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Draft data. Times, fares and step counts are desk estimates awaiting field checks. Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify

Major city · Australia

DongaraDongara–Port Denison

Stop one night on the Brand Highway between Perth and Geraldton; skip it as a destination unless you want a quiet beach and a crayfish town.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
AUD
Best months
Mar–May, Sep–Nov
avoid Dec–Feb (hot, 35 °C+), Jul–Aug (cooler but wet and windy)
Airports
DOX · GET
Nights
1–2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7
  • Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
  • Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
  • Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
  • Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
  • Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
  • Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
  • Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.

Dongara and Port Denison are one small coastal settlement 351 km north of Perth, split by the Irwin River and joined by a 4 km road. Almost everyone uses it as an overnight break on the drive north to Geraldton, Kalbarri, Carnarvon or Broome. Two nights is enough to see the museum, walk the river trail and swim at Harbour Beach; one night is normal.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Dongara, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeA$4–6 (≈ US$3–4)
  • Street or quick mealBakery pie or sandwichA$6–10 (≈ US$4–7)
  • Beerschooner in a pub / can at the storeA$7–10 (≈ US$5–7)A$4–6 (≈ US$3–4)
  • Budget bedPowered site (2 people), a night, per roomA$45 (≈ US$30)
  • Mid-range bedMotel or holiday-unit double, a night, per roomA$150 (≈ US$100)
  • High-end bedMotel or holiday-unit double, a night, per roomA$220 (≈ US$150)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget A$90 (≈ US$60) · Mid A$160 (≈ US$110) · High A$280 (≈ US$190)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Big Lobster statue at the highway turn-offIrwin District Museum and Russ CottageIrwin River TrailRock lobster and fishingDrive-in cinema
Airports
DOX Dongara airfield (Light aircraft only; no scheduled services.) · GET Geraldton Airport (Nearest airport with scheduled flights, 65 km north.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Dongara: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

33°C

19°C

2 rd

Feb

33°C

20°C

2 rd

Mar

31°C

18°C

3 rd

Apr

27°C

15°C

5 rd

May

23°C

12°C

9 rd

Jun

20°C

10°C

13 rd

Jul

19°C

9°C

14 rd

Aug

20°C

9°C

12 rd

Sep

23°C

10°C

8 rd

Oct

26°C

12°C

5 rd

Nov

29°C

15°C

3 rd

Dec

32°C

17°C

2 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Both towns are walkable and the 4 km between them is a hot, exposed road — drive it. There is no local public transport; Dongara Taxi is the only option without a car. Fuel near the highway turn-off is cheaper than Geraldton.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Geraldtongo

Door to door: About 50 min

Brand Highway 1 north, 65 km

Bigger town with supermarkets, HMAS Sydney memorial and the airport.

Kalbarriovernight

Door to door: About 3 h

Brand Highway north, then Kalbarri Road west

Too far for a return day; sleep there and see the national park.

Greenough

go

Door to door: About 25 min

Brand Highway 1 north, about 30 km

Historic homesteads and the leaning trees on the way to Geraldton.

Jurien Bay

caution

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min

Coastal Highway 60 south

Fuel on this road is sparse and pricey; fill up before you leave.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Dongara (north of the river)

Motels, the bakery and the museum on Waldeck St; walkable centre.

Port Denison (south of the river)

Beach, marina, holiday parks and the main tavern; the bus halt is on Point Leander Drive.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
A$80–130 (≈ US$55–90) excl. bed
Mid
A$130–220 (≈ US$90–150) excl. bed
High
A$220 (≈ US$150)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel or holiday-unit double1 × 1 night × A$150A$150
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × A$160A$320
TransWA bus Perth → Dongara, one way2 × A$65 · checkA$130
Fuel, Perth → Dongara → Geraldton (about 420 km)1 × A$70 · checkA$70
eSIM, about a week of data2 × A$25A$50
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeA$72
Trip total≈ A$396 per person per day, bed includedA$792≈ US$550

2026 estimate in Australian dollars; fuel and flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

CoffeeA$4–6 (≈ US$3–4)
Bakery pie or sandwichA$6–10 (≈ US$4–7)
Pub main (tavern)A$22–35 (≈ US$15–25)
Beer: schooner in a pub / can at the storeA$7–10 (≈ US$5–7) / A$4–6 (≈ US$3–4)
Fuel, unleaded per litreA$1.80–2.10 (≈ US$2) (check)
Motel double roomA$100–220 (≈ US$70–150)
Caravan-park siteA$25–70 (≈ US$17–50)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

A quiet, low-crime country town; the real risks are heat, long empty roads, patchy mobile signal and swimming away from the sheltered beaches.
  • Mobile coverage is patchy: as of 2022 there was no general signal in either town, with a small Telstra 4G pocket in Port Denison. Download maps and tickets before you arrive.
  • All bus pick-ups and drop-offs at Dongara or Port Denison must be booked in advance or the coach passes on the highway.
  • Only 4WD should drive onto South Beach; the sealed access road ends before the sand.
  • Summer heat and flies: carry water and cover up on the river trail.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
000
From mobiles
112
Dongara Police Station (check hours)
+61 8 9927 1000

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

DongaraDongara–Port Denison

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Can you take me to this address?To this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance000
  • From mobiles112

Embassy

No consulates in Dongara; the nearest are in Perth (US, UK, Canada, Ireland) and the Australian government handles most other enquiries.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • TransWA bus Perth → Dongara: about A$65 (≈ US$45), about 5 h (check)
  • TransWA bus Dongara → Geraldton: about A$25 (≈ US$17), about 50 min (check)
  • Dongara Taxi, town run: metered; book ahead (check)

Say or show

  • Thanks — Thank you
  • Where's the bus stop? — Where is the bus stop?
  • Card OK? — Can I pay by card?
  • Safe to swim here? — Is the beach safe for swimming?

Mobile signal is weak or absent in town: save this card and your booking details offline before you arrive.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Dongara. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Mar–May, Sep–Nov · avoid Dec–Feb (hot, 35 °C+), Jul–Aug (cooler but wet and windy) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 2 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for GET: TransWA N1 and N2 arrival times field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Walking clusters with rescue anchors: Dongara Waldeck St, the river bridge, Port Denison marina and beach.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Irwin District Museum, Russ Cottage, drive-in cinema) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Coverage and heat fixtures so the arrival gate can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Australia

Sources