Pilbara Karratha Karijini Exmouth Ningaloo Tours 8 days

PILBARA,KARIJINI & NINGALOO – 8 DAYS

Broome – Marble Bar – Karijini – Tom Price –Nanutarra – Exmouth – Karratha – Port Hedland – Broome

An extraordinary 8-day small-group 4WDjourney through some of Western Australia's most dramatic landscapes.

Discover the mining and pioneer history of Marble Bar, spend two nights amongst the ancient gorges of Karijini National Park, tour the massive Tom Price iron-ore mine, cross remote Pilbara country to Nanutarra, reach the turquoise waters of Ningaloo at Exmouth, then travel north through Karratha, Murujuga, Roebourne and Port Hedland before returning to Broome via Eighty Mile Beach.

Highlights include Marble Bar and Chinaman's Pool; Comet Gold Mine; two nights at Karijini; Oxer Lookout, DalesGorge, Fortescue Falls and Fern Pool; the included Tom Price Mine Tour; remote Nanutarra; Exmouth and the Ningaloo Coast; Cape Range National Park; VlaminghHead Lighthouse; Karratha and Dampier; the Red Dog Memorial; World Heritage-listed Murujuga rock art; Cosack, Roebourne; Port Hedland's massive iron-ore facilities; the De Grey country; and Eighty Mile Beach.

ITINERARY 

Day 1 –Broome to Marble Bar

Depart Broome at approximately 8.00 am,travelling south through the vast cattle stations and open landscapes of north-west Western Australia.

Travel via Sandfire and Pardoo, crossthe mighty De Grey River, and turn inland through remote Pilbara country towards historic Marble Bar.

On arrival we explore the colourful rock formations of the Coongan River, including Chinaman's Pool and Marble Bar Pool. Despite giving the town its name, the famous "Marble Bar" is actually colourful jasper rather than marble.

The area exposes some extraordinarily ancient Archaean rocks, making it particularly fascinating for anyone interested in Australia's geology. Chinaman's Pool and Marble Bar Pool are also popular places for swimming, birdwatching and picnicking. Western Australia

Discover the story of a town famous both forits 1890s gold rush heritage and for its remarkable record of extreme summer temperatures. Western Australia

Dinner and overnight in Marble Bar,with an opportunity to experience the historic Iron Clad Hotel,established during the town's gold-rush era. Western Australia

Overnight: Marble Bar – BLD

Day 2 –Marble Bar, Comet Gold Mine & Karijini

After breakfast, continue exploring Marble Bar before visiting the historic Comet Gold Mine and Tourist Centre.

Discover displays of gold, gemstones, rocks and minerals, together with the history of the mine and early gold-mining operations. The former mine dates from 1936 and its landmark 75-metre chimney remains an impressive reminder of the area's mining history. Western Australia

We then leave Marble Bar and travel south through the rugged eastern Pilbara towards the magnificent Hamersley Range and Karijini National Park.

Karijini protects an ancient landscape of deeply incised red-rock gorges, waterfalls and pools carved through rock more than 2.5 billion years old. Explore Parks

• Dales Gorge
• Fortescue Falls
• Fern Pool
• Circular Pool Lookout
• swimming and walking opportunities where conditions permit.

At Dales Gorge, permanent water creates are markable contrast of green ferns, pools and waterfalls against the terraced red cliffs. Fortescue Falls is Karijini's only permanent waterfall, with Fern Pool only a short walk farther into the gorge. Western Australia

Arrive at Karijini Eco Retreat, our base for the next two nights. 

Overnight: Karijini Eco Retreat – BLD

Day 3 –Karijini National Park

A full day is devoted to exploring the spectacular landscapes of Karijini National Park.

Depending on weather, road conditions and the abilities and interests of the group, our day's exploration may include:

• Oxer Lookout
• Weano Gorge
• Hancock Gorge
• Joffre Gorge
• Knox Gorge and Lookout

At the western end of the park, Oxer Lookout provides spectacular views across the meeting point of several enormous gorges. More adventurous walks, including Hancock Gorge, are subject to fitness, conditions and track classifications. Explore Parks

Return to Karijini Eco Retreat for our second night beneath the Pilbara stars.

Overnight: Karijini Eco Retreat – BLD

Day 4 –Karijini, Tom Price Mine Tour & Nanutarra

Depart Karijini after breakfast and travel through the Hamersley Ranges to Tom Price, one of Australia's best-known iron-ore mining towns.

Today can include the Rio Tinto Iron Ore Mine Site Tour.

Travelling by dedicated mine-tour vehicle, we enter the enormous open-cut operation and see the haul-truck workshop, giant trucks, shovels and drills, crushing and screening facilities, train-load out infrastructure and main pit lookout. The guided mine experience is approximately two hours and gives a remarkable insight into the scale of Pilbara iron-ore production. Visit Ashburton

After the mine tour, we leave Tom Price and travel west through increasingly remote Pilbara station country.

The landscape changes dramatically as the Hamersley Ranges give way to broad plains, rocky escarpments, river systems and huge pastoral properties.

Continue towards the Ashburton River and arrive at Nanutarra, one of the classic crossroads of the remote north-west.

Tonight provides a genuine taste of travelling through Australia's vast interior, away from the major towns and surrounded by the open Pilbara landscape.

Overnight: Nanutarra – BLD  - 

Note: If the Tom Price mine tour is not chosen, then timing allows 2 nights in Exmouth. 

Day 5 –Karijini, Tom Price Mine Tour & Nanutarra

Depart Nanutarra and travel west towards the North West Cape. Today brings one of the tour's great contrasts: from dry red Pilbara country to the brilliant turquoise waters of the Ningaloo Coast.

