Perth to Monkey Mia & Shark Bay 7-Day Road Trip + FREE Map

Monkey Mia and Shark Bay are one of the most gorgeous corners of WA. The red dunes and turquoise water reminded us of Cape Leveque, minus the massive drive from Perth!

We weren’t too keen on the dolphins at Monkey Mia TBH, but we reckon kids love it. There are other epic spots like the iconic Francois Peron NP, Shell Beach, and Little Lagoon!

So this is the itinerary we’d do if we had a week to go from Perth to Monkey Mia and Shark Bay. We’ve included the best spots, stays, plus a detour to Kalbarri if you can take 3 extra days!

Road trip snapshot

• Distance: ~1,900km round trip
• Drive time: ~21 hours across the week
• Areas covered: Monkey Mia, Shark Bay, Denham, Francois Peron NP, Geraldton, Cervantes, the Pinnacles, Lancelin. Add-on: Kalbarri
• Best time: April to October. Skip summer unless you’re into kitesurfing, it’s hot and very windy.
• Vehicle: 2WD is fine, but Francois Peron NP needs high clearance 4WD past the Peron Heritage Precinct.
• Pet-friendly: Partly. Dogs allowed in Monkey Mia and Denham, but not in parts of Shark Bay and Kalbarri NP.
• Good for: Families, 4WDers, and anyone after jaw-dropping beaches, heaps of marine wildlife, and a real outback coast road trip.

Day 1: Perth > Geraldton

• Distance: ~440km
• Drive time: ~5 hrs (plus stops)

It’s a big first day, so get on the road early! Take the Indian Ocean Drive, it’s the scenic route, and it takes you past 2 of the best stops north of Perth:

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• Lancelin sand dunes: Massive white dunes only 1.5 hrs from Perth. You can hire a sandboard on the spot and have a go, and dogs are allowed too. Here are all the other things to do in Lancelin.
• The Pinnacles: Thousands of limestone pillars poking out of yellow sand, it really feels like another planet. You can drive the loop or walk it! Here’s our full guide to the Pinnacles.

Grab lunch at the Lobster Shack in Cervantes, just down the road from the Pinnacles. It’s a local institution for fresh rock lobster and fish and chips.

You’ll probably roll into Geraldton mid arvo. Here are a few easy things to do before dinner:

• Geraldton Foreshore: Beautiful walk and Town Beach is right there. Perfect for stretching your legs and a quick dip after the drive.
• HMAS Sydney II Memorial: It sits atop Mount Scott with big views over the city and coast. It’s open all day, so you can go any time.
• Point Moore Lighthouse: The iconic red and white striped lighthouse, first lit in 1878. Head here for sunset!

Where to stay in Geraldton?

For caravan parks, we like Belair Gardens Caravan Park. It’s near Point Moore, so it’s great if you want 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.

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

Keen to spend more time in Geraldton? Check out our Perth to Geraldton weekend itinerary for ideas!

Day 2: Geraldton > Shark Bay & Denham

• Distance: ~430km
• Drive time: ~4hr 45min (plus stops)

It’s another long drive up the North West Coastal Highway to Denham, where you’ll base yourself for the next couple of days.

But the best bits of Shark Bay are right on the way in! So make sure to stop by these spots as you go:

• Hamelin Pool Stromatolites: Home to stromatolites, some of the oldest living lifeforms on the planet! The boardwalk is being rebuilt at the time of writing, go here for updates.
• Shell Beach: A beach made of tiny white cockle shells instead of sand! The water is super salty so you’ll float easily, great spot for a swim and a leg stretch. Bring reef shoes.
• Ocean Park Aquarium: You’ll see sharks, sea snakes, rescued turtles, and stonefish (a good one to recognise before you swim around here). There are guided tours as well! More info here.
• The Thong Shack: A quirky little shack covered in thongs left by visitors. Bring an old pair, write a note on it, and add it to the collection if you’re keen!

Then settle into Denham and walk along the foreshore for sunset.

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Where to stay in Denham?

Tasman Holiday Parks Denham Seaside is the pick for caravans and campers. It’s right on the beach, a short walk from town, and the sites are dog-friendly. They have chalets too.

