Nanutarra, Western Australia facts for kids

Nanutarra is a place in Western Australia. It's right next to the Ashburton River, where a big road called the North West Coastal Highway crosses it. Nanutarra is also near the turn-off for State Route 136, which leads to towns like Paraburdoo and Tom Price. It's about 40 kilometers south of the turn-off to Onslow. You'll find it within the Cane River conservation park, on both sides of the highway.

What's in a Name?

The name Nanutarra is used for many things in this area. It's the name of the place itself. It's also the name of a large farm called Nanutarra Station. The bridge over the Ashburton River is called Nanutarra, too. There's even a mine and a roadhouse (a roadside stop for travelers) that share the name.

Because Nanutarra is far from other towns, it's an important landmark. People often use it as a reference point for things happening along the North West Coastal Highway.

Where is Nanutarra Located?

Nanutarra is quite isolated, meaning it's far from other places. If you travel south, the next big stop is Minilya, which is about 217 kilometers away. To the north, the Fortescue River roadhouse is about 160 kilometers away. This shows how remote Nanutarra is.

Nanutarra's Climate

Nanutarra has a very hot and dry climate. This type of weather is known as a hot arid climate. Summers are extremely hot, and winters are still very warm. The rainfall here is quite unusual.

Sometimes, tropical cyclones can hit the area. These big storms can bring a huge amount of rain. They might even drop more rain in one storm than the area usually gets in a whole year! However, if there are no cyclones or winter clouds, it can go a very long time without any rain at all.

For example, in 1919, only about 84.4 millimeters (3.3 inches) of rain fell all year. But on February 18, 1921, a single day saw 221.0 millimeters (8.7 inches) of rain. In March 2000, an amazing 442.6 millimeters (17.4 inches) of rain fell. This shows how unpredictable the weather can be!