tourist season, so everything might be a bit more expensive. Book accommodation well in advance, too.

Spring is gorgeous too, as it’s wildflower season and there are many hotspots nearby! Autumn’s a solid middle ground too, less wind than summer and less busy than wildflower season.

Winter is the wettest time of year, so we wouldn’t recommend it.

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What to pack

  • Swimmers and snorkelling gear
  • Sun protection
  • Sturdy shoes for the Pinnacles walk trail and a bit of dune scrambling in Lancelin
  • A light jacket or windbreaker, Geraldton’s afternoon winds can catch you off guard even on a warm day
  • Snacks and extra water for the drive

FREE Map of this Perth to Geraldton weekend road trip

Open the free Google map

FAQs

How long does it take to drive to Geraldton from Perth?

The drive from Perth to Geraldton takes around 4.5 hours (~430 km).

Are there enough fuel stations and facilities along the way?

Yes, many! You won’t have issues fueling up and resting if needed.

Ready for an epic trip to Geraldton? Grab this first!

Any trip is easier to do when someone else has done the planning for you!

So we built our Western Australia Guide to make travelling to Geraldton, Jurien Bay, and the whole WA stupid easy:

  • 18+ done-for-you itineraries (including Geraldton and beyond)
  • 400+ places pinned across the state
  • Filters like “dog-friendly”, “snorkelling”, “camping” and more!
  • Offline access available, a must if you’re road tripping WA

This is how the guide looks:

Top: Mobile views of guide and interactive map | Bottom: Desktop view of one of the itineraries included
Grab our WA guide and explore it with confidence

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Hi! We’re Chris and Bec, the two adventure-lovers behind Salt and Charcoal. We quit our jobs in 2020, to pursue the lifestyle of travelling and working remotely. We chose to dive into the unknown and prioritise experiences over material things… and it was the best decision we ever made! Now, we support others to road trip Australia and get the most out of their bucket list trips. Come say hi on our socials :)

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