Oceanside Village is great if you want your own self-contained villa right on the beachfront. There’s a pool and BBQ area.

Heritage Resort Shark Bay is the hotel option, on the foreshore with ocean views and a restaurant.

If you’d rather stay in Monkey Mia itself, the only accommodation there is RAC Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort. It has beachfront rooms, caravan sites, and a pool.

Just note the Monkey Mia entry fee applies even if you’re staying at the resort, it’s a separate Park Pass.

Day 3-4: Monkey Mia & Denham

• Distance: ~50km per day
• Drive time: ~15 to 20 mins each way

Monkey Mia and Denham are only a 15 to 20 min drive from each other.

So you might want to spend the mornings in Monkey Mia, when the dolphins come in, and the arvos in Denham.

Here are some things to do in each:

Monkey Mia

• Dolphin Experience: What Monkey Mia is known for, watch as rangers feed the wild dolphins! It wasn’t our favourite, it felt a bit like a zoo with all the crowds, but kids absolutely love it. More info here.
• Kayaking and paddleboarding: There’s a hire stand right on the beach. The water along the coast is calm and shallow, so it’s easy paddling even if you’re a beginner.
• Wulyibidi Yaninyina Trail (2.5km loop, ~1.5 hrs): It goes from white sandy flats up a boardwalk to a lookout on top of a red sand dune, with views over the whole bay.

There are a few beaches along the Wulyibidi Yaninyina Trail you can swim at, but wear reef sandals, as there might be stonefish.

You have to pay an entry fee for Monkey Mia Conservation Park, WA park passes don’t cover it. There’s a day pass and a month pass.

Denham

• Little Lagoon: A calm, turquoise lagoon just outside town that’s great for kayaking. It’s also great for swimming and snorkelling, BUT there’s a stonefish risk, so wear reef shoes and be very careful where you step.
• Kitesurfing lessons: The shallow water and steady winds make Denham a great place to learn.
• Stella Rowley Drive Lookout: Head up here for sunset over the bay. It’s right on the edge of town and the colours are incredible.
• Denham Discovery Trail: An easy 2.3km self-guided walk with 12 stops around town, past the old gaol, the Anglican Church, and along the foreshore. Takes under an hour and you’ll learn heaps about the local history.
• Netta’s Beach: The local off-leash dog beach at the southern end of Denham. Go at low tide, the beach almost disappears at high tide.

Day 5: Francois Peron National Park (4WD only)

• Distance: ~100km from Denham to Cape Peron and back
• Drive time: ~1.5 to 2 hrs each way on sand

This is a stunning park north of Monkey Mia, with red sand dunes, turquoise water, and heapsss of marine life. It’s a haven for anglers, snorkellers, and four-wheel drivers!

So, if you have a 4WD, definitely spend at least 2 days exploring this park. There’s plenty to do here (Park Pass needed):

• Peron Heritage Precinct: The only 2WD friendly spot here. There’s an artesian hot tub you can soak in, plus displays about the history of the area. It’s free to visit.
• Cape Peron: The northern tip of the peninsula, where red dunes meet white beaches and blue water. Absolutely gorgeous but no swimming, currents are strong.
• Skipjack Point Lookout: A short boardwalk to lookouts on top of the red cliffs. It’s one of the best spots for spotting sharks, rays, turtles, and dolphins in the water below! No swimming.
• Wanamalu Trail: An easy 3.6km return hike along the cliff tops from Cape Peron to Skipjack Point, about 1 hr one way.
• Big Lagoon Paddle Trail: A 17km full-day paddle around the lagoon, where you might spot dugongs, turtles, and rays. You can always do a shorter section if you’re not up for the full thing.
• Cattle Well: Excellent spot for fishing, snorkelling, and kayaking. No camping here though.

There are also a few campgrounds worth staying at if you’re self sufficient!

Don’t have a 4WD? Do this

You can still drive up to the Peron Heritage Precinct for a soak in the hot tub and to explore the precinct.

You can also book a full day tour like this one to see the rest of the park.

They’ll pick you up in Denham and take you to Cape Peron, Skipjack Point, Bottle Bay, and Big Lagoon, plus lunch and park entry included!

