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Batavia and Coral Coasts, Western Australia: Discovery Trails

Vlamingh Head lighthouse

Exmouth: a regional centre and home base for exploration of the Exmouth Gulf area, Exmouth came into being in 1963 when the Australian and United States governments agreed to establish the $66 million Harold E. Holt US Naval Communication Station at North West Cape. Today, Exmouth's claim to fame is the fact that it is the closest mainland town to the continental shelf. This results in there being very rich fishing grounds within close reach.

The Pinnacles: These limestone formations are contained within Nambung National Park, near the town of Cervantes, north of Perth. The raw material for the limestone of the Pinnacles came from seashells in an earlier epoch rich in marine life. The best season to see the Pinnacles is spring from August to October, as the days are mild and wildflowers start to bloom.


HMAS Sydney Memorial, Geraldton

Geraldton: A great base from which to explore the surrounding region, Geraldton is Western Australia's second largest seaport after Fremantle, which is 500km to the south. The surrounding area is rich agricultural land, and the district is noted for its beautiful spring wildflowers and picturesque countryside.

Gregory: originally the port for the Murchison region and called Port Gregory, the township of Gregory is today a small tourist and fishing village. Nearby are the ruins of the Lynton Convict Depot.

Shipwreck Coast Drive: this 4-day plus drive follows the coast of Western Australia from the capital, Perth, to Kalbarri, then returns via an inland route through the central wheatbelt, an agricultural region known for its spectacular wildflowers in Spring.

Stockyard Gully Caves: these were created by an underground river system, two of them are easily accessible. Unfortunately, none of these places are well developed for tourism; they can be accessed by four-wheel drive vehicle only.

Greenough: an all but abandoned rural community that developed on the Greenough Plains in the mid 19th century, the village is now like a ghost town and walk-around museum.

Hutt River Province: an independent principality which seceded from the Commonwealth of Australia and the State of Western Australia in April 1970. The province, essentially a farm, attracts plenty of curious tourists.

Northampton: A small farming community which had its origins in mining when, in 1842, copper was discovered in the area. The town was classified as an Historic Town by the National Trust.

Carnarvon: 983km north of Perth, Carnarvon is the commercial centre of the highly productive Gascoyne region. The town's warm winters, hot summers and a tropical appearance, with bougainvilleas, hibiscus blooms and banana plantations, clearly announce to northern travellers that they have now entered Western Australia's tropical region.

Point Quobba: a trip across near-desert landscape from Carnarvon to Point Quobba takes you to some of the most interesting sights on the whole of the Western Australian coast. There are superb coastal cliffs as well as the point's blowholes, a look at an unusual salt loading facility and the wreck of the Korean Star. The coastline is characterised by spectacularly beautiful craggy cliffs, beautiful white sandy beaches and a dramatic variety of seascapes.

Port Denison/Dongara: two small communities that are home to a fishing and crayfishing fleet, in recent years they have become popular as a seaside resort.

Murchison River Gorges: the main features of Kalbarri National Park are the very scenic sandstone gorges carved out by the Murchison River as it winds towards its estuary at the Kalbarri township. There are plenty of walking and hiking trails through the gorges which are clearly marked. Wildflowers bloom in abundance between August and October after winter rains.

Visiting The Region: The Facts

How to get there: Because of the vast distances between localities, and that many highlights can only be reached by road, serious consideration should be given to touring the area by motor vehicle, or as part of an organised tour, unless you only have the time or inclination to visit a single locality. In such cases, way up carefully the cost and time involved in going to just one locality. Many travellers who have done that feel it did not provide value for money and wished they had made alterative travel arrangements or not gone at all.
By air, Skywest Airlines operate a twice daily service between Perth and Exmouth, Carnarvon, Geraldton, Kalbarri and Shark Bay, and a weekly service (on Sundays) between Broome and Exmouth.
By road, travel north from Perth on Great Northern Highway, taking Brand Highway at Muchea. The Greyhound bus takes approximately twelve hours from Perth to Carnarvon and travels every day, some days twice, to localities throughout the region.

The best time to go: June to November are the best times to visit the localities in the north. December to April is cyclone season in the tropical regions and most rainfall occurs at these times. The area to the south of Kalbarri is not affected by cyclones to any great degree, so this region can be visited any time of the year. The summer months can be hot and flies can be a nuisance then, so March to May and August to November are our preference.
June is the season to swim with the Whale Sharks at Ningaloo Reef, as they migrate through these waters at that time. Humpback whales visit the the Coral and Shipwreck Coasts between June to November each year, migrating twice annually through the area into the Exmouth Gulf. The first visit occurs in late autumn (June-July) during their northern migration, and they return in their southern migration each spring (September-November).
Wildflowers occur throughout the Coral Coast region. July to November is wildflower season, with the best bloom around September to November.

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