Karratha

Once a busy pastoral port, Point Samson today is a relaxed and picturesque coastal village famous for its fish and chips and delicious fresh seafood. Explore its beautiful natural surrounds. 

Visit the pretty port town of Dampier to see some of the Pilbara's industry giants in action, and follow the Red Dog trail for some family fun!

Roebourne's lovingly restored heritage buildings offer incredible insight on the early days of settlement in the North West.

Karratha has several beaches, such as Whitnell and King Bay where you can swim at any time. There are plenty of fresh water swimming holes within an hours drive of Karratha as well. 

Generally no. Crocodiles are rarely sighted a couple of hundred km away from Karratha. However, the Kimberley and Pilbara regions are considered crocodile country.

Point Samson is known to the locals as 'The Oasis of The Pilbara'. Point Samson hosts beautiful beaches, whale watching, fishing, snorkelling, swimming, coral garden reefs, bird watching, kayaking and canoeing, walk heritage trails.

Visit the Murujuga Rock Art. The Traditional Owner groups of the Burrup Peninsula and surrounding areas are pleased to showcase their culture and extensive Rock Art petroglyphs.

Traditional custodian guides will give you the opportunity to experience not just the ancient Rock carvings but also their stories and explain how they lived in harmony with the land through their bush tucker and medicine interpretation.

By air - Karratha is well serviced by Qantas and Virgin with multiple flights a day from Perth. Aviair offers regular passenger services through their Inter Regional Flight Network, connecting Karratha with Broome, Newman and Port Hedland multiple times a week. 

By road - The North West Coastal Highway connects Karratha to Perth from the south and Broome from the north. This major sealed road is one of the many high-quality roads that connects the region. 

By coach - Integrity Coachlines provides scheduled coach services from Perth and Broome. 

Karratha and the West Pilbara Coast of WA have a fascinating Aboriginal history and cultural heritage. Home to the Ngarluma and Yinidbarndi people for many generations, the locals acknowledge them as the region’s traditional landowners.

Millstream-Chichester National Park, the Jaburara Heritage Trail, Deep Gorge and the Burrup Peninsula are fascinating places to discover the Aboriginal history of Karratha and WA’s West Pilbara Coast. Over 40,000 rock engravings (petroglyphs) can be viewed in the region, many of which are located on the Burrup Peninsula.

Taking its name from one of WA’s early pastoral stations, from which the land was resumed, Karratha is an Aboriginal word meaning “good country” or “soft earth”. For many centuries, the region has been home to Aboriginal communities, and the nearby Burrup Peninsula features the world’s most prolific Aboriginal rock engraving sites, with over 10,000 identified examples.

Red-hued earth, deep gorges, and pretty beaches: Karratha quite literally has it all. ... It's arguably one of the region's most beautiful beaches, and perfect for a day of swimming, fishing, and picnicking with family and friends.

Old Roebourne Gaol, Yaburara Heritage Trail, Millstream, Karijini, Local Lookouts, Mt Herbert, Wittenoom Road, Chichester Ranges, Roebourne, Burrup Peninsula, Picnic areas and parks, Beaches, Staircase to the Moon, Dampier Archipelago, Montebello Islands and more!