Travel around the Pilbara

Air Travel

Air travel can be quite expensive to regional areas. In 2022, the WA government introduced a cap on airfares to and from regional areas.  In 2025, the scheme was updated and changes to airfare caps were introduced to commence from 1 July 2026. 

Residents of regional areas will pay a cap of $199 one-way for zone 1 travel from regional locations less than 1,000 km from Perth and $299 one-way for regional locations more than 1,000km from Perth in Low Demand periods.

In High Demand periods, the cap will increase to $265 one-way for zone 1 travel from regional locations less than 1,000 km from Perth and $385 one-way for regional locations more than 1,000km from Perth.

Flights must be booked as return trips and are available through the airlines' website.  For more information, please visit:

https://www.transport.wa.gov.au/aviation/regional-airfare-zone-cap.asp 

Road

Be prepared to get used to long hours behind the wheel as you explore the Pilbara region and beyond. After a few months, a five-hour drive will be a perfectly reasonable travel time for a weekend trip. Most roads have bitumen, but if you wander off the beaten track, you will quickly encounter dirt roads. In addition, if there is any rain, it is likely roads will become flooded and areas inaccessible between main centres. When this occurs, expect delays in delivers and impacts on food availability in the supermarket. 

Be sure to check the main roads travel map for updates on road closures and other conditions.

https://travelmap.mainroads.wa.gov.au/Home/Map 

It is also recommended that travellers contact local visitor centre for any further local details on travel:

https://karratha.wa.gov.au/visitor-centres 

https://www.carnarvon.org.au/contact

https://www.ningaloocentre.com.au/visitor-centre/visitor-information.aspx 

There is a vast private rail network around the Pilbara connecting mines and sea ports. Running alongside these railway lines are private roads, which may be used by civilians. Permits must be obtained to allow for travel on these roads, which requires a short, online process.

https://www.australiasnorthwest.com/business/service/rail-access-roads-pilbara#no-back 

Approximate travel times and distances between main towns/cities of interest: