Western Australia Safety Guide 2026

Carry plenty of water in the outback — a minimum of 4 litres per person per day — Dehydration and heat stroke are serious risks in WA's outback, Kimberley, and Pilbara regions where temperatures regularly exceed 45°C in summer. Always carry more water than you think you need. If your vehicle breaks down in a remote area, stay with the vehicle (it's easier to spot than a person) and wait for help.

Tell someone your travel plans when heading into remote areas — Before driving remote WA roads (Gibb River Road, Pilbara back roads, Nullarbor Plain, goldfields tracks), leave your itinerary with a trusted contact and arrange a check-in time. Consider registering your trip with the WA Police Voluntary Trip Intention Form for very remote journeys.

Wear SPF50+ sunscreen year-round and reapply every 2 hours — WA has some of the highest UV index readings in the world — UV 11+ (Extreme) is common in summer, and UV 8-10 (Very High) occurs year-round even on overcast days. Wear a broad-brimmed hat, UV-protective clothing (UPF 50+), sunglasses, and apply SPF50+ sunscreen to all exposed skin. Seek shade between 10am and 3pm.

Avoid swimming at unpatrolled beaches and observe shark warning flags and shark alerts — WA has one of the world's highest rates of shark encounters due to healthy marine ecosystems. Swim at patrolled beaches between the flags, avoid swimming at dawn, dusk, and night, avoid entering the water with bleeding wounds, and check SharkSmart WA (sharksmart.com.au) for logged shark sightings before swimming.

Watch for kangaroos, emus, and cattle on rural roads, especially at dusk and dawn — Animal collisions are a significant cause of vehicle accidents and fatalities in rural WA. Kangaroos are most active at dawn and dusk. If you must drive at these times on rural roads, reduce speed, use high beams, and do not swerve violently to avoid animals — braking in a straight line is safer. A bullbar is recommended for remote Kimberley driving.

Respect marine stinger warnings — box jellyfish are present October to May in northern WA waters — Irukandji jellyfish and box jellyfish are present in northern WA waters (Kimberley, Pilbara, Gascoyne) during the wet season (October-April/May). These jellyfish carry potentially lethal venom. Swim only at beaches with stinger enclosures, wear lycra stinger suits, and heed all warning signs. In the dry season (May-October) stinger risk is greatly reduced.

Do not approach or attempt to handle snakes or spiders — WA is home to many venomous snakes (dugite, western brown snake, king brown snake, tiger snake in the south) and spiders (redback, funnel-web). If you see a snake, move away calmly. Check shoes, clothing, and sleeping bags in the bush. If bitten by a snake, apply a pressure immobilisation bandage and call 000 immediately. Do not wash the bite site.

Check fire danger ratings before bushwalking, especially in summer — Extreme and Catastrophic fire danger days occur frequently in WA from October to April. On Total Fire Ban days, do not light any open fires. Check the DFES fire danger ratings at emergency.wa.gov.au before planned bushwalks or campfires. National parks may be closed on Very High or Extreme fire danger days.

Triple Zero (000) is the emergency number for police, fire, and ambulance in WA — In any emergency involving risk to life, injury, or crime in progress, dial 000. For non-emergency police matters (e.g., reporting a theft when no one is in danger), call 131 444. The 000 service works from mobile phones even without credit, and from satellite phones.

Carry an EPIRB or Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) for remote travel — A registered 406MHz Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) is strongly recommended for travel in remote WA including the Kimberley, Pilbara, Goldfields, and Great Australian Bight coast. PLBs trigger an immediate satellite-transmitted distress signal with your location to AMSA (Australian Maritime Safety Authority) who coordinate rescue. Registration is free at beacons.amsa.gov.au.

Check cyclone warnings December to April if travelling in northern WA — The cyclone season for tropical WA (Kimberley, Pilbara, Gascoyne) runs from November to April. Monitor the Bureau of Meteorology (bom.gov.au) for cyclone warnings and tracks. If a cyclone warning is issued for your area, follow official evacuation directions from the WA State Emergency Service. The Gibb River Road and Dampier Peninsula become inaccessible during the wet season.

Download the Emergency WA app for real-time fire, cyclone, and emergency alerts — The Emergency WA app (by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services) provides real-time alerts for bushfires, cyclones, floods, storms, and other emergencies across Western Australia. Available free on iOS and Android. Enable location-based alerts for warnings relevant to where you are travelling.

Crocodile danger in the Kimberley — never swim in rivers, waterholes, or estuaries without local advice — Saltwater crocodiles (the world's largest and most dangerous reptile) inhabit the Kimberley's rivers, estuaries, coastal waterways, and some inland waterholes. Never swim in or near rivers, mangroves, or estuaries in the Kimberley without specific confirmation that the area is crocodile-safe. Crocodile warning signs are serious.

Be aware of rip currents at WA beaches — Rip currents are powerful channels of water flowing away from shore and are responsible for most drownings at WA beaches. Always swim between the red and yellow flags at patrolled beaches. If caught in a rip, do not swim against it — float, signal for help, and swim parallel to shore until clear. Learn to identify rips by discoloured, choppy water between breaking waves.

Ensure your hire vehicle has adequate fuel range before driving remote WA roads — Fuel stations on remote WA highways (Great Northern Highway, North West Coastal Highway, Eyre Highway/Nullarbor) can be 200-400km apart and may be closed on Sundays. Always fill up when you can in remote areas. Carry a minimum 20L of spare fuel in approved jerry cans when driving very remote roads. Fuel prices are much higher in the outback ($3-4/litre vs $1.80-2.40 in Perth).