![]() About the region: The Pilbara covers a geographical area of approximately 554,727 square kilometres (over 20 per cent of the State) and is home to 2.48% of Western Australia's population. The Hamersley Range dominates the Pilbara region. 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 Pilbara came to national and international prominence during the 1960s when the go-ahead was given to extract iron ore deposits in the region. Today the Pilbara economy is crucial to the State, providing two of the State's largest export revenue earners - iron ore and liquefied natural gas. Today, the Pilbara is Western Australia's largest mineral producing area, contributing $8 billion a year in natural resource sales, an amount representing 26 per cent of the gross national product.
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| Mt Robinson |
Handrail Pool, Weano Gorge |
Collier Rocks, Dampier Arch. |
How To Get There: Because of the vast distances between localities, and that many highlights can only be reached by road, serious consideration should be given to touring the area by motor vehicle, unless you only have the time or inclination to visit a single locality. In such cases, way up carefully the cost and time involved in going to just one locality. Many travellers who have done that feel it did not provide value for money and wished they had made alterative travel arrangements or not gone at all.
By air, Skywest Airlines operate a twice daily service between Perth and Exmouth, Carnarvon, Geraldton, Kalbarri and Shark Bay, and a weekly service (on Sundays) between Broome and Exmouth.
By road, travel north from Perth on Great Northern Highway, taking Brand Highway at Muchea to enter the region via the coastal road (Carnarvon, Exmouth). Alliteratively, continue north on Great Eastern Highway to the Pilbara region via Meekatharra.
The Best Time To Visit: June to November are the best times to visit the region. Tropical cyclones are a prevalent part of the region north of Kalbarri between December and April. Most rainfall occurs in the monsoon season. Temperatures rise above the old farenheit century on a regular basis up and down these shores in those months, particularly in January. July to November is wildflower season, with the best blooms around September to November.
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Natural Wonders
Natural Attractions
Historic Places
- Roebourne: Holy Trinity Church (1894), Union Bank (1889), Victoria Hotel (1866), Post Office, Hospital, Court House and the Old Gaol (1886-87)
- Dampier: Trial shipwreck, Trial Rocks
- Cossack: Court House (1885-86); Post & Telegraph Office (1882); Customs House and Bond Store (1890-95); Registrar's Office and Residence; Gailbraith's Store (1890-91); Tidemaster's quarters (1890); Cemetery; School (1896-97); Jarman Island lighthouse and quarters
- Marble Bar: Comet Gold mine and Tourist Centre; tin workings on Nullagine Road; Corunna Downs World war II RAAF Base ruins; Government Offices (1894-95); Iron Clad Hotel
- Wittenoom: Blue asbestos mine ruins
Waterfalls
- Newman: Eagle Rock Falls
- Karijini National Park: Joffre Falls; Fortescue Falls
Misc. Attractions
- Port Hedland: Nelson Point Aboriginal rock art; South West Creek Aboriginal rock art (6 km south-west); iron ore shipping berths
- Roebourne: Depuch Island Aboriginal art sites (over 5,000 engravings)
- Dampier: iron ore loading terminal; , Burrup Peninsula Aboriginal art sites - Dampier 'Climbing Men' Aboriginal art site (9 km north-east); Skew Valley, Kangaroo Valley, Hunter Valley, Happy Valley and Gum Tree Valley Aboriginal art sites; salt works; Miaree Pool; Staircase to the Moon; Hearsons Cove
- Karratha: Pilbara Railway Historical Society
- Wickham: Cape Lambert iron ore loading facility
- Tom Price: Mt. Tom Price iron ore mine
- Paraburdoo: Ratty Springs Aboriginal rock art and a natural spring (50 km)
- Pannawonica: Rio Tinto iron ore mine, Robe River
- Wittenoom: Wittenoom Gorge abandoned CSR asbestos mine and township; Upper Yule River and Abydos Homestead Aboriginal art sites
- Newman: Wanna Munna Aboriginal Rock art
- Marble Bar: Abydos - Woodstock Aboriginal Art Sites
- Nullagine: Kintyre Uranium lease
- Pardoo Creek: Abydos/Woodstock Aboriginal Art sites
Journeys
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| Regions of Western Australia |
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