Western Australia Road Trips (A Local’s Guide + FREE Map)

WA is one of the best places in the country for a road trip. But the state is absolutely MASSIVE, and the best route depends a lot on the season.

And after road-tripping all over Western Australia since 2020, we’ve realised it’s so easy to waste time, choose the wrong route, or try to cram wayyy too much into one trip.

And that’s what this guide is for. We’re sharing everything we’ve learned on the road so you can plan your WA trip like a local (and avoid our mistakes!).

We’ve also included a free map with all the routes, so you can picture the trip properly before you hit the road.

So as a general rule, we recommend:

• Summer = Go to Perth and south WA – Margaret River, Albany, Esperance…
• Winter = Go north – Kalbarri, Exmouth, Karijini, Broome, Gibb River Road…
• Spring/Autumn = You can go kind of anywhere.

The Northwest is VERY rainy in summer due to its tropical climate, with potential cyclones, and deadly jellyfish. And the Gibb River Road and Karijini are usually closed then due to flooding risk.

But it’s the best time to go to most of the southwest. The weather is beach perfect there, and it’s orca season in Bremer Bay.

In winter it’s the opposite, though.

Perth and everything south of it is veeery rainy, while the north has perfect weather most days and the jellyfishes are pretty much gone. It’s also whale shark season in Exmouth!

How many days do you need?

We reckon 6–7 weeks (almost 2 months) is the bare minimum to do a road trip around all of Western Australia.

WA is much bigger than it seems, the distances are massive, and a lot of the best places deserve more than a quick overnight stop.

You could technically do it in 3-4 weeks, but we don’t recommend it.

You’d need to stick to a pretty tight schedule, driving 3-4 hours each day, and keeping most stops very short, which takes the fun out of the trip.

So if you’ve got less than 6 weeks, we recommend picking north or south WA (depending on the season) and doing that properly.

Where to start?

Perth is the best place to start your WA road trip.

It usually has the cheapest and easiest flight options compared to other airports in the state, plus it’s the most practical place to rent any vehicle.

But if you don’t want to do drive the full loop, you can also fly into or out of other parts of WA, like:

• Busselton
• Esperance
• Exmouth
• Derby
• Broome
• Kununurra
• Tom Price (Karijini)
• Karratha
• Newman

If it’s your first time in WA, we’d spend at least 3 days in Perth before hitting the road, though. There’s plenty to do there, and it’s a good way to ease into the trip before the long drives start.

A basic car rental is often the cheapest option upfront, though. They cost around $30-$60 per day, depending on the location and season.

However, you still have to pay for stays every night. In Perth alone, the average prices of a 3-star hotel is $160/night.

You also have to book your stays early if you’r travelling in peak season, as some areas (Margaret River, Esperance, Exmouth) sell out months in advance.

If we had to rent a car, we’d look into Discover Cars or Booking Car Rentals.

Both find the best deals for your trip and have all kinds of vehicles available! Just pick the one with the best prices.

Things you WILL need

Apart from the typical packing list, these are a couple of things you should sort out before your trip around Western Australia:

• WA National Park Pass. The park fee is per vehicle per day, so it can build up fast. A park pass is best if you’re visiting 3+ national parks. Btw, RAC members can get them at 50% off!
• Starlink. We’ve had fast internet in the middle of nowhere thanks to it! 100% recommended if you’re travelling for 1+ month. Check it out here!
• RAC Ultimate cover. It has got us out of some really sticky situations when our car broke down. They have put us up in hotels and paid for many tows, 100% recommend them.
• Telstra eSIM. It’s a bit expensive but has the BEST reach in regional WA. Consider grabbing a prepaid eSIM especially if your provider piggybacks on Optus or Vodafone.
• Satellite phone. A must if you’re going remote remote (Gibb River Road, deep in the Pilbara, etc). You can rent one in Perth.
• Offline maps. Make sure to download your maps before going on the road! Reception literally drops from one moment to the next (our WA guide includes offline access btw).

Mistakes to avoid

We’ve committed these mistakes more times than we care to admit!

