Perth to Exmouth

[AndyNZ]

Ah, just scored two very cheap flights from Auckland to Perth for a ten day trip.

Really wanting to dive a couple of days out of Exmouth, at this stage our plans may be to hire a car and drive from Perth to Exmouth one way; stop off at any spot along the way that takes our fancy and then fly back to Perth at the end.

Is ten days long enough to do this and fit in some fun stuff along the way? Any recommendations for stops on the west coast, either diving or other options?

I'm quite excited! First holiday in three years, so hoping to enjoy it HEAPS!

 

[Gudge]

It's about a 1,300 km drive from Perth to Exmouth. If you only stop for fuel, food and toilet breaks you can do it in around 13 hours. We normally do it as a comfortable two day trip stopping overnight at Geraldton (approx 400 km north of Perth). You don't want to be driving at dusk/night at this end as there are a lot of kangaroos on the road. Airfares Perth/Exmouth can be expensive as there is only one airline (Skywest) on the route and not a lot of discount airfares are on offer with no competition. This is there website:

Skywest Airlines - Low Fares Airline of Western Australia

There's not a lot to see on the way. You're only going to pass through two towns of any size between Perth and Exmouth, Geraldton and Carnarvon. I wouldn't bother about the latter. Areas you might like to consider for a visit are Shark Bay (world heritage listed) and Jurien Bay. There's also the Abrolhos Islands which are a long way offshore from Geraldton.

 

[marinediva]

hI Andy,
The good news .....you are heading for my most fav dive destination.
The bad news.......poor chap, you may have to share your space with some gentle giants of the deep.

Here is a web site which I regularly use for cheaper car hire, Rental Car Australia New Zealand United States Canada - Hire Now at StandByCars

Just 300km North of Perth is a town called Leeman,
Can recommend Beagle Island Dive Dive and snorkel with Beagle Island Dive Western Australia
Round the area are a number of National Parks with very scenic driving.
The Pinnacles are also up this way and are definately worth the look.



Geralton/Monkey Mia/Coral Bay/should definately not be missed.
Here is a web site with aussie dive shops
OCEANS ENTERPRISES - AUSTRALIAN DIVE SHOPS

Country WA is extremely pretty and diverse part of the world.

Here is a good website for some other ideas.
Kalbarri National Park offers some challenging walks and amazing sunsets from lofty heights.

enjoy your trip
Home - Australia's Coral Coast

md

 

[AndyNZ]

Thanks for the input! You're not wrong about the prices for the airfare, Gudge! But then four days of driving in a ten day trip is going to be a lot. We do a lot driving holidays, and if there was anything along the way to stop and look at/do then it would be fine.

Will have to do some research and try and plot out a trip and come back for some extra ideas.

What's the water temperature going to be like in WA in mid-June? I'm guessing warm, but not hot? Anything that's warmer than our current 15 degC is going to be a bonus...

 

[Gudge]

The end of May early June is when the water temperature drops to its winter level. While I've had water as warm as 27°C in early June the water temperature will generally be in the 23°C to 24°C at most dive sites. The only exception will be inside Exmouth Gulf where you can expect temperatures to be a little lower. You can track the water temperature on this site:

Ningaloo/

There are a lot of links to tourist information, weather, climate, dive shops etc here on my web site:

Exmouth

 

[Gudge]

The end of May early June is when the water temperature drops to its winter level. While I've had water as warm as 27Ž°C in early June the water temperature will generally be in the 23Ž°C to 24Ž°C at most dive sites. The only exception will be inside Exmouth Gulf where you can expect temperatures to be a little lower. You can track the water temperature on this site:

Ningaloo/

There are a lot of links to tourist information, weather, climate, dive shops etc here on my web site:

Exmouth

 

[MA]

AndyNZ - I'm heading there for 2 weeks on saturday!! I'll update you on water temp etc. Note i'm flying up exmouth, 4 days in coral bay to snorkel, and 8 days in exmouth diving and hopefully see a whaleshark.

 

[AndyNZ]

Thanks! 23 degC is fine.... warm enough to leave the drysuit at home, just. May have to actually buy a wetsuit, though, as realised I don't actually own one at all right now.



Thanks for the links, Gudge - very useful.

 

[Eau_Girl]

Hey AndyNZ -- I'm jealous. I spent about 3 weeks in WA in Feb/Mar 2006 and had great time. I spent about 2 weeks going from Perth to Exmouth and back.

I know others have posted similar advice, but I would echo the recommendations to do the following.

Stop by and see the Pinnacles either on the way up or way back -- worth the trip.

I spent a few days in the Shark Bay/Monkey Mia area. I stayed in Shark Bay and drove to Monkey Mia as there were more options for grocery shopping, hotels and restaurants in SB (it's tiny though!).

I ended up staying in Coral Bay and driving up to Exmouth one day for diving and another day to go to the national park on the cape. There are some beautiful beaches for snorkelling (get info from visitor center about where to snorkel as there are some strong undercurrents in certain areas).

I dove with same company in both Coral Bay & Exmouth. I wanted to dive the Navy Pier in Exmouth, but it was closed to divers when I was there. I was just ahead of whale shark season so did a manta spotting snorkel/dive trip instead. There's lots to do -- sailing, quad biking, etc. I think they were tearing down the hotel where I stayed in Coral Bay to construct a luxury hotel, but I haven't follow these developments.

On the way back I stopped through Kalbarri, but didn't have as much time as I would have liked as I had to get back to Gerraldton to meet up with some friends.

Have a great time!

 

[AndyNZ]

Looks like our trip is shaping up - thanks for all the comments. We're probably going to hire a camper and take it nice and slow and not have to worry about accommodation so much.

Looked into a liveaboard option for Ningaloo, but the one operator who does liveaboards has a private charter the week we are going to be there, so it will be day trips for us.

Any recommendations on the best operator to use? Any of them have tanks with DIN valves for hire?

Navy pier sounds like a nice little dive, do the local shops hire tanks to allow you to dive this - or do you have to pay for the guided dive? Thanks again!