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Day 6: Monkey Mia > Geraldton

• Distance: ~450km
• Drive time: ~5 hrs (plus stops)

Time to start heading south! It’s a long day, so leave early and break it up with a few of these stops:

• Eagle Bluff: It’s a beautiful lookout 20km south of Denham. You might see turtles, rays, and sharks cruising in the shallows below.
• Billabong Roadhouse: A classic Aussie roadhouse stop for lunch, fuel, and a leg stretch.
• Horrocks: A small beach town with calm water for a swim, a jetty for fishing, and rock pools.
• Coronation Beach: One of the best kitesurfing and windsurfing spots in Australia. From October to March, the arvo winds bring out heaps of kiters, fun to watch even if you’re not getting in.

Then spend the night at any of the spots mentioned in Day 1:

• Belair Gardens Caravan Park near Point Moore
• Drummond Cove Holiday Park on the outskirts of town
• Hotels like Ocean Centre Hotel or The Gerald Apartment Hotel

If you want one last night by the beach, you could camp at Coronation Beach if you’re self-sufficient.

Day 7: Geraldton > Perth

• Distance: ~430km
• Drive time: ~5 hrs (plus stops)

Last day! Take Indian Ocean Drive back down to Perth. Take the opportunity to check out some spots you skipped on the way up:

• Central Greenough Historic Settlement: About 20 mins south of Geraldton. It’s a preserved 19th century settlement with 11 original stone buildings.
• Jurien Bay: A small, beautiful coastal town and a perfect spot for lunch. Snorkel in the marine park or fish off the jetty.
• Lesueur National Park: Only if you’re here in spring, it’s a 30 min detour inland from Jurien Bay and one of the best wildflower spots in WA.

Bonus: Kalbarri (add 3 days)

Kalbarri is one of our favourite spots in Western Australia. If you can add at least 3 days to check it out, do it! You won’t regret it.

It has some of the best gorges in WA, incredible beaches, stunning coastal cliffs, epic hikes, and there’s the Pink Lake on the way in!

Plus, it sits between Geraldton and Monkey Mia, so it’s only a small detour off the highway.

These are the main things to do there:

• Kalbarri Skywalk: A massive lookout hanging over 100 metres above the Murchison River. The views are unreal.
• Nature’s Window: A natural rock arch that frames the Murchison River below, the classic Kalbarri photo.
• Z Bend: A lookout over the river bending in a Z shape, plus a few great hikes in the cooler months.
• Coastal cliffs: Natural Bridge, Island Rock, Pot Alley, and Red Bluff are all epic, especially at sunset.
• Blue Holes: A popular snorkelling spot close to town.

For the full day by day plan, check out our Perth to Kalbarri road trip.

FREE GUIDE: 100+ Epic Things to Do in Western Australia (By Locals)

We’ve spent 5+ years exploring Western Australia in our old coaster bus. This free guide + map gives you the places we’d send our mates to.

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Planning your trip

Best time to go

The dolphins show up at Monkey Mia all year round, so the best time really comes down to weather, wind, and crowds.

Autumn (April to May) is our pick. The days are warm, the wind drops, and the water is still warm enough for swimming and snorkelling. Just avoid the April school holidays if you can.

Winter (June to August) is mild, with days in the low 20s. It’s great weather for hiking and 4WDing in Francois Peron, but it’s also the busiest season, so book your stays early. It’s also whale-watching season!

Spring (September to October) is gorgeous too, as it’s wildflower season all along this route. The wind starts picking up again though, and so do the flies.

Summer (December to February) is hot, dry, and very windy. Days are often in the mid-30s and can go past 40°C, and there’s no shade in Francois Peron.

We don’t recommend visiting then unless you’re kitesurfing. But we wouldn’t do this trip in summer otherwise. Plus it’s peak season over the December and January school holidays.

What to pack?

• Reef shoes are a must because of the stonefish.
• Swimmers and snorkelling gear.
• Sun protection, keep in mind there’s very little shade out there.
• A fly net, especially in spring and summer.
• Your own kayak or SUP (if you have one), handy for Big Lagoon and Little Lagoon so you don’t have to hire.
• Offline maps as reception is very patchy (our guide can be downloaded for offline access btw!)

FAQs