You've made it to Australia's wild, wild west. At 1,535km north of Perth and 850km south of Broome, Karratha is in a secluded part of outback Australia. Despite its impressive geographical isolation, it’s also an economic powerhouse of Australia. Karratha is your gateway to the Pilbara region, the cornerstone of Australia's economic growth – a place where you truly can “get away from it all”.
Once you’ve selected your hire car and gotten on the road, you’ll want your first stop to be the Karratha Tourism and Visitor Centre – it’s a hub for information on all the adventures and attractions on offer in this “wide, brown land” laid out for you to explore. Despite its remote location, you’ll find the town of Karratha is full of surprisingly modern restaurants and shops to explore.
To really get a feel for the place, take a stroll along the 3.5km Yaburara Aboriginal Heritage Walk Trail – with scenic lookouts regularly dotted along the track you can move at a leisurely pace and see all the best views of the Karratha Hills at the same time. For more indigenous history you can see some of the oldest rock engravings in existence in Murujuga National Park on the Burrup Peninsula (thought to be more than thirty thousand years old), surrounded by a vivid landscape that’s sure to etch itself in your memory. Support one of the local indigenous businesses offering educational tours to get some unique insights into this very special part of the world.
The Pilbara region is twice the size of the entire United Kingdom, so a hire car is definitely essential to cover as much ground as possible while you’re here.
If you happen to be around at the time of the Full Moon between March and October, head to Hearson’s Cove, just half an hour from Karratha where you have an opportunity to witness a fascinating natural phenomena called the “Staircase to the Moon” – a trick of reflection and light that presents a breathtaking view like no other as the moon rises over the exposed tidal flats. The locals celebrate with a beachside market and really make an evening of it, with food, wine and live music adding to the party atmosphere – a magical and unforgettable evening for the whole family.
Also just thirty minutes from Karratha is the town of Dampier and the Dampier Archipelago – forty-two islands surrounded by reefs, twenty-five of which are heritage listed nature reserves. There are camping spots on some of the bigger islands, so you can enjoy breathtaking star-filled skies and an abundance of natural wildlife here. There’s also a thriving charter boat operation here – if deep sea, inlet or river fishing, scuba or snorkelling are on your wish list this is a spectacular place to indulge yourself.
Mining is a massive industry out here, pouring millions of dollars of investment into the region – the North West Shelf Project Visitor Centre lets you learn all about the Oil and Gas mining that powers the region’s economy. There’s interactive tours and panoramic views to enjoy.
For a drive you’ll never forget, take the cost road along “Eighty Mile Beach” to Cape Keraudren Costal Reserve – you will witness one of the widest expanses of white sand beaches anywhere in the world. The breathtaking combination of red earth, white sand and blue sky and sea in a vast, mindboggling expanse is not one you will soon forget.
This fascinating region has many wonders for you to explore, and your comfortable and well-appointed hire car will ensure you make the most of your visit here.
