Getting Around Western Australia
Western Australia is immense — Perth to Broome is over 2,000 km — so getting around is part of the planning. Nearly every trip starts in Perth, then mixes self-drive road trips with regional flights to conquer the distances. Here's how to move around the wild west without spending your whole holiday in transit.
The great self-drive routes
WA rewards road-trippers. The South West loop (Margaret River, the capes, the Karri forests) is an easy, sealed few days from Perth, and the Coral Coast Highway north — Pinnacles, Kalbarri, Shark Bay, Ningaloo — is one of Australia's classic drives (pace it over a week or more). A 2WD covers these; a 4WD is essential only for the Gibb River Road and remote tracks. Plan fuel and distances, and carry water. See our WA road trips guide.
Flying the distances
For the far-flung north and south, flying saves days. Regional airports at Broome, Kununurra, Exmouth (Learmonth) and Esperance connect to Perth, so you can dive straight into Ningaloo or the Kimberley without the multi-day drive. A popular approach is to fly one way and drive the other, or fly into a region and hire a car locally. Within the far north especially, scenic flights double as sightseeing. See our Coral Coast guide.
Distances, seasons & tours
Two things shape every WA itinerary: distance and season. Most visitors pick either the south-west or the north for a single trip rather than both. Remember the Kimberley is dry-season only (May–Oct). Public transport barely reaches the regions, so plan on a hire car, fly-drive or guided tour. On remote stretches, fuel up whenever you can, carry water, and avoid driving at dawn and dusk. See our best time to visit guide.
Getting around WA: your questions
WA is vast — a third of the continent — so most trips combine flying and driving. Nearly all begin in Perth. The South West (Margaret River) and the Coral Coast Highway are superb self-drive routes; for the Kimberley and far north, flights, 4WD and guided tours make most sense given the distances and rough roads. Regional flights (to Broome, Exmouth, Esperance, Kununurra) save days. See our WA road trips guide.
Further than most expect. From Perth: Margaret River is about 3 hours; the Pinnacles 2 hours; Esperance 7–8 hours; Kalbarri 6 hours; Monkey Mia 9 hours; Exmouth/Ningaloo around 13 hours; and Broome over 2,000 km (2–3 days' drive, or a 2.5-hour flight). These distances shape any itinerary — most visitors focus on either the south-west or the north, not both in one trip.
Not for the main southern routes — the South West, Perth surrounds and the sealed Coral Coast Highway are fine in a 2WD. A 4WD is essential for the Gibb River Road, remote Kimberley tracks, and some national-park access. In the wet season, northern unsealed roads close entirely. If you're not confident on remote outback driving, a guided tour is the safer, easier way to see the north. See our Kimberley guide.
Both, usually. Drive the south-west and Coral Coast to enjoy the journey; fly to reach far-flung spots like Broome, Kununurra, Exmouth or Esperance without days behind the wheel. A common plan is to fly one way and drive the other, or fly into a region and hire a car there. Given the scale, a mix of flights, car hire and the odd guided leg works best. See our WA tours.
Within Perth, yes — trains, buses and ferries cover the city and suburbs well. Beyond the metro area, public transport is very limited: some coach and regional rail/air services link major towns, but they're infrequent and don't reach most attractions. To explore the regions you'll want a hire car or a guided/small-group tour. WA is really a self-drive and fly-drive destination outside the capital.