• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
Albom Adventures

Albom Adventures

  • New Zealand
    • Auckland
    • North Island Travel
    • South Island Travel
    • New Zealand Life
  • All Travel
    • Oceania
      • Australia
      • Pacific Islands
    • Americas
      • Central America and Caribbean
      • North America
      • South America
    • Europe
      • Eastern Europe
      • Northern Europe
      • Southern Europe
      • Western Europe
    • Asia and Africa
      • Asia (China and South East Asia)
      • Middle East
      • Africa
    • Worldwide
    • Travel Planning and Tips
    • Travel Anecdotes
  • Cruising
    • Cruising Tips and Cruise Ships
    • Cruise Ports
  • About
    • Media – Work With Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure Policy for Albom Adventures
    • Contact Albom Adventures

Inspiring travel through photography

Home » Travel » Cruising » Cruise Ports » Things to Do in Geraldton Australia in One Day

Things to Do in Geraldton Australia in One Day

Last Updated: April 9, 2022 // by Rhonda Albom // 40 Comments
We may earn a commission through links on this site at no extra cost to you.
HMAS Sydney II Mermoial in Geraldton, Australia
HMAS Sydney II Mermoial in Geraldton, Australia
The Waiting Lady at the HMAS Sydney II Memorial is one of many interesting sites in Geraldton Australia

Like much of Western Australia, Geraldton is probably best known for its wildflower season which runs from late July to early October. However, even when the wildflowers are not in bloom, there are plenty of things to do in Geraldton.

For us, it was a cruise port and we spent our day discovering the hidden charms of this Western Australia town. It’s filled with fascinating history, and when ships are in town, there are plenty of docents happy to share their stories.

A port we were sceptical of before arriving turned out to be a wonderful day.

And, to make it better, with only a few major sites to visit, it was easy to tick off everything from our must-see things to do in Geraldton list.

We earn from qualifying purchases through partnerships or affiliate programs.

Top 3 things to do in Geraldton

  • Discover the history and visit the HMAS Sydney II Memorial
  • Wander into the St. Francis Xavier Cathedral
  • Fly over Pink Lake or Abrolhos Island

HMAS Sydney II Memorial

A closer look at HMAS Sydney II Mermoial in Australia
Top Row: Dome of Souls; Wall of Remembrance. Bottom Row: Waiting Women statue (added in 2001); Pool of Remembrance (added in 2011).

HMAS Sydney II was the only Australian ship that lost its entire crew in an attack during WWII. The memorial is up on a hill and seen from much of the town. Its most prominent feature is the Dome of Souls with 645 birds, one for each crew member who died. The design has each bird touching two others for friendship.

  • Volunteers are available daily at the memorial and offer fascinating free tours.
  • The Wall of Remembrance list the names of those who perished in alphabetical order, rather than rank order, as there is no rank in death
  • The “Waiting Women” was added in 2001, seven years before they found the ship’s remains in 2008. Oddly, the statue looks out in a direction off by only 0.25 degrees from where the ship’s remains were discovered.
  • It’s about a 20-minute walk from the dock to the memorial at the top of a hill. However, Royal Caribbean offered a shuttle bus for a small fee that stopped at the memorial, at the cathedral, in town, and back at the port. While we opted to take the shuttle, I am not sure it was a good use of our money.
  • If you are a history buff wanting more on the story of how the Germans sunk the Sydney II, you might want this book: False Flags: Disguised German Raiders of World War II.

St. Francis Xavier Cathedral

  • St. Francis Xavier Cathedral
    St. Francis Xavier Cathedral.
  • St. Francis Xavier Cathedral crypt in Geraldton, Australia
    Cathedral crypt
  • St. Francis Xavier Cathedral interior in Geraldton, Australia
    Inside the cathedral

More commonly referred to as the Geraldton Cathedral, the St. Francic Xavier Cathedral is the primary place of Catholic worship in Geraldton. Inside took us by surprise, a bit of deja vu. The church offers tours on Monday and Friday mornings (10 am) and Friday afternoons (4 pm). Photos include:

  • St. Francis Xavier Cathedral from the street
  • St. Francis Xavier Cathedral crypt contains bones of Saint George II and Sebastiani, plus relics of Joannis and Pauli.
  • As soon as we walked into the Cathedral we recognised that it was modelled after La Mezquita in Cordoba, Spain (Mosque-cathedral of Córdoba).

