10 Day Broome to Perth

Departing Broome nice and early we push South from Broome.

Today’s job is to get some distance under our belt to make the following days easy, we stop at 80 Mile Beach for a refreshing swim in a crystal blue water and then get on a network of bush tracks which eventually take us into the heart of the Pilbara.

The Pilbara region includes beautiful landscapes of coastal plains and mountain ranges with cliffs and gorges and is particularly known for its iron-ore deposits.

We pass through Marble Bar, home to the famous IronClad Hotel where we can stop for a refreshment and good Aussie hospitality.

Marble Bar is a unique outback town with a strong history, it also claims the title of Australia’s hottest town, summers are always up there in the high 40’s however back in 1922, long before anyone had invented air conditioning it got to a whopping 49.2C!

The reason we have chosen to use an off road vehicle as opposed to a bus becomes clear as we take on the dirt roads and access a beautiful remote bush camp in a remote outback creek setting, we crank up the campfire and roll out the swags for our first night camping in the wilderness.

                             80 Mile Beach, exactly 109 miles long!

Iron Clad Hotel Marble Bar

Highlights

• 80 Mile Beach
• Drive through the Pilbara Region
• Camp: Private Wilderness Camp on Station Country – River Side
• Activities: Swimming, Snorkeling & Hiking approx 3km
• Meals: BLD

The big drive yesterday pays off as we reach Karijini National Park mid morning. Slot canyons, deep gorges and waterfalls abound in this outback oasis.

Today we check out the East Karijini delights of Fortescue Falls, Fern Pool & Dales Gorge which are all very close to our National Park Campground.

Each of these gorges typically contain a main pool where the crowds gather for a swim, however for those keen explorers (that’s us) we can follow the creeks for up to a few kilometres into further waterholes we have all to ourselves, the landscape is truely amazing and a photographers dream.

                             Waeno Gorge Karijini National Park

Handrail Pool, Karijini National Park

Highlights

• Fortescue Falls
• Fern Pool
• Dales Gorge
• Camp: Bush Camp, National Park Facility
• Activities: Swimming, approx 5km
• Meals: BLD

Over the next couple of days we explore the rest of Karijini National Park, including

• Weano Gorge
• Hancock Gorge
• Knox Gorge
• Joffre Gorge
• Knox Gorge
• Hancock Gorge
• Weano Gorge
• Joffre Gorge

There is so much to explore and some great hiking and swimming for the whole of each day.

                             Fern Pool, Karijini National Park

Fortescue Falls, Karijini National Park

Highlights

• Knox Gorge
• Hancock Gorge
• Weano Gorge
• Joffre Gorge
• Camp: Bush Camp, National Park Facility
• Activities: Swimming, approx 5km
• Meals: BLD

Today we say goodbye to the spectacular inland gorges of Karijini National Park and head for the Coast, specifically Exmouth and Ningaloo Reef.

Arriving at Exmouth you can jump in the beautiful waters of Exmouth Bay while your guide stocks up on supplies stock up on supplies, depending on the time we may stop at the Ningaloo lighthouse to watch the sunset, another promise of a beautiful day awaiting. Then, we head straight for our private bush camp located right on the water at Exmouth Bay.

Exmouth Bay

Highlights

• Hamersley Gorge
• Exmouth Bay
• Camp: Private Wilderness Camp on Station Country – Coastal
• Activities: Swimming & Hiking approx 3km
• Meals: BLD

From our Coastal camp we head a short distance Cape Range National Park and Ningaloo Reef.

Coastal delights abound including a special place called Turquoise Bay, where the coral reef comes right up to the beach, we spend quality time here exploring the reef where we see tropical fish and if lucky turtles and dolphins.

In addition to Turquoise Bay the Cape Range National Park is home to Yardie Creek, a coastal gorge where there is a great hike and more swimming opportunities.

In the afternoon we make our way to the town of Coral Bay

Tonights campsite is one of our best, this one is very private on Aboriginal Land. On most trips we also participate in a cultural activity where one of the  Aboriginal traditional owners will sit down with us around the campfire and talk about the spiritual significance of the place where their ancestors have lived for many thousands of years. This is always a special experience, on some occasions this activity is not available due to Cultural reasons.

