Port Hedland

Sitting a two-hour plane ride from Perth is the modest town of Port Hedland. Providing refreshment from the harshness of the outback, this small town offers a relaxed and open lifestyle, where nothing is worth stressing over. Lying beside the calming waters of the Indian Ocean, every visitor is provided with superb fishing, prime whale watching and a base to head off to the nearby Millstream-Chichester and Karijini National Parks. For the experienced explorer to first-time traveller, Port Hedland is well worth a visit.

The town sits on the coast of the Pilbara region, with ocean to the west and the incredible breadth of Australia to the east. Its ideal location means that you get the best of both worlds; water babies can swim and sail while those that prefer their feet firmly on hard ground can go off road driving, cycling and bushwalking.

Drenched in history, there are many opportunities to learn about the original inhabitants of Port Hedland, its use as a port and industries that have thrived. Marapikurrinya is the aboriginal name of Port Hedland, given to it by the Karriyarra people for the hand-shaped formation of the tidal creeks off of the harbour. You can discover more at the Dalgety House Museum, Don Rhodes Open Air Train Museum and the Courthouse Arts Centre and Gallery. You can also embark on the Cultural and Heritage Trail, a walk that maps out the beginnings of European settlement with buildings and significant locations.

The heart of the town is understandably the port itself, the world’s largest in terms of tonnage, with more than 70 million tonnes of iron ore, salt, manganese and livestock, worth over $3 billion, exported every year. However, there is much more to the town, which is why it has seen a boom in tourists in recent times.

Contrasting the barren and vast outback, Port Hedland is a haven for travellers who are missing human company! As the second largest town in the region, there is accommodation for backpackers, holidaymakers and couples taking a weekend break from the city, in the way of cosy hotels and caravan parks, but booking in advance is essential to assure your spot. It’s also theperfect place to purchase the necessities you’ve run out of, indulge in some shopping you’ve missed or simply relax with delicious food and drink.

Of course, there are also plenty of chances to continue your adventure and make unique memories exclusive to Port Hedland and the coast of North West Australia. A natural wonder of epic proportions, head to Cooke Point and capture the Staircase To The Moon, a moment when the full moon rises over the exposed mudflats during low tide, creating a beautiful illusion of a staircase up to the moon that leaves most witnesses with their mouths wide open. It only occurs between March and October, so very few have been fortunate enough to see it.

If you’re a nature lover, you’re in luck. Between July and October, humpback whales travel along the coast looking for warmer waters, while turtles can be found nesting on the beaches from October to March. Budding photographers can take outstanding pictures of the marine life, as well as the wildflower that comes into bloom during winter, May to November.

Winter is the more ideal season to travel to Port Hedland and the northwest, when the weather is drier and cooler than in summer (but still warmer than southern Australia!) and more ideal for outdoor activities. In summer, November to April, the rainfall restricts entry to off-roads, but the hot days and balmy nights create spectacular lightning shows and sunsets, again making for brilliant Kodak moments.

Whatever time of the year you plan to visit Port Hedland, you will experience a lovely, heart-warming town in an extraordinary setting of ocean views, wildlife habitat and desert journeys towards Broome, Darwin, Alice Springs and the Ningaloo Reef. It is the ideal place to stop off on a road trip on your Perth to Broome Adventure Tours, find out about the deep history of Australia, or just escape the bustling Perth city. Whatever your reason, whenever you arrive, you’re bound to find something to call home about in Port Hedland.