Carnarvon to Port Hedland road trip: Distance, time & best stops
Exmouth to Yardie Creek
Once in Exmouth, you want to get to the Ningaloo Reef, and the reef is on the other side of the North West Cape.
To get to the Tantabiddi Boat Ramp, where most Ningaloo Reef snorkelling and diving cruises depart from, it’s a half hour drive past Vlamingh Head Lighthouse and Mauritius Beach. Then, further down the North West Cape Peninsula are a series of gorgeous bays and white sand beaches, many of which have camp sites behind them.
8 amazing Exmouth experiences to book in advance.
- Swim with whale sharks – using a spotter plane for maximum shark snorkelling time. This is an experience you’ll genuinely remember forever.
- Ningaloo wildlife adventure – see much more than just the whale sharks.
- Full day kayaking tour – stopping to snorkel at parts of the reef the boats can’t reach.
- Sunset cruise – with dolphin-spotting, snacks and drinks.
- Cape Range trekking adventure.
- Dive on the Ningaloo Reef.
- Swim with humpback whales – they come after whale shark season is over.
- Kayak and snorkel with turtles.
These Ningaloo Reef beaches are often only 100 metres or so from the Reef. The water is often pretty shallow, so most of that beach to reef distance can be covered by leisurely wading.
Turquoise Bay and Osprey Bay are justifiably popular Ningaloo Reef beaches, but the sealed road ends at Yardie Creek – 88km or just over an hour’s drive from Exmouth. Most Ningaloo Reef whale shark swimming cruises, scenic flights and Ningaloo Reef kayaking tours pick up from Exmouth. It’s also possible to swim with humpback whales.
Carnarvon to Port Hedland road trip: Through Giralia Station
The second part of the road trip is from Exmouth to Port Hedland.
This first section of the drive out of Exmouth involves a hefty backtrack down the North West Cape.
Later on, you’ll cut through Giralia Station along Burkett Road, and this will take you to the NW Coastal Highway. This is National Highway 1, and make friends, as you’re going to spend a long time on it.
Click through to the next section: Yannarie to Onslow.