Stretching largely from Dongara in the north to Perth in the south, Western Australia’s Turquoise Coast is a gorgeous stretch of Indian Ocean beauty.
In fact, the famous Indian Ocean Drive stretches the whole way down it, making this area ideal for a short road trip or a weekend getaway.
With so many gorgeous destinations however, the problem is choosing where to spend your time.
So I’ve compiled this list of the 10 unforgettable places to visit along Western Australia’s Turquoise Coast, so that you can easily plan your trip and then just get on with enjoying it!
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#1 Dongara / Port Denison
A twin town that straddles the river, Dongara or Port Denison are ideal places to base yourself if you’re looking to see the best of Western Australia’s wildflower season.
You can pick up your wildflower pack at the Visitor Centre here and head out on one of the 4 main driving routes that showcase the beauty of this highly unique phenomenon.
Did you know that over 12,000 species have been identified as part of the Wildflower Season here in Western Australia?
Amazingly, over half of these are found nowhere else on earth!
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#2 Leeman
A quaint little seaside village, known for its great fishing, Leeman is somewhere to visit if you want to get away from it all!
Save the seasonal visits from whales and sea lions, there aren’t a whole lot of visitors that come to this little spot … and that’s why we liked it!
Nearby Stockyard Gully National Park offers some great 4wd opportunities and Stockyard Gully Caves make for a great side excursion –just remember your torch … and your nerves of steel for the bats and the bees!
#3 Lesueur National Park
Covering over 26,987 hectares Lesueur National Park is home to over 900 different species of flora, including wildflower varieties.
There’s some lovely hikes that you can undertake in this park, not least up to Mount Lesueur itself, but there’s also an established 2wd friendly driving loop route, of you’re feeling more sedate!
With sweeping coast to country views, the park’s designated picnic spots are a particularly scenic place for lunch!
#4 Green Head
A gorgeous seaside town north of Jurien Bay, Green Head is most well known for its great art and sculpture gallery – Blue Ocean Gallery.
Green Head is also well-loved for its beaches.
South Bay is a long crescent, ideal for those who like the solitude of walking along a deserted beach, while Dynamite Bay offers safe swimming.
#5 Jurien Bay
Known as the world’s most beautiful beach skydive, if you feel like throwing yourself out of a plane, Jurien Bay is the place to do it!
Failing that, there’s tons of watersports on offer here from SUPing to kite surfing and kayaking.
For something more relaxed, take in the views from Grigson’s Lookout or enjoy a picnic at Dobbyn Park Foreshore.
Check out the RAC Holiday Park in Cervantes for some great budget accommodation that gets rave reviews
5 ESSENTIAL PACKING ITEMS FOR AUSTRALIA
#1 Good Camera – You will be pretty much snapping non-stop in Australia and will need a good camera to do this gorgeous country justice. I highly recommend the Sony A6000, which I use for all my travels and love, not least because it’s light, compact and robust!
#2 Good Walking Shoes – There will be a lot of walking in Australia – from cities to national parks! Make sure your feet are comfortable therefore with a pair of New Balance Trainers. Perfect for stylish strolling, I love mine.
#3 Good Guidebook – I’m still a massive fan of the Lonely Planet Guidebooks and do think their Australia edition is well put together.
#4 Good Water Bottle – Travelling in hot old Australia can be thirsty work, so make sure you have a metal water bottle that you can refill as you go, because tap water is drinkable… and free!
#5 Good Sun Hat – And there’s no denying you’ll need a good sun hat for protection in Australia too. In my opinion, you can’t go past this Hello Sunshine one, which is both gorgeous and ideal for keeping the rays off your face.
#6 Cervantes
Cervantes’ revamped Foreshore is its pride and joy, and rightly so.
The beautiful pathed walkways here are accompanied by large grassy areas that give delightful access to a gorgeous beach.
Strolling along the sand here and enjoying the relaxed pace of life is what it’s all about … why not sample some of the famous local lobster while you’re at it!
Heading out to Hangover Bay or Lake Thetis shouldn’t be missed while you’re in Cervantes either.
#7 Nambung National Park
Otherwise known as the Pinnacles, this otherworldly, and quite frankly bizarre landscape, really has to be seen to be believed.
A few hours drive north of Perth, many combine a day trip to The Pinnacles with exploring the beautiful seaside town of Cervantes and Jurien Bay for a weekend.
Best visited during the months of August to October, when the days are mild and the wildflowers begin to bloom, I do recommend trying to time your visit to The Pinnacles with the setting of the sun.
The colours of this desert landscape and its sandy monoliths, which seem to stretch almost to the ocean, are truly spectacular at this time of day.
For more great ideas about the best day trips from Perth, check out my list here.
#8 Lancelin
Just over 100km from Perth, Lancelin is the adventure capital of the Turquoise Coast region and is definitely one of the most unforgettable places to visit here.
Windsurfing is the main drawcard, but sandboarding down the dunes is also popular.
The nearby Seaview Ridge Olive Grove is also worth dropping into if you’re keen to sample their range of delicious oils and olive products.
The Lancelin Lodge comes highly recommended if you’re staying a night or 2 on the Turquoise Coast
#9 Moore River
Taking in both the river and the ocean, Moore River’s location is hard to beat!
A walk along the Guilderton Boardwalk will afford you stunning views of the coastline and there’s a whole range of activities from fishing to canoeing to boating to get involved with.
Moore River is also a great birdwatching spot and photographers should definitely bring their cameras!
#10 Yanchep National Park
If you get excited about Australian wildlife, then heading to Yanchep National Park is definitely one of the spots along the Turquoise Coast you can’t miss.
With an abundant population of kangaroos, heading to Yanchep will almost guarantee you a sighting of these iconic animals.
Not only that, but Yanchep also has some resident koalas – although sadly they weren’t feeling too sociable when we were there!
With some lovely walking trails, Yanchep is one Western Australia’s oldest and most established national parks and heading here while you explore this region is a must.
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Have you visited Western Australia’s Turquoise Coast?
What was your favourite spot?
