The West Coast of Australia! Empty endless expanses, turquoise blue beaches, numerous national parks, wildlife animals and breathtaking sunsets. There are many highlights on the West Coast of Australia that you should not miss.

Compared to the east coast, the West Coast of Australia is very quiet and less crowded, although the coast is a lot more beautiful. But the fact that there are not so many people on the West Coast of Australia can be a big advantage for you. You can explore all the highlights and take photos in peace, without having to consider other travelers or getting in your way again and again.

To travel the West Coast in peace, you should take at least four weeks. The best way to do this is to rent or buy a camper and then explore the coast on your own. There are many beautiful campsites on the west coast where you can stay overnight.

But what exactly can you experience on the West Coast of Australia and what are the absolute must-sees? Here I picked out all the things you should’t miss on a trip along the coast:

Have a view over the city of Perth

Fraser Lookout Point, right next to the Botanical Gardens, offers the perfect view of Perth’s CBD. Especially in the evening when the sun goes down, Fraser Lookout Point is worth a picnic to watch the sunset over the city.

Take a Selfie with a Quokka on Rottnest Island

Rottnest Island is a small island easily accessible from Perth by ferry. On the island you can rent a bicycle and then have a whole day to explore the island. If you stick to the coast, you will have a great view of the turquoise blue water most of the time. At the many beaches you can always take a break to swim or snorkel in the water.
Rottnest Island is also known for its sweet quokkas, which are always smiling. Search for the happiest animals in the world and take a selfie with them.

Drive through the Pinnacles Desert

The Pinnacles Desert is located in the Nambung National Park. The pinnacles are limestone formations that are thousands of years old. During the day you have the opportunity to drive in here by car and follow a 4.5 kilometer long loop through the desert. Again and again you have the opportunity to stop to get close to the pinnacles. You can also follow one of the walking trails through the desert.
At the Visitor Center you will not only find souvenirs but also lots of information about the Pinnacles Desert.

Get impressed by the Pink Lake at Hutt Lagoon

About 70 kilometers south of Kalbarri is Pink Lake. Although Australia has many pink lakes to offer, Pink Lake at Hutt Lagoon is the best pink lake in Australia.
The reason why the water is so pink is the very high salinity of the water. At high temperatures and strong sunshine, the algae in the lake produce a lot of beta carotene, causing the water to turn pink.
The lake in Hutt Lagoon can be visited all year round. The colours are brightest on a sunny day between 10 am and 2 pm.

Explore Kalbarri National Park

Kalbarri National Park: A national park that combines the nature of the outback and the sea. Inland there is the Kalbarri Skywalk as well as the Kalbarri Nature Window, for which the national park is known. Here you have a breathtaking view of nature.
Along the coast there are several hiking trails as well as many lookout points where you can admire the various rock formations as well as the views over the Indian Ocean.

Collect Shells at Shell Beach

Shell Beach is located just before Monkey Mia in Francois Peron National Park. This is a 40-kilometre stretch of coastline where the beach is made up of millions of white shells. Whether small or large shells, here you can go in search of the most diverse shells and take them home as a souvenir.

Visit the Little Lagoon in Denham

There is a small lagoon between Denham and Monkey Mia. By car you can drive to the beach and find the perfect place to go swimming or soak up the sun on the beach.
A small river connects the Lagoone with the sea. If you drive a little bit down the river, you’ll find the Little Lagoon Creek Lookout. Personally, I liked this lookout on the river much better than the lagoon itself.

Spot Dolphins in Monkey Mia

Those traveling along the West Coast of Australia should definitely make a stop at Monkey Mia. For me, this is one of the most beautiful places in Australia. Even though Monkey Mia is not big and consists only of a beach and a caravanpark, there is still a lot to do there. Especially known is Monkey Mia for the many dolphins, who swim there every morning to the beach. Here you can join in feeding the dolphins.
But there are many more animals to see in Monkey Mia: turtles, pelicans or starfish can often be seen from the beach.
After a day at the beach and in the ocean, you can go for a drink in one of the bars in the evening and watch the sunset over the sea.

Be impressed by the Quobba Blow Holes

At first, the stretch of coast by the sea near Carnarvon may seem a bit boring. But as soon as a wave comes, water is washed through the holes in the rocks on the beach, creating meter high fountains. You should definitely not miss this spectacle.

Visit Coral Bay

Coral Bay is a small town a few kilometers before Exmouth. Although there are only a few cafes and shops in the village, the nature is more spectacular. There are several beaches where you can go snorkeling in turquoise blue water and admire the Ningaloo Reef. You can also book boat tours where you go out to sea by boat to jump into the water and snorkel in various places.

Go snorkeling in the Ningaloo Reef

Ningaloo Reef stretches along the coast from Exmouth through Coral Bay down to Carnarvon. The 250 kilometer long coral reef is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and, unlike the Great Barrier Reef, very close to the coast. Therefore, you can easily swim from the beach to the reef.
When diving or snorkeling in the reef you can discover a wide variety of fish and coral species. Of course, you can also search for turtles, rays or other inhabitants of the reef.

Visit Cape Range National Park

Cape Range National Park is located at the end of the coast of Ningaloo Reef, near Exmouth. The best way to reach the National Park is from Exmouth. Right at the beginning of the National Park is a Lookout Point, from where you can see an old shipwreck. Only a few kilometers away is a lighthouse high on a mountain. If you climb up to the lighthouse you can enjoy a breathtaking view over the sea and the national park.
In the National Park, you can dive into the water at a variety of beaches and explore Ningaloo Reef. In addition, there is also the occasional walking trail from which you can admire the view over the national park.

Explore Karijini National Park

With spectacular nature, a lot of tranquility and far away from the crowds, the Karijini National Park is in my opinion one of the most beautiful national parks in Australia. It is located about 400 kilometers south of Port Hedland in the middle of the outback.
There is a lot to see in Karijini National Park, which is why you should plan at least three to five days for your stay here. In addition to numerous gorges, you can also visit one or another waterfall in Karijini National Park.

For a detailed guide to Karijini National Park please read my blogpost The ultimate Guide to Karijini National Park. Coming soon.

Relax at Eighty Mile Beach

Between the towns of Broome and Port Hedland lies Eighty Mile Beach. Eighty Mile Beach is the longest beach in Western Australia. On the beach you can either enjoy the sun, go fishing, go swimming in the sea or watch the sunset in the evening.

Take a bath in the Rock Pools at Gantheaume Point

There are several rock pools at Gantheaume Point in Broome. These are small rock formations right by the sea that look like small pools. The pools are a bit hidden, so you have to look for them first. Also note the tides, because the rock pools are not accessible at all times of the day.
While the rock pools are underwater at certain times of the day, it may be worthwhile to search for dinosaur footprints at Gantheaume Point.

Watch a sunset at Entrance Point in Broome

Entrance Point is a stretch of beach in Broome, just outside the city centre. Every evening it attracts many travelers who drive their cars to the beach to watch the sunset over the sea. As soon as the sun goes down, you can admire the starry sky from Entrance Point.

If you travel from Broome even further towards Darwin, then please check out my blog post 12 Things you need to do when you visit the Northern Territory.