Fly over Pink Lake or Abrolhos Island

Pink Lakes in Western Australia near Geraldton
Hutt Lagoon is between Geraldton and Kalbarri Western Australia. Lake turns pink from algae with red pigments.
Photo credit: Depositphotos

Nearby Geraldton is two amazing sights, each in the opposite direction from the other, therefore requiring you to choose between two stunning flyover options. The Abrolhos Islands are located about 100km west-northwest, while Pink Lake is about 80km due north.

Choose the Abrolhos Islands and you will be captivated by pristine turquoise waters that are home to an abundance of unique marine life. The archipelago itself is made up of 122 islands and covers about 100 km It is a stunning site to fly over, and will most likely be one of the highlights of your time in Western Australia. ⇒ Check availability for a 90-minute scenic flight over the Abrolhos Islands from Geraldton

Of course, if you choose Pink Lake, you will see a Pink Lake. There are a few in Australia, but if none are in your plans, this might be your only opportunity. It’s a difficult choice, but whichever you choose, you will most likely walk away impressed. ⇒ Check availability for a 70-minute Pink Lake and Port Gregory scenic flight from Geraldton

Things to do in Geraldton: museums

Three museums in Geraldton, Australia
Old gaol (jail)
Old police station
Western Australian Museum

There are a few museums in Geraldton, and if they made it onto your things to do in Geraldton list, be sure to plan around the fact that some of the closes quite early.

  • Aboriginal Yamaji Art Centre
    A display of indigenous artwork, it is 100% Aboriginal owned and operated.
  • Western Australian Museum
    The Western Australian Museum is often referred to as the Geraldton Museum. Here we found learned more about the region’s history, culture, landscape and maritime history. Note that it closes at 3 pm daily.
  • Old gaol (jail) and old police station
    The old Gaol (jail) closes at 3.30

More things to do in Geraldton

  • Beach in Geraldton Australia
    A Geraldton beach.
  • Children's playground and water play park in Geraldton, Australia
    Water park.
  • Rubik's Cube public toilets along the beach in Geraldton, Australia
    Rubik’s Cube public toilets
  • Yamaji Art (emu eggs) in Geraldton, Australia
    Yamaji Art (emu eggs) along the coastal walk.
  • Relax or play at a beach and enjoy the floating pontoons offer swimmers a place to rest or jump. 
  • Walk along the esplanade and keep your eyes open for sea lions on the rocks (and sometimes swimming in the water).
  • If you have kids, check out the children’s playground and Geraldton water park.
  • Don’t miss the Rubik’s cube public toilets! (Of course, I had to enter one of these Rubik’s Cube public toilets along the beach. The inside is just a bathroom, but the exterior is still fun to look at.
  • Check out the public street art and sculptures

Final thoughts on Geraldton

Geraldton port is not big enough for the mid-sized cruise ship that we arrived on. Therefore, the ship drops an anchor and shuttles passengers to shore.

Just a warning, there are lots of flies in Geraldton in late spring.

Marina in Geraldton, Australia
I think every port town has a marina.

Geraldton was one of six ports as we sailed around the top of Australia on Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas. The prior stop was Port Hedlands, and we will disembark at the next port which is Perth, Australia.

⇒ Don’t Miss: 25 Tips for Cruising Everyone Should Know

Save on your Australia trip with these resources

We usually start with aggregator companies as they do the work for us by providing a list of options, prices, and reviews. However, we also added a few personal NZ favourites:

  • Flights: we use Expedia for the best and cheapest flight options.
  • Hotels: we use Booking.com as they consistently return the best rates and their reviews are from actual guests. However, for self-contained lodging in Australia, we use VRBO
  • Cars and Campervans: we use RentalCars to find the best deals and dealer ratings. Use Jucy for small campervans.
  • Activity discounts: we always check Bookme.com for discounts of up to 70% on selected tours, activities, restaurants and more.
  • Travel Insurance: we start at InsureMyTrip as they are the best option to compare plans and find the right coverage for you.

Before you book the rest of your trip: Check out our travel resources page for more companies that we use when you travel.

We believe this list to be the best in each category. You can’t go wrong using them on your trip too.

Save for later

If you enjoyed this article, please share it on social media and save it for later on Pinterest.

The Waiting Lady at the HMAS Sydney II Memorial is one of many interesting sites in Geraldton Australia

Which of these things to do in Geraldton will you do first?

