Western Australia in 3 weeks
 

We are at the very first stages of planning 23 days in WA - is this itinary too much?
Arriving in Perth and spending 5 (?) days to include a trip to Freemantle & Rottnest
Driving up to Monkey Mia - 3 (?) days and where to stop/see along the way?
On to Ningaloo Reef - love snorkelling, so 4 days min
Then onto Karijini NP and back to Port Hedland - 4 days and is this worth the detour or head to Exmouth instead and spend more time somewhere else?
Fly to Broome and stay 2 days
Drive the Kimberley, see Bungle Bungles - 2 days
Fly back to Perth from Wyndham?
I have an idea that this would be a great trip for 3 months rather than 3 weeks - what do you think? We really would like to try and get that mix of marine life, beach, waterfalls, gorges and outback that WA is famous for. Any advice welcomed and thank you in advance

Sorry, have read some more posts - is Shark Bay a possiility to add in or swap with Monky Mia? Thanx!

Having been to the Kimberley, just 4 days there (Broome, Bungles) seems rather rushed to me. Also keep in mind time of year is critical. The Bungle Bungles are closed during the Wet Season, I believe from November through April (or something like that).

Hi Heidi_Mo
I'm from WA but don't have extensive travel experience up north but suggest that you check www.skywest.com.au to see flights up at the top end. It is a very vast country and flights are few. From Port Hedland to Broome there seems to be a flight once a week (Sat) and there are no flights between Wyndham and Perth. Qantas does not fly these routes and there are no other airlines except for charter which will be very expensive. Hopefully someone familiar with the area to talk to you about distances.

As far as Perth is concerned, 5 days is enough to see the city as well as Fremantle (only 30 minutes away) and Rottnest - you'll want to spend a day. Suggest you visit www.rottnestisland.com to see ferry schedules and activities on the island.

Have fun. Mac123

Heidi_Mo,
I would suggest you leave the Kimberley for a seperate trip. Lots to do between Perth and Shark Bay where you will find Monkey Mia. The gorges are not a detour but a destination in themselves.
Have a look at the Werstern Australian Tourism page http://www.australiascoralcoast.com/

I agree. It sounds like a lot for three weeks. I'd probably also suggest dropping Kimberley and leave it for another trip. Also what time of the year are you traveling?

My only experience is between Perth and Kalbarri. We went in September to see the wildflowers. We drove to Jurien Bay the first day so we could stop and see the Pinnacles. The next day we drove to Kalbarri. If you are interested in hiking, you can hike a bit in the gorges. Geraldton is another popular place to stop. It is one of the larger towns.

We didn't make it to Monkey Mia because we wanted to go to Albany and Margaret River. You might want to consider adding Margaret River with the 4 days at the beginning instead of Kimberely to give you a different experience. The tall Eucalyptus forests and wineries are a nice addition to the gorges and beach.

I also highly recommend looking over the suggestions on the Western Australia tourism site. They have some nice itinerary suggestions. The suggested itinerary for Karijini with Dampier looks nice.

Thanks for all the replies - I hadn't even thought how flights might be so few and far between - obviously too used to the East coast! The websites suggested have been spot on. Am now going to go away and consider all the options, including time of year - all the best stuff seems to be in different months!
Thank you again,
HeidiMo

I have to confess I haven't been elsewhere in WA, but, in contrast to previous opinions, I think it would not be unreasonable to suggest dropping most of everything else and just focusing on the Kimberley instead. I was completely awed by the region's rugged beauty, wildness and isolation.

That's fair enough RalphR, particularly if it is before the end of August, after that I would do the southern part. This is not just for the wildlfowers but the general wildlife and personal comfort. Warmer in the north in winter. Dries out there later in the year.

Hi,

23 days probably is pushing it.

For background I did something similar - a trip from Darwin to Broome (5 days in a 4wd arriving very late). 3 nights in Broome and then on to Perth by bus (23 days). It was Decemmber so I did not go to Karijini.

