Although Australia’s east coast – home to the cities of Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney as well as tourist attractions like Byron Bay – is more popular with backpackers, the west coast of the country should not be ignored. We’re going to take you on a guide to the road trip from Perth to Broome, detailing the best places to stop and work along the way.
At over 2,000km in length, the Western Australia trip from the world’s most isolated city, Perth to Broome is one of the longest in Australia, and it is therefore important to have an itinerary. Here are some key places to stop by on your way:
Geraldton
The first stop of note after Perth is Geraldton, a small port city known for its mining, tourism, wheat, fishing and sheep industries. Enthusiasts can indulge in a range of activities here, including windsurfing and scuba diving.
Carnarvon
480km further north, you’ll find Carnarvon. From here you can access the Shark Bay world heritage area. Agriculture is the main industry in this area and, depending on the time of year you visit, you should be able to secure work picking grapes, tomatoes and/or bananas.
Coral Bay
On the other side of Lake Macleod from Carnarvon is Coral Bay, one of the best places in the world to see manta rays and whale sharks.
Exmouth
Like Coral Bay, Exmouth involves a diversion from the highway, but it’s well worth it if you’re into stunning natural scenery. The nearby Cape Range National Park boasts spectacular gorges, while the Turquoise Bay Drift is one of the prime snorkelling locations in Australia. Tourism is the lifeblood of Exmouth, so work can be found in hospitality here.
Broome
From Exmouth, you still have just under half of the trip to go. You’ll pass through further coastal towns such as Karratha and Port Hedland – known for its salt hills – before eventually reaching Broome, one of the most remote tourist towns in the country. In the tourist season, which runs from May to September, the population of the town increases to 45,000 – so make sure to visit then to be sure of work.
