Driveway paving in Geraldton.

We get called to re-do a lot of driveways across Geraldton, and the failures almost always trace back to three things: a base that was too thin, edges that were never restrained, and bedding sand laid straight onto soft coastal sand without compaction. The pavers themselves are rarely the problem. A paver that looked fine in a Wandina display yard rutted within two summers because nobody built the layer underneath it properly.

Geraldton ground is a mix. Closer to the coast at Tarcoola Beach and Sunset Beach it is deep, fast-draining sand that moves under load if the sub-base is thin. Inland around Utakarra, Rangeway and Deepdale you hit reactive clay loam that swells in the wet season and shrinks through the long dry. Either way the fix is the same discipline: excavate to firm ground, lay and compact the right depth of road base, set the falls so water sheds away from the house and garage, and restrain every edge.

Our driveway build, step by step.

• Excavate: Strip topsoil and soft material down to firm subgrade. On sand we may add a geotextile separation layer.
• Road base: 100mm to 150mm of crushed road base, laid in lifts and plate-compacted so it does not move later.
• Falls and drainage: Set a minimum 1-in-50 fall away from the building. Spoon drains or a strip drain where water needs steering.
• Bedding and laying: 30mm of screeded bedding sand, then pavers laid to your chosen pattern, typically herringbone for a vehicle driveway because it locks under turning loads.
• Edge restraint and jointing: A concrete haunch or paver edge on every side, then stabilised jointing sand swept and compacted in so the wind does not scour it out.

A worked example.

A common job for us is a 45 square metre double driveway on a newer Wandina block. In 60mm interlocking concrete pavers on a 150mm road base with concrete-haunched edges, that comes in around $5,500 to $7,200 all up in 2026. Stepping the same driveway up to a clay brick or a Geraldton limestone paver lifts it to roughly $7,500 to $9,500. Add a turning bay or a steep crossover and the figure moves with the extra area and cutting. Full rates are on the pricing page, and the paving cost guide walks through what changes the number.

Pairs well with the rest of your block.

Most driveway jobs come with a path or a courtyard, so it is worth matching the paver across the whole front of the house. We often run a clay brick paving path off the driveway, or tie the driveway into a pale limestone paving entry. If your driveway runs across a slope on a Mount Tarcoola or Bluff Point block, you may also need an engineered retaining wall to hold the cut.

How much does a paved driveway cost in Geraldton?

In 2026, $75 to $140 per square metre supplied and laid. A standard 45 square metre double driveway in concrete pavers is around $5,500 to $7,200; in clay brick or limestone, $7,500 to $9,500. Base depth and edge restraint are where cheap quotes cut corners.

What is the best paver for a Geraldton driveway?

A minimum 50mm to 60mm thick interlocking concrete or clay brick paver. They carry vehicle loads, lift and relay cleanly, and dense clay brick handles coastal salt. Thin 40mm decorative pavers crack under a turning wheel.

How deep does the base need to be?

100mm to 150mm of compacted road base on firm ground, plus 30mm bedding sand. Deeper or with a geotextile layer on soft sand or reactive clay. Skimping on base depth is the top cause of driveways that dip within five years.

Will it move on reactive soil?

Not if it is built right. A flexible segmental driveway tolerates minor ground movement far better than a rigid slab, which cracks. Compacted base, correct falls and solid edge restraint keep it holding its shape for decades.