Major roads in the Mid West region of Western Australia facts for kids

Main Roads Western Australia helps manage all the big roads in the Mid West region of the state. These roads are super important for connecting towns and helping people and goods move around.

There are four main highways that crisscross the Mid West:

• The Brand Highway and North West Coastal Highway run along the coast, heading north and south.
• The Great Northern Highway is an inland route, also running north and south.
• The northern part of the Goldfields Highway connects Meekatharra with Kalgoorlie.

Many other main roads link towns within the Mid West to each other and to these highways. Smaller local roads help connect even more places. Often, roads are named after the towns they connect, which makes them easy to remember!

Lots of big trucks use these roads. They carry important things for the mining and farming industries. Tourists also love to use the coastal roads to visit places like Dongara, Geraldton, Northampton, and Kalbarri, as well as cool tourist spots nearby.

Major Highways in the Mid West

Brand Highway

The Brand Highway is a major road that runs parallel to the coast in the Mid West region. It enters the region just north of the turnoff to Jurien Bay. From there, it continues north-west all the way to Geraldton. It's a key part of National Route 1, which goes around Australia!

Great Northern Highway

The Great Northern Highway is a very important highway that goes right through the Mid West region. It's actually part of the national highway that connects Perth to Darwin. In the Mid West, it travels north through towns like Paynes Find, Mount Magnet, Cue, and Meekatharra. It then continues north into the Pilbara region.

North West Coastal Highway

The North West Coastal Highway is another main highway that runs north and south in the Mid West region. It starts in Geraldton where it meets the Brand Highway. From there, it heads north through Northampton to Eurardy, which is at the northern edge of the Mid West region. It's also part of National Route 1.

Goldfields Highway

The Goldfields Highway is a major road that mostly isn't sealed (meaning it's a dirt or gravel road). From Meekatharra, it goes east towards Wiluna in the Goldfields–Esperance region. This road is important for connecting the Mid West to the gold mining areas further east.

Other Important Roads

Indian Ocean Drive

The Indian Ocean Drive is a main road that runs along the coast in the south-west part of the Mid West region. It starts at Green Head and travels north through towns like Leeman and Coolimba. It then meets the Brand Highway in Arrowsmith, just south of Dongara. This road is part of State Route 60, which continues all the way south to Perth. It's a popular route for tourists enjoying the coast.

Geraldton–Mount Magnet Road

The Geraldton–Mount Magnet Road is a major road that goes east-west through the middle of the Mid West region. It's known as State Route 123. This road connects the coastal city of Geraldton with Mount Magnet, which is on the Great Northern Highway.

Midlands Road

Midlands Road is an important road in the Mid West region. It enters the region at Gunyidi and continues north from the Wheatbelt area. It travels north-west to Mingenew, passing through towns like Coorow, Carnamah, and Three Springs. After Mingenew, it heads west to Dongara, where it ends at the Brand Highway. Midlands Road is the northern part of State Route 116.

George Grey Drive and Port Gregory Road

George Grey Drive

George Grey Drive is a major road that runs north and south along the coast in the Mid West region. It starts near Gregory (where it meets Port Gregory Road) and travels north to Kalbarri National Park and the town of Kalbarri. This road is great for visiting the beautiful coastal areas.

Port Gregory Road

Port Gregory Road is a main road that goes east-west in the Mid West region. It starts in Northampton and travels west towards the coastal town of Gregory. Just before Gregory, it meets George Grey Drive. Both George Grey Drive and Port Gregory Road became part of State Route 139 in March 2016.

John Willcock Link

The John Willcock Link is an important road right in the city of Geraldton. It connects the main interchange (where the Brand Highway and North West Coastal Highway meet) to the city's West End and the port. This road helps traffic move smoothly in and out of Geraldton's busy port area.