So please, don’t follow in our footsteps:

• Don’t underestimate distance and fuel stops. Once you leave Perth, some towns can be 3+ hours apart! Fuel up before you think you need to. 
• If you’re going off the beaten path, carry PLENTY of water and 1-2 metal jerry cans with fuel (they’re tougher than plastic and less likely to crack on bumpy roads).
• Don’t cram too much in one trip, WA is bigger than you might expect. It’s best picking one region and exploring it properly thans pending the trip behind the wheel.
• Grab paper maps at the Visitor Centres for National Parks! They’re life-savers when you lose reception in the middle of nowhere.

Now that you know everything on how to plan a Western Australia road trip, here are ALL the itineraries you can do in the region:

WA Road Trips SOUTH of Perth

This beautiful region is at its peak in summer-autumn and includes the southwest (Margaret River, Albany, Busselton), Bremer Bay, Esperance, and the Nullarbor.

There are some spots you can easily visit in a weekend road trip, but honestly you can easily spend 1 month exploring:

Perth to Margaret River

• How long: 5-14 days depending on how much you explore
• Best time to go: Good year-round. Autumn and spring are our faves, summer is busiest, winter is a bit gloomy
• Vehicle: 2WD is perfect

This is one of the easiest and most rewarding short road trips you can do in WA. Plus it’s close to Perth (~3 hour drive)!

There’s heaps to do in such a small region. You’ll find gourmet foods pretty much anywhere, gorgeous beaches, ancient caves, tall forests, and incredible scenery the whole way.

There’s a ridiculous number of world-class breweries and wineries, too! So definitely make your life easier and join one of the many wine tours available.

This area is also famous for the surfing. Even if you’re not into it, make sure to visit Surfer’s Point just to watch the spectacle of surfers riding the waves.

There’s way more to this region than just Margaret River town, though! You’ve got Busselton, Dunsborough, Yallingup, and Augusta, all within close distance, and each one feels a bit different.

It flows really well as a loop, and you can take your time stopping at beaches, lookouts, wineries, and random roadside spots along the way.

Here’s our recommended itinerary from Perth to Margaret River.

Southwest road trip

• How long: 10-14 days depending on your stops
• Best time to go: We prefer Mar-Apr or Sep-Nov, but is good anytime except winter (very cold). Summer is peak season
• Vehicle: 2WD is perfect (4WD only if you want to drive on beaches)

This is one of our favourite road trips in WA because it packs in heaps of variety without huuuge drives. You’ve got beaches, forests, coastal cliffs, wineries, and good food the whole way.

It flows really well, and it’s also a super easy trip logistically. If you’ve never road-tripped in Western Australia and want to start with a bang, we recommend this road trip!

This road trip takes you through the highlights of the southwest, including Margaret River, Busselton, Albany, Denmark, Pemberton, Augusta, Yallingup…

It will be packed, but you can use Margaret River as a base for most of it so you don’t have to sleep in a different place each night. Plus, you don’t need a 4WD!

This is the itinerary we recommend if you’re road tripping the southwest, including where to stay, where to eat, and more.

Perth to Albany and Denmark

• How long: 6–8 days
• Best time to go: Mar–May or Sep–Nov, best mix of weather and fewer crowds
• Vehicle: 2WD is perfect

Albany is one of the few places in Australia we’ve seriously talked about living! We love it THAT much.

It’s got huge coastal views, beautiful beaches, a great food scene, epic surfing and snorkelling, proper hikes, and a surprising amount of history for anyone interested.

It’s also a big town, so you can stock up properly and move around easily (there’s Ubers).

It’s also a great base if you’re keen on exploring Torndirrup National Park, the Stirling Ranges, or just want a mix of nature and town comforts.

There’s heaps to do in Albany – Misery Beach is unreal, The Gap and Natural Bridge are jaw-dropping, the ANZAC museum… plus you’ve got lookouts, coastal walks, and good cafés.

It’s also a short drive from Denmark and its iconic beaches! Which deserves 1-2 days on its own.

