From Exmouth ~400 km
Onslow, about 400 km from Exmouth
Onslow is about 400 km from Exmouth. It is a coastal destination in its own right, reached by a detour off the main highway towards Karratha.
The route from Exmouth
- Distance from Exmouth
- ~400 km
- Direction
- north-east
Source: Visit Ashburton: Onslow distances (PDF). Distances vary by starting point and route.
About 400 km from Exmouth
Onslow is about 400 km from Exmouth. Visit Ashburton’s destination guide lists 402 km; actual distance depends on the starting point and route.
Plan breaks, fuel and water before leaving, and check current road conditions.
The salt ponds are the entrance
You know you have arrived before you see the town. The road in crosses salt evaporation ponds covering 87 square kilometres, which is the first thing most people photograph and the last thing they expected on this coast.
Beyond them the town is small and flat, with the ocean on one side and the processing works on the other. It is a working coast town rather than a resort, and that is the honest reason to stop: it breaks a drive, it does not compete with Exmouth for a holiday.
The Mackerel Islands are a boat, not a drive
The Mackerel Islands are reached by boat from Thevenard, not by road. That single detail decides whether they belong in a driving itinerary at all: a vehicle gets you to the departure point and no further.
If the islands are the reason for the trip, check boat access and weather when planning your visit.
Planning a detour to Onslow
Onslow is off the North West Coastal Highway, rather than a stop directly on the highway. Visit Ashburton lists the drive from Onslow to Karratha via the highway as 311 km; Exmouth to Karratha is approximately 545 km according to Karratha visitor information. Onslow is a stop on the way north rather than a place to collect a vehicle, so campervan hire from Exmouth is the page for the dates you need.
Allow extra travel for the detour and check fuel availability and road conditions before leaving. Distances vary with the exact route and starting point.
| Leg | Distance | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Exmouth to Onslow | about 400 km | Visit Ashburton: 402 km |
| Onslow to Karratha | about 311 km | via North West Coastal Highway |
| Exmouth to Karratha | about 545 km | Karratha visitor information |
Explore from here
- Mackerel Islands
Reached by boat from Thevenard, not by road.
- Sunset Beach
The town beach, facing west across the water.
- Old Onslow townsite
The abandoned original settlement, down the coast from the present town.
- The salt ponds
Eighty-seven square kilometres of evaporation ponds on the road into town.
Questions people ask before booking
Can Onslow be done as a day trip from Exmouth?
Onslow is about 400 km from Exmouth each way. Allow plenty of travel time and consider an overnight stay.
Is Onslow on the way to Karratha?
Onslow requires a detour from the North West Coastal Highway. Visit Ashburton lists 311 km from Onslow to Karratha via the highway; it is not a direct stop on the main route.
Do you need a four-wheel drive to reach Onslow?
The drive is a highway run between towns rather than a park track, so a two-wheel-drive vehicle is what the road asks for. A four-wheel drive matters at the Exmouth end, on the unsealed tracks inside Cape Range National Park.
When is the best time to be on this coast?
Whale sharks are most reliable at Ningaloo from March to July, and humpbacks pass between May and October. From November to April, WA Parks warns that box jellyfish and Irukandji can appear, so check marine warnings before swimming.
Sources and further reading
- Visit Ashburton: Onslow distances and route via North West Coastal Highway (PDF)
- Visit Ashburton: Onslow and its salt ponds
- Karratha is Calling: Exmouth and Broome distances
Distances are approximate and vary by route and starting point. Check current road and park conditions before travelling.