Exmouth to Karratha road trip: Distance, drive time & best stops

Onslow to Karratha drive: Miaree Pool

Otherwise, the next stop after Cane is the Fortescue River Roadhouse, another possibility for a refuel.

Arguably the best place to stop on the Exmouth to Karratha drive is Miaree Pool on the Nullagine River. This is a swimming hole has a campground and picnic area.

Alas, Mairee Pool comes only 30km before the end of the journey in Karratha, so the best tactic is to treat it as a reward for almost completing the slog behind the wheel.

What to do in Karratha, WA

Things to do in Karratha include tours that take in the Indigenous rock engravings on the Burrup Peninsula, and walking the 3.5km Yaburara Aboriginal Heritage Walk Trail. There are also several tours. Experience Murujuga runs 1.5 hour tours at Nganjarli – otherwise known as Deep Gorge.

Meanwhile, Pilbara Dive and Tours offers diving tours around the Dampier Archipelago and Pelican Charters runs fishing charters to the Montebello Islands.

Where to stay in Karratha

Booking ahead in Karratha is strongly advised, as hotels can fill up with mine workers and get very expensive if you just rock up on the day. The best Karratha accommodation options are:

For a relatively cheap, decent bed for the night: Econo Lodge Karratha.
For overall quality, a pool and a restaurant: Best Western Plus The Ranges or Karratha International Hotel.
For facilities, space and self-catering: Karratha Central Apartments.

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.