A Coastal Epic: The Ultimate Western Australia Road Trip from Albany to Denham

Western Australia is made for road trips. Long stretches of open road, rugged cliffs that fall into turquoise seas, forests that whisper with ancient stories, and a coastline so beautiful it almost feels unreal. If you’re dreaming of a trip that blends wide-open adventure with picture-perfect pit stops, this Albany-to-Denham journey delivers big.

Pack the van, fuel the playlist, and settle in, here’s your road map to one of the most iconic coastal drives in the country.

Start in Albany: History, Whales & Wild Southern Beauty

Albany is the kind of place that sinks into your soul. The Southern Ocean rolls in with theatre, striking cliffs frame every view, and history feels very alive here.

Must-see experiences:

• The Gap & Natural Bridge: WA’s raw power on full display waves crash into a 25-metre drop and the viewing platform gives you a front-row seat.
• Albany’s Historic Whaling Station: Step inside Australia’s last operating whaling station turned world-class museum.
• Torndirrup National Park: Rugged hikes, dramatic lookouts, and endless ocean vistas.
• Middleton Beach: Perfect for a sunrise wander before hitting the road again.

This is your gateway to adventure, and the ideal spot to stock up on local produce for the trip ahead.

Cruise North to Yallingup: Caves, Coastlines & Laid-Back Luxury

From Albany, wind your way into the Margaret River Region and roll into Yallingup, a coastal gem known for its surf, limestone caves and winery-lined horizons. It’s also home to some of WA’s most pristine beaches and holiday-perfect weather.

Bucket-list highlights:

• Ngilgi Cave: Guided tours take you deep into one of Australia’s most impressive underground networks.
• Yallingup Lagoon: A safe, crystal-clear bay ideal for swimmers and snorkellers.
• Sugarloaf Rock: Visit at golden hour, the sunsets here are legendary.
• Local wineries & breweries: No road trip is complete without a long lunch at a Margaret River cellar door.

Whether you’re into surf breaks or slow mornings with a coffee overlooking the water, Yallingup is that sweet spot where nature and indulgence meet.

Next Stop: Perth – City Buzz Meets Beach Bliss

Roll into Perth and you suddenly feel the thrill of a capital city after days of pure coastline. But the charm of Perth is that it never loses that easy-breezy WA energy.

Things to do:

• Kings Park & Botanic Garden: One of the world’s largest inner-city parks with sweeping river and skyline views.
• Fremantle Markets: Handmade goods, eclectic shops, laid-back eateries, and an atmosphere that’s always buzzing.
• Cottesloe Beach: Classic Perth. Swim, picnic, or enjoy fish and chips at sunset.
• Elizabeth Quay: The perfect place to stretch your legs with water views and great dining.

If you need to recharge, reset and enjoy a bit of city living before going remote again, Perth is the perfect halfway reprieve.

Up the Coast to Ledge Point: A Quiet Coastal Charmer

Just 90 minutes north of Perth, Ledge Point feels like a hidden treasure tucked between sandy dunes and calm, sparkling ocean. It’s peaceful, it’s friendly, and it’s exactly the kind of place caravanners fall in love with year after year.

Top experiences:

• Ledge Point Beach: Ideal for swimming, stand-up paddleboarding and long seaside walks.
• Lancelin Sand Dunes: Only 15 minutes away, hire a sandboard or join a guided ATV tour across endless white dunes.
• Fishing: Beach, jetty, or boat, you’ll find tailor, whiting and herring in abundance.

Ledge Point is the kind of stop where “just one night” becomes three.

Continue North to Kalbarri: Red Cliffs, River Gorges & Coastal Drama

From Ledge Point, the landscape begins to shift. Greens fade to ochre. Cliffs rise out of nowhere. And suddenly, you’re in Kalbarri, one of WA’s most iconic natural playgrounds.

Bucket-list essentials:

• Kalbarri Skywalk: Two cantilevered viewing platforms suspended 100 metres above the Murchison Gorge; jaw-dropping doesn’t even begin to cover it.
• Nature’s Window: A natural rock arch perfectly framing the gorge below. Sunrise or sunset is incredible.
• Red Bluff & Pot Alley: Rugged, dramatic cliffs where ocean meets desert.
• Murchison River trails: Great for hikers looking to stretch their legs after days on the road.

Kalbarri is wild, beautiful, and unforgettable, exactly what a WA road trip is all about.

Final Destination: Denham & Monkey Mia – Dolphins, Desert & Dreamlike Water

Push on to the final stretch and you’ll reach the Shark Bay region, home to Denham and nearby Monkey Mia, both bucket-list icons in their own right. This is where desert meets turquoise ocean in the most cinematic way imaginable.

Unmissable experiences:

• Monkey Mia Dolphins: The world-famous wild dolphin interactions are a once-in-a-lifetime moment.
• Francois Peron National Park: Explore by 4WD, red desert meets intense blue seas.
• Shell Beach: A surreal shoreline made entirely of tiny white cockle shells.
• Little Lagoon: A perfect, calm, circular lagoon made for kayaking and drone photography.
• Ocean Park Aquarium: A fantastic eco-experience for learning about the region’s marine life.

Denham feels remote yet welcoming, a final exhale at the end of a truly epic coastline journey.

The Heart of a WA Road Trip

What makes this Albany-to-Denham route so special is the vast contrast from stop to stop. You go from cool southern cliffs to sun-drenched northern bays, from foodie havens to fishing villages, from forests to desert, all without ever crossing a state border.

It’s a journey shaped by nature, culture, wildlife, and pure Australian adventure.

Whether you’re travelling in a caravan, motorhome, camper trailer, or 4WD setup, this is a route filled with campfire stories waiting to be made.

So, fill the esky, fuel up the tank, and set your GPS north.

Western Australia’s most unforgettable road trip is calling.

Did you know that if you take a camping holiday between October 1st and February 28th, you could win a shot at one million dollars? The further you travel, the more entries you can get! Find out more!