self drive western australia

For a self-drive in Western Australia, pick your flavour: south for forests and surf, or north for reefs and red dirt—both will rearrange your sense of scale.

Southwest loop: Perth → Margaret River → Pemberton → Albany → Esperance, about 1,200–1,600 km over 5–7 days; cellar doors, towering karri trees, and beaches so white you’ll check your sunnies.

Coral Coast run: Perth → Cervantes → Kalbarri → Exmouth/Ningaloo, roughly 1,250 km one-way; allow 7–12 days for snorkelling (whale sharks in season) and sunset gorges that look photoshopped.

Go April–October for the north and September–April for the south, carry water and a spare, and avoid dusk unless you fancy meeting a kangaroo up close.