'Pretty devastating': tourism hit by rare cyclone

Almost two weeks after it first formed off Australia's east coast, Narelle's impact was still being felt on the other side of the country on Monday.

Towns have been cut off by flooding, homes destroyed and marine wildlife devastated in "heartbreaking" scenes in WA's Gascoyne region.

Premier Roger Cook on Monday was set to visit Exmouth, one of the hardest hit by Narelle which crossed the WA coast on Friday as a category four system, unleashing 250km/h winds.

"The severe storm has lashed our Gascoyne coast and left a trail of destruction," he said.

"I want residents to know that we have your back and we will do everything we can to support you, we know it's tough up there."

Tourists were on Monday being evacuated from Exmouth and flown out from Karratha as the remote town tried to rebuild.

However, authorities are hopeful visitors will soon return to the region despite the massive clean-up that looms.

"This is a crucial time for the town, and actually for Western Australia's tourism sector here," WA Emergency Services Minister Paul Papalia said.

"And it's it's pretty devastating in the timing, but what we want to make sure (we can) get in and help and recover as rapidly as possible, so we can open up for tourism."

Narelle left a trail of damage as it crossed Queensland's Cape York Peninsula and the Northern Territory but saved its worst for last as it hit the WA coast.

Roofs were torn off, homes were flooded, and widespread power outages triggered.

The storm also devastated the nearby World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef with pictures emerging of marine life, including dolphins, washed up on nearby beaches.

"There are countless birds injured or dead along the beaches and marine life is struggling - it's honestly heartbreaking," local wildlife carer Brinkley Davies posted on social media.

Locals were working as fast as they could to get "this magical place" up and running for tourists again, Exmouth Shire President Matthew Niikkula said.

"In no way are we putting out the messaging to the rest of the state or the rest of the nation that we're closed to business and we don't want everyone back," he said.

The food-bowl region near Carnarvon, about 900km north of Perth, is also counting the cost after being hit by Narelle.

However Rio Tinto said its Pilbara iron ore port operations had resumed.

Narelle is only the third storm in recorded history to make landfall as a cyclone in three jurisdictions in Australia, joining Ingrid (2005) and Steve (2000).

"It is something so incredibly rare," senior meteorologist Jonathan How told AAP of Narelle's place in cyclone tracking which began in the 1970s.