The Pilbara covers the north western corner of Australia, roughly 500,000 square kilometres. The Pilbara is an ancient, arid and tropical land - a great outback location. Its national parks and nature reserves are located both near the coast and far inland. The Pilbara area is one of the world's richest mineral areas, with many iron ore mines and mining towns.

The Pilbara is the ancient Aboriginal land of 'The Dreaming' and is of great importance in Aboriginal culture and creation legends.

Port Hedland is the gateway to the Pilbara, and is one of the most historic towns in the region. The town handles the largest tonnage of any Australian port. You can not swim in ocean off Port Hedland and surrounds due to sea snakes, sharks, stone fish and blue ringed octopus which frequent the waters.

Karijini (the Hamersley Ranges) is Western Australia's second largest National Park. Over millions of years rain has carved the ancient range into many different shapes and gorges. The walls are vibrant bands of browns, greens, blues and pinks. Vegetation is sparse and the primitive grandeur of the bare rock is more apparent.

Stretching more than 300 kilometres through the Pilbara is the Hamersley Range. In the south the mountains slope gently up to flat-topped outcrops and in the north they rise majestically from golden spinifex plains. The main activity in the area is mining, centred at towns like Tom Price, Paraburdoo and Newman.

The Great Sandy Desert is a seemingly endless stretch of sand ridges and sandy desert. Only chains of salt lakes break the pattern.

Marble Bar is an historic gold township 200km south-east of Port Hedland. It's name is taken from the unique bar of red coloured jasper which crosses the Coongan River.

Inland from Roebourne is the Fortesque River and the tropical paradise of Millstream-Chichester National Park. Thousands of birds flock to this area where ferns, lilies and palms grow in aundance. The springs produce over 36 million litres of water each day, supplying the region with much needed water.

Dampier, on King Bay, faces the islands of the Archipelago. It is a modern iron ore town, with a nearby salt industry. It's deep water port provides export facilities.

Fact Summary

Weather