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City in Western Australia
Photo: Michal Lewi, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Karratha is a city in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, with a population of 17,013 in 2021. It's entirely modern, built from 1968 to house mining and port workers - Dampier is the port. The main reason for other visitors to linger, apart from urgent car repairs on the hot dusty road to Broome, is to view the petroglyphs in Murujuga National Park.
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Monte Bello Islands
A group of 174 islets some 200 km west of Dampier, so they're beyond a day trip. Boat tours sometimes visit. The area is a part of Montebello Islands Marine Park, from which cats and rats have been removed, and indigenous species re-introduced. Vodka Beach on Trimouille Island is the preferred camping spot, but don't dig too deep to build your sandcastle. In the 1950s Britain tested atomic bombs here, and remains of the testing activities (e.g. bunkers) can be found at some islands (Trimouille Island). As there is residual contamination, authorities recommend limiting your stay to 1 hour per day in these zones. For Barrow Island to the southwest see Onslow.
Reliable place for breakfast or lunch.
The only Indian in Karratha.
Microbrewery and pub with good selection of ales.
Decent basic place. It went through a bad patch around 2020 but later reviews are positive.
formerly All Seasons
Efficient clean Accor chain hotel, with pool and bistro.
Friendly welcoming place earning great reviews.
Comfy business-oriented place just off Dampier Hwy. No pets.
Budget cabins, this is the best of the three places together in Baynton. Noise can be a problem.
Best Western
Consistently high scores for these apartments south of the Visitor Centre.
Simple but neat little park open April-Oct, community-run and kept clean. It has 18 caravan and 7 camping powered pitches. Pets welcome, max stay 3 nights.
Karratha has several flights a day from Perth by Qantas and Virgin. They take two hours non-stop and you might pay $600 return. Alliance don't fly here.
Read in the guidePTA Bus 881 runs 2-3 times a day east from Dampier to Karratha (45 min), Roebourne, Wickham and Point Samson; the 880 is the westbound service.
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Karratha · Regional · KTA
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