Western Australia
Western Australia’s population is about 2.7 m, 10% of the national total (27 m). However, it is Australia’s largest state, covering 2,527,013 square km, or about 25% of the nation’s land area. It is the second least densely populated state or territory after the Northern Territory.
So, how big is Western Australia? Remarkably, this state is so massive that it is larger than most countries in the world, like France, Germany, Japan, and the UK. Western Australia is even larger than Indonesia (1,910,931 square km), the world’s 14th largest country. Indonesia has a population of about 279 million, making it more than 100 times as densely populated as Western Australia.
Western Australia Coral Coast
Western Australia’s Coral Coast refers to the 1,100 km of breathtaking Indian Ocean coastline from Cervantes northward to Exmouth that includes well-known attractions such as the Pinnacles, Pink Lake, Kalbarri National Park, and 2 of Australia’s World Heritage-listed areas – Shark Bay and Ningaloo Reef.
The 1,250 km Coral Coast Highway, starting from Perth to Exmouth, that passes through Coral Coast cities and towns such as Cervantes, Jurien Bay, Green Head, Leeman, Dongara, Port Denison, Greenough, Geraldton, Carnarvon, and Exmouth, is one of Australia’s Great Scenic Drives and is regarded by many as one of the greatest road trips on earth.
Coral Coast’s Wildflower Season
Western Australia’s wildflower season generally runs in the spring season from June/July through October/November, shifting from north to south as spring progresses.
This is the most spectacular natural event on Earth — with over 12,000 species of wildflowers, about 60 % unique to WA, blooming each year across an enormous range of landscapes from outback plains to coastal heathlands and forests. Many nature lovers from around the world travel to Western Australia specifically for the wildflower viewing.
If you travel to the Coral Coast in August, you have the opportunity to witness the amazing wildflower blooms that turn into vast, beautiful carpets of colour.
Guilderton
Guilderton is a tiny coastal town of around 170 residents, just 94 km north of Perth.
The scenic town is located at the mouth of the Moore River and is a popular holiday and weekend destination for Perth residents, especially for fishing, boating, canoeing, swimming, and camping at the river estuary and nearby beaches along the coast. The resident number can swell significantly with holidaymakers on weekends and during holiday seasons.
During the drier summer months, Moore River flow is low and a sandbar forms across the river mouth, blocking direct flow to the Indian Ocean and creating a closed lagoon behind it. This is the time when many locals and holidaymakers enjoy swimming and other water activities in the closed lagoon.
During the wetter winter months or after significant rainfall, river flow increases and flows over the sand barrier to reconnect the river estuary to the ocean.
Lancelin
Lancelin is another small scenic coastal town of around 800 residents, about 35 km north of Guilderton. Like Guilderton, Lancelin is a popular holiday and weekend destination for Perth residents, and the number of residents can swell to thousands during the summer holiday periods.
Lancelin is a popular destination for surfing, windsurfing, and kitesurfing due to its coastal winds and open ocean access. Other than water sports, holidaymakers come to Lancelin to enjoy its relaxed beach town vibe.
Cervantes
Cervantes is a coastal town of around 500 residents about 85 km north of Lancelin. Around Cervantes, Thirsty Point and Hansen Bay are popular areas for swimming, snorkelling, kayaking, fishing, and picnicking.
Lake Thetis, just a 5-minute drive from the town centre, is where visitors come to see stromatolites, some of the oldest living fossils on Earth.
Nambung National Park’s Pinnacles Desert, the world-famous area of thousands of limestone spires rising from golden sands, is located between Lancelin and Cervantes, around 20 km south of Cervantes.
Julien Bay
Julien Bay, also a coastal town, is just about 25 km north of Cervantes and has a larger population of around 1,600. Julien Bay is the largest town on the part of the Coral Coast south of Dongara and Port Denison. Jurien Bay Harbour in Jurien Bay town provides services for recreational boating, a local fishing fleet, including commercial crayfishing boats, enabling crayfish export to international markets.
Jurien Bay is known for deep-sea fishing, skydiving over the stunning coastline, snorkelling, scuba diving, sandboarding, windsurfing, kayaking, swimming, and beach camping. Like Cervantes and many towns on the Coral Coast, Julien Bay’s population can double during the holiday seasons.
