Karratha

With a bustling city centre, Karratha's recent reinvention will surprise you with its hip restaurants and modern facilities, but best of all Karratha's location means it is surrounded by iconic natural attractions.

Karratha is located just off the North West Coastal Highway, 1535 kilometres north of Perth and 240 kilometres south of Port Hedland.   

To get a feel for the city’s layout climb Water Tank Hill Lookout above the Karratha Visitor Centre for panoramic views. If you are feeling energetic, the 3.5km Yaburara Aboriginal Heritage Walk Trail takes you through the Karratha hills with some scenic lookouts along the way.

Karratha is the perfect base to explore the natural beauty of its surrounds. The ancient Aboriginal rock engravings on the Burrup Peninsula and the picturesque beach at Hearson’s Cove are within a twenty minute drive of Karratha, as is the port town of Dampier. Cleaverville Creek, a popular fishing and camping spot is just a thirty minute drive away. The oasis of Millstream-Chichester National Park is a comfortable two hour drive from Karratha.

Destination WA - Karratha is calling

Tours from and stopping in Karratha

Eat & Drink

North West Brewing Company

North West Brewing Company

Open 7 days a week from 11am to 10pm Enjoy some locally brewed craft beer and delicious food at Karratha's only craft brewery, North West Brewing Co.! With…

Things to see and do

Montebello Islands Marine Park

Montebello Islands Marine Park

Located off the Pilbara Coast 120km west of Dampier and 139km north of Onslow, the Montebello Islands Marine Park covers more than 58,000 hectares of ocean and over 250 low-lying limestone islands and

Karratha Accommodation

Karratha offers a wide range of accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets. 

Explore Places Nearby

Aerial view of Honeymoon Pool at Point Samson in the Pilbara showing the beach, bushland and water.

Point Samson Peninsula

Some of Western Australia’s best beaches, coral gardens, fishing spots and restored heritage…

Dampier-the palms

Dampier

Located just 20 kilometres west of Karratha, the pretty port town of Dampier is named after the…

Harding River at Roebourne

Roebourne

Roebourne's lovingly restored heritage buildings offer incredible insight on the early days of…

FAQ's

Can you swim in the ocean at Karratha?

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. 

Does Karratha have crocodiles?

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

Where can I snorkel in Karratha?

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.

What is the one must do thing in Karratha?

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.

How do I get to Karratha?

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. 

What is the Aboriginal history of Karratha?

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.

What does the word Karratha mean?

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.

Is Karratha worth visiting?

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.

What to do in Karratha?

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! 

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Australia’s North West Tourism acknowledges the traditional custodians throughout the Kimberley and Pilbara and their continuing connection to the land, waters and community. We pay our respects to all Aboriginal peoples; Elders past, present and emerging.

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