Destination guides > Australia > Western Australia > Pilbara > Port Hedland
Port Hedland
Port Hedland is a busy port that serves the mining operations inland. It is an industrial city with little to offer the traveller although it is a good base to organise tours to Karijini National Park.
There are two very distinct parts to the city – Port Hedland and South Hedland. Port Hedland is the industrial centre with a busy port. In contrast South Hedland is considered a suburb of Port Hedland and although it is a much quieter and tidier place, the centre of South Hedland actually has more shops and restaurants than Port Hedland.
During the day Port Hedland is an ugly city but at night the whole place lights up like a Christmas tree. At night you can look out to the harbour where you can watch the huge 300m-long ships come into port.
Whale watching trips depart from Port Hedland (Jul-Oct) and you can observe flatback turtles at beaches in Port Hedland (Oct-Mar).
There are no longer any hostels in Port Hedland so you’ll need to sleep in your car or just stay on the bus and keep going.
Practical information
Port Hedland Visitor Information Centre
13 Wedge Street, Port Hedland
Tel (08) 9173 1711
Open 8.30am-5pm daily
Coming & going
Integrity Coachlines (tel 1800 226 339) take the inland route to Perth and Greyhound (tel 1300 473 946) takes the more interesting coastal route and also goes north to Broome. Buses stop at the information centre (13 Wedge Street, Port Hedland) and also at the South Hedland Shopping Centre.
Sightseeing, museums & tourist attractions
Port Hedland Shipping Observation Lookout
Port Hedland is a major port with big ships coming into port to load up with iron ore and salt. The lookout in Town Park offers an excellent vantage point to watch the shipping activity.
Town Park, Wedge Street, Port Hedland
|
|
