 The name North West Coastal Highway was gazetted on 21 April 1944 , under section 10 of the Land Act , 1933 – 1939 . However , the highway was mostly a series of tracks through remote pastoral areas , with the sealed road ending just past Northampton , approximately 50 kilometres ( 31 mi ) north of Geraldton . Driving was difficult and hazardous all year round . The road was very dusty in the dry season , and some sections of the road were effectively impassable sand , while other sections contained limestone outcrops that damaged tyres . During the wet season , when rivers flooded , sections of road were essentially bogs , or worse still , were completely washed away . 
