6-Day Coral Coast Tour Perth to Exmouth: Guided Coastal Journey

Six days following the coast without building the itinerary yourself

This is a six-day guided tour traveling one-way from Perth to Exmouth along Western Australia's Coral Coast, with accommodation, most meals, and guided walks included throughout. The tour stops at Pinnacles Desert, Kalbarri National Park, Monkey Mia, and Ningaloo Reef, with optional paid activities like whale shark or manta ray snorkeling. Small groups travel with an experienced driver-guide who handles the route, timing and commentary; you choose your accommodation type (shared or private rooms) at checkout, and dietary requirements must be noted when you book.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Perth to Kalbarri National Park

• Travel north along Coral Coast
• Guided tour of Pinnacles Desert
• Lunch by the sea
• Drive Indian Ocean Drive coastal views
• Stop in Geraldton, visit pink lake
• Arrive in Kalbarri for overnight stay

Day 2 — Kalbarri National Park to Monkey Mia

• Visit Murchison Gorge and Nature’s Window
• Optional abseiling activity
• Walk on shell beach
• Drive to Monkey Mia via Denham
• Overnight stay by the beach

Day 3 — Monkey Mia to Coral Bay

• Meet Monkey Mia dolphins
• Relax on beach or have coffee
• Visit Stromatolites rock formations
• Arrive Coral Bay near Ningaloo Reef

Day 4 — Coral Bay and Ningaloo Reef

• Free time to explore Ningaloo Reef
• Optional boat tour or beach stroll
• Swim with manta rays or snorkel reef
• Drive to Exmouth for overnight stay

Day 5 — Explore Exmouth and Cape Range

• Visit Cape Range National Park
• Relax or snorkel at Turquoise Bay
• Visit Vlamingh Head Lighthouse
• Relax at Milyering Visitors Center
• Optional whale shark or humpback snorkel
• Optional Navy Pier dive (certified only)

Day 6 — Departure from Exmouth

• Say goodbye to group and checkout

The Experience

You leave Perth heading north along Indian Ocean Drive toward the Pinnacles Desert, where a guided walk through thousands of limestone pillars takes roughly 1.5 kilometers. Lunch comes by the sea before the drive continues up the coast to Kalbarri, your first overnight stop. The next morning you're in Kalbarri National Park exploring the Murchison Gorge, Nature's Window and Z-Bend—water carved through sandstone over millennia, with walks totaling around 3 kilometers. If wildflower season aligns with your dates, the gorge fills with color; abseiling is available for an extra cost if you want it.

By mid-morning you're heading toward Monkey Mia in Shark Bay. The dolphins here are wild and habituated to people, so you meet them on the beach at dawn before settling into a beach-side accommodation. The next leg takes you past Stromatolites—ancient rock formations—and into Coral Bay, positioned right on Ningaloo Reef. You have most of a day here to choose: join a boat tour, snorkel the reef from shore (equipment hire is $10 with a bond), or walk the beach and check out the shark nursery. That evening you drive to Exmouth for a two-night stay.

Your final full day explores Cape Range National Park—rugged limestone ranges, deep canyons, and 50 kilometers of beach. Turquoise Bay is the main snorkel spot, or you can relax on sand and visit Vlamingh Head Lighthouse and the Milyering Visitors Center. Whale shark and humpback whale snorkel tours run seasonally and cost extra; Navy Pier diving is also available if you're certified and have dived within the last six months. The tour finishes in late afternoon, and you check out the following morning at 10am.

Accommodation throughout is shared or private rooms in hostels near the coast; the operator asks guests to help with meal prep and vehicle loading so the group can relax together after long days. Most meals are included, though you can eat out or buy food along the way at your own cost. The itinerary shifts with seasons—wildflower timing, whale migration, weather—so the operator adjusts stops to keep safety and experience in balance. Guided walks total around 7 kilometers across the six days and range from easy to moderate grade; a moderate fitness level is required to complete them.

What’s included

• Perth inner-city pick-up and Exmouth drop-off.
• five nights accommodation in shared or private rooms near the coast.
• most meals throughout the tour.
• guided walks at Pinnacles Desert, Kalbarri National Park, Monkey Mia, and Cape Range National Park.
• national park entry fees.
• experienced driver-guide with local commentary.
• snorkeling access at Ningaloo Reef from shore (snorkel hire $10 extra).

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Autopia Tours

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you're arriving in Perth with time to spend and want to reach Exmouth without renting a car or planning six days of stops yourself. The fixed itinerary, included accommodation and meals, and small-group pace mean you travel the Coral Coast without building logistics—just show up at the Perth pick-up point and follow the coast. If you prefer flexibility to linger at one stop or skip another, or if you want to drive at your own speed, a self-drive rental suits you better.

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Top questions

What happens when I arrive in Perth—do I need to arrange my own transport to the tour start?

The tour includes selected Perth inner-city pick-up points, so you're collected from a central location rather than arranging a transfer yourself. Confirm your pick-up address when you book.

Can I snorkel at Ningaloo Reef, and what does that cost?

Yes. At Coral Bay and Turquoise Bay you can snorkel the reef from shore; snorkel hire is $10 with a bond. Boat tours, whale shark swims, and manta ray experiences are optional and cost extra, and whale shark and humpback tours run only in season.

What are the Monkey Mia dolphins, and how close do you get to them?

Monkey Mia's bottlenose dolphins are wild but habituated to people, so they come to the beach in the morning. You meet them on the sand and can photograph them; it's not a captive encounter or a swim, but a wild sighting on their terms.

Do I need to be very fit to do this tour, and are there walks I can skip?

A moderate level of fitness is required because guided walks total around 7 kilometers across six days and range from easy to moderate grade. Walks are part of the tour structure, though you can choose to rest at some stops instead of walking every section.

What's included in the price, and what costs extra?

The tour includes accommodation for five nights, most meals, guided walks, national park fees, and transport from Perth to Exmouth. Optional activities—whale shark snorkeling, manta ray swims, humpback whale tours, Navy Pier diving, abseiling—cost extra. Snorkel hire ($10) and meals you choose to eat out are also your own cost.

Can I book a private room instead of sharing accommodation?

Yes. At checkout you choose between shared rooms or private single or double/twin rooms. Private options cost more but give you your own space throughout the tour.