The West Coast of Australia is less traveled than the East Coast, but it has a surreal kind of beauty. Exmouth and Cape Range National Park is a common stop on a West Coast road trip between Perth and Broome – or some people just do the coast between Perth and Exmouth. Either way, it’s one area you can’t miss in Australia! Here’s my guide to this amazing part of WA.

How to Get to Exmouth and Cape Range

Exmouth has its own airport, as well as long-distance bus connections – both up the coast to Perth, and across the northwest to Broome. If you’re flying into Exmouth, I use Skyscanner to find the best flight deals. You’ll need your own car to get to Cape Range National Park – you can rent a car in Exmouth if needed. Most of the main attractions in Cape Range can be accessed with a standard 2WD car. But if you’re heading south of Yardie Creek, the sealed road ends and you’ll need a 4WD.

When is the Best Time to Visit Exmouth and Cape Range?

March to October is the best time of year to visit Exmouth and Cape Range. I went in the middle of October, and it was unbearably hot (although in fairness, I was living out of my car). Temps were about 38-43˚C (100-109˚F) during the heat of the day, and the flies were horrendous. April to September is peak season for whale sharks. This is one of the main reasons to visit Exmouth and Ningaloo Reef, so try to time your trip right!

What to See and Do in Exmouth and Cape Range

There’s a lot to see and do here – the best white-sand beaches I’ve seen in my life are in this part of WA! Exmouth and Cape Range are perfect for swimming, snorkeling, hiking, and wildlife spotting.

Reef/Whale Shark Tour with Ningaloo Blue Dive

One of the best experiences of my life was my reef tour with Ningaloo Blue Dive. While I went in the middle of October, out of whale shark season, we got lucky and were still able to swim with a whale shark!!! We did five swims with the shark, as there was only one other boat in the reef that day during the shoulder/off season.

We also had two snorkel opportunities out in the reef – I saw turtles, rays, and so many fish! Two humpback whales also made an appearance, one very close to the boat. Snacks, lunch, and a glass of prosecco was provided. Photos were also included in the tour price. At $400 AUD for the reef tour, it was one of the most expensive excursions I’ve booked in Australia. But it was so worth it.

Charles Knife Canyon

Before driving into Exmouth, head up the winding road to see Charles Knife Canyon. There are so many viewpoints, and the canyon is enormous. There’s no access to Cape Range from this road, but it’s worth the drive just to admire the majesty of the canyon. Sunrise here is meant to be spectacular.

Exmouth

Exmouth isn’t really much of a destination, but it’s the main hub in the area. Head to Town Beach to soak up the sun, and maybe you’ll spot emus as you walk around town! Be sure to stock up on groceries and gas in town before you leave.

Vlamingh Head Lighthouse

This is one of the best views over Cape Range. Head up to Vlamingh Head Lighthouse, at the very tip of Western Australia, and soak up the incredible ocean views. You might even spot migrating whales here, if you visit during the right time of year. I saw multiple whales here within minutes of getting out of the car!

Hunter Beach

If you’re visiting in turtle season, you’ll want to head to Hunter Beach. This is a great spot to see turtles mating, laying their eggs, and the eggs hatching. Quite a lot of the other beaches in Cape Range National Park will have nesting turtles, but this beach is one of the most popular.

Lakeside

For some of the best snorkeling in Cape Range, head to Lakeside. This is close to the Cape Range visitor center (which has air conditioning, bless them), and the snorkel area is just a short 5-minute walk from the car park. Although I only saw fish, this was one of my favorite snorkel spots in Australia! The water was so clear and visibility was great – walk towards the far end and let the current move you down.

Turquoise Bay

Turquoise Bay is the most beautiful beach I’ve seen in Western Australia. Yes, the water really is that blue in real life! Settle in on this stunning white-sand beach for a morning or afternoon of swimming and snorkeling. I just couldn’t believe my eyes here – how is this place real?! You can’t miss Turquoise Bay on a trip to Cape Range, Exmouth, or WA. The current was very strong when I was here, which made me a bit nervous snorkeling even though I’m a very strong and confident swimmer. Always be cautious when snorkeling when there’s a current!

Oyster Stacks

Unfortunately, I didn’t get to go snorkeling here as I rolled my car and almost died the day I was planning on going. What a shame, as it’s meant to be excellent for snorkeling! Note that Oyster Stacks is only accessible for snorkeling at high tide, so be sure to check tide times before you go. The Cape Range visitor center has the tide/snorkel times available for the week.

Mandu Mandu Gorge

This is a short hike through one of the gorges, and then up and over the bushland. I went really early in the morning, and had the whole place to myself! The loop is 2.8km total, and it took me 45 minutes altogether.

Sandy Bay

This was my favorite beach in Cape Range. While Turquoise Bay is spectacular, it’s the most well-known and attracts the most crowds. Sandy Bay is much quieter – the water here is still super clear. It’s a popular spot for water sports, so don’t be surprised if you see a few kite-surfers out here!

Yardie Creek Trail

This is another spot in Cape Range that I missed due to the car crash. I was actually driving here when the accident happened. And it’s such a shame, as this hike looks awesome! It’s 2km total – the official advice is that it’ll be 1-3 hours to complete.

Planning Your Trip to Exmouth and Cape Range

The entry fee for Cape Range National Park is $17 per vehicle, but I recommend buying a WA parks pass if you’re visiting any other parks in WA. A one-month pass is $70, or an annual pass is $130. There’s no public transportation around Cape Range; you’ll need your own car. Note that there is no phone signal, neither Optus or Telstra, for vast areas of the national park. The last place I had good Optus signal was Vlamingh Head Lighthouse. My friend with Telstra had very limited signal throughout the park, too. There is wifi available at the visitor center (near Lakeside), but I wouldn’t say it works super great.

There are no supermarkets or stores in Cape Range (besides the visitor center gift shop), so stock up on everything before leaving Exmouth. Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.

Where to Stay in Exmouth and Cape Range

There is absolutely no free camping allowed anywhere within the Exmouth region. Rangers are apparently pretty tough and can issue on-the-spot fines. If you want to stay in Exmouth, there are a few outrageously overpriced caravan parks in town. I stayed at Potshot, in a private room and a 6-bed dorm room, for several nights after my car crash. They had a big kitchen and common area, fridges in all of the rooms, and two pools.

If you want to stay in Cape Range, you’ll likely be camping. There are multiple campgrounds all the way down the coast, which I’d say are pretty similar. They all have drop toilets, and none of them have showers. I stayed at Tulki Beach and Kurrajong campgrounds – I loved being right on the beach and watching the sunset with a beer each night!

If you’re after a splurge, Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef Safari Camp is the only other accommodation provider in Cape Range National Park. They have a range of luxe glamping tents for a truly special experience. While it’s outside of my budget range, I wanted to mention them specifically as it was the manager here who I flagged down on the road after my car crash. I think his name was Luke, and he was a wonderful person who helped me – I am so unbelievably grateful that the first vehicle I saw on the road was him and that he stopped for me. They obviously have good staff members here, and an unbeatable location right on the reef.

Car crash aside, I had such a wonderful time around Exmouth and Cape Range National Park. The natural beauty of Western Australia is on full display – every day I felt like I couldn’t believe what my eyes were seeing. If you’re traveling on a West Coast road trip, or road tripping around WA, you can’t miss this area! I hope this guide helps planning your trip to Exmouth and Cape Range National Park.

Have you been to Exmouth and/or Cape Range National Park? Where were your highlights?

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