About Warlu Way
The Story
The way of the warlu, or Dreamtime serpent, traverses an ancient and sacred land rich in natural beauty and mystical Dreamtime tales. It sends you back in time to the Dreamtime creation period when a great serpent, or warlu, emerged from the sea and travelled through the pulsing red heart of Western Australia forming rivers and pools as he moved.
The Trail
Warlu Way reveals the mysteries of the warlu and other Aboriginal legends by taking you on a ? kilometre self-drive journey through Western Australia’s Gascoyne, Pilbara and Kimberley regions - areas resplendent with sapphire seas, soaring gorges, ancient Aboriginal art, rugged ranges and inland oases. Interpretive signage along the drive opens your eyes to the secrets of this country and its historical, cultural and natural wonders.
The Icons
Ningaloo Marine Park
Warlu Way begins its journey on the shores of the Ningaloo Marine Park in the towns of Coral Bay and Exmouth. These holiday townships are gateways to the dazzling Ningaloo Reef – a wonder world of fish and coral gardens starting just metres away from the beach. Ningaloo is also home to the world’s largest fish, the almighty whale shark. You can book tours to swim with these harmless and enchanting creatures.
Karijini National Park
From the coast, Warlu Way presses east to Karijini National Park. Here mighty gorges plummet deep into the earth, green waters rush through dark, narrowly spaced cliffs and often thunderous waterfalls charge over the ancient rocks. This spectacular area is also rich in Aboriginal stories and culture – close your eyes while standing deep within a gorge and it’s easy to imagine you’re listening to the whispers of spirits floating on the breeze. Warlu Way also takes in several mining towns around Karijini and tells you of the riches being mined from deep within the red, sunbaked earth.
Millstream Chichester National Park
Next the drive returns west via the Millstream-Chichester National Park. This national park is truly an oasis in the desert. Crystal clear ponds, water lilies, palm fronds and dragon flies combine to form a fairytale world of natural wonders. The park is also home to the warlu after which the drive is named. He lives within the waters of the Fortescue River at a place called Deep Reach, or Nhanggangunha to the Yindjibarndi people.
Burrup Peninsula & the Dampier Archipelago
The drive returns to the coast at Karratha – gateway to the Dampier Archipelago and the Burrup Peninsula. The waters surrounding the archipelago are regarded as the most bio-diverse in the state and both the islands and the neighbouring peninsula are home to the world’s largest collection of indigenous art. Thousands upon thousands of ancient engravings adorn the rocks here, etched here by Aboriginal people some 20,000 years ago.
Cossack, Roebourne, Port Hedland & Marble Bar
Warlu Way then journeys to the north, with options for side journeys to the east. It passes historic towns like Cossack, Roebourne, Port Hedland and Marble Bar, each boasting colourful histories rich in tales of pearling, gold and pastoralism.
Eighty Mile Beach & Broome
From here it travels along the coast to Eighty Mile Beach, the end destination for millions of birds who travel across the world with their mysterious autopilots set on Eighty Mile Beach shores. Finally, Warlu Way reaches the resort town of Broome – a once remote and rollicking outpost which is today renowned for its glorious beaches, tourism, pearl farming and meeting of diverse cultures.