Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
GETTING AROUND
The distances between key WA towns are vast, especially in the north.
Air
Unless you have unlimited time, consider internal flights.
Airlines Flying Within WA
Airnorth
(TL; 1800 627 474;
www.airnorth.com.au
) Routes include Perth- Kununurra, Karratha-Port Hedland, Kar-
ratha-Broome, Port Hedland-Broome and Broome-Kununurra.
Cobham
(
1800 105 503;
www.cobham.com.au
) Flies between Perth and Kambalda.
Qantas
( 13 13 13;
www.qantas.com.au
;
55 William St) WA destinations include Kal-goorlie, Paraburdoo, Newman,
Exmouth, Karratha, Port Hedland and Broome.
Skippers Aviation
( 1300 729 924;
www.skippers.com.au
)
Flies three routes in both directions: Perth-
Leonora-Laverton, Perth-Wiluna-Leinster, Perth-Mt Magnet-Meekatharra, Perth-Carnarvon,
Perth-Geraldton-Carnarvon and Perth-Kalbarri-Monkey Mia. Of most relevance to the mining industry. Also flies
Broome-Fitzroy Crossing-Halls Creek.
Skywest
(XR; 1300 660 088;
www.skywest.com.au
)
Flies to Perth, Busselton, Albany, Esperance, Geraldton, Ex-
mouth, Port Hedland and Kalgoorlie.
Alliance Airlines
( 1300 780 970;
www.allianceairlines.com.au
)
Mine-industry services linking Broome and Kar-
ratha, but also can be booked by the public.
Virgin Australia
(DJ; 13 67 89;
www.virginaustralia.com
)
Flies from Perth to Broome, Karratha, Port Hedland,
Christmas Island and the Cocos Islands.
Bicycle
Bicycle helmets are compulsory in WA, as are white front lights and red rear lights for riding at night.
If you're coming specifically to cycle, bring your own bike. Check with your airline for costs. Within WA you can load
your bike onto a bus to skip the boring bits of the country. Book well ahead so that you and your bike can travel on the
same vehicle.
Suffering dehydration is a very real risk in WA and can be life-threatening. It can get very hot in summer, so take things
slowly until you're used to the heat. A prudent plan is to start riding every day at sunrise, relax in the shade - bring your
own shelter - during the heat of the day and then ride a few more hours in the afternoon. Always wear a hat and plenty of
sunscreen, and drink
lots
of water.
Outback travel needs to be planned thoroughly, with the availability of drinking water the main concern. Those isolated
water sources (bores, tanks, creeks) shown on your map may be dry or undrinkable, so you can't always depend on them.
Also don't count on getting water from private mine sites as many are closed to the public. Bring necessary spare parts