More from Australia you might like …

Enjoying the skyline is one of many things to do when trying to see Brisbane in a day

Brisbane in a Day: Visiting this Australian city as a Cruise Port

Street art graffiti on Rutledge Lane in Melbourne Australia

Explore Melbourne Street Art and Graffiti Laneways

Radiance of the Seas as seen from the Bicentennial Park in Darwin Australia

What to Do in Darwin Australia on a Cruise Port Visit

One of the many Australian beaches perfect for family surfing vacations

5 Great Family-Friendly Surfing Vacations in Australia

Disclaimer: In addition to VIP treatment onboard the Radiance of the Seas we were provided with many complimentary extras. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

812 shares
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
Category: Cruise Ports, AustraliaTag: Australia, monuments, Western Australia

About Rhonda Albom

Capturing the essence of travel through photography, Rhonda Albom is the primary author and photographer at Albom Adventures. She is an American expat based in New Zealand. She travels the world with her husband.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. indah nuria

    December 2, 2016 at 1:40 am

    I wanted to go there myself!

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      December 2, 2016 at 10:36 am

      I hope you do someday.

      Reply
  2. Pedro

    December 1, 2016 at 7:35 am

    What a nice city! I must confess, even though I lived in Sydney for a couple of years, I never heard of Geraldton. It’s definitely a place I would have enjoyed visiting.

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      December 1, 2016 at 9:39 am

      It’s north of Perth and the upper border of the Nyoongar lands.

      Reply
  3. Mags

    November 30, 2016 at 10:02 am

    I’ve never heard of Geraldton before, but it looks like a great place to explore. I love learning about new towns.

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      November 30, 2016 at 11:43 am

      Maybe you’ve found a new travel destination, Mags? 🙂

      Reply
  4. Bill Kasman

    November 29, 2016 at 9:41 am

    It’s fascinating to see places on the other side of the globe from my home. I may never visit there but I can get a flavour of it from your articles.

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      November 30, 2016 at 11:26 am

      Maybe you will visit one day, Bill!

      Reply
  5. Taken For Granted

    November 29, 2016 at 5:44 am

    Thank you for the interesting tour. Did not know about Geraldton before.

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      November 29, 2016 at 9:31 am

      That’s one of the cool things about cruising, it often takes us to lesser known spots.

      Reply
  6. Mersad

    November 28, 2016 at 11:12 pm

    Wonderful journey through Geraldton. I love towns and cities on the sea, and this one seems quaint and charming.

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      November 29, 2016 at 9:34 am

      Yes, it is quaint and charming.

      Reply
  7. anna

    November 28, 2016 at 4:41 pm

    Great tips on the free museum tours- that’s awesome! Great to hear that they stop in ports that aren’t as popular as well.

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      November 28, 2016 at 6:50 pm

      I was pretty impressed with the ports, as they did bring me to places I might not have visited otherwise.

      Reply
  8. Sarah @ 2paws Designs

    November 28, 2016 at 3:12 pm

    How interesting! The HMAS Sydney II Memorial is simply beautiful – especially the dome sculpture. I also love the fun bits of public art. Even if they were “normal” bathrooms, turning the exterior into a giant rubik cube is way more interesting.

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      November 28, 2016 at 6:48 pm

      I agree on both. I love the giant rubik cubes and actually expected them to be normal inside.

      Reply
  9. mike still

    November 28, 2016 at 3:03 pm

    Thanks for the tips Rhonda! Its always great to find a city with free tours. They are such a wonderful way to meet a local and learn about the area.

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      November 28, 2016 at 6:47 pm

      Our first google search once we decide to visit a city is alway free tours – usually, we are looking for walking tours, and most of them we tip at the end, so they are not really free, but always excellent. (we don’t tip when the guide tells us not too.)

      Reply
  10. Viajar pela história - Catarina Leonardo

    November 28, 2016 at 12:30 pm

    Hi 🙂
    This seems like a great place to visit. I really want to go to Australia and in this post there is one more reason to go….

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      November 28, 2016 at 1:45 pm

      We enjoyed everywhere we visited in Australia.

      Reply
  11. Kim Marie Ostrowski

    November 28, 2016 at 10:58 am

    OMG Love the Rubiks bathrooms!! I really wish people would make buildings more interesting like that. Like Dentist offices to look like a tooth (at least in some way…a molar maybe?)

