After numerous returns to the Coral Coast I have come to realize that this stretch of land draws deep into one’s soul. For me it is the moment that country gives way to sand in the landscape and I am able to see the horizon once more. The transition from the spread of suburbs to bleached-gold sand dotted with saltbush and the occasional clump of kangaroo grass that signals the approaching of the sea is very freeing. It’s as if the chest has released a long-held breath and one hasn’t even realized they were holding it until the air is finally released.
It is very simple really, just show up, pay attention, and eat well. The Coral Coast itinerary really is that simple, yet it fills two days of the best travel of your life.
The mistake most people make before they even leave the driveway
Over-planning kills it. Genuinely. I’ve watched people arrive at Cervantes or Jurien Bay with
Most people plan to excess before they even depart from their driveway. The Coral Coast is one of those rare places on Earth that does not need to be ‘done’ in a certain way, or at all. By adhering to a strict and regimented itinerary, you will find that the Coral Coast experience is in fact detracted from. And this is a very relaxed area of Australia and one that is best experienced with an open mind and with plenty of flexibility. Pull over at a spot along the coast to swim in the water, pull over at a pull-over to take in the amazing views of the ocean, enjoy a sunset at a lonely beach – these are the types of experiences which will stay with you long after you have departed the region for your return to Perth.
The Coral Coast is one of those touring areas that rewards flexibility much like a great conversation rewards silences. If you’re touring the region by car then you’ll find that a road that looks ‘boring’ on the map can have some incredible pull-offs with turquoise water so still it looks to have been photoshopped. These things cannot be scheduled into your touring plans and they require you to have enough slack in your touring days to visit the places that interest you along the way. If you’re a very scheduled type of person then this will be easier for you than others – but it can be done.
A rough two-day shape that actually works.
A rough two-day shape that actually works
- Leave Perth early Saturday morning. Pre-dawn if you can manage it. Hitting the Pinnacles at sunrise, before the tour buses arrive, is a completely different experience to seeing it at 11am. The desert light is softer. The crowds don’t exist yet.
- Spend Saturday afternoon on the water. Jurien Bay is your best bet for a calm swim, snorkelling with sea lions (yes, actual sea lions), or just floating around doing nothing in particular.
- Eat something exceptional Saturday evening. More on this in a moment.
- Sunday morning, slow down. Walk Hangover Bay or the Indian Ocean Drive coastal stretch. Don’t rush back to Perth. The city will still be there.
It’s simple enough to remember and gives enough structure for the days without filling them too rigidly.
The scenic stops actually worth your time
Don’t miss these other Coral Coast spots often underrepresented by travel literature. Each of these scenic spots will take less than an hour to look around, and they will vastly enhance your trip to the area. So chain them together with your Pinnacles Desert visit and make a really great Saturday.
- Lake Thetis, just outside Cervantes, where stromatolites sit in shallow water like ancient, indifferent monuments. These organisms are billions of years old. Billions. Standing next to them feels quietly ridiculous in the best possible way, like bumping into someone enormously important who has no idea who you are.
- Hangover Bay, which has a name so good it almost oversells it. It doesn’t need to oversell it. The beach is genuinely wild and usually empty — the kind of empty that feels deliberate.
- The wildflower corridors along Indian Ocean Drive between August and October, when the roadside erupts in everlastings and native blooms. Disorienting, frankly, how hard it hits you when you’re not expecting it.
Visiting each of these points of interest should take around an hour, so packing a few in on a busy Saturday will make the hours fly.
The food situation (which I feel surprisingly strongly about)
There are many local eateries and restaurants on the Coral Coast that serve the freshest produce and best seafood in the area. The Coral Coast is situated right next to one of the world’s best fishing grounds and is generally under promoted as a quality food destination.
Locals keep telling us that in Cervantes there is this super seafood restaurant where locals and visitors alike go to indulge in the fresh catches from the waters right offshore – lobster restaurant WA, and it’s a must go to. This is honest to goodness food – seafood of the highest order. It’s not fancy but it’s something to be devoured with glee. And the price – absolute value for money. A treat while we are on the road, even if it’s outside our budget.
| Stop | Best time to visit | Don’t miss |
| The Pinnacles | Sunrise, before 8am | The colour shift at first light |
| Jurien Bay | Late morning | Sea lion snorkelling tour |
| Lake Thetis | Any time, 20 minutes max | The stromatolites up close |
| Cervantes | Saturday evening | Fresh local lobster, obviously |
Use this to make notes while traveling, and add as many details as you like for each location. Pull over to a better spot to watch the sunset, or to a pull off point with the most amazing turquoise water to stop for a dip. Don’t worry that you’re behind schedule.
Before you go — one genuinely important thing
Bring more water than you need. The Coral Coast’s weather is hot, and the drive between towns is far longer than you expect. The sun doesn’t negotiate.
Relax, and go with the flow! In a few days time you’ll return home a little wiser and looser, with a bit of a reeducation about how great is to have a good day without having all the answers!
And that is the Coral Coast’s point: to relax and unwind.