Outback Coast and Gascoyne Region: Overview
With its safe swimming, spectacular diving and snorkeling, and lively marine life, the Outback Coast stretches from Shark Bay and its dolphins in the south to the whale sharks and corals of the Ningaloo Marine Park in the north. Though the region sees plenty of visitors year-round, winter is peak season, when caravanning Perthites park themselves along the sunny coast to wait out the cold weather down south.
Of the major coastal destinations between Perth and Exmouth, only Geraldton and Carnarvon are actually along Hwy 1. Kalbarri, Shark Bay, and Exmouth all require sig¬nificant detours. The routes from the highway to the coast are all paved, but service stops are up to l60km apart, and the roads become hillier and narrower. Keep your eyes peeled for wandering 'roos, emus, sheep, and cattle in the road. Heading north from Kalbarri or south from Carnarvon, you'll pass a roadhouse at Overlander marking the turn-off for Shark Bay. It's a 129km drive north¬west along the Peron Peninsula to Denham, then another 24km to the Monkey Mia Reserve. The road to Coral Bay and Exmouth splits from the North West Coastal Hwy 350km north of the Overlander just past the 24-hour Minilya Roadhouse. Turn left to head to Exmouth, 217km to the north. Hwy 1 continues toward Port Hedland.