Two days Broome - Bungles - Wyndham is not nearly enough. If you want to go there then you should perhaps forget the Karijini.

A lot depends on the time of year. As someone has already said - don't even think of the Bungles after the end of November. Ditto the Kariini - it won't be raining there but it will be SERIOUSLY HOT.

Re places between Perth and Monkey Mia.
The Pinnacles are worth seeing. Kalbarri is a good stop too. Frankly Monkey Mia is a tourist trap but the Shark Bay area is wonderful.

When you say Ningaloo Reef assume you mean Coral Bay. Good - I would split time between there and Exmouth. Again lots to see in the Exmouth area.

Both Shark Bay and Exmouth surrounds are best seen on a tour with a local guide (not expensive).

So let's say you've got yourselves to Exmouth. Again I would consider taking a tour to the Karijini. There are some that will deposit you in Broome from whence you could fly back to Perth.

Cheers

Heidi- I am from WA and have lived and travelled all these areas extensively. Here is my suggestions
1. 5 days is ample to see perth,fremantle and rottnest
2. monkey mia is worth seeing if you are travelling that way, otherwise it is abit of a tourist trap...there are alot of tours around perth that can take you to see dolphins
3. if you love snorkelling, take your gear to rottnest, as it has some great spots.
4. shark bay is overated, and i would suggest a stop for a day or two at kalbarri, which has beautiful gorges and townsite.
5. head to ningaloo reef and stay at coral bay, it is absolutely magic. make sure you pre-book accomodation as it is popular with australians. do not miss this place as you will be amazed by how good it is. the clarity of the water and coral formations are literaly 5 metres off the beach.
6. exmouth is also very nice...make sure you visit turqoise bay for a swim.

7. Karijini NP is also nice, but i wonder if you will have enough time as it is alot of driving to get there

8. forget port hedland, it is a dump. a mining, industry town with nothing to look at.( I lived there for two years)

9. i think you have to much planned for 3 weeks...you would spend way to much time driving...

10. if you love snorkelling you must go to coral bay....magnificent

11. A good trip would be perth for 5 days...then drive to Geraldton (5hrs) stay overnight and check out beaches. Then travel to Kalbarri for two night (2hrs). Then head via Monely Mia for a quick look and then head to shark bay for one night (3hrs) Then head to coral bay and stay for 5 nights.(4.5hrs)(you will love this place!!! then head to exmouth for the rest for a few days. You could then leave a couple of days spare to fly from exmouth to broome and spend two days relaxing on cable beach before heading home. If you head to broome make sure to stay at a hotel at cable beach. and do not drive from coral bay to broome...to far and not much to see in between.

THe kimberley trip is worth doing separate and make sure you dont go in december/january as it will be way to hot

Hi Heidi,

Well, here's my two bob's worth! I think Ningaloo Reef is 'heaven on a stick'. We camped in Cape Range National Park and absolutely had a ball. I think the gorges in Karijini NP - particularly Hammersley Gorge are perhaps, the most beautiful gorges in all of Australia. I would go back to Karijini and Millstream NPs before I went back to Kalbarri NP.

I agree that Port Hedland would be a bit iffy as a destination but depending on what interests you - seeing the massive amounts of iron ore that is shipped out on a daily basis and going through the primary smelter we found quite interesting. You certainly wouldn't spend 4 days there though!

It would seem that you'd be pushing it a bit to do The Kimberleys as well. However, if this is the only time you'd be doing WA, well maybe I'd try to squeeze it in. It would be one helluva holiday and you'd come back wrecked but I reckon that's a great way to feel at the end of trip!!!!

i would have to agree with doing karijini and millstream before kalbarri. pretty unique country in the gorges.

i certainly dont see what all the fuss about monkey mia is. it is a real tourist trap. I live in perth and we regularly see dolphins in the river and at my local beach.

Most locals cant understand why you have to travel so far to see dolphins when we see them around perth all the time.

