From exploring its many coastal towns to discovering pockets of lush oasis’ hidden inland, Western Australia’s North West is an avid nature-lovers ultimate getaway. Explore the remote and robust regions of the Pilbara and Gascoyne on a monumental multi-day road trip from Port Hedland to Exmouth the next time you’re in town.
Take your journey on the road as soon as you land
Eager to start your journey as soon as is humanly possible? Well, our team at Port Hedland Airport can help you out with that. As soon as you step into the terminal, we can retrieve your reservation, sort out any extras you may need, and ensure you can hit the road stat.
If you opt to head south from the city through the arid red-earth Outback of the Pilbara, Port Hedland is your last best stop to stock up on supplies, sip at great-tasting coffee, have your fill of fine dining, and go for a dip in the sea – so take advantage of your time in the town before you head off on your adventure!
The big decision: Take the coastal route or tackle the Outback?
The trip to Exmouth from Port Hedland is a worthwhile journey, albeit a hefty one. Taking the coastal route across the north-west is quicker, taking around eight hours to drive from start to finish. It’s also a lower risk option, as the distance between towns is shorter, and the weather is often kinder. But for those looking to take in some of the impressive remote jewels within the heart of the Pilbara, the journey is only an extra three hours.
The Coastal Route
From Port Hedland, head west three hours until you reach Karratha, often referred to as the “powerhouse of the Pilbara region” for its impressive history of exporting resources worldwide. You’ll want to head straight to the visitor centre and up to the Water Tank Hill Lookout above for remarkable 360-degree views of the city and surrounds. For more scenic views, take the nearby 3.5-kilometre Yaburara Aboriginal Heritage Walk Trail through the Karratha Hills.
While you’re in the area, take a quick detour north to Murujuga (more commonly called the Burrup Peninsula) and marvel at the unique archaeological site of the world’s largest collection of petroglyphs (ancient Aboriginal rock carvings). A world heritage listed site, the thousands of petroglyphs found in Murujuga are said to date as far back as the last ice age around 10,000 years ago.
From Karratha, head towards Onslow, a small and sleepy coastal village where you can truly relax and feel the serenity. With a rich history of sheep and cattle farming and gold mining, there’s only two things to do in town: Relax on Beadon Bay and go fishing.
The Outback Route
Getting off the beaten path and traversing the red-earth outback of the Pilbara region is an experience to say the least. And if there’s one destination to explore on your road trip inland, it’s Karljini National Park – a jaw-dropping beautiful oasis found within the centre of the region.
The drive to Karijini National Park takes around four hours from Port Hedland, but the long drive is well and truly worth it. The tropical semi-desert park is home to ancient plateaus and gorges, and unique wildlife and wildflowers. As Western Australia’s second-largest National Park, you may want to spend a couple of days camping in the area to make sure you can explore all of its beautiful sites. Be sure to check out Weano Gorge, Dales Gorge and Fortescue Falls.
Arriving in Exmouth
As a popular resort town on the North West Cape, people from all around the world have travelled to Exmouth for its breath-taking reef, marine life, ranges and beaches. With so many natural spectacles packed into one area, there is something for everyone to enjoy in your stay to this charming and laid-back seaside town.
North of Exmouth, the Cape Range National Park is an exotic natural splendour, home to over 50,000 hectares of canyons, ranges and coastline. While you’re there, be sure to take the trip to the adjacent Ningaloo Marine Park and swim with whale sharks, manta rays and humpback whales – it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity you won’t want to pass up.
With so much to see and do on your road trip to Exmouth, it’s a wonder you haven’t left already. Book your car with Hertz today and get going on the trip of a lifetime.
