the pilbara

the kimberley:
world heritage area

One of the oldest geological regions in the world, the Pilbara has an amazing colourful landscape of rugged gorges, spectacularly pristine sandy beaches and some of the world's largest-known deposits of iron ore and natural gas. The Burrup Peninsula is home to more than 700 Indigenous archaeological sites believed to be up to 30,000 years old and considered to be amongehst  earliest examples of art in the world.

Port Hedland, 1,638 kilometres from Perth, is one of the largest and busiest mineral ports in the world, whilst also making a great base from which to explore the region. Karratha is a young and fast-growing town, with warm winter temperatures and hot summers. Dampier is the port that services the iron ore mines in the inland Pilbara and also where natural gas from the North West Shelf comes ashore for processessing. The town of Newman services Mt Whaleback, the largest open cut iron ore mine in the world.

Ideal months to visit are from April to November, as the summer months can be extremely hot and subject to cyclone activity. There are regular air services from major regional centres and schedules coach services operate to Port Hedland from both Perth and Darwin. Check the Transwa website. Tour operators offer a range of tours including cruises, diving, fishing and camping safaris as well as scenic flights.

Towns in the Pilbara region include Onslow, Karratha, Port Hedland, Tom Price and Newman.