Arrive at Exmouth, gateway to the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Coast, where the rugged limestone landscape of Cape Range National Park meets Australia's largest fringing reef. Australia's Coral Coast

Depending on arrival time and conditions,explore a selection of the region's highlights, which include:

• Ningaloo Reef – glass bottom boat cruise OR swim OR optional Yardie Creek Boat Tour OR optional extra swim with whale sharks -  approximately $410 per person 
• Jurabi Turtle Sanctuary 
• Vlamingh Head Lighthouse – panoramic views across the Indian Ocean, North West Cape and NingalooReef. The lighthouse precinct also contains interpretive material relating tothe area's maritime and wartime history. Australia's Coral Coast 
• Cape Range National Park – spectacular limestone ranges, deep canyons and rugged coastal scenery.
• Turquoise Bay – famous for white sand, turquoise water and easy access to Ningaloo Reef only metres offshore. Australia's Coral Coast

Depending on timing, there may be an opportunity for a swim or snorkel, beach walk or simply time to enjoy the extraordinary contrast between reef and range.

Finish with an Indian Ocean sunset before returning to Exmouth.

Overnight: Exmouth – BLD

Day 6 –Exmouth, Ningaloo & Karratha

An early start provides another opportunity to experience North West Cape and Ningaloo before turning north.

Subject to timing, we may visit another Cape Range feature such as Charles Knife Canyon, which provides remarkable views through the limestone ranges, or enjoy a morning coastal stop.

Cape Range contains dramatic gorges including Charles Knife, Shothole, Mandu Mandu and Yardie Creek, while beaches such asTurquoise Bay and Lakeside provide access to Ningaloo's marine environment. Australia's Coral Coast

We then commence our journey north through theremote pastoral country of the Pilbara.

Cross the Ashburton River region and travel through vast plains and station country towards Karratha.

On reaching the Karratha–Dampier region,visit the famous Red Dog Memorial, commemorating the legendary wandering Pilbara dog whose story inspired the Australian film Red Dog.

Enjoy the Dampier Foreshore and viewsacross the Dampier Archipelago. Dampier is approximately 20 kilometres from Karratha and is surrounded by enormous iron-ore, salt and energy infrastructure. Australia's North West

Overnight: Karratha – BLD

Day 7 –Murujuga, Roebourne & Port Hedland

This morning we explore one of the cultural highlights of the entire journey – the Murujuga Cultural Landscape and Burrup Peninsula.

Visit areas of ancient Aboriginal rock art and learn about the continuing connection of the Ngarda-Ngarli Traditional Owners and Custodians to this landscape.

Murujuga was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2025. UNESCO describes an extraordinary cultural landscape reflecting at least 50,000 years of continuing care and cultural tradition,including one of the world's most extensive and dense known concentrations of petroglyphs. UNESCO World Heritage Centre

Where practical, visit the Ngajarli / Deep Gorge area and enjoy the dramatic contrast between ancient red rock,turquoise coastal waters and the modern resource industry of the BurrupPeninsula. Australia's North West

Continue through Dampier, viewing the extraordinary Rio Tinto / Hamersley Iron railway and port infrastructure, before travelling through historic Cosack and Roebourne, with its heritage buildings and Aboriginal art connections.

Travel on wards through Whim Creek and the Fortescue River country to Port Hedland.

In Port Hedland, visit the harbour and port viewing areas to appreciate the huge scale of Pilbara iron-ore operations– enormous trains arriving from inland mines, stockpiles, conveyors and bulk carriers preparing to transport Australian resources around the world.

Depending on timing, we can also visit Pretty Pool or explore some of Port Hedland's historic town precinct.

Overnight: Port Hedland – BLD

Day 8 –Port Hedland, Eighty Mile Beach & Broome

Our final day takes us north from Port Hedland through Pardoo and Sandfire and across the immense pastoral landscapes separating the Pilbara from the Kimberley.

Stop at magnificent Eighty Mile Beachfor a beach walk and time to appreciate the enormous horizon.

Despite its name, the beach extends for around 220 kilometres and is internationally important for migratory shorebirds. Australia's North West

Continue north through cattle country towards Broome.

As the Pilbara landscapes give way to the colours of the Kimberley, reflect on an extraordinary journey linking some of Western Australia's greatest contrasts – ancient Aboriginal cultural landscapes, billion-year-old geology, iron-ore mines and ports, rugged ilderness, remote pastoral country and one of the world's great coral-reef environments.

Arrive Broome in the late afternoon.

Tour concludes Broome – BL

TourHighlights

This journey combines three very different Western Australian experiences in one 8-day adventure: the ancient geology and mining history of the Pilbara, the spectacular wilderness of Karijini, and the reef-and-range environment of Ningaloo.

Travel with Spirit Safaris

For more than 30 years, Spirit Safaris has specialised in exploring the extraordinary landscapes and remote regions ofAustralia.

Travel in modern Toyota LandCruiser 4WDvehicles with experienced guides and small private groups, allowing greater flexibility, personal attention and access to locations that larger coaches simply cannot reach.

This journey is much more than travelling between destinations. It tells the story of the Pilbara – its ancient geology, First Nations culture, pastoral and gold-mining history, modern resources industry, wilderness landscapes and spectacular coastline.

Join us on this remarkable 8-day Pilbara, Karijini & Ningaloo adventure – ASK about departures or BOOK your tour.

Price is based on per person, twin share. If two people are sharing the same room, it can be double or twin. A single person needs to book the single rate for their own room.