Skip to Content Skip to Navigation Show Trail Map Show About the Trail Show Important Trail Details Read Trail Reviews
Add Favourites
Support Our Trails

Yaburara Heritage Trail, Karratha Yaburara Heritage Trail, Karratha

Bush Walk  in North West

  • 1-3 hours
  • 7.85 km
    • Bush Walk Class 4

      Difficult trail with rough surface that may have very steep hills or extensive rock hopping. Directional signage may be limited. Bushwalking experience, navigation and emergency first aid skills, and good fitness required.

The Yaburara Heritage Trail is a 7.8 kilometre grade 4 walk highlighting the Karratha district’s natural history and cultural heritage and in particular the heritage of the Traditional Owners of the land, the Ngarluma people, in honour of the Yaburara people. It covers rugged country with some steep climbs and descents and features a number of Aboriginal sites including rock engravings and artefact scatters.

Earn 2 Points Aboriginal Culture
Donate to support this trail
Logo for Leave no Trace Initiative

Trails WA supports the seven principles recommended by Leave No Trace Australia for minimising your impacts when using the trails.

Learn more

The trail commences from the water tanks over looking the town centre and access is via the information bay on Karratha Road, next to the Karratha Visitor Centre or from the back of Karratha Leisureplex off Dampier Highway. There are also two short branch trails and three longer branch trails - a secondary trail around the base of the hills, a recreational trail following the ridge top and a nature trail along two major valleys.

The trail outlined in the map is a return trail, allowing you to see majority of the points of interest. The various spur trails can be accessed from alternate carparks as outlined on the map. You can complete this by arranging pick up at the Karratha Leisureplex for a shorter walk. 

Much of the Yaburara Heritage Trail is rough with loose rocks with no shade. The trail is on Aboriginal Heritage Registed sites which are significant to Aboriginal people; they are a great interest to non-Aboriginal people and they are protected by law. The layout of this trail was done in close liaison with the Ngarluma people, the Traditional Owners of the land. We trust that giving people a better understanding will engender greater respect for Aborigial culture.

The trail brochure is available from the Karratha Visitor Centre and Karratha Leisureplex or scan the QR Code from the trailhead map to download map and brochure to your phone.

No rubbish bins are available along the trail, please take your litter with you. Under the Aboriginal Heritage Act it is an offence to damage or alter any Aboriginal site or to remove any Aboriginal object from a site.

City of Karratha

08 9186 8555

Visitor Information Centres

Other Links

  • Ngurrangga Tours

    Discover the Pilbara through the eyes of Traditional Owners whose ancestors have walked this land for more than 40, 000 years.

  • Australia’s North West

    Comprehensive information on the North West region including destinations, things to see and do, accommodation and tours.

Downloads

Be trail ready for Yaburara Heritage Trail, Karratha

Here is everything you need to know before visiting this trail.

Time / Duration

Various trails can chosen ranging from 1 hour to 3 hours.

Length

Depending at which car park there are many choices from 500mtrs to 7.8km

Trail Start

Karratha Visitor Centre, De Witt Road, Karratha, 1600km drive north of Perth

Get directions

Trail End

Bush Walk

Class 4

Difficult trail with rough surface that may have very steep hills or extensive rock hopping. Directional signage may be limited. Bushwalking experience, navigation and emergency first aid skills, and good fitness required.

Visit Trail Tips for further information.

Additional information

There are sections that are steep (refer to map) at sections 3 to 4 and 5 to 6. The easier walk is along long loop.

What To Pack

Hazards & Warnings

Steep areas with loose rocks.

Facilities

The parking area at Karratha Road outside the Karratha Visitors Centre, and Karratha Leisureplex provides space for caravans and other larger vehicles.

Trail head maps can be found at top of Karratha Visitor Centre, Water Tanks and Karratha Leisureplex

  • Car Park
  • Picnic Area
  • Visitor Information Centre

Best time of year

April to November

Fees

None

Trail Access

Road

Prohibited Items

No 4WDs, mountain bikes or motorbikes permitted on trail. Walkers only.

More tips for being Trail Ready
Edge shaped like mountain horizon
topography pattern

Complete Yaburara Heritage Trail, Karratha to earn badges and points!

Earn points and badges and become a "TrailsWA Expert" by completing trails and leaving reviews.

Earn 2 Points

Earn 2 points towards
your TrailsWA level

Aboriginal Culture

This trail is part of the Aboriginal Culture badge.

Edge shaped like mountain horizon
Alt text

1 trail goers have rated Yaburara Heritage Trail, Karratha as 4 out of 5!

We love to hear from people who've been on our Western Australian trails, so it would be most appreciated it if you wanted to leave a review.

Lee lee

Reviewed 14 Apr 2018, 9:10pm

A number of trails close to the city centre of Karratha beginning from behind the visitor centre, a carpark from Millstream Road and behind the Leisureplex carpark. Trails through are rocky with rut sections, narrow and steep - they climb hills. Views are sensational. If there has been a significant amount of rain, sometimes a waterfall forms not too far from the trail head at Millstream Road carpark. For a short trail with great views, try the one from behind the Leisureplex carpark - it is super steep. It is possible to connect trails to make a loop - the visitor centre has a map. Great way to see the layout and landscape of the Pilbara.

Like this trail? Explore others nearby

More around North West

Supported by great organisations

Trails are free and bring so many benefits to our community by providing opportunities to have fun, get fit, socialise, explore and challenge yourself. But they also have to be managed and maintained which only is made possible through terrific sponsors, donations and/or volunteering.

topography pattern