Your A - Z Glossary of the Coral Coast

A – Abrolhos Islands

122 islands make up the pristine Houtman Abrolhos Islands. An archipelago with crystal blue waters and an abundance of sea life make a visit to the Islands a must for all visitors!

B – Bananas

Did you know that Carnarvon was the first place in Australia where Bananas were grown? Now Carnarvon is recognised as the place where the tastiest and sweetest bananas are grown.

Find out why this subtropical oasis is referred to the ‘food bowl’ of WA here.

C – Camping

There really is no better region to roll out your swag and shack up for the night in a tent! Camping along the Coral Coast is the best way to immerse yourself in the world-renowned wonders and diversity of the region.

Check out camping spots here.

D – Dirk Hartog Island

Renowned for its history, natural beauty, spectacular landscapes and fishing, Dirk Hartog Island is an ‘ark’ for endangered wildlife and a great place for an island adventure.

Your island life awaits you here.

E – Exmouth

Voted WA’s top town of the year and Australia’s #8 town in Wotif’s Aussie Town of the Year Awards’ 2021, Exmouth is the perfect base to explore the grandiose landscapes of the Cape Range National Park and the underwater wonders of the Ningaloo Marine Park.

F – Fly & Drive

From 1 April to 31 October, 2022, Avis Australia will make it easier than ever to overcome the distances by offering a great one way hire car rental deal between Perth and Exmouth, with a significantly reduced one-way relocation fee. Fly one way, drive the other!

Find out more here.

G – Geraldton

A seaside city ideally situated for exploring one of the greatest displays of spring wildflowers on Earth, with some intriguing Indigenous, maritime and Spanish missionary history to discover along the way.

H – Hutt Lagoon

Arguably West Australia’s most famous pink lake, Hutt Lagoon is a salt lake home to the world’s largest micro-algae production facility. Head out before sunset and watch the colours transform.

Why is Hutt Lagoon pink? Find out here.

I – Indian Ocean Drive

A southern gateway to the Coral Coast region, just 2 hours' drive north of Perth, and a scenic journey past the picturesque coastal towns of Cervantes, Jurien Bay, Green Head, Leeman, and the twin towns of Dongara-Port Denison.

J – Jurien Bay

A family hot spot best for relaxing, beach strolls and rides along the evolving cycling trails – however it’s not short of adrenaline-inducing experiences either with its famous skydiving over the bay.

K – Kalbarri

Coastal Cliffs, rugged gorges, pristine beaches, hiking trails, and an evolutionary Skywalk….Kalbarri has the lot!

L – Lesueur National Park

The National Park is recognised as a global biodiversity hotspot and is one of the most significant reserves for flora conservation in Western Australia. 10% of the State's known flora is found here, and several species which grow in Lesueur National Park cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

M – Marine Interactions

The Coral Coast is a marine lovers paradise! Swim with the BIG 3 or watch turtles mate, nest and hatch along the Ningaloo, meet the Monkey Mia dolphins, interact with sea lions in Jurien Bay and let’s not forget about all the wonderful marine life that can be encountered on tours such as dugongs and orcas.

Before you book your tour, check out our Nature and Wildlife calendar here.

N – National Parks

Marvel at nature’s ability to carve the landscapes of rugged gorges, river bends, rolling sandplains, floral beauty and sea cliffs. The national parks along the Coral Coast offer excellent opportunities for recreational activities including; hiking, canoeing, kayaking, diving, fishing, snorkelling, surfing, swimming, four-wheel driving and more!

O – OTC Satellite Dish

A must-see when travelling along the Coral Coast. You can photograph next to the OTC satellite dish located at the Carnarvon Space and Technology Museum– a satellite dish that participated in space race an helped put man on the moon. How cool is that?!

P – Pinnacles

A mars-like location offering a hearty dose of natural history. If you’re up for an eerie yet fascinating adventure, the Pinnacles is the place for you!

Q – Quad bike tours

Is there any better way to explore the beaches of the Coral Coast? We’ll wait..

Wagoe beach quad bike tours, Shark Bay scenic Quad bike tours and Coral Coast tours offer some epic tours along the Coral Coast to make your adventure that extra bit thrilling.

R – Rock Lobster

The most valued single species fishery in Australia – the Western Rock Lobster. At the Lobster Shack, you can hop on the state of art fishing vessel that will enable you to experience a day in the life of a lobster fisherman. Once back at shore, see how the lobsters are processed in the factory and packaged up and sent LIVE to destinations all around the world. Last but not least, indulge in one of their fresh lobster meals! You will not be disappointed.

Find out more here.

S – Station Stays

Looking for a unique and authentic experience along the Coral Coast? Look no further.

Station Stays along the Coral Coast are generally working cattle or sheep stations located in a range of breathtaking coastal and inland locations. Accommodation styles range from cottages, homestead accommodation and rustic shearers quarters to glamping and camping facilities.

Find station stays along the coral coast here.

T – Turtles of the Coral Coast

Sea turtles can be encountered on the Coral Coast all year round. Incredible experiences include snorkelling with turtles through the beautiful coral gardens of the Ningaloo Marine Park, seeing them pop their heads up out of the water on a wildlife cruise in the Shark Bay Marine Park watching them nesting and hatching on a night tour at the Jurabi Turtle Centre in Cape Range National Park.

Find out more here.

U – Unique experiences

The Coral Coast has a lot of those! From being the only place in Western Australia where you can swim with whale sharks to feeling like you’re on mars at the Pinnacles. You’re in for a treat when travelling along the Coral Coast Highway.

V – Visitor Centres

Get the most out of your holiday and make a local visitor centre your first port of call as you arrive in a new town. Staffed by local experts, visitor centres are your one-stop-shop for maps of the region and information about the best things to see, as well as booking tours and accommodation.

Check out the visitor centres along the Coral Coast here.

W – Wildflowers

The Coral Coast is home to over 12,000 species of wildflowers, 50% of which cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Between late July and early October, you’ll see some of Western Australia's most stunning displays as blankets of brilliant wildflowers colour the outback landscape and unique individual species can be found throughout Wildflower Country.

Find out more here.

X – X

That’s what you’ll be doing a whole lot of when crossing off your 2022 bucket list items 😊

Y – Yardie Creek

A highlight to Cape Range National Park, Yardie Creek winds its way through the ancient landscapes to meet the Ningaloo Reef. Go bush walking, boat cruising, or kayaking and see the native animals – in particular the black-footed rock wallabies that come out to say hi.

Z – Z Bend Lookout

The Z Bend Lookout, located in Kalbarri National Park, is a section of the Murchison River that consists of the Lookout and River trail walk. Be spellbound by the view from the lookouts at the top of the gorge!

Find out more here.