Kalbarri to Ningaloo: Shark Bay and the Coral Coast

A long northbound coast road from Kalbarri through Shark Bay's stromatolites and dolphins, Carnarvon and Coral Bay to Exmouth and the Ningaloo Reef, with long fuel gaps and wide skies.

Distance: 906 km (563 mi)
Driving: 9 h 53 min
Suggested days: 7
Stops: 12
States: Western Australia
Updated: April 28, 2026

At a glance: 7-day road trip of about 906 km (563 mi) with 12 stops, from Kalbarri to Turquoise Bay, Cape Range National Park. About 9 h 53 min of driving in total.

More road trips in Western Australia

Route description

From Kalbarri, head north-east to the North West Coastal Highway, then turn off at the Shark Bay Road, about 380 km to Denham in total. Plan five hours at the wheel and fuel at the Overlander Roadhouse. Hamelin Pool Stromatolites are the first stop on the Shark Bay Road, seen from a boardwalk; visit at low tide, and never step on them. Shell Beach follows before Denham.

Base yourself in Denham for two nights. Monkey Mia, about 25 km away, is where wild dolphins come to the shallows most mornings; go early and do not rely on seeing them. Francois Peron National Park is mostly for 4WD vehicles beyond the homestead; low tyre pressure and a recovery kit are essential, and tours run from Denham for those without one.

Drive back to the highway and north to Carnarvon, roughly 330 km from Denham, about four hours, with fuel at Overlander and Carnarvon. In town, walk out on the One Mile Jetty. A side trip of about 75 km north reaches the Quobba Blowholes on the coast; stay well back from the edge, as freak waves are a real danger. Road trains and tourist traffic share the highway.

Carnarvon to Coral Bay is about 240 km, then about 150 km to Exmouth; both drives are sealed, with few services between, so fill up at Coral Bay. At Coral Bay, Bill's Bay lets you snorkel from the beach. In Exmouth, Turquoise Bay in Cape Range National Park is about 60 km away; read the signs before drifting, and plan whale shark swims from March to July, with humpback whale swims from about August to October.

Stop-by-stop itinerary

In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.

1

Kalbarri
Western Australia
Start
2

Hamelin Pool Stromatolites
NatureDenham, Western Australia
Living stromatolites, rock-like microbial mounds that resemble some of Earth's earliest life, grow along the shore of this salty bay and can be seen from a boardwalk. Do not step on them; low tide gives the best view.
175 km
3

Shell Beach, Shark Bay
NatureDenham, Western Australia
A long white beach made entirely of tiny cockle shells, piled metres deep. The water is saltier than the open sea, so swimming feels buoyant. Blocks of compacted shell were once cut here to build local walls.
36 km
4

Denham
Western Australia
63 km
5

Monkey Mia
NatureDenham, Western Australia
A beach in Shark Bay where wild bottlenose dolphins come into the shallows most mornings for a ranger-led encounter. Arrive early; the dolphins' visits are not guaranteed.
28 km
6

Peron Homestead, Francois Peron National Park
HistoryDenham, Western Australia
A historic sheep station on the red-sand peninsula of Francois Peron National Park; beyond the homestead, tracks are 4WD only. The old shearing shed has a warm artesian tub, and Skipjack Point lookout shows sharks and rays.
23 km
7

Carnarvon
Western Australia
128 km
8

Quobba Blowholes
NatureCarnarvon, Western Australia
Waves forced through cracks in the limestone cliff shoot spray high into the air, about 75 km north of Carnarvon. Stay well back from the edge, as freak waves are a real danger.
56 km
9

Coral Bay
Western Australia
192 km
10

Bill's Bay, Coral Bay
NatureCoral Bay, Western Australia
Ningaloo Reef comes within wading distance of the beach here, so you can snorkel over coral and fish straight from the sand. Calm, shallow and good for families. Check conditions and the reef rules before you swim.
0 km
11

Exmouth
Western Australia
167 km
12

Turquoise Bay, Cape Range National Park
NatureExmouth, Western Australia
Cape Range National Park's best-known beach, with white sand and clear water over Ningaloo Reef. The drift snorkel follows a current along the reef, but it can be strong and dangerous, so read the signs and exit at the marked point.
37 km

Suggested stages and overnight stops

7 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.

Day 1: Kalbarri → Hamelin Pool Stromatolites · 175 km · 1 h 55 min
Day 2: Hamelin Pool Stromatolites → Denham · 99 km · 1 h 05 minOn the way: Shell Beach, Shark Bay.
Day 3: Denham → Peron Homestead, Francois Peron National Park · 51 km · 0 h 33 minOn the way: Monkey Mia.
Day 4: Peron Homestead, Francois Peron National Park → Quobba Blowholes · 184 km · 2 h 01 minOn the way: Carnarvon.
Day 5: Quobba Blowholes → Coral Bay · 192 km · 2 h 05 min
Day 6: Coral Bay → Bill's Bay, Coral Bay · 0 km · 0 h 00 min
Day 7: Bill's Bay, Coral Bay → Turquoise Bay, Cape Range National Park · 205 km · 2 h 14 minOn the way: Exmouth.

Best time to go

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

The most pleasant months are usually May–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and October. Hot in November–March. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.

Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons

FAQs

How long is Kalbarri to Ningaloo: Shark Bay and the Coral Coast?

7-day road trip of about 906 km (563 mi) with 12 stops, from Kalbarri to Turquoise Bay, Cape Range National Park. About 9 h 53 min of driving in total.

How many days do you need for Kalbarri to Ningaloo: Shark Bay and the Coral Coast?

We suggest 7 days: about 9 h 53 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.

Where does Kalbarri to Ningaloo: Shark Bay and the Coral Coast start and end?

It starts in Kalbarri and ends in Turquoise Bay, Cape Range National Park.

Which states does Kalbarri to Ningaloo: Shark Bay and the Coral Coast pass through?

Western Australia.

When is the best time for Kalbarri to Ningaloo: Shark Bay and the Coral Coast?

The most pleasant months are usually May–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)