Exmouth Explorer, 7 Days

Overview

This seven-day loop from Perth, run by Autopia Tours, covers a serious stretch of Western Australia's coast in an air-conditioned mini-coach with a driver-guide providing local commentary along the way. It runs north through the Pinnacles and Kalbarri National Park, pauses at Nature's Window, then continues to Monkey Mia in Shark Bay, Coral Bay and the Ningaloo Reef area around Exmouth, before returning south through Carnarvon and Geraldton. Park admissions and the dolphin experience fee are built into the price, along with most meals: six breakfasts, five lunches and five dinners.

The style is budget and participatory. Guests help with meal prep, clean-up and loading the vehicle, which the listing frames as a way to relax together after each day and get to know fellow travellers. Optional extras such as the whaleshark swim, manta ray swim, glass bottom boat cruise, scuba dive and abseiling are paid for separately.

Who it suits: travellers who want the coast without driving it themselves. One reviewer summed up the appeal as seeing incredible places without the stress of self-driving, and an older couple in their seventies reported completing everything on offer. It demands moderate fitness, with guided walks up to roughly 8km, and one German-speaking reviewer described it as tiring given the distances covered.

Itinerary

1. Perth departureThe tour departs from the Criterion Hotel Perth at 560 Hay St at 07:25, with selected inner-city pick-up points available, and spends around 3 hours in Perth at the start.
2. Pinnacles to KalbarriThree hours at the Pinnacles with admission included, then an overnight stop in Kalbarri at a centrally located hostel with share bathrooms. Lunch and dinner are provided on this leg.
3. Kalbarri to Monkey MiaKalbarri National Park for 3 hours, Nature's Window for 2 hours with admission included, and Shell Beach for 30 minutes. The night is spent by the beach at Monkey Mia, with breakfast, lunch and dinner covered.
4. Shark Bay to Coral BayMonkey Mia Reserve for 2 hours with admission included, and Hamelin Pool for an hour. Overnight at Ningaloo Coral Bay Backpackers, which offers dorm, double, twin or single rooms. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
5. Coral Bay and NingalooFive hours at Coral Bay, then 3 hours at Ningaloo Reef, with optional extras available at additional cost including the whaleshark swim or cruise, manta ray swim, glass bottom boat cruise, scuba dive and abseiling. Overnight at Potshot Hotel Resort Backpackers in Exmouth.

Road Distances From Perth

1. Cape Range and Turquoise BayTime in Exmouth, then Vlamingh Head Lighthouse for 2 hours, Cape Range National Park for 2 hours and Turquoise Bay for 2 hours, all with admission included. A second night at Potshot in Exmouth, with breakfast and dinner.
2. Exmouth to GeraldtonTwo hours in Exmouth, two hours in Carnarvon, an hour at the Murchison River where admission is not included, and an hour in Geraldton. Overnight at Geraldton Backpackers on the Foreshore, with breakfast and lunch.
3. Geraldton to PerthHalf an hour in Geraldton and 45 minutes at Green Head on the way back, with a final 2 hours in Perth. Breakfast and lunch are included, and the tour ends back at the Criterion Hotel meeting point.

Common Questions