Western Australia’s premier Roger Cook has urged holiday-makers to think twice before driving north for the Easter long weekend after Cyclone Narelle left roads flooded and several towns— including tourist hotspots Exmouth and Coral Bay—cut off. Speaking in Carnarvon on 31 March 2026, Cook said the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) advice is to ‘reconsider all travel’ until damage assessments are complete. Tourism operators report hundreds of cancellations worth “upwards of hundreds of thousands of dollars,” raising fears the region’s crucial shoulder-season may be lost. Eco-tour outfits in Coral Bay say fuel and food supplies are constrained, and some accommodation providers face weeks of closure while insurance claims are processed. For companies managing fly-in/fly-out rosters to Pilbara mines, the warnings mean revisiting charter-bus schedules and possibly rerouting via Broome or Geraldton. Insurers have reminded policy-holders that attempting to drive through officially closed roads could void coverage. Logistics firms have activated contingency plans, using coastal barges to move perishables to isolated communities. DFES expects some highways to reopen within seven days but says fresh thunderstorms could delay repairs. Travellers who proceed are urged to monitor emergency alerts, carry satellite phones beyond the 4G footprint and register itineraries with local police stations.
Source: PerthNow