Here’s our recommended itinerary from Perth to Albany and Denmark if you’re interested (express route and 14-day itinerary).

Perth to Esperance

• How long: 7–15 days depending on the route
• Best time to go: Mar–May or Sep–Nov for best weather, summer is great but windy
• Vehicle: 2WD is perfect (4WD if you want to access more remote beaches)

Esperance is one of our favourite places in Western Australia. We’ve been there 4 times and it neverrr gets old, it has some of the BEST beaches in the country in our opinion.

Wharton Beach and Twilight Beach are our faves. Lucky Bay is a bit overhyped but has an excellent campground, so definitely try booking a site at least for 1 night!

Plus there’s this epic scenic drive outside of town called the “Great Ocean Drive”. It’s free and 2WD-friendly, with heaps of beaches and lookouts to check out!

It’s a very weather-dependent spot, though. So we recommend allowing for 5-6 days in Esperance to have room in case the weather turns during your visit.

Here’s our recommended itinerary from Perth to Esperance, including where to stay, where to eat, etc!

Perth to Bremer Bay

• How long: 5–10 days depending on the add-ons
• Best time to go: Jan–Apr for orcas season, otherwise Mar–May and Sep–Nov are great
• Vehicle: 2WD is perfect

Bremer Bay is a bit more off-the-beaten-path. It’s quieter, more remote, and feels like a proper coastal escape.

It’s also one of the only places in the world where you can see orcas in the wild!

Definitely book a tour if you’re there from Dec to Jan, here’s a guide with our experience and recommended tours if you’re keen.

We’ve been there 5 times and there’s plenty of cool things to do in Bermer Bay if you’re visiting out of orca season – beaches, surfing, hikes, wildflower spotting…

Here’s a guide with itineraries from Perth to Bremer bay (5, 10, 14 days, add-ons, and more).

Nullarbor

• How long: 3–5 days (we recommend 4 days to actually enjoy it)
• Best time to go: Jun–Oct for cooler temps + whale season, avoid summer if you can
• Vehicle: 2WD is perfect, but most detours are 4WD-only

The Nullarbor is one of those drives that people either love or hate. But we’ve crossed it 5 times now and it’s wayyy more interesting than people give it credit for.

Apart from the iconic Bunda Cliffs and the famous 90 Mile Straight, there’s whale watching, Lake MacDonnell, and the random blowholes and caves scattered throughout!

Here’s our list of things to do on the Nullarbor to give you some ideas.

It’s not a trip you should rush, though. It needs a bit of planning, as the constant driving can get tiring fast and the roadhouses are pretty far apart from each other.

Here’s the Nullarbor itinerary we recommend (4 days) and a free map to help you plan your trip!

WA Road Trips NORTH of Perth

This region is at its peak in winter-spring and it’s a bit more rugged, but just as gorgeous. It includes Kalbarri, Coral Bay, Exmouth, Karijini, Broome, and the Gibb River Road.

The towns are a bit more scattered than the southwest, so you’ll need a bit more planning especially if you’re driving past Kalbarri:

Perth to Kalbarri

• How long: 5–7 days
• Best time to go: Jul–Oct, excellent temps and wildflowers! Skip in summer, it’s dangerously hot
• Vehicle: 2WD is perfect

Kalbarri is one of our favourite spots in WA. The mix of coastal cliffs and inland gorges is unreal, it feels completely different to anywhere else along the west coast!

There’s heaps to do in Kalbarri so we recommend spending at least 3 full days there for the highlights – the Skywalk, Nature’s Window, the Z Bend, and 2-3 of the many epic hikes available.

The drive up from Perth is just as good, too. You’ve got the iconic Pinnacles, the Lancelin dunes, Jurien Bay, Geraldton, and the pink lake near Kalbarri!

This isn’t a quick weekend trip though, Kalbarri is a 6–7 hour drive from Perth.

Sometimes we’ve done it in 1 day because we want to get there fast, but we don’t recommend it unless you’re very short on time.

Also, don’t underestimate the heat. Kalbarri can get seriously hot, and some hikes close early on hot days, so you need to plan your days around that if you’re visiting outside winter.