Julien Bay is often used as a base to visit Jurien Bay Marine Park and the nearby Lesueur National Park, a popular wildflower viewing area.
Green Head
Green Head is a small coastal town of around 300 residents, about 32 km north of Julien Bay.
Green Head’s South Bay in the south, Dynamite Bay, and Anchorage Bay in the north, all within walking distances from the town, are white sandy beaches with calm, sheltered, and clear blue waters perfect for swimming, snorkelling, and other water and beach activities. The scenic 2.8 km Three Bays Walk linking the three bays with stunning ocean views is a great relaxing walk for walkers in the early morning or sunset.
Green Head appeals to visitors looking for peaceful coastal beauty, nature-oriented, and laid-back small-town holidays.
Leeman
Leeman lies about 15 km north of Green Head on Indian Ocean Drive, has around 350 residents, and is another popular holiday destination known for enjoying water sports and a laid-back holiday vibe.
Turquoise waters and white sandy beaches around Leeman are ideal for swimming, snorkelling, kayaking, and fishing. Leeman’s strong coastal winds also support windsurfing, sailing, and powerboating.
Port Denison and Dongara
Port Denison, a small coastal town around 85 km north of Leeman, lies at the mouth of the Irwin River where it meets the Indian Ocean. Dongara is another small town right north of Port Denison, separated only by the Irwin River. Because Port Denison and Dongara are so close to each other, they are often mentioned together. They have a combined population of around 3000.
Port Denison is developed around maritime activities, fishing, shipping, and trade because of its natural harbour, Denison Harbour and Marina, at the Irwin River mouth. Fishermen’s Memorial Lookout, a heritage memorial that honours fishermen lost at sea, is a popular stop for visitors to enjoy sweeping coastal views and Denison Harbour. Along the coast around Port Denison, there are calm beaches great for swimming, fishing, beach walks, kiteboarding, and watching coastal sunsets.
Across Irwin River, Dongara offers services, shopping, banking, and schools, and acts as a hub for the region.
Geraldton and Greenough
Greenough is approximately 45 km north of Dongara and 25 km south of Geraldton. Once a larger settlement than Geraldton, nowadays Greenough is a small farming town that has only around 300 residents, very small compared to Geraldton’s approximately 35,000 residents.
Greenough sits on the Brand Highway, making it a common stop for travellers driving between Perth and Geraldton. The town’s main attractions include its scenic coastal area where the Greenough River meets the ocean and its 11 restored heritage buildings from the 1800s – old schoolhouse, courthouse, police station, churches, shops, and post office.
Geraldton is an important port city, fishing centre, and service hub for much of the surrounding Mid West agricultural and mining regions. Geraldton attracts visitors for its beaches, maritime history, and for being a gateway to the Mid West and Coral Coast attractions. Geraldton is a major stopover destination for visitors on Coral Coast road trips.
Some of Geraldton’s top attractions include its foreshore & beaches, HMAS Sydney II Memorial, Western Australia Museum – Geraldton, Geraldton Regional Art Gallery, and Houtman Abrolhos Islands National Park.
The beaches around Geraldton include Back Beach, Greys Beach, Pages Beach, Geraldton Beach, Champion Bay Beach, St. Georges Beach, and Glenfield Beach, all within 15-minute drives from Geraldton city centre.
HMAS Sydney II Memorial commemorates the loss of a Royal Australian Navy cruiser and all 645 crew members during World War II. It was the largest loss of life in Australian naval history.
Houtman Abrolhos Islands National Park, around 70km offshore from Geraldton, has over 100 islands for visitors to enjoy swimming, diving, snorkelling, fishing, seabird watching, and exploring coral reefs.
Geraldton foreshore, where Geraldton Beach is located, is a great place for a morning or evening walk. See Walk by the Waters -Geraldton Foreshore Blog.
Western Australia Coral Coast Road Trip from Perth to Exmouth Part 2 will be published on 15/7/26.
Western Australia’s Coral Coast refers to the 1,100 km of breathtaking Indian Ocean coastline from Cervantes northward to Exmouth that includes well-known attractions such as the Pinnacles, Pink Lake, Kalbarri National Park, and 2 of Australia’s World Heritage-listed areas – Shark Bay and Ningaloo Reef.