Ideally situated between the Shark Bay and Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Areas, Carnarvon is a great place to rest, relax and recharge. Enjoy an abundant tropical food experience of fresh fruit, vegetables, and seafood - and don't forget to visit during August for the annual Gascoyne Food Festival!
Take a walking tour to learn about Carnarvon’s heritage buildings and rich history or collect a guide from the Visitor Centre. There are several striking historic buildings in Carnarvon. Make sure you take in Carnarvon’s main street’s public art and the 26m mural along Robinson Street, it tells the towns history in a vivid way.
Add to your cultural experience by visiting Gwoonwardu Mia – Aboriginal Heritage and Cultural Centre, celebrating the region's five Aboriginal language groups together to celebrate and recognise Indigenous culture. You can experience the Gascoyne's Aboriginal history, art, heritage and culture by visiting Gwoonwardu Mia, open from Tuesday to Friday, 9am to 3pm.
Visit Canarvon's Space and Technology Centre to learn more about its role in space history - the Carnarvon Tracking Station played in the manned space program in the 1960s and 1970s relaying the first steps of man on the moon to television stations in Australia, alongside Parkes Observatory. The Space and Technology Museum is located at OTC Satellite Earth Station, has various interactive displays and experiences including The Apollo (capsule) simulation, planetarium movies, NASA memorabilia, the space theatre and space shop. Open daily: 9am – 4pm (April to September) and 10am – 2pm (October to March).
Known as the fruit bowl of Western Australia, the town of Carnarvon produces 80% of WA's total fruit and vegetable crops. Much of WA’s seafood comes from Carnarvon with a thriving prawn, scallop, crab and fishing industry. During the season fresh fruit, vegetables, and seafood can be purchased directly from outlets in town. And don't forget to vsiit the #Instaworthy Cactus garden! Carnarvon was the first location in Australia where bananas were grown! A drive along the scenic North and South River Roads, known as “The Fruit Loop”, will take you past working plantations – some of which run roadside stalls or shop fronts where you can purchase a wide range of preserves, dried fruits and ice-creams made fresh from seasonal fruit and vegetables.
Weekend Markets take place every Saturday morning from late May to early October, the Gascoyne Growers Market operates in front of the Visitor Centre. The markets offer local tropical fruits, homemade ice-creams, ready to eat meals (perfect for travellers!) and a wide variety of vegetables, herbs, honey, cakes, jams, relishes, plants and handmade crafts. Tip: The markets are plastic bag free, so be sure to take along your reusable bags.
Witness the dramatic spectacle of the natural Blowholes and king waves. Take in the beautifully rugged surroundings and enjoy the surf at Gnaraloo, snorkel 'the aquarium' at Quobba, wind or kite surfing at Red Bluff and eco-camp at these locations.
Why not head off to the Gascoyne Hinterland for the rugged outback to climb the world’s largest monocline, Mount Augustus, and explore the Kennedy Range National Park and it's stunning Honeycomb Gorge. Or see all of Carnarvon from above by Helicopter.
The Hinterland is also home to Rocky Pool, a great swimming spot (and day trip with picnic in tow!) located 55km east of Carnarvon on the Gascoyne Junction Road.
REX offers daily flights from Perth to Carnarvon or fly with Qantas to Learmonth airport and drive south to Carnarvon (3hrs).
