Onslow has made its mark on the map as a paradise for fishing, diving and snorkelling, and a top spot to witness the rare natural phenomenon of the Staircase to the Moon. A three-hour drive from Karratha and four hours from Exmouth, Onslow makes an ideal halfway stop on your North West coast road trip.

It's also a tempting side trip if you're following the Warlu Way - an interpretive 2,480-kilometre self-drive trail revealing the mysteries of Indigenous legends and the iconic landscapes of Western Australia's Gascoyne, Pilbara and Kimberley regions.

If you time your visit to coincide with a full moon between March and October, make a beeline for Sunrise Beach at sunset. Watch in awe as the full moon rises and reflects on the exposed mudflats at low tide, creating the optical illusion of the Staircase to the Moon. Onslow and a handful of spots along the North West Coast are the only places on Earth where you can witness this magical phenomenon.

Just 22 kilometres off the coast sit the Mackerel Islands, a group of 10 islands blessed with pristine white sand beaches and marine-life-rich coral reefs and atolls. Hopping on a chartered boat or light aircraft, you can dive, snorkel, cast a line or even play castaway on your own private island.

That said, a good catch can also be found at Onslow's Sunrise and Sunset beaches, Four Mile Creek, the Ashburton River and Beadon Creek. Five Mile Pool and Three Mile Pool are also top spots for mud crabbing and camping under the stars.

Near the mouth of the Ashburton River, you'll see the ruins of Old Onslow town, including the original gaol and courthouse. The Goods Shed was relocated to the new town in 1925 and now houses the visitor centre and museum, including an impressive collection of old town memorabilia.

If bush camping or playing castaway isn't your style, choose from camping and caravan parks, chalets, hotel and motel style accommodations in Onslow.