Shallow Snorkelling at Geraldton's Northern Beaches. Video: Chris Lewis
The City of Geraldton has established itself as a trendy seaside city with the emergence of cold-brew coffee, street-art and arts festivals, shopping for coloured pearls, and indigenous drive trails. Blessed with beautiful inner-city beaches and a warm, windy climate - the region is a popular destination for water sports enthusiasts and maritime historians visiting Point Moore lighthouse.
Geraldton is a convenient place to stay overnight when travelling along the Coral Coast shoreline or inland to Western Australia's premier wildflower location - Coalseam Conservation Park - home of the everlasting carpets of colourful flowers between August-October.
Fly or cruise to Geraldton's 120 coral atolls - the Abrolhos Islands found approximately 60kms off the coast. Explore the islands flora and fauna including endangered sea lions and extremely rare birdlife, nesting on the islands' beaches. If being in the water, go snorkelling on the reef to see the 1429 Batavia ship wreck up-close, find coloured pearls, or cast a line for some bald-chin groper, dhufish or coral trout.
Discover Greenough’s historic charm just 20 minutes south of Geraldton. The town is known for its very unique learning trees, the picturesque river as well as the Greenough Wildlife Park where you can hand-feed kangaroo joeys, cuddle a dingo puppy or meet a blue-tongue lizard. Nearby Ellendale Pool is a great location for kayaking, picnicking, and camping under the stars.
To the north-east, Chapman Valley is 20 minute drive with Northampton a 30 minute drive - both towns have vast fields of golden wheat and canola rolling over table-top mountains during the winter months. The town is home to a host of alternative industries including breweries/distilleries, lavender farms and aquaculture tourism ventures in addition to wildflowers during Spring.
Discover 14 sites of significance to local Aboriginal people on the Yamaji Drive Trail. Visit the Geraldton Visitor Centre for further information and a map of the trails.
Qantas and Virgin both fly a double-daily schedule from Perth (40 min flight), alternatively Geraldton is a 4.5hr drive north of Perth.
