Carnarvon to Port Hedland road trip: Distance, time & best stops

The best stops on a Carnarvon to Port Hedland road trip include Coral Bay, Exmouth and Karratha. The 859km drive should take around 8h50m.

The Carnarvon to Port Hedland drive is part of the epic journey up the coast of Western Australia from Perth to Broome.

Carnarvon is the biggest town for miles around in the Gascoyne region. If you want to stay overnight in Carnarvon, search for the best value accommodation here.

Port Hedland, meanwhile, is largely a mining town, but makes for a logical overnight stop. To dig out the best value Port Hedland accommodation, search here.

This guide should help you prepare a perfect Carnarvon to Port Hedland road trip itinerary.

Carnarvon to Port Hedland distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Carnarvon to Port Hedland is 859km, with a driving time of approximately eight hours and 50 minutes. However, there are a few detours worth adding to the journey which will add a few hours on to that.

Things to in Carnarvon include the Gwoonwardu Mia Gascoyne Aboriginal Heritage and Cultural Centre, which explores the traditional way of life and beliefs of the local Indigenous people.

Other Carnarvon attractions include the Carnarvon Space and Technology Museum. There are also several banana plantations to drive around.

If you choose to stay overnight here, Carnarvon accommodation options include the Carnarvon Motel, where the pool comes with a water slide, and the Capricorn Holiday Park.

Carnarvon to Port Hedland road trip: Carnarvon to the Ningaloo Reef.

Heading north from Carnarvon, don’t expect too much excitement along the route. You can stop for fuel and supplies at the Minilya Roadhouse and take a photo at the Tropic of Capricorn sign.

There’s a key decision to make at the Minilya Roadhouse, however – keep going north or branch off down the Minilya-Exmouth Road towards Coral Bay, Exmouth and the Ningaloo Reef. Given this will be the unquestioned highlight of the journey, this is not a difficult decision.

It’s another 98km from Minilya to Coral Bay.

5 Coral Bay experiences to book before you arrive

Swim with whale sharks – with a dedicated spotter plane for more time in the water with them.
Go on a glass bottom boat cruise – perfect for non-swimmers.
Snorkel with turtles – on a boat tour that visits two top snorkelling sites.
Swim with humpback whales – they visit between June and October.
Swim with manta rays – available most of the year, with lunch & snorkelling gear included.

Things to do in Coral Bay include swimming with manta rays, viewing turtles in a glass-bottomed boat and swimming with whale sharks.

You can also watch turtles nesting at Mauds Landing Beach, then snorkel at Five Fingers Reef or Paradise Beach.