    Those stones (the art) are cool too! I thought they were giant geodes at first.

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      November 28, 2016 at 11:22 am

      That’s what I was thinking. I had to see them, and was glad they were actually on the walking path we planned out, although I would have walked quite a bit out of the way to find them.

      Reply
  12. Comedy Plus

    November 28, 2016 at 4:02 am

    What a fun day. I would have found some seafood at the marina. I love marinas. They are my second home.

    Have a fabulous day. ☺

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      November 28, 2016 at 11:19 am

      We thought about it, but then opted to eat for free back on the ship. We did have coffee in town.

      Reply
  13. Lyn @ A Hole in my Shoe

    November 28, 2016 at 2:21 am

    Rhonda, HMAS Sydney is Australia’s greatest naval tragedy and means a lot to our family. My Uncle (Mum’s brother) was one of the 645 who lost his life in battle 75 years ago. I’ll never forget the relief to my Mum when finally 66 years later the remains of the ship were located. I like Geraldton and enjoyed your post on your time there.

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      November 28, 2016 at 11:12 am

      Lyn, reading your comment gave me goosebumps. I am glad that I was able to visit and help to honor the men who served for our freedom.

      Reply
  14. Ticker Eats The World

    November 28, 2016 at 2:12 am

    It’s always pleasant when a cruise ships stops are lesser known ports. I think that is one of the charms of cruising as it takes you to places which might not be easily accessible or for that matter be worth visiting for more than a day. Glad you enjoyed the place and it looks really artistic. Cheers

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      November 28, 2016 at 11:11 am

      We generally enjoy where ever we are. There is always something new and interesting to discover and explore.

      Reply
  15. Christina

    November 27, 2016 at 11:53 pm

    Geraldton looks like an an artistic port that is easy on the eye. It would be lovely to see the wildflowers. I’ve heard a lot about Geraldton but have not had the chance to visit.

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      November 28, 2016 at 11:08 am

      I hadn’t really heard anything about Geraldton before we agreed on this cruise. This was our first exploration of Western Australia

      Reply
  16. Gokul Raj

    November 27, 2016 at 9:21 pm

    Wow…what a place. Very nice architecture. The rubiks cube toilets look great.

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      November 28, 2016 at 11:07 am

      I thought the toilets were really cool.

      Reply
  17. Kathy Marris

    November 27, 2016 at 9:14 pm

    Rhonda, we stayed just north of Geraldton at a place called Coronation Beach when we were on our trip around Australia in our caravan. We found Geraldton to be an interesting place. It was in autumn so no wildflowers but there had been recent heavy rainfall so everything was lovely and green. We did a tour of the crayfish processing factory which was fascinating.

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      November 28, 2016 at 10:58 am

      This is the downside of a cruise, we don’t get to explore the surrounding areas – but we do get to make a list of places to return to.

      Reply
  18. Hilary Melton-Butcher

    November 27, 2016 at 8:16 pm

    Hi Rhonda – just lost my comment … but what a beautiful little town, with lots to see and then those quiet spaces where one can remember … lovely – cheers Hilary

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      November 28, 2016 at 10:58 am

      Good news, it’s not gone.

      Reply
  19. Hilary

    November 27, 2016 at 8:14 pm

    Hi Rhonda … what an interesting town … and the Remembrance places look so peaceful and thoughtful about the situation … love the Dome of Souls … and your photos show us what is going on … thanks – Hilary

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      November 28, 2016 at 10:57 am

      They were quite peaceful and interesting.

      Reply
  20. Anita Hendrieka

    November 27, 2016 at 8:01 pm

    What a historic place to visit, I never knew any of this information! I have a friend who lives there so think I will have to make the effort visit them! Great article 😊

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      November 28, 2016 at 10:57 am

      Air New Zealand flies non-stop, so it’s not so bad to get to Perth. I would love to do the entire coast, but earlier in the year when the wildflowers are about.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Sidebar

rentalcars
Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip
Booking.com

Featured activities

Official New Zealand Specialist badge from New Zealand Tourism Board Lonely Planet Community Pathfinders

As an Amazon Associate, Albom Adventures earns from qualifying purchases as well as from other collaborative and affiliate partners.

Copyright © 2023 · Albom Adventures · All Rights Reserved.

Exclusive Member of Mediavine Travel

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT