Moving To Karratha Western Australia

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Living In Karratha

Have I found my forever home?

I moved up to Karratha for work back in April 2022. I loved the long-distance driving and the vast emptiness of the Wheatbelt. Leaving Yallingup bright and early one morning I stopped at Geraldton, Kalbarri and Exmouth before arriving safely into Karratha. Honestly, when I first drove into Karratha, I hated it! It was too bare, not enough big trees. I didn’t have that sense of being lost in the wilderness, which I was used to down south and growing up in Victoria. About two months in, I fell in love with this area (sadly not my workplace, that is another story). Growing up in rural Victoria in the bush, Karratha is very different from what I am used to. The contrast between the greenery and the red earth is magical and mesmerising. The sunsets are just gorgeous and one of my favourite things to do is sit on my balcony and watch the SUN set with a nice glass of wine or homemade cocktail.

I could see myself living in Karratha permanently. I love the heat, and knowing it will never be cold is a huge plus for me. I haven’t lived through a summer yet; this coming summer will be my first and that will be the real test.

Reasons why I LOVE Karratha:

The heat! It is always warm and barely gets below 15 degrees
I can grow tropical fruits, Mangoes, Bananas, pineapples and more.
- Stay tuned for a blog on the balcony garden (since I have moved back to Perth, stay tuned for a new balcony garden adventure)
My all-time favourite flower is the Sturt Desert Pea, they grow like wildfire here and are just gorgeous. It warms my soul to be surrounded by the things I love.
My current working and living conditions allow me to save a lot more than I would if I lived in the city. Even though my workplace isn’t enjoyable right now, I am looking at the bigger picture and setting myself up to be self-funded and self-sufficient.
Karratha is big enough to have the essentials without being busy and overpopulated
Karijini is 5 hours in one direction, Exmouth 6 hours in the other direction
- Some of the most beautiful natural treasures are within arm’s reach.
Learning about the history and indigenous culture is something I didn’t get growing up or learnt at school. This is a real eye-opener for me and to be able to connect with some incredible storytellers is priceless.
Living in town allows me to use my car less (which saves on fuel) and allows me to get out into the sunshine.
The local markets, festivals and get-togethers make Karratha the perfect community.
The sunsets are magnificent, I have seen colour combinations I have not seen anywhere in Australia!

Click the link to read all the wonderful adventures and things to do in this gorgeous region

Karratha Is Calling

Karijini National Park

Reasons why I find Karratha challenging:

Karratha is a mining town!!!
Karratha is prone to cyclones (did you know, I have lived through 2 cyclones so far)
Being a rural town, accessibility to fresh produce, sustainable and eco-friendly products is limited
Postal service is challenging!
There is still a racial stigma against the indigenous population within this area.
Because it is a mining town, everything is overpriced
There is the phrase ‘northern tax’ and it seems to be a widely accepted reason for the price hike.
Being so far from my family and friends
THE TIME DIFFERENCE – I am not a morning person!! If I want to talk to anyone in the East, I must plan my time carefully, or I’m up at 6 am talking to people!!!
It is cheaper to fly to Bali than it is to Victoria (although this could be seen as a positive, not when I try to organise flights to visit my family, $1000+ round trip)

Overall, there is a very welcoming feeling I have in this area. I can see myself settling down in a small apartment here with my garden and campervan (when I purchase it) for weekend trips away to the local national parks. The idea of being able to have my garden and a place to call my home is very comforting.

I honestly didn’t think I would like Karratha as much as I do now. This goes to show that if you give anything a decent go, you may just like it!

What town have you visited and just fallen in love with? Which town do you think I should visit next?

An update from my Karratha adventures. Sadly my time in Karratha was short and sweet. My workplace became too toxic and I could no longer stay there. I was housed by my workplace which meant I didn’t have a place to stay if I moved jobs. So I started my big trip back to Perth. I now currently live in a Hostel while I look for an apartment in the city. Living in a city is a lot easier for the lifestyle I am trying to live. Access to sustainable products and fresh local markets is a big win. I hope to travel up to Karratha, as my love for the town is not lost.