Tonight we sleep under the very same stars that Aboriginal people have been sleeping under for milenia.

Snorkelling off the beach at Turquoise Bay

Highlights

• Hamersley Gorge
• Exmouth Bay
• Camp: Private Wilderness Camp on Station Country – Coastal
• Activities: Swimming & Hiking approx 3km
• Meals: BLD

Coral Bay is only 5 minutes down a bush track. We spend all day at Coral Bay where there is a variety of activities to suit all tastes and budgets, including;

• Relaxing and swimming on the beach
• Hiring snorkels and exploring the bay
• Joining a Manta Ray Snorkeling Boat Cruise
• Joining a Hump Back Whale Cruise (in season)
• Joining a Whale Shark Snorkeling Boat Cruise (in season)

If you are planning on doing a Whale Shark cruise, it is best to wait to book this until you join our tour so that you maximise your chances of a successful cruise. Your guide will look at the weather forecast and will also know where the best place is to see Whale Sharks. Our tour is quite flexible so we have the opportunity to move things around a bit if need be.

If you would like to research cruises we use Coral Bay Eco Tours ➚

Whether you have snorkelled with Whale Sharks or relaxed on the Coral Bay Beach with a good book, it’s another day in paradise!

In the afternoon we head back to our camp.

Relaxing at Coral Bay – Photo Credit Steve Chant

Coral Bay Eco Tours

Highlights

• Coral Bay – Free day relaxing or optional snorkel hire & boat cruises
• Camp: Private Wilderness Camp on Aboriginal Land – Coastal
• Activities: Swimming, Snorkelling & Boat Cruises
• Meals: BLD

Departing Coral Bay is never easy, what a stunning part of the world!

But, more adventure and beauty awaits, after a morning swim we trek south toward Shark Bay and Monkey Mia.

Stopping off at Carnarvon we then we drop into Hemlin Pool the amazing Shell Beach, which is a beach made of millions of.. you guessed it, shells! Then we head to another awesome little campsite on the coast where we are immersed in total wilderness and surrounded by nature, we can soak it all up around the campfire.

Shell Beach

Highlights

• Coral Bay Swim
• Carnarvon
• Shell Beach
• Camp: Private Wilderness Camp on Station Country – Coastal
• Meals: BLD

Arriving at Monkey Mia we spend some quality time with the Dolphins and participate in a feeding session.

Wild dolphins have been visiting the shoreline at Monkey Mia virtually every day for over 40 years, making this spot one of the best and most reliable places for dolphin interaction in the world.

The dolphin interactions are regulated by rangers and a few lucky visitors are selected to hand-feed the dolphins a small amount of fish.

From Monkey Mia we wave goodbye to our aquatic friends and head into Kalbarri National Park where we explore the inland gorges of the park including Murchison Gorge & Nature’s Window where there are some great hiking opportunities.

After some outdoor action, we head to our last campsite which is 100% exclusive on private farming property near Kalbarri National Park.

                             Dolphin Feeding, Monkey Mia

Natures Window, Kalbarri National Park

Highlights

• Monkey Mia
• Kalbarri National Park
• Murchison Gorge & Z-Bend
• Nature’s Window
• Kalbarri Coastal Walk
• Camp: Coastal Bush Camp
• Camp: Private Wilderness Camp on Station Country – Coastal
• Activities: Hiking approx 3-6km
• Meals: BLD

In the morning we head for the coastal areas of the Kalbarri National Park and complete sections of the Bigurda Trail, this is an 8km trail following the coast and pssing some really beautiful gems like Pot Alley, Eagle Gorge and Island Rock.

.The beauty of bush camping is that we rise with the sun and get moving early. we’ll head for Nambung National Park, home of the Pinnacles and eventually into the city of Perth where we can drop you at your accommodation.

The Pinnacles – Nambung National Park

Highlights

• Kalbarri National Park
• Nambung National Park
• The Pinnacles
• Activities: Hiking approx 3km
• Meals: BLD