Staircase to the Moon

<p>Welcome to Broome (Rubibi), where old and modern worlds collide, and the ocean meets the outback in picture-perfect style. It’s a place that captivates visitors with its spectacular natural landscapes and fascinating pearl-diving history. Explore the western gateway to the Kimberley wilderness as you traverse turquoise waters and red ochre rock, take a camel ride against a tangerine sunset, and uncover ancient dinosaur footprints along the way.</p>

<p>Explore one of Australia’s most remote, rugged and breathtakingly beautiful regions – the Dampier Peninsula. Aboriginal people have cared for this land for tens of thousands of years. Join them on a cultural tour and discover ancient traditions, like foraging and mud-crabbing. Hear stories of the Dreamtime while you camp under the stars, surrounded by wild and wonderful natural landscapes and abundant wildlife.</p>

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

Once the North West's first pastoral, gold rush and pearling port, today Cossack is a living ghost town inviting you into 19th century life with its fine National Trust listed bluestone architecture. It's also your gateway to the iconic Jarman Island Lighthouse and some of the region's top fishing spots.<br/><br/>Just a 20 minute drive north of Roebourne, 45 minutes east of Karratha, and two and a half hours west of Port Hedland, Cossack can be reached within a few hours from Perth on a direct flight to Karratha. You can also make the journey part of the adventure by following the 2,480 kilometre Warlu Way. Revealing the mysteries of Indigenous legends, this interpretive trail leads you through the iconic landscapes of Western Australia's Gascoyne, Pilbara and Kimberley regions.<br/><br/>Hit the Cossack Heritage Trail and take a journey back to Cossack's heyday, when it played host to thousands of people seeking their fortunes in the Pilbara's growing pearling and gold mining industries. Passing old ruins and eight proudly restored original buildings, you'll discover Cossack's rapid rise and fall. <br/><br/>After the migration of the pearling industry to Broome, the end of the gold rush and the opening of Point Samson jetty, the town was dissolved in 1910 and abandoned by 1950. You'll therefore find the vibe is very serene as you stroll down to beautiful Settlers Beach and lookout, explore the mangroves, cruise across to historic Jarman Island, or cast a line in to chase mackerel, salmon, bream, mangrove jack and barramundi. <br/><br/>In July, you'll witness a very different scene as the town buzzes with the creative energy of the annual Cossack Art Award. Recognised as the most isolated acquisitive art exhibition in the world, and the richest award of its kind in Australia, it has featured the fine works of Ken Done, Pro Hart, Robert Juniper, Jack Absalom, John Borrack, Wim Boissevain, Bevan Pooraar-Hayward and Clifton Mack, to name a few.<br/><br/>To complete your Cossack experience, why not stay a night or three at Cossack's restored Police Barracks which offers budget accommodation from early March to late December.

<p>Awe and ore can be found in equal measure in Karratha. Known for its iron ore operations, this is the gateway to the marine-life rich Dampier Archipelago, the world's most prolific prehistoric rock engraving site, Karijini's four billion year old adventure playground and Millstream's Chichester National Park. It's also one of the few locations where you can witness the Staircase to the Moon.</p>

Port Hedland sits at the heart of a region that's as rich in Indigenous culture and history as it is natural wonders, including the spectacle of the Staircase to the Moon.<br/><br/>To take the direct route, you can fly to Port Hedland from Perth in just over two hours. Or to make the journey half of the adventure, why not fly to Broome or Exmouth and discover the mysteries of local legends driving the Warlu Way interpretive trail.<br/><br/>Following the path of the warlu, or Dreamtime sea serpent, the Warlu Way traverses 2,480 kilometre through the ancient landscapes of the Pilbara and Kimberley. From sapphire seas to lush oases and soaring gorges to ancient Aboriginal art, it will take you back to the Dreamtime when the warlu emerged from the sea and travelled through the red heart of the outback, forming magnificent waterways as he moved.<br/><br/>While you're in Port Hedland, be sure to enjoy another natural spectacle that's unique to the North West - the Staircase to the Moon. Best viewed from Cooke Point between March and October, this natural phenomenon occurs when the full moon rises over the exposed mudflats at extremely low tide, creating the optical illusion of a staircase reaching to the moon.<br/><br/>As a bustling Indian Ocean port, Port Hedland is home to enormous ships and huge trains. It's also a great base for ocean-based activities, including fishing, crabbing and whale watching (in season). Visit during turtle nesting season, and you may even catch a glimpse of females laying eggs or babies making their maiden voyage.<br/><br/>To find out more about Port Hedland's history, hit the award-winning Cultural and Heritage Trail, which maps out the early times of European settlement. Or visit Dalgety House Museum, Don Rhodes Open Air Train Museum and the Courthouse Arts Centre and Gallery.<br/><br/>Port Hedland is a place of contrasts, with an equally diverse range of accommodation options, from backpackers and self-catering chalets to motels and hotel rooms. Bookings are essential, so be sure to reserve your spot in advance.

The tranquil fishing hamlet of Point Samson puts you within easy striking distance of top beach casting and deep water fishing spots, including the 42 islands and islets of the Dampier Archipelago. Famed for being one of the most biodiverse marine environments known in Australia, this group of pristine islands is a snorkeller's paradise too.<br/><br/>Sitting on its own peninsula, 20 minutes north of Roebourne, 50 minutes east of Karratha and two and a half hours west of Port Hedland by road, Point Samson is easily reached within a few hours from Perth on a direct flight to Karratha. However, travelling by road is a far more enriching experience when you follow the Warlu Way - a 2,480 kilometre interpretive trail that reveals the mysteries of Indigenous legends and the iconic landscapes of Western Australia's Gascoyne, Pilbara and Kimberley regions.<br/><br/>Here, you'll find yourself at the eastern gateway to the marine-life-rich islands and reefs of the Dampier Archipelago - an area of such incredible biodiversity, it's regularly compared to the Great Barrier Reef. Join a guided tour and pull on a snorkel, mask and fins to see this underwater wonderland for yourself. You may also spot whales on their migration south between July and October.<br/><br/>On Point Samson Peninsula, you'll see nature has blessed the area with an equally fine string of beaches for swimming, snorkelling and fishing, including John's Creek and Honeymoon Cove - that's just as romantic as its name suggests.<br/><br/>Keen deep-water anglers will also find a few opportunities to cast a line from the rock groins and boat launching ramp at the marina, which also provides shelter for Point Samson's large fishing fleet. A feast on their catch of the day is a must - Point Samson's reputation for fine seafood restaurants and fish and chips stretches far and wide and can be enjoyed with a glass of something cool beside the Indian Ocean.<br/><br/>With plenty to lure you into lingering a while, Point Samson offers a good range of accommodation, including caravan parks, bed and breakfasts, self-contained holiday homes, chalets and a four-star resort.