📷 Photo by Mihaela Zaharia on UnsplashIndian Ocean Drive: Perth to Kalbarri
Follow the Indian Ocean Drive north from Perth past the Lancelin dunes and the Pinnacles to Geraldton and the gorges and coast of Kalbarri, with a pink lake along the way.
- Distance
- 759 km (472 mi)
- Driving
- 8 h 16 min
- Suggested days
- 4
- Stops
- 12
- States
- Western Australia
- Updated
- April 29, 2026
At a glance: 4-day road trip of about 759 km (472 mi) with 12 stops, from Perth to Red Bluff, Kalbarri. About 8 h 16 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Western Australia · More road trips from Perth
Route description
Leave Perth early and take the Indian Ocean Drive, a good two-lane road that runs near the coast. Lancelin, about 125 km north (roughly 1.5 hours), is the first stop, where white dunes invite a walk or a sandboard run. Continue about 75 km to Cervantes, around 200 km from Perth. Fill the tank in Lancelin or Cervantes, and keep an eye out for kangaroos at dusk.
Spend the late afternoon in Nambung National Park, about 17 km south-east of Cervantes by sealed road, where the Pinnacles Desert loop is a short gravel drive through thousands of limestone pillars. Sunset and sunrise give the best light. Lake Thetis, on the way, has living stromatolites from a boardwalk. Stay in Cervantes, then drive about 215 km to Geraldton the next morning, with fuel stops at Jurien Bay or Dongara.
Geraldton is the main city of the Mid West. Visit the hilltop HMAS Sydney II Memorial, then drive about 25 km south to the Greenough Historic Hamlet and its wind-bent trees, or continue north the same day. The road to Kalbarri is about 150 km (nearly two hours) through Northampton. The detour to Hutt Lagoon near Port Gregory adds time but gives a pink lake on bright days.
In Kalbarri, drive about 30 km inland on sealed roads to the Murchison River gorge sites in Kalbarri National Park. Nature's Window is a short loop walk; go early, as heat in summer can close gorge sites. Return to the coast for Red Bluff and the cliff lookouts, where humpback whales pass in winter and spring. Carry water, and expect little phone coverage inland.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Perth
Western Australia - 2141 km
Lancelin Sand Dunes
NatureLancelin, Western AustraliaBig white dunes beside the Indian Ocean about 125 km north of Perth, popular for sandboarding and 4WD play. Walk up for views over the sea, and take water because there is no shade.
- 373 km
Cervantes
Western Australia - 417 km
The Pinnacles, Nambung National Park
NatureCervantes, Western AustraliaThousands of limestone pillars, some taller than a person, rise from yellow sand in Nambung National Park. A one-way gravel loop drive passes through them; go at sunrise or late afternoon for the best light and fewer people.
- 59 km
Lake Thetis stromatolites
NatureCervantes, Western AustraliaA salty coastal lake near Cervantes with living stromatolites and thrombolites, among the oldest forms of life on Earth, seen from a short boardwalk. A quiet, easy stop on the way to or from the Pinnacles.
- 6243 km
Geraldton
Western Australia - 725 km
Greenough Historic Hamlet
HistoryGeraldton, Western AustraliaA cluster of restored stone buildings from the 1860s, once a farming settlement on the fertile Greenough Flats about 25 km south of Geraldton. Nearby, river red gums are bent sideways by the strong coastal wind.
- 824 km
HMAS Sydney II Memorial
HistoryGeraldton, Western AustraliaA hilltop memorial in Geraldton for the 645 crew lost when HMAS Sydney II sank in 1941 after fighting the German raider Kormoran. Its Dome of Souls holds hundreds of stainless-steel gulls, and views reach over the harbour.
- 992 km
Hutt Lagoon pink lake
NatureGeraldton, Western AustraliaA shallow salt lake near Port Gregory whose water turns pink to red from algae that make beta-carotene. The colour is strongest on bright, calm days and from the lookout; it can look dull when overcast.
- 1062 km
Kalbarri
Western Australia - 1135 km
Nature's Window, Kalbarri National Park
ViewsKalbarri, Western AustraliaA rock arch in Kalbarri National Park framing the Murchison River gorge, reached by a short loop walk from the car park. Visit early, as summer heat can close gorge sites, and carry plenty of water.
- 1237 km
Red Bluff, Kalbarri
ViewsKalbarri, Western AustraliaRed sandstone cliffs and a small beach just south of Kalbarri, known for a surf break and wide coastal views. Humpback whales pass offshore on their migrations, so bring binoculars in winter and spring.
Suggested stages and overnight stops
4 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Perth → Cervantes · 214 km · 2 h 20 minOn the way: Lancelin Sand Dunes.
- Day 2: Cervantes → Geraldton · 269 km · 2 h 56 minOn the way: The Pinnacles, Nambung National Park, Lake Thetis stromatolites.
- Day 3: Geraldton → HMAS Sydney II Memorial · 50 km · 0 h 33 minOn the way: Greenough Historic Hamlet.
- Day 4: HMAS Sydney II Memorial → Red Bluff, Kalbarri · 226 km · 2 h 28 minOn the way: Hutt Lagoon pink lake, Kalbarri, Nature's Window, Kalbarri National Park.
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually April–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in March and November. Hot in December–February. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
FAQs
How long is Indian Ocean Drive: Perth to Kalbarri?
4-day road trip of about 759 km (472 mi) with 12 stops, from Perth to Red Bluff, Kalbarri. About 8 h 16 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Indian Ocean Drive: Perth to Kalbarri?
We suggest 4 days: about 8 h 16 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Indian Ocean Drive: Perth to Kalbarri start and end?
It starts in Perth and ends in Red Bluff, Kalbarri.
Which states does Indian Ocean Drive: Perth to Kalbarri pass through?
Western Australia.
When is the best time for Indian Ocean Drive: Perth to Kalbarri?
The most pleasant months are usually April–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in March and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
