Located approximately 1,535 kilometres north of Perth lies the mining town Karratha. The Aboriginal meaning of the word Karratha means "good country". Mainly known for its iron ore industry, Karratha boasts a major airport and the largest shopping centre in the north west.

Karratha's economy is principally built on offshore gas supplies and iron ore deposits.

Karratha is one of the gateways for the many adventure tours and experiences available in the surrounding region. Millstream Chichester and Karijini National Parks, The Dampier Archipelago and the Burrup Peninsula are all close by. Burrup Peninsula is known as the world's most prolific Aboriginal rock engraving site with over 10,000 Aboriginal art sites. Light aircraft, boat and fishing charters are all available from the town.

When combined with industry based attractions such as the local iron ore, salt mining and export operations, together with the North West Shelf Natural Gas Project, Australia's largest natural resource development, Karratha provides a perfect base to to experience some of the most stunning natural and man made attractions around.

The Town has a variety of accommodations ranging from backpackers, caravan parks and motels

Karratha is generally quite hot in the summer months and doesn't really suffer the very wet due to the monsoon rains further north. The best time to visit is all year round but from May to November the temperatures are pleasant and the rainfall not excessive.

So whether you like it hot or a little cooler the weather is ideal for holidays in our beautiful region most of the year round, so planning a holiday is made so much easier. 

Europeans first settled in Karratha in 1866 mostly due to the favourable reports from F. W. Gregory as the pastoral industries in the Pilbara were sound.

The name of 'Karratha' supposedly meant 'good country' in the language of the local Aborigines. The town of Karratha, was planned and constructed in 1968 as a joint Hamersley Iron / State government  project to meet the expanding accommodation needs of the mining company which was based in nearby Dampier.

Today it is Karratha is home to over 7000 people and the town is continuing to expand as the number of service industries continue to grow.

It is the only town in the north west to have a major industrial estate servicing the needs of the community. It is planned that the town will eventually house over 30 000 people. Inevitably the administrative functions of the Pilbara have all been moved to the town.