If you are going to Ningaloo, you might consider snorkeling with the whale sharks in Exmouth--wonderful. But you can only do this at certain times of the year. We went in March several years ago. Also went diving in Coral Bay (and snorkeling with mantas) and scuba dived off the Navy Pier (considered one of Australia's top shore dives). It was like being in an aquarium, a very crowded aquarium. The beaches are also beautiful around Exmouth and nearly deserted.

Okay, so I am dropping Broome and the Kimberley for another holiday, thanks to everyone's suggestions. So now it's Perth to Exmouth with a few stops on the way and a possible 5 day trip to Karijini depending on the time of year. If not, then longer at Coral Bay and NOT Monkey Mia - I think everyone agreed it's an awful place! Does that sound about right now for 23 days? Thank you to all - such great fountains of knowlege! ;)

Heidi

from a local aussie that will be a great trip!!! you will love coral bay....trust me.....
just a tip for coral bay...if you are driving up, buy as many groceries as you can to take with you in Perth. Coral Bay has one supermarket which is good, but charges alot due to the isolation. The drinking water is also very hard, so stock up on cheap bottled water to take with you, as it will cost heaps at coral bay. Exmouth is fine and has everything you need. You can also hire your own boat in coral bay very cheaply to take out diving, it is very safe within the main barrier reef to do this...

have fun

Shaneoo, you gave some great suggestions, but is 9 nights in Coral Bay and Exmouth a bit much? I love snorkelling and will also try and coincide my trip with the Whale Shark season, but I'm wondering if it's gonna be 'gorgeous beach and coral' overkill?? I am actually coming over from the UK, so it's a huge trip for us, hence why I was trying to do too much at first. But now I feel I'm going the other way! Should I consider dropping a day or two and squeezing in a trip down South of Perth as I have 2 days spare already, possibly 3.
I am searching on all these websites and seem to get myself confused as they suggest that trips can be fitted into a much shorter timescales, but you seem to have a good knowledge of seeing stuff but also taking time to smell the flowers, so to speak. Help! Again! ;0

yes heidi, i see your problem. I know that feeling of information overload when trying to design a holiday that has the right balance. Problem with all tourist info is that it can be weighted with a fair amount of optimism (travel times etc).

to help you decide, i will give you a locals perspective on how we look at travelling to these areas.

If you have a few spare days you could definitely head south (very popular in WA) and will encounter a vastly different environment. Quite often we head to Busselton or Margaret River for 2 to 4 day breaks. It is probably the most popular weekender for Perth people. Great beaches, caves and wineries with some unique accomodation options. Very enjoyable holiday if you want to cruise wineries, hit the beach (surf) and good pubs,food etc. It is about a 3 and a half hour trip on good roads and not as hard as driving north.

Coral Bay is purely about the environment, beach, clear water and coral....not much else, so it depends how much of that you reckon will make you happy....By about the fifth day I find I am well and truly into a self induced coma of snorkel/nap/beach/swim/eat/beer/bed and so on....great if you are destressing...but you may want abit more stimulation amongst this....Exmouth has more, but is still more of a gateway to the environment....so not as much to do as say down south near margaret river.

we generally dont head to coral bay from perth for less than a week because it is a long drive...not a huge issue if you are stopping off along the way

hope this helps....i am happy to give further advice if you firm up your plans....

If I were me, and I was coming from overseas and wanted to make the best of my time without doing a "been there, done that" sort of trip (which you obviously don't) I'd say 9 nine days could be too long in Coral Bay/Exmouth.

Look it's not too long if you have all the time in the world, or can go there again. But 3 days in Coral Bay/2 in Exmouth or vice versa still leaves you with 4 to play with. I'd go for that trip to the Karijini. But if you really are wanting to savour a very special part of the world, and want to veg out, there is this place that I saw advertised almost 10 years ago that I never got to, despite best intentions. It's still there and now has a web site. Maybe it would appeal.

http://www.ningalooreefretreat.com/site/index.html

All the best.