Here’s our Perth to Kalbarri itinerary (5 days) + free map with all the stops along the way.

Perth to Exmouth

• How long: 7-14 days
• Best time to go: Apr-Jul for whale sharks, but anytime between Mar-Oct is great
• Vehicle: 2WD is enough, but 4WD for some detours in Cape Range NP and Coral Bay

Exmouth is the definition of a bucket-list destination.

There’s the incredible Ningaloo Reef, which is SO easy to access. You can walk in from the beach and be snorkelling almost straight away! Here are our fave snorkelling spots if you’re keen.

Whale shark season is another epic thing there. They migrate through Exmouth from April to Aug-Sep, and there are heaps of tours where you can go swimming with them.

But there’s lots to do outside of whale shark season.

Cape Range National Park alone can fill days, with spots like Turquoise Bay, Osprey Bay, Yardie Creek, and even a couple of epic 4WD tracks and remote beaches if that’s your thing.

There’s also Coral Bay, a small town a 1-hour drive from Exmouth. It’s quite touristy and a bit pricey, but it’s one of the best places to swim with manta rays so definitely add it into your itinerary!

And the drive up is a big part of why this road trip is so good!

On your way to Exmouth, you’re linking together some of WA’s best spots like the Pinnacles, Kalbarri, Geraldton, Shark Bay, Carnarvon, and Coral Bay.

So this road trip needs quite a bit of planning and we don’t recommend it if you don’t have at least 1 week available. It’s a long way from Perth, and the stops are a bit scattered after Kalbarri.

Here’s our Perth to Exmouth itinerary (7 and 14 day options) + free map with all the stops along the way.

Perth to Karijini

• How long: 10-14 days
• Best time to go: Jun-Aug for the best hiking weather, but Apr-Sep is great
• Vehicle: 2WD is enough in good conditions, but 4WD is a must after rain

Karijini is one of the wildest, most adventurous trips in WA.

It has some of the most dramatic scenery in Australia, with its massive gorges, cold rock pools, and a bit of scrambling to keep you on your toes (literally).

There’s heaps to do once you’re there, but the main thing are the gorges. Hamersley Gorge and Weano Gorge are our favourites, but there are over a dozen!

Here’s a guide with the best gorges in Karijini (with varying difficulties, from family-friendly to rethink-your-life-choices).

This is not a road trip rush, though. 3 days is the bare minimum, but we stayed 5 days and still felt like it wasn’t enough, so we’d really try to give Karijini 6-7 days if you can.

Also the road trip from Perth is a long one, but it’s way better if you turn it into a proper loop.

We reckon going via Kalbarri and Carnarvon is the best option, because the inland route might be a bit quicker but it’s also wayyy more boring.

This trip also needs more prep than most WA road trips. There’s little accommodation inside the national park, and the nearest town is Tom Price for petrol and supplies.

Gibb River Road

• How long: 7-14 days
• Best time to go: Apr-Sep, the earlier in the season the better
• Vehicle: 4WD only

We honestly believe that the Gibb is an adventure every Aussie should do at least once. It’s as remote as it gets, with the most incredible gorges and unbelievable camping.

And driving it is half the fun! It’s full of corrugations (they’re graded early in the season) and there’s the iconic Pentecost River crossing.

There’s heaps to do along the way, but the main draw is the gorges. We loved Bell Gorge and Emma Gorge, and El Questro deserves a couple of days.

Most people do the Gibb from Kununurra to Derby, but you can do it either way. Each end deserves a couple of days to explore, so add those to your itinerary if possible!

• Here are our favourite things to do in Kununurra.
• And our favourite things to do in Derby.

We did it in 7 days late in the season and loved it, but some spots were already closed. So if you can visit the Gibb earlier in the season, try to plan for 10-14 days.

This is not a road trip you wing, though. Camping and logistics matter more here than on most WA trips, so take your time to plan well ahead.

Here’s the Gibb River Road itinerary we recommend, with the advice we wished we had.