Geradlton is an Indian Ocean port, clinging to the western edge of Australia, facing west towards the Abrolhos Islands and Africa.

Geraldton has a blend of the City opportunities with the feel and relaxed pace of a country town.

Understand

Geraldton is an important service and logistics centre for regional mining, fishing, Western Rock Lobster, wheat, sheep and tourism industries. The Geraldton CSIRO facility provides support services to the Square Kilometre Array project located 315 km northeast of Geraldton.

Geraldton is the main port for the Mid West of Western Australia, as well as the main regional centre. It is the last major town along the coast before Port Hedland. It is the mainland departure point for travel to the Houtman Abhrolos islands.

It was historically a junction of narrow gauge railway lines that connected with the wheatbelt, northern mining towns and other inner parts of Western Australia. It is now a junction of broad gauge lines (and planned lines as well) of iron ore trains travelling in from new mines.

Geraldton is a regional centre for tourism in the MidWest region of Western Australia with a variety of activities available to visitors including water sports such as kitesurfing, windsurfing, Stand Up Paddlesurfing, kayaking, fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling, boating and sailing.

The Geraldton Visitor's Centrer in the Bill Sewell Complex, just north of the City centre on Chapman Road can provide additional information.

Get in

There is no current rail passenger service to Geraldton.

By plane

Geraldton airport (GET) is approximately 10km east of Geraldton.

• Virgin Australia and QantasLink operate daily flights to and from Perth.

By ship

You could arrive in Geraldton via cargo ship or cruise liner. However that is the rarest mode of entry. Historically Geraldton was a stopping place for coastal steamers that would do the whole coastline of Western Australia.

By car

• By car from Perth you might take: -
  • Indian Ocean Drive -- (423km from Perth to Geraldton) This new road (completed in 2010) provides travellers between Perth and Geraldton a 30 minute shorter and more scenic route than the inland Brand Highway. From Perth, follow either Route 71 (coastal road) or Route 60 to Indian Ocean Drive along the coast to Dongara approximately 60km south of Geraldton where Indian Ocean Drive merges with the Brand Highway. Far less traffic, scenic coastal towns of Lancelin, Jurien Bay and Cervantes, ocean scenery and fewer large trucks on this route make for a more pleasant journey than the Brand Highway.
  • Brand Highway North from Perth for approximately 440km. It is the most direct route, with few towns along the route, however, the majority of the highway is only one lane in each direction, making overtaking of large trucks (B-Doubles, B-Triples and AB-Quads) Road Train extremely dangerous, particularly after dark. Overtaking after dark is not advised.
  • One older route coincides with the former Midland Railway line, travelling through Moora, Three Springs, Watheroo - old railway towns with shops and services.

• By vehicle travellig around Australia and passing from the North West, you would be coming south on the North West Highway, or if travelling inland, would be coming across from Mullewa.

By bus

TransWA operates a bus service between Perth and Geraldton, Limited local public buses run into and around Geraldton.

Get around

• By bus. Geraldton Bus Service runs every hour during daylight hours.

• Walk Alternatively, you can use your feet, most of Geraldton is fairly flat and good for walking

• By car. Car rental businesses including Avis and Hertz operate out of Geraldton.

See

There is a lot to see in Geraldton.

• Maritime museum
• The newly developed scenic Geraldton Foreshore in town with safe swimming beaches for everyone, cafes and retail shops nearby
• Point Moore Lighthouse south of the city and nearby beaches (Beach at Point Moore for surf; Page's beach just north for flat water)
• Back Beach, south of Point Moore for beginning surfers
• HMAS Sydney Memorial
• Houtman Abrolhos Islands - around 70km off the coast, day snorkelling and diving trips by boat, plane or helicopter. (day visits only)
• Marine Terrace Markets (First and Last Sunday of the Month)
• Saturday Markets 8-12 at Maitland Park
• Sunday Markets at the Old Railway station on Chapman Road 8-12

Do

• A surf trip with Surf2skool (Surfing, Learn to surf, Surf trips, Backpackers surfing, Midwest Surf School and Tours). Surf2skool (Midwest Surf School and Tours) offers surf lessons and camps throughout the year for surfers of all levels at Geraldton's best surf breaks. 
• WA Maritime Museum, Foreshore.
• Skate Parks located at Cape Burney, Maitland Park, Wonthella, Strathalbyn, Tarcoola Beach, Forrester and Drummond Cove.
• Aquarena - including the water slide and BIFF
• Surfing at Back Beach
• Scuba Diving with Batavia Coast Dive Academy. Includes options for wreck diving.
• Kitesurfing Lessons with Kite West, ☏ +61 4 49 021 784, info@kitewest.com.au. Kitesurfing, surfing or SUP lessons with Ben and Clem at KiteWest! KiteWest also do 4WD outback adventure tours. Varies. 

Buy

Geraldton is a shopping destination for its hinterland, and many people living inland from Geraldton come into town for their shopping, as a result there are plenty of specialty stores to cater for every budget.

Eat

Great range of restaurants incorporating the multiculturalism of both Geraldton and Australia

• Indian - Sunset indian
• Thai - Lemon Grass
• Provincials has woodfire pizza and other Australian dishes.

Drink

The Freemasons Hotel having been voted best country pub in 2005 is a great watering hole for after work and great meals. Theme nights include Jukebox Saturday Night and Latin American Sundays occur sporadically throughout the year.

• Liquid Mojo Juice, Centro Northgate shopping centre (In front of Coles), ☏ +61 99216641. Geraldtons favourite juice bar, serving up tasty and healthy smoothies and fresh juices, as well as award winning evia yoghurt, delicious wraps, spectacualr fruit salad as well as soups and hot drinks during winter! 

Vibe is the only nightclub. $5 entry.

Sleep

From backpackers to 5 star is catered for in Geraldton.

• All Seasons Geraldton, Brand Highway, ☏ +61 8 99212455. Along with 60 rooms, features a pool, restaurant and cocktail bar. The hotel room rate includes free continental breakfast and 15 minutes free Internet access. 

• 1 Mantra Geraldton, 221 Foreshore Drive, Geraldton WA 6530, ☏ +61 8 9956 1300. Check-in: 2.00PM, check-out: 10.00AM. Sitting atop the stunning Champion Bay Marina, Mantra Geraldton is within a short walk of Geraldton’s Central Business District and the popular local Maritime Museum. Comprising 24 spacious one, two, three bedroom room apartments, Mantra Geraldton provides comfortable and stylish accommodation which includes a fully-equipped kitchen, laundry and spacious lounge and dining areas. Internet access and ISD/STD direct dial phones are also available in-room along with a host of amenities to make your stay more comfortable. Mantra Geraldton is also located close to excellent cafés and restaurants. 
• Comfort Inn Geraldton, 107 Brand Highway, Geraldton (From Perth Airport take Brand Highway to Geraldton. Property located 2km South of Geraldton CBD on Brand Highway.), ☏ +61 8 9964 4777. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 10:00. 3.5 star Geraldton hotel with 40 rooms, close to local attractions, short walk to beaches, on-site restaurant offering fresh local seafood. 

Stay safe

Common sense will keep you out of trouble in Geraldton.

Go next

• North - along the coast
  • Kalbarri
  • The Hutt River Principality - Australia's oldest micronation. See the breakaway secessionist wheat farm and "independent" nation.
  • Shark Bay/Monkey Mia (feed the dolphins)

• Inland - to the east
  • Mullewa

• South -
  • Dongara