Monkey Mia to Port Hedland road trip: Best stops, distance & time

Exmouth to the NW Coastal highway

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.

Monkey Mia to Port Hedland road trip: A detour to Onslow?

On the highway, there’s a rest and free camping area in Yannarie by the Yannarie River. You can also stop for a photo at the big collection of outback boulder 17km further along.

A key decision needs making at the Nanutarra Roadhouse, a fuel and supplies stop. The turn-off for Karijini National Park is here, and many prefer to take in the gorges and swimming holes of Karijini than sticking to the coast.

If you do hug the coast, the next key turn-off is at Cane. Here, the Onslow Road will take you to Onslow. The Termite Mound Viewing Area and vast salt pans of the Onslow Salt Field can be seen before reaching the town.

Things to do in Onslow include going on the ferry to the Mackerel Islands Resort, fishing and snorkelling at Sunset Beach.

Good Onslow accommodation picks include the Onslow Beach Resort aparthotel and the Discovery Parks Onslow holiday park.

Click through to the next section: